Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/466345
February 2015 isea.org • ISEA Communiqué 4 FIRST-CLASS MEMBERS Camanche Education Association member and middle school teacher and coach Erin Montgomery is the Iditarod's 2015 "Teacher on the Trail." The Iditarod – billed as "The Last Great Race on Earth" – is a multi-day dog sled race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, run in early March. "I'm not actually mushing myself," Montgomery said during a recent telephone interview from her home in Clinton. "I'll join a team for part of the way and I'll move from town to town. When the race starts, I'll have a journal for kids to follow." Montgomery began working with the Iditarod last June. She's kept a blog at http://itcteacheronthetrail.com/ and has Skyped with classrooms from New York to California. She prepares lesson plans that revolve around the Iditarod and the dogs that make up the 16-animal sled teams. "Most of the teachers I've been in touch with thought people would be most interested in learning about the dogs," Montgomery said. "The lesson plans can really be adapted to science and math classrooms. She intends to Skype every day during the race, but because she can't set a specific time, she's encouraged her classroom followers to leave the connections open and she'll connect during the day. Montgomery leaves at the end of February for two weeks of race prep in Alaska, but her main concern isn't on the snow, ice, dogs and wilderness in Alaska. "I'm mostly nervous about getting my lesson plans in for my substitute," Montgomery said. "It's five weeks." Bird named outstanding business educator West Des Moines Education Association member and Valley High School business teacher Sarah Bird was named 2014's Outstanding Business Educator for Iowa. Bird has taught at Valley since 2008. She chairs the school's business department and established Valley's DECA program in 2013. DECA is a national organization whose aim is to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges. Bird told the Des Moines Register she studied accounting in college and began a career in the field before deciding to move into teaching. "I think the combination of my childhood, my dad and influential college professors made me rethink my career," she said. "I was meant to be a teacher, but it took me longer to figure that out." Members testify for education funding Eighteen Iowa State Education Association members and ISEA President Tammy Wawro testified at a public hearing for adequate state support for schools. The educators comprised the largest group of advocates from any organization to give testimony during the hearing which was held in a committee room at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines. The speakers were: Ann Swenson, Waukee Community School District; Beth Harmelink, Ames Community School District; Brad Hurst, Johnston Community School District; Erin McConnell, North Scott Community School District; Hajdi Zulic, Urbandale Community School District; Jamie Vircks, Louisa-Muscatuine Community School District; Joe Judge, Albia Community School District; John Kealey, Davenport Community School District; Kelly McMahon, Cedar Rapids Community School District; Linda Linn, Prairie Lakes AEA; Matt Nevins, Marshalltown Community School District; Melinda Jones, Ottumwa Community School District; Pete Clancy, Cedar Rapids Community School District; Ray Feuss Cedar Rapids, Community School District; Scott Slechta, Fairfield Community School District; Sue Cahill, Marshalltown, Community School District; Tania Johnson, Cedar Rapids Community School District; and Tambi Heiter, Bondurant Community School District. Jackson on Jeopardy Fremont-Mills Education Association member and mathematics and speech teacher Martha Jackson was part of the Jeopardy Teachers' Tournament which ran from Feb. 9 -15. Jackson, of Tabor, was in the quarterfinal round. She was among a group of 15 educators from across the country who appeared on the show. According to the official Jeopardy blog, Jackson's advice to someone who wants to begin a teaching career is have "a great sense of humor and compassion." You can see an archive of the Teachers' Tournament on the official Jeopardy website here: www.jeopardy.com/minisites/teacherstournament/ First Class Members showcases the good works of Iowa State Education members from across Iowa. Secure a grant? Chosen to advise the governor? Organize a backpack drive? There are countless ways our members make their students, their schools and their profession stronger. Share their story at communications@isea.org IOWA PER PUPIL FUNDING SINCE 1980 Whether it's called "Allowable Growth" or "Supplemental State Aid" or something else, lawmakers have put fewer dollars toward covering the increasing costs of education. The result is older technology, less-relevant textbooks and fewer education professionals in Iowa's school buildings. QuickSTAT *Source: Legislative Services Agency 4% 2% 0% 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Fiscal Year Increase in State Cost Per Student 12% 14% 10% 8% 6% BEFORE 1993 STATE FUNDING WAS CALCULATED BASED ON A FORMULA OF INFLATIONARY AND ECONOMIC FACTORS. Montgomery is Iditarod choice