About 500 Idaho educators will be in Boise next month for the annual Idaho Education Association Delegate Assembly. They’ll hear from an array of speakers including National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel – making his first trip to Idaho as the organization’s chief – and Idaho Teacher of the Year Stefani Cook.
This will be the last Delegate Assembly for IEA President Sherri Wood, whose term ends this summer. Wood invited Van Roekel to speak to the 2011 Delegate Assembly several years ago, not knowing how good the timing would be.
“It has been five years since Dennis was in Idaho, and he was NEA vice president at the time,” Wood recalls. “I am excited that he will be here to speak to the delegates this spring.”
“Dennis is a very positive person and he will help our members move beyond what we are feeling right now with the passage of the evil Luna bills,” Wood adds. “He will give our members hope and he will talk to us about turning this mess into an opportunity for our kids, for our profession, for this association, and for public education in Idaho!”
It’s been a rough winter, but Delegate Assembly – set April 15-16 at Boise Centre – will give us a chance to reconnect, reenergize, and honor our state and national leaders. Although Tom Luna has worked hard for our demise, the IEA isn’t going away!