Here's the official MNEA Candidate Statement that is required of all candidates for MNEA offices and will appear on website, Something Better, etc. . . . and if you're interested in something beyond the 250-word limit, there are some additional comments that follow. - Ray
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I’m Ray Smith, candidate for Missouri NEA President. My
flyers and mailers list all the committees, boards, RAs, coalitions, campaigns
and other events. In this short statement, I’d like to describe one specific
experience that, I believe, relates to the tough work ahead for our association
and its leadership.
For seven years, I have been on leave from my middle school
teaching and coaching duties while serving two terms as president of the
900-member Springfield local. During my second year, the Missouri Supreme Court
ruled that teachers were entitled to the same representation rights as other employees.
Almost immediately, our local leadership – in collaboration with MNEA and NEA
staff - turned our attention toward an unlikely goal in our neck-of-the-woods.
We sought to achieve the empowerment of teachers and education professionals through
the collective bargaining process.
After three years of continuous effort – a period that was characterized
by intensive discussions with local leaders, district officials, lawyers, school
board members, state staff, some intense campaigning, media events, even a
lawsuit against our district . . . we
finally achieved three decisive election wins. And through it all, local
service to individual members was uninterrupted.
The next Missouri NEA president will lead an association
that comes with a complex set of challenges that are perhaps unprecedented over
the past 40 years. I do not seek this
office as a career destination. I see it as a continuation of the work that we
must do . . . together.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Beyond 250 words . . .
When I was teaching 7th grade Math, Pre-Algebra and coaching middle school football at Hickory Hills Middle School, I had absolutely no thoughts of becoming the local president. I enjoyed the flow of events and interactions with my whacky 7th graders. They thought I was a little whacky, too, so we were able to achieve some kind of mutual middle school respect and balance. Though I came to public school teaching as a second career after many years in the public sector working in the library system, I knew that teaching was a perfect fit.
I joined the local on the first day of teacher orientation, took a pass on the district's "Step Up" professional development program for new teachers, and came to rely on an amazing group of colleagues - almost all were NEA members - for advice and counsel. Years later, many of these same colleagues, who I had come to admire and respect so much, were advising me to run for local president. They knew that I was a political junky, kept up on education issues and had become active as a building representative. I eventually followed their advice and began riding a rather steep learning curve that has continued to this day. Similarly, colleagues that I have come to know and respect in Missouri NEA have urged me to consider running for this leadership position - and their support has been no small factor in my decision to enter this campaign for MNEA President.
Timing was a big factor in my personal decision to run for MNEA President. Both of my daughters, who are ten years apart in age, attended excellent public schools. In fact, this year is the first in the last twenty-four years that I haven't had at least one child in the public school system. Many of the teachers I now represent as local president were teachers of my own children. I've attended dozens of teacher/parent conferences from both sides of the table. With my children now living more independently, this is an optimum time for me to apply for a job that will require relocation and a great deal of travel.
That's probably enough for this posting. My intention is to send out more posts as we get closer to the Spring RA. Thanks for reading!
Ray
p.s. I'm trying to do some traveling in the coming weeks. If you are inclined to support my campaign's travel expenses, please send any small contributions to:
Ray4MNEA
Committee to Elect Ray Smith
2649 E. Lombard
Springfield, MO 65802
email: rsmith0451@msn.com
phone: 417-848-5213
