Members of the Boundary County Education Association (BCEA) ESP Steering Committee met on Friday, March 5th to plan for building a stronger ESP presence in BCEA. During this one day retreat, the Steering Committee adopted the following mission:
As the Boundary Co. ESP (Education Support Professional) Steering Committee, our mission is to promote all ESPs as valued members of the education community and to provide open communication, education, and representation to current and potential members.
The Steering Committee members will use their mission to guide the programs and activities of BCEA ESPs in the coming months.
Positions on the Steering Committee Board are:
- Spokesperson/Liaison to District/Board – Debbie Flory
- Chairperson – Vikki Snider
- Secretary – Jessica Fahey
- Reporter – Bill Suldovsky
- Monitor for Job Postings – Merle Dinning
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Tuesday, March 02, 2010
New Teachers Receive COLD HARD CASH
Each month from September to May, the IEA awards $50 to eight new teachers for materials or supplies in their classroom.
The IEA COLD HARD CASH winners for March 2010 are:
- Lisa Norman, Snake River Education Association
- Steve Ostrom, Post Falls Education Association
- Jennifer Randolph, Nampa Education Association
- Leah Rose Pentland, Hansen Education Association
- Jodi Chambers, Lewiston Education Association
- Emalee Merrell, Kuna Education Association
- Patrick Milligan, Boise Education Association
- Darci Thomson, Coeur d’Alene Education Association
If you are an IEA member and a new teacher (0-5 years experience), you can submit your name for next month’s drawing by clicking the COLD HARD CASH icon on this page and completing the form. If you are not selected in next month’s drawing, you will be included in the drawing for the following month.
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Tuesday, March 02, 2010
NEA Advocates for School Psychologists
Thanks to the actions of NEA, school psychologists across the country have great news. In July 2008, an NEA-RA new business item called on NEA to support retention of the current language in the Model Licensure Act (MLA) that exempts school psychologists from requirements to hold a doctorate degree. In the fall of 2008, with the assistance of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and leadership from several state affiliates, NEA submitted comments regarding our support for school psychologists. In addition, NEA worked with NASP to actively advocate on this issue, resulting in supporting letters from 10 state Secretaries of Education and over 20,000 letters.
As a result of our joint efforts, the American Psychological Association has voted NOT to change language in the MLA that would have prohibited school psychologists from using the title “psychologist” if they do not hold a doctorate degree.
We thank the American Psychological Association for hearing NEA’s concerns and congratulate them for a prudent decision in support of their members working in public schools.
This is a great victory for our members and the thousands of students who are served by school psychologists every day in schools and districts across the nation.
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Thursday, February 11, 2010
Education Employees Deserve a Living Wage
Do you earn enough money to pay for rent, food, health care, transportation, utilities, taxes and child care? In other words, do you earn a living wage? Across Idaho, many Education Support Professionals (ESPs) and teachers are forced onto public assistance or hold multiple jobs because public schools do not provide adequate wages. Many education employees, especially ESPs, cannot afford basic necessities because they do not make a living wage.
Recently, approximately 35 ESP and teacher members from the Meridian Education Association (MEA) and Boise Education Association (BEA) attended a training session to learn how to implement a “Living Wage Campaign.”
The first step in organizing the campaign is to gather stories from education employees who do not earn a living wage. What is your story? It is time to share our difficulties and sacrifices so we can work together to guarantee living wages for all education employees. Send us your stories.
To learn more about the MEA’s “Living Wage Campaign,” contact Jeanne Taylor or Tawni Berryman-Hull.
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Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Grace Teachers Hold Rally for New Contract
Grace Education Association members staged a rally and picketed outside of a high school basketball game on Friday, Feb. 5. GEA members have been working without a contract this year. The school district has not declared a financial emergency, but has imposed a revised salary schedule, changed health insurance benefits, and hired an outside attorney who cost another Idaho school district tens of thousands of dollars because of his bad advice.
IEA President Sherri Wood and several IEA members from neighboring school districts attended the rally in support of the GEA. A fact finding session is scheduled in Grace on Friday, Feb. 19.
Watch one television station’s coverage of the rally.
