Kentucky Education Association

The Kentucky Education Association (KEA) is an advocacy and lobbying group for "improved education funding, safe schools, better materials, smaller class sizes, and the empowerment of school employees and parents" in Kentucky's education system. It was founded in 1857.[1] Membership is voluntary, and all school employees can join. KEA has satellites in every school district of Kentucky and is an affiliate of the National Education Association. It is the largest professional group in the state.[1]

Organization

KEA is divided into 13 separate districts, each governed by an elected board of directors. KEA also elects members to its policy making arm, the Delegate Assembly, which is held each year, and to the National Education Association's representative delegation.[2]

KEA runs 15 offices throughout Kentucky and employs over 55 staff members under an Executive Director. KEA's president and vice president are allowed to work full-time for KEA rather than holding normal classroom positions.[2]

Political influence

KEA's political unit is called the Kentucky Educators' Political Action Committee (KEPAC)[3] It was an FEC-registered federal Political Action Committee during the 2000 and 2008 elections. In the 2008 election, KEA spent over $27,000 to send direct mail to influence its members to vote for U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford. The Richmond Register reported some influence on the 2011 Kentucky gubernatorial election over the issue of funding for education.[4]

In 2011 the KEA pressed Kentucky lawmakers not to proceed with proposed cuts to the education budget,[5] but the bill passed on March 2, 2011.[6]

Earlier in 2011 the KEA withdrew their opposition to Senate Bill 12, which would give authority for school superintendents rather than school councils to hire principals, to focus on issues of education funding.[7]

In 2008 KEA/KEPAC was ranked as the number-three political action committee in Kentucky, having spent $286,014 in the state. In 2010, the organization spent $435,291.18 on state political activities and ended the year with $451,575.66 of funds.[8]

Historical

In 1911, KEA elected its first female president, Cora Wilson Stewart.[9]

In 1913, KEA was criticized for not fully supporting the women's suffrage movement in Kentucky. The Lexington Leader claimed it was because it would mean equal rights and therefore higher pay to female teachers. KEA denied the allegation.[10]

In 1955, KEA successfully lobbied both gubernatorial candidates to pledge an increase of $20 million to public schools in Kentucky.[11]

In 1968, KEA helped to push through an increase to the state's sales tax (to 5%) to provide additional funding for education.[12]

The group organized a widespread teacher's strike in the state in 1970 to demand a pay raise.[13] Throughout the 1970s, KEA tried repeatedly and unsuccessfully to get a bill giving teachers the right to unionization. This fight resulted in numerous work stoppages.[14]

In 1985 the KEA successfully lobbied for an education bill to pass.[15]

In 1987, KEA backed a Republican governor (John Harper) for the first time in their 13-year history of gubernatorial endorsement.[16]

Current leadership
  • President: Lee Edward Campbell
  • Vice President: Joel Wolford
  • Executive Director: Mary Wheeler Ruble[2]

See also

References
  1. "Kentucky Education Association: About KEA". KEA web site. Kentucky Education Association. 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  2. "Kentucky Education Association | About KEA". Kea.org. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  3. "Kentucky Education Association | Home". Kea.org. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  4. Ronnie Ellis. "More than meets the eye » Viewpoints". The Richmond Register. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  5. Ellis, Ronnie (2011-03-19). "Agreement nearing for Ky. Medicaid » Local News". The Richmond Register. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  6. Musgrave, Beth (2011-03-03). "State Senate approves spending cuts despite protests from educators | Politics and Government". Kentucky.com. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  7. in: Ky. Legislature (2011-01-16). "Bill would give superintendents more say in principal hiring | Kentucky Politics". Cincinnati.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-04. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  8. "KREF - Online Searchable Database". Kref.state.ky.us. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  9. Schramm-Pate, Susan; Jeffries, Rhonda B. Grappling with Diversity: Readings on Civil Rights Pedagogy and Critical ... - Susan Schramm-Pate, Rhonda Baynes Jeffries - Google Books. ISBN 9780791478998. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  10. Hay, Melba (2009-04-24). Madeline McDowell Breckinridge and the Battle for a New South - Melba Porter Hay - Google Books. ISBN 978-0813173269. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  11. Special to The New York Times. (1955-07-17). "DEMOCRATS SPLIT IN KENTUCKY RACE - Chandler and Combs Seek Gubernatorial Nomination in Close, Bitter Battle - Article - NYTimes.com". Select.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  12. Special to The New York Times (1968-03-17). "KENTUCKY SALES TAX WILL INCREASE TO 5% - Article - NYTimes.com". Select.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  13. "The Evening Independent - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  14. "Williamson Daily News - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  15. "Lexington Herald Leader: Search Results". nl.newsbank.com. 1985-07-13. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  16. "Lexington Herald Leader: Search Results". nl.newsbank.com. 1987-09-01. Retrieved 2014-02-16.

Further reading
  • Beane, Dana F. A history of efforts by the Kentucky Education Association toward passage of a professional negotiations law in the Kentucky General Assembly 1968–1976. (PhD dissertation, University of Kentucky, 1978).
  • Hopkins, Porter H. KEA: The First Hundred Years: The History of an Organization (Louisville: Kentucky Education Association, 1957). online book review
  • Meisburg, Jack Marshall. "The organization and political activities of the Kentucky Education Association" ( Diss. University of Louisville, 1951).
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