We have restructured our Union Leadership and Professional Development Program, adding regional conferences to our statewide and local based training and creating tracks of courses which are designed to build one upon the other.

The goal of these regional conferences is to provide an opportunity for more members to enhance their skills, while becoming further involved with the MFT&SRP.

Highlighted by a biennial professional development conference (even numbered years), QuEST, the MFT&SRP offers a continually expanding array of professional development programs designed to help you do an even better job. There are programs for teachers, paraprofessionals and school related personnel, higher education and public employees. We also encourage our locals to offer our services to school districts to satisfy state professional development requirements.

For most of these professional development programs the MFT&SRP offers continuing education credits (CEUs) required for teacher certification renewal, and potentially important to Title I instructional paraprofessionals given the new requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Further, the local will realize a number of benefits through the union leadership tracks such as;

• Developing a "ladder" of courses each designed to build upon the other with an overall goal of building in depth knowledge and expertise in selected program areas.


• Developing a cadre of activists in locals throughout the state who posses a deeper knowledge and understanding of the issues and important functions of the union.


• Utilizing these "new activists" to move the union agenda within their locals and at the state level.


• Helping locals strengthen their leadership core.


• Building a sense of community among members from various locals.

While members can attend programs on an ad hoc basis, it is hoped that members participate with the comprehensive training presented by the program tracks.