Plagued by lawsuits for misusing union dues for political campaign finance violations, the Washington Education Association (WEA) is busy determining how to pass along to teachers the cost of the state’s largest fine ever.

Meanwhile, a grassroots team of teachers has been working statewide to create an alternative to the WEA.

The Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE) believes there are many teachers who want to focus on service and professionalism, not politics and self-interest. NWPE is offering another choice and another voice for school employees who believe they are not well represented by the WEA.

NWPE is a non-profit, professional organization welcoming current, retired, and future educators who believe their highest priority is educating students, not non-education ideological agendas. The group will serve all school employees, including teachers, administrators, and school support personnel, as well as those in higher education.

NWPE says it is not a union and does not engage in collective bargaining or political advocacy for issues unrelated to education. NWPE believes teachers are well-informed, intelligent and independent thinkers who do not have to be told how to vote. It is a professional organization similar to those for specific disciplines like science and math teachers, counselors, etc.

Jeff Leer, a physical education teacher at Sedro-Woolley’s Central Elementary is the group’s president. He stresses that NWPE is not anti-union, but simply an alternative for educators who believe that the current dialogue and education of students will be improved if more diverse viewpoints are presented. NWPE is an affiliate of the rapidly growing Association of American Educators (AAE), a national professional educators’ association with affiliates in twelve states.

For more information, contact Leer at (800) 380-6973 or visit www.nwpe.org.