Union officials: Evansville a national model in teacher relations
The Evansville Courier & Press reports that Evansville is a national model in teachers union-school district collaboration, visiting union officials said Monday.
Indiana State Teachers Association President Nate Schnellenberger and National Education Association Secretary-Treasurer Rebecca Pringle said Monday that initiatives crafted by the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. and its teachers association are making a positive difference in schools of high need.
At McGary Middle School, the guests were shown the school’s new community garden and future greenhouse site. They also met with teachers about school-wide efforts to push students to higher levels of achievement.
“We’re excited to have state and national support of what we’re doing,” Evansville Teachers Association President Keith Gambill said.
McGary and two elementary schools — Delaware and Evans — two years ago were given greater self-governing authority by the EVSC. The school district and teachers association worked on a plan to allow the three schools to lengthen their school days and years and implement more of their own programs.
Ongoing training for teachers has been emphasized at all three schools.