Denver, Colorado hosted SW TURN on September 21-22, 2018. The meeting focused on addressing the needs of our members in several different capacities. The meeting kicked off with Henry Roman, President of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, providing a brief update on the happenings within his association.
On the first day, the meeting centered around addressing the needs of our members. Suzanne Ethredge, President of the Pueblo Education Association, presented on the teacher strike in Pueblo, Colorado. It was the first teacher strike in Colorado since 1994. Suzanne presented on the strategies used by the union as well as the result.
The second day of the meeting focused on unions supporting the professional needs of their members. Laura McArthur, Director of Resilient Futures, presented on how trauma can be better addressed inside and outside of the classroom. The meeting concluded with a session on the power of unions, at the ballot box, at the bargaining table and at the worksite.
Additionally, APA Consulting completed two case studies of the work SW TURN has done in the region. The first case study centered on the PAR and Mentoring programs created through labor-management collaboration in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The second case study focused on the creation of a community school (Jefferson High School) in Jefferson County, Colorado. The full case studies can be found on the SW TURN webpage.
SW TURN will be hosting their spring meeting sometime in April/May in San Antonio, Texas.