Transformation Updates 
A Report to the 2010 UEA House of Delegates
By Mark D. Mickelsen, UEA Executive Director
Before adjourning in December 2009, the Utah Education Association’s Transformation Team – representing all of the Association’s stakeholders, including members, leaders, and staff – presented 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 was involved in continuous data collection and analysis during the 18-month transformation project. Data was 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 2009, 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 UEA 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 UEA 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 UEA 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 UEA 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 UEA 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.
At their final meeting in December 2009, the Team added two additional formal recommendations and seven “study” recommendations. They include the following:
Recommendation #13: The UEA should improve processes in order to increase member engagement for the annual House of Delegates.
Recommendation #14: The UEA should use the UEA annual convention, and other regional events, as vehicles to advance and implement the UEA Strategic Goals and Transformation recommendations.
UEA Study Recommendation A: The UEA should study whether or not to implement a legal hotline, through which members could receive immediate assistance with job-related concerns such as grievances, remediation, and terminations.
UEA Study Recommendation B: The UEA should study whether or not to include in the yearly UEA Convention an annual meeting for UEA retirees. The meeting could be used for organizing purposes, for data collection, and to provide retired members with updates on important retirement issues.
UEA Study Recommendation C: The UEA should study whether or not to integrate social networking programs – of particular interest to new educators – as a part of the day-to-day communications structure of the Association.
UEA Study Recommendation D: The UEA should study effective methods to ensure the election of pro-public education candidates and strategies that will enhance our ability to have a positive impact on education policy and funding.
UEA Study Recommendation E: The UEA should study effective methods to increase and retain membership.
UEA Study Recommendation F: The UEA should further study regional outreach to UEA members and their communities.
UEA Study Recommendation G: The UEA should identify current practices that are no longer relevant to the needs of our members and make appropriate recommendations and decisions.
Progress To Date
The UEA Board of Directors has prioritized formal Recommendations 1-5 for implementation. Three Transformation Task Forces – comprised of members, leaders, and staff – are currently working on Recommendations 1, 4, and 5. Their task is to present considerations to the UEA executive director for the implementation of these recommendations. In the spring of 2010, two additional task forces will be assigned to deal with Recommendations 2 and 3. Reports on study recommendations will be made to the UEA Board between July 1 and December 1, 2010.
The UEA wishes to thank all of the members of the Transformation Team who participated in this important process, including:
Caroline Barrington – Representing rural local associations
Rick Harrison – Representing rural local associations
Julie Seeley – Representing rural local associations
Kathleen Wagner – Representing rural local associations
Karen Smith – Representing urban local associations
Robin Frodge – Representing urban local associations
Jay Blain – Representing urban local associations
Dave Van Langeveld – Representing urban local associations
Mike Gowans – Representing urban local associations
Sue Porter – Representing rural UniServ directors
Rick Palmer – Representing urban UniServ directors
Mary Jones – Representing UniServ administrative assistants
Rick Pruitt – Representing rural UEA Board members
Ellen Thompson – Representing urban UEA Board members
Ryan Anderson – Representing the NEA (Utah)
Lynne Romney – Representing retired UEA members
Rosemary Salazar – Representing ethnic minorities
Teri Tillotson – Representing new educators
Kim Campbell – Representing the UEA Leadership Team
Mark Mickelsen – Representing UEA Administration
Courtney White – Representing UEA program staff
Nancy Pereira – Representing UEA middle management
Holly Scheuermann – Representing UEA associate staff
Ruben Cedeńo – Representing the NEA (Western Region)