Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1491904
"We're building relationships with community partners, but we needed to build relationships among our members as well." —Audrey Jacques, Fairfield Suisun Unified Teachers Association partnerships to be ready when that changes. Dunn says that community schools are a part of FSUTA's organizing plan, which she and Organizing Chair Audrey Jacques presented to both their executive board and repre- sentative council to build support among FSUTA leaders. "Part of it is the commitment to writing it down and being able to go back to our policy-making bodies to say 'we com- mitted to doing this,'" says Dunn. FSUTA used the grant funds to release Jacques from the classroom to work full-time starting last February on orga- nizing and community schools — engaging new members, building relationships and taking note of potential leaders. "We've been able to identify a lot of members who were looking for something that spoke to them," says Jacques, explaining that FSUTA established four new caucuses to pro- vide spaces for members to meet and share. "We're building relationships with community partners, but we needed to build relationships among our members as well." Dunn says FSUTA made changes to their structure to enhance member voice in the local and share leadership responsibilities among more members. Jacques is building action teams at school sites, creating new links between educators and their union, and developing collaborative leadership in FSUTA as a model for when they have district leadership willing to work together to support students and their families. "We're hitting all of the notes, so when the ability to col- laborate becomes available, we're ready to go," says Dunn. "We have all the pieces in place other than the district." NTA's advocacy for community schools in the early stages of Natomas Unified's planning grant application led to strong foundations for building a collaborative process. President Mara Harvey says the local continues to share resources with district administrators to ensure effective imple- mentation, including development of shared leadership structures. NTA is focusing on working with members at the district's selected community school site and districtwide to help foster understanding about the potential impact of community schools. "We're working to ensure educators and parents have voices in schools. That's an exciting idea for STEP 2: BUILD EDUCATOR AND STUDENT SUPPORT Natomas Teachers Association (NTA) Members: 695 Mara Harvey, president 2 18 cta.org Nancy Dunn Mara Harvey Audrey Jacques Feature C O M M U N I T Y S C H O O L S