UEA Recognized Caucuses
Educators of the Blind Caucus
The UEA Board approved the Educators of the Blind Caucus of Directors in May 2019.
Purpose:
Provide input to the Utah Education Association Board of Directors regarding all professional issues for Utah educators of BVI students, including but not limited to policies and procedures, standardized assessments, and curriculum.
Goals:
Specialized group collaboration on “neutral ground.”
Topics might include:
- Caseload analysis
- Advocating for the needs of students/educators
- Standardized assessment review
- Unique traveling circumstances
- Ideas for difficult situations
- Question/Answer sessions
- Policy review and study sessions
Possible Future Goals:
- Professional development and training
- Mentoring
Contact USDB Education Association member Suzy Blackham for information.
LGBTQ+ Caucus
The UEA Board approved the LGBTQ+ Caucus of Directors in August 2021.
Purpose and Goals:
The Utah Education Association Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ Caucus is hereby founded to provide a means of professional support for our colleagues and allies. The UEA-LGBTQ+ Caucus works to provide educators, education support professionals, and students with safe schools free of anti-LGBTQ+ bias and intolerance and to provide sound educational programs for all students.
The UEA-LGBTQ+ Caucus, to eliminate institutional discrimination, homophobia, and transphobia, shall monitor and participate in the development of UEA policies and activities, provide resources, and foster better communication among educators, students, and communities. The UEA-LGBTQ+ Caucus shall also monitor and make recommendations to the UEA-PAC and UEA Legislative Team.
The UEA-LGBTQ+ Caucus shall align in purpose and philosophy with the Utah Education Association, the National Education Association, and the NEA-LGBTQ+ Caucus.
Mission:
UEA’s LGBTQ+ Caucus’ mission is to protect and advocate for LGBTQ+ students, affirm and support LGBTQ+ educators, and develop and educate allies, building bridges that make Utah’s schools places of safety and fulfillment for all who enter.
Contact Reece Jacobsen, Washington County Education Association member, for more details.
Rural Caucus
The UEA Board approved the Educators of the Blind Caucus of Directors in December 2021.
Purpose:
The Utah Education Association Rural Schools Caucus is hereby founded to provide a forum and a means of professional support for educators who serve schools in rural districts.
Goals:
The Rural Schools Caucus will work to provide educators, education support professionals, and other educational partners with information and a forum for topics that directly impact smaller schools and districts.
The Caucus shall also monitor and recommend to the UEA-PAC and UEA Legislative Team.
The Rural Schools Caucus shall align in purpose and philosophy with the Utah Education Association and the National Education Association.
Contact Rodney Herd, Sevier Education Association member, for more details.
Social Justice Caucus
The Social Justice Caucus was approved by the UEA Board of Directors in June 2019.
Caucus Requirements:
All members must be in the education profession and a member of the education association.
At least 25 voting members
Other non-voting members are welcome
Defined purpose and goals
Communication with the UEA Board
Purpose:
Provide a means of professional organization and unification towards action for members interested in furthering Social Justice work and equity practices in public schools and provide a collaborative space for leaders creating and running Social Justice committees at a local level.
Goals:
Specialized group collaboration in a neutral space with access to Zoom or other meeting-related technology.
Engage and encourage members of the Utah Education Association in Social Justice work, allyship, and activism.
Topics might include, but are not limited to:
- ACES
- Activism: human rights, local, and political in reference to human rights
- Addiction issues
- Ally training
- Athletic equity
- Bir-racial adoption
- Chronic illness
- Creating and disseminating member resources or professional development
- Culturally relevant pedagogy
- Disability rights
- Diversity
- Empowerment of students and members
- Equal accessibility
- Family structures
- Food and housing instability
- Fundraising for Social Justice causes
- Gender equity
- Grant applications
- Ideas for difficult situations
- Incarcerated parents or family members
- Inclusivity
- Income disparities
- Indigenous land rights
- Institutional Racism and the School-to-Prison Pipeline
- LGBTQIA+ community
- Mental health
- Missing and murdered Indigenous women
- Multicultural education practices
- Organizing for activism and advocacy
- Organizing Social Justice groups in local associations
- Policy review and study sessions
- Question/Answer sessions
- Racial bias/inequity
- Refugee/immigration issues
- Restorative Practices
- Social Justice book club or film studies
- Social/Emotional learning
- Suicide prevention
- Trauma-informed practices
Provide organized, educator-specific input regarding pertinent policies/procedures, standardized assessments, curriculums, etc., to state and local school boards, legislators, and other interested parties.
Create caucus-specific bylaws and materials for the Utah Education Association Social Justice caucus with a quorum of caucus members. These will be shared with and approved by the UEA Board of Directors.
Contact Caren Burns, Granite Education Association member, for more details.
Special Education Caucus
The Special Education Caucus was approved by the UEA Board of Directors in October 2020.
Membership
Membership is open to all UEA members who have an interest in supporting special education.
Requirements
- All members must be in the education profession AND a member of the education association. At least 25 members
- Defined purpose and goals
- Communication with the UEA Board
Purpose
To provide input to the Utah Education Association Board of Directors regarding all professional issues for Utah special educators, including but not limited to policies and procedures, standardized assessments, and curriculum.
Goals
Provide organized educator-specific input regarding pertinent policies/procedures, standardized assessments, curriculums, etc., to state and local school boards, legislators, and any other interested parties.
Work to connect our Utah caucus with the NEA Caucus of Educators of Exceptional Children (CEEC).
Contact Suzy Blackham, USDB Education Association member, for more details.
