Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/401002
ISEA Communiqué • isea.org October/November 2014 3 OPINION It gets frustrating when the debate about education is a debate about numbers and test scores and doesn't include a discussion about lives and circumstances as well. While you are most certainly tired of hearing about the upcoming election and, in fact, probably miss regular commercial programming, the outcome of these elections and who represents our profession at the federal and state levels is important to us and our students. October/November 2014 – Vol. 52, No. 2 The ISEA Communiqué (ISSN 0019-0624) is published seven times a year (monthly except July & August; plus combined in October/ November, December/January, and April/ May) by the Iowa State Education Association, 777 Third St., Des Moines, IA 50309, 515- 471-8000 or 1-800-445-9358. $3.87 of membership dues is for a year's subscription; for nonmembers, the annual subscription is $10. Periodical postage is paid at Des Moines and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address corrections to ISEA Membership Records, 777 Third St., Des Moines, IA 50309. Advertising: To advertise, contact Charles Lapham at 515-471-8000 or email clapham@isea.org. ISEA makes no representations regarding advertised products or services that are not endorsed by ISEA or NEA Member Benefits. Duplicate mailings? To stop duplicate mailings to the same household, contact Kimberly Hupp at 515-471-8000 or email khupp@isea.org. President: Tammy Wawro Vice President: Mike Beranek Treasurer: Tom McLaughlin NEA Directors: Ray Feuss, Joshua Brown Executive Director: Mary Jane Cobb Editor: Mike Wiser Editorial Assistant: Charles Lapham Visit us on the Web at isea.org When my oldest child was in kindergarten he had difficulty with the noise and distraction of a fire drill. The other children relished the excitement and the change of pace. But my son became a bundle of nerves, anxious about the loud noises and worried for the class's pet hamster which would probably be left behind. Fortunately, he had a wonderfully perceptive teacher who recognized what he was going through and knew how to communicate a plan with me. My son is 26-years-old now and remembers those fire drills. More importantly, he remembers his teacher and the plan she made to help him through his anxieties and fears. Fast forward to today. My youngest son is scheduled to take the Iowa Assessment exams. But he is a bundle of nerves and it has nothing to do with the test. In fact, none of us are really focused on school right now. We're focused on my husband, Mike, who is facing a serious health issue. We are not the exception. Like many Iowa families, we live through circumstances that reach beyond the walls of our schools but affect what happens inside the classroom. Our education profession demands we consider these variables and take them into account every time we come to work. We recognize that each student brings with them a set of circumstances that are beyond their, or our, control. What we do in the classroom is only one part of our students' lives. It gets frustrating when the debate about education is a debate about numbers and test scores and doesn't include a discussion about lives and circumstances as well. While you are most certainly tired of hearing about the upcoming election and, in fact, probably miss regular commercial programming, the outcome of these elections and who represents our profession at the federal and state levels is important to us and our students. Every single human being inside the walls of our public school buildings is affected by the policies decided in Congress and in Iowa's statehouse. From class sizes to curriculum to our beginning salary and how our school day is structured is decided at the policy level. The students whose lives are lived both inside and outside of our classrooms need leaders who understand their unique circumstances. They need leaders who understand that families struggle and lose jobs, have health issues, and sometimes don't get along. We all need leaders who look beyond just the numbers reported out on a test score and understand when we tell them that 92 percent free and reduced lunch in our buildings means we have unique language, social, and economic barriers to overcome before our test scores truly reflect what is going on in our classrooms. We need leaders who understand that while our test scores may not have met the mark this year, we did our best to ensure that students who needed food went home every weekend with a meal, got extra clothing in the winter and some families received home visits when they couldn't make it to school. Recently the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) held a hearing on whether or not to change special education licensure requirements. The ISEA asked for input from special education professionals and received profound and thoughtful feedback that many on the BOEE had not considered because they are not in the classroom. Representatives in the Iowa House and Senate also received copies of the feedback because they will also eventually vote on whether or not the licensure change is a good idea. These policymakers have a direct impact on the professional lives of our special education professionals, and equally important, on the students in their care. Decisions made at the Capitol impact everyone in the community which is why all of us, though tired of the election season need to have input into who our leaders are. ISEA members from local associations all over the state thoughtfully interviewed and made their recommendations about who they thought were the best candidates representing ISEA's core beliefs. We believe this list of recommended candidates represents people who will look at the whole set of circumstances that go into our profession and the students who walk into our classrooms. We believe our recommended candidates truly understand all of the variables and will take them into account when it comes time to decide what policies will be best for Iowa's schools, our students and our profession. Go to isea.org for a complete list of these candidates. And please take the time to vote either early by absentee ballot or at your county auditor's office or on Tuesday, November 4. It's that important. Together we stand strong. Life happens in and out of the classroom by Tammy Wawro, ISEA president, twawro@isea.org - 9 - 9 - 9 Untitled-2 1 11/16/09 7:33:41 PM - 9