JPS BOE campaigns underway

September 13, 2011 The
JCEA
Briefly Noted
A summary of news items of
interest to our members
News from Strategic
Comp program
More than 600 teachers and 20
principals in JPS will be spending
the next four years engaged in
active research to improve student
learning by making two important
changes. See page 2.
Taking the lead on
results for students
This summer the JCEA Board
adopted a new statement of belief
to guide advocacy efforts on behalf
of students and colleagues. Details
on page 2.
Guidelines for your
school’s LAT
The Leadership Advisor y
Team should be the central
decisiondelines for this important
group in Contract News &
Information on page 2.
JCEA is non-partisan
As we head into school board
elections and the important 2012
national elections, President Kerrie
Dallman reminds us that JCEA is
a non-partisan association. See
page 3.
Membership pays
Association membership gives
you a voice in your profession and
offers you a variety of financial
benefits as well. See details on
pages 8 and 9.
Association focuses
on education initiatives
JCEA members strive to achieve
real results for their students. Read
about the varied initiatives the
Association is involved in to meet
these goals. Page 11.
Is it PTA or is it PTO?
And what else do you not know
about this education support group?
Get the facts on page 13.
Columnist weighs in
on conveniences
Elementary teacher Amy Thomas
has been “sucked into a vortex” of
modern conveniences and advances.
See how she is dealing with it on
page 15.
Stay informed! Visit:
www.jcea-cea.org
Jefferson County Education Association
Volume 36, Issue 1
Insight
JPS BOE campaigns underway
If you have attended a school board
meeting recently, you understand the
urgent need to restore sanity to our
school board.
”There is no other election that will
have greater impact on the future of
our careers and the quality of our
schools than this November’s school
board election,” said Kerrie Dallman,
President of JCEA. “We need to get
pro-public education candidates
elected to the school board to protect
our contract, prevent Douglas County
style vouchers and lighten the load on
our colleagues.”
On November 1, 2011, Jeffco
voters will elect two new members to
the school board. Dave Thomas has
chosen not to run again and Jane
Barnes is term limited. We are in
challenging times, given the current
fiscal and political environment,
and JCEA members must work hard
to ensure that pro-public education
candidates get elected.
JCEA will support leaders who share
our values in achieving real results
for all students through ensuring a
quality teacher in every classroom,
accountability for all stakeholders and
giving teachers the ability to provide a
21st Century Education so that students
can compete in the global economy. At
the same time, it is critical that we elect
people with solid leadership skills who
can continue to build a collaborative
environment in Jeffco.
By the time you read this, JCEA’s
bipartisan Small Donor Committee
(SDC) will have met to interview
candidates and decide who will
best represent the interests of our
Association, our students and our
school district.
What we are up against
Unfortunately, it will not be easy
to get good leaders elected. We
understand that large sums of outside
money are being invested in this
campaign to support candidates who
share values of a present member of
the current school board who has not
been a champion of teachers or public
education.
The foes of public education do not
have teachers’, students’ or the district’s
best interests in mind. You don’t have
to take our word for it — take a look
at www.jeffcostudentsfirst.org a group
whose board members have actively
spoken out against our contract and
the quality of Jeffco teachers.
The same people who are on the
board of Jeffco Students First are
those who have consistently shown
up at board meetings misrepresenting
facts, stating that the majority of Jeffco
teachers are inadequate, consistently
attacking basic benefits provided in
the collective bargaining agreement,
pushing the board to deny confidential
negotiations and urging the board to
vote against the JCEA contract.
Orgeron at [email protected]
to volunteer to ensure that pro-public
education candidates get elected.
We have a variety of ways you
can get involved including talking to
community members, manning phone
banks, post card writing and more.
We truly are at a crossroads in
Jefferson County. If we are successful,
we will move forward and build on
our culture of collaboration, shared
sacrifice and excellence; if we are not,
we may end up on a path that could
dismantle Jeffco Public Schools.
Now is not the time to sit on the
sidelines — the future of our school
district depends on our ability to make
our voices heard.
