LINDSAY
RAY
for
OEA
VP

I believe that as educators, we have the opportunity to be a force for positive change. I am committed to advocating for our communities, increasing member involvement, and bringing members together, ensuring that we are a strong and vocal presence throughout the state, and fighting for the schools our students deserve. 
 

Vision

I want to build union power and get every OEA local to be win-ready. Winning isn’t just about bargaining–it’s about building collective power to create lasting change. That means working with locals to develop sustainable and strategic plans for collective action and union power.  Doing this work alongside local leaders and rank and file members is imperative as we build an intentional movement within our association to increase union power across the state, especially in the midst of the instability and hostility from the federal level. OEA should also be laser-focused on the Quality Education Model (QEM) as we are closer than ever before to realizing that goal. We need an intentional plan to mobilize educators and students through organizing, mobilize school boards and lawmakers through political action, and mobilize our communities through deliberate outreach and engagement to reach that goal.

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Connection 

I want to ensure that every OEA member knows that we are all the union, and that our association thrives on robust member engagement. I want to connect members with opportunities to learn, lead, grow, and make a difference, and I want to ensure member leaders across the state have the training and resources they need to engage members and do great union work.

I want to connect OEA members with union values to build the power of our union. Our responsibility as a state union is to connect members from every corner of Oregon to stand in solidarity with each other, unite our profession, and share our successes, challenges, experiences, and expertise with each other.  I will also increase our connection and solidarity with other labor and community organizations in Oregon, especially our AFT/OSEA union siblings.
 

Advocacy

I want to be an advocate for OEA members within our union, so that members can rely on a transparent and accountable member-led organization. I want to ensure OEA structures (including governance, communication practices, committees, conferences, etc.) are not barriers or sources of confusion, but avenues of access for member involvement.  As a high school math teacher, I'm ready to tackle the OEA budget on day one, and work to transparently develop a budget that serves our members, incorporates member voice, and keeps our union financially healthy for years to come. 

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I also want OEA to be an advocate for educators and students at the local, state, and national levels, building and flexing our political muscle with the state legislature, with local school boards, and with our federal representatives. I want us to continue to be advocates for historically marginalized communities within institutions and systems of power. I plan to continue working with members to support our anti-bias anti-racist work as a union, to educate members to be ready to nurture all of our students, to amplify and honor the voices of our members and students who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, and/or part of another historically marginalized community, and to advocate for working conditions and learning conditions that will make all students and staff feel whole and safe. ​