Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Call to Election - Conventions 2012

The EAA Elections Committee today published its Call to Elections for the 2012 Conventions.  

Positions to be filled are Delegate
s and Alternates to VEA Delegate Assembly, and Delegates and Alternates to NEA Representative Assembly.   Again this year, we are trying an automated EAA Election Candidate Filing Form to assist our process.  Choosing this option will take you to an online form that will prompt you for the needed information and deliver the form to the EAA Office for you.  We will send daily emails to acknowledge those who have filed their interest.  You may also download the form and submit it to the EAA Office in writing (email, letter, or fax 703.370.8705). 

Remember, the filing deadline is 5:00 p.m., Friday, January 6, 2012.  

If you have questions, please email Kim Blake-Wilcox, Chair, EAA Elections Committee or call the EAA Office 703.370.1121.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

EAA HOLIDAY PARTY

Flyer
EAA HOLIDAY PARTY
Thursday, December 15, 2011
5:00 PM until 7:00 PM
Clyde's at Mark Center
Patio Room
1700 Beauregard Street

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Holiday Shoe Drive

One of our office neighbors, Alexandria Family Podiatry, is holding a Holiday Shoe Drive.  They are asking for donations of gently-used or new shoes for those in need.  Donations go to Soles4Souls, a shoe charity that collects gently worn shoes and monies to provide shoes to those in need.  This is also a great way to recycle shoes.

If you would like to make donation of shoes, please drop them by the EAA Office and we will see that they get to our neighbors, or you may want to take them yourself to Alexandria Family Podiatry, 2843 Duke Street.

Thank you!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Meet & Confer Notes - October

Here are the notes from our Meet and Confer meeting in October:
     
Old Business:
  • Stipend: Kevin North is meeting with his peers from the area to determine how to document the amounts and types of stipends. We asked that stipends be itemized so that staff can track the money that they are owed. There is a new payroll system coming in January 2013. Rather than spending money on an old system, the new system will give you this information.
  • Staff Development: 1st: We are very concerned that staff meetings are being used to do staff development at the expense of vital communication. It is clear that staff is asked to do much more than 21 hours of PD. Please document the kind of PD you are asked to attend by leaving a comment below.
  •  Division Professional Learning Council: Dr. Holmes will meeting with this committee in November. We will be looking for the follow-up about the use of the 21 hours.
  •   Faculty Councils: All schools were directed to have a faculty council and we gave Dr. Sherman a complete list of schools and whether they have a faculty council.
  • Calendars: We asked that teacher workdays be marked differently than PD days.
  •  Planning Times:  EAA insists that planning time is personal planning time. However the answer is more complex than that depending on where you work. Please see your building rep if you have questions. Please document the kind of activities you are asked to attend or do during your planning times by leaving a comment below.
New Business:
  • Administrator Evaluations: All administrators will be evaluated by their staffs. Please note that these are important and must be filled out by all staff members. Principals will not be able to know who commented in the surveys.
  • iPad Pictures and filming: Coaches and administrators should be courteous to staff members by asking BEFORE they film staff members. It is the right of the school division to film staff, but everyone at the table felt that we need to be respectful of staff members.
  • Checklist: Dr. Holmes promises that the classrooms and teachers are not being identified but the schools are being tracked. In the latest C and I news, schools are tracked for improvement.
  •  Paraprofessionals:
    • Paras are not expected to do PLPs.
    • Dr. Sherman stated that paraprofessionals are not being eliminated 
  • Professional Learning days: Dr. Sherman has sent out the agenda for activities and learning.

EAA Update - November 2011

Dear EAA Members and Friends,

First, I am so proud of the staff of ACPS. I have seen the time and energy you have given to your students and the demands of the new curriculum. I know we are being asked to work well beyond any reasonable expectation. Some schools are being asked to do even more than most.

We have brought all these issues to Dr. Sherman’s and Dr. Holmes’ attention and will continue to do so with vigor. I hope that you will continue to bring your concerns to your Building Reps and me. We may not be able to fix every situation but make no mistake; we will raise the issues and continue to raise the issues. Do not suffer in silence. This school division cannot afford your health or well-being to be sacrificed.  Your students need you.

Being a member and a leader of EAA has brought me more pride than any other professional experience I have had. Thank you for all you do!

Take care,

Gina A. Miller
President

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

VEA REGIONAL RETIREMENT MEETINGS 2012

Regional Retirement Meetings have been announced by VEA for 2012.  The meeting closest to us is:

MARCH 20 - FAIRFAX
4:30 - 6:00 pm
Professional Development Center
FEA Building
3917 Old Lee Hwy
Fairfax, 22030

To see the dates and locations for other regional meetings, follow this LINK.

