NSEA The Voice November 2009

The

Voice The Nebraska State Education Association November 2009

November 2009 The NSEA Voice Page 1

On the Cover: Omaha’s Laura Callahan may be the luckiest teacher in Nebraska: her classroom is located on the grounds of Omaha’s world-famous Henry Doorly Zoo. For the story, see

Page 12.

THE

VOICE Nebraska State Education Association 605 S. 14th Street, Suite 200 Lincoln, NE 68508-2742 · www.nsea.org (402) 475-7611 · (800) 742-0047

Volume 63, No. 3 ISSN Number: 1085-0783 USPS Number: 000-369 Executive Director Assoc. Executive Director Communications Director Assistant Comm. Director

Craig R. Christiansen Neal Clayburn Karen Kilgarin Al Koontz

NSEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Jess Wolf, Hartington Vice President Nancy Fulton, Wilber-Clatonia NEA Director Mark Shively, Omaha NEA Director Leann Widhalm, Norfolk

Official publication of the Nebraska State Education Association, Suite 200, 605 South 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Periodical postage paid at Lincoln, NE, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send address changes to NSEA Voice, Suite 200, 605 S. 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-2742.

Published 10 times yearly according to this schedule: September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May and August.

Payment of annual NSEA membership dues entitles Nebraska educators to receive The Voice. Total cost of producing 10 monthly issues of The Voice each year is about $4.84 per member.

Advertising rates of The Voice are available from the assistant communications director. All advertisements and advertisers are screened prior to publication.

Appearance of an advertisement in The Voice does not necessarily imply NSEA endorsement of either the product being advertised or the views being expressed.

Great Public Schools For Every Child Page 2 The NSEA Voice November 2009

You’ll Get Mail: Access is on the Way! Your New Membership Card Will Arrive Soon Call it an early Christmas gift.

Your new, 2009-10 NSEA Membership Card will arrive in your mailbox on or around Dec. 1. Your membership card is a gateway to savings – giving you the opportunity to save much more than the cost of membership each year at local, regional and national merchants.

NSEA’s Membership Card is also a discount card. It works at thousands of merchant sites across the country.

Whether you’re shopping for shoes, clothing, pizza, golf outings or hotel rooms, your membership card can save you money.

Some of the key merchants on the Access Card list include Target.com, Office Depot, Lillian Vernon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, The Loft, Leap Frog and Michael’s. Those merchants and others offer deep discounts for NSEA members – sometimes as much as 50 percent off retail prices. And with more than 180,000 merchant sites participating in the NSEA Membership Access Card program nationwide, you can count on saving cash wherever you might travel.

Your personalized NSEA membership card (see the card image with this story) will arrive in a mailing to your home on or about Dec. 1. The card you receive for the 2009-10 Association year will remain valid through December 2010. All NSEA members, including first-time members, can access savings by using

their 10-digit Association identification number, which appears above their name on every Association mailing.

To start saving, members must activate their card once it arrives. It’s easy to do, by following these steps: Log on to the NSEA Web site at: www.nsea.org Click on the image of your membership card on the upper right hand corner of the home page. Enter your member ID number (located on the front of the card or on the mailing label above your name).

Create your personal account by following the registration instructions.

You can also activate your account by calling the toll-free number listed on the back of each card.

Some merchants will require that you present your card at the time of purchase. Others require that you print a coupon from the Access Web site, so be certain to check the individual merchant page on the Web site for specific instructions.

For those without Internet access, a printed directory of merchant locations is available quarterly for a nominal charge. Just call the Access member services team at the phone number on the back of the card.

Again: Watch for your card around Dec. 1, and begin saving immediately. It’s another way that NSEA works for you!

From the President

The Job You Save...

NSEA President Jess Wolf ‘The State’s investment of state dollars in public schools is essentially stagnant this year, despite a state aid formula that called for a significant increase.’

True to form, the national economic downturn has finally hit Nebraska – much later than it hit the rest of the country.

While many Nebraskans have lost jobs and income, the impact in Nebraska has not been as severe as it has been in other parts of the country.

Still, the state’s tax revenues are down, and it is anticipated that the state’s revenue will remain below budget needs for some time into the future. The next meeting of the state’s Economic Forecasting Board is expected to add to the gloomy news, with reports of a further slowing of tax revenue income. As a result, Gov. Dave Heineman has called the Legislature back into Special Session to deal with the state’s revenue shortfall.

State Aid Targeted Unfortunately, “special” in this case may not mean “good” for education interests in the state. Nearly every news report has mentioned education as a target of potential budget cuts. Does that set off alarm bells for those of us associated with education, from pre-school through the college ranks? It certainly should, and with good reason!

Plain and simple, state aid to education will be targeted for cuts during this special session. Cuts to state aid will most likely mean teaching and educational support professional jobs lost statewide. It could be your job, or it could be the job of your co-worker down the hall.

Last month I noted that, during coming discussions of education reform, our education family must be at the table.

If not, we’ll certainly be on the menu.

The same is true – and perhaps more so – when it comes to discussions about the state budget and school funding.

No Ill Intentions It’s not my plan to paint any of our policymakers with a broad brush of “ill intentions” toward education as the budget debate begins. Be assured that other

beneficiaries of state dollars will do their very best to convince state senators and the governor that they’ve already been hit hard by budget cuts – and indeed, some of them have. But they will conveniently forget that the increase to state aid for the current school year came from federal stimulus dollars, not state dollars. The state’s investment of state dollars in public schools is essentially stagnant this year, despite a state aid formula that called for a significant increase. So, while any increases to the budget in other areas were from state dollars, that was not the case for state aid in this biennial budget; state aid increases were funded by federal stimulus dollars.

More is Needed Everyone at NSEA is busy at work on this issue in an effort to insure that any cuts made are as far from the classroom as possible.

Meetings with Gov. Heineman and state senators have taken place, or will be taking place in the near future. Those meetings have been fruitful, though no promises have been made.

Much more contact with policymakers is needed, especially from you. Call, write or e-mail your state senator now, and during the session. Let them know how cuts will affect you and those students you work with or teach. Contact your senator by going to the NSEA Web site home page. Click on the Policy and Politics link on the left side of the page, and then click on the “E-mail your State Senator” link. You can also call the Legislature’s switchboard at 402-471-2311, and tell your state senator your story directly.

Remember, your calls and letters get the attention of your senators. The job you save may be your own.

So I urge you to remain vigilant in the weeks ahead. Please be ready to answer any call from NSEA seeking your assistance as the Special Session unfolds.

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Teaching Jobs at Stake As Special Session Nears, NSEA Works to Save State Aid, Teaching Jobs By the time it was official that the Nebraska Legislature would meet in Special Session in November to address a state budget shortfall, NSEA staff were already in response mode.

Within hours of Gov. Dave Heineman’s news conference announcing the session, NSEA had begun crafting a letter to Heineman and all 49 state senators. The message: protect state aid.

Within days, the letter had been hand-delivered and NSEA leaders had met with Heineman and key legislators to get a first-hand budget update and to further press for state aid protection.

The budget outlook is bleak. Revenue for the remainder of the state’s twoyear budget cycle is projected to fall more than $300 million short of needs.

