The Voice, September 2011

The

Voice The Nebraska State Education Association ď ś September 2011

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Opening Bell Upcoming Assignments Oct. 4 NSEA-Retired Fall Conference n What: The NSEA-Retired’s annual fall conference, with keynote speaker and breakouts. See page 30 for details. n Where: Nebraska Nature & Visitor’s Center, Alda Interchange on Interstate 80. n Details: Register online starting Sept. 10, or through NSEA’s Rebecca Smith at 1-800742-0047.

Oct. 8 Deadline, Blue Cross & Blue Shield Scholarships n What: Stipends to cover part of the cost of professional development coursework. n Details: See page 21.

Oct. 21-22 NSEA Advocacy Conference n What: NSEA’s annual update on bargaining issues, skills and best practices. Given changes to bargaining law in Nebraska this past year, every local should have a team attend. Details on page 25. n Where: Grand Island Holiday Inn. n Details: Register on the NSEA website at www.nsea.org.

On the Cover: the

PDK/Gallup Poll Shows Confidence in Teachers Educators Rate Well in Annual Review; Public Says Fiscal Support Lacking Despite constant criticism of the nation’s schools, Americans rate their public school teachers more highly now than they have in the past, according to the 2011 annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools.

More than 70 percent of Americans say they have trust and confidence in the men and women who are teaching in public schools. Sixty-nine percent of Americans give public school teachers in their community a letter grade of an A or B, compared to only 50 percent in 1984.

While the public feels positive about teachers in their communities, it has a less favorable opinion of others involved in education. More than half of Americans side with teacher union leaders in disputes with governors over collective bargaining.

Although Americans clearly have concerns about education issues, when the poll asked Americans whether they would encourage the brightest person they know to become a teacher, three of four said that they would. Sixty-sev-

en percent also said they would like to have a child of theirs choose a publicschool teaching career, and 76 percent believe America should actively recruit high-achieving high school students to consider teaching as a career.

“Americans expect, even demand, quality — in the food they eat, the clothes they buy, and the cars they drive.

And they expect high-quality public schools,” said William Bushaw, executive director of PDK International and co-director of the PDK/Gallup poll.

The 2011 poll also reveals that Americans’ opinions of President Obama’s national education efforts have improved, increasing seven points from last year. Forty-one percent of Americans would give the president a letter grade of an A or a B for his support of public schools, close to what he received during his first year in office.

Vouchers received their lowest approval rating in 10 years, with only one of three Americans in favor of allowing students and parents to use public money to pay to attend a private school.

The poll also found that funding is the biggest problem facing schools.

Thirty-six percent of Americans believe that lack of financial support is the biggest problem facing schools.

For more details on the PDK/Gallup Poll, visit the PDK website at: http://www.pdkintl.org/

The stories of Bob Fuller and Marla Larsen Smith have been intertwined for 30 years. Now, both are Plattsmouth fixtures and proud members of NSEA -- and with very good reason. For more, turn to

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

Volume 65, No. 1 ISSN Number: 1085-0783 USPS Number: 000-369

Great Public Schools For Every Child

Executive Director Assoc. Executive Director Director of Public Affairs Assistant Comm. Director

Craig R. Christiansen Neal Clayburn Karen Kilgarin Al Koontz

NSEA Board of Directors President Nancy Fulton, Wilber-Clatonia Leann Widhalm, Norfolk Vice President NEA Director John Heineman, Lincoln NEA Director Jenni Absalon, Lincoln

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 The Voice, NSEA, 605 S. 14th Street, Lincoln,

Page 8.

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.

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A

NSEA President Nancy Fulton

“

I am stronger knowing that my former colleagues at Wilber-Clatonia, as well as nearly 28,000 other members across the state, stand with me.

”

ning Bell

From the President

Shows achers

aid they would like to heirs choose a publiccareer, and 76 percent should actively recruit igh school students to g as a career. xpect, even demand, e food they eat, the and the cars they drive. t high-quality public illiam Bushaw, execuPDK International and PDK/Gallup poll. oll also reveals that nions of President al education efforts ncreasing seven points Forty-one percent of d give the president a n A or a B for his suphools, close to what he his first year in office. eived their lowest ap0 years, with only one ns in favor of allowing nts to use public mond a private school. found that funding is blem facing schools. nt of Americans bef financial support is em facing schools. ails on the PDK/Gale PDK website at: w.pdkintl.org/

Appreciate the Present

NSEA President Nancy Fulton

“

I am stronger knowing that my former colleagues at Wilber-Clatonia, as well as nearly 28,000 other members across the state, stand with me.

”

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rly according to this schedule: ember, December, January, Feband August.

A membership dues entitles Neive The Voice. Total cost of pros of The Voice each year is about

Last month, some of my former teaching colleagues at Wilber-Clatonia traveled to Lincoln for lunch and to wish me well as I embark on this threeyear journey as your NSEA president.

Construction delays had set back the start of their school year, and my friends took advantage of an extra day to share time with me and to visit NSEA Headquarters. Their actions were true to the Latin maxim, “carpe diem” – seize the day. They had some extra time, organized their trip and took action. And I thank them for their visit and well wishes.

We all need to do a better job of appreciating the present and getting the most of what we can out of every day. That’s tough to do, especially for educators who balance busy, busy work schedules with family, coaching and extracurricular duties, second jobs and other assorted responsibilities.

In terms of appreciating the present – and the past – Labor Day deserves our appreciation. Along with shorter days, cooler weather, fall harvest and college football, Labor Day marks the traditional end of another summer season. Yet it is so much more than that.

Our Vision: Students First Labor Day was first celebrated in New York City in 1882, and was a creation of the labor movement dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American middle class workers. The yearly holiday pays tribute to the American laborers whose contributions have brought strength, freedom and leadership to the United States of America. Some have died, and many have suffered, in that struggle for labor rights.

Let’s be clear: The Nebraska State Education Association and its parent association, the NEA, are labor unions organized by, and for, teachers and education support professionals. While we organize as a labor union, our vision statement explicitly states that our students come first. NSEA’s vision statement is this: “Our vision is a great public education for every student.” Our NSEA mission statement deepens that commitment to students when it says the Association “advocates for all education professionals, empowering them to provide an excellent public education for every student.”

It is with good reason that students are the focus

of that vision statement perspective: a free, public education for every child promotes, enhances and furthers the quality of our democracy. Indeed, a free system of public education is the foundation, the bedrock of American society.

Substandard Not Good Enough But public education does little good for our way of life if it is substandard. And therein lies much of the reason for NSEA’s existence. Certainly, we exist to bargain for better wages and working conditions.

True to the American way, we are professionals who have exercised our constitutional right to organize, form and join a union for purposes of collective bargaining and due process rights. The decades of discrimination, inequities, and injustices against teachers and support staff continue into this 21st century.

Enhanced pay and benefits attract better candidates to the profession, and, more important, keep those candidates in the profession. With the exception of good parenting, there is no greater influence on a child’s education than a quality teacher at the front of the classroom. Thus, better pay contributes to that great education for every student.

We also work in the political arena to improve the learning conditions and opportunities for our students; that’s because everything in the public school world is affected by politics. Smaller class size, improved curriculum, additional funding, transportation, safe and secure schools, high academic standards, quality student assessment – NSEA works with policymakers on each of these issues, and more, to make the public school experience valuable for our children.

Collectively, NSEA members are stronger together than they are standing alone. I am stronger as your president knowing that my former colleagues at Wilber-Clatonia, as well as nearly 28,000 other members across the state, stand with me. Our recent legislative session proved that we must exercise that collective might. We must continue to defend our rights against those who pursue their self-interests against those of us who struggle to maintain a middle class standard of living.

Now is the time to “carpe diem” – seize the day – and work together as one voice, one organization!

And in doing so, have a great school year!

NSEA is on Facebook!

Find us, “like” us, follow us and connect with colleagues.

e Voice are available from the ns director. All advertisements eened prior to publication. Apement in The Voice does not necorsement of either the product views being expressed.

Facebook Discussion:

What do you think is the best time of the school day? Why? President Nancy Fulton’s answers on page 12 of this issue – go online to see what others have to say!

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Th Te

May Nebrask receive teaching teacher w than the Unfort teachers teacher c Nebraska on campu success is achievers. of their hi school sys recruit ‘top top third o on average can see, thi Clearly s its children of all teache secondary e grades, teac in the discip physics, hist best and the As everyo need hands-o knowledge an for student te and great role valuable resou Now we’d l Thank you for best. Thanks a a passion for e comes to educa Marjorie Ko College of E University of

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Thank You, Ne braska Teachers and S chools!

2C 24

May 7 was commen cement day for seni Nebraska-Lincoln ors at the Universit . Among the 2,788 y of gr receive their diplom ad as, there were alm uates who crossed the stage to os teaching as their pr ofession. Research t 200 young people who chose sh teacher who makes the most difference ows that it is the classroom than the building, equipment or mater in the lives of students — more ials.

Unfortunately, ther e ar e many misperc teachers and teache r education. One of eptions and myths regarding teacher candidates th Kostelnik are among the poor e most damaging is that aspiring est students on cam Nebraska that noti on is just not so. W pus. I can tell you e th on campus and in classrooms all over are proud of the work that our educat at here in ion majors do the state before an success is due to th d af e achievers. Conside fact that we start with great prospect ter they graduate. Part of their s: r th of their high school at 73 percent of UNL education m students who are already high aj ors graduated in th cl e school systems – S ass, and 96 percent in the top half.

Among the world’s top quarter ingapore, Finland and South Korea as top performing recruit ‘top third’ st ke ud top third of their co ents to be teachers. That is, they re y examples – colleges only crui un on average, only 23 tries’ high school graduating classe t their teacher corps from the s. In contrast, in th percent of new teac can see, things are he rs m er it a ‘t op third’ high scho e United States, different in Nebrask ol ranking. As you a.

Clearly some of N its children are the ebraska’s best and brightest are goin g into teaching, an be d of all teacher educ neficiaries. As a matter of fact, the cumulative grade- our state and ation students at U point average NL, including spec secondary educatio ial n grades, teacher ed teacher candidates, is a 3.5 (out of 4. education, elementary and ucat 0) in the disciplines in ion students perform as well as and . Moreover, when it comes to of w physics, history, fo hich they are preparing to teach (suc ten better than their counterparts reign languages an d language arts). W h as mathematics, chemistry, best and the bright e are lucky that in est do choose teac Nebraska the hing as a career.

As everyone know need hands-on expe s, academic learning is only part of the picture. Aspirin ri g knowledge and sk ence, effective teaching models, an d strong mentoring teachers also ills. Last year, we pl to aced students in ap for student teaching proximately 190 N hone their experiences. We ar ebraska schools and great role mod e fortunate to have el access to excellent valuable resources s here in our state, and we are gratef ul for the privilege classrooms on behalf of our st udents. of tapping these Now we’d like to say, “Thank you N Thank you for givi ebraska!” Thank yo ng us outstanding schools in which th u for sending us great students. best. Thanks also to ey the many Nebrask a passion for educ a educators who ha can observe and work with the ation as a result of ve inspired our yo th ut comes to educatio n, we know, “There e K-12 experiences they had growin h to develop g up. When it is no place like Neb raska!”

Marjorie Kostelnik , Dean College of Educati on and Human Sci University of Neb ences raska-Lincoln September 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 5

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age of comparable sc set teacher salaries an in a range of from 85 p percent of average. CI had consistently calle cost containment’ m that the amendment a 15 percent reductio salaries. That would b to public schools and h Nebraska teachers, al 43rd in the nation in av The amendment have: n Allowed a scho unilaterally alter the t ture of any benefit. n Reduced teache hourly rate. n Limited negotia es and benefits, proh on working conditio plan time, maternity size, testing and curri Such provisions voided every reason tive bargaining deci braska over the past 4 All the Way From Arnold: When NSEA asked members to help push state senators to resolve a negotiations around changes to the Commission of Industrial Relations last spring, these five teachers — members of the Arnold Education Association — felt it was important to take part. As soon as the school day was over, they jumped in a car and drove the roughly 225 miles to Lincoln to make their voices heard during a late evening session by lawmakers. From left are Debby Moninger, Nicole Badgley, Clay Mohr, Berni Crow and Julie Mohr.

15 Percent Cut Averted Collective Action by NSEA Members Repels Proposed Legislation union contract talks that hit impasse. The reason for destroyIn the last days of the 2011 session of the Legislature, the ing, or at least weakening the CIR: to take away a tool that future of collective bargaining – and public education – was provides public sector unions a level playing field in barat risk in Nebraska. gaining and negotiations.

In addition, Nebraska teachers faced the very real possiIn mid-May, after months of negotiations, a tentative bility that changes proposed to the Commission of Industrial agreement had passed first round legislative debate. But Relations could result in the CIR ordering pay cuts of up to those ever-vocal critics, wanting even more concessions 15 percent for teachers involved in bargaining impasse with from labor, proposed their own plan. their school districts.

Supporters, including the goverThe outlook was not good.

What the ‘reform’ supporters didn’t nor, hailed the plan as “real reform.”

