Idaho Education Association is expanding its organizing power and educator support.
Morgan Chaffee and Robert Bratley recently joined IEA as statewide organizers. Brent Nichols, who until recently served as a statewide organizer, has joined IEA’s Western Region Organizing Center as a region director for the west Ada County area. Nichols has been with IEA since July 2024.
“We are very excited about the experience and organizing capacity Morgan and Robert bring to the IEA,” said Paul Stark, IEA’s executive director. “Brent has proved his worth to IEA members as a statewide organizer and he’ll have a positive impact for members in west Ada County right away.”
Both Chaffee and Bratley will focus on member engagement to support initiatives like IEA AutoPay, election awareness and turnout, legislative action and membership recruitment. Nichols’ role is to help local education associations collectively secure better pay, benefits and employment conditions and outcomes for IEA members.
Nichols has been with the IEA since July 1. Previously he worked as a union organizer in Fairbanks, Alaska. He graduated from Washington State University in 2020 and has been serving the labor movement ever since.
During the 2022 midterm elections Nicols was instrumental in getting pro-labor candidates elected across rural Alaska. He has been part of various advocacy efforts to get recruitment and retainment incentives implemented by local governments and has experience as an external organizer helping workers without a union to form one.
In his free time, you can find him riding his bike on the greenbelt or up in the mountains where he likes to hike.
Bratley was born and raised in Boise and attended public schools.
“I wouldn’t be who I am today without the dedication and passion of numerous teachers, and I’m excited for the opportunity to support them,” he said.
Bratley studied political science and Arabic Studies at Boise State University. He previously worked as a voter outreach specialist for Conservation Voters of Idaho, most recently serving as a canvassing lead for Idahoans for Open Primaries.
In his free time, Bratley loves to read, watch films and cook.
Chaffee recently moved to Nampa from her hometown of Port Townsend, Wash. She studied political science at the University of Idaho, where she participated in local political organizations such as the Latah Democrats and the Idaho Young Democrats. In 2019, she completed a fellowship for President Biden’s primary effort in New Hampshire.
After graduating from U of I, Chaffee worked as an organizer on Paulette Jordan’s 2020 U.S. Senate race. She also served part-time with Nimiipuu Protecting Environment, the Nez Perce Tribe’s non-profit environmental organization. There, she managed volunteers, planned events and ran an afterschool program for third- and fourth-graders at Lapwai Elementary. Chaffee also volunteered with Family Promise of Palouse, served on the City of Moscow Human Rights Commission, substituted in elementary schools and worked as a community-based rehabilitation specialist.
Most recently, she worked as an elementary library paraprofessional and organized volunteers for Adison Richards’s successful campaign for a seat in Washington’s House of Representatives — helping to flip the seat for the first time in 15 years.
In her personal time, Chaffee enjoys going to music festivals and shows; spending time with her chihuahua, Luna, and cat, Nora; cooking and baking; making art, sewing and decorating; and hanging out with friends and family.
