School district: Winfield R-4

Grade level/subject: High school Special Education

Years teaching: Six years as a teacher, eight years as para before that

Years in MSTA: 15 years

Roles in MSTA: Current CTA President and Northeast Region Board member

Why did you get involved with MSTA?

MSTA is the organization that most closely reflects my values and beliefs. I joined MSTA when I got a job as a paraprofessional 16 years ago because I knew it was important to have legal protection in case I needed it. Even as a bus driver I joined, and encouraged others to join, MSTA. I had been in SMSTA when I was in college getting my certification and master's.  

How has MSTA made a difference in your career?

The opportunity to be CTA President and work with the negotiating team at Winfield has helped me become more confident asking questions and requesting things that I or other teachers feel we need from the district.  Working closely with administration in my role as CTA President has given me a much better understanding of the district's operations as a whole.

What is advice you wish you could give yourself earlier in your career?

If I could give myself some advice 30 years ago when I first got my certificate, I would tell myself to apply for a paraprofessional position instead of trying only to find a teaching position. There was an overabundance of teachers at the time, and I didn't have any connections in any districts, so I was unable to get a teaching job at that time and ended up having several careers until I finally got into education. I spent eight years as a para and one-and-a-half as a bus driver, before I finally got a full-time teaching position six years ago. Looking back, I realize this would have been the best way to start out so I could get my foot in the door and learn classroom management in a position of less responsibility.   

Why Kathie was named an Unsung Hero:

"With passion and a dedication to advocate for district staff, Kathie stepped in to the CTA President role," said MSTA Member Service Coordinator Jennifer Conner. "She successfully guided the Winfield CTA and its staff in securing exclusive bargaining rights for MSTA. Their CTA recently negotiated their first collective bargaining agreement in over five years. Her hard work has resulted in membership growth for the CTA."