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Wednesday, February 03, 2010
IEA Supports New Teachers with COLD HARD CASH
Each month from September to May, the IEA awards $50 to eight new teachers (0-5 years experience) for classroom materials or supplies.
Here are some comments from past COLD HARD CASH winners:
“Thank you so much for the $50. The money has been used to buy an electric pencil sharpener, so I can quickly sharpen my first graders ’ pencils during prep time…I also used the money to purchase a collection of the Flat Stanley series. We mail our Flat Stanley to a friend in another state. When our friend mails him back we learn about the city and state that Flat Stanley visited.” Jennifer Lopuch, Bonneville Education Association.
“Thank you so much for the money to use in my classroom. I was able to purchase whiteboard folders and markers for the classroom. I will be able to implement some high intensity activities with the white board folders.” Becki Boyd, Minidoka Education Association
“Part of the award was used for lab supplies/activities. I have added a classroom pet and some wall décor. Thanks for supporting.” Jeff Anderson, Jefferson Co. Education Association
The COLD HARD CASH winners for February are:
|
Tyler McCarty |
Nampa Education Assn. |
|
Lisa Norman |
Snake River Education Assn. |
|
Patricia A. Young |
Boise Education Association |
|
Alesia Jensen |
Shelley Education Assn. |
|
Marti Kincaid |
Kimberly Education Assn. |
|
Kassie Davis |
New Plymouth Education Assn |
|
Brianna Storm |
Lewiston Education Assn. |
|
Rhona Huntsman |
Shelley Education Assn. |
If you are a member and a new teacher (0-5 years experience) you can submit your name for next month’s drawing by clicking the COLD HARD CASH icon on this page and completing the form.
If your name is not selected for next month’s drawing, it will be included in the drawing for the following month.
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Prepare Educators for the 21st Century
NEA Academy On Demand provides video presentations and supporting materials on a variety of public education issues. Nationally renowned presenters share their insight, knowledge and best practices on topics important to YOU as education employees, parents, and community leaders. Copies of the transcripts, PowerPoint presentations, and additional resources are available for downloading.
Some of the available topics are:
- Creating Great Public Schools for All Using Universal Design for Learning and Inclusive Practices
- NEA Teacher Quality Town Hall Meeting with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
- Making Meaningful Connections: An Introduction to The Virtues Project
Visit NEA Academy On Demand for more information.
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Need Classes for Credit?
Enrollment begins on January 18 through February 5, 2010.
Achieve a 10% refund of course fees by taking two or more classes. (Does not apply to NNU fees.)
See Idaho Education Academy for description of courses.
GREAT ONE-CREDIT COURSES
- Enhancing Instruction with Power Point (online)
- Integrating the Web into Your Classroom (online)
- Portfolios for Authentic Assessment-especially for elementary teachers (correspondence)
TWO-CREDIT CORRESPONDENCE COURSES
- NEW!! Exploring and Applying "Emotional Intelligence" (EQ) for Educators
- Increasing Teacher Professionalism
- Ethical Dilemmas: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
- The Future of Public Education
- Stress Management for Teachers
- Students Who Drive You Crazy
Instructors contribute $2.50/credit to IEA Children's Fund in enrollee's name.
Former students may achieve additional discouts at http://www.idahoeducationacademy.com/Incentive.html
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Thursday, January 14, 2010
Help Haiti Earthquake Victims
NEA members can contribute money to help the teachers and their families who lost everything at their homes and schools in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The donations NEA receives will be sent to the Education International Solidarity Fund which will channel them directly to the Confédération Nationale des Enseignants d’Haïti (CNEH), NEA’s sister organization in Haiti. Disbursements will be made first to secure lives and second to support the resumption of education. This is a safe way to ensure that relief funds go directly to teachers and positively supports children. Checks can be made out to the National Education Association and mailed to Haiti Earthquake Recovery, National Education Association, 1201 16th St., NW., Suite 614, Washington, DC 20036. Read more.
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Monday, January 11, 2010
Governor Orders Public School Cuts
Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter opened the 2nd Regular Session of the 60th Idaho Legislature today with his State of the State address. Lawmakers and other public officials streamed into the newly refurbished Idaho Capitol to hear the governor lay out his plans for filling the funding gap that exists for the current fiscal year and outlining plans for funding state programs for FY 11.