Tele-Town Hall Meeting with Senator Mark Warner, November 28th

Senator Mark Warner is inviting all members of the Virginia Education Association to join him for a Tele-Town Hall Meeting on Monday, November 28, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. This is a  rare opportunity for Senator Warner to hear directly from Virginia’s teachers on ESEA re-authorization, as well as other pre-K through 12 education-related topics.

Please join your colleagues from across the Commonwealth and take advantage of this opportunity to weigh in on important topics that impact you, your profession, and your students in a meaningful way.

Here’s what will happen: 

On Monday, November 28th, you will receive a call around 6:00 p.m. When you answer your phone, you will be placed into the live Tele-Town hall Meeting with Senator Warner.

I will also be on the call along with members of the VEA staff and members of the NEA Government Relations staff.

Questions? Please email Richmond_Office@warner.senate.gov or contact me at the VEA.

This special event is being coordinated by Senator Warner’s office and the VEA’s Office of Government Relations and Research as well as the Office of the VEA President.

Please mark your calendars for November 28th at 6:00 p.m., and plan to join us. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make your voices and your concerns heard about ESEA re-authorization and other matters of importance related to public education.

Thank you in advance for planning to participate in this important event.

Sincerely,
Kitty

Kitty J. Boitnott, Ph.D., NBCT
President, Virginia Education Association
116 S. 3rd St., Richmond, VA 23219
804-648-5801 (office)

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

American Education Week - Visit to TC Williams

Photos of visit to TC Williams HS by NEA President Dennis Van Roekel and US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to kick off American Education Week     Link

Monday, October 24, 2011

VEA Award for Teaching Excellence

Call for Nominations - Deadline February 1, 2012

VEA Award for Teaching Excellence. This is the highest award VEA offers for teaching excellence in the Commonwealth. The winner earns $500 and becomes Virginia's nominee for the NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence. Learn more and download a nomination form here. (Word doc, save to your computer.) Deadline: February 1, 2012.

Friday, October 7, 2011

November VEA Instructional Conference Registration Has Begun

Registration for the November VEA Instructional Conference is now up and online and can be accessed by going to the VEA website.  Here is the direct link to register online for VEA's Instructional Conference http://www.regonline.com/veasinstructionalconference

You can also go through VEA's website www.veanea.org and look for the VEA's Instructional Conference information to register. 

Please register ASAP!

Thanks!
  
Kitty J. Boitnott, PhD, NBCT
President, Virginia Education Association

VEA E-Source, October 2011

The October 2011 issue of VEA's E-Source newsletter is now available.  It contains several items that will interest you.  The titles are listed below:
  • Act Now! Sign Up for VEA's Instructional Conference, Nov. 18-19
  • Make Sure to Vote for Public Education on Nov. 8
  • Put the Lid on Classroom Disruptions
  • Apply to Win a School Lounge Makeover, Courtesy of California Casualty
  • Sparks Will Light Your Fire for Your Profession, VA
  • Make Plans to Celebrate American Education Week, Nov 13-19
Click on title above or here

    Tuesday, October 4, 2011

    Curry's Auto Service Appreciates Educators!

    Education Offer
    If you work within the education sector in the DC Metro area, Curry's Auto Service is offering you:

    A $20 Reward Card

    PLUS

    5% OFF any service at every visit!

    All you have to do is bring along your official education ID to one of 
    our 8 convenient locations and we'll do the rest...
    (Look for NEW Alexandria location - opening soon!)

    Not an educator? 

    Forward this email to someone who is, or print out our exclusive thank you certificate and give it to your favorite teacher.

    Regulation for Use of 21 Hours

    Follow this link to a copy of ACPS Administrative Directive No. 11: Division Regulation for the Use of the Twenty-one (21) Additional Hours for SY2011-12.  Link

    PARA II Staffing

    Dear Members,

    According to Dr. Jane Quinnville, there were ten special education paras that were reassigned this week. I asked what the funding formula was for this and this was the response from Dr. Holmes:

    "I understand you have a question in regards to how paraprofessionals are staffed as a part of special education services outside of those paraprofessionals that are one-on-one with a student as called for in an IEP.  The formula is that Para II staffing is based on Level II points (more than 50% of the time in special education) for every 20 points or 10 children at this level a Para II is assigned to the school. Para II's work with groups of students and are not specifically attached to individual teachers." 

    Please let me know if this is not the formula used in your building. Please consult your Special Education teacher to get these numbers. I am very concerned about the expectations for full inclusion when we do not properly staff our classrooms!