While policymakers will likely not cut state aid to schools in the current budget year, it appears state aid for 2010-11 may be a target. There are plenty of reasons why that approach is shortsighted, said NSEA President Jess Wolf.

In the 2009-10 budget, the state’s funding will be $7.5 million short of the state aid needs-based formula requirement. Federal stimulus dollars made up the difference and were used to increase state aid over the 2008-09 figure.

In 2010-11, state aid will fall another $51.6 million short of the formula requirement. Further cuts to state aid in 2010-11 will not only cause job and program cuts in that year, it will put the state further behind in its ability to meet

formula requirements in the next biennial budget, spanning 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Further, protecting state aid saves teaching jobs, which in turn will stimulate the economy.

“Public education is one of our largest employers.

We’re not talking about minimumwage jobs,” Wolf Serious talks: Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, left, said. “In that light, spoke with NSEA President Jess Wolf and Assistant Exit doesn’t make ecutive Director Neal Clayburn about budget issues. economic sense to Duncan has chastised the governor of cut state aid.”

Pennsylvania for using stimulus dolAlso, Wolf said, “there is no doubt lars, instead of state reserves, to plug that a well-educated workforce is also budget holes. Duncan told Educaimportant to Nebraska’s economic retion Week that it has been made clear covery and vitality.” to states that stimulus dollars are “to supplement local education dollars, not Early November replace them.”

NSEA’s letter to policymakers was The stimulus was designed to move clear: State aid to K-12 education may the economy to recovery; dollars spent have received the greatest increase on education ripple through each Nein funding in the two-year budget apbraska community several times over. proved in May, but every last penny of Most importantly, education cuts that increase came by way of federal hurt children. stimulus dollars.

“Funding cuts will lead to course and The stimulus dollars were to “supprogram reductions or eliminations, plement, not supplant” state funding teacher layoffs and unmanageable class for education. size,” said the letter to policymakers.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne

The Job You Save May be Your Own: How to Make a Difference

Prepped: Across Nebraska, NSEA members were updated on the Special Session before they visited with their state senators about the need to protect state aid. Meeting in Lincoln were, from left, Marcia Benner, Paula Buckner and Bob Shaw.

Teachers know that cuts to education funding mean cuts to programs. Senators need to hear stories of programs and jobs cut, and opportunities lost for Nebraska children.

Send an e-mail to your state senator – it’s really quite easy. Go to the NSEA Web site at ww.nsea.org, and look for the ‘E-mail Your State Senator’ link on the home page. Click on the link, and follow the prompts to send your senator a personalized message about the need to preserve state aid. Here are some ideas for your message to senators: Tell senators that cuts should be made as far from the classroom as possible.

Tell your senator how state aid will affect your school — larger class size, program cuts, etc. Personalize the message about the kids, not salaries.

Remind your senator of the impact of job cuts. The state’s income tax revenue is falling, and cutting teaching jobs will only exacerbate that problem.

Remind senators that K-12 education is a Constitutional priority. That’s why education makes up such a large part of the state budget.

Emphasize that state aid cuts will lead to higher property taxes.

Meanwhile, NSEA is working on a list of school budget items that would help keep cuts farthest from the classroom. If you have ideas to add to the list, please e-mail them to: cathy.schapmann@nsea.org November 2009 The NSEA Voice Page 5

Breed’s Vision: A Better System Commissioner Tells Negotiators Nebraska Schools Will Have ‘Laser-Like Focus’ The 100 NSEA members at the Association’s annual Bargaining and Advocacy Conference learned a lot about sharpening their negotiating skills.

They also learned a lot from keynote speaker Roger Breed, Nebraska’s commissioner of education.

Breed said that he, as do the eight members of the State Board of Education, envisions an education system in Nebraska that has a “laserlike focus on student learning.”

Such a focus, he said, requires all communities and school districts to prioritize student learning.

The annual conference gives negotiators updated information and skill sets to help them better craft and reach bargaining goals. The conference was held in Kearney in October.

Helping sharpen the focus on education, said Breed, is the Nebraska P-16 Initiative, led by Gov. Dave Heineman and committed to improving education in Nebraska from pre-school through college. The P-16 Initiative has released eight goals, including development of a college and career prep core curriculum that requires four years of English, and three years each of math, science and social studies, in all Nebraska school districts by 2015.

Also on the list of P-16 goals is the elimination of the achievement gap.

Honing the focus will be Nebraska’s application for federal Race To The Top (RTTT) grant dollars, which will put $4.35 billion into education across the country. At the table for that application are the governor, the Legislature’s Education Committee chair, the State Board of Education, NSEA, educational service units, public colleges and universities, school administrators, school boards and private foundations.

“What is being considered is a statewide school improvement model.

It would seek sustainable and systemic changes in the state education system that would result in documented higher levels of achievement for Nebraska, with a clear reduction in learning gaps,” said Breed.

Making changes sought by the P-16 Initiative, and proposed in the RTTT Grant, may not be easy.

“Do we have the collective will to Page 6 The NSEA Voice November 2009

Re-acquainted: Nebraska Commissioner of Education Roger Breed caught up with former teaching colleague Vicki Northrop, now of Hastings, at NSEA’s Bargaining and Advocacy Conference in Kearney in October.

NSEA Lends Support to Tougher Grad Requirements; Lists Concerns NSEA President Jess Wolf has sent a letter to State Board of Education President Kandy Imes expressing NSEA’s support for and concern about a proposed rule change to alter the state’s high school graduation requirements.

In September, the NSEA Board of Directors voted unanimously to support the proposal, but expressed a variety of concerns. Among those concerns are: the cost to school districts for additional books, supplies, space and teaching staff. Also a concern, said Wolf, is how the goals will be implemented for special education students who struggle academically.

“NSEA members believe rigorous standards can be taught in a variety of courses and are not limited to typical course offerings,” Wolf wrote.

The letter was sent on Oct. 5.

Board Takes First Step on Graduation Issue The State Board of Education has taken the initial step in making the state’s graduation requirements more stringent, unanimously approving a resolution that spells out the new expectations during a meeting on Oct. 8. Department of Education staff must draft the rule, which will then go through an approval process.

look at the tough problems before us and see a better school system in the future?

Do we have the political will to address some of the community barriers, the health care, poverty and college access issues?” asked Breed.

Even if the federal government does not fund the RTTT Grant request, “shouldn’t the state be funding that effort? Yes,” he said.

Finally, said Breed, moving all groups of students forward will require good

teachers and administrators, properly trained, motivated and supported.

“This area is critical because the interaction of quality teachers with students is ultimately where we can make the greatest impact,” he said.

“The message must be that parents expect, the community expects and businesses expect, value, and support learning in school. An educated and skilled citizenry is our best case scenario for the future,” he said.

Are We Ahead of the Game?

Yes! Nebraska Teachers Know a Balanced Assessment Plan is the Right Approach

By Jay Sears NSEA Director of Instructional Advocacy It’s the silly season again. No, I don’t mean Major League Baseball playoffs or the annual furor over the Bowl Championship Series standings! I’m talking about headlines in the Oct. 6, 2009, newspapers.

The Omaha WorldHerald noted that “State’s Students Slip a Bit in National Scores.” The Lincoln Journal Star said “LPS Working to Improve.”

