An Introduction
MEA Executive Director Paula Voelker On January 14, 2019, I joined your Maine Education Association team as the Executive Director. It has been an invigorating seven months getting to know the organization – the people, the culture, the hopes and challenges. I am impressed with the commitment, energy and determination across the layers of the organization to support and meet the needs of students, to advance public education and to improve the lives of members. Solidarity is in action here in Maine and I am thrilled to be a part of it! My interest in education and unions both stem from my youth. My parents worked in manufacturing factories, both members of the UAW. They and their union brothers and sisters went out on strike several times to move contract negotiations forward. In the middle of a Wisconsin winter (much like Maine winters), one strike lasted for three months. Three months without a paycheck is hard. Striking is hard, but they did it because they wanted something better – for themselves, their family and co-workers. And, they could do it because they were in the union. Perhaps because of these experiences, my parents instilled the importance of school. My parents wanted more for us than they had for themselves – a hope of most parents, of course. It was always clear that education was an opportunity that ought not to be squandered. Certainly, the value placed on education made it an easy decision to become a teacher. My experiences growing up in sometimes economically stressed situations, allowed me to also empathize with students who were living on the edge themselves, impacted by many different life circumstances. As a teacher, I knew injustice when I saw it, either as it related to students and families or my co-workers. I became active in the union as a representative and negotiator. I was hooked on our ability to change things through the union. I moved into union 10
Maine Educator • September 2019
work as a UniServ Director and then statewide Organizer. The upheaval of the unions and public education in Wisconsin by the Governor at the time only strengthened my resolve around public education and work to unify educators and other workers, and to take collective action. It has taken some time for the clouds to part in Wisconsin, but I’m hopeful they are on a better path. From Wisconsin, I moved on to work as a Field Manager for the NEA affiliate in Maryland. Maryland is a wonderfully diverse state and I enjoyed working with people from many different walks of life and backgrounds. Although a state with a wealth of resources, educators in Maryland still must advocate and act boldly to move the needle on issues they care about, just like in Maine. Being an Executive Director was not always something I aspired to, but it is an important role and I believe helps, along with the President and elected leaders, to set the tone and approach for the current and future work, centered on facilitating building power so that we can act and be successful on the things that matter to all of us. I hope to have a positive impact and look forward to the work ahead. This summer, I visited Acadia National Park for the first time. What an amazing treasure. I was struck by the natural beauty, and all the people! All the people enjoying the scenic views, the geological features, the biking, the climbing, the camping and the hiking. One of my favorite spots is Cadillac Mountain. To get to the top of Cadillac Mountain, there are several routes – the North Ridge Trail, the South Ridge Trail, the West Face Trail, the Gorge Path, the Cadillac Summit Road, maybe more. Each trail leads to the same destination – the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Each person picked their route up and mode of getting there – trolley ride, car, bicycle, feet. No matter by what path or by what method, everyone made it up. Some may have taken longer, maybe stopped along the way for a break or to take in a view, but they all got there. They all moved to reach a common goal. Like getting to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the MEA has big goals that revolve around our students, public schools, and wages, hours and working conditions for educators. For us to make progress, we will need clarity and the will to stay focused. Building relationships and power at all levels of the organization will continue to be vitally important. There will be nuance in how members, leaders, locals and MEA staff members approach the work – tried and true approaches and some more innovative, but with clear goals in mind we will get there together. My work forward will be to help focus our efforts, making sure each step moves us towards our goals. I look forward to us acting together!
Paula Voelker Executive Director