Fortunately, NSEA leaders and say was that the amendment would members were watching the Legislakill collective bargaining for teachers... What the “reform” supporters didn’t say was that the amendment would ture very closely – so closely, in fact, kill collective bargaining for teachthat some legislators were touching ers, university professors, police officers, firefighters, snowbase with NSEA constituents during the behind-closedplow operators, social workers and other modestly paid pubdoors sessions that led to an eventual compromise. lic servants and employees.

For nearly 18 months, a small but overly-vocal group of critics had sought changes to the CIR. While their ideas Educators Faced Pay Cuts were offered under the guise of tax relief, the real goal of The amendment’s most onerous provisions were saved for those critics – some of them deep-pocketed, out-of-state public schools. The plan was drafted so that when asked to individuals – was to emasculate or abolish the CIR, which settle an impasse, the CIR, instead of setting pay at the aversimply provides an impartial third party to resolve public Page 6 n The NSEA Voice n September 2011

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NSEA’s Collectiv Those critics, how to count on the powe lective voice. NSEA to its 28,000 memb hours, phone calls, l mails flooded the of governor and every s Some senators asked ers to “turn off the amendment was with Key legislative again with busines management attorney representatives, inclu to craft a real comp preserved collective b The new comprom legislative approval on and was signed by the Without a doubt, ha been involved, collec ing could have suffe than-Wisconsin fate.

Nebraska teachers wo gun inching downward ers would have left for sions; fewer students w education as their pro the quality of education public schools would h But it didn’t happe power of your NSEA and collective action.

negotiations around he Arnold Education d in a car and drove makers. From left are

rted

egislation

he reason for destroytake away a tool that playing field in bar-

otiations, a tentative gislative debate. But en more concessions posed their own plan. including the goverplan as “real reform.” m” supporters didn’t e amendment would bargaining for teachrs, firefighters, snower modestly paid pub-

y Cuts visions were saved for so that when asked to etting pay at the aver-

age of comparable schools, could set teacher salaries anywhere within a range of from 85 percent to 115 percent of average. CIR critics who had consistently called for ‘more cost containment’ made it clear that the amendment would allow a 15 percent reduction in teacher salaries. That would be devastating to public schools and hard-working Nebraska teachers, already ranked 43rd in the nation in average salary.

The amendment also would have: n Allowed a school district to unilaterally alter the type or structure of any benefit. n Reduced teacher pay to an hourly rate. n Limited negotiations to wages and benefits, prohibiting talks on working conditions such as plan time, maternity leave, class size, testing and curriculum.

Such provisions would have voided every reasonable collective bargaining decision in Nebraska over the past 44 years.

NSEA’s Collective Voice Those critics, however, failed to count on the power of the collective voice. NSEA reached out to its 28,000 members. Within hours, phone calls, letters and emails flooded the offices of the governor and every state senator.

Some senators asked NSEA leaders to “turn off the spigot.” The amendment was withdrawn.

Key legislative leaders met again with business interests, management attorneys and labor representatives, including NSEA, to craft a real compromise that preserved collective bargaining.

The new compromise won final legislative approval on a 48-0 vote, and was signed by the governor.

Without a doubt, had NSEA not been involved, collective bargaining could have suffered a worsethan-Wisconsin fate. Salaries for Nebraska teachers would have begun inching downward; more teachers would have left for other professions; fewer students would choose education as their profession; and the quality of education in the state’s public schools would have suffered.

But it didn’t happen. That’s the power of your NSEA membership and collective action.

Rotunda Discussion: Curt and Jennifer Thomas felt last spring’s debate on the future of the Commission of Industrial Relations was important enough that they traveled to the State Capitol to state their views to Sen. Lavon Heidemann.

From left are Heidemann, Curt Thomas, who teaches at Palmyra; and Lincoln teacher Jennifer Thomas, holding their daughter, Emory.

Politics Affect Your Job; You Can Affect Politics Keeping Tabs on Legislation, Lawmakers is Easy!

From class size, to length of school day to the length of your duty-free lunch period, your job is affected by politics.

For instance, it was in 1986 that, with a push from NSEA, the Legislature approved a bill to require that teachers have a 30-minute, duty free lunch period.

Your working conditions – and the conditions and parameters under which your students learn – are decided by policymakers. So it is most important that you interact with lawmakers, and let them know of your classroom successes and needs. Here are some quick and easy ways to do that: Lincoln Lobbying When you’re in Lincoln for a meeting, an athletic contest or an afternoon, stop by your senator’s office at the state capitol. Let them know who you are, and that you support public schools.

Back Home Visits State senators live in their district, and frequently host ‘talk to the senator’ meetings with constituents. Attend, and make your support of public schools known.

Cyber-lobbying Join the NSEA cyber-lobbying effort. You’ll receive regular legislative updates from NSEA, and will learn how easy it is to stay in e-mail contact with your state senator. Just call Cathy Schapmann at 1-800-742-0047 or e-mail her at: cathy.schapmann@nsea.org And if, in your lobbying efforts, you’re unsure what to say, just remember these two points: First, tell your story. Second, NSEA can offer information on any topic you’d like to address with your senator. Just call 1-800-742-0047 and ask for Government Relations or Communications.

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behalf of members.

Membership Saved Job of Plattsmouth Educator, Coach Smith’s Teaching Job Was on the Line, Until NSEA Stepped In Marla Larsen Smith makes it clear up front: she bleeds Plattsmouth blue.

She was born and raised at Plattsmouth, and was a Master Athlete award winner for the Blue Devils in high school. She was on Student Council for four years, was Homecoming queen and went on to play volleyball at nearby Peru State College.

She completed her student teaching at the middle school, and stayed on to teach physical education and Spanish.

So when she received word in April that her teaching job was to be eliminated, it was fair to say that the tears she cried were Plattsmouth blue.

With NSEA’s help, however, Smith is back on the job, teaching and coaching at the school and in the community she loves. The story of how Smith kept her job – and why another Plattsmouth teacher and coach has joined the Association as a result – demonstrates how hard NSEA will work on

On the dotted line: When NSEA helped Plattsmouth member Marla Larsen Smith keep her job, longtime Plattsmouth teacher and coach Bob Fuller benefitted as well. Fuller hadn’t kept up his NSEA membership, but renewed in August. They talked about the benefits of membership as Fuller enrolled.

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‘T Smith’s ties to the Award-winning Platts at the hospital the da Smith’s life was impo on that later.

After her student t Smith stayed with th teacher passed away Smith to work towar handle the high schoo English, as well. For She obtained her S coursework, even tho education and coach v “I tried to help th where my heart was,” Then, when a phys was one of five Platts trict hired an outside and head volleyball c “It was a dream. I w she said.

‘Ju Three years later, a

“...I had tried so har get back into the distri and we had worked so hard on revamping the curriculum, and the on district I want to be a p of is smashing my hear to pieces. It was very, v emotional, very sad.”

— Marla Sm Plattsmo

be good. I just wanted Budget issues, the make some cuts. The ping block.

“Here I had tried s we had just worked so the only district I wan pieces,” she said. “It w Fortunately, she go wonderful husband” association leader Ch right away. That’s exa

P The Plattsmouth B cuts to consider, inc that included teacher dian and secretarial h those planned reduct

ship Saved lattsmouth or, Coach

Teaching Job n the Line, A Stepped In

Smith makes it clear eds Plattsmouth blue. and raised at Plattss a Master Athlete for the Blue Devils She was on Student r years, was Homed went on to play voly Peru State College. her student teaching hool, and stayed on to ducation and Spanish. eceived word in April g job was to be elimir to say that the tears lattsmouth blue. help, however, Smith b, teaching and coachand in the communie story of how Smith d why another Plattsand coach has joined as a result – demonNSEA will work on

ed line: When NSEA outh member Marla keep her job, longth teacher and coach efitted as well. Fuller his NSEA memberwed in August. They he benefits of memr enrolled.

behalf of members.

‘Tried to Help Out’ Smith’s ties to the Plattsmouth community go this deep: Award-winning Plattsmouth football coach Bob Fuller was at the hospital the day she was born. Fuller’s presence in Smith’s life was important more recently, as well. But more on that later.

After her student teaching stint was completed in 2002, Smith stayed with the district. When the district’s Spanish teacher passed away unexpectedly, administrators asked Smith to work toward a Spanish endorsement in order to handle the high school Spanish classes – and to teach some English, as well. For five years, Smith did what was asked.

She obtained her Spanish endorsement and taught that coursework, even though her dream was to teach physical education and coach volleyball.

“I tried to help the district out, even though it wasn’t where my heart was,” she said.

Then, when a physical education teacher resigned, Smith was one of five Plattsmouth teachers who applied. The district hired an outside applicant. In 2007, Smith left for a PE and head volleyball coaching job at Nebraska City.

“It was a dream. I wanted to be a head volleyball coach,” she said.

‘Just Wanted to Cry’ Three years later, an unexpected middle school physical education opening at Platts“...I had tried so hard to mouth drew scores of applicants. Smith got the job. All get back into the district, went well until Smith was in and we had worked so the middle of class early this hard on revamping the past spring.

“The principal came into curriculum, and the only the room and told me that ‘we district I want to be a part need to have a conversation,’” of is smashing my heart said Smith. “I was pregnant, to pieces. It was very, very hormonal, and what not, and emotional, very sad.”

I’m not the type to delay — Marla Smith, things. So during my planning Plattsmouth period, I met with the principal and superintendent.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be good. I just wanted to cry,” she said.

Budget issues, they said, had forced each principal to make some cuts. The hometown girl’s job was on the chopping block.

“Here I had tried so hard to get back into the district, and we had just worked so hard on revamping the curriculum, and the only district I want to be a part of is smashing my heart to pieces,” she said. “It was very, very emotional. I was very sad.”

Fortunately, she got two pieces of good advice. Her “very wonderful husband” told her “we’ll get through it.” Local association leader Chris Wiseman told her to call NSEA, right away. That’s exactly what Smith did.

Patron Support The Plattsmouth Board of Education had a number of cuts to consider, including more than a dozen positions that included teachers, nurses, para-educators and custodian and secretarial hours. At a public hearing discussing those planned reductions in force, patrons essentially told

‘I Cannot Tell You How Glad I Am That I Made That Call’ Unmatched Service to Members The hallmark of NSEA service to members, the service that easily and most clearly sets NSEA apart from any other education membership organization, is the UniServ program.

Founded in the mid-1970s, ‘UniServ’ is short for ‘Unified Service’ – and that’s what NSEA’s 18 field representatives, or UniServ directors, provide to members. Those 18 are on the road and in Nebraska schools working with members every day of the week. They’re well-versed in certification issues, negotiations, evaluations, Department of Education rules and regulations, and many other issues affecting educators. They can resolve sticky situations with administrators – as they did for this member, who sent this thank-you following a threat from a parent: “Last fall, I received a phone call late one evening from a very irate parent, concerning a situation that occurred that day at school, regarding her son. It was one of those things I had forgotten, but the parent had not. She was misinformed, but threatened legal action.

“After phone calls to my principal and a fellow teacher, I was still very upset. That’s when I found my NSEA calendar in my purse and called my UniServ director.

“I cannot tell you how glad I am that I made that call.

He was very understanding, professional and reassuring.

He advised me how to handle the situation, and told me he’d keep in touch. Little did I know what that meant.

The next noon, I had lunchroom duty. Amongst the noise and confusion, the kids pointed out that there was someone to see me at the door. I nearly cried when I looked and saw my UniServ director standing at the door. He will never know how much it meant to me that he came.

“Nothing ever developed of the situation. But I will always be indebted to my UniServ director, knowing that he cared and that he and NSEA cared and would have been right there had I needed him.

“Thanks, NSEA!” the board that “even if you forget who it is, and even if you forget that this is a hometown girl; we need a female physical education teacher at the middle school level.”

That point, however, fell mostly on deaf ears. The disSeptember 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 9

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Local

trict plan of the moment was to move football Coach Fuller from a soon-to-be-eliminated program supervisor’s role into Smith’s middle school physical education job.

Pap

Headed to Hearing Meanwhile, NSEA UniServ Director Marlene Wehrbein was working with members and the district in an effort to mitigate the cuts. Several teachers took early retirements or buyouts, and by the time most of the dust was settled, just one teaching job remained on the chopping block.

“It came down to just my position,” said Smith.

She had to make a decision: give up and accept the reduction in Helping out: With NSEA’s help, Marla Smith has retained her job, and force, or, with NSEA at her side, go Bob Fuller is teaching subject matter he prefers. And Fuller has officially rejoined his professional organization, NSEA. to a hearing before the Board of Education, where she could state her case for keeping her job.

Kansas; with a provisional certificate, in my situation, my job cut was never “We chose to go to a hearing, behe could teach sixth grade content in even on the table, was never brought cause I wanted that job,” she said.

Nebraska. And Fuller said he would up until the board meeting.”