Headlines in other newspapers across the state were undoubtedly similar.

Yes, that’s right! It’s the annual State Report Sears Card announcement, in which we get the “definitive” results of a year of education in reading, writing, math and science for our children.

With those scores, Nebraskans can now determine who the winners were in the race to educate our children!

Experience Has Taught us Well What’s wrong with this picture?

Nearly everything.

Nebraska teachers know from a decade of experience in developing formative assessments to measure the achievement of children in reading, writing, math and science, that ‘one test score does not a child make.’ Nor does a single test score define what a child has learned over the course of a year.

Nebraska teachers know that there are multiple measures of a child’s learning.

Assessment and the tools of assessment, as Nebraska teachers have learned over a decade of experience, are multiple and have different purposes.

For example, national tests like the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and California Achievement Test (CAT) are designed to compare students on a national basis and are summative in nature. State tests, like the new Nebraska State Accountability-Reading test (NeSA-R), are used to compare students for state accountability and are also summative in nature.

Classroom-based local assessments are designed for instructional information, and are used by teachers to improve instruction or for formative purposes.

Why We’re Ahead of the Game So, what does this all have to do with Nebraska being “ahead of the game?”

Enter the Federal Department of Education and its $4.35 billion Race to the Top program. RTTT has four assurances that states must meet in their competitive applications for funding. Top on the list of assurances is Standards and Assessment, or more specifically, “Developing and implementing common, highquality assessments.” Such assessments are further defined as multiple measures that include growth models, formative and summative measures. These are all things Nebraska teachers have been working with and developing for the past decade.

And here is the link: Over the past 10 years, Nebraska went down the road of developing assessment literacy for all of its teachers, while the other 49 states went down the bumpy and costly road of paying test companies to develop individual state tests for accountability.

Now, when the federal government has billions of dollars to spend on developing an assessment and accountability

system that is balanced and can inform instruction as well as keep score, which state is out front with the knowledge, skills and ability to provide a “balanced assessment and accountability system?”

Nebraska, of course!

Thanks, Nebraska Teachers Nebraska stands out front, as usual, leading the way to improving student learning and achievement. We cannot disregard the power of the formative assessments we all have developed. We must all use the multiple measures we have for assessing the progress of student learning. In that regard, Nebraska schools are just like a football team that is one dimensional: We cannot have an unbalanced assessment and accountability system and expect to win at the game of improved student learning.

We truly owe Nebraska’s teachers a big thank you for being ahead of the game.

And, at the same time, we wonder whether state lawmakers’ decision to jettison Nebraska’s home-grown assessment program (STARS) that brought us to this enviable position was a wise decision. Now, if we just could toss out the replay flag and ask for a review of that decision! In hindsight, state officials might just overturn that ruling.

November 2009 The NSEA Voice Page 7

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A Supreme Win Supreme Court Affirms CIR Ruling Favoring South Sioux City Teacher; Also Victorious in District Court Something seemed amiss to Bethany Manning when she accepted a teaching job with the South Sioux City Public Schools in June 2007.

Hired as the district deaf and hard of hearing teacher, she was to replace a teacher who was moving out of state. Yet Manning was told she would be a long-term substitute, rather than a first-year, probationary teacher.

“When I was hired, it didn’t seem right,” she said.

The South Sioux City Education Association agreed and, with NSEA’s help, filed a grievance with the school district on her behalf. The district denied the grievance, but at the next step, the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations concurred with the Association.

Dissatisfied with the CIR ruling, the school district appealed.

On Sept. 25, and without dissent, the Nebraska Supreme Court emphatically reinforced the CIR opinion that the district had engaged in a prohibited labor practice. Manning, the high court said, was not a substitute. “To allow the District to designate her as such would, as the CIR determined, allow the District to ‘unilaterally control the composition of the bargaining unit.’”

Three-time winner: The case of former South Sioux The rulings set firm boundaries in hiring practices for all City teacher Bethany Manning went all the way to the Nebraska public schools, said NSEA Attorney Scott Norby.

Nebraska Supreme Court, and set a hiring standard for “If a school district can say someone is not a member of the state’s school districts. the bargaining unit simply by the label they put on that person, than $80,000 in back pay, plus $25,000 in attorney fees. it’s a detriment to the individual member and to the bargaining unit,” said Norby.

‘Team Player’ Individually, as a substiWith a master’s degree from Northern Colorado Unitute teacher, Manning did not versity, Manning taught in New Mexico and Wyoming have retirement, health care before moving to Sioux City, IA, in the mid-1980s with and salary schedule placement her physician husband. She took time to raise a family benefits she would enjoy as a before earning another endorsement and updating her new hire. She was also outside certificate about five years ago. the protection of the SSCEA’s Manning had been a substitute in South Sioux City negotiated unit, as well as the for several years when she appplied for the deaf and protections she should have — Bethany Manning hard of hearing job. She was the only one of three applihad with probationary certificants with the required endorsement; one applicant had cated status. not started student teaching.

“If they can do it to me – treat me as a long-term substitute Manning got the job, but was classified as a long-term sub. when I should be a new hire – they can do it to anyone in my When she asked why she wasn’t classified as a new hire, Mandistrict, or anywhere in the state,” said Manning. ning was told the applicant pool was too small. The answer On a collective level, such hiring practices weaken the local didn’t sit right, she said, but she liked teaching in South Sioux association.

City. After talking with her husband, she decided to “be a team “This kind of action is designed to destroy the bargaining player,” and take the job. unit,” said Norby.

In August, Manning talked district officials into letting her The Supreme Court decision also affirmed the CIR ruling attend the district’s new teacher meetings and orientation. that the district pay Manning $6,321, the difference between “I told them I would do it on my own time. I felt they were the pay she received as a substitute and the pay she should have events I needed to be at to become a better district employee.” received as a first-year, probationary teacher.

At the orientation, she made an important decision.

In a separate case, the District Court of Dakota County ruled “I signed up for membership in the Association, even though that Manning’s constitutional right to due process was violated I was a substitute,” she said. “I was always a member in Wyowhen she was fired, without notice, shortly after the grievance ming. The Association negotiates my salary and benefits, and I was filed in December 2007. The court awarded Manning more

‘If they can do it to me .... they can do it to anyone in my district, or anywhere in the state.’

November 2009 The NSEA Voice Page 9

Watch Video of Manning Case wanted to support them.”

Later, at a training for new SSCEA members, she spoke with NSEA Director of Member Rights Trish Guinan. Manning quickly had an advocate in her corner. Because of her NSEA membership, the legal battle that was about to unfold would not cost her a dime.

To watch video of NSEA Attorney Scott Norby arguing Bethany Manning’s case before the Nebraska Supreme Court, go to this web site: http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov/oral-arguments/sc/archive/9-09-scoral-arguments.shtml Look under the Wednesday, Sept. 2, listings, and click on ‘View Oral Arguments for the day.’ The Manning case is the first case on the video.

‘Blacklisted’ In early December, the district told Manning that they were re-opening the position. Manning was welcome to interview again, and did so. But on a Tuesday in mid-December, Manning was told that Thursday would be her last day. The district had hired the summer applicant who had, by now, completed her student teaching requirements and earned a degree.

“I have nothing against her; she is not at fault,” said Manning.

