The San Juan Teachers Association New Leadership Team
Shannan Brown and Bill Simmons
The New San Juan Teachers Association Leadership Team is composed of experienced dedicated educators. The new leaders are: Shannan Brown, President, Bill Simmons, Vice President and Larry Edgemon, Secretary-Treasurer.
"There are people who are trying to solve the problems in education by excluding teachers from the conversation. That approach is disrespectful to us as professionals. We are on the front lines and have valuable insights about what students need to succeed", said Shannan Brown the newly elected SJTA President. The SJTA new leadership team understands that as educators face this challenging era, it is essential that leadership possess the vision and fortitude necessary to anticipate and support practitioner needs. Leadership must foster a participative relationship filled with opportunities to listen to the voices of the practitioners as well as provide guidance, training, and other resources. The San Juan Teachers Association provides such leadership.
President Shannan Brown, an active member of SJTA during her twelve years of teaching, has served locally as a site representative for 7 years, an Executive Board member for 4 years, and on our Bargaining Team for 6 years, two as chairperson. She has also served statewide as a State Council Representative and an NEA delegate. Shannan has always been active at the site and district levels as a leadership team member, a BTSA site coach, an assessment mentor, and a member of the SJTA/SJUSD Joint Assessment Team.
As California Teacher of the Year in 2011, Shannan has advocated the need for teachers, as the experts, to be involved in the discussions relating to the direction of education to meet the 21st century needs of students. "We need to be proactive and take the lead in the education discussion," she is quick to state. Shannan is also an outstanding listener and will be a strong advocate for members and what is best for students. When asked about the year ahead, she stated, "I am honored to serve the members of SJTA. Our members engage in work that is critical to our country's success; they work everyday to make the lives of the children better."
President Brown also stated," That SJTA must be ever vigilant not to fall behind other comparable Districts in salary and benefits. Even though we are currently in tough economic times, we must always be cognizant that we will provide reasonable and substantive raises in salary and increased benefits when the economy turns back on a positive track."
Vice President Bill Simmons has taught 10 years in the District after 20 years in private sector training and management positions. He has served as a SJTA site representative for 3 years, an Executive Board member for 2 years, and Secretary-Treasurer for the last 4 years. He has also been the SJTA PACE co-chair, and State Council Representative and NEA delegate. Vice President Simmons has been very active in District Strategic Planning.
Bill sees building leadership capacity for SJTA as important during this time of attacks on our profession. "Building the leadership for our Union is the most important thing for the next five years. With new membership coming into the profession and so many veterans retiring we need to build our leadership capacity. We need to focus on meeting the great challenges facing our changing membership," he stated.
Larry Edgemon, the newly elected Secretary - Treasurer, has been a teacher in the San Juan District for 15 years. He currently teaches 6th grade English/History at Will Rogers Middle School. He has served as an SJTA site rep for 13 years, a member of the SJTA Executive Board for one year, a CTA State Council Rep for ten years and has sat on various SJTA committees.
"As a member of the SJTA leadership team, I hope to modernize the way we communicate with our members, educate our members of the benefits of SJTA membership and the relevancy of the union to all members. And of course, as Secretary-Treasurer of SJTA, continue the excellent stewardship of our SJTA budget."
The new SJTA officers are well aware that there are elements in our society that are committed to destroying public education and blaming all societal ills on unions and public school educators. However, they believe that from crisis grows opportunity. The new leadership is excited to take the lead.
Please call SJTA if you would like to discuss any matters with your new officers.