In the weeks leading up to the end of 2009, reporters and lawmakers began laying the groundwork for what was predicted to be a somber message from the governor. Early on in his remarks, Governor Otter pointed out that the way to find a cure for our ailing economy would require “sacrifice and hard work.”
After declaring there would be no tax increases, claiming a need to hang on to some of cash reserves in case the economic recovery takes longer or is less robust than we hope, and expressing his desire to “protect the educational opportunities for our children and grandchildren,” Governor Otter announced a 1.6% immediate spending cut for the remainder of FY 10 for all state programs, including K-12 public schools.
The governor then laid out a funding proposal for the next fiscal year that is based on no increase in revenue and no growth in state programs, except for the K-12 public schools. He will reportedly propose funding for a larger student population in the coming year at the same level as this year’s increase.
The governor further informed lawmakers that he will forward to them reports outlining ideas he has been receiving from the business community. Included in those reports are proposals to provide significant tax credits for infrastructure construction investments and elimination of Idaho’s personal property tax.
What does all of this mean for public schools? Though the details have yet to be ironed out, we can be sure that school districts will be further cinching up their belts in the days ahead and local budgets will be scoured to find even more ways to reduce expenses to meet the governor’s call for spending cuts in the current year.
We will be carefully reviewing the details of Governor Otter’s budget proposal and providing updates as we learn more about the specific elements of his spending plan. In the meantime, as lawmakers grapple with the hard choices about how to spend the state’s limited resources, IEA members will be there to offer our expertise about the effects these decisions may have on Idaho’s children.
Click here to read the entire text of Governor Otter’s speech.
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Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program
The Academy for Educational Development (AED) is pleased to announce the application for the 2010-2011 cycle of the Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching program. This particular Fulbright program is sponsored by The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the U.S. Department of State, and it is administered by AED in coordination with ECA in Washington, DC.
The Distinguished Fulbright Awards in Teaching program seeks to attract highly qualified and experienced K-12 teachers from the United States and eight other participating countries. The main focus of the program is to provide an opportunity for teachers to conduct a variety of professional development activities during a three to six month period.
Application deadline: February 15, 2010
For more details and the online application:
http://www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org/dteIndex.cfm
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Thursday, December 24, 2009
Idaho to Apply for Race to the Top Grant
Race to the Top is a highly competitive federal grant to encourage and reward states for improving student achievement and ensuring students are prepared for college and careers.
The grant covers four areas. States submitting grant applications must outline what they have done and how they will improve in each of them:
Standards and Assessments. Idaho’s grant will focus on adopting common core standards in English and mathematics, providing professional development for new standards and assessments, expanding formative assessments, creating end of course assessments, and participating in international assessments.
Data Systems to Support Instruction. Idaho’s grant focuses on creating a system that collects student data, provides professional development for using the data to inform instruction, and ensures data sharing as students move from one school to another.
Great Teachers and Leaders. Idaho would expand virtual professional development opportunities for educators and principals, develop an evaluation framework for principals, explore alternative routes to principal certification, and create a teacher incentive pay pilot program based on student achievement and local incentives.
Turning Around Lowest Achieving Schools. Idaho’s grant would focus on development of a three-tier transformative model to support struggling schools.
Idaho is planning to submit a proposal for $75-$100 million. Very few states will be selected in the first round of applications. However, if Idaho is not selected in this round of applications, the comments received on this application will help in the development of a stronger application for the second round of awards, which would be submitted in June 2010.
Why does the local Association need to understand the details of this grant?
Before the state can submit its application, it must first identify local school districts that agree to support and implement the grant, if received. The U.S. Secretary of Education realizes the important role educators play in student achievement and the success of education reform programs.
As a result, state applications must include Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) jointly signed by local school district superintendents, school board chairs, and teacher association leaders who agree to support the state’s application.
There is a very compressed timeline for school districts to consider whether to support the grant process.
Jan, 12: Districts must submit signed MOUs to the State Department of Education.
Jan. 19: SDE must submit grant application and all accompanying MOUs to the U.S. Department of Education.