She was back at work at South Sioux City Friday, where she subbed for a Title 1 reading teacher for the next three weeks.

Once her grievance was denied and a complaint was filed with the CIR in January 2008, Manning says she was “blacklisted” by the district. She now works for the Sioux City, IA, schools.

On Nov. 14, 2008, the CIR directed the district to cease and desist from such hiring practices, and ordered back pay for Manning. The district appealed to the Nebraska Court of Appeals. Before the Court of Appeals could hear arguments, however, the Supreme Court took jurisdiction, heard the case, and affirmed the CIR ruling with its Sept. 25 judgment.

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Reinstatement Order While the CIR and Supreme Court cases addressed her hiring, NSEA filed a lawsuit against the district in Dakota County District Court, arguing Manning’s statutory and federal civil rights were violated. NSEA contended that because Manning should have been classified as a new hire, complete with due process rights, those rights were violated by the district when Manning was summarily fired. The district court agreed and: Ordered Manning reinstated.

Though the school year was nearly over by the court’s April 22, 2009 ruling, it ordered the district to employ Manning for the 2008-09 school year, and subsequent years, until her contract is “lawfully non-renewed, terminated or cancelled.”

Ordered the district to pay Manning $27,507 for the second semester of the 2007-08 school year, and the $53,396 she would have earned for the 2008-09 school year.

The school district has appealed the district court decision.

For Manning, however, all is right with the world. “NSEA worked beautifully for me,” she said. “I feel very lucky that I’ve had all that help – just for the cost of membership.”

Show-offs: Displaying the result of their artistic skills, four SEAN members show the mural they completed on a wall at Kellom Elementary School in Omaha.

Cold Weather Facelift

Snow, wind and weather fail to deter SEAN remake of Omaha’s Kellom Elementary Smiles! Prepared for cold weather, this crew spread mulch — as well as laughter — around the school yard.

On duty: Omaha Education Association President Doreen Jankovich was one of the project volunteers.

Dirtwork: Volunteers worked in a line to add plantings to the Kellom grounds.

Braving cold temperatures and an early-season snowstorm, more than 70 volunteers spent Oct. 10 giving their time and energies to a worthwhile project – a facelift to Kellom Elementary School in Omaha.

The gathering marked the third annual Student Education Association of Nebraska’s Outreach to Teach project.

Students who are members of SEAN, along with several retirees, active teachers and community volunteers, gave up their Saturday to paint, mulch, plant bulbs and perform other cleanup chores at the North Omaha school building.

The project is patterned after a project hosted by the National Education Association at NEA’s Representative Assembly meeting site every summer.

Before the larger crew of volunteers arrived on Oct. 10, volunteers had already given walls in the school gym and cafeteria a fresh coat of paint and removed a truckload of dirt. On the day of the event, they added a series of five large murals to the newly painted walls. Each mural incorporates design ideas submitted by Kellom students.

Other chores checked off of the facelift ‘to do’ list were landscaping work near the school entryway; a reworking of a school courtyard; the completion of several flower beds; and spreading of a semi-trailer load of mulch in key areas around the school grounds.

Many of the supplies were donated to the project by local vendors. In addition, the NSEA-Retired contributed $500 to the funding of the project.

Tommie Leaders, a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the 2009-10 president of SEAN, led the Outreach to Teach effort.

November 2009 The NSEA Voice Page 11

Classroom neighbor: Students in Laura Callahan’s kindergarten classroom have a short walk to the polar bear’s den.

Teaching Where the Wild Things Live Teacher with ‘Dream Job’ has Classroom at Henry Doorly Zoo The school at the zoo is in its seventh year, created when Laura Callahan and her students have to tip-toe around peaOmaha Public Schools officials decided Bancroft kindergarcock droppings on the way to school each morning. teners would go from half-day to full-day sessions. The move She’s been “slimed” with water from an alligator tank, created a space crunch. Now-retired which left little brown specks of whokindergarten teacher Eileen Egan apknows-what all over her clothes. proached zoo and school officials And each day, Callahan pinches herabout a partnership, and the zoo kinself – she says hers is a dream job. In dergarten was born. terms of classroom location, she may “Because our school is Title One, be the luckiest teacher in Nebraska. where many of our families are on reCallahan teaches kindergarteners at duced and free lunch, it was the perOmaha’s Bancroft Elementary School. fect opportunity to provide our student While her classroom mirrors other population with a special program kindergarten rooms across the state in somewhat like the magnet schools, almost every other way, there is one but with a zoo emphasis,” said Calmajor difference: her classroom is a lahan. self-contained unit on the grounds of Zoo Director of Education ElizaOmaha’s famed Henry Doorly Zoo. Hat handout: Laura Callahan’s pupils use “We meet all the standards of a reg- safari hats when on zoo grounds, making beth Mulkerrin said zoo officials and school administrators worked through ular kindergarten, but with a zoo flair,” them easier to monitor. the proposal, and came up with an arsaid Callahan. rangement to have the full-day kinderIndeed. Just outside the window of garten program in the Dairy Theater on zoo grounds. her classroom, peacocks roam the grounds. Around the cor“This has been a real nice partnership,” said Mulkerrin. ner is Durham’s Bear Canyon, with polar, grizzly and other bears. Gorillas and monkeys of every stripe are a few more Walking on Tip-Toes yards away, as are the aviary, the big cat complex, orangutans As colorful as peacocks are, they are not Callahan’s faand penguins.

Page 12 The NSEA Voice November 2009

vorite. That’s because peacock droppings litter zoo walkways all year long. That’s not a problem when the weather is warm, and zoo staff can hose off the sidewalks. But when the weather turns cold, washing the walkways creates ice.

So Callahan and her students walk on their tip-toes to avoid the droppings. They leave their shoes at the door during winter months, and use slippers in the classroom.

That’s one of the few disadvantages of being at the zoo.

The advantages, she says, are multiple. Students learn about habitats, biomes, life cycles, climate, adaptation, camouflage, mimicry, endangerment, extinction and more.

“We bring to reading, math, social studies, even physical education, music and art, a real-life viewpoint,” she said.

“These are not traditional kindergarten topics, but the richness of the zoo experience lends itself to all the traditional subject areas.”

For instance, when studying the letter ‘p’ a zookeeper brought a penguin to the classroom. The letter ‘p’ became more than a sound, said Callahan – it became an experience.

tistics they’ve gathered on various animals, and compare and contrast.

“From that information, the children design books based on what we’ve learned. We explore a new concept every week, and we write, write and write every day,” she said.

Natural World Every kindergarten child at Bancroft is eligible to attend the zoo kindergarten. The classroom roster is selected by lottery, and representative of the school’s general population, she said.

Mulkerrin said the zoo benefits from the classroom by giving Double discovery: Above, classmates check out the zoo staff the opportunity to work braille description of plant life at the zoo. Below, stu- with early childhood educators dents get a closeup look at a nest of ducklings they dis- to develop experience-based curcovered in zoo plantings. riculum, as well as allowing staff to introduce children to science, technology, math and engineering careers.

She said the kindergarten program does a great job at integrating the required kindergarten course work and scientific skills.

