Santa Rosa Teachers Association President Kathryn Howell
SRTA President Kathryn Howell speaking at board meeting (Madeleine Smith/ The Puma Prensa)
By Madeleine Smith, Sports Editor
Kathryn Howell is a teacher’s saving grace. From policy meetings to negotiations to the Consolidation Committee, Howell does it all. She is the perfect fit for a leader of teachers. She is organized, dedicated, and caring like no other. But, don’t let her lead you astray – her calm and collected exterior only partially shields the fiery passion she brings out at Board meetings.
Howell has gained extensive experience in her 25 years as a Santa Rosa City Schools employee to assist her in her complicated job as the president of the Santa Rosa Teachers Association (SRTA). After decades of work as a library teacher, middle school teacher and site representative for the union, Howell spent the last few years taking charge of SRTA and embraced her passion for helping teachers.
As teachers and school staff faced budget crises, the pandemic, and layoffs, Howell has been there to represent and support her people. Her weeks are filled with meetings and negotiations, but she braves it all to make sure that teachers get what they deserve. Her involvement with the SRTA has only grown over time, going from member to holding a position to leading it, but her journey to Sonoma County education was a long one.
Howell grew up in a lot of different places, following her father, who was an Air Force officer, finally settling in South Dakota when she was five years old. She lived in three towns in South Dakota and eventually graduated in Sturgis. She earned a BA in Anthropology from the University of Chicago and a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Howell finally moved to Santa Rosa in 1997 and has remained a member of SRCS since 2000.
She began her career here as a Library Teacher at Rincon Valley Middle School, an outdated position that has since been replaced by Library Technicians. After the Library Teacher position was eliminated she worked as a History and English teacher at Cook Middle School. She acted as a site representative for both middle schools for SRTA, but her engagement in the union began even before that – back in her library days. “I got engaged with the union really early on because within a couple of months of being hired, I realized that I was not getting paid the way I should have been paid,” Howell said.
After smaller involvement with SRTA, Howell was appointed Chief Negotiator by the previous president Will Lyon. The Chief Negotiator is responsible for debating with the district on behalf of teachers to ensure that their rights given by their contract are secured and respected. The contract covers issues like working conditions, salary, and payment for additional jobs that teachers take on, like coaches. Having a deep understanding of the document is necessary to fulfilling the duties of Chief Negotiator.
After four years in her previous position, Howell stepped up to take on the responsibilities of the president. While there are no other qualifications to be President besides being a teacher in the District and a union member, Howell uses her experience as Chief Negotiator to assist her in her work. Now, Howell meets with her representees from every school site to talk business and policy, but also to gather information from every school to see what needs to be fixed. Howell personally takes any concerns to the Superintendent and the Cabinet in order to push the district in a different direction, if necessary. Howell says, “That is the kind of thing that I do a lot, is sort of step in and say, ‘No, you are violating the contract, you cannot do this,’ and defend the teacher.”
While she doesn’t like this part of the job so much, Howell is also responsible for representing teachers if they get into legal trouble. She attends disciplinary meetings for teachers and ensures that they are being treated fairly and appropriately according to the contract.
Howell is also not on a regular salary. She is an employee of SRCS and paid the same amount as a teacher, but the union reimburses the district for her salary. Howell pours everything she has into the union and makes sure that teachers are treated fairly, even though she puts herself at more risk in the process.
As a full-release employee Howell’s days would be free, if it weren’t for all the meetings she has to go to. There are too many to go into full detail, so here is a simple list:
Weekly meeting with the Superintendent (one on one).
Weekly meeting with the Cabinet.
Executive board and representative council meeting once a month.
Many meetings with HR Superintendent Vicki Zands.
Fiscal Stabilization Committee meetings.
School Consolidation Committee meetings.
Sonoma County Educators Coalition meeting once a month.
Meets with every school site a few times a year.
Four times a year she goes to LA to represent SRTA in the big California Teachers Association branches meeting.
Attends every board meeting.
She doesn’t have to go anywhere, but she goes everywhere. Her passion for teaching is evident and her dedication to protecting her colleagues is inspiring. And now, with three and a half years under her belt, she has become even less shy about sharing her opinions and that is exactly what we need. In just the last year, teachers have faced enough danger in their jobs for a lifetime, but everyday Howell is there speaking up for them and speaking out against injustice. All you have to do is listen to one of her speeches at any Board meeting, and you’ll know how committed she is to her position and her community. Her respect for teachers knows no bounds and it shows. Howell said, “We don’t do this for the money or the power or the prestige. Teachers are here because there is a deep love for this process. Teachers are needed to make sure that humanity is continuing… [and] if you don’t love this, you don’t do this, you know? It’s too hard. It’s too hard to not love it.”