Transformation Updates 
UEA Transformation Team Presents Recommendations for the Future of the Association
By Mark D. Mickelsen, UEA Executive Director
For more than a year, the Utah Education Association’s Transformation Team – which represents all of the Association’s stakeholders, including members, leaders, and staff – has been developing a set of recommendations to help the UEA reach its four strategic goals. These goals include 1) Advance the well-being of members; 2) Strengthen the teaching profession; 3) Engage in meaningful partnerships that promote quality public schools; and 4) Build organizational capacity.
In order to develop effective member-driven recommendations, the Team has been involved in continuous data collection and analysis. Data has been collected during group interviews with Association leaders and staff; during facilitated discussions at the UEA Summer Leadership Academy sessions (2008 and 2009); through a UEA Convention survey (2008); during the 2009 UEA House of Delegates; and through an online all-member survey conducted in August and September 2009.
Data collected and analyzed by the Team resulted in the creation of four theme areas – or stakeholder priorities – including communication, advocacy, leadership, and member engagement.
In the spring of 2009, the Team separated into two work groups. Their charge was to assess the Association on two levels – products and service delivery and policy and structure. All of the recommendations they prepared deal with one of the four theme areas.
In early November, the first 12 recommendations of the Team were presented to leaders and staff throughout the state. They include the following:
Recommendation #1: The Utah Education Association should advocate for its members’ needs through a strong public relations/image/member engagement campaign.
Recommendation#2: The UEA should involve veteran members in a new teacher coaching program. (This program is not called “mentoring,” because the intent is not to replace what school districts already have in place.)
Recommendation #3: The UEA should pro-actively work together with other education stakeholders to accomplish our shared vision of great public schools and pursue educational excellence.
Recommendation #4: The UEA should enhance its communication structure.
Recommendation #5: The UEA should develop an intentional system of collaboration between staff and governance.
Recommendation #6: In an effort to build capacity within the organization and increase the number of internal member advocates, the Utah Education Association should develop new and enhance existing training tools to serve the Association’s general membership population.
Recommendation #7: In an effort to build capacity within the organization and increase member involvement, the Utah Education Association should develop new and enhance existing bargaining training tools to serve the Association’s general
membership population.
Recommendation #8: The Association Representatives (ARs) are the face of the Utah Education Association within the schools. The UEA should create a structure that will enhance the training for and effectiveness of ARs.
Recommendation #9: The UEA should increase organizational capacity by building a coordinated system for identifying and training emerging leaders and staff, as well as developing current leaders and staff.
Recommendation #10: In an effort to build capacity within the organization, the Utah Education Association should develop new and enhance existing training tools for leaders.
Recommendation #11: In an effort to build capacity within the organization and increase member involvement, the Utah Education Association should develop new and enhance existing training tools to serve the Association’s general membership population.
Recommendation #12: The UEA should increase its visibility and presence throughout the state.
Please help us by reviewing the full recommendations and providing input.
The UEA wishes to thank all of the members of the Transformation Team who participated in this important process