“Educational research is starting to show that students should be introduced to science and math at an early age,” Mulkerrin said. “This program is ideal for introducing students to all kinds of science and math Building Achievement experiences. Every day the stuWhile there’s been no redents are out on the grounds search to determine the school’s collecting data through obsereffect on learning, Callahan says vations or talking to the profesthe language skills of her Engsionals.” lish language learners, in parThe children also develop an ticular, have benefitted greatly understanding and appreciation from the zoo setting. for the natural world, she said. it into the middle of the pool. The result“All of the children benefit from new That discovery will soon be expanding grab for food caused great splashes, vocabulary and in-depth topics,” she ed to other grade levels. Just opened drenching Callahan. said. “They all know the difference beis an expanded High School Academy “The kids couldn’t write about anytween ‘herbivore’ and ‘omnivore’ and program, which will give students the thing but Mrs. Callahan getting slimed they can all spell ‘carnivore.’” opportunity to complete their junior with gator poo,” she said.

The classroom setting encourages and senior years at the zoo. The pilot Such fun aside, learning at the school exploration, research and creativity. program, through the Papillion-LaVista is serious business. The classroom’s “How could we not be building enPublic Schools, will allow students to curriculum is identical to that of every hanced achievement?” she said. complete all science, math, English and OPS kindergarten classroom; Callahan For instance, her students learned social science coursework without leavjust uses zoo-based concepts to teach to first-hand about the word “slimed.” ing Zoo grounds. There are also plans to the content standards.

Keepers delayed a regular 7:30 a.m. expand current educational programs, As an example, students collect data feeding of the zoo’s alligators until 9 Mulkerrin said. by observing the number of times an a.m. to allow the students to watch.

Those plans will give more teachers animal exhibits a certain behavior. Or Trained to take turns feeding, each and their students the chance to learn they estimate length by deciding the alligator took its meatball in turn. With with a zoo flair – and the chance to length of a particular fish, then measure one meatball left over, the keeper tossed pinch themselves each day! it using a fish model. They collect staNovember 2009 The NSEA Voice Page 13

Page 14 The NSEA Voice November 2009

A Gifted Pioneer

Nebraskan Challenged Male Superiority Claims, Founded Gifted Education

Nebraska’s public schools have produced their share of national leaders in the field of education. Perhaps none has had more impact than Leta Stetter Hollingworth, a gifted education pioneer.

Born near Chadron, her works during the early years of the last century were landmark. It was 70 years ago this month that Hollingworth died, and 90 years ago this month that the idea of gifted education was born.

With those anniversaries in mind, here is an excerpt from a profile of Hollingworth written by E.A. Kral, a retired teacher and author of the 900 Famous Nebraskans series found on the NSEA Web site.

Hollingworth’s full profile is also found at the Web site, as one of more than three dozen Nebraskans featured in Profiles of Distinguished Nebraskans, written by Kral and Jean M. Sanders. Learn more at: http://www.nsea.org/900Fam_Profiles.htm

Copyright © 2008 by E.A. Kral One of the first Americans to challenge scientifically various claims of male superiority was Nebraska native Leta Stetter Hollingworth, the educational psychologist who became a pioneer in the academic field of gifted education in the early decades of the 20th century. She also pioneered the setting of professional standards for clinical psychologists, and their inclusion in the American Psychological Association during World War I. While studying for her master and doctorate degrees at Columbia University in New York City from 1911-16, she confronted centuries-old beliefs that women were intellectually inferior to men. Hollingworth also studied the claim that eminence in achievement and leadership was identical to high intelligence, which allegedly proved the superiority of males, since the vast majority of those who had illustrious careers were males.

In 1926, she reported there were as many highly intelligent females as males, based on results of the Stanford-Binet standardized measurement of the human intelligence quotient. And there were equal numbers of gifted females and males in childhood.

Her interest in the educational and emotional development of gifted children

emerged in 1916, the year she began her career as professor of educational psychology at Columbia. It was Hollingworth who pioneered the academic field by devoting much of her career to education and opportunity for nurturing the gifted.

She taught the first academic course in gifted education in the spring of 1919, which formally began the field, and became one of the major pioneers on the Teachers College faculty.

Her first experimental research was conducted at Public School 165 in New York City from 1922 to 1925, with followup study for several years. Students remained together for three years, completed the required course of study, and received enrichment with various intellectual opportunities, such as more writing, the study of biography, and cultural attractions outside of school. In 1926, she published her findings in Gifted Children: Their Nature and Nurture (Macmillan), the first textbook in the field. She noted that individual special talents are not easy to identify, because some students gifted in academics might not be so in music, drawing, or mechanical concepts, and vice versa.

Two years later, she published The Psychology of the Adolescent (Appleton), which became a standard textbook for educators for about two decades.

Thus, during her career, she laid the foundation for modern education of the gifted child, with its focus on student-centered curriculum, major concepts, independent study, creativity, and biographical studies.

After her untimely death (from stomach cancer on Nov. 27, 1939, at age 53), the first conference on gifted education was held in 1940 at Teachers College, Columbia University, as a memorial to her contributions. Her husband, Harry Hollingworth, a nationally distinguished psychologist at Barnard College, Columbia University, saw to it that her unfinished work titled Children Above 180 IQ Stanford-Binet: Origin and Development (World Book, 1942) was published.

November 2009 The NSEA Voice Page 15

BCBS Q&A

Time to Schedule Your Flu Shot During the fall months, different strains of influenza circulate throughout Nebraska. This year, it seems that certain strains are hitting school districts pretty hard.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccinations for certain high-risk groups for the H1N1 flu, as well as the annual flu shot. October and November are the months to schedule your annual flu shots – and, when vaccines are available – your H1N1 shot.

Consider this new benefit when decided whether or not to get a flu shot: On September 1, new benefits were put into effect for Wellness options within the EHA Plans offered to schools. Routine immunizations, including flu shots and the H1N1 shot, are now covered at 100 percent.

The deductible is waived for these services as well. Other benefits that now will be paid at 100 percent are

routine mammograms, pap smears and prostate screening assessments.

Do you have seasonal flu or stomach flu?

People are often confused about the differences between influenza and the stomach flu. These are two completely different and unrelated illnesses. The true flu is caused by mostly upper respiratory problems. The stomach flu can be caused by a number of viruses and causes gastrointestinal problems.

Symptoms of influenza include a cough, congestion, aches and pains, fever and exhaustion.

Symptoms of stomach flu include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and cramping and occasional fever.

If you have questions about your symptoms, contact your doctor. If you have questions about the EHA Plan, contact Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska Customer Service at 1-800-642-6004.

The Educators Health Alliance has contracted with Kurt Genrich to serve as the EHA Plan advocate. As such, Genrich will work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska plan participants to answer questions and promote the plan. The EHA Board of Directors is comprised of six NSEA representatives and three each from the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators.

NSEA Executive Director Craig R. Christiansen chairs the EHA Board of Directors.

Genrich To reach Genrich, call him toll free at 1-866-465-1342; on his cell phone at 402217-2042; or e-mail him at: kurt@ehaplan.org

Celebrate American Education Week!

Annual Event Showcases Public Schools, An American Institution It’s that time of season again – the time of year when we celebrate one of the cogs that moves our democracy: American Education Week.

