Organizing to Lead The Montgomery Institute A partnership of the NEA Center for Organizing and MCEA’s Center for Teacher Leadership Ellen Holmes, NBCT Joia Jones Lisa Markussen, NBCT

Not your grandfather’s union.  12,000 Members  203 Schools, 150,00 students, 497 sq. miles  More families in poverty than the number of people who live in poverty in the D.C. Metro area  Just over 700 NBCTs with 160 in waiting and 190 in candidate support this year  Our Focus – The quality of teaching and learning.

What were MCEA’s issues?  There were widening gaps in student achievement  There were widening gaps in teacher quality  Teachers were seen as the barrier not the solution  There was growing dissatisfaction with the district from the community  Public interest in cutting funding was growing.

The change we all wanted?? Good Schools!!

What’s MCEA’s theory? 1. We want the people doing the profession to own the profession. 2. The district leaders, our members, the principals, parents and policy makers have the resources to create this change. 3. They want to ensure high achieving students. 4. They need us to make sure students learn at high levels. Look at Page 87 and 88

MCEA’s Theory of Change If we identify, develop and engage accomplished teacher leaders in defining and monitoring their profession then all students of Montgomery County will benefit. National Board Certification is our foundation that supports this. Pg. 87

What are we doing here?

The Montgomery Institute: Curriculum Framework Three Core Principles of Our Work Intentional Leader Identification, Coaching and Support Authentic Public Narrative to Lead Change Foundational, Relational Organizing Organizing to Advance Professional Issues

Leadership is a PRACTICE not a position Joia

How do we intentionally identify and engage leaders? Joia

What is organizing? Organizing is identifying leaders and coordinating them into leadership teams, Building community and commitment around common goals, Building power from the resources of that community, Using that power strategically to make concrete change in the world. How we Flip the Triangle is through Interdependent Leadership Joia

We are organizing credible, accomplished members to define and control their profession so that every student has the school they deserve. Whom do we serve? Common interests and objectives What structures or opportunities do we use? Students Parents Community Each student gets the school that he or she deserves IB NBCT PAR CTL Equity Certificate LTI Career Lattice SLO Lisa

Structures that NBCTs use to Flip the Triangle at MCEA Students Teachers District Superintendent Lisa