Get Involved

MCEA is an organization of nearly 12,000 members.  Actively engaged members are essential to a strong organization.  Below are a few of the ways to become involved.  We welcome the participation of members at all stages of their career.  Stay informed and get involved! 

MCEA Building Rep

MCEA Union Reps are the heart and soul of the association. They are our grassroots leaders, selected by colleagues, to represent them in the creation of an effective organization that advances the interests of educators and public education. MCEA Reps are leaders, organizers, and problem-solvers.  Each school/worksite is entitled to at least one MCEA Rep, and additional Reps on the basis of 1 for every 15 MCEA members (or major fraction thereof).   If you would like to become an MCEA Rep, talk with the UniServ Director assigned to your school or worksite.  Rep training and support are available.

The primary responsibility as a Rep is to provide union leadership for MCEA members at the school or worksite by:

  • helping them solve problems arising from their work as educators in their school/worksite

  • advocating for and representing their collective interests and needs as education employees

  • mobilizing collective action when necessary, and

  • getting other members involved in the work of the union

 

MCEA Council on Teaching and Learning

There are three Councils; one each for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. Council Representatives are elected by their 'constituency group' (i.e. all third grade teachers, or all high school science teachers). Members are notified when CTL elections are held.  The next election will be held in spring 2010.  Council members meet regularly with district administration to provide feedback from teachers and to work together to improve the implementation of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Council members are responsible for regular communication with their constituency groups. Click here to download CTL Charge .

Delegate to the Maryland State Teachers Association (MSTA) Annual Convention

The 2009 MSTA Convention in Ocean City will be held October 16 and 17th.  MCEA is affiliated with the Mary­land State Teachers’ Association (MSTA) and the National Education Association (NEA). Their structures are similar to ours except that Representative Assem­blies are held annually—in the fall for MSTA and July for NEA. More than 150 MCEA members are elected by their col­leagues each year to participate in these decision-making conventions. All dues-paying active and retiredMCEA members are eligible forelection as members of MCEA toattend the MSTA Convention.MCEA is entitled to approximately233 delegates for the Friday and Saturday meetings.  If you would like to represent MCEA at theFall MSTA RA, please complete the form attached and return it to Kiwana Williams-Hall at the MCEA office, via pony as soon as possible.  First-time delegates are especially encouraged to run. It is also MCEA’s policy to strongly encourage the participation of minorities.  MCEA provides a stipend which will cover most travel, room, and food.

Present at the MSTA Convention Workshops 2009!  Call for Proposals Deadline March 15, 2009. Click here for details.


Delegate to the National Education Association (NEA) Annual Convention

Each year delegates from NEA affiliates around the nation gather together to establish the NEA’s general objectives and legislative agenda, adopts a budget, set annual dues, elects national officers and directs the national association’s activities through new business items.  Delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly will be elected by the MCEA membership in an all-member vote during February 2009. MCEA is entitled to approximately 75 delegates (based upon membership estimates). It is MCEA’s policy to strongly encourage the participation of minorities. All active MCEA members are eligible for election as delegates to attend the NEA Convention. First-time delegates are especially encouraged to run. Click here to print the nomination form. MCEA provides a stipend which will cover most travel, room, and reasonable food expenses.

MCEA Board of Directors:

The Board of Directors consists of the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President (who having been the President, shall serve for one term only), Secretary, Treasurer, nine Directors elected to designated constituency seats, and three Directors-at-Large elected to undesignated seats.  The nine designated constituency seats on the Board are: 4 - Early Childhood/Elementary Schools, 2 - Middle Schools, 2 - High Schools and 1- Non-school based members (including Psychologists, PPWs, Staff Development specialists, consulting teachers, itinerant special educators, other office based specialists, substitute/HHT teachers, etc..)   There is also one Director-at-large nominated from retired members.  Terms are two years, and elections are held each year for half of the Board members.  For more information on running for the Board, contact Jackie Thompson, MCEA Membership Coordinator.