The Nov 15-21 celebration spotlights the importance of providing every child in America with a quality public education from kindergarten through college, and the need for everyone to do his or her part in making public schools great. No other country has a system that works so well.

NEA celebrates the week with this theme: Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility. It reflects the Association’s calling upon America to provide students with quality public schools, so that they can grow, prosper and achieve in the 21st century.

The 88th annual American Education Week will take place Nov. 15–21.

Each day during the week spotlights a different aspect of school life: Monday, Nov. 16, is Open House Day: From national commemorations to local community events, millions of Page 16 The NSEA Voice November 2009

Americans celebrate public education.

Tuesday, Nov. 17, is Parents Day: Schools invite parents into the classroom for a hands-on experience of a day in the life of their child.

Wednesday, Nov. 18, is Education Support Professionals Day: Individuals who provide invaluable services to schools are recognized for their outstanding work.

Thursday, Nov. 19, is Educator for a Day: Community leaders are invited to serve as educators to get a glimpse at

a day in the life of a school employee.

Friday, Nov. 20, is Substitute Educators Day: This day honors the educators who are called upon to replace regularly employed teachers.

NEA members can use Association tools, available online, to supplement their celebration plans. Available are activity ideas, background and fact sheets, media tips and promotional materials. To review the items, go to: http://www.nea.org/grants/34749. htm

Intergenerational Mentoring Shares a Lifetime of Lessons Retired Teachers Pass Skills, Knowledge to Teachers in Training Lessons learned during the first year of teaching – even if those lessons came many years ago – are still relevant.

That was the message to college students during a portion of the seventh year of NSEA’s nationally-recognized Intergenerational Mentoring Program, held at Nebraska Wesleyan University in October.

For retired social studies teacher Tom Black, the first-year memory is still vivid. It was 1960 in Benkelman, where Black had nabbed a job teaching not social studies, but English, his college minor.

“I was terrified of all those kids looking at me as if I knew something,” said Black.

“But those moments didn’t last long. The key for me was that I respected them as young adults, and they respected me in return,” he said.

Cathy Urmacher, a retired French teacher, had similar fears in her first job at Norfolk. “You do have those moments where you question what you’ve done,” she said. “You just have to believe in yourself, your training and what you’ve learned.”

The point made to the group of teachers-in-training from Wesleyan?

Retired teachers have a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the teaching profession – and that knowledge can benefit young teachers-to-be.

That’s how the Intergenerational Mentoring Program works. Retired teachers are paired with college students in their junior or senior year of college. The mentors act as a positive sounding board, and offer support from a teaching professional who is not involved in evaluating the student.

Mentors continue their supportive assistance during the students’ first year in the classroom as well.

And, while the mentors extend their participation and commitment to NSEA, the students develop a better understanding and appreciation for their Association membership.

Getting acquainted: Retired Lincoln Teacher Arlyn Urmacher was assigned two college students to mentor, Nicole Schroder and Ross Janovec, both of Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Sharing a laugh: In a get-acquainted session, students Sarah White and Jenny Kaser, share a light moment with retiree Tom Black, center.

This year’s program is set at two sites: with about 10 Wesleyan students in Lincoln, and with nearly 30 students at Hastings College. Retiree volunteers came from the Lincoln and Hastings areas, amnog others.

The program is sponsored by NSEA, NSEA-Retired and SEAN. Retired National Education Association Staff Trainer Gene Grooms led two-day trainings for each group, jumpstarting the mentor-mentee relationships. Those relationships will continue for as long as the mentee needs assistance or aid.

If you’re interested in becoming a mentor, or are a student interested in obtaining a mentor, contact NSEA UniServ Director Maureen Nickels at 1-800-742-0047, or email her at: maureen.nickels@nsea.org

Teaching tips: Retired teacher Jim McDermott, left, will mentor Anessa Weers of Nebraska Wesleyan University.

November 2009 The NSEA Voice Page 17

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Resources Res R esources eso so ources urces es You Yo Benefi C Can Use NEA Member ts Snookie’s Snippets NSEA members save an average of $400 per year on auto insurance through NEA Member Benefits. Call 1-800877-7345 for your free, no-obligation quote.

You can also request a quote online. Ask about how you can win $200 for your classroom just by getting an auto insurance quote. The NEA Member Benefits Krumbiegel Web site is at: www.neamb.com New Program by Whirlpool As part of your NEA membership, you’re eligible to receive substantial savings on products for your kitchen, laundry room, garage and home – saving on recognized brand-name consumer products such as Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Gladiator, GarageWorks and more.

The savings includes low-cost home delivery and professional installation or free pick-up at designated Whirlpool locations. Terms and conditions apply.

Complete details on the Web site.

Did You Know?

NEA Member Benefits is working through NEA’s Member Assistance Program to negotiate special services and concessions for members facing tough economic times.

News items on the Web site include: How to Survive a Recession.

Recovering in a Financial Crisis.

12 Tips for Surviving Job Loss.

Green Your Classroom Add plants. Address real smell problems. Clean green. Start an IdleFree Zone. Make lunch litterless.

Go paperless. Do an energy audit.

Stock green supplies. Have a greater impact and get connected. For detailed information, visit neamb.com!

Web Site Sweepstakes Register at online for one of 10 $150 L.L. Bean gift cards, or one of 15 $100 Barnes & Noble gift cards. www.neamb.com Snookie Krumbiegel is Nebraska’s NEA Member Benefits representative.

Buying a Home?

Get Your Home Buying Ducks in a Row, From Down Payment to Monthly Payments If you’re like most homebuyers, your home is one of the single biggest investments you’ll make. Knowing exactly how much money you’ll need depends on two things: the down payment and the closing costs.

Down payments typically range between 3 to 20 percent of the purchase price. But if you’re wondering how much money you will need for a down payment, there is no simple answer. It depends on several factors.

In addition to your credit score, your down payment amount depends on the type of property you’re looking to buy; the location; and whether it’s a primary residence or an investment.

This is why obtaining a preapproval can be helpful in making your home purchase decisions.

If you make a larger down payment, your monthly mortgage payments will be lower. If you put down 20 percent or more of the purchase price, you might get a lower interest rate. You’ll also avoid extra fees called private mortgage insurance. But saving for a 20 percent down payment may take years — years when you could be owning a home and building equity.

A home mortgage consultant can give you a good estimate on the closing costs. Some loan programs allow other people to pay some or all of your closing costs. Be sure you understand all of your options, as well as each of the fees your closing costs cover.

In addition to reviewing your credit during the preapproval process, your consultant will look at your monthly income to help determine your monthly mortgage payment, and ultimately, your total mortgage amount.

Loan programs require that your monthly mortgage payment plus your other debts — like credit cards or auto loans — be a certain percentage of your pre-tax monthly income. The percentages differ by loan program, but range between 36 percent and 50 percent.

However, only you know what payment will be comfortable for you.

To learn more about the steps to buying a home, call the NEA Home Financing Program, 1-800-632-4968, and speak with a home mortgage consultant. Remember, the benefits of the NEA Home Financing Program are extended to parents and adult children of NEA members.

Engage Your Students and Save with ZUMA ed!

ZUMA ed, an innovative developer of highly affordable, curriculum- and standards-based classroom presentations, is offering special discounts and an unbeatable introductory offer to NEA members.

