Meetings Attended
End of School Year / Over the Summer:
- Attended the May and June Executive meetings as a guest
- Attended the May Representative Assembly as a guest
- Met with the Past President
- Met with the LINC Chair
- Met with the Vice President
August:
- Executive Meeting – August 24, 2026
- PSTA/PSSD Joint Professional Development Committee Meeting
- General Assembly
- Met with the HR Superintendent
- Met with the Director of Education
Overview of Activities
Relationship Building and Member Engagement
The summer provided some much-needed time to slow down and enjoy some vacation time, but it was also an opportunity to begin getting ready for the year ahead. I connected with several Committee Chairs, both in person and by email, to learn more about their work and prepare for the start of the school year.
I also had the opportunity to informally connect with both new and returning PSTA members at community events, including Jazz Fest and various children’s activities. These informal conversations have been a great way to get to know members outside of the workplace and to hear what is important to them.
It was fantastic to see such strong engagement at the General Assembly. Seeing members participate, ask questions, and contribute to the conversation was very encouraging. I believe this is a positive sign for our organization and an important opportunity to continue strengthening member participation and involvement.
The Governance Committee will be using 1.5 Executive Release time to meet and begin its planning work. We are also planning to apply for an STF Local Association Grant to help support this work.
A large part of my first two weeks back was focused on preparing for and supporting the General Assembly, including helping with setup. I have also spent a significant amount of time meeting with Division Office staff and completing the start-of-year administrative work associated with the PSTA. This has included updating staff email lists, recruiting school representatives, and making sure our systems and communications are ready for the year ahead.
Advocacy
There are no advocacy updates at this time.
Strengthening Our Organization
One of my priorities over the summer was taking time to better understand the work of the PSTA. I reviewed the past two years of meeting minutes, several months of emails, and documents related to LINC, the Wellness Committee, and Governance. This has given me a much better understanding of where we are as an organization and the work that has already been done.
I am also spending time becoming familiar with our Google Workspace, MailerLite subscription list, and WordPress website. Having a strong understanding of where our files, information, and communication systems are located will help me ensure that we are organized and able to maintain continuity moving forward.
I plan to bring a President Transition Plan forward to the Executive for consideration, with the goal of incorporating it into policy. The intention is to make transitions between Presidents smoother and to ensure that important organizational knowledge is not lost when leadership changes. The plan would outline key topics that should be discussed between the outgoing and incoming Presidents, including:
- An introduction to all organizational and technology accounts
- Preparation for the General Assembly and the agenda for the business portion of the meeting, including Constitutional amendments
- A strong understanding of member email accounts and communication systems
- An overview of organizational files, documents, and where they are stored
- Key ongoing projects, committees, and organizational priorities
The goal of this transition plan is to support continuity, preserve organizational knowledge, and ensure that future Presidents have the information and resources they need to begin their terms with confidence.
Looking Ahead
It has certainly been a memorable start to my first few weeks in this role! There has been a steep learning curve, but I am genuinely enjoying the experience and learning something new every day.
I am especially looking forward to getting out to schools over the next couple of weeks and meeting with members in their schools. Building relationships, listening to members, and understanding their experiences will be an important part of my work as President.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to welcome me, share information, answer my many questions, and help me get settled into the role. I am excited about the year ahead and look forward to working together to continue strengthening our organization and supporting our members.
