DSEA Action!

What's hot NCC Vo-Tech's Kelley Cole to join DSEA Exec. Board ue to the hiring of David Wright as DSEA's new director of communications, his seat on the DSEA Executive Board needed to be filled. At its November meeting, the Board considered nominations and selected Kelley Cole to fill this New Castle County seat whose term ends on August 31, 2014. Cole is an English Language Arts teacher at St. Georges Technical High School in Middletown, one of New Castle County Vo-Tech's newest high schools. A teacher for almost 14 years, she is currently an Association Rep. for the members in that school, as well as NCCVoTech E.A.'s membership chair. She D Have you received your new DSEA forever membership card? SEA's new membership cards were mailed December 3 to home addresses. If you were a member in prior years, your membership number has not changed. What has changed is that this is a "forever" card. It doesn't expire until you leave the Association. If you are a new member this year, you are receiving this card as well. Everyone for whom we had membership forms in mid-October was mailed the DSEA card pictured above. The new card not only verifies your membership, but continues to open doors to hundreds of discounts that are available to you as a member of NEA, DSEA, and your local association. D If you haven't already, take a few moments to register your card at www.dsea.org. To register, click on the words "Member-Only Section, Log in here." You will be asked for your email address, your membership number and to choose a password. Notice that after you are registered, you can update your personal information, such as change of address or name, right at the DSEA website. If you haven't received your new card yet, please contact either DSEA office (302-366-8440 or 1-866734-5834). Every Delaware fifth grader to have own copy of Constitution n partnership with the Liberty Day organization and the Delaware Bar Foundation, DSEA helped fund the printing and mailing of a Liberty Day booklet containing our country's founding documents: the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Sent to fifth grade teachers in September, the boxes also include the booklets plus sets of 24 Q&A flash cards to help students understand the key provisions of the Constitution. As DSEA President Frederika Jenner and Melissa Flynn, executive director of the Delaware I www.dsea.org Bar Foundation, said in their cover letter: "In light of the often horrifying unrest in the world, as people in other countries fight for freedoms we often take for granted, we feel it is more critical than ever to help our students understand the founding documents of our nation and the benefits of the freedom and liberty these documents represent." If you are a fifth grade teacher and have not received these booklets, please let us know by emailing david.wright@dsea.org. We'd also like to know if we should fund these booklets next year. Please let Wright know if they helped student learning. @dseafan Kelley Cole is also on the Delaware District Executive Board of the United States Tennis Association (USTA). She became interested in becoming more involved after attending the Assoc. Rep training this fall. After 28 years, Nichols retires from DSEA; David Wright steps in amela T. Nichols, who has been DSEA's director of communications for 28 years, is retiring at the end of December. Responsible for member and public communication for DSEA, she has seen the work change from typewriters and network TV to digital publishing and social networking. "I have been honored to help Delaware's public school educators truly our unsung heroes - with information and opportunities to advance their profession. Being able to help keep the focus on their voices, no matter what the issue of the day, has been much more of a privilege than a job," she says. She taught French and German for four years at McKean High School in what is now the Red Clay Consolidated School District. Her replacement, David L. Wright, begin in mid-November in order to give him time with Nichols to familiarize himself with DSEA's current communications programs. Wright, age 36, has been a digital publishing and English Language Arts teacher at Middletown High School since 2004. While there, he instructed students in American literature, with a focus on the development of writing skills. He also developed and implemented the schools' curriculum for Journalism and Graphic Design, and was the advisor for the school's nationally P David Wright moves from the classroom to be DSEA's new director of communication, replacing Pam Nichols, who is retiring. award-winning yearbook. Since 2009 he has been president of the Appoquinimink Education Association. He has also been a member of the DSEA Executive Board, a local delegate to the NEA Rep. Assembly, and since November 2012, a member of the State Employee Benefits Advisory Council, appointed by Gov. Jack Markell. Adds DSEA's Executive Director Jeff Taschner, "DSEA and its members have been fortunate to have Pam Nichols working on their behalf for the past 28 years. Under Pam's leadership, DSEA's reputation and image have grown to be valued among the Delaware education community and general public. We are excited to have David Wright joining the DSEA team and are confident that he will continue to build upon Pam's hard work." In addition to his education certifications, Wright holds a masters degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Temple University in Philadelphia; and a bachelor of science degree in Sociology and Communications from Mount St. Mary's University in Emmittsburg, Maryland. Nov./Dec. 2013 DSEA ACTION! 3

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