Plymouth union offers Pint-Sized PD

August 14, 2024August 16, 2024

A photo of educators taking a training course

By Brenda Ortega
MEA Voice Editor

In the past two years, Christine Rushlow surveyed members of the Plymouth Canton Education Association (PCEA) with two questions: what problems are you confronting in your school role, and what expertise do you offer which could help others address issues they’re facing?

As the PCEA vice president for elementary, Rushlow has led a popular two-year local initiative to bring more meaningful professional development to members while offering social and professional opportunities for connection that strengthen union and collegial bonds.

Known as Pint-Sized PD, the NEA grant-funded program delivers tailor-made training sessions led by members and limited to one-hour long at a locally owned brewery in Plymouth’s historic downtown district.

“After COVID, our members needed more in-person opportunities to learn and network and have conversations with people outside of their buildings,” Rushlow said. “We recognized the importance of keeping members engaged and showing them we’re here to support each other.”

In the member surveys, the two issues that emerged as top interests for learning sessions were student aggression/behavior and preparing for retirement. Other topics included equitable grading practices, engaging reluctant learners, avoiding power struggles, contract highlights, and freelancing.

Rushlow aligned desired topics and PCEA members’ expertise to create several sessions per year – many with continuing education credit hours available. Those who stepped up to create sessions were paid a small stipend for their time.

“Interactive events were offered almost every month and provided a variety of useful training which not only increased skill sets and enhanced connection across the district but also highlighted and grew members’ expertise and leadership skills,” Rushlow said.

In the program’s first year, 220 people signed up for retirement sessions, so trainings were split in two – one for those within three years of retirement and another for members with more time left to work and save. Even so, some sessions had to be moved to MEA offices and offered twice.

Sessions on classroom management and behavioral supports and strategies have also been popular, she said. “What came clear is how important it is for us to do everything we can to support the teachers we have because districts everywhere are feeling impacts of the educator shortage.”

The program delivered in the first year with a session by a PCEA member who is a board-certified behavior analyst sharing general education classroom management tips and tricks. In the second year, she followed up with a session on power struggles and de-escalation strategies.

“Both sessions were well attended and well-received, but I feel like we’re just at the tip of the iceberg on what needs to be addressed,” Rushlow said.

Pint-Sized PD supplements and informs other union work being done to address concerns – shared by educators nationwide – about violence in the classroom. For example, a meeting in the spring brought together union leaders and administrators for discussion, she added.

“In education across the board, we’re seeing more student aggression at younger and younger levels, and we do not have state law at the elementary level dictating what happens next. At our meeting we came to consensus that the district would benefit from better defined protocols and processes.”

The PD program grew out of a pre-COVID opportunity through NEA, which PCEA utilized, aimed at early career educators. In that offering, early career educators were offered a curriculum, a virtual coach, and a virtual cohort of others interested in related problems of practice in early career teaching.

“That ended up being a great experience for our teachers, especially once COVID hit, because they knew how to use zoom and were familiar with accessing materials online,” Rushlow said. “But as local unions took it over and we came out of COVID, the program morphed. People needed in-person contact.

“We hired 100 teachers during those virtual years, and they were craving contact across buildings and grade levels.”

The NEA grant covers light food such as pizza and the first round of drinks. Sessions are held in an upstairs area of Bearded Lamb Brewing Company, which is co-owned by a member who offers the space at a discounted rate.

“I’ve learned from NEA about the importance of supporting our local community and keeping our money in as many local businesses as we can, which helps create a positive image of PCEA and the businesses alike,” Rushlow said.

Learning materials are shared with members and uploaded to an NEA database of member-developed resources addressing identified areas of widespread challenges of classroom practice.

Across the Plymouth Canton district, educators are using a curriculum that teaches students strategies for emotional regulation and social connection, and it’s helpful when everyone is using the same language to reinforce ideas at every level and building.

Similarly, educators who interact in trainings see how their work flows from and builds on the work of others, Rushlow said. “We have 1,000 members. You can imagine how powerful it is to see our staff networking and growing their understanding of the impact we all have across grade levels.”

Rushlow presented on the program at the MEA Summer Conference alongside MEA UniServ Director Seth Furlow who serves the Plymouth Canton unit. Additional funding is being sought to continue the program, but leaders hope to keep it going even if the NEA grant goes away.

“This series has been wildly successful, and it would not have been possible without Christine’s focused leadership,” Furlow said. “She demonstrates how far one determined leader can move a local forward by marshaling the expertise and strength that already exists within our membership.”

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