Ten Ways OEA Membership Benefits You

As you work wonders in Oregon’s public schools, OEA provides you with resources and benefits for your chosen career. Here are ten benefits of belonging to OEA:

1. Representation
OEA represents you in contract negotiations, grievances, pro-education coalitions, legislative committees, the State Board of Education, or anywhere decisions are made that affect school employees, students, and public education.

2. Professional Development
OEA provides you a wide variety of professional development training opportunities on licensure, classroom management, advocacy, collective bargaining, discipline issues, communications, political action, human and civil rights, classified staff (education support professional) issues, building education partnerships, and more.

3. Networking
OEA gives you numerous opportunities to gather, confer, and network with fellow educators, leaders, and education policy makers from across the state. Want to know how other professionals from around the state are dealing with the same issue you are? OEA will make those connections for you.

4. Legal Assistance
OEA’s depth of legal guidance extends far beyond liability insurance and attorneys. If you have a question about your employment rights or benefits, a local OEA UniServ Consultant assigned to your area will provide you with the guidance you need. OEA’s attorneys are the best in Oregon on employment and education law. All legal assistance costs are already provided by your OEA membership dues.

5. Political Clout
OEA is widely known as the single-most effective voice for public education in your local school district, community, and the state. The National Education Association (NEA) serves as your voice for public education on national issues and policies.

6. Information & News Updates
OEA is a public school employee’s best source of accurate, timely information. Our staff and your fellow members are on top of all current public education laws, regulations, and policies. Between OEA’s three major publications, you can get in-depth coverage to late-breaking news on the education front:
- Today’s OEA, the OEA magazine published five times a year
- www.oregoned.org, OEA’s award-winning website
- OEA Newsflash, a weekly OEA electronic-newsletter (sign up at www.oregoned.org/subscribe)

7. Liability Insurance
If you are sued, OEA’s liability insurance provides you with an attorney and $1 million in coverage for any judgment against you.

8. Showing the Value of Public Education
OEA shows the public the wonders our members work in their schools every day. OEA builds the image of school employees through solid media relations, television and radio advertising, special events, and other public relations activities.

9. Publications and Materials
In addition to the information and news sources listed above, OEA publishes booklets and brochures on a variety of topics: www.oregoned.org/publications

10. Discounts
Through educator discounts, OEA members can find savings far surpassing their annual dues on everything from magazines to car rentals.