PSEA is a community of education professionals who make a difference in the lives of students every day.
Voice: November 2017
Public education and unions are literally in Brianne Carter’s blood.
While growing up in Maryland, both of her parents were teachers and members of the Maryland Education Association.
“My dad was also the football coach, and conflicts came up sometimes with parents, administrators, and students,’’ said Carter. “Several times he had to work with a union rep.’’
And, as an American history teacher, she noted she teaches about the accomplishments of the labor movement in the United States.
“We are part of a long, important history of advocating for working people,’’ Carter said.
She taught for 12 years in Maryland before taking a position in 2016-17 as a high school history and English as a Second Language teacher in the York City School District, York County.
Frustrated that Maryland ranked near the top nationally for administrators’ salaries, but near the bottom for teachers’ pay, she got move involved in the union during her final years in Maryland.
During that time, a PSEA representative visited educators in Maryland as a consultant.
“He was wonderful,’’ Carter said. “He really revved everybody up, and told us, ‘Don’t sit back and take this. You are professionals. You need to demand what you are worth.’’’
She was already living in Pennsylvania while teaching in Maryland and had friends who were PSEA members. So, when she got hired in York, she wasted no time becoming a PSEA member and getting involved.
“A friend who teaches in a neighboring district told me about this conference in Gettysburg and what a great experience it was,’’ Carter said. “I went to a Southern Region event and really enjoyed the experience, and local leaders were encouraging me to go to Gettysburg.’’
After receiving a PSEA BAC Boot Camp Scholarship for the Gettysburg Summer Leadership Conference this year, off she went. Carter calls it a “transformative experience’’ that further strengthened her commitment to unions.
She is now working on the Building Action Coordinator Program in York, which she notes is particularly important with “so much at stake with the upcoming (2018) gubernatorial and mid-term elections.’’
Carter calls it a “a difficult time to be a teacher in America,’’ but said that makes it all the more important to speak out.
“As PSEA members, it is really important for us to be vocal to our elected officials,’’ Carter said. “We should call them and write them, and be present at their town hall meetings to make our voices heard.’’