JPS BOE Candidates
Lesley Dahlkemper
Jill Fellman
Jim Powers
Preston Branaugh
We have reason to believe that the
opponents of public schools will be running
campaigns based on these same values.
Take Action Now
Your school should be scheduling
election awareness events. Email Callie
With NEA Member Benefits you get a voice in
your profession plus money in your pocket
At JCEA we strive to recruit,
maintain, and engage membership
by creating a real culture of member
ownership in the Association. We
believe that the true
strength of our membership
is not only in our numbers,
but also in the passion
that each member brings
to the teaching profession
and our collective goal
of getting real results for
children.
We understand that times are tough
right now. Teachers are dealing with a
3% pay cut and an overall weakened
economy. So, we thought it was
important to remind members of the
economic benefits of belonging.
“I was amazed at the savings I
was able to get by using my member
benefits through NEA. Just by switching
my car and homeowners’ insurance
to California Casualty, I saved $900
a year — much more than my annual
membership dues,” said Chrisette
Soderberg, member and teacher at Ute
Meadows Elementary.
In addition to the great deals that
California Casualty and Horace Mann
offer to our members, NEA Member
Benefits also includes travel discounts
on airfare and rental cars, an auto
purchase program and free life
insurance. NEA’s Click-nSave program provides
discounts at retailers,
local restaurants, online
stores, electronics,
clothing, household
items, movie tickets and
more.
We know that in order to achieve
real results for children we must ensure
that every student is taught by a quality
teacher. A 21st Century education
is necessary so that students can
compete in the global economy. All
stakeholders including teachers, parents,
administrators, students, community
members and elected officials are
accountable to quality public schools.
Our current economic reality makes this
all the more difficult — for the District
and for you as an individual educator.
However, because these tough
conditions exist we need to stand
together for the good of our students,
our profession, and ourselves.
Because we are working harder in
our classrooms, we also have to work
harder outside our classrooms for more
resources and better school funding.
JCEA represents your best chance
for a secure future. Protect your job,
protect your school and students and
protect your budget with JCEA/CEA/
NEA membership.
See pages 8 and 9 or visit NEA
Member Benefits at www.neamb.com
to learn more about the full range
of benefits and discount programs
available to our members.
One Member’s Savings
Annual savings from
switching to California
Casualty for auto and
home insurance
$900
Annual savings from
restaurant discounts
(assumes eating out
twice a month, $48 per
month savings)
$576
TOTAL
$1476
Having a voice in your working
conditions and profession = priceless
Page 2 — INSIGHT —September 13, 2011
Strategic compensation teacher
leaders on board for new year
More than 600 teachers and
principals in 20 Jeffco schools are
changing the game by spending the
next four years researching whether
we can dramatically improve student
learning by making two significant
changes.
Those changes are paying teachers
based on improving student learning
and taking on leadership roles and
supporting teachers in new ways. The
goals are to recognize excellence in
classrooms and to provide support
that makes a difference for student
learning.
This action research project
is funded by a $39 million
federal Teacher Incentive
Fund grant, the largest grant
the district has ever received.
As a partner in this
project since its inception,
JCEA — the state’s largest teachers’
association — is taking a leadership
role in sustaining Jeffco’s commitment
to excellence.
The pilot project provides new
leadership opportunities for teachers.
Exceptional educators have been
selected as peer evaluators, and
mentor and master teachers to support
their peers. Teachers in these new roles
received training this summer in how to
effectively implement the new supports
for teachers, and their training will
continue throughout the school year.
types of students. “This will deepen the
feedback we can give them,” she said.
Peer evaluators
The project has hired 29 master
teachers in the 20 pilot schools — ─
about one per every 20 teachers
in a pilot school. Master teachers
are experienced professionals with
advanced degrees. They received
extensive training over the summer and
will continue to meet twice monthly to
develop their roles and responsibilities
as project implementation begins.
“This is an opportunity for us to
really start changing the game,”
said Carol Smith, master teacher at
Welchester Elementary School. “I
couldn’t be more excited for myself
and our profession to be on the
ground floor of something this big.”