ZUMA ed’s high school-level math, social studies and science presentations are created by teachers for teachers, using the latest in animation, video and interactive technology. Their products incorporate high-impact instructional techniques and imaginative media to help teach each lesson, and generate back-and-forth discussion in the classroom.

ZUMA ed presentations save educators precious time by eliminating hours of work associated with creating homemade presentations and searching for visual images and video — and can be customized. New subjects are being added all the time.

You can’t beat the price — less than $20 per module! Plus, this fall, ZUMA ed’s special introductory offer gives members who purchase a module using their NEA discount an entire site license for the module purchased, so your colleagues can use it as well. View ZUMA ed products or try a free product at: http://www.neamb.com/home/1209_4482.htm November 2009 The NSEA Voice Page 19

Page 20 The NSEA Voice November 2009

From the Execu ve Director

Keeping Our Priorities Our nation is in the throes of what economists are Thirties.” He worked hard for 75 cents a day. Many now calling the Great Recession. No one is isolated in America were worse off than he was. And yet, Nefrom the impact of the current economic downturn. braska continued to build schools as an investment in Jobs are being lost, businesses are closing or scaling economic hope and educational promise for its chilback, credit is tight, family budgets are in trouble, sales dren. When I visited Holmes Elementary, I thought of are down, and tax revenues are decreasing. The Govhow proud that past generation would be to know that ernor has called the Legislature back to Lincoln for a that school was still keeping the priority that had been Special Session to address the tax shortfall. Some say set 72 years ago. that state funding of public education will receive the Ironically, this school was built during the Recesbiggest cut, because sion of 1937, when it is such a large part unemployment of the state budsoared to nearly 19 get. The common percent and fears of knowledge seems to a return to the worst be that it is the natuof depression times ral target for budget were real. cuts because it is the biggest target.

Permanent It is a foolish arDamage? gument. State fundIs this a time to ing of education is relook at how we such a large portion do business? Absoof the state budget lutely. A friend of for the simple reamine quipped that son that it is such an it is too important Keeping Priorities in the Great Depression: Craig R. Christiansen, a crisis to waste. important priority to this state. Yes, it is a NSEA Executive Director,Tammy Schafer fourth grade teacher, and Mark Yes, we do have Danley, fifth grade teacher, at the 1937 cornerstone of Lincoln’s Holmes major portion of the Elementary School. an opportunity to state budget. Past re-prioritize our generations of Nespending and re-exbraskans have made public schools a priority of state amine our state budget. But what we cannot permit is funding. And now is not the time to back away from permanent damage to our children’s education because our priorities. of misplaced belief that education should be a target Economists tell us that when the economic growth for cuts. trend shifts down during a recession or depression, the simple fact is that it will never recover to the point it Don’t Rely on Others to Act would have been, even if the growth rate returns to its The State Highway Trust Fund has more than $300 former value. That fundamental understanding applies million sitting in it. How dare anyone talk of cutting to education as well. When state funding drops for any funding for schools and children when highways and length of time, it does not “recover” by meeting needs overpasses to ‘nowhere’ are still on the drawing board? that have gone unmet. A student who misses a quality Roads can easily be fixed later. Kids can’t. fourth grade experience does not benefit if quality is Don’t depend on anyone else asking your state senarestored after she is gone. That is why education has tor to protect what has made Nebraska a great place to been a priority for this state during the worst economic live. Whether you are a teacher, custodian, cook, bus times. That must not change. driver, parent or business owner, please let your voice be heard. You will join the voices of others from the past, Economic Hope, Educational Promise who have protected our schools even during the roughI recently visited Holmes Elementary School in est economic times in history. In 1937, Nebraskans Lincoln. It is a beautiful school. That school, like so were out of work and struggling to survive the worst many across Nebraska, was built in the 1930s, during depression in history. And they still kept education as a the Great Depression. My father called it the “Dirty priority for their children. Can we do any less?

November 2009 The NSEA Voice Page 21

NSEA-Re red Corner

Medicare Seminars Scheduled Meetings are Set for Various Locations Around the State Every year NSEA-Retired and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska cooperate to bring information about changes in Medicare for the upcoming year, as well as eligibility and enrollment information, to members who are either about to turn 65, or who are past 65 and are already on Medicare.

The seminars are designed to help members understand Medicare benefits and the process for making the transition to Medicare; answer members’ questions about Medicare supplemental insurance products and Medicare Part D; and promote enrollment in NSEARetired BlueSenior Classic, a Medicare supplemental policy that is underwritten by Blue Cross of Nebraska and endorsed by NSEARetired. NSEA-Retired BlueSenior Classic has dental coverage that is the same as the dental coverage that is available to active employees insured under the Educators Health Alliance (EHA). NSEA-Retired members who are over the age of 62 will receive a letter by early November giving additional details for the seminars.

This year’s schedule includes three live sessions, including a session in Lincoln that will be simulcast to three other sites across the state.

The session schedule, with simulcast locations noted: Scottsbluff: Monday, Nov. 16, 8 a.m., Mountain Standard Time, at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center High Plains Room, 4502 Ave. I. Room limited to 21 seats. Simulcast.

McCook: Monday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m., Central Standard Time, McMillen Hall, Room 208, 1205 E. 3rd St. Room limited to 12 seats. Simulcast.

Kearney: Monday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m., Central Standard Time, Kearney Public Library, 2020 First Ave. Room limited to 20 seats.

Lincoln: Monday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m., Nebraska Educational Television, 1800 N. 33rd St. Live, with simulcast to three other locations.

Room limited to 30 seats.

Omaha: Wednesday, Nov. 18, Page 22 The NSEA Voice November 2009

NSEA-Retired Officers:The 2009-10 officers for NSEA-Retired are, seated, from left: Roger Rea, Omaha, president; Ruby Davis, Omaha, secretary; John Jensen, Omaha, treasurer; Jim McDermott, Scottsbluff, vice president.

Standing, from left, are: Tom Black, West Point, Elkhorn District director; Kent Harvey, Scottsbluff, Panhandle District director; Pat Etherton, Lincoln, Capitol District director; Jan Barnason, Hastings, Tri-Valley director; Joyce Huggans, Burwell, Sandhills District director; Arlene McFall, Plattsmouth, Metro 1 District director; and Walta Sue Dodd, Metro 2 District director.

8:30 a.m., Westside Community Conference Center, 3524 S. 108th St. (south of Center Street).

Norfolk: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m., Northeast Community College Lifelong Learning Center, 801 Benjamin Ave. NSEA-Retired Local Associations Bellevue Education Association-Retired Co-Presidents are Darlene Allen (402-293-1660) and Mary Kay Gibson (402-292-3749). Vice President is Herb Barleman, with Phyllis Pearson as secretary and Mike Purdy as treasurer.

Meeting monthly, BEA-R treats its members to a variety of programs including gardening, music, a tour of Fontenelle Forest, retirement issues, the Nebraska Special Olympics, and

reports on mountain climbing in Nepal.

Millard Education Association-Retired President this year is Jim Rames, 402-895-2489. Sid Rames is vice president, and Pat Brinkman is secretary-treasurer.

