Katie North, a learning support educator at Skyview High School, left, chats with Mona Rominger of the Vancouver Education Association executive board as she attends an educational union meeting at the Bates Center for Educational Leadership on Aug. 9. At top, a colorful button is seen on the T-shirt of Vancouver Education Association executive board member Mona Rominger. Photos by amanda cowan/The Columbian Photo Gallery
On an early Friday morning at the Bates Center for Educational Leadership, Kari Van Nostran stood in front of about 60 teachers and other education professionals newly hired by Vancouver Public Schools with an invitation to join a “large family.”
As her audience snacked on trail mix and oranges, Van Nostran, the recently elected president of the Vancouver Education Association, made her pitch for why they should opt to join the union representing teachers and other non-administrative professionals.
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