Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/109814
How the president sees it Over time our voices move us forward ara members will be glad to hear that the second year of the four-year process of bringing para salaries up to livable wage standards is included in the Governor���s budget proposal. See page 10. Another piece of good news is a new NEA grant to DSEA to organize an in-state ESP Leaders for Tomorrow program. DSEA will receive $30,000 for each of the next two years to include twenty ESP members in training specifically designed to enhance leadership development. This project will be led by DSEA Vice President Mike Hoffmann. The program is modeled on the NEA program. all participants. We will let you know when additional opportunities are scheduled. The Tell Delaware Survey can lead to meaningful changes P DPAS-II ���conversations��� with Sec. Murphy continue We meet regularly with Sec. Mark Murphy and staff. Every month we DSEA ACTION! (USPS 010111 ISSN 01995413) is the official publication of the Delaware State Education Association. ACTION! is mailed 7 times a year, (September, October, combined Nov/Dec issue, February, March/April, June and July) at DSEA headquarters located at 136 E. Water St., Dover, DE 19901. Telephone: 302-734-5834, or toll-free: 1-866-734-5834. Our Wilmington office may be reached by calling 302-366-8440. Subscriptions are included in membership: $2.32 a year for teachers and $1.19 a year for ESPs. Subscriptions are $5 per year to those ineligible for membership. Periodical postage paid at Dover, DE 19901. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to DSEA ACTION!, 136 E. Water St., Dover, DE 19901. President FREDERIKA JENNER Vice President MIKE HOFFMANN Treasurer KAREN CROUSE NEA Director MARY JO FAUST Exec. Director JEFF TASCHNER Editor PAMELA T. NICHOLS Program Assistant SUSAN W. KELLER Frederika Jenner does a round-up on some of the important but lesser publicized news. try to fully convey your concerns and recommendations; however, we know that it is far more meaningful for him to hear from frontline educators. We arranged for Sec. Murphy to meet twice with local EA presidents. We pressed him to meet with teachers. During the last week in January, DDOE arranged an evening meeting in every county . I attended all three sessions. Members did not hold back. They shared their reality of problems faced with this fall���s DPAS II rollout: on-going difficulties with technology, inability to access on-line materials, Measure ���B��� quality issues and inaccuracies, Measure ���C��� limitations, repeated delays, confusion, and questions that no one in their school could answer. They painted an indelible picture of experiences in their schools���making clearer what we have communicated since August. Thank you to It is anonymous, it is confidential. Who would have imagined the controversy that has arisen over a survey on working conditions? The idea for this survey came from member polling conducted by DSEA before any of us heard about RTTT. Educators know that working conditions are important and can have an undeniable impact on teaching and student success���like you, we don���t think that this should be ignored. Unlike other surveys on school climate or teacher satisfaction that I���ve taken over the years, I believe that expectations have been created this time for meaningful change. Delaware Talent Cooperative (DTC) has complications I am looking forward to the day when there are genuine career ladders for educators - ones that create advancement opportunities and enhance job satisfaction, without you or me having to leave the classroom and go into administration. Beyond a raise in salary, advancement provides desirable changes in status, responsibility, recognition, and empowerment. T Why did you become involved? A coworker noticed my frequent outspokenness and invited me to join the Red Clay Executive 2 February 2013 DSEA ACTION! There is power in a union. Frederika Jenner President frederika.jenner@dsea.org Leading the way. . . his month we are spotlighting Mike Matthews, a fourth and fifth grade reading/ special education teacher at Richardson Park Elementary School in Red Clay He���s been . teaching for four years. He is currently grievance chair for RCEA and also serves on the DSEA Executive Board. To me, this would be a sensible and sustainable way to approach educator attraction and retention initiatives. If you are considering applying for a fellowship in the Delaware Talent Cooperative, please make sure you understand all of the elements of the commitment. The program involves either retention in or transfer to an identified school. It is a two-year commitment and there is required PD participation outside of the school day���including Saturdays and summer. If you choose to transfer, be aware that there is no right-of-return to your current school. Transferring to a school in a different district includes loss of seniority and tenure. Additionally, there is no guarantee that one���s success in School A can be easily duplicated in School B. This is another one of those circumstances where being fully informed is important. As part of the DTC advisory group, we recommended that the program be designed to make school-wide awards that promote collegiality and cooperation in a non-competitive environment. We were informed that the plan described in the RTTT application must be implemented with fidelity . Board as Grievance Chair. What accomplishments as a leader are you the most proud of? I love getting out and supporting DSEA���s endorsed candidates in school board elections, primaries, and the general election. Walking the campaign trail with candidates and getting to know them is quite valuable at building positive relationships. What do you think is your local Association���s biggest challenge this year? Firing up members can be a challenge. There���s a great hurdle we have to overcome in making all members feel empowered and to become engaged in the work their union does for them. What about our biggest challenge(s) at the state and/or national level? There continues to be a lack of counter-messaging by the union. We have allowed ideologues on one side to define the work we do. We must do a better job of communicating the good things we bring to our schools every day . ���In the perfect world at work,��� ��� my ability to provide for all of the needs of all of my students wouldn���t be constrained by financial or bureaucratic restraints.��� www.dsea.org