    Thank you!

    Friday, September 9, 2011

    EAA Board of Directors Meeting

    There will be a meeting of the EAA Board of Directors in the EAA Office on Thursday, September 15th at 4:30 p.m.

    EDUCATION 411 SYMPOSIUM

    Click here for a flyer for a symposium being sponsored by the Prince William Education Association that is open to all VEA members.  The flyer describes the sessions available at the symposium and includes a registration form.  Note the registration deadline of September 23rd.  

    VEA-Retired Regional Fall Meeting

    Fun, fellowship and timely information are all available at the retiree regional meetings. Please register by filling out the registration form and mail with your check to VEA or AEA for Northern Va.  Lunch is included or available. 

    10/27/11 
    Northern Va. Regional Meeting
    10:00-2:00
    Fort Myer Officers Club
    214 Jackson Ave, Fort Myer, VA (Arlington)
    Topic:  What Active and Retired Members Need to know about Upcoming Legislation by Robley Jones, VEA Director of Government Relations
    Cost: $19.00. (Lunch included)
    RSVP by Oct.17th*
    REGISTER BY Oct. 17th*
    *Call AEA at 703-379-1650 if you have questions*

    Regional Pre-Legislative Workshops

    The VEA Office of Government Relations will conduct nine regional pre-legislative workshops during the months of October and November.  The purpose of these workshops is to provide local leaders with information on legislative issues which will be before the 2012 General Assembly.

    The following items will be discussed:

    1.         Overview of November Election
    2.                  Fiscal Condition of Commonwealth & 
                Educational Funding Demands
    3.         Profile of Legislators and Committee Composition
    4.         VEA’s Legislative Agenda
    5.         Legislative Issues/Lobbying Strategy

    Each local association will be entitled to send five (5) representatives. Dinner will be provided to the participants by VEA.

    Contact EAA President Gina Miller (GinaEAA@gmail.com) if you are interested in attending.  Registration deadline is September 13th.  

                                         
    Thursday              NOVA (FAIRFAX), Hilton Garden Inn          6:00-9:00 p.m.
    October 13*         3950 Fair Ridge Drive, Fairfax, VA  22033

    MATT DAMON DEFENDS EDUCATORS!

    Actor and philanthropist Matt Damon joined educators and concerned citizens from across the country in Washington, DC on June 30 to urge national leaders to focus on education reform that provides a high-quality education for every student.  Mr. Damon gave an inspiring speech to the crowd and later defended teachers to an aggressive reporter, and gave an interview in which he expressed dissatisfaction about current education policy.  Later, MSNBC commentator Lawrence O’Donnell highlighted Matt Damon’s words in offering his own impassioned defense of educators.  

    Source: NEA Education Insider (Used with permission.)

    Tuesday, July 26, 2011

    NEA RA Highlights

    First-time RA Delegate LESLIE RIDLEY shares the highlights of the NEA RA that she attended the first week of July in Chicago.  Read her comments here.

    SAVE OUR SCHOOLS

    March & National Call to Action, July 28-30   click here

    March & Rally Flyer, Washington DC, July 30   click here

    Friday, May 27, 2011

    Pension Protection, Using Test Scores to Evaluate Teachers, and Our Preeminent Challenge

    Read an interesting update on matters of interest to you about Richmond and the General Assembly from the head of VEA's Government Relations and Research Division. - click here

    NEA Member Benefits - June 2011

    • NEA Member Benefits Programs & Services - click here for listing
    • Sallie Mae Giveaway - for info on $2,000 monthly drawing thru August 2011, click here
    • Deals & Discounts
      • NEA Click & Save "Buy-lights" for June 2011 - click here
      • Save up to $25 with Hertz - At Airport or In Neighborhood - click here
      • Nice Place. Nice Price. - Red Roof Inn - click here
    • NEA Academy and Learning Bridges Offer Continuing Education Options for NEA Members - click here
    • Financial Assistance
      • Steps for Getting Your Finances Under Control - click here
      • The Right Time to Refinance - click here

    Friday, May 20, 2011

    King's Dominion Discounts for EAA Members

    EAA Members enjoy two discount packages from King's Dominion

    UniServ Members & Family Days
    June 19 - July 4

    Online Discount Tickets
    Good-Any-Day
    June 25 - July 10
    July 23 - August 7

    VEA National Board "Jump Start" Seminar

    If you are in the process of pursuing certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), the Virginia Education Association (VEA) invites you to a National Board professional development opportunity in the summer of 2011.

    August 8-11, 2011
    Registration Ends July 8th

    Flyer and Registration - Click Here