The Board of Directors is responsible for the management of the Association.  The Board meets at least once a month during the school year and at such other times as needed. This governing body report its actions to the Representative Assembly and to the membership, proposes policies and policy changes for consideration by the Representative Assembly; develops a proposed budget, advises the President, advises each committee of its duties upon appointment, appoints all staff members and contracts for their services, approves the appointment of negotiators to represent the Association in the bargaining process, hears reports from, consult with, and advise representatives of the Councils on Teaching and Learning with regard to MCEA positions, policies and practices concerning curriculum, assessment, and instruction, and reviews MCEA positions, practices and policies with regard to curriculum. 
             

Elected Faculty Rep (EFR):

The EFR position was established by the 2004 contract negotiations between MCEA and the Board of Education. It is an outgrowth of many years of work by MCEA and the Board to improve labor-management relations within local schools and provide for greater faculty involvement in school-level decision-making.   “As a full member of the school’s leadership team (the core leadership group involved in local school decision-making), the Faculty Representative works with other leadership team members collaborating with school administrators. In this role, the Faculty Representative, along with other leadership team members, serves as a communicator and liaison with the school’s faculty. The Faculty Representative helps to facilitate and solve problems through the leadership team”.
In addition, the EFR shares responsibility for ensuring effective communication between the administration and the faculty and for increasing faculty involvement in, and ownership of, local school improvement.  EFRs are elected in June to represent their colleagues the following school year. They receive a yearly salary supplement of $1,500 and three summer days at their per diem rate so they may attend leadership team meetings during the summer.

MCEA Member Committees:

  • Political Action and Legislative Support (PALS) Committee is always seeking member involvement.  The PALS Committee implements the political action activities of MCEA. It conducts one of the most thorough candidate screening processes of any organization in the county. Click here for details on the process and the criteria used by MCEA in evaluating candidates for public office.  Members of this committee work year round to hold elected officials accountable and involve MCEA members ion political action year round.  During the Maryland legislative session, the committee organizes lobby trips to Annapolis. Contact co-chairs Doug Prouty at dprouty@mcea.nea.org or Abby Hendrix at Abby_R_Hendrix@mcpsmd.org for more information.

  • Membership Committee is chaired by Amy Watkins, Amy_Watkins@mcpsmd.org. The committee works to involve more members in the union. Current projects include: SPARKS (a leadership development program for new educators), coaching new MCEA reps, recognizing ‘Gold Star’ activists, and membership recruitment.

  • Instruction and Professional Development Committee is chaired by Joan Mory, Joan_Mory@mcpsmd.org.  The committee is charged with overseeing MCEA’s professional development programming as well as networking with colleagues across the state on professional development issues.

  • Human and Civil Rights Committee is chaired by Mavis Ellis, Mavis_Ellis@mcpsmd.org.  The committee is charged with developing recommendations for, and implementing, the union’s work on issues of social and economic justice.  This year the focus is on school connectedness and reducing the dropout rate.  The committee welcomes new members.

  • Multicultural Affairs Committee is chaired by Dionna Ricks, Dionna_D_Ricks@mcpsmd.org.  The committee is charged with promoting minority member participation in MCEA activities, clarifying district policies and gathering data on practices regarding recruitment/retention of minorities, developing skills that increase access to leadership positions for minority teachers and providing opportunities for interaction and dialogue among minority members.


Gold Star Activists

Brandy A. Reazer, OOD Announced as MCEA ‘Gold Star’ Recipients

Many MCEA members offer their time and volunteer to support the organization and their fellow union members.  Brandy personifies this commitment.In announcing the ‘Gold Star’ designation for the 2009-10 school year for members who have shown great activism within the union through serving as building representative, representing the organization at conventions, and volunteering for various union activities, MCEA wants to highlight the many active members who make the organization work. Click here to learn more about Brandy A. Reazer.