Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/135412
How the president sees it Catch a Wave? I 've been trying to think of songs appropriate for the end of the school year and the start of summer. On the Beach, Good Vibrations, Summer Breeze, See you in September? I've got it: Wipe Out. By June, everyone, including parents, is looking forward to summer vacation and time off from school. This year, more than any I recall, many educators are desperately seeking relief from the pressures, uncertainties, anxieties, and frustrations from the twists and turns of Component 5. Which of us ever imagined how challenging it would become to demonstrate clearly and beyond a doubt that one was a damned fine teacher? Now, add to this the ever-present threats of a dwindling economy, 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 KAREN CROUSE Treasurer DOM ZAFFORA NEA Director MIKE HOFFMANN Exec. Director JEFF TASCHNER Editor PAMELA T. NICHOLS Program Assistant SUSAN W. KELLER todians who are friendly and helpful; food service workers who are proud to prepare and serve nutritious meals—even though the kitchen may be hotter than Hades. I know bus drivers who care for their riders as they would for their own children. I could not be prouder to represent the education professionals who serve Delaware's 126,800 students in our 237 public schools. Yay, Team! Frederika Jenner ponders the threats and burdens imposed on educators today as well as the triumphs. The environment doesn't negate, she says, that "Kids still need us." potential cuts to school funding, sequestration, and the resulting loss of programs and jobs. This spring has brought more layoffs than usual, as well as full-time jobs cut to part-time, with the disheartening loss of benefits. Layer on top of this the continued scorn and mistrust for public education in general and educators in particular. Like you, I take it personally; it pains me. Most of all, it is unwarranted. There are good things—even great things—happening in every school across this state. During school visits, I meet paras and teachers who are talented, motivated, and dedicated to serving students and their families; school secretaries who are gracious and accommodating; cus- What do educators want? I've said it myself: "I just wanna teach. If I had a nickel for every time,…" You and I know exactly what is meant by that fervent wish. It's that overwhelming desire to do what we were trained to do; to be free from those distractions and obligations that take us away from our central focus—that need to be by, for and with the kids. Because, no matter what else, those kids still need us. Above and beyond the call of duty I had the opportunity to meet with leaders from the Delaware Association of School Psychologists (DASP). They shared member concerns and their need for advocacy: increasing needs for mental healthcare for students, maintaining standards for care in the face of ratios of one psychologist for hundreds of students, as well as multiple school Leading the way. . . his month we feature Denise Foreman, a 7th grade Social Studies teacher at Henry B. DuPont Middle School in Hockessin in the Red Clay School District. A teacher for 14 years, she is a member of DSEA's Ethnic Minority Affairs Task Force (EMATF). T Why did you become involved? I was interested in knowing how my local Association dollars were being spent and, through conversations with our president, Frederika Jenner, I 2 May/June 2013 DSEA ACTION! decided to step out of my comfort zone and get involved in my local. What accomplishments as a leader are you the most proud of? I am most proud of being able to help revive the Ethnic Minority Affairs Task Force (EMATF) through the leadership of Denise Waples, Kevin Elzie and Barry Beckett. We have just held our third annual DSEA EMATF on April 27,2013, and it was a great success. My short-term goal is to help establish a New Castle County Ethnic Minority Affairs Task Force (See pages 1011). My long-term goal is to run for and win a seat on RCEA's executive board. assignments. I was impressed by their passion, determination and articulation of the issues. They were thrilled to be invited to an upcoming reception where they had the chance to speak to several dozen legislators and the Governor. I was invited to speak about advocacy at their annual dinner, where I was lucky to witness their award ceremony for member nominees. The levels and extent of creativity, care, and devotion shared in nomination letters were extraordinary— above and beyond the call of duty . I'm not alone in feeling a sense of pride and commitment to DSEA's 12,000 members. Our Leadership Team has changed, but our mission stays the same! We are five-strong: Karen Crouse is our new Vice President; Dom Zaffora is our new Treasurer; Mike Hoffmann serves as our NEA Director; and Jeff Taschner assumed the role of Executive Director in January I am . looking forward to moving forward with these fine colleagues. We stand united with you, facing our challenges together. THERE IS POWER IN THE UNION. Frederika Jenner President frederika.jenner@dsea.org What do you think is your local Association's biggest challenge this year? I think our local Association is being forced to address far too many issues, with our educators seemingly always under attack. What about our biggest challenge(s) at the state and/or national level? Recruiting new members and retaining current members. As we all well know, there is strength in numbers. "In the perfect world at work... Educators will be valued for the professionals we are. We would be held in high esteem and celebrated for the life-transforming effects that we can have on our students." www.dsea.org