Lindsey Smith, Idaho's New NEA Director

In this episode, we talk with Lindsey Smith about her role as Idaho's newly-elected representative on the National Education Association Board of Directors. She's a 16-year veteran educator who teaches gifted education and leadership at Sacagawea Middle School in Lewiston. Lindsey took her seat as NEA Director on September 1. We talk about her new role and the importance of being active in the union's work. 

Transcript

Mike Journee: 0:00

Journee, welcome to the IAEA reporter podcast, a regular discussion about the news and events important to Idaho Education Association members and those who value public education. IAEA members are public school educators from all over the state and members of the largest union in Idaho. They're Idaho's most important education experts, and they use their influence to fight for a free, quality and equitable public education for every student in the state. I'm Mike Journee, communications director at DIA and I'll be your host for this episode today. Our guest is Lindsay Smith, IAEA, newly elected NEA director. Lindsay is a 16 year veteran educator who teaches gifted education and leadership at Sacagawea Middle School in Lewiston. He's a very active union member and leader in Lewiston Education Association, as well as taking on regional, statewide and national responsibilities, he was elected to her new position as Idaho's representative on the National Education Association's Board of Directors earlier this year, and took her seat officially on September 1. In this role, she also served as a member of iea's Board of Directors and sits on its executive committee. The IEA reporter podcast caught up with Lindsay after a recent school day to discuss her vision for her new role and her perspective on the union's importance. Lindsay Smith, thank you so much for joining us on the IAEA reporter podcast. It's really great to have you here. I've been thinking about this, having this conversation with you for a bit, so it's really great to have you here.

Lindsey Smith: 1:40

Welcome. Thank you, Mike. I'm happy to be here.

Mike Journee: 1:44

So Lindsay, as we heard in your introduction, you've been a very active member of the IEA for quite a while now. What What made you want to be Idaho's representative on the NEA board of directors?

Lindsey Smith: 1:56

That is a great question. Honestly, the union has played such a significant role in my journey as an educator, honestly, has consistently been a source of strength and solidarity for me, especially when it comes to navigating all of the joys and challenges of being an educator in Idaho, I deeply value the experiences I've had as part of my local and as a leader in the IEA, and I've been very involved with national work over the past decade. So I think it's through those experiences I really realized that the role of Nea director was something I truly wanted to pursue, and I've gained so much perspective and have built connections with educators all around the country, and put me in a unique position to dive right into this work head first and continue to advocate for what matters the most, which is a great public school for every student in Idaho.

Mike Journee: 2:55

It's a shift for you. You've been you've been doing some national work, but you've been really involved in your local tell us about your role a little bit. What are your responsibilities when you sit on the NEA board of directors?

Lindsey Smith: 3:06

So the role of Nea director is really all about connection and advocacy, our critical liaison between their state affiliate and the National Education Association. So at its core about making sure educators from Idaho have a strong voice at the national level, so we help shape and monitor policies that impact public education across the country. We stay in the know with what's happening in local schools. Get a lot of feedback from members and bring that insight into NEA strategic planning process, but we also work closely with Congress. So directors meet with lawmakers. We advocate for all kinds of things like better working conditions, fair pay. We speak up and out against vouchers. So I mean, it's really a collaborative role, working side by side with state leadership to advance our mission and legislative priorities.

Mike Journee: 4:10

You're going to be doing a lot more at the national level, national policies, and you're going to be stepping into that role at perhaps one of the most challenging times for public education since public education has been around in our country. How are you going to approach that dynamic that we're seeing, not only in Washington, but right here in Boise, at the at the Statehouse in Boise with our Idaho legislature? How are you going to approach that the the anti public education focus that so many policy makers have, both in Washington and at the state

Lindsey Smith: 4:45

level, and that really is daunting. And you are absolutely correct, this is, without a doubt, a challenging time for public education across the entire nation. So in fact, our NEA pride. President, Becky Pringle, she just commended our group of incoming directors for choosing this path and walking directly toward the fire when it makes total sense to run in the other direction. But I find comfort in knowing that I'm not alone. Our work is fundamental to the nation, and I fully accept the profound trust that's been placed in me so we could spend the entire day kind of romanticizing and giving power to the problem, but I want to keep choosing to speak the language of possibility, so we are not here to fight back, but to fight forward together for our students, it's really a yes and situation. So yes, the conditions are rough, and we will advocate to fulfill the promise of public education. And if I can find the courage to stand in my power during the tough times, then I will be worthy of my students.

