I caught the education bug at an early age. My mom ran a daycare through our church, and when I was still young, I spent time working with the elementary-aged students, helping them learn how to read, write, and do basic math. That’s what drew me toward education.
I’ve been a teacher for 13 years now—eight years as a special education teacher and five years as a social studies teacher. I teach world history and AP U.S. history. As a social studies teacher, the most rewarding part of my day, as cheesy as it may sound, is making history come alive for students. When I teach world history, I want my students to understand that it’s the story of all humanity. When it comes to AP U.S. history, I want students to understand the story of our nation, the mistakes we’ve made along the way, and how we’ve adapted and changed because of those mistakes.
I think education is one of the noblest occupations that anyone can pursue, but it takes a certain kind of person to do it. With the support of my unions—NEA, the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA), and the Zionsville Educators Association (ZEA)—I’ve been able to see the benefits of engagement for both myself and the local community. And I think that’s an important takeaway.
Being in a union is not just about helping ourselves, but about helping everyone.
My dad, grandfather, and uncle were all members of the United Auto Workers, and I grew up in a community in Michigan where I saw firsthand how being a part of the union benefited my entire family. So, going into education, it was a no-brainer for me to join the union. When I started working at my current, I saw the number of hours that went into negotiations and the relationships that were built between administrators and teachers because of the union. I’m lucky enough to be part of a community where the administration and the union work very well together. It’s not collective bargaining; it’s collaborative bargaining. We do a darn good job of it, and it really impacts everyone in the community in a positive way.
Right now, I’m ZEA’s secretary and I’m also on their bargaining committee. I also help our state union, ISTA, with member organizing. That entails knocking on doors, having conversations, and building relationships with fellow educators.
When I have a conversation with someone, it doesn’t always end with them instantly joining the union or seeing the benefits of it. But getting to know someone by listening to their perspective and having them listen to mine usually creates common ground over time. While they might not join the union for a year or two, one day they’ll come to knock on my door and say, ‘I’m ready to join, I’m starting to see the benefits of it for me.’