For one, she wanted to teach physimuch prefer the social studies class to Fuller’s options boiled down to cal education. And she wanted to the physical education post. this: teach middle school girls’ physiteach in her hometown. With a baby “We started assisting Coach Fuller cal education, or work out an early due in June, health insurance was also to get the pieces in place for his proviretirement option with the district. important. sional certificate in order to, ultimateHe wasn’t excited about the physical Wehrbein, Smith and the district ly, help our member, Marla Smith,” education job, and discussed settlement said Wehrbein. without the benefit possibilities. The disAll the pieces were in place on Friof NSEA member“You don’t get the trict offered a para- support you get through day before the Monday evening hearship and expertise, educator job, which ing. Instead of a hearing, the board he was unable to meant a huge pay NSEA anywhere else. I found hired Fuller for the social studies job, work out a satisfaccut and no insurance. out how important that left Smith in the physical education tory retirement setThen came an offer support is.You need that position, and, as a bonus, offered her tlement. of a job as a preferred support, you really do.” eighth grade volleyball, basketball Smith was ready substitute. No dice, and track coaching positions. to go to a hearing — Bob Fuller, said Smith.

The school year for both Smith and – after she posted Plattsmouth the date and cause “We talked about Fuller is well under way. Smith’s faith all these various setin the power of NSEA is stronger, and for the hearing on tlement possibilities. Then I decided I Fuller, a former member, has rejoined Facebook, she said she fully expected wanted to be a teacher,” said Smith. the Association. more than 200 patrons to attend. Weh“My blood bleeds blue. I wanted to be Fuller, also a member of the Nerbein said the hearing would have put a teacher in Plattsmouth.” braska Coaches Association, said that Smith’s entire argument in one place: Said Werhbein: “We kept thinking organization’s support with liability hometown girl, community support, back to the board meeting; the cominsurance, particularly in the athletic the fact that she was the lone female munity wanted a female PE teacher at arena, is important. But no other orgaon the physical education staff, and the middle school.” nization provides on-the-ground staff the fact that she had been a volunteer and expertise in the case of unjust fircoach for three sports for several years.

Few Options ings, reductions-in-force or negotiatAt the same time, Fuller, a former ing early retirement buyouts, he said.

Pieces in Place Coach of the Year in both Nebraska “I can’t say it strongly enough,” With Smith’s hearing less than two and Kansas, was trying to ascertain said Fuller. “You don’t get the supweeks away, Wehrbein discovered his future. His program director’s job port you get through NSEA anywhere that two teachers who shared a sixth was about to disappear. else. I found out how important that grade social studies class were among “I always felt that if I was doing my support is. You need that support, you the teachers leaving the district. Fuller job, I shouldn’t worry,” he said. “But really do.” was certified to teach social studies in Page 10 n The NSEA Voice n September 2011

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When NSEA me Bellevue Education the Papillion-LaVista sociation found that Fund was struggling went to work.

In Bellevue, N Brad Wellman and G sen helped to coord wide, week-long ‘de in mid-May. The lowed staff to wear d any given day, or for for a $10 donation. $3,868 to be allowe blue jeans.

“We received lots ments about the fundr we can do somethin next year,” said Wellm Members of the P Education Associati long-time, generous

Nationa

‘Brilliant’ Sit Review of H U.S. Docu

The National Archi DocsTeach, an interest line tool for teaching w DocsTeach combine content with the lates pabilities of the Intern teachers who have pil have called “brilliant!”

The site invites edu thousands of documen media from the Nation ings — items such as ton’s draft of the Cons celled check for Alaska notes on the first supe President Richard Nix letter. It also allows tea these materials using c ate engaging activities The seven tools fea are designed to teach s thinking skills — we interpreting data, focu and more. Each em components including

etained her job, and Fuller has officially

rovisional certificate, ixth grade content in Fuller said he would social studies class to cation post. ssisting Coach Fuller in place for his proviin order to, ultimatember, Marla Smith,”

were in place on FriMonday evening heara hearing, the board the social studies job, e physical education a bonus, offered her olleyball, basketball ng positions. ar for both Smith and der way. Smith’s faith NSEA is stronger, and member, has rejoined

member of the NeAssociation, said that upport with liability cularly in the athletic nt. But no other orgas on-the-ground staff the case of unjust fir-in-force or negotiatent buyouts, he said. it strongly enough,” u don’t get the supugh NSEA anywhere t how important that need that support, you

Locals Bolster Children’s Fund Papillion-LaVista, Bellevue Gifts Raise Nearly $9,000 When NSEA members with the Bellevue Education Association and the Papillion-LaVista Education Association found that the Children’s Fund was struggling financially, they went to work.

In Bellevue, NSEA members Brad Wellman and Gayle Christiansen helped to coordinate a districtwide, week-long ‘denim days’ event in mid-May. The fund-raiser allowed staff to wear denim for $2 on any given day, or for the entire week for a $10 donation. Members gave $3,868 to be allowed to don their blue jeans.

“We received lots of positive comments about the fundraiser, and I hope we can do something similar again next year,” said Wellman.

Members of the Papillion-LaVista Education Association have been long-time, generous donors to the

A President’s Challenge Last winter, Lexington Education Association President Adi Carnes saw reports in The Voice about the floundering status of the NSEA Children’s Fund.While the fund is a bit more stable toda, Carnes saw the need for a challenge.

So Carnes has issued a challenge to all local associations: Raise $1 for every member of your association through a fundraiser or collection, and then send it to the Children’s Fund. In Lexington, that means Carnes and her members would have to raise about $160, depending on final membership numbers. If Carnes’ statewide challenge collects $1 for every NSEA member, it would add nearly $28,000 to the Children’s Fund coffers, a huge boost for the Fund.

If your local is interested in accepting the President’s Challenge, host a fundraiser, collect $1 from every member, or make a straight donation to the Children’s Fund – either way, donations are tax deductible. Every penny will benefit a child in need; NSEA absorbs all administrative costs.

Send donations to the attention of ‘President’s Challenge’ in care of NSEA, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508.

Children’s Fund. Maria Wilson delivered that Association’s gift to the NSEA – a healthy $4,907. The funds were raised through a PLEA Blue Ribbon Week in April. Every mem-

ber who donated earned a PLEA Blue Ribbon to wear during a designated week in April. In buildings where every member gave, treats were provided to members by the PLEA.

National Archives Offers ‘DocsTeach’ Online ‘Brilliant’ Site Allows Review of Historical U.S. Documents The National Archives has launched DocsTeach, an interest-stirring new online tool for teaching with documents.

DocsTeach combines primary source content with the latest interactive capabilities of the Internet, in ways that teachers who have pilot-tested the site have called “brilliant!”

The site invites educators to explore thousands of documents in a variety of media from the National Archives holdings — items such as George Washington’s draft of the Constitution; the cancelled check for Alaska; Chuck Yeager’s notes on the first supersonic flight; and President Richard Nixon’s resignation letter. It also allows teachers to combine these materials using clever tools to create engaging activities for students.

The seven tools featured on the site are designed to teach specific historical thinking skills — weighing evidence, interpreting data, focusing on details, and more. Each employs interactive components including puzzles, maps,

flow charts, and others that both teachers and students can tailor to their needs.

The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent Federal agency that preserves and shares

with the public records that trace the story of our nation, government, and the American people.

Learn more at: Docsteach.org

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on a membership sw far western Nebraska Today, as NSEA’s installed president, have even less time t such calls.

“That part of my definitely on hold,” sh Fulton opened a chapter in her life on 1 when she assume ties as the Associa 117th president. She is equipped for the job has great knowledge profession – 34 year Wilber-Clatonia ele tary school teacher she’s already experi at the art of lobbying and federal representa She also understand sociation business nu bolts: a long-time ne tor for the Wilber-Cl Education Associ Fulton served on the N Board of Directors for years, followed by six as NSEA vice preside The vice presidenc where she learned m National Education As ported by the work a President Jess Wolf w “Jess has helped s always asked my opi he’s good about tossin she said.

Classroom veteran: New NSEA President Nancy Fulton will draw on 34 years of teaching experience at WilberClatonia as she leads the Association. As her final day at Wilber-Clatonia approached last May, she worked with students in her third grade classroom.

Ready to Lead

N

ot so long ago, Nancy Fulton would receive a call each August from a local farmer, asking when he could deliver her annual load of sweet corn. Each year, Fulton would set a date, collect the corn, and then prepare and freeze most of it for later in the year.

As NSEA vice president a couple of years ago, she took the farmer’s call while in Washington, D.C., where she was lobbying Nebraska’s congressional delegation.

When he called again a week later, she was

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An The election of Fu halm marks the first that women hold the t Fulton hopes to co positive course it has for change.

“We need to increa governor and with gr and school boards ass islative session was a We need to spend som

What Does This Mean to You?

xperience at Wilberhe worked with stu-

ago, Nancy Fulton ve a call each August l farmer, asking when annual load of sweet on would set a date, hen prepare and freeze he year. resident a couple of he farmer’s call while where she was lobbyressional delegation. a week later, she was

mutual goal of providing on a membership swing in quality education all across far western Nebraska. our state – and what it takes Today, as NSEA’s newly

to achieve that goal.” installed president, she’ll Favorite hobby: Reading.

Fulton says an addihave even less time to take Favorite book on education: tional focus will be to keep such calls.

Good to Great by Jim Collins and the Association on an even “That part of my life is 32 Third Graders and One Class financial keel. Other state definitely on hold,” she said.

Bunny, Life Lessons From Teaching by associations are struggling Fulton opened a new Phillip Done. and it is wise, she said, to chapter in her life on Aug. be cautious and conserva1 when she assumed duFavorite time of the school tive regarding Association ties as the Association’s day: Mornings, as students expenditures.

117th president. She is wellentered the classroom. equipped for the job. She Fulton Favorite movie/TV show: Challenging, has great knowledge of her Rewarding profession – 34 years as a Water for Elephants is my latest favorite.

On the legislative front, Wilber-Clatonia elemenFavorite school lunch: Homemade chicken Fulton said priorities will tary school teacher – and noodle soup and cinnamon rolls. be funding for education, she’s already experienced protecting collective barFavorite school supply: Post-It Notes. at the art of lobbying state gaining rights and preservand federal representatives.

Favorite musician: Neil Diamond. ing the school employees’ She also understands AsFavorite subject to teach: Math. It was my retirement system. sociation business nuts and favorite subject in school and is my favorite subject Fulton will urge the govbolts: a long-time negotiaernor and Legislature to tor for the Wilber-Clatonia to teach. I loved the opportunities to make math fun use the state’s reserve fund Education Association, to learn, and to incorporate literature books into the to bolster state aid, which Fulton served on the NSEA concepts being taught. was cut by $400 million for Board of Directors for eight the biennium. years, followed by six years “The revenue coming in as NSEA vice president. above projections needs to be used for our children’s educaThe vice presidency was like a second job, Fulton said, tion, for our schools,” she said. “It is the best investment where she learned much about how NSEA works with the our state can make to ensure a prosperous future. InvestNational Education Association, and how much NSEA is suping in education is good for Main Street, it’s good for our ported by the work and funding from NEA. Former NSEA economy, and it’s great for our children.”

President Jess Wolf was a “wonderful mentor,” she said.

Fulton also enjoys spending time on the road in Nebras“Jess has helped so much, keeping me in the loop. He ka, visiting members in their schools and at local association always asked my opinion – which I’m quick to give – and meetings. he’s good about tossing ideas out and talking through them,” “I really enjoyed doing that, on a limited basis, as vice she said. president,” she said. “I look forward to traveling the beautiful scenery of our state, visiting different parts of Nebraska An Association First and working to meet the varying needs of members from The election of Fulton and Vice President Leann Widdistrict to district. halm marks the first time in the NSEA’s 144-year history “What’s important in the metro area of eastern Nebraska that women hold the top two elected positions. may be different than what is important to members in ValFulton hopes to continue to steer the Association on the entine, for instance,” she said. positive course it has set in recent years, but does see room Most of all, Fulton looks forward to devoting full time to for change. her work as NSEA president. That means her days of putting “We need to increase our rapport with the Legislature, the up sweet corn are on hold for now. governor and with groups such as the school administrators “I’m looking forward to spending 100 percent of my time and school boards associations,” said Fulton. “The past legas the Association’s leader,” she said. “I am confident that it islative session was a difficult one, and it left a few fractures. will be challenging and rewarding work.”

We need to spend some time building an understanding of our

The Fulton File

What Does This Mean to You?

Aside from leading the policy-making process for the NSEA’s 28,000 members, Nancy Fulton will chair the meetings of the NSEA Board of Directors, which sets policy for the Association. NSEA staff is then charged with carrying out that policy.

Fulton will also represent the Association at local, state and regional meetings; she will represent NSEA at five yearly meetings of the

National Education Association Board of Directors; and she will lead the NSEA delegation to the NEA Representative Assembly each year.

The president is also heavily involved in ensuring that NSEA members are well represented during each session of the Nebraska Legislature, and will lead the annual membership campaign late each summer, among other duties.

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profession of teachi put NEA on the reco time, as calling for a overhaul of both tea and accountability vance student learnin “This action reflec desire of teachers a employees to be fully national education po in on-the-ground ac schools,” said NSEA cy Fulton.

The policy statem reflects the importan ing high standards them; robust evalua qualified evaluators indicators, not a sing ric; and ensuring tha distinguishes herself reer status, it is a me Following the co 2011 Representati NEA staff will begi tensive process of tenets of the policy materials, plans and members and affiliat All Smiles: Westside District 66’s Cindy Serfass and Pam McGeary take a moment to smile for the camera during an early-morning NSEA caucus at NEA’s Representative Assembly. Serfass and McGeary were two of 100 Nebraska delegates to attend the annual convention.

