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