Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/706050
SUMMER 2016 | ADVOCATE 15 Around AEA AEA Treasurer personally really love Delegate Assembly. It's something I'm really proud I'm a mem- ber so I can go and represent my colleagues. The first time you go it can feel really over- whelming because you're in a room with hundreds and hundreds of other teachers from all around the state and everybody already knows what they're doing and they know what to say, when to say it, and where and how. It's crazy and wonderful. The AEA Delegate Assembly is a powerful and unique thing and if you get the chance to go next year, I recommend attending." AEA delegates heard from several speakers, including past AEA and NEA president, Dennis Van Roekel. Partici- pants were deeply honored to hear from Pam Simon, an Arizona Education Retired member, past Marana Education Associa- tion president, White House Champion of Change, former Community Out- reach Coordinator for Rep. Giffords, and survivor of the January 8, 2011 Tucson shooting. Simon introduced outgoing AEA President Andrew F. Morrill, who gave the keynote speech at this year's Angela Philpot is an Adult Education Program Supervisor with the Gilbert School District, where she manages eight federal and state grants. She is a seasoned educator with 18 years of classroom experience and has eight years' experience as treasurer for two other organizations. Philpot is the past president of the Apache Junction Education Association and has also served on the AEA Board of Directors and was co-chair of the AEA Ethnic Minority Caucus. She received her bachelor's degree in education from Adams State College of Colorado and her master's degree in bilingual education from the University of Colorado. As a native Arizonan from a small mining community in Globe-Miami, Philpot fully understands the hardships rural and small districts have in remaining competitive to other districts. She and her husband, Brian, have three children and live in Mesa. Photo Credit: Valerie Thomas Delegate Assembly. "Education has been elevated to the #1 issue for Arizona voters," said Morrill in his final comments about the importance of the May election. This was Jennifer Dwosh's second Del- egate Assembly and says getting involved and made the experience better the second time. "This year I joined the PAC Fund Council and really enjoyed that," says the Madison Classroom Teachers Association member. "This year's been great because the statewide elections add a different fla- vor to everything. It's been a great delegate assembly. I'm learning so much and I like hearing about the impact that teachers are having here in Arizona." AEA honored several members and friends of education on the second day at the annual Salute to Excellence luncheon, where they were inspired by special guest speaker and Scottsdale Education Associa- tion member, 2016 Arizona Teacher of the Year Christine Marsh. Read more about the awards and winners on page 16. Glendale Union Education Association President Jonathan Parker says Delegate Assembly is the place he goes to reenergize at the end of the school year, "It's great to be here at Delegate Assembly. It's the end of assessment season and contract negotia- tions, and all teachers are a little fatigued right now. This is where I feel energy again. I find energy in my colleagues, I find energy with the people who sit around me and I am reminded of the joys of this profession."