NEA: Standing Strong Delegates Favor Students, Members in Evaluation and Accountability Votes at RA If delegates to the National Education Association’s annual Representative Assembly in Chicago had done little else, their demonstration of the Association’s commitment to quality education for all students, and to leading the way on school transformation and the professionalization of teaching, was of landmark nature.

Among those involved in those actions were nearly 100 NSEA members, Nebraska educators elected by their peers to represent the state as-

sociation at the RA. On the first day of the Assembly, the 9,000-plus delegates listened as delegates from five local associations across the country told how their own struggling public schools are being transformed to successful schools through the NEA Priority Schools Campaign. The inspiring stories of union-led school improvement were a sampling of the work that continues through the campaign, which is focused on building communities of support to help students succeed.

What is Best for Students In a groundbreaking decision, delegates also adopted a Policy Statement on Teacher Evaluation and Accountability that puts the focus on what is best for students and the

Celebrity Lineup: NEA honoree Joe Starita poses for a photo with Omaha educator Barb Schroeder on the floor of the RA Convention.

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Cushy Jo National Teacher chelle Shearer encou to steer the conversa lic education in a po The Ijamsville, Md delegates they sho “Why is it that half leave the profession five years if we hav cushy jobs?”

Vice President J applauded when he egates, telling them be listening to you, you. We should be not pushing you awa the problem.”

To find details on t ment on Teacher Eva countability, go to th http://www.nea.org htm

“Why is it that teachers leave the within the first five we have such eas jobs?”

— Mich Nati

r the camera during wo of 100 Nebraska

ong

neup: NEA honoree es for a photo with or Barb Schroeder the RA Convention.

profession of teaching. The action put NEA on the record, for the first time, as calling for a comprehensive overhaul of both teacher evaluation and accountability systems to advance student learning.

“This action reflects the very real desire of teachers and other school employees to be fully engaged in the national education policy debate and in on-the-ground action to improve schools,” said NSEA President Nancy Fulton.

The policy statement, said Fulton, reflects the importance of maintaining high standards, not lowering them; robust evaluations by highly qualified evaluators using multiple indicators, not a single narrow metric; and ensuring that when a teacher distinguishes herself and attains career status, it is a meaningful event.

Following the conclusion of the 2011 Representative Assembly, NEA staff will begin the labor intensive process of formalizing the tenets of the policy into actionable materials, plans and resources for its members and affiliates.

Cushy Jobs?

National Teacher of the Year Michelle Shearer encouraged educators to steer the conversation about public education in a positive direction.

The Ijamsville, Md., teacher told delegates they should ask critics “Why is it that half of all teachers leave the profession within the first five years if we have such easy and cushy jobs?”

Vice President Joe Biden was applauded when he addressed delegates, telling them, “We should be listening to you, not lecturing at you. We should be embracing you, not pushing you away. You are not the problem.”

To find details on the Policy Statement on Teacher Evaluation and Accountability, go to this website: http://www.nea.org/grants/46326. htm

“Why is it that half of all teachers leave the profession within the first five years if we have such easy and cushy jobs?”

— Michelle Shearer, National Teacher of the Year

The Honorees: Joe Starita, left, and Ferial Pearson, right, were honored by NEA in June for work in the civil rights realm.

Starita, Pearson Honored Two Nebraskans were honored for their work at the NEA’s annual Human and Civil Rights Awards dinner in Chicago in July.

Omaha South High School English and special education teacher and NSEA member Ferial Pearson was honored for her work to support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) students. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Prof. Joe Starita was recognized for his work toward the education and achievement of equal opportunity for American Indians.

Pearson received NEA’s Virginia Uribe Award for Creative Leadership in Human Rights. Starita received the Leo Reano Memorial Award.

“Ferial Pearson doesn’t just teach appreciation of diversity, she lives it,” said Dennis Van Roekel, NEA president. “She has changed the course of many young lives by her commitment to GLBT youth.”

Pearson knows first-hand the challenges of being young and feeling like an ‘outsider.’

She was born in Kenya to a Muslim family of Indian origin. She came to the U.S. at age 19 to study at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN, where she became interested in GLBT issues after learning of the discomfort many youth experience when trying to acclimate in the straight world. She began teaching at Omaha South in 2001, and has since sponsored the Gay-Straight Alliance.

Uribe served as a teacher and counselor in the Los Angeles Unified School District for 42 years. She became a leader in the movement to improve the lives of gay and lesbian youth.

“As a teacher and writer, Joe Starita shares the unsung achievements of Native Americans,” said Van Roekel. “His books are a must-read to better understand Native Americans, their heritage, and their contributions to American life and history.”

A former reporter, Starita’s interests have grown to include the study of history and culture of Native Americans. His 1995 book, The Dull Knifes of Pine Ridge: A Lakota Odyssey, traces the lives of Dull Knife and members of four succeeding generations. The book was nominated for the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction.

His book, I Am a Man – Chief Standing Bear’s Journey for Justice, highlighted the courageous court battle of the Ponca chief to gain equality for his people under the law. Starita began his Native Daughters project in 2009 as a way to help students examine roles that Native American women have played in Indian history, culture, art, medicine and politics.

Leo Reano (1922-1971) was a teacher, artist, and interpreter who dedicated his life to securing educational opportunities for American Indian/Alaska Native children.

September2011 2011nnThe TheNSEA NSEAVoice VoicennPage Page15 15 September

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St

Faculty Mor

Worldwide, it’s dif one or any organizatio gue against the value ary education, says D executive director of t sociation of Universit Yet with higher ed sured, higher educat employees have ne stressed, Robinson t the third Biennial NS cation Conference. R ed the conference in L Around the globe, f nating salaries; loss o their authority increa and placed in the han and increasing accoun ments.

Among the root ca sure on faculty are en and globalization of merly regional univer ple, the University of a campus in Qatar. N sity is setting up camp dle East. Those overse often serving as for-pr he said.

Privatization of ser ing, and colleges and putting more emphasi of international stude make money – “ca Robinson. “Sometim where our priorities a

False Argu Student loan debt young faculty, is also ly loan debt payments $100,000 can be mo owed on a mortgage.

Those pressures, sa causing reaction. Rob has been much more than has been seen in t For instance, in the U there have been demon faculty cuts, pension creases and fee increa “I did not think th even four or five year One cause of the p son said the underly is that the money th higher education is g Page 16 n The NSEA Voice n September 2011

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Stressors Aid Activism Faculty More Active as Campus Priorities Change, Higher Ed Reps Told Worldwide, it’s difficult to find anyone or any organization that would argue against the value of post-secondary education, says David Robinson, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers.

Yet with higher education so treasured, higher education faculty and employees have never been more stressed, Robinson told attendees at the third Biennial NSEA Higher Education Conference. Robinson keynoted the conference in Lincoln in June.

Around the globe, faculty face stagnating salaries; loss of autonomy, with their authority increasingly removed and placed in the hands of managers; and increasing accountability requirements.

Among the root causes of the pressure on faculty are enrollment growth and globalization of services by formerly regional universities. For example, the University of Calgary now has a campus in Qatar. New York University is setting up campuses in the Middle East. Those overseas campuses are often serving as for-profit universities, he said.

Privatization of services is expanding, and colleges and universities are putting more emphasis on recruitment of international students as a way to make money – “cash cows,” said Robinson. “Sometimes I don’t know where our priorities are.”

In Session: Listening to a session speaker at the NSEA Higher Education Conference were, from left, David Robinson, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers; Karen Rodgers, Metropolitan Community College; and Kristi Nies, Peru State College.

coming back.

“I think we need to challenge that assumption. I think it’s a bit of a false argument,” he said.

About 60 higher education faculty members, NSEA staff and other guests attended the conference, held in Lincoln in June.

False Argument Student loan debt owed by new, young faculty, is also an issue. Monthly loan debt payments on $75,000 and $100,000 can be more than what is owed on a mortgage.

Those pressures, said Robinson, are causing reaction. Robinson said there has been much more faculty activism than has been seen in the past 20 years.

For instance, in the United Kingdom there have been demonstrations against faculty cuts, pension cuts, tuition increases and fee increases.

“I did not think this was possible, even four or five years ago,” he said.

One cause of the pressure: Robinson said the underlying assumption is that the money that used to go to higher education is gone, and is not September 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 17

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Thinking,Talking: A Schlieder, 2008 Nebr NSEA Headquarters

Exp

Nebraska Hope to Of

Fifteen teachers wh Headquarters in early more than 460 years of ing excellence.

Their resumes spa subject areas, from La mathematics, English, education, history, jou ence.

One is endorsed in nation of speech, thea education. Another is community. One chair mittee on effective tea tional Education Asso chairs his credit union tors, and serves on the on Teacher Retirement Others work part t braska Department o University of Nebras University, among oth Page 18 n The NSEA Voice n September 2011

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Thinking,Talking: Al DiMauro, 1984 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, reviews proposed organizational language while Mary Schlieder, 2008 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, offers a thought during a meeting of Nebraska State Teachers of the Year at NSEA Headquarters in July.

Experience & Passion Nebraska Teachers of the Year Organize, Hope to Offer a Voice on Education Policy Fifteen teachers who met at NSEA Headquarters in early July represented more than 460 years of collective teaching excellence.

Their resumes spanned dozens of subject areas, from Latin to chemistry, mathematics, English, Japanese, special education, history, journalism and science.

One is endorsed in the rare combination of speech, theater and physical education. Another is the mayor of her community. One chairs a national committee on effective teaching for the National Education Association. Another chairs his credit union board of directors, and serves on the National Council on Teacher Retirement.

Others work part time for the Nebraska Department of Education, the University of Nebraska, or Midland University, among others.

Each of the 15 has a deep love for, and understanding of, the art of teaching and the importance of quality education.

They are passionate about their craft.

But what brought them together was a common entry on their resumes: Nebraska Teacher of the Year.

Their passion and depth of knowledge was on full display as they met to begin organization of the Nebraska chapter of State Teachers of the Year – the 33rd state chapter chartered by the National State Teachers of the Year (NSTOY). Formalization of Nebraska’s chapter comes just in time, says Bob Feurer, a science teacher at North Bend and the 2011 Nebraska Teacher of the Year. The National State Teachers of the Year meeting will be in Omaha in July 2012. The Nebraska chapter will be able to lend support to that conference.

“That’s a huge cherry on top for Ne-

Powerful Story Voiced Online

A very powerful video about the value of good teaching has been posted to the Nebraska Department of Education website.

Filmed by NDOE staff, the video features current and past Nebraska Teachers of the Year, including Bob Feurer, North Bend; Patsy Koch Johns, Lincoln; Maddie Fennell, Omaha; Dan McCarthy, Hastings; and Michael Fryda and Brenda Zabel, both of Westside; talking about teaching.

The video was used by Commissioner of Education Roger Breed at the 2011 Administrator’s Days keynote address in Kearney in August.

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braska to have that conference in our state,” said Feurer.

Nebraska Origins Ironically, NSTOY got its start in Nebraska. In 1980, nearly 100 State Teachers of the Year from around the country met in Omaha to set in motion the organization’s formation.

The goal at that first meeting was simple: to provide current and future Teachers of the Year the opportunity to take a leading role in affecting education at the local, state and national levels.

Feurer, who was elected to serve as the Nebraska chapter’s charter president, said that goal remains.

“Part of the plan is to be a voice, Experienced Voices: A group of former Nebraska Teachers of the Year met at policy-wise,” said Feurer. “We have NSEA Headquarters in July. Front, from left, are Susan McNeil, 1995; Patricia Rana huge amount of experience from dolph, 1998; Maddie Fennell, 2007. Second row, from left, are Mary Schlieder, 2008; Al across the state; we’re well net- DiMauro, 1984; Roger Rea, 1989; Mary Caffey, 2001; Helen Banzhaf, 1999. Third row, worked; and we can get a pulse on from left, Jim Kubik, 1991; Duane Obermier, 1990; Bob Feurer, 2011. Back row, from what is going on in classrooms state- left, Will Locke, 1981; Daniel McCarthy, 2009; John Heineman, 2000. Not pictured is wide.”

Patsy Koch Johns, 2006.

The Nebraska chapter will provide the continued improvement of mankind.” another voice for state policymakers Feurer said the Nebraska chapter’s voice will be heard “as to consider when pondering education-related legislation. That little or as much as we want it to be.” Discussion during the inivoice will be heard, said NSEA President Nancy Fulton. tial meeting touched on mentoring young teachers; teacher and “Most policymakers will give a great deal of consideration principal effectiveness standards now under consideration by to input from a constituent with ‘teacher’ behind their name,” the Nebraska Department of Education; teacher salaries; and said Fulton. “Add ‘former or current Nebraska Teacher of the retention of young teachers in the profession, and other issues.

Year’ behind their name, and the respect and consideration levThe discussion also focused, as expected, on the formation el goes even higher.” of the Nebraska chapter. Besides Feurer, officers include Maddie Fennell, Omaha, vice president; Helen Banzhaff, Seward, Nonprofit, Nonpartisan treasurer; and Mary Caffey, Valley, secretary.

