Columbia Sportswear Employee Store Invitation

VEA members and up to 4 additional guests are invited to shop the Columbia Sportswear employee store.  The entire store is 40% off.  Shop February 27 through March 22.    Shop prAna, Mountain Hard Wear, Sorel, and Columbia brands.

Hours are normally…  Mon-Fri 10 am – 8 pm.  Sat-Sun 9 am -8 pm.   You will need the flier from this post, your employee badge or pay stub and a valid  photo ID at check in.    #MembershipMatters    Click Here for the flier.

14100 NW Science Park Drive
Portland, OR  97229
(503) 985-4125

 

Adidas Employee Store Pass

Adidas is offering VEA members access to the Adidas Employee Store through April 19.  For more information on this flier (click here). Store hours are:  Mon-Fri  10:00 am – 9:00 pm.  Sat-Sun  9:00 am – 9 pm.

2701 NW Vaughn Street
Suite 290
Portland, OR 97210
971-234-8536

It is recommended that you bring your own bag to save on the bag fee

The Mission of the Vancouver Education Association

The mission of the Vancouver Education Association is to empower our members, as experts in our respective fields, to advocate for and create an inclusive and affirming environment for all VPS staff, students and families. Through the collective voice of our members, we seek to improve educator working conditions as a means of also improving student learning conditions.

VEA Equity Team Mission

The mission of the VEA Equity Team is to empower educators and students to be actively anti-racist by dismantling systemic barriers and injustice in the VEA, our schools, our community, and our profession. We acknowledge that painful racial inequities and injustices exist and persist in our community. We strive for safe, welcoming and affirming schools for all educators, students, and families, inclusive of the Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ2IA+, people with disabilities, people of all ages, people with any citizenship status or socioeconomic status and their intersectionalities.

Don’t be taken in

The Freedom Foundation (previously called the Evergreen Freedom Foundation), a known anti-union group, is trying to put a wedge between members. They have been contacting members to encourage them to drop their union membership. This is not a coincidence. They are funded by groups that are not for public education. And who is the largest advocate for public education? The Union!Read More

VEA supporting PTA (Parent Teacher Association )

PTA stands for Parent Teacher Organization. The T in PTA is just as important as the P! Strong PTAs work together as parents and teachers to create amazing school communities. We have serveral PTAs in Vancouver with teachers serving in active roles and/or on PTA boards, helping to plan PTA events or working PTA events on top of teaching!  These PTAs are strong because of this dedication.  But there are other ways to PTA – check out this short video about Why PTA? https://youtu.be/xzGtGcYdEFs

PTA membership is important because it helps to fund what is happening in our local schools but also it helps to support the advocacy and equity work PTA is doing at a state and national level. Currently WA State PTA is working on a diversity audit to see how they can better reach the voices that are not already heard at the table. The advocacy part of PTA is working on issues like preventing gun violence, strengthening school safety and funding, and making sure that every student is getting the best education possible. This is where most of a member’s dues go. Strong PTA member numbers help to get several things to happen in legislation. Two local bills that were started right here in Vancouver were the “breakfast after the bell” policy and the “Tiffany Hill” Bill. You can learn about the top 5 things that Washington State PTA is currently advocating for in the next WA state legislative assembly:    https://www.wastatepta.org/focus-areas/advocacy/

We encourage all VEA members to become members of PTA so we continue our PTA work together. Local PTA board members should be able to give you their links to join or the links for most PTAs are here: https://www.wastatepta.org/get-involved/find-your-pta/

Here also are some PTA resources for Teachers that you might like to check out:

https://www.pta.org/home/About-National-Parent-Teacher-Association/Benefits-of-PTA-Membership/Focusing-on-the-T-in-PTA

We are so thankful for all our staff and look forward to continue the work to make our schools the best they can be. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Michelle Weinmaster through the Vancouver Council PTA at vancouverpta@gmail.com.