Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/543920
12 Summer 2015 | AEA Advocate Around AEA AEA President Selected for Teacher Evaluation Task Force AEA Applauds ABor decision on In-State Tuition for dACA Students Arizona educators support the decision made by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) this past May to allow Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students who meet the requirements for residency and have an Employment Authorization Document to pay in-state tuition for Arizona universities. "This is a win for students and all of Arizona," says AEA President Andrew f. Morrill. "These children have been living in Arizona, gained a public school education, graduated, and now they want to attend college to get a good job and give back to the community. Why would our state put up barriers to someone with the potential to contribute to our workforce and economy?" AEA believes this is a civil rights issue and that no group should be subjected to discrimination because they are living and working in a country other than the one in which they were born. As educators, AEA members believe in fairness and equality and that all children in Arizona should be given access to pursue the dream of higher education on an equal footing. In 2011, the Teacher and Principal Evaluation Task Force developed the Arizona Framework for Measuring Educator Effectiveness—the model framework for teacher and principal evaluation instruments required by Arizona Revised Statute § 15-203(A)(38). The Task Force is being reconvened by Arizona State Board of Education President Greg Miller, with newly appointed members, including AEA President Andrew f. Morrill, in order to revisit the Framework in light of current research and best practices regarding evaluations. Board Member Amy Hamilton will serve as Chair of the Task Force, and Board Member Roger Jacks will serve as Vice Chair. AEA will continue to update our members on the work of this Task Force. Several pre-sessions were also held in the two days prior to Summer Institute. Newly elected local association executive board members attended officers' training to learn about their new roles and responsibilities. Education Support Professionals learned about educating the whole child and their role in educational accountability. The AEA Latino Outreach Cadre organized a Latino Organizing strand, including facilitating a discussion around social justice, educational equity, and AEA, and a training on ways educators can support undocumented students with a focus on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA). AEA Communications staff trained leaders in a hands-on workshop to use technology and messaging to create more visibility for their association. AEA eSWAG trained members new to the association in a four-day workshop called SPARKS, which is designed to develop leadership potential in our newest crop of educators. Presentations and materials for the Institute can be found on the AEA website, http://www. arizonaea.org/home/586.htm. Top photo: New members attending AEA eSWAG SPARKs training hear from panel including NEA Student President Chelsey Jo Herrig, AEA Vice President Joe Thomas, AEA President Andrew Morrill, AEA Treasurer Nidia Lias, and AEA Executive Director Mark Simons. Left Photo: AEA Region D Organizational Consultant Quinn Chesir trains new leaders in Officers' Training. Continues on p. 37.