With monthly meetings, members of the Millard Education AssociationRetired enjoy a variety of speakers and workshops. They also tour the Soaring Wings Vineyard in Springfield, the Civil War Museum in Nebraska City, the antique shops in Plattsmouth, the Quilt Museum and State Historical museum in Lincoln, and the Dodge House in Council Bluffs, among other sites. They hold their luncheon business meetings at the most delicious-sounding restaurants.

— Tom Black, Editor wpc6296@cableone.net

Statehood Sites Set Secretary of State Hosts Statehood Parties for Fourth Grade Students

Open house view: Nebraska NEA Director Leann Widhalm and husband Norbert, Norfolk, admire the view from the newly-remodeled NSEA building’s fourth floor board room during an open house in October. The open house was held to thank NSEA members for their support of the remodeling, and several hundred members attended. The boardroom, with a view of the state capitol grounds, will be available for rent for breakfast and luncheon meetings, and is expected to be quite busy during legislative sessions.

Gold Star Update Locals Continue to Report Above Average Settlements More ‘Gold Star’contract settlements have been reported to the NSEA. Local associations that settle contracts with significant salary or language improvements are unofficially designated as ‘Gold Star’ by NSEA. Many locals have reported settlements of $1,000 on base or more this year.

For a complete report, go to: www.nsea.org Among the latest settlements filed: Emerson-Hubbard Base Increase: $1,000, or 3.59%.

New base: $28,850.

ESU No. 8, Neligh Base Increase: $1,000, or 3.44%.

New base: $30,000.

Burwell Base Increase: $1,000, or 3.67%.

New base: $28,200.

Southwest Base Increase: $1,000, or 3.66%.

New base: $28,250.

ESU No. 11, Holdrege Base Increase: $1,100, or 4.07%.

New base: $28,100.

ESU No. 9, Hastings Base Increase: $1,050, or 3.63%.

New base: $29,925.

Cozad Base Increase: $1,300, or 4.52%.

New base: $30,050.

Shickley Base Increase: $1,000, or 3.62%.

New base: $28,600.

Meridian 09-10 Increase: $1,261, or 4.58%.

New base: $28,761.

Freeman Base Increase: $1,400, or 5.10%.

New base: $28,800.

Cambridge Base Increase: $1,000, or 3.59%.

New base: $28,800.

Hampton Base Increase: $1,000, or 3.70%.

New base: $28,000.

Gibbon Base Increase: $950, or 3.33%.

New base: $29,550.

Bloomfield Base Increase: $1,300, or 4.74%.

New base: $28,700.

Wayne Base Increase: $1,200, or 4.29%.

New base: $29,150.

ESU No 4, Auburn Base Increase: $1,368, or 4.99%.

New base: $28,748.

Centura Base Increase: $1,500, or 5.38%.

New base: $29,350.

The Nebraska Secretary of State’s office has announced that Statehood birthday observances for fourth graders will be held at 10 locations across the state during the week of Feb. 22, 2010.

Students attending one of the parties will enjoy interactive fun, musical entertainment and a chance to showcase their Nebraska history knowledge. Each student will also receive a birthday treat, and Secretary of State John Gale (alias Cactus Jack), will also attend each of the hour-long birthday parties.

The parties are hosted by the Secretary of State’s office, along with the NEBRASKAland Foundation and the Nebraska Humanities Council.

The schedule: Seward: Monday, Feb. 22, Concordia University Gym, 9:30 a.m.

Hastings: Monday, Feb. 22, Hastings College Farrell Arena, 1:30 p.m.

Sidney: Tuesday, Feb. 23, Western NE Community College-Sidney Campus. 9:30 a.m.

Scottsbluff: Tuesday, Feb. 23, Western NE Community College Cougar Palace, 1:30 p.m.

McCook: Wednesday, Feb. 24, McCook Community College True Hall Gym, 9:30 a.m.

Kearney: Wednesday, Feb. 24, University of Nebraska-Kearney Fine Arts Recital Hall, 1:30 p.m.

Omaha: Thursday, Feb. 25, Durham Museum, 9:30 a.m.

Boys Town: Thursday, Feb. 25, Boys Town Music Hall, 1 p.m.

Columbus: Friday, Feb. 26, Central Community College PE Center, 9:30 a.m.

Norfolk: Friday, Feb. 26, Northeast Community College Lifelong Learning Center, 1:30 p.m.

In January, invitations will be sent to Nebraska fourth grade teachers, encouraging them to register their classes to participate. Space is limited at each location, so reservations are on a firstcome, first-served basis.

For details, call Sharon Hambek at 402-471-6044, or e-mail her at: sharon.hambek@sos.ne.gov November 2009 The NSEA Voice Page 23

No Need to Panic: Make Lists!

From L.K. Williams (lokolamb@yahoo. com):

“Making lists helps me to eat the elephant – one bite at a time. Make two lists covering what you bring to the teaching table: one listing your strong points and another listing your weaknesses. List the things that are going well in the classroom and those things that cause you concern.

Label the lists however you like, but understand and like who you are and what you have to offer to students and your colleagues.

Next, make lists of things that you can change and things that you can’t change. When you finish making those lists (and any other that you can think of), take time to reflect and decide what action to take on each item, if any. Making lists can help bring real fears out into the open, uncover vague misapprehensions, and help direct your actions. When you do act, act on those things that you can change; learn to work with or around those that you can’t; prioritize your actions; and enlist help when you can.”

Mailed By: The Nebraska State Education Association Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742

Family of Teachers

Sign up for Works4Me at this link: http://www.nea.org/tools/Works4Me. html

Nominate a Custodian for ‘CLEAN’ Honors The 2010 National Custodial Leaders for Environmental Advocacy Nationwide (CLEAN) Awards application package is online. The deadline is Dec. 7.

The award will be presented to a school custodian who demonstrates outstanding leadership in school cleanliness, and reflects the contributions that education support professionals make to public health. The winner receives an expense-paid trip to the NEA National ESP Conference.

The award is a joint initiative of the National Education Association (NEA), the NEA Health Information Network (NEA HIN) and the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA). For details, or to nominate a custodian, go to: www.neahin.org/cleanaward/ Page 24 The NSEA Voice November 2009

The Nielsen Family of Teachers: The Family of Teachers feature inspired the Nielsen family to gather for a photo of teaching professionals shortly before matriarch, Jean Nielsen, passed away last year. Jean, along with husband Walter, had years of service to the teaching profession before they retired.

Seated, from left, are: son Roger Nielsen, who taught math and coached at Central City for 35 years; Walter, who was a teacher, coach and administrator at Beaver Crossing, Loup City and Polk; Jean, who taught in Central City, Loup City, Hordville and Polk; and daughter, Kay Neuhaus, who has taught for 27 years at McCook.

Standing, from left, are: daughter-in-law Shirley, who taught physical education and coached at Central City; granddaughter Nicole, who teaches physical education at Millard North Middle School; grandson-in-law Sean Johnston, who teaches at Millard Learning Center; and grandson Nate Neuhaus, who teaches and coaches at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

If you have a Family of Teachers, snap a photo and send it to Family of Teachers, c/o NSEA, Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742.

Speaking of Teaching “The real object of education is to have a man in the condition of continually asking questions.”

— Bishop Creighton (1843-1901).