Reggie Smith Organizing School

About Reggie Smith

"Part revival preacher, part cheerleader, smoothly intelligent and downright street smart."

That's the way the Suffolk Sun once described Reggie Smith, and the VEA's onetime director of leadership development was all that and a lot more. In a 15-year career with the Association, the former elementary school principal left an indelible mark on thousands of educators and students.

Reggie was so sought after for his motivational and self-esteem-boosting presentations that at his untimely death at age 45 in 1986, his calendar was already filling up for the 1987-88 school year, both in Virginia and beyond. He was in demand as far away as California and Texas. He ran the VEA's Summer Leadership Academy, which now bears his name, and instituted and taught numerous training programs for VEA members, always to an enthusiastic reception.

"Those of us who knew him as a friend, who heard him speak, who were warmed by his smiles, who were inspired by his words, are better human beings because he passed our way," recalls former VEA Executive Director David Johnson.

Content Strands
You'll spend much of your time at the Reggie Smith Organizing School in one of the following strands. When you register, you'll need to pick one.

• Compensation
  For local Association leaders who are compensation chairs or compensation committee members, key Association officers, or Association activists interested in working for improved compensation for members. You'll cover a variety of compensation topics and have the chance to discuss compensation proposals with colleagues from across Virginia.
• Emerging Leaders
  If you are a newer or less experienced member, this training will teach you about the Association and prepare you to become more involved. You'll become familiar with the organization's structure, decision-making processes, leadership opportunities, and more. You'll also be provided with communications tips and do an analysis of your leadership potential. Training is provided by the Minority Leadership Training Cadre.
• Effective Locals
  If you have a role or interest in improving your local Association, this strand is for you. You'll learn the nuts and bolts of Association work, including membership recruitment, creating building-level teams, the vital role of the Association Representative, and more. You'll also learn how to quickly establish a local Association website and share effective strategies in use by local Associations around the state.
• Organizing
  You and your members have ideas about how schools should change. But are they being heard? It's time for educators to take back the profession. In this strand, you'll receive detailed training in how to move your local from a service culture to an organizing culture. You'll learn how to build the power to bring about the change you want to see. Topics include issue organizing, relational organizing, acting collectively, and more.
• ESP Organizing
  Education Support Professionals will tackle the content of the "Organizing" strand (above) in an environment designed to maximize the relevance to your issues and concerns. Along with your fellow ESPs, you'll study and practice organizing skills focused on ESP issues.
• Educational Initiatives
  Merit pay? Teacher evaluations based on student test scores? If you're a teacher leader, come learn how to turn these controversial topics into opportunities for local issue organizing. You'll review new guidelines for teacher performance and evaluation and the student growth model, and how both of these might affect teacher compensation and continuing contract in the future. The content will make you better prepared to advocate locally.

For more information, contact EAA President Gina Miller