Her post is demanding because Birmingham is the NASUWT’s largest local association, but she finds her work very rewarding.
Ava Verrier
“I really, really love it,” says Ava.
“I get a lot of satisfaction from supporting members, negotiating with employers and the local authority, and working with other trade unionists.
“My team includes three case workers and three administrative staff. We work well together and are really supportive of each other. I absolutely love my job.
“We’re all working towards the same end goal of protecting members’ terms and conditions, and ensuring they are treated fairly.”
Ava was 8 years old when she came to England from Barbados.
She lived in Suffolk and then Birmingham, and had various jobs whilst raising her two daughters.
Ava moved into education later in life, giving up work to train as a nursery nurse.
"This was difficult,” she says. “Money became tight as we went from two salaries to one.
“As a 'mature student', I was also one of the oldest students in group."
Ava had an opportunity to go to university afterwards, but could not afford to, so took a role as a teaching assistant.
She worked at various primary schools in Birmingham, before moving into special education at Hamilton School in Handsworth.
There, Ava was encouraged to train to become a teacher and she started studying for a degree in Early Years Education.
She passed her degree with first class honours and then went on to complete the Graduate Teacher Programme.
“It took me five years to become a teacher, all whilst working full time,” she says. “I look back now and think how did I do it, but it’s all been worth it.”
Whilst Ava loves working as a teacher, she has experienced racial prejudice in the past.
“I have had occasions in schools when I was the teacher, but staff or visitors would assume that I was the teaching assistant.
“People have just talked over me and spoken directly to other white colleagues, thinking that they were the teacher.”
Ava believes it is vital for BME teachers to join a union.
“It’s important for anybody to join a union, but for BME teachers even more so,” she says. “Unfortunately, there is discrimination out there.
“Once members have joined though, it’s equally important that they become more active within the union."
“BME members may have concerns about getting more involved, but they need to understand that we are here to protect them and support them all the way.”
Ava’s own journey into activism started when she went to attend one of the Birmingham NASUWT’s NQT days.
From there, she was encouraged to attend union events, write motions and speak at conferences.
Ava served as School Contact, a School Rep and a case worker, before becoming a Local Secretary just over three years ago.
She is also a current member of the NASUWT’s BME Advisory Committee, regularly speaks at the TUC’s Black Workers’ Conference, and last year spoke for the first time at the TUC Women's Conference.
Ava says that the highlight of her year is the NASUWT’s annual Black Teachers' Consultation Conference, though.
“It’s been amazing to see this event grow and grow over the years,” she says.
“I’m always asking our BME members ‘Have you signed up for this year’s Conference yet?’ and encouraging them to attend.
“It’s very inspiring for our BME members and a great opportunity to network and encourage them to become more involved in the Union.”
The NASUWT is raising awareness about the achievements of our BME members - both as teachers and activists - as part of our celebrations for Black History Month.