Mike Journee: 6:06

Wow. Well said, Thank you for that. Thanks. Are there any specific things that you hope to accomplish for Idaho and for IEA members in this new role?

Lindsey Smith: 6:18

You know, I really just want to stay grounded and keep my head up. So my ultimate goal is to stay connected to what impacts our Idaho educators and students. My plan is to actively seek stories and input from educators around the state. I want to lift up our educator voices and remind all of our members of the importance of political action, and I really think that if I do those things, my next steps will identify themselves. Fantastic.

Mike Journee: 6:51

Well, let's zero in a little bit closer to home. Lindsay, it's a new school year, and until this year, you've taught English language arts and social studies at Sacagawea Middle School in Lewiston, but you got new role this year, along with your new role with the with the IEA in the union, you got a new role at your school. Tell us a little about that teens and how the new school year is going so far. Yeah, you

Lindsey Smith: 7:14

know it it feels good to be back in the classroom with students. They have a lot of energy at the middle level, and they're so curious, and it reminds me every single day why I chose this work and why I continue to advocate for public schools. So a lot of people don't know this about me, but I started my career in gifted education all those years ago, and I have been teaching sixth grade for several years now, so a dear friend and colleague of mine came to me and she told me that she'd be retiring at the end of last year, and I knew it was time to step back into this role. So I'm actually teaching gifted education and leadership classes for all three grade levels at the middle school and middle schoolers, they really do have so much potential to be a force of good in this world, and I love that I get to help lead them in that direction. Leadership has always been a big part of my journey as an educator, so this new role really aligned with my passion. I'm excited to go to work every day. My goal is to help students discover their own leadership potential and give them the tools to advocate for themselves, all about, you know, helping them find their voice and the ability to use it with confidence.

Mike Journee: 8:40

Awesome, fantastic. Congratulations on your new role and and good luck with everything. It's, it's, it sounds like it's right in your wheelhouse.

Lindsey Smith: 8:47

So thanks, Mike.

Mike Journee: 8:50

How long have you been an educator? Lindsay,

Lindsey Smith: 8:52

this is my 16th year as a public school educator,

Mike Journee: 8:57

and was all that in time in Lewiston. Where were you before?

Lindsey Smith: 9:00

Yep, I came back to Idaho to go to Lewis Clark State College and follow in my my dad's footsteps. He's an educator as well. So it was really nice to come back and I was hired here in Lewiston, and I've spent my entire career here.

Mike Journee: 9:16

It's fantastic. When did you join the union? I

Lindsey Smith: 9:20

actually became a union member before I even stepped into the classroom as a teacher. So it was crazy. Yeah, it was my very first contracted day with the Liston School District, and I vividly remember walking up to the building for our back to school assembly. I was nervous, and I noticed that Lea tables were set up outside. Everyone was excited, high energy. People were smiling, handing out resources, and I remember being really curious, and a good friend of mine told me just to trust her to go fill out the paperwork and that she'd answer all of my questions after the assembly. And honestly, that's all it took. I've never looked back, and it was 100% the best professional decision I've ever made.

Mike Journee: 10:09

Wow, that's great. That's fantastic. And so even longer than your tenure as an educator, that's fantastic. You've been an active member in the LEA for a long time. With that shift in the responsibilities that you're having within the union, are you going to try to stay involved with your local

Lindsey Smith: 10:25

list? Oh, absolutely. So being a building representative in my local is one of the most challenging and fulfilling responsibilities that I have as part of our union. So no matter where this work takes me, as long as I'm working in a school building, I will continue to be a source of information for our members and advocate for our educators and students. It's just a big part of who I am

Mike Journee: 10:52

that's fantastic. You're still also, you're still also serving as president of IAS region two, which is generally the Luke the Moscow area, the state in the surrounding area. Are you going to be staying in that role going forward?

Lindsey Smith: 11:05

You know, I do plan to stay, for the time being, as region two president, and that was a hard choice. I talked to a lot of people. I'm close with a lot of leaders in the Union, and we're really starting to build momentum in region two, and with me in this role, and I've immensely enjoyed working with local presidents and members in our region, and we have a few critical legislative races coming up in the next year, and I'm honored to help guide these incredible leaders as they navigate these challenging times. I mean, I get to do this work.

