Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1355740
AROUND AEA SPRING 2021 | ADVOCATE 7 T hirteen AEA locals participated in the "Have a Heart Food Drive" hosted by the AEA Quality Teaching and Learning team on two weekends in February. Locals gathered non-perishable food items for needy families from within their local or school districts. Oen educators or school families aren't able to ask for help to feed their families but have told a friend or colleague, these locals stepped in to help these families. ree food boxes were distributed to locals that requested boxes. Information on the latest NEA Micro-credential on "Family Engagement" was given to the local contact person at food box pick-up on Saturday, February 13, 2021. AEA would also like to thank Pioneer Packaging for generously donating the cardboard boxes used to send to families. Visit NEA's Micro-credential library for more information visit nea.org/professional- excellence/professional-learning/micro-credentials. Cartwright Education Association Chandler Education Association Creighton Education Association Glendale Union Education Association Paradise Valley Education Association Phoenix Elementary Education Association Phoenix Union High School District Classified Employees Association Phoenix Union High School District Classroom Teachers' Association Roosevelt Education Association Scottsdale Education Association Scottsdale Support Professionals Association Tempe Elementary Education Association Washington District Education Association AEA Members Have a BIG Heart! It's at Time of Year Again! Have A Heart Locals! Educators celebrate the power of diverse and inclusive books on March 2nd and beyond V irtual or in-person, educators celebrated NEA's Read Across America – the biggest celebration of reading in the country! Books and stories provide points of access for understanding other people's lives, to walk in someone else's shoes—or to try on a different hat! NEA's Read Across America annually brings the joys of reading to students of all ages and make children valued and welcome. e major thrust of the year-round program is the nationwide reading celebration that takes place each year on or near March 2. Whichever books readers chose to enjoy on March 2 and beyond, educators, parents, and other caring adults planned to foster reading fun with exciting virtual and appropriately physically distanced experiences around books. During a normal year, Washington District Education Association (WDEA) collaborates with the district to do a big kick off breakfast with music and food, followed by volunteer community leaders who read to classrooms. ey also purchase a book for each school library in the district every year. is year's book was Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Put Astronauts on the Moon by Helaine Becker. e book is about mathematical genius, Katherine Johnson, who helped make the historic Apollo 11 moon landings possible and made sure that Apollo 13 returned home safely when the mission was in critical danger. Representatives Judy Schwieber and Jennifer Pawlik, both educators, shared a proclamation for Read Across America on the floor of the Arizona House of Representatives.