By 1984, NSTOY was charted as a nonprofit, nonpartisan All told, 40 Nebraska teachers dating back to 1973 have service organization “grounded in the belief that every child earned state Teacher of the Year status. All but one (Gunnar deserves teaching of the highest quality,” according to the orHorn, Omaha) are still living, and all were invited to the initial ganization’s website. meeting. Many responded with regrets, but were interested, inFurther, NSTOY is “committed to the idea that education dicating their passion for quality teaching and quality education is a vital part of our democratic society,” and “strives to let the still lives. voice of outstanding teachers be heard in order to contribute to

The NSTOY Belief Statement We believe that NSTOY: n Is a voice and an advocate for quality education and recruitment of competent professionals. n Impacts professional development of teachers. n Brings teacher voice to influence policy for decision-making opportunities. n Leads and advocates for educational excellence for every child through quality teaching. n Stimulates professional growth of members, and encourages active participation in a variety of educational activities. n Is an agent of progress.

Nebraska Teachers of the Year 1972: Patrice Jensen, Hastings 1973: Charles A. Brown,York 1974: Rolland Essman, North Loup-Scotia 1975: Gunnar Horn, Omaha 1976: Julie Jantzi, Milford 1977: Ardith Abboud, Omaha 1978: Jerry Siders, Nebraska School for the Deaf, 1979: Arvon Engel, Centennial 1980: Marge Tabor, Millard 1981: Will Locke, Hastings 1982: David Bernard-Stevens, Papillion-LaVista 1983: Julie Schanou, Millard 1984: Alfred DiMauro, Omaha 1985: Randall McCutcheon, Lincoln 1986: Cleon Ochsner, Hastings 1987: Everett Lerew, Superior 1988: Barbara Hopkins, Lincoln 1989: Roger Rea, Northwest High, Omaha 1990: Duane Obermier, Grand Island 1991: James Kubik, Norfolk

1992: DeLoris Tonack, Lincoln 1993: Betty Kort, Hastings 1994: Lynn Kaufman, Millard 1995: Susan McNeil, Loup County Public School 1996: Jean LaGrone,Westside 1997: Celine Robertson, Lincoln 1998: Patricia Randolph, Scottsbluff 1999: Helen Banzhaf, Seward 2000: John Heineman, Lincoln 2001: Mary Jane Caffey, Valley 2002: Anne Cognard, Lincoln 2003: Suzanne Ratzlaff, Henderson 2004: Diane Woodford, South Sioux City 2005: Brenda Zabel,Westside 2006: Patsy Koch Johns, Lincoln 2007: Madaline Fennell, Omaha 2008: Mary Schlieder, Norris 2009: Daniel McCarthy, Hastings 2010: Michael Fryda,Westside 2011: Bob Feurer, North Bend

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Take Insura

New Hires H Signup W

If you’re a new hire district – whether a firs or a veteran teacher jus other district, take note insurance deadline: you days after employment Educator’s Health Allia Cross and Blue Shield health insurance progra act within that window get another chance!

EHA rules prohibit l in the Blue Cross progr ers should consider the carefully, said Neal Cla associate executive dire “Health insurance is benefit, and decisions a surance should not be m Educators should not ru and decline health insu to ‘save the district mo their spouses are alread said. “In many instance EHA insurance is irrev

New Spouse Rules are slightly di tricts with 50 or more e for smaller districts, sai In the larger districts of employment, teache gible for enrollment in unless there is an invol in coverage because of vorce of a spouse or jo In districts of 50 or f a late open enrollment the month of August is an 18-month pre-existi clause.

Regardless of schoo said it’s important that dissuaded from taking be persuaded into takin in lieu of insurance.

Also important: if m the EHA plan gain a sp marriage or a child thro adoption, those depend rolled within 31 days to Questions? Contact 800-742-0047.

Take the Insurance!

New Hires Have Brief Signup Window

of the Year met at l, 1995; Patricia Ranry Schlieder, 2008; Al zhaf, 1999. Third row, 2011. Back row, from 2000. Not pictured is

” oice will be heard “as scussion during the inig teachers; teacher and under consideration by ; teacher salaries; and sion, and other issues. cted, on the formation officers include Madlen Banzhaff, Seward, etary. ng back to 1973 have . All but one (Gunnar ere invited to the initial but were interested, ing and quality education

Year

k, Lincoln stings Millard Loup County Public School Westside son, Lincoln ph, Scottsbluff Seward n, Lincoln ey, Valley , Lincoln ff, Henderson rd, South Sioux City Westside ns, Lincoln ell, Omaha r, Norris hy, Hastings Westside orth Bend

If you’re a new hire in your school district – whether a first-time teacher or a veteran teacher just starting in another district, take note of this health insurance deadline: you have just 31 days after employment to enroll in the Educator’s Health Alliance (EHA) Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska health insurance program! If you don’t act within that window, you may not get another chance!

EHA rules prohibit late enrollment in the Blue Cross program. Thus, teachers should consider their decisions carefully, said Neal Clayburn, NSEA’s associate executive director.

“Health insurance is an important benefit, and decisions around that insurance should not be made lightly.

Educators should not rush decisions and decline health insurance in order to ‘save the district money,’ or because their spouses are already covered,” he said. “In many instances, declining the EHA insurance is irrevocable.”

New Spouse, Child?

Rules are slightly different for districts with 50 or more employees, than for smaller districts, said Clayburn.

In the larger districts, after 31 days of employment, teachers are not eligible for enrollment in the EHA plan unless there is an involuntary change in coverage because of the death or divorce of a spouse or job loss.

In districts of 50 or fewer members, a late open enrollment program during the month of August is available, with an 18-month pre-existing condition clause.

Regardless of school district size, he said it’s important that teachers not be dissuaded from taking the insurance, or be persuaded into taking other options in lieu of insurance.

Also important: if members using the EHA plan gain a spouse through marriage or a child through birth or adoption, those dependents must be enrolled within 31 days to be eligible.

Questions? Contact the NSEA at 800-742-0047.

Apply for BCBS Stipends Scholarship Program Aids Educators Seeking to Improve Knowledge, Skills Educators seeking advanced degrees can have some of the costs of those degrees covered by a scholarship through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska Professional Development Fund.

The competitive scholarships are awarded three times each year, and the next deadline, for the fall term, is Saturday, Oct. 8. All applications must be made through the NSEA website. Applicants will receive an e-mail confirming receipt of the application (if you do not receive an e-mail, call NSEA).

Scholarships may be used to pursue an advanced degree, seek additional teaching endorsements or to take course work for certification requirements. Stipends may cover up to 50 percent of the cost of a single, threehour college course. Each applicant may apply for scholarship dollars for no more than three hours of course work. Books and supplies are not covered.

To apply, NSEA members must complete the application form on the NSEA website. The form will be posted on the NSEA website through the Saturday, Oct. 8, deadline.

Scholarship winners will be notified in November. The goal is to award stipends to the largest number of members from each of NSEA’s seven governance districts. To be eligible, NSEA members must be covered by either single or family Blue Cross/Blue Shield health care.

Previous applicants, successful or not, may re-apply. However, applicants may be scholarship recipients in only two of the three scholarship cycles during a school year. Winners must provide evidence of completion of course work at an accredited post-secondary institution before they receive the scholarship funds. All courses must be for credit.

Since 1986, 4,552 NSEA members have shared more than $580,000 in scholarship dollars, thanks to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.

The program does not affect premiums. To apply, go to the website at: www.nsea.org For details, contact Sally Bodtke at 1-800-742-0047 or via e-mail at: sally.bodtke@nsea.org

September 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 21

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@vvy KK__CG__

may not be familiar Health Information bNetS@vvy webgram with resourcts that can be used smart Internet be-

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News You Can Use Science Teacher Confab Planned at Fremont Details are still being finalized, but the date and location of the fall conference of the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science have been set.

The conference will be held at Camp Calvin Crest, along the Platte River just southwest of Fremont, Sept.

29 through Oct. 1, 2011. The three days of sessions will include a series of workshops, field trips, multi-media presentations, computer simulations, and numerous motivational activities.

Also scheduled: concurrent sessions specifically designed for teachers of physical (physics and chemistry), earth, biological and elementary sciences.

More conference details, registration forms and directions to the conference can be found at the NATS website at: http://www.neacadsci.org

Outdoor Education Meet in Nebraska City The Nebraska Alliance for Conservation and Environment Education (NACEE) has announced its annual conference on Sept. 22-24 at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City.

The conference features a keynote

by Lincoln Supt. Dr. Steve Joel and includes topics for educators — both formal and non-formal — who have a desire to better understand the benefits and techniques of outdoor education.

Participants will attend field workshops including Lewis & Clark Missouri River Basin Visitor and Nature Center and Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure. Concurrent sessions include how to create or enhance your outdoor classroom, linking environmental education to state education standards, the Wind for Schools Project, and simple science activities for early learners.

Registration details are at NACEE’s website: www.nacee.org

Writing Seminar Aimed at Elementary Level Veteran Nebraska teacher Ron Coniglio will host The Nebraska Elemen-

Holocaust Studies Enhanced at Wyuka Studying the Holocaust? Consider a tour of Nebraska’s Holocaust Memorial at Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln.

In addition to the Memorial, tours of the historic cemetery are available.A meeting room is also available, where, after visiting the Memorial and before the Wyuka tour, teachers can hold a class or request a lecture on genocide, culture and prejudice.

For details, contact Gary Hill at 402-420-0602, or at: garyhill@cega.com tary School Writing Seminar at three locations in October.

The seminar is designed for kindergarten through fifth grade elementary school teachers, as well as school administrators. The conference will share new techniques and strategies for teachers seeking to increase student performance in writing, and will help them to come into compliance with the Common Core State Standards for Writing.

The conference will be held in LaVista on Oct. 3; Kearney on Oct. 10; and North Platte on Oct. 11.

Coniglio has taught at the elementary, middle, high school and college levels, and has worked with educators in 49 states and several foreign countries.

There is a fee to register. For details on the conference content, schedule and registration, e-mail Coniglio at: wizardscastlepublishing@hotmail. com

Del Monte Offers Cash for Classrooms Del Monte Fresh will soon open its second online “Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms” contest to U.S. public schools.

The program encourages K-12 public school teachers to incorporate healthy eating and living messages into classroom activities. Over six weeks this fall, 60 teachers will each win $1,000 to purchase school supplies and fresh fruit for students. Ten grand prize winners will win a salad bar for their school. Many more winners will get a Del Monte Fresh Field Day event for their school, in which the entire student body will enjoy a day of Del Monte fresh fruit, games and fun activities.

To be eligible, teachers must register, and then encourage their fans to vote for them online. Ten winners will be se-

lected each Monday for six consecutive weeks in October and November 2011.

Winners are based solely on the number of votes they receive. Contest voting opens on Sept. 26. To register, look for the ‘Teacher Monday’ link at: http://www.fruits.com/

Moss Foundation Offers Arts Grants The P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education has grants available to be awarded in 2011 to educators who need assistance to further their program goals.

Applications may be made for a grant up to $1,000 to support a new or evolving program that integrates the arts into educational programming. The purpose is to aid and support teachers who wish to establish an effective learning tool using the arts in teaching children who learn differently. The application deadline is Sept.

30. For details, go to: http://mossfoundation.org/

Head Start Graduate?

An iPad Could be Yours!

Are you a successful Head Start graduate, or do you know one? Think they could use an iPad? Then help them connect with the ‘Our Head Start’ program.

The First Five Years Fund has opened the ‘Our Head Start’ campaign to educate policymakers, community leaders and the public about the critical role Head Start plays in shaping the lives of so many successful Americans.

The goal is to gather at least one story in every U.S. Congressional District. To do so, through Sept. 30, successful Head Start alumni who submit their stories will receive a reusable tote

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bag and be entered for a new iPad 2. Submitt and easy — alumni ca photo or home video. T ling text or video story on the Head Start web For details, go to th www.ourheadstart.o

European Tou to NSEA Mem

NSEA members ca educators on a tour to Czech Republic durin 2012, and earn up to si Led by NSEA mem nan, the tour is organ EF Educational Tours accredited through th Association of Colleg among other groups. E ers, administrators, e professionals, librarian The all-inclusive pa 12-21 tour is approxim cluding round trip airf School visits are plan pants can earn up to six through the University For details, use Tou this website: http://www.eftour Deadline for registr 2012. Contact Brennan wendybrennan

Win $30k in C to Fight Child

Nearly a third of A are overweight, and mo enough exercise as ph budgets continue to fac To improve those nu makers of Dial, among products – has teame Clinton’s Alliance for eration (AHG) to awar prove youth health thr Helps Get Kids Fit pro Schools that answ “What would your $10,000 to improve y Sept. 30 will be enter ist schools will be an 31, and three winning selected later, based o that will help schools, families rally to addres For details, go to: www.HenkelH

u Can Use at Wyuka

Holocaust Memorial at

y are available.A meetand before the Wyuka ide, culture and preju-

day for six consecutive r and November 2011. ed solely on the numreceive. Contest voting 6. To register, look for nday’ link at: ww.fruits.com/

ndation s Grants

ey Moss Foundation Education has grants warded in 2011 to eduassistance to further als. may be made for a 000 to support a new ogram that integrates educational programose is to aid and supo wish to establish an g tool using the arts dren who learn differation deadline is Sept. o to: foundation.org/

t Graduate? ould be Yours!

uccessful Head Start you know one? Think iPad? Then help them ‘Our Head Start’ pro-

Years Fund has opened tart’ campaign to edurs, community leaders about the critical role in shaping the lives of ul Americans. o gather at least one S. Congressional Dishrough Sept. 30, sucrt alumni who submit receive a reusable tote

bag and be entered for a chance to win a new iPad 2. Submitting a story is fast and easy — alumni can upload a story, photo or home video. The most compelling text or video story will be featured on the Head Start website.