Mike Journee: 11:41

Well, we're lucky to have you. You're gonna have a lot of you play. You're right. There's, there's lot, lots of work coming up. We're gonna talk about many matters here in just a little bit, but there's a lot going on so, so legend, you're, you're elected in this role in May, and you took your seat on the board, the NEA board on September 1. But I know from social media feeds that you you haven't been taking it easy. You've been out and about doing a lot of union work. Can you give us a rundown on what you've been up to this

Lindsey Smith: 12:12

summer? Yes, so I've been a little bit everywhere this summer, that's for sure. I started summer with onboarding activities in Boise, and I just want to say that I have felt so supported as the incoming NEA director Idaho really is a special affiliate. I've talked to a lot of other incoming directors, and not all states have prepared their incoming directors with the care and detail that our IEA leaders have over the past few months, and I am so grateful for that. My next adventure was in Baton Rouge, so Peggy and I traveled down to help Louisiana educators build capacity and protect their union membership.

Mike Journee: 12:58

And then that's Peggy gorge, the outgoing NEA director,

Lindsey Smith: 13:01

yep, yep. I've spent a lot of time with Peggy this summer, and she'd been a great source of information for me. I traveled to Portland shortly after that for representative assembly, and I was an elected Idaho delegate, so I got to engage in all of those responsibilities, but I also was able to shadow Peggy and learn more about what Director work looks like in action. I got to go to the new NEA director luncheon with NEA leadership and experience my first NEA board meeting as director elect. And I just have to tell you, it was so inspiring to see the board in action, and it makes me really excited to join this group of advocates. For sure, I flew to Baltimore as an alumni, veteran facilitator for NEA leaders for just school, and I spent a week there working with members from across the nation as they prepared to go back to their own communities and advance educational equity. And then I flew back to Idaho a few days after, a few days before summer institute, and I got to attend one day of our IEA leaders for just school Summit, and spend some time at the social with some of my favorite educators from Idaho. And then I boarded a plane that next morning at 5am and flew to Washington, DC for mission orientation. And that's kind of where NEA prepares incoming directors for our new roles. And then I flew directly from Washington, DC back to Boise to attend the IEA board meeting as NEA director elect. And that was invaluable, because I got to continue to learn from Peggy and IEA leadership as I take on this new role. Wow, it was a busy time.

Mike Journee: 14:57

That's a packed summer. That's a packed summer you've been. All over the place. I knew. I didn't know all of those things. I knew some of those things from following you on social media, but that's, that's wonderful. And thank you so much for all that you've you're doing for IEA members. That's wonderful.

Lindsey Smith: 15:11

Of course, it was, it was wild, but it was worth it, for sure.

Mike Journee: 15:15

So you're going to be heading back to DC. I know in October there's going to be an NDA board meeting, but there's also, it's also going to coincide with super week, I believe, right, it will tell us a little bit about Super week, and what you're going to be doing there. You mentioned, you mentioned, going to be speaking with Congress and our congressional delegation. Tell us a little bit about about how super week works.

Lindsey Smith: 15:38

Well, it's a little different for incoming directors, we get to go out a day early and just be really prepared another onboarding experience for us to make sure we're comfortable. But yeah, we get to we get briefed on our legislative priorities and talk about the things that are most important for public schools, and then we go in and we talk to Congress and their staff about what we need in our states, what we're hearing around the state, and what's important to educators and students back home. It's going

Mike Journee: 16:10

to be another busy time for you. I know that that was important work that always gets done with our congressional delegation, and couldn't be more important than than it is right now. So good luck with all that. Thank you. So let's talk a little bit about May matters. I mentioned it earlier, but through our for our listeners that may matters of ieas organizing campaign to activate members and vote and and work towards returning a pro public education majority to the state house this this spring, during the May primary elections, and we'll talk a little bit more about that in here in a minute. But, but I know you've been talking a lot with members about May matters. What are you hearing from them about about May matters, and how are you approaching

Lindsey Smith: 16:58

that? I am so grateful for the opportunity to talk about the May Matters campaign today. So as many know, I was the co author of new business item number one at this year's delegate assembly, and this effort is central to my values as an educator. I'd been traveling around this past month to meet with educators from different regions and to talk about the importance of showing up in voting in May primaries, and we really have unique situations and opportunities in each region and legislative district this May May matters is really about making educators voices heard. It's not about political identity, which is deeply personal, but about policy outcomes. So public school funding decisions are shaped in the May primary, and we need educators around the state to understand that and to realize the importance and value of showing up in May and voting for the folks who are going to do right by education, and our current reality in Idaho politics just is not working. Public schools are absolutely under attack, and we have the power to show up in numbers and say, enough is enough.

