May 7th marks my seventh year of working for WEAC Region 3. In those seven years I’ve seen so many of our local unions build membership and create meet and confer teams, both of which lead to strong, highly functioning unions. Our unions generally engage in a ladder of learning. We begin by talking about the union as a form of protection but eventually by doing the work and gaining momentum and members we become proactive on issues and take our seat at the table to discuss them with administrators and make positive change.

Speaking of building power- congratulations to the Pulaski Education Association for certifying at 75%!

I am so proud to work with union members as they take on all the challenges facing public education. In the past seven years we’ve seen successful membership drives, negotiations, organizing, and so much more! I am grateful for the team I work with at Region 3 for creating an environment that makes all of this happen!

Last month, I was able to participate at our lobby day with WEAC Retired and Aspiring Educators. I was in awe of our retired educators and the college students (our future members) who came to share their hopes and concerns for the upcoming budget. One of the main initiatives we are fighting for is to reimburse special education at 60%-90% instead of the 30% it’s at now. Especially when we consider private schools special ed programs are reimbursed at 90%! If you want to learn more about the budget and what you can do- reply to this email!

In Solidarity,

Kristin Lytie

WEAC Director

To best prepare for back-to-school membership and organizing efforts, we need the most up-to-date membership and local information as possible. Please make note of the deadlines below and send this information to us as soon as you can.

Local Dues Pay Schedule Change by May 23
The local selects the dues payment schedule for all members utilizing electronic funds transfer. Credit card payments are on a monthly, year-round schedule. WEAC membership needs to know if the local wants to change to a new schedule by May 23. Click here to view the schedule options and make changes.

Local Dues Change by June 30
If the local changes its dues, please inform WEAC membership of the change by June 30. Update your local dues by teacher/esp and full-time/part-time here.

Retired/Resigned lists by June 30
Please forward us your retired/resigned lists of members and potential members in your local by June 30. This will help us update our records prior to dues confirmation letters getting sent in the summer. Click here to submit the list.

Role Updates by August 31
Please inform us of your officer changes for the next membership year by August 31 so we can ensure your new officers are getting communications from WEAC and the Region. Click here to update or confirm you leadership roster.

Region 3's very own, Justin Delfosse, was recognized for his commitment and service to WEAC and public education at the 2025 WEAC Representative Assembly. Congratulations Justin, and thank you for all you do for our members!

The Sheboygan Education Association went all-in on this Spring’s election. They got involved early on, making sure that they had progressive candidates to fill all three of the seats coming open on their local school’s board of education. They made phone calls to encourage potential candidates to run and then helped secure signatures to help put solid candidates on the ballot.

This early attention to the composition of their future board proved critical; two candidates with ties to Mom’s for Liberty secured enough signatures to get on the ballot as well, setting up a five-way race for the three open seats.

The SEA then recorded their lengthy interviews with all five candidates and made them available to their membership along with their local’s voting-booth recommendations. Not stopping there, SEA volunteers knocked on doors, sent postcards to their members, phone banked area WEAC members and retirees, and educated their leaders and members at their building rep assembly meetings and at their departmental ten-minute meetings, about the importance of electing a supportive school board, superintendent of public instruction and supreme court justice.

When the votes were counted on election night, SEA activists were there too, to celebrate healthy majorities alongside their endorsed candidates.

Below is a photo of SEA activists with their newly elected school board candidates as they were sworn in at the first school board meeting of the new term. Left to Right: Allie Tasche, Stacy Wetzel, Mary Lynne Donohue, Denise Wittstock, Penny Abstetar, and Mickenzie Petrie-Rust.

• Voucher School Receives MILLIONS in State Funding
• Supreme Court Upholds Evers' Veto
• WI Libraries Brace for Steep Drop in Federal Funding
• Evers, GOP Leaders Meeting on Tax Package

• NEA's Comprehensive Immigration Guide: https://www.nea.org/resource-library/guidance-immigration-issues
• Red Cards: https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas
• Family Preparedness Plan: https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/resources/family_preparedness_plan_v3-20170323.pdf
• Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter - Resources for Ensuring Equal Access to Education for Immigrant Students: https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/key-policy-letters/dear-colleague-letter-resources-ensuring-equal-access-education-immigrant-students
• Education for All Campaign: https://education4all.us/
• Plyler and Data Collection: https://www.nilc.org/resources/plyler-and-data-collection

The WEA Academy has two summer courses that you might find of interest. First, our Creating LGBTQ+ Inclusive Schools is offered only once per year in June. This summer it will start June 16. The course challenges educators to examine and evaluate personal views and practices, review issues within schools that impact LGBTQ+ youth and families and develop strategies for taking action to make our schools more inclusive. Details and registration can be found at this link: Creating LGBTQ+ Inclusive Schools - Wisconsin Education Association Council.

You might also be interested in Strategies & Tools for Anti-Racist Educators. This course is designed to introduce you to curated anti-racism resources, support your own anti-racist learnings, and help you discover innovative ways to integrate anti-racism principles into your curriculum. The course meets Wednesdays in July. Details and registration can be found at this link: Strategies & Tools for Anti-Racist Educators - Wisconsin Education Association Council

Registration is also open for our first course on the use of AI: Artificial Intelligence: A Blended Learning Course - Wisconsin Education Association Council

Learning is an act of resistance. For the full catalog of WEA Academy courses please visit our homepage at: WEA Academy - Wisconsin Education Association Council. Registration for both the courses highlighted above are free as one of the many benefits of your continued union membership. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Spanish for Educators

Early Career Educator Resource Guide

National Board Certification

Becoming an Ambassador for Equity

Best Practices in Classroom Management

WEAC members who use WEAC Savers Club find big savings on health club memberships, weight loss programs and fitness equipment. If your resolution requires traveling, you can find savings on restaurants, water parks, hotels, rental cars and more. That is in addition to savings on everyday items you might have to buy such as school supplies, classroom needs, clothes, and technology.