The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) has welcomed new officers for the upcoming school year. The teacher’s union has shared the news of Kember Kane as treasurer, Dustin Jeter as secretary, Danillya Wilson as Vice President, and David Stein as President. More about each below, per MCEA:
Kember Kane, the new treasurer, is a teacher at Westover Elementary School. Per Westover Elementary School, she “grew up in New Jersey with one brother. She went to the Pennsylvania State University, back in the 1900’s. She likes children’s books like Pete the Cat that encourage children to learn and grow into great people. She believes that every child deserves an excellent foundation in school. Because adults have the power to make that happen, their well-being must be prioritized to ensure that children’s needs are met. She enjoys spending time laughing with her husband, teacher friends, and grown-up children.”
Dustin Jeter, the new secretary, is an 18-year veteran teacher who has taught high school social studies, Academic Intervention, College Career Readiness and Development, and middle school physical education at James H. Blake High School, Magruder High School, Springbrook High School, and Francis Scott Key Middle School. Dustin currently teaches AP and NSL Government at James H. Blake High School.
Per MCEA, “Dustin has long been an advocate for others and joined the work of MCEA to fight for improvements to the daily challenges of educators across the county. Dustin is a former Student Member of the Montgomery County Board of Education and a huge fan of the Commanders.”
Danillya Wilson, the new vice president, has over 11 years of experience in Montgomery County Public Schools, all spent as a first-grade teacher at Wheaton Woods Elementary School. Per MCEA, she is “motivated by a passion for improving the working conditions of elementary educators, Danillya became involved in union work. This drive to advocate for fair treatment and improved resources propelled Danillya into various union roles and committees.
Having previously served as the secretary of MCEA, Danillya currently holds the position of vice president and serves as the co-chair for the Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) Panel. While working in her school, Danillya served as a building representative and an elected faculty representative. She has been a member of the curriculum selection committee, the technology committee, the Political Action and Legislative Services (PALS) Committee, and multiple bargaining teams. Danillya firmly believes that strong public schools are essential for maintaining a healthy democracy.”
David Stein, the new president, has had a thirty-year career as a mathematics classroom teacher. After three years in DC Public Schools, David came to MCPS teaching at Paint Branch HS and for the last 22 years at Montgomery Blair HS. He has taught all levels of math but for the last few years, David has been focusing on teaching and learning Statistics.
Per MCEA, “he has an interest and passion in mathematical modeling and project-based learning. He is very excited to be taking on this new challenge to serve you as MCEA President. David believes we need to focus on improving working conditions for educators, insisting on fair salaries, and ensuring we have the resources we need to provide high-quality education. We need to advocate for policies that promote equity and inclusion within the school system, creating a learning environment where all students can thrive.
We have come a long way in the last decade as an Association and David is looking forward to working with you to continue to build our voices and make sure we have an effective and powerful team in every work site.”