Mike Journee: 18:16

That's right. And I think you touched on the really important part of this, and that's there's only so much that you can do with the legislature, but it's determined to dismantle public education and our May Matters campaign is all about returning a pro public education majority to the State House. Anyone who wants to know more about May matters can go to our website. I do ea.org, backslash may dash matters, or you can use the top navigation our website to find our landing page. There's going to be a lot more communications going out to members here in coming months about this. Lindsay, we're going to be talking a lot about this, but you said a lot, right there. Is there anything else you'd like to say to members about the importance of this campaign,

Lindsey Smith: 19:01

I just want to reiterate that. I mean, the future of public education depends on us registering to vote and showing up at the polls, and we know we still have educators who need to register and do just that. So I want members to understand the potential we have to make positive change. And there's so many ways to be involved in this work, so whether you're ready to knock on doors or help find candidates to run for office or make phone calls, or if you just want to be informed, there's a place for you in this movement, and we need your voice to help shape the future of education for our students.

Mike Journee: 19:40

That's right, and we know that that that better than eight out of 10 legislative seats in the legislature are decided during the May primary election. We know that, and we we also know that, unfortunately, educators aren't filling up to vote for the pro public education candidates in those elections. So that's what this is about. We're getting out we're going to organize members and try to get them to the polls so that we can make a difference at the Idaho State House. Absolutely. So Lindsay, you've been an active part of iea's Government Relations Committee and the political action committee for education through the years. You participated in IA lobby day a number of times. That's the day that almost 200 Idaho educators from the IEA descend on the State House to talk directly to lawmakers. You've talked very eloquently about the importance of made matters and being involved. Why is it so important to be active around education policy, and why do you think other members should get involved in that

Lindsey Smith: 20:40

way? This work is so important for me, being present in the State House and building real relationships with lawmakers is invaluable. It makes the whole difference and allows elected officials to fully understand how to represent the communities that they serve. Leaders bring something really important to the table, because we see firsthand what's happening every day in our classrooms and schools, and oftentimes our lawmakers just don't have, you know, that insight and understanding of what it really looks like, so we can tell that real story and just help it's so valuable. I mean, our teachers are so valuable, and our communities love our schools and our educators, and we need to tell that story so public schools are not failing, and we need to make sure that that's heard far and wide. The narrative starts at home with our policy makers, and when we talk to them, directly, with them, like human beings, it helps make sure policies don't come from guesswork or assumptions, but actually reflect what students and educators need, and that kind of open conversation is key to building strong public schools.

Mike Journee: 21:55

That's right. One of the things that that our star lobbyists, Chris Perry and Matt Compton say a lot down about about they're very good lobbyists. They'll tell you, and I agree with them, but they'll they but they also say that the best lobbyists, the best, the best, most effective folks that can go down to the state house and talk are educators and lawmakers by and large. Really appreciate them being there. Really appreciate you guys coming down and talking and understanding and and engaging with them. So so it's always, it's always an important day for public education at the State House, during IEA lobby day that will be as as always. It is on the Martin Luther King holiday that gives educators the day, which typically gives educators a day off, and gives them the chance to come down to the State House. So it's an important day, and we're, we're looking forward to IA Lobby Day this year and having everyone back in the back in the

Lindsey Smith: 22:53

building. Yeah. I mean, it really is an incredible event. And you touched on something super important that I wish more educators knew people are afraid to go down because they don't, you know, know what it's going to be like, or they're nervous about conversations. But these lawmakers are just people, and they really are grateful. They're oftentimes kind of shocked or surprised by some of the stories or things that we tell them in, you know, sometimes negative ways and positive ways, but they need to see. You know, what we need, what our educators and schools need so that we can be successful.

Mike Journee: 23:28

That's absolutely right. And it's not up to prefer everybody. It's just completely understandable folks who wouldn't want to do something like that, but at the very least, Lindsay, we need educators to be engaged to understand what's going on with their elections, and to engage in those elections at the local level, at the state level, at the national level. So that's these are all important things, and that's what that's what made matters is really about. It's getting educators out and getting them to the polls and and organizing around that. And if you've really got an interest you want to come to the to the legislature, talk to your local union president about about coming to lobby

Lindsey Smith: 24:06

day. We can't just attend Lobby Day or meet once with our legislators if you're more comfortable back home. It's a great opportunity to build trust and communicate when we're in our community. We can invite representatives into our classrooms, to school and community events and just keep the lines of communication open all year, simply because public education and communities depend on this kind of relationship with folks in the state house.

