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Association of American Educators (AAE)
Formation1994
HeadquartersMission Viejo, California
Alexandria, Virginia
Executive Director
Gary Beckner
Websitewww.aaeteachers.org

Association of American Educators (AAE) is the largest national, non-union, professional teacher association in the United States.[1] Its stated mission is to “advance the profession through personal growth, professional development, teacher advocacy and protection.”[2] AAE also seeks to “promote excellence in education so that [teachers] receive the respect, recognition and reward they deserve.”[2] AAE is officially nonpartisan.[2] AAE is not a union or a lobbying organization, but licensed as a 501(c)(6) professional trade association.[2] AAE is funded by dues from thousands of members located in all fifty states and the District of Columbia and by contributions to the AAE Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.[2][3][4] AAE claims to “help lead a coalition of nearly 300,000 teachers across the country who have joined a non-union teacher association.”[3]


History

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Original AAE logo

The Association of American Educators was founded in 1994 by Gary Beckner, his wife, and a group of nationally-recognized educators, including three National Teachers of the Year, many of whom continue to serve on the AAE Advisory Board.[2] Over 2,000 teachers joined AAE during their first year of operation, and membership doubled the following year.[5]

While recruiting members directly through word-of-mouth, mailings, and at teacher conferences and new teacher orientations across the country, AAE has partnered with pre-existing state-based non-union educator associations in Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Utah. Additionally, AAE has established state-based non-union educator associations representing teachers Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington. AAE also partners with county- and district-level associations in other states, including Nevada.[6]

AAE’s headquarters in Mission Viejo, California, handles administrative operations and membership services. In 2004, AAE opened an office in Alexandria, Virginia, as its headquarters for policy, outreach, and communications.[7]

AAE has been highlighted in national newspapers The Wall Street Journal,[8] The Washington Times,[9] and USA Today,[10] among others. Op-eds and letters to the editor from AAE staff members are published regularly in local newspapers.[11][12][13] AAE staff, state leaders, and members have been interviewed on CNN Headline News,[14] Fox News Channel, and many local news media outlets.


Membership and Member Services

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February 2009 cover of Education Matters

Professional membership in AAE is open to all employees who, in order to qualify for insurance benefits, must receive a W-2 from an educational entity, including public or private school, university, or college.[15] Non-insurance membership is open to everyone.

More than 90% of AAE members are public school teachers.[16][17]

According to the AAE website and membership brochures, “professional members” receive the following benefits:[18]

  • An individual $2,000,000 liability insurance policy
  • Access to legal counsel
  • Subscription to monthly Education Matters newsletter
  • Teacher scholarships and classroom minigrants
  • Updates on national developments in education
  • Professional development resources
  • A voice on education policy at state and national government levels

Other membership levels include "student teacher," "retired educator," and "AAE supporter."[18]


AAE State Partners and Affiliates

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AAE membership is available to educators in all fifty states and the District of Columbia; however, members who teach in a state with an AAE state partner (see below) join and receive benefits from the state partner.[3][6]

Group Acronym State(s) Website
Arizona Professional Educators AZPE Arizona azpe.org
Arkansas State Teachers Association ASTA Arkansas astapro.org
Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana A+PEL Louisiana apeleducators.org
Classroom Teachers Association of North Carolina CTA North Carolina ctanc.net
Kansas Association of American Educators KANAAE Kansas kanaae.org
Kentucky Association of Professional Educators KAPE Kentucky kentuckyteachers.org
Keystone Teachers Association KEYTA Pennsylvania keyta.org
Northwest Professional Educators NWPE Idaho
Oregon
Washington 		nwpe.org
Professional Association of Colorado Educators PACE Colorado coloradoteachers.org
Professional Educators Network of Florida PEN Florida penfl.org
Professional Educators of Iowa PEI Iowa peiowa.org
Professional Educators of Tennessee PET Tennessee teacherspet.org
Utah Council of Educators UTCE Utah utce.org
Virginia Professional Educators VPE Virginia virginiaeducators.org


Criticism

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The National Education Association (NEA), the largest labor union in the United States, and its state affiliates, have accused AAE and its state affiliates of being "pro-voucher" "anti-public education" and "anti-union."[19][20] The NEA cites as evidence that major contributors to AAE Foundation have also contributed to school choice initiatives, which the NEA labels as "anti-public education" and "anti-union."[20] The NEA has distributed a "toolkit" advising local members on how to respond to the AAE, including talking points and action plans. The NEA has labeled AAE "the leading anti-NEA organization."[20]

AAE and state affiliates have responded by highlighting that over 90% of their membership are public school teachers and the AAE has never taken a position supporting vouchers.[17][21][22] Also, the major funders cited by the NEA as proof of AAE's agenda, have also given grants of equal or larger value to public schools. For example, the Walton Family Foundation, donates heavily to urban school districts and Arkansas public schools.[23]

Additional responses to NEA criticisms can be found on AAE's "NEA Says" webpage.


[edit]
  • Alexandria, Virginia office of AAE
    Alexandria, Virginia office of AAE
  • Mission Viejo, California office of AAE
    Mission Viejo, California office of AAE


References

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  1. ^ "AAE Homepage". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "About AAE". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  3. ^ a b c "Join AAE". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  4. ^ "AAE Foundation". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  5. ^ Kirkpatrick, David W. (September 1997). "Alternative Teacher Organizations: Evolution of Professional Associations" (PDF). Reason Public Policy Foundation (Policy Study No. 231): 1–39. Retrieved 2009-03-17.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ a b "AAE State Partners". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  7. ^ "Contact AAE". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  8. ^ Golden, Daniel (2004-07-28). "Nonunion Teacher Groups Cost NEA Membership and Clout". The Wall Street Journal. p. A1.
  9. ^ Berlau, John (2003-09-30). "Teachers Discard The Union Label". Washington Times Insight Magazine. p. 23-25.
  10. ^ Henry, Tamara (1998-07-07). "Independent groups teach unions lessons on membership". USA Today. p. D4. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
  11. ^ Letter to the editor (2008-08-27). "A calling, not a gravy train: Teachers lose with forced dues". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 17 March 2009. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ Letter to the editor (2002-07-07). "A professional alternative". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 17 March 2009. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  13. ^ Letter to the editor (2008-11-07). "Another option for teachers". Concord Monitor. Retrieved 17 March 2009. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  14. ^ "YouTube: Cindy Omlin on Glenn Beck". YouTube. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  15. ^ "AAE Insurance". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  16. ^ Beckner, Gary (July–August 2008). "A Professional Alternative" (PDF). Education Matters: 3–5. Retrieved 2009-03-16.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: date format (link)
  17. ^ a b "What the NEA says about AAE". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  18. ^ a b "AAE Membership Application". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  19. ^ Utah Education Association (November 2006). "Follow the money: UTCE and the AAE connection" (PDF). UEA Action. 37 (1): 8–9. Retrieved 2009-03-17.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  20. ^ a b c National Education Association, "NEA’s Toolkit to Advance Public Education: So-called “Professional Educator” Organizations." (2006).
  21. ^ "UTCE Myths and Facts". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  22. ^ "PACE Response to Deceptive Literature". Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  23. ^ "The Walton Family Foundation K-12 Education Reform". Retrieved 2009-03-16.


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