As the academic year has been drawing to a close, the word ‘balance’ seems to keep coming up in various conversations and contexts.
Balanced budgets. Balance of power. Catch off balance. Hang in the balance. Strike a balance. Your account balance. A balanced diet.
I’ll be the first to admit, when it comes to anything regarding physical balance, movement of any kind, especially in athletics, balance is just not my forte. In fact, I am pretty much a klutz. I was a sight to see on (or should I say ‘off’) the balance beam in gym class. Though not intentional (at least, I think it was just coincidence) my basketball jersey in junior high was number 13. (My athletic career ended then.) I could blame it on my rather large feet, I suppose, but it really is just a matter of being naturally pretty clumsy. (As for my shoe size, my mom always told me it meant I had ‘good understanding’…)
Yet despite my lack of ability regarding physical balance, I do strive to be balanced in other ways. Notice I said ‘strive’—endeavor, have as a goal—not necessarily achieve, despite my best efforts, but I do strive.
I have kept as a priority throughout my professional life as both an educator and colleague, as well as an association leader at local, state, and national levels, finding the right balance among varying instructional strategies, diverse student needs, the sometimes competing opinions of members, and the opposing perspectives of people in different roles or organizations. I have often said, particularly in the last few years, that at times the position I have now entails a kind of tightrope walking. Fortunately, given my aforementioned problem with physical balance, that is not a literal tightrope! Most importantly, even with nearly 24,000 members each of whom is a unique individual with unique experiences, there is great balance and strong solidarity among us when it comes to the importance of our union, of public education, and of what our students need and deserve.
We have seen many locals demonstrate that solidarity over this past year, leading to success in collective bargaining agreements, in school board election results, and in an ever stronger union.
We saw that solidarity at the MEA Representative Assembly. There was great, respectful debate on a range of issues. In the end, good decisions were made to help move MEA forward and improve the lives of our members and ultimately our students. (And we passed a balanced Strategic Budget!)
Your Maine delegation to the NEA Representative Assembly will be heading off to Orlando soon. We will encounter a tremendous showing of solidarity among roughly 8,000 educators from our state affiliates as we represent the nearly three million members of the NEA. There will be great discussions and debates there, too, and in the end, our union will be ever stronger.
Many who are reading this have likely struggled with another type of balance—that of work/life. It seems to go with our profession, though it shouldn’t. Together we can keep improving that balance for us all. Let’s be sure we are talking with each new hire as they enter our districts and campuses in a few months. Do what you can to support them, especially those new to the profession. An offer to help find things they need or even just to check in and listen to how it’s going does so much to support someone who is new. Talk again with any other potential members who haven’t yet joined us. Share your reasons for being a member and explain the value of belonging. Let’s do what we can to encourage those who are already members to be more engaged in our association, if only in some small way at first. (That means you, too!)
“Come to this meeting; I think you’ll like it” were the words my colleague said to me nearly five decades ago…words that eventually led me to the honor of serving as your MEA President. In a year it will be someone else–one of you–who will be writing the President’s message for the Maine Educator.
In the meantime, I will continue to do my best to listen to all members, to encourage many more of you to ‘come to this meeting’—I know you’ll like it!—and to keep working hard to maintain balance in our union, keep our union strong, and to continue moving forward.
For now, please enjoy another beautiful Maine summer, regain that work/life balance if it was lost, enjoy time with family and friends, and let’s all recharge in preparation for what I know will be a great year ahead!
In Unity,
Grace