Mike Journee: 24:34

So legend, you mentioned that you've been doing some work at the national level with the NEA, and I know, I know quite a bit of that work was with the Center for Education Policy and Practice. Tell us a little bit about that center. What you've been doing with them through the years?

Lindsey Smith: 24:47

Yeah, of course. So for the past decade, I've been working directly with ed policy and practice, with many NEA directors from around the states, and I really started this work unpacking the Every Student. Succeeds Act. So federal law actually states that educators should be involved, but we have to take our seats at the table where decisions are being made. So I've done work around essa but also have spent significant time looking at the intersectionality of racial and social justice and education policy. So I've worked with educators across the country, guiding them as they change policy and practice for their students and communities. And through this work, I've gained a profound understanding of how to bring things back from NEA and implement initiatives back home in Idaho, and I'm a founding member of our IEA early career educator committee, because of this work and our thriving leaders for just Schools program.

Mike Journee: 25:49

That's right, I was going to ask you about leaders for just schools next. You mentioned that earlier. Tell us what that's all about.

Lindsey Smith: 25:58

Okay, so the leaders for just schools, program is truly transformative, and I've seen firsthand how this program has brought positive change to classrooms and schools across the nation, and I knew that we had to find a way to bring this back to our state, and we're so fortunate to have the funding and support to make it happen through iea's Three year leaders for just Schools program, we're building a statewide network of educators who are prepared to advance equitable outcomes for our students. We convene during summer institute to learn together, and we continue the conversation virtually throughout the year to work toward individual goals and plans to strengthen our school communities, and we also reconvene in the spring each year to meet directly with legislators at the state house to advocate for educational equity. So just it really doesn't get much better than that.

Mike Journee: 26:56

Equity is such an important part of public education. It's the heart of public education, it's what we always talk about. Public school education should be equitable across the state. Shouldn't matter if you live in Boise, it shouldn't matter if you live in salmon, it shouldn't matter if you live in Nez Perce. And unfortunately, our policies don't allow for that, especially here in Idaho. And so I appreciate your leadership on that and and the work that you're doing there.

Lindsey Smith: 27:21

Yeah, Mike, I really appreciate you saying that our participants in the program really are changing schools and communities and the lives of people in those places. So just a couple of things to highlight that have been going really well. We've been looking at inequities in resource and facility funding, particularly in our rural communities, and just creating programs and events that promote inclusiveness and belonging in our schools, and working every day to insist that our students have the resources that they need to live in their brilliance.

Mike Journee: 27:58

I love that phrase, live in their brilliance, wonderful. So Lindsey, I'm going to wrap up with one more question. You've got some pretty big shoes to fill as any director following Peggy. Hoy, we mentioned Peggy earlier, and you said you spent some time with Peggy. What kind of advice has Peggy given you as you've taken over the role,

Lindsey Smith: 28:17

Peggy had been an incredible source of strength and guidance for me over these past few months, she's told me that my voice, my values and my vision are exactly what the NEA Board needs right now, and she encouraged me to speak boldly and ask the tough questions. She also encouraged me to never underestimate the power of showing up and being the person that others look to for courage, and I know Peggy has certainly been one of those people for me, and I know she'll always be here as a sounding board for me, but the best advice she's given me is to trust my leadership, to always lift up the stories and voices of our Idaho educators, and to make this journey, my own

Mike Journee: 29:04

wonderful advice from a fantastic member and a great leader in our union. So congratulations on that, and thanks to Peggy for all the long, hard work that she's done in this role over the past several years. So it's wonderful. Well, Lindsay, thank you for your time today. It's been wonderful chatting with you about your new role as as NEA director for Idaho. I want to wish you all the best and good luck in this new role. It's an important role, an important time for public education. I think you're a wonderful person to step into it, and I look forward to watching the work that you're going to do over the next several years.

Lindsey Smith: 29:44

Thank you, Mike, this has been great.

Mike Journee: 29:55

Thank you for listening to this episode of the IA reporter podcast, and thanks to Lindsay Smith. For taking time out of her busy schedule to talk with us. Please watch for updates about new podcast episodes on IEA social media channels, or sign up to receive IEA reporter email updates on our website@idahoea.org, I'm Mike Journee, and as always, I hope you'll join me in thanking Idaho's public school educators for everything they do for our state's students, families and public schools. You.