Naomi Baden is the new executive director – and the first female with the title – of the REA-REAA (Racine Education Association-Racine Educational Assistants Association).
REA President Jennifer Levie made the announcement Saturday in a written release.
“Naomi represents all that is best about a new approach to public education unionism. She comes to us at the very moment we need to connect the dots and bring fresh perspectives to the challenges we confront every day,” Levie wrote.
Baden’s experience includes serving as interim Chief of Staff for the Washington D.C. Teachers Union. She also spent time in Wisconsin working with the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association (MTEA) after the passage of Act 10. Baden served a similar role in Michigan with the Michigan Education Association after the legislative changes there impacted collective bargaining as well.
According to the release, Baden spent time as the Director of Training and Organizational Development for the Montgomery County Education Association, Maryland, and she addressed the need for creative approaches to education reform:
If local education union leaders are to take their rightful seat at the public education reform table, they will need to be creative and agile, build a base for change within the ranks, share and distribute union leadership, and advocate the perspectives of educators with school district management to prevent those voices from being discounted. It also means understanding and committing to community, our students and their families.
Baden holds a law degree from the New York University School of Law and a Masters Degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University.
You must be logged in to post a comment.