Jan. 28th – Bannock County Potatoes and Politics
IEA’s Region 5 held a Potatoes and Politics townhall-style event at Liberty Hall in Pocatello on Jan. 22. Five of Bannock County’s six state lawmakers attended the event that included teachers, students, and community members. The captain of the Pocatello High School Debate Club moderated the event.
“It was a great follow-up to Lobby Day,” said Region 5 Director Matt Davies. Each of the lawmakers in attendance also expressed their support for the educator health insurance legislation currently being considered in the Idaho Legislature.
Working for You Archive
Leveraging Federal Relief Money to Help New Educators
NEA Director and teaching coach Peggy Hoy with the Twin Falls Education Association met with the Governor’s K-12 Council to discuss using federal COVID relief money to address unfinished learning and expand mentoring for new-to-the-profession educators. There were also serious concerns about teachers leaving their districts at the end of this semester and what the state and superintendents can do to mitigate those losses.
Informative Education Law Training in Eastern Idaho
- On November 13th, members from Regions 4, 5, and 6 attended an education law training put on by the IEA’s Center for Teaching and Learning. Facilitated by IEA General Counsel Shane Reichert and Region Director Linda Jones, the training focused on key items such as open meetings laws, personnel files, how local school boards operate, and developing instincts that can pay off at the bargaining table. There was a similar training in Twin Falls in October. The IEA Summer Institute typically features an education law training, but if you want one in your area before then, contact your Local President to get the process started.