For details, go to this link: www.ourheadstart.org/view-stories

European Tour Open to NSEA Members NSEA members can join a group of educators on a tour to Germany and the Czech Republic during the summer of 2012, and earn up to six credit hours.

Led by NSEA member Wendy Brennan, the tour is organized through the EF Educational Tours group, which is accredited through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, among other groups. Eligible are teachers, administrators, education support professionals, librarians and others.

The all-inclusive package for the June 12-21 tour is approximately $3,000, including round trip airfare from Omaha.

School visits are planned, and participants can earn up to six graduate credits through the University of the Pacific.

For details, use Tour No. 1080383 at this website: http://www.eftours.com/enroll Deadline for registration is March 1, 2012. Contact Brennan at: wendybrennan@cox.net

Win $30k in Campaign to Fight Child Obesity

Free Lunch is Back! economy; and a fact-filled card game Nebraska’s fourth-graders for the designed for students to take home, second year will learn about the viwhich helps carry the agtal role of agriculture in the state when they visit Trio of Nebraska centered message to their families. The Ag Ambasthe State Capitol BuildAg Groups sadors are University of ing, thanks to a program stuco-sponsored by the NeOffer Free Lunch Nebraska-Lincoln dents. braska Soybean Board “The program was (NSB), the Nebraska Pork to Fourth Graders highly successful during Producers Association Touring Capitol the 2010-11 school year,” (NPPA), and the Nebraska said Victor Bohuslavsky, CornBoard (NCB). executive director of the NSB. “InterThe Nebraska AG Sack Lunch Proest exceeded our projections, so we ingram is designed to educate Nebraska creased the number of lunches we could fourth-graders and their families on provide. Feedback from participating how important agriculture is to the state teachers complimented the program — historically, currently and into the fuhighly, so we decided to offer the proture. The program was first offered last gram again this school year.” school year. Letters of invitation will be In all, 4,000 students from 84 schools sent in early September to fourth-grade participated in the program during the teachers in 660 elementary schools in 2010-11 school year. The Nebraska 44 counties in the eastern third of NeCornBoard joins the NSB and NPPA as braska — schools considered most likeco-sponsors for 2011-12. ly to make the Lincoln trip.

The lunches, donated by the NSB, The program takes advantage of the NPPA and the NCB, are limited to the fact that more than 20,000 fourth-gradfirst 5,000 students to register for the ers visit the State Capitol Building in program. Project coordinators urge Lincoln each year as part of their curteachers to register their classes as soon riculum. Events include a sack lunch, as possible, even if they haven’t scheddonated by the NSB, NPPA and NCB, uled their Capitol tour yet. Registration which features nutritious foods prois available on-line at: duced in Nebraska; a 15-minute prehttp://brokawmarketing/ sentation by Ag Ambassadors on the reservation vital role agriculture plays in the state’s

Nearly a third of American children are overweight, and most are not getting enough exercise as physical education budgets continue to face cuts.

To improve those numbers, Henkel – makers of Dial, among other household products – has teamed with President Clinton’s Alliance for a Healthier Generation (AHG) to award $30,000 to improve youth health through the Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit program.

Schools that answer the question, “What would your school do with $10,000 to improve youth fitness?” by Sept. 30 will be entered. Fifteen finalist schools will be announced on Oct. 31, and three winning schools will be selected later, based on a public vote that will help schools, communities and families rally to address child obesity.

For details, go to: www.HenkelHelps.com

Fran

Gill Sans 11

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Barg ‘Brave

Changes to Make Advoca

Loaded Up: Ready to pile supplies into a U-Haul truck are, from left, Sara Lukesh,Tom Buffington, Chris Schnase, Lannie Lukesh, Chris Proulx, Raelynn Buffington, Jane Scoles and Melissa Comine.

Omaha Drive Benefits Joplin Schools Supplies Help in Tornado Recovery

On May 22, an enormous tornado hit Joplin, Mo., killing 153 residents and flattening a nearly one-mile-wide swath through the city of 50,000.

Among the dead were seven students and one school staff member. The twister also destroyed Joplin High School and Irving Elementary School. Two middle schools were listed as “likely total losses,” and two more elementary schools suffered significant damage.

Yet the 2011-12 school year for Joplin’s 7,700 students opened on schedule on Aug. 17, thanks at least in small part to gifts of books and school supplies like those collected by NSEA members at Omaha’s Sunny Slope Elementary School.

Third grade teacher Jane Scoles hatched the idea for the school supply drive, along with the help of fellow teachers Chris Schnase, Raelynn Buffington and friend Sara Lukesh.

Their efforts gathered a mid-sized U-Haul filled with K-12 library books, textbooks, bulletin board materials, three big

boxes of Crayons and other school supplies.

Scoles said Sunny Slope staff members offered a wonderful outpouring of gifts and supplies for the drive, and also helped in the organization of the gifts. Other members of the Omaha Public Schools and Omaha Education Association families, as well as from surrounding school districts, also gave supplies and cash donations.

The Omaha Public Schools Foundation covered the rental of the U-Haul and the cost of the truck’s fuel.

“This makes me really proud to be a member of OEA and OPS,” said Scoles.

In addition, the drive collected $500 in Barnes and Noble gift cards, $800 in cash, and 25 Target gift cards.

The Omaha Education Association office served as the collection site for the drive, and Scoles and others sorted the donations by grade level before departure. Scoles, Schnase and Buffington delivered the truck to Joplin Public Schools officials on Monday, Aug. 1. To help, go to the website at: www.joplinschools.org/

Hicks, Steele Join NSEA UniServ Ranks Two familiar faces have joined the ranks of NSEA’s UniServ directors on Aug. 1.

Trent Steele and Carol Hicks joined the NSEA staff on that date, replacing retirees Bill Nowak and Tom Martin. Both Steele and Hicks have wide and varied experience that will serve NSEA members well.

Hicks returns to her UniServ roots. A Texas native, she served her UniServ internship in Nebraska, and worked northeast Nebraska as a UniServ director from late 1993 through October 1996. Hicks then returned to Texas Hicks to work and to be near her mother, who was ill.

Hicks spent nearly three years as a UniServ director for the Texas State Teachers Association, then worked for Horace Mann Insurance before returning to teaching at Fort Worth, where she was a career and technology teacher, site technology coordinator and business department chair.

Hicks will serve the Niobrara UniServ Unit, is bounded by Keya Paha, Rock and Loup counties on the east, Scotts Bluff and Sioux counties on the west, up to the South Dakota border.

Steele was NSEA’s Tri-Valley District president in the late 1990s, while he taught at Kearney. He left teaching to earn a law degree, and practiced law for several years in Kearney. He earned an administrator’s certificate, and returned to education as an administrator. He served as K-12 principal at Steele Anselmo-Merna, and was an assistant principal at Beatrice before returning to Kearney, where he was assistant principal at Kearney High for the past six years.

Steele takes charge of NSEA’s Central UniServ Unit, which is bounded by Franklin County to the southeast, Red Willow County to the southwest, and Custer County to the north.

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When state senator on Industrial Relations action put a big red cir Those are the dates ence – and that’s a date afford to miss.

“There’s a first-eve there are new bargaini to the CIR run pretty d ton. “Every local assoc sentatives in attendanc There are enough c that conference organi Brave New World of C In attendance will b the Legislature’s Busi ry author of LB397; B Bargaining and Memb Iowa State Education local associations follo The conference wil ing rules for K-12, high fessionals.

Registration is onlin contact your NSEA Un

NCLB W Issue May

In August, U.S. Sec ated a plan to allow s quirements mandated b The plan would let i tion reforms to sideste he was taking that ste had failed to re-author past reauthorization, a tion proposed reforms Nebraska education qualify. Nebraska falls orities: a statewide sys dent achievement; and English and math.

NSEA Executive D Omaha World-Herald and its goals “wildly id education reform is a b “I find the offer of b It may be a moot po tion Roger Breed told Nebraska would not q body’s time to put in fo

Bargaining’s ‘Brave New World’ Changes to CIR, Bargaining Rules Make Advocacy Conference a ‘Must’

Chris Schnase, Lannie

chools

plies. bers offered a wonderor the drive, and also Other members of the Education Association school districts, also

ion covered the rental s fuel. a member of OEA and

0 in Barnes and Noble gift cards. office served as the and others sorted the ture. Scoles, Schnase Joplin Public Schools o to the website at: org/

Ranks

he Niobrara UniServ Keya Paha, Rock and east, Scotts Bluff and west, up to the South

A’s Tri-Valley District 990s, while he taught ching to earn a law dew for several years in n administrator’s cero education as an add as K-12 principal at s an assistant principal ing to Kearney, where h for the past six years. l UniServ Unit, which southeast, Red Willow unty to the north.

When state senators approved changes to the Commission on Industrial Relations during the 2011 legislative session, their action put a big red circle around the weekend of Oct. 21-22.

Those are the dates of the NSEA Fall Bargaining Conference – and that’s a date that local association bargainers cannot afford to miss.

“There’s a first-ever bargaining schedule that must be met, there are new bargaining rules for some units, and the changes to the CIR run pretty deep,” said NSEA President Nancy Fulton. “Every local association will want to have a team of representatives in attendance in order to be up to speed.”

There are enough changes in store for negotiators this year that conference organizers have christened the gathering ‘The Brave New World of Collective Bargaining.’

In attendance will be Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop, chair of the Legislature’s Business and Labor Committee and primary author of LB397; Bill Raabe, NEA’s director of Collective Bargaining and Member Advocacy; and representatives of the Iowa State Education Association, where school districts and local associations follow a set bargaining schedule.

The conference will include sectionals on the new bargaining rules for K-12, higher education and education support professionals.

Registration is online at the NSEA website. For more details, contact your NSEA UniServ director, or check the website at: www.nsea.org

NCLB Waivers Offered Issue May be Moot in Nebraska In August, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan reiterated a plan to allow states to set aside federal proficiency requirements mandated by No Child Left Behind.

The plan would let individual states that adopt certain education reforms to sidestep compliance with NCLB. Duncan said he was taking that step because, as of mid-August, Congress had failed to re-authorize NCLB, even though it is four years past reauthorization, and even though the Obama administration proposed reforms to Congress two years ago.

Nebraska education officials weren’t sure the state would qualify. Nebraska falls short on two Obama administration priorities: a statewide system to hold districts accountable for student achievement; and a lack of “common core” standards for English and math.

NSEA Executive Director Craig R. Christiansen told the Omaha World-Herald that NCLB is “punitive and destructive,” and its goals “wildly idealistic.” Trading NCLB provisions for education reform is a bad idea, he said.

“I find the offer of bartering to be unacceptable,” he said.

It may be a moot point. Nebraska Commissioner of Education Roger Breed told the World-Herald that “in all likelihood Nebraska would not qualify, and it would be a waste of everybody’s time to put in for that waiver and have it considered.”

Arlene McFall

Arlene McFall, 58, of Plattsmouth passed away on Aug. 14, 2011 in Omaha following a lengthy battle with cancer.

A Fort Hays, KS, State University grad, McFall taught at Loomis, Holdrege and Westside District 66 in Omaha before retiring in 2006 for health reasons.

McFall was a long-time member of NSEA and was committed to her professional organization. She served 11 years on the NSEA Board of Directors, and another five on the NSEA-Retired Board of Directors. She also held office at the local and district association levels and was a regular delegate to the NSEA Delegate Assembly and the McFall NEA Representative Assembly.

She enjoyed singing, dancing and was an active member of the Holdrege Community Theater while she lived there. She enjoyed spending time with her family and her pets. McFall is survived by her husband, Tom Kinsel of Plattsmouth.

Memorials are suggested to the NSEA Children’s Fund.

Fred Wacha

Long-time NSEA member and activist Fred Wacha, 76, of Clarkson, died July 13, 2011, at Columbus.

A 1952 Clarkson High School grad, he taught two years in Colfax County rural schools, was drafted into the Army in 1957, was trained and served almost two years in Germany in charge of atomic warheads. After his return, he taught another year in rural Colfax County, and then attended Wayne State College to earn a bachelor’s degree in 1963. He later earned a master’s degree in science education from Creighton University. He taught three years in Pilger, and then in Clarkson, where he taught math, chemistry and physics for 29 years, retiring in 1995.