What can I do?
Get educated. For more details, visit these websites:
· U.S. Department of Education at www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop
· Idaho State Department of Education at www.sde.idaho.gov/site/race
· Idaho Education Association at www.idahoea.org
· National Education Association at www.nea.org/home/35870.htm
Find out if your school district is interested in signing on to the grant.
Before you sign any documents or make any commitments, contact your IEA region director and gauge member support.
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Nominations Open for IEA Awards
Each year at Delegate Assembly the IEA presents several awards honoring commitment to public education and the Association. IEA President Sherri Wood has released the guidelines and nomination forms for the nine awards. Nominations are due by Jan. 22, 2010. The Board of Directors will select recipients for these awards that recognize special and unique contributions to the cause of public education over an extended period of time and particularly in the last year. The IEA will present the following awards:
- Friend of Education [2 page pdf--guidelines and nomination form]
- Sam Cikaitoga Minority Service Award [2 page pdf--guidelines and nomination form]
- Edythe Crowe Educational Support Professional Award [2 page pdf—guidelines and nomination form]
- Shane Anderson Outstanding Member Award [2 page pdf—guidelines and nomination form]
- Betty Roper Public Relations Award [2 page pdf—guidelines and nomination form]
- Membership Recruiter Award [2 page pdf—guidelines and nomination form]
- Larry Caldwell Advocacy Award [2 page pdf—guidelines and nomination form]
- Marsha Nakamura Award for Teaching Excellence [6 page pdf—guidelines and nomination form]
- Teacher Trainee Award [2 page pdf—guidelines and nomination form]
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Apply Now to Attend NEA Convention
The 2010 NEA Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly will be held July 1-6, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. IEA members will elect 13 state delegates to represent Idaho at the NEA R.A. In addition, the IEA President is an ex-officio delegate with voting privileges and the IEA Vice President and NEA Resolutions Committee member are automatically delegates by virtue of their elected offices. The IEA Board encourages ethnic minority members to run for the state delegate positions.
The IEA Board of Directors has approved a list of tentative zones which is subject to change if final membership counts as of Jan. 15 differ significantly. Anyone who applies for a state delegate position and whose local is shifted when the final zones are approved in January will be notified. Retired members will vote separately for two delegates. Here is the tentative list of delegate zones and the candidate résumé form.
ZONE A: Boundary County, West Bonner County, Lake Pend Oreille, Lakeland, Post Falls
ZONE B: Coeur d’Alene, Wallace, Mullan, West Shoshone, Avery, Kootenai, Plummer/Worley, St. Maries, Potlatch, Whitepine, Clearwater, Kendrick, Troy, Highland, Prairie, Nezperce, Kamiah
ZONE C: Moscow, Genesee, Lewiston, Lapwai, Culdesac, Central Idaho, Salmon River, Meadows Valley, McCall-Donnelly, Council, Cambridge, Cascade, Garden Valley, Idaho City, Horseshoe Bend, Gem County, Midvale, Weiser, New Plymouth
ZONE D: Payette, Fruitland, Parma, Notus, Middleton, Wilder, Homedale, Marsing, Pleasant Valley, Bruneau-Grandview, Melba, Nampa
ZONES E & F: Kuna, Mountain Home, Meridian
ZONES G, H & I: Vallivue, Caldwell, Prairie Elementary, Boise, Glenns Ferry, Camas County, Bliss, Hagerman, Castleford, Three Creek, Filer, Buhl, Wendell, Gooding, Gooding State School, Shoshone, Jerome
ZONE J: Twin Falls, Kimberly, Hansen, Murtaugh, Valley, Dietrich, Richfield, Blaine County, Minidoka County, Cassia County
ZONE K: American Falls, Rockland, Arbon, Oneida, West Side, Preston, Grace, Marsh Valley, Pocatello
ZONE L: North Gem, Soda Springs, Bear Lake, Aberdeen, Blackfoot, Snake River, Butte County, Mackay, Challis, Salmon, South Lemhi, Clark County, Fremont, Teton County, Swan Valley, Firth, Shelley, Ririe, Sugar-Salem, Jefferson County, West Jefferson
ZONE M: Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Rexburg
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