Barb's Background

Although frequently teased about the 'Live Better, Work Union' sticker on my car, being a proud union member is something that has always come naturally to me. I did, after all, grow up in a union family, and heard that motto often. My dad was a 35-year member of IBEW Local 44, and my mom is a current member of the Montana Public Employees Association. The historian in me has always admired the fight and sacrifice that union families waged to secure the rights we now enjoy-like safer working conditions, higher wages, 40 hr. work-week, etc.

To be honest, even with my upbringing, nothing drove home the concepts of solidarity and a call for positive change as deeply as the Billings teachers' strike of 2002. Since that time, I have committed myself (and time) towards attaining those ends. Professional development--for myself and for others--has been especially important to me. My experience and service are listed below:

• 2nd VP Billings Education Association: 2007-present
• BEA Board of Directors: 2007-present
• MEA-MFT Board of Directors: 2008-present
• Greater Yellowstone Central Labor Council Delegate: 2008-present
  
• Co-Chair, MEA-MFT Educators’ Conference: 2003, 2006
• Montana Professional Teaching Foundation Board of Directors: 2003-present
• MEA-MFT Professional Development Committee Member: 2002-2005, 2008
• BEA Building Representative: 2001-present
• ER&D Trainer, AFT's Reading Comprehension: 2003-2008
• BEA PAC member: 2004-present
• NEA Representative Assembly Delegate: 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009
• Pacific Leadership Delegate: 2008
• AFT QUEST Convention Delegate: 2003
• TILT (Teachers Integrating and Learning Technology) member: 2005-present
• Critical Friends Coach: 2004-2008

As far as narrative goes, I graduated from UM (1996) in history-political science, and began my teaching career at St. Francis Middle School in 1997. At this private school, I taught 7th grade world history and 8th grade American history. Working with middle school students is the toughest job I've ever loved! Longing for a public school position, I secured one at Billings Skyview High School in 1999. Working side by side with the very teachers who inspired me to join their ranks has been a dream come true. A decade later, I still teach American history to juniors and love every minute of it. On a lighter note, any spare time is spent playing with my little dog, Chloe, and obsessively following the New York Yankees. (Side note: that disclosure probably made more enemies than friends!)