A past Clarkson city councilman and mayor, Fred was active in many local civic organizations, as well as the NSEA. He was honored by the University of Nebraska as a Teacher of the Year.

Wacha is survived by his wife, Pat; and two sons and two daughters and their families.

Linda Baumert

Linda Baumert, 49, a first-grade teacher at Schuyler and a long-time NSEA member, was killed in an automobile accident near North Bend on May 11.

A North Bend resident, Baumert was active in her community and her church. In a statement on the school district website, Schuyler Supt. Robin Stevens said Baumert “possessed professional characteristics to which we all aspire,” and called her a “natural to the teaching profession.”

Baumert taught for 28 years at North Bend. She is survived by her husband, Kurt, a son and three daughters and their families.

September 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 25

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BCBS Q&A

New Year, New Benefits, Same Price!

By Kurt Genrich EHA Plan Advocate Effective Sept. 1, 2011, the Educators Health Alliance (EHA) will be expanding the benefits offered to its members at no extra cost!

These changes in services are occurring due to the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA) passed by the Federal Government in 2009. The changes include Increased Preventive Services, Unlimited Benefit Maximums and Coverage for Dependents to age 26.

And those additional coverages come with no rate increase, thanks to careful management and lower use of the plan in recent months. Here are details: Preventive services expanded: Under the current 2010-11 EHA contract, mammography, pap smears, routine immunizations and prostate screening assessments were the only items covered at 100 percent. The office visit and other preventive services were subject to the deductible and coinsurance to a maximum of $500. Effective Sept. 1, the office visit will now be paid at 100 percent for preventive services, and many new preventive benefits (age/gender specific) will be available for EHA members.

There will no longer be a dollar maximum for any preventive service. For a list of expanded services, go to: www.ehaplan.org Eligible dependents to age 26 now allowed on EHA plan: Effective Sept.

1, eligible dependents of employees of participating schools will now be allowed to stay on the health/dental plans until they reach the age of 26. This law, part of the Federal Health Care Reform, will allow dependents, no matter their circumstance, to come back on to their

parents’ plan until age 26. If they don’t add the dependent on for September, they will not be allowed to come on to the plan at a later date. The law allows married individuals, employed dependents, part-time students or unemployed individuals the ability to have health care coverage. The EHA plan will no longer ask for student verification of members because of the change in law.

If the member adds their child back to the plan, they must fill out a paper application available from their school’s benefit manager. The member may have additional cost if they have to move to a different tier of coverage (Employee/ Spouse to Employee/Family).

Unlimited maximum benefit/preexisting conditions for children under age 19: With the September renewal, the EHA Plan will no longer have the $5 million maximum benefit and will expand to an unlimited maximum benefit. Furthermore, the internal maximum benefit of $500 will no longer be in place for preventative services. Finally, there will no longer be pre-existing condition limits for children under the age of 19.

Questions? Visit the EHA website or contact me – contact details below.

Flab on Fire!

The EHA Wellness program has been growing by leaps and bounds since its inception two years ago. Now, with more than 150 participating schools, the

plan has been improving member lifestyle behaviors and making a difference in participant’s lives!

Participants complete a personal health assessment (PHA) to provide feedback to each individual and determine the health risks, interests and knowledge levels of the population.

Once a member completes the assessment, they will receive a $25 Gift Card from EHA! Members who completed the assessment last spring will be given an opportunity next spring to do it again.

These assessments target wellness action plans that will focus on maintaining or improving members’ current level of health, and reducing lifestyle-related risk factors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, poor diet and obesity.

This fall, there are two bi-monthly programs that members will be able to utilize. They are Healthy Dinner Club and Flab on Fire! To participate, contact your school’s Wellness Representative.

If your school isn’t participating, contact EHA Wellness Coordinator Howie Halpern, 402-960-1164, or at: howie@ehawellnessprogram.org The wellness plan website is at: www.ehawellness.org The Educators Health Alliance has named Kurt Genrich to serve as the EHA Plan advocate. Genrich will work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska plan participants to answer questions and promote the plan. The EHA Board is comprised of six NSEA representatives and three each from the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. NSEA Associate Executive Director NealClayburn is vice chair of the EHA Board of Directors.

Call Genrich at 1-866-465-1342; on his cell phone at 402-217-2042; or e-mail him at: kurt@ehaplan.org

Extra Liability Coverage Offered to Nurses, Trainers Nurses who teach or supervise in the medical arts area should not start the school year without the NEA Educators Employment Liability Program Insurance.

For just $13, NEA provides nurses and other health educators and athletic trainers additional liability insurance coverage for teaching and supervisory responsibilities.

The policy for active and active part-time NSEA members covers school nurses for: Rendering first-aid and regular nursing services as a part of the member’s educational employment.

Administering oral prescription medicine to students, if advance written authorization has been provided.

In addition to nurses, eligible school employees include den-

tal hygienists, occupational therapists or physical therapists.

NSEA members who are athletic trainers may also buy the additional coverage.

NSEA members wishing to purchase this extended coverage should send a letter requesting the coverage, along with a check for $13, payable to NSEA, to: Megan Lyons, NSEA, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Be sure to indicate your occupation (school nurse). Also include your home and work telephone numbers.

Checks for the 2011-12 school year must be received by Oct. 1, 2011. Checks received after that date will provide coverage for the remaining months of the employment year.

For more details, call NSEA at 1-800-742-0047.

Page 26 n The NSEA Voice n September 2011

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Snook Snipp

A new school year NEA Member Benefits egies, products, service and innovative think ing – all combined formulate the most e fective ways to suppo NEA members.

Check out the NE Member Benefits web site, or call the Memb Benefits Service Cent at 1-800-637-4636 fo details.

Product of th Accidents happen. vides protection you c cidents are the fifth death in the U.S., wit topping the list.

For an NEA rate as members can get $30,0 covered accidental dea for those that occur on tation. As a member, y acceptance, with add Call or go online for d

Tip of the M Claim your FREE scription by going o com! The NEA Maga vites you to choose fro titles spanning sport education, travel and m for an entire year.

Bright Ideas Discover the chan to help NEA member of new special memb our exclusive offers, p your life easier and m big on brand-name m offers member saving top retailers, online sto merchants. For instanc n Check the NEA Advantage Program, save an average of $4, n Check deals at T J.C. Penney, Restauran Find the latest deals www.facebook.co The Member Benefi neamb.c

Snookie Krumbieg NEA Member Benefi

Price!

mproving member lifend making a difference ves! complete a personal nt (PHA) to provide h individual and deth risks, interests and s of the population. completes the assesseceive a $25 Gift Card mbers who completed st spring will be given xt spring to do it again. ts target wellness acll focus on maintaining mbers’ current level of ucing lifestyle-related as tobacco use, physior diet and obesity. e are two bi-monthly embers will be able to Healthy Dinner Club To participate, contact ellness Representative. n’t participating, conss Coordinator Howie 0-1164, or at: ellnessprogram.org plan website is at: awellness.org

alth Alliance has named Kurt serve as the EHA Plan advoch will work with Blue Cross Shield of Nebraska plan paranswer questions and promote he EHA Board is comprised of representatives and three each ebraska Association of School d the Nebraska Council of ministrators. NSEA Associate Director NealClayburn is vice of Directors.

66-465-1342; on his cell phone mail him at: @ehaplan.org

Trainers

or physical therapists. s may also buy the ad-

this extended covercoverage, along with a gan Lyons, NSEA, 605 sure to indicate your your home and work

must be received by date will provide coverployment year.

742-0047.

Snookie’s Snippets A new school year is under way, and NEA Member Benefits offers new strategies, products, services and innovative thinking – all combined to formulate the most effective ways to support NEA members.

Check out the NEA Member Benefits website, or call the Member Benefits Service Center at 1-800-637-4636 for details.

Krumbiegel Product of the Month Accidents happen. NEAMB provides protection you can count on. Accidents are the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., with auto accidents topping the list.

For an NEA rate as low as $19 a year, members can get $30,000 protection for covered accidental deaths and $130,000 for those that occur on public transportation. As a member, you’re guaranteed acceptance, with additional benefits.

Call or go online for details.

Tip of the Month Claim your FREE magazine subscription by going on-line at neamb. com! The NEA Magazine Service invites you to choose from more than 40 titles spanning sports, entertainment, education, travel and more – yours free for an entire year.

Bright Ideas for 2011 Discover the changes we’ve made to help NEA members make the most of new special member savings from our exclusive offers, plus ways to make your life easier and more secure. Save big on brand-name merchandise that offers member savings on hundreds of top retailers, online stores and with local merchants. For instance: n Check the NEA Auto Purchase Advantage Program, where members save an average of $4,300. n Check deals at Target, Best Buy, J.C. Penney, Restaurant.com and more.

Find the latest deals at: www.facebook.com/NEADeals The Member Benefits website is at: neamb.com Snookie Krumbiegel is Nebraska’s NEA Member Benefits representative.

NEA Member Benefits

Let Member Benefits Smooth Your Path The First Month of School Can be Made Easier There’s nothing like the excitement that accompanies the start of a new school year — but for educators, the pressure is ON! You’ve just welcomed dozens of new students for their best educational experiences ever, but you also have homes, families, and other non-school obligations that demand your attention.

That’s why NEA Member Benefits is extending a helping hand — through important member-only programs, services, discounts, informative articles and online courses designed to help you make a smooth transition into fall and a productive school year. Getting back to school will be a lot easier with these sweet opportunities: n NEA exclusive $100 statement credit offer! Apply now for your own NEA Credit Card with WorldPoints rewards and receive a $100 statement credit after qualifying transactions. n 20 percent discount at Lesson Planet! Eliminate guesswork and save valuable time searching online for resources, activities and lesson plans for your students. For only $39.99 per year (regular price: $49.99/year), gain access to Lesson Planet’s 350,000 teacher-reviewed and rated curriculum resources for pre-K through grade 12 educators!

n Enter to win $1,000 in VISA gift cards! September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, and the NEA Members Insurance Trust is sponsoring the “Who Do You Love” contest to encourage you to think seriously about life insurance as an expression of love.

From now through the end of September, enter the contest by submitting a photo and brief story online and you could win two $500 VISA gift cards — one for you and the other for your loved one! Enter at: www.MyNEALife.com n Save up to 50 percent at SmileMakers! Now until Dec. 31, 2011, get free shipping on all orders (no minimum) and up to 50 percent off classroom décor, student rewards and more! n Win a $7,500 School Lounge Makeover! Compliments of California Casualty, provider of the NEA Auto & Home Insurance Program, four lucky schools will be able to transform their school lounges from ordinary to positively extraordinaire! Enter at: www.schoolloungemakeover.com Get more details on these and other great Back to School offers at the NEA Member Service Center at 1-800-6374636, or at: www.neamb.com/backtoschool

NEA Member Benefits and Curriki Offer Free Learning Tools for Educators A new partnership between NEA Member Benefits and Curriki provides NEA members access to a wealth of online resources, including thousands of useful learning tools such as lesson plans, worksheets, multimedia activities and courses.

The open source publishing resources will enable NEA members to publish and store their own educational materials and share them with colleagues. Perhaps most importantly, it enables NEA members to collaborate with educators around the world, assisting each other with their curriculum planning process and supporting student learning outcomes.

Curriki is a global K-12 community for creating, sharing and finding free learning resources that improve teacher effectiveness and student outcomes. Curriki supports educators, learners and committed education experts who are working together to create quality materials that will benefit teachers and students around the world. Members can access Curriki through either of these links: www.neamb.org http://link.curriki.org/NEA September 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 27

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“Gill S that I ho of the re who tru ment m Making threaten many of

Fra

Gill Sans

In the town of St. the old public scho landing point on the south of Brownville, itors are those who c it. The school still st there are no studen will be no more firs school. Standing in room school, it is imagine that St. De just exactly like eve community we know The first day o was an exciting time dents, parents, and for families and f without children, for old, and for youngs ing at the prospect ing Mom to enter s is still that way for America. The first school changes tra terns, significantly spending and mon on Main Street, a schedules of a quart adults across the cou creates new question supper table: “W pened in school toda The first day o was probably much for old St. Deroin, last first day of scho Deroin occurred ma ago. The town was and destroyed by t The loss of the town that could not have b

Today, the story is lic schools face a flo irrational and, at wor The flood against the be escaped. The floo in our communities schools — and our c In most of Ameri major threat to the Page 28 n The NSEA Voice n September 2011

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From the Executive Director

The Last First Day In the town of St. Deroin (or what is left of it), stands munity that is built around it. It is the fear of every comthe old public school, now a museum. Once a lively munity. But today, as much as the school is viewed with landing point on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River the long-cherished belief that it is the social and ecosouth of Brownville, it is now a ghost town. Its only visnomic center of a community’s future, the American itors are those who come to the state park that surrounds public school is often treated as a common problem to it. The school still stands, but be solved. In fact, as most of there are no students. There the merchants and employwill be no more first days of ers on Main Street underschool. Standing in that onestand, our public schools are room school, it is easy to the solution to our common imagine that St. Deroin was problems. just exactly like every other community we know.

