Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/68725
Diversity Exchange: learning from one another Sixty-two DSEA members attended the second Ethnic Minority Leadership Conference in April, put together by the members of DSEA's Ethnic Minority Affairs Task Force. Barry Beckett, co-chair Cape Henlopen Kevin Elzie, co-chair Sussex Tech DSEA Exec. Board Dr. Admon Alexander Caesar Rodney State Rep. Don Blakey honors former NEA President Reg Weaver with a Tribute from Delaware's House of Representatives. and "What's really going on in Congress?" NEA Lobbyist Merwyn Scott Geraldine Thomas signs the large Get-Well card for Reg Weaver, former president of NEA. Weaver, recuperating at home, had been scheduled to give the keynote address. Thomas is active in the Capital Paras Association. Commitment to diversity and leadership strengthened at annual conference DSEA's Ethnic Diversity Task Force's mission is to support DSEA's commitment to diversity, in both student and staff populations "R ight now," opened Conference Co-Chair Barry Beckett, "no issue is more important than sav- ing public education – in a form that supports and is fair to students and teachers. Too many of our chil- dren are failing and being pushed aside, and the same is happening to teachers and education support per- sonnel … We are committed to pro- tecting public education, our chil- dren, and those that serve in this most valuable profession." Conference Co-Chair Barry Beckett (right) chats with DSEA President Frederika Jenner. www.dsea.org May/June 2012 DSEA ACTION! 17 Association members from several states share train- ing expertise The day's workshops were a chance to network and learn about topics and issues to help build lead- ership skills among all of DSEA's members. The workshops, given by both NEA leaders from other states (Maryland, New Jersey, Texas and Michigan) and DSEA staff includ- ed: Know Your Rights, Social Justice, Running for Association Office, Assertiveness, Valuing Diversity, presented "What's really going on in Congress?" – a topic he touched on during his opening keynote address. He spent most of his time listing the growing number of foun- dations and organ- izations that are spending millions of dollars helping each other pro- mote choice and charter schools with little or no accountability. And they do so while often blaming teacher unions for society's ills and advocating for the stripping of negotiated contracts as the answer to low-performing schools. Merwyn Scott is one of our lobby- ists on Capitol Hill. Stephen Byrd (right), an NEA member from Michigan, works with Felicia Owens of Texas. Below, Denise Foreman of Red Clay, attends their session on applying the prin- ciples of Social Justice. Al Booker New Castle County Vo-Tech DSEA Exec. Board Dr. James Bracy Christina Denise Foreman Red Clay Cagney France Cape Henlopen Michael Hoffmann Colonial DSEA Vice President Lynelle Hyland Seaford Amy Johnson Indian River Margaret Martinez Capital Joyce Morton-Elzie Capital Denise Waples Milford DSEA Exec. Board Marika White New Castle County Vo-Tech Jocelynne Jones DSEA staff liaison Yvonne Williams DSEA support staff