Vermont-NEA origins and milestones

Thanks to the influence of Horace Mann, the late 1840s saw Vermont's isolated local schools emerge as a statewide system backed by a state encouraged educational policy.

In 1850, Hiram Orcutt of Thetford, writing in the Vermont Chronicle, called for the formation of a State Teachers' Association. On October 16, 1850, teachers and friends of education met in Montpelier to organize a State Association of Teachers and "to discuss and adopt such Resolutions as express their views upon the subject of Education in Vermont."

The new organization met for the first time in Waterbury on August 26, 27, and 28, 1851. The first Association president, Reverend Worthington Smith, president of the University of Vermont, emphasized the need for a unified system of education within the state. The Association resolved to publish a journal devoted to matters of interest to educators.

By 1859 the Journal was being published for an Association of 400 members, 260 of them teachers. Women were allowed only honorary membership, although they paid the full membership fee.

In 1863 the passive female members became active, and began to serve on committees. But it was 1871 before the first woman teacher addressed a convention, and 1914 before the Association had its first woman president — Caroline S. Woodruff, who later became president of the National Education Association.

Educational Reform

Most of Vermont's early educational reform was first proposed by, or received its first organized support from the Vermont Teachers' Association. Association accomplishments include the establishment of a state board of education, the enactment of a compulsory school attendance law, permissive legislation for the establishment of graded schools, and the inauguration of a system of state aid to public schools.

The annual convention put its weight behind other issues as well: the 1851 convention listened to an address on "The Liberal Education of Females"; the 1852 convention not only resolved to see the establishment of Teachers' and Parents' Associations in each county, but also went on record as recommending single desks as preferable to any other; the 1862 convention advocated the study of Physical Culture in the schools.

During the 1920s, the Association worked for two goals of great importance: the program for the standardization of rural schools and the campaign against illiteracy.

On August 15, 1960 the Association resolved "That when qualifications are equal, and when equal services are rendered, male and female teachers should receive equal compensation."

Further milestones in Vermont-NEA (a.k.a. Vermont Teachers' Association, then Vermont Education Association) history include: the passage of the Supervisory Law in 1906; the establishment of the Vermont Teachers' Retirement Fund Association in 1910; the first voluntary Teachers' Retirement Law in 1919; the compulsory Teachers' Retirement Law in 1947; the Sick Leave Benefit of 1957; and the first mandated minimum Salary Schedule Law, including increments for experience, which was passed in the same year; a Fair Dismissal Law in 1963; the Collective Bargaining Law for Teachers in 1969; the first teachers' strike in 1978; and the defeat of the proposal for a statewide teachers' contract in 1994.

Big Changes for the Association

Since total membership activity in conducting the business of the Association became impossible as the membership grew, a Representative Assembly was established and convened for the first time in 1947. Each local Association was represented. Vermont-NEA has since achieved a steady growth in membership, and the Association's effectiveness and influence has increased.

In 1961 the Association moved from cramped rented quarters to its own building at 5 Baldwin Street in Montpelier. In 1967, when the State of Vermont purchased the Baldwin Street property, the Association bought the Brock house at 138 Main Street for an educational center. The Vermont Congress of Parents and Teachers maintained its office in the VEA Center.

The years at the Main Street Headquarters saw big changes for the Association. In 1972, the Vermont Education Association approved unification with the National Education Association, agreeing that educators must join all three levels of the Association: local, state and national. VEA joined NEA's UniServ (Unified Service) program, adding UniServ Directors to the staff: two in 1972, a third UniServ Director in 1974, a fourth in 1976, a fifth in 1979, and a sixth in 1989. A communications director came on in 1976; a general counsel in 1980; an organizer in 1986; a second attorney in 1989, and a director of benefit programs in 1993.

In 1978, the position of full-time, paid, elected president was approved by the VEA Representative Assembly. Association presidents since 1851 were elected and had served as part time volunteers.

The Association voted at its Corporation Meeting in 1982 to change its name from Vermont Education Association to Vermont-National Education Association.

Vermont-NEA sold the Brock House in 1980 and moved to rented office space in the old East State Street Elementary School. The Association built its current headquarters building at 10 Wheelock Street in Montpelier in 1985. Association membership increased to 8,500, including some 14 percent Education Support Personnel. In 2001, membership increased to 10,100, including 21 percent Education Support Personnel.

Beginning in 1960, annual Leadership Conferences were inaugurated during August bringing together local Association leaders from all parts of the state. In addition, conferences are held to address member interests in contract negotiations, grievance, instruction, professional development, community relations, legislation, education issues, and leadership. Schools close for two days each October for the Vermont-NEA Educators' Convention, a meeting where teachers and school support staff collaborate, get professional training, and keep current on education materials and technology.

Association Governance and Leadership

Bylaws adopted in 1966 provide for an annual meeting of the Representative Assembly each spring, as well as delegate meetings each fall. The bylaws also specify that directors be elected from the UniServ Districts. Standing committees cover areas of membership concern: Teaching and Learning; In-Service; Elections; Partnerships & Sponsorships; Human and Civil Rights; Convention Planning; Professional Security; Resolutions; and Bylaws.

The first Association executive secretary, Joseph Wiggin, was appointed in 1949. He was succeeded by Erwin Coons in 1956. Weston A. Cate, Jr.served as executive secretary from 1959 till 1974. Charles Ochmanski served as executive director from 1974 through 1980. Richard D. Lang served from 1980 through 1997. Perry M. Kacik served from 1997 through 2000. Joel D. Cook has held the position since April 2000.