A Dangerous Threat The first day of school Declining birth rates, lowas an exciting time for stucal effects of the global ecodents, parents, and teachers, nomic disaster, declining for families and for those taxpayer support, and shifts without children, for the very of young families to other old, and for youngsters crylocales are all common reaing at the prospect of leavsons for the loss of support ing Mom to enter school. It for a community’s school. is still that way for most of But a far more dangerous America. The first day of threat to the existence of our school changes traffic patschools is the increasingly terns, significantly affects virulent criticism of the spending and money flow “public” in public schools. on Main Street, alters the Be careful. These critics schedules of a quarter of the are not attacking education. adults across the county, and They are assailing the “pubcreates new questions for the lic” in public education. supper table: “What hapSomehow, it has become pened in school today?” fashionable to forget the The first day of school meaning behind the word was probably much the same “public.” This country was for old St. Deroin, but the built by rugged individuThe Disaster of No More First Days: NSEA Executive alists…who last first day of school for St. understood Deroin occurred many years Director Craig R. Christiansen in the old school at St. perhaps better than most ago. The town was flooded Deroin, Nebraska. today the meaning of “puband destroyed by the river. lic good.” Public value and The loss of the town and its school was a natural disaster public good have meaning only because we have histhat could not have been avoided. torically understood their basis as shared efforts, shared destiny, shared sacrifice, and shared interests. When we No Escape abandon our public schools to mindless criticism, we Today, the story is different for most communities. Pubabandon our schools — and their role in the community. lic schools face a flood of criticism that is, at best, often Unlike St. Deroin, we can avoid this disaster. irrational and, at worst, too often intentionally destructive.

We cannot allow the constant attack on our teachers The flood against the community of St. Deroin could not and the work they do and not endanger the future of our be escaped. The flood of attack against the public schools schools as an institution. Like St. Deroin, public schools in our communities can be stopped and must be, if our may one day be nostalgic museums, buildings without schools — and our communities — are going to survive. students, schools with no public. Don’t let the first day In most of America, the loss of its public school is a of school in your community ever be its last one. It is a major threat to the very existence of the town or comdisaster that can be avoided.

September 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 29

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NSEA-Retired Corner

Get Ready for a Busy Fall!

October Conference, Intergenerational Mentoring on Schedule Sitting still is not an option for most retired educators. Thus, retirees will be pleased to learn about two upcoming activities that should keep the mental juices flowing!

First is the NSEA-Retired Greater Nebraska Fall Conference, set for Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Nebraska Nature and Visitors’ Center on Interstate 80 at Alda.

Topics scheduled to this point include sessions on genealogy, iPads, nutrition and attracting Nebraska songbirds to your garden. Look for more details speakers and breakout sectionals, plus registration information, in the NSEARetired Advocate which will be in your hands in mid-September.

Online registration begins at the NSEA website on Sept. 10. The NSEA website is at: www.nsea.org Otherwise, contact NSEA’s Rebecca Smith at 1-800-742-0047. E-mail her at: rebecca.smith@nsea.org Also on the calendar is the Intergenerational Mentoring program.

This NSEA-Retired program is one of the stellar offerings by retired programs across the country. It pairs retirees with pre-service teachers in a mentor-mentee relationship for a year or more. The retiree/mentors are rewarded with the opportunity to share years of experience and teaching wisdom, while the pre-service/mentees have someone other than a supervisor or professor with which to discuss classroom issues and techniques – a win-win situation.

The pairing of mentors and mentees will take place at Hastings College in November. For details, or to register, contact Smith or Maureen Nickels at: maureen.nickels@nsea.org Just as important is the NSEA-Retired Lobby Day. Each year, in mid-February, retired NSEA members gather in Lincoln to lobby state lawmakers. The 2012 event is set for Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. Watch this space for more details.

NSEA-Retired Local Affiliates for 2011-12 Your NSEA-Retired organization has local affiliates across the state. By joining one of these local affiliates, you’ll

National Audienc Education Associatio Association’s Studen Ellipse in Washingto University of Nebras Another Quilt on the Block: The NSEA-Retired affiliate has another top quality quilt — donated by Lincoln’s Lorene Behrends — ready to give away via raffle, with proceeds to benefit the NSEA Children’s Fund. The winner of the 2011 quilt give-away, which raised nearly $1,500, was retiree Loretta Pillard of Springfield. Displaying the current quilt up for grabs are, from left, former NSEA President Jess Wolf; NSEA President Nancy Fulton; and NSEA-Retired President Roger Rea.Tickets are available at most NSEA-Retired functions, or by calling NSEA’s Rebecca Smith at 1-800-742-0047.

stay in touch with education issues, and will also enjoy regular meetings and adventures with other retired educators.

Following is a listing of those locals: Platte Valley Retired Education Association Guy Roggenkamp is president. Other officers are Martha McGahan, vice president; Linda Dahlstrom, secretary; Marlin Sekutera, treasurer; James McGahan, communications; and Linda Riley, Greeting Cards Committee.

Future programs include Nancy Klimek on Nebraska Veteran’s Home History, scheduled for November; and Vi Wray on Teaching in Australia, set for February. PVREA will host the NSEARetired Greater Nebraska Fall Conference on Oct. 4, 2012, at the Nebraska Nature and Visitors’ Center at Alda (see more details in the September NSEARetired Advocate). Check out the new PVREA information on the NSEA website by clicking on the ‘For Members’ link, and then NSEA-Retired on the left side of the homepage, and then looking for ‘Local Retired Organizations.’

NSEA’s website is at: www.nsea.org Contact Roggenkamp at 308-383-

3579, or at: groggenk@charter.net Elkhorn/Sandhills Education Association-Retired President is LuEtta Clark. Officers are Tom Black, vice president; Marianne Wright, secretary; and Pat Monson, treasurer. Future meetings include a September tour of Cuthills Vineyard; a February visit to Affiliated Foods; and a June visit to Ponca State Park.

Contact Clark at 402-327-6601.

Millard Education Association-Retired Jim Rames is president. Patricia Brinkman is secretary/treasurer. A full year of activities is planned around Soaring Wings, Orphan Train, Community Playhouse, Douglas County CSI Lab, Omaha Press Club, and the NSEARetired Lobby Day and Spring Conference. The chief member concerns are retirement benefits, cost of living, and keeping the Defined Benefit Retirement System fully funded.

Contact Rames at 402-895-2484, or: rames9@cox.net Tom Black, Editor wpc6296@cableone.net

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How

From the Public E comes this news: A re lyzed 20 education sys ing but differing level how each achieved sig in student outcomes.

The authors found relatively quickly, reg raphy, culture or incom sample were “process” more time improving found a consistent clus ward from poor perfor of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ a The research found tional skills of teacher assessing students; im provement through the education laws; revisin ing an appropriate rew ers and principals. It a was essential.

The PEN Weekly Ne reform, finance and re structions at the lower http://w

Corporations

The Center for Me launched a website th and state politicians w American Legislative laws that govern the r public education. The s

Extra Credit

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ate has another top — ready to give away Fund. The winner of etiree Loretta Pillard re, from left, former n; and NSEA-Retired Retired functions, or

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ndhills Education tion-Retired LuEtta Clark. Officers vice president; Maricretary; and Pat Monuture meetings include of Cuthills Vineyard; o Affiliated Foods; and nca State Park. at 402-327-6601.

d Education tion-Retired is president. Patricia retary/treasurer. A full s is planned around Orphan Train, CommuDouglas County CSI s Club, and the NSEAay and Spring Confermember concerns are ts, cost of living, and ned Benefit Retirement ded. s at 402-895-2484, or: 9@cox.net Tom Black, Editor pc6296@cableone.net

n The number of Nebraska children who have lost their homes to foreclosure since 2007, according to the 2011 national Kids Count Data Report.

41%

National Audience: Tommie Leaders, former president of the Student Education Association of Nebraska and current chair of the National Education Association’s Student Program, addresses the Save Our Schools Rally on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., on July 31. Leaders is an education major at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

n The percent of Nebraska school children who qualify for school lunch subsidies, as reported by Commissioner of Education Roger Breed in addressing school administrators in Kearney in August.

How Other Countries Did It From the Public Education Network ‘Weekly NewsBlast’ comes this news: A report from McKinsey & Company analyzed 20 education systems around the world, all with improving but differing levels of performance. The study examined how each achieved significant, sustained and widespread gains in student outcomes.

The authors found substantial improvement is achievable relatively quickly, regardless of student outcome level, geography, culture or income. The majority of interventions in their sample were “process” in nature, and systems generally spent more time improving instruction rather than content. It also found a consistent cluster of interventions moves systems forward from poor performance to fair. There was little evidence of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.

The research found six key interventions: building instructional skills of teachers and management skills of principals; assessing students; improving data systems; facilitating improvement through the introduction of policy documents and education laws; revising standards and curriculum; and ensuring an appropriate reward and remuneration structure for teachers and principals. It also found that continuity of leadership was essential.

The PEN Weekly NewsBlast is a free newsletter about school reform, finance and related issues. To subscribe, look for instructions at the lower left side of the page at: http://www.publiceducation.org

Corporations Rewrite American Law The Center for Media & Democracy and the Nation has launched a website that documents how global corporations and state politicians work behind closed doors – through the American Legislative Exchange Council – to try to rewrite laws that govern the rights of educators, as well as to affect public education. The so-called “model bills” reach into almost

every area of American life and often directly benefit huge corporations.

The website allows viewers to access 800 sample pieces of ALEC legislation, including some that would privatize public education. The website also details how model legislation would crush teacher’s unions, and push American universities to the right. Among other things, these bills make education a private commodity rather than a public good, and reverse America’s modern innovation of promoting learning and civic virtue through public schools staffed with professional teachers for children from all backgrounds.

Also on the list: current and past state chairmen from all states, as well as alumna governors. Find the details at: http://www.alecexposed.org

Clayburn Will Lead EHA Board NSEA Associate Executive Director Neal Clayburn will become the chair of the Educators Health Alliance Board of Directors on Sept. 1.

The EHA Board governs the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska health care plan used by nearly every one of Nebraska’s 250 school districts. The plan covers more than 70,000 Nebraskans.

The EHA Board of Directors include six representatives from NSEA, and three Clayburn each from the Nebraska Council of School Administrators and the Nebraska Association of School Boards. The board manages the health care plan organized in the mid-1960s by NSEA. Clayburn is a former executive director of the Lincoln Education Association, a former NSEA UniServ director, and taught and coached in Gering and Grand Island.

September 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 31

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NSEA Executive Director Craig R. Christianse

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”

NEA Has You Covered Liability Insurance is Part of Membership Every member of NSEA is covered by the Educator’s Liability (EEL) Insurance policy purchased by the National Education Association.

In general, the EEL policy provides coverage for members arising out of their educational employment activities. Those activities are generally defined as duties performed pursuant to the express or implied terms of their employment or at the express request of the member’s supervisor acting within the supervisor’s school employment.

In addition to defending civil matters, the EEL insurance provides reimbursement for bail bonds in employment-related criminal matters and reimbursement for personal property damages caused by an assault at school or while performing school duties.

Further, the EEL insurance provides reimbursement in criminal matters arising out of educational employment activities if the member is found not guilty.

The specific terms and coverage provided by the EEL insurance policy are governed by the insurance company.

For additional information, contact your NSEA UniServ director, who will be happy to provide you with additional details. Reach your UniServ director at 1-800-742-0047.

Speaking of Teaching “The more we demand from teachers the more we have to demand from students and parents.”

—Thomas Friedman, author ‘The World is Flat’

Mailed By: The Nebraska State Education Association

Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742

Family of Teachers

The Hain Family: There are many teachers in the Tom and Marilyn Hain family, and these are just a few of them.

From left are Theron Troxel, a teacher and coach at Freeman High School at Adams; Tom Hain, retired elementary principal, assistant high school principal and assistant athletic director for the Chase County Schools at Imperial, and now an elementary principal at Hershey; Stacey Hain Troxel, formerly a middle school English teacher for the Norris Public Schools at Firth, and now a stayat-home mom; Marilyn Hain, taught K-4 special education at Chase County Elementary at Imperial, and then taught at North Platte before retiring; and Carrie Hain Nesbitt, a second grade teacher at Sidney.

Not pictured are Connie Hain Bredemeyer, a special education teacher at St. Stephan’s in Omaha; Dorothy Hain, a kindergarten teacher at Westchester, PA; Betty Gruca, an elementary teacher in Colorado Springs, CO; Becky Bredemeyer, a teacher in Omaha’s Catholic school system; and Clay Seeba, a teacher at Kearney.

Crime Science Lab From Jim Hurley, a chemistry and physics teacher at Waverly-Shell Rock High School in Waverly, IA:

“In my many years of teaching chemistry and physics, I observed that the laboratory investigations that created the most enthusiasm were those that cast the student in the role of crime lab analyst. Rather than lockstep procedures to verify expected outcomes, I present experiments as criminal case descriptions

which require careful evidence analysis. Questions like ‘Was the anesthesia administered in too great a concentration?’ or ‘Does the index of refraction of the glass chip embedded in the robbery suspect’s shoe match the glass from a broken store window?’ help frame experimentation in a real world context. English instructors can even initiate cross-curriculum mystery writing units.”

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

Page 32 n The NSEA Voice n September 2011

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