My Turn: Meet Janice McRae — An Activist on Many Fronts

First and foremost, I’m passionate about working with special needs children. It’s a joy, a privilege, and my pleasure to work and interact with these amazing learners.

It’s my belief that all students can learn and it’s up to dedicated educators like me to ensure that each of them gets the free, appropriate public education they deserve.

I believe that providing an appropriate public education for all is the duty of each stakeholder at every level and in every position in the school building. It’s up to us as educators to differentiate, strategize, and ensure that learning takes place every school day.

Another passion is my role as an activist for my fellow education support members. I’ve been a proud union member for 14 years and I serve on ESPBC’s government relations, bylaws and policy, recognition selections committees, and the NEA Black Caucus.

As the building representative, I meet with other representatives five times a year to discuss the latest ESPBC news and policy changes or updates to our master agreement, which I share with members in my building. I’ve also met with local legislators and lobbied in Annapolis.

Since becoming our building representative for ESPBC, my professional development opportunities have increased tremendously and I’ve taken advantage of trainings, conferences, and leadership summits — most recently the NEA 2017 ESP National Conference in March.

At MSEA’s 2015 Representative Assembly (RA) in Ocean City, I proposed a new business item (NBI) to support new delegates attending their first MSEA and NEA RA. It resulted in a teletown hall with President Betty Weller before the 2016 NEA RA in Washington D.C., and a meeting for new delegates at the convention center before the RA began. At MSEA’s 2016 RA, President Weller hosted a standing-room only meeting for new delegates. MSEA also provided new digital content to help orient new delegates to Robert’s Rules of Order and other meeting procedures. At the 2016 NEA RA in Washington D.C., I offered a similar NBI requesting future support for new delegates attending the RA through a Facebook page and other platforms.