Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/81698
How the president sees it Sticking with it… A young friend, starting his fourth year as a 5th grade teacher, suggested that my message this month should be to tell new educators to stick with it. I share his concern that too many folks may get out of education before they have the chance to come into their own; before they over- come those initial bumps in the road; before they find the right school and the right assignment; before they develop the confidence, tool kits, and personal esteem need- ed to prove to themselves and oth- ers that they have what it takes to teach. So, consider yourselves told. My first few years were a blur of ideas, reactions, and indecision. Thank goodness for my school neighbor, an accomplished veteran. She was my informal, but dedicated President Jenner reflects on her own early teaching years and why she remained in the classroom. Stay con- nected with her at www.doesexperience count.wordpress.com. mentor. I owe my early successes with 3rd graders, parents, and administrators to her. She talked me through any number of crises— both imagined and real. We remain friends today. I stuck with it. It was not until 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 HOWARD WEINBERG Editor PAMELA T. NICHOLS Program Assistant SUSAN W. KELLER my eighth year that I felt compe- tent, confident, and on my way to a career in education. Two years later, I had one of those career- questioning moments when I thought, "Is this all there is? Do I want to do more—something differ- ent?" It was then that I decided not to go to law school, and not to go into school administration. I decid- ed to stick with teaching, and I have never looked back. I love kids and I loved teaching. Still do. One thing that helped was the extra satisfaction that came from becoming involved with my local Association. I started out as an Association Rep (AR) in 1972; I served as Building Rep until 2004. I wanted to be in the know; I wanted to have a voice and an impact on the direction and functioning of my local. During those years, I served on committees, walked picket lines, organized collective actions during bargaining, edited and produced our monthly newsletter, attended board meetings, and served on a negotiations team. Working on causes I believe in proves reward- ing In addition, I helped with politi- cal campaigns and supported DSEA-endorsed candidates. It didn't take a lot of time, it was fairly easy, and I found it rewarding to work on a cause I believed in. This fall, all 62 seats in the General Assembly are up for election, plus for Governor, Lt. Governor, and Insurance Commissioner. Campaigns are also underway for a federal Senate seat and our one seat in the House of Representatives. Details are includ- ed in this issue about these races and the candidates whom teams of DSEA members have interviewed and recommended for the upcoming primary election September 11. Leading the way. . . T his month we salaute Amy Johnson, a paraprofes- sional in the Indian River School District. She works at the George Washington Carver Center in Frankford, a K-12 alter- native school. She has been working in edu- cation since the mid-90's and began working in Indian River in 2004. She has been building rep for the Carver Center; she is the new Political Action Leader for IREA; and she is a member of the DSEA Ethnic Minority Task Force, ESP Career Development Task Force and the Policy Review Task Force. 2 September 2012 DSEA ACTION! Why are public education employees involved in politics? Here's why: (1) Depending on your job category, 65-90% of your salary depends on the goodwill of our state legislature. (2) 100% of your healthcare benefits come from the State. (3) Other benefits and your pension are determined by the State. (4) Class size and other vital working conditions are influenced by decisions in Dover. Need I say more? There are plenty of ways to help yourself, as well as the rest of us. There's a lot to be done. And some of it can be accomplished in as lit- tle as one or two hours. We are 12,000 members strong. If even 10% of our members helped in election activities, we could have a great impact on electing candidates who you and I would consider friendly to public education. If you are a registered Republican or Democrat, please make plans to vote in the primary on September 11. We respectfully ask for your support for DSEA- endorsed candidates. There is power in a union. Frederika Jenner President frederika.jenner@dsea.org Why did you become involved? In Delaware we have a lot to be thankful for, but I realize we are not immune from what is happening in other states around us. As a mem- ber of a large family of educators, I realize it is the unity we have with one another that keeps us strong. What accomplishments are you the most proud of? I am reminded of a young man when I first started in Indian River. I assumed he could read and write. He would curse me every day. One day he told me he could not read and he just wanted me to leave him alone. I asked him, if I taught him to read, would he try. He went from not reading to reading on a third grade level. What do you think is your local Association's biggest challenge this year? I believe the biggest challenge is the Component 5 piece that is attached to the evaluations. Is stu- dent performance solely the teacher's responsibility? Is it not the responsibility of the parents also, and how do we educate and prepare our families? What about our biggest chal- lenge at the state and national level? Since this is an election year, I believe we need to look deep with- in ourselves when we go to the polls. People are wondering about jobs and whether they will keep their homes. www.dsea.org