Episode 26: A Conversation With REA VP-Elect Becky Petersen

This week, Krista has a conversation with the newly elected REA Vice President Elect, Becky Petersen. Becky shares her excitement, what she hopes for, and what makes her nervous about taking on this new role. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:10

Hello, I'm Krista. I'm Becky, and we are the president and the vice president elect of the Richland Education Association. Clearly, you can tell that today is going to be one of those very special episodes. Jerry wasn't able to be here, and both of us thought it would be really cool for Becky to be able to come on as our newly elected VP and um kind of take over so you can get to know her a little bit. Jerry will be on next week and through to the end of this year. I know we're not gonna make it through all of the contracts. So uh Becky, this is probably gonna be one of your jobs next year. Sounds good. So cool. Well, first let me say congratulations.

SPEAKER_00 0:56

Thank you. I'm really excited.

SPEAKER_01 0:57

Yeah, I know it was a quite a campaign.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

Yes, it was. Danielle um ran a wonderful campaign and we had a lot of fun together doing it too.

SPEAKER_01 1:07

Yeah, no, that was the coolest part that both of you nominated each other, and you just it and I will say it was fun for me getting like text messages and emails or it's like, hey, am I allowed to do can I do this? You know, or hearing from other people. Oh, yes, you know, we got a little thing in the in our mailbox today, or treats in the staff lounge.

SPEAKER_00 1:28

Good, good. So yeah. We had fun, we had fun working together, and I'm glad that we still get to work together.

SPEAKER_01 1:33

Yeah, and I did enjoy calling you on Saturday morning.

SPEAKER_00 1:37

I enjoy getting that phone call. I was glad you called early because I was in, you know, and the anticipation was getting to me.

SPEAKER_01 1:44

It's yeah, no, and you know, and and I just know that throughout this, you and I have had conversations and you just say, you know, I really want this. So what what made you want this position, Becky?

SPEAKER_00 1:57

Um, I feel like it's just time for me to do more. Um, I've been in my recorder position for a really long time, and I just felt like I wanted to step up and serve a little bit more. And um this bargain, this last bargain really got me um wanting to do more and to make more of a difference and be there for our members more.

SPEAKER_01 2:18

Yeah, no, and that's something that I have felt really this year. I've I mean I've totally appreciated working with you the last four years, and I think you've done fantastic in your recorder role. But I could see even before I think you had even mentioned that you were interested in being the vice president, I could see you taking on more of that or volunteering for more things or speaking up a little bit more. Yeah. Um, and so just that confidence that it was just time.

SPEAKER_00 2:47

It was time to do something a little bit more.

SPEAKER_01 2:50

Yeah. So I guess my next question is what what are you hopeful for? Like goals or you know, what what do you want to do? Even if it's just, you know, what do you want to learn? What do you want to do better at?

SPEAKER_00 3:03

Um, I really want to um continue to work with our admin and just have smooth transitions and work with them to understand the contract and you know, partner with them to understand uh the teachers and um our ESP's point of view.

SPEAKER_01 3:24

Yes, you know, I appreciate you saying that. I have to think of my words here. I appreciate you saying that because I do know that when I ran, well, for vice president, actually, so that was five years ago, and then for president, even more so. I ran on a campaign of that you can do this job and you can be tough, but that doesn't mean that you have to be, and I'm not saying anybody else was mean or disrespectful, no, you know, anything like that, but you can do it and still be positive. Um, my favorite quote is when they go low, we go high. And so I've tried to live by that, and so I think you know, I've seen that with you as well, but you know, I've seen it with your leadership as well.

SPEAKER_00 4:17

You you um do it with sex integrity and professionalism, and that's something I strive to do.

SPEAKER_01 4:23

And I think, you know, but there are times that we get to have our moments, but we can still, you know, walk away from the bargaining table or a tough conversation and know that you know it's not personal between us and an administrator. 100%. So yeah, and now what are what are you nervous about?

SPEAKER_00 4:42

Um, I'm nervous about um being in a meeting and not knowing what to say. Oh gosh. Or not saying the right thing at the right time to help my member.

SPEAKER_01 4:54

Yeah, and you know, I still worry about that, you know. I mean, it you know, and when it all comes down to it, I mean, what what grade do you teach right now? I teach fifth grade. So you teach fifth grade, but you're gonna be a first grade teacher next year. Yeah, I'm like jumping all the way down next year. So you're gonna have release time in your new role and then also taking on a new position.

SPEAKER_00 5:17

Hey, you know, we are starting an overload again this year and fifth next this next year again in fifth grade, and I went, I'm too tired. I do not want to start an overload again. Have you taught first grade before? I've taught second grade for 14 years.

SPEAKER_01 5:30

Okay, okay. So yeah, the we're here at the restaurant here at Inca getting ready to go in, and the I think one of the workers is looking at us like, what in the heck is going on? We have the premier spot though, right in the front. So we'll make this one short. But yeah, no, I think that is exciting. Um you know, in first grade, it's a not it's a year that they're not testing. Yes, but it's a year where, oh my gosh, trying to teach them how to read.

SPEAKER_00 5:58

I don't mind that. That's my major, that's what I do. Very good.

SPEAKER_01 6:02

So so um, yeah, you know, and I remember when I became vice president because I definitely had all of those feelings, and you will definitely gain in your confidence and just saying what this is what I think, you know, and reaching out to people because we reach out to our WEA uniserve directors who support us and are supposed to be the experts, but they don't always have all of the answers either. And then they have to reach out to people above them, and um but I remember I was dealing with an issue and I had emailed I first talked with Kindle, or not Kindle, but Edna, R U D, um, and she said, just send your email over to the HR director. So I emailed Tony Howard, and then um Tony responded, and I sent Edna a little email saying something along the lines of, you know, he wants to meet with me, Edna, and I don't want to meet with him by myself. But then later on I realized that she had sent another email to Tony, and in the email string, that email was in there. So he got a chance to read it. I'm like, oh my god, you know, and I just remember sending that, and you know, and now it didn't take a whole lot of time, but probably a few months to start getting to feel a little more comfortable. Now I'm not, you know, worried to be in a room, but that was my funny story.

SPEAKER_00 7:34

Yeah, yep, yep. Um yeah, I'm not worried to to work with Matt Ellis, our human resources director. He he seems so capable and intelligent, and and I think that that's gonna be a a good relationship to have as well.

SPEAKER_01 7:50

I really appreciate him too, and and you've worked with so many of you know, you you know so many. The people who you're gonna get to know better are a lot of the building administrators that you may only know by name or you know you can recognize them, but it is kind of nice because you'll start to get phone calls from building administrators who will ask you questions.

SPEAKER_00 8:10

Right, I hope so.

SPEAKER_01 8:11

I I like I want them to, you know, um, and so I always appreciate that. But we're gonna now go and celebrate and talk more on our own. But Becky, was there anything you wanted to say before we sign off?

SPEAKER_00 8:26

I just want to say thank you for your support and um that your trust um that I can do this position, and I really appreciated all the support, and I'm excited to serve you.

SPEAKER_01 8:37

And we always end by saying, in union there is strength, and so I'll have Becky say that with me in just a second, but we are gonna be a stronger union, having Becky, I think, coming in to take take over from a really strong vice president, Jerry Morrow. Big shoes to fill. Big shoes to fill. But yeah, but it's gonna be fun. So in union there's strength. So one, two, three. In union, there is strength.