Smith especially appreciates the
project’s focus on collaborating to
share expertise. “It’s really exciting to
A cornerstone of this pilot project is
peer evaluation. Seven peer evaluators
are working with administrators in pilot
schools to conduct observations and
provide feedback. By increasing the
number of observations and observers,
the goal is to ensure deeper, growthproducing evaluations that are valid
and reliable.
“We know that our best hope for
increasing student achievement is by
helping teachers grow. All teachers
can continuously improve,” said Mary
Bivens, lead evaluator.
Through frequent formal and
informal observations, peer evaluators
will get a full picture of the teacher’s
skills across content areas, time and
Peer evaluators are receiving
extensive, ongoing training including
conversations about district standards
and reviewing what makes a highly
effective teacher. Evaluation training
also includes how to observe
teacher performance — skills and
actions to look for — and how to
provide feedback using the district’s
licensed staff rubrics. Peer evaluators
participated in 40 hours of training
this summer. Future training includes
weekly meetings, job-embedded
professional development and joint
training with principals.
All licensed staff in pilot schools will
have a minimum of four observations
and be evaluated each year. To ensure
accurate and consistent evaluations,
peer evaluators and principals are
observing some teachers at the same
time, followed by a discussion. Bivens
will also conduct observations with
all peers and principals to promote
consistency across pilot schools.
Master teachers
see all the organizations — teachers,
principals and the district’s instructional
leadership — coming together for a
common goal,” she said.
While she does have an
administrative license, she says her
“heart and soul are in the instructional
piece.” So she jumped at the chance
to take a leadership role as a master
teacher.
Smith has been an instructional
coach for six years and previously
worked in special education. She
moved to Welchester to take this
master teacher position.
Master teacher roles include:
participating as a key member
of the instructional leadership
team, which includes the
principal, instructional coach
and mentor teacher; facilitating
efforts of teachers working in
teams to reach student achievement
goals; managing a unified
improvement planning process for team
decision making; and developing,
implementing and monitoring
individual professional development
plans for teachers.
Since the start of the school year,
Smith has been visiting classrooms with
the school’s peer evaluator, working
closely with the instructional coach
to support teachers and meeting with
the principal and teachers around the
Unified Improvement Plan and goal
setting.
Mentor teachers
There are 46 mentor teachers in
the 20 pilot schools — ─about one per
every 10 teachers in a school. Mentor
teachers have a regular classroom and
are released 20 percent of the time
each week.
Mentor teacher roles include:
providing a model classroom; coteaching and modeling lessons in
other classrooms; assisting teams
of teachers working together to
reach student achievement goals;
and working with the Instructional
Leadership team, composed of the
principal, coach, and mentor and
master teachers.
For information visit www.
JeffcoStrategicCompensation.org
JCEA: Taking the lead on results for students
Jefferson County Education
Association has taken a bold step
and articulated a brave vision for
redefining our association’s work. This
summer, JCEA’s Board adopted a new
statement of belief that will guide our
advocacy efforts on behalf of our students
and colleagues well into the future.
Our members believe that we must
own our profession in order to get
real results for students. In order to
achieve real results for students, we
need:
Quality Teaching
Every student deserves to be
taught by a quality teacher. Quality
teachers need support throughout their
careers. Effective professionals in law
and medicine have access to strong
preparatory education programs and
on-the-job training. Effective teachers
require similar opportunities.
We support creating a professional
community that attracts more quality
teachers into the profession. Strong
professionals gravitate to work in
environments where they can have the
support necessary to succeed.
Quality teaching requires a
professional compensation system that
has the best chance of attracting top
college student candidates into the
profession and encourages retention of
effective teachers.
Accountability for everyone
incentive for students. Students and
their parents are more concerned
with 21st Century Skills.
21st Century Education
In order to provide real results for
students we must have the ability to
provide, a 21st Century Education so
that our children can compete in the
global economy. This includes:
A quality public education system
is a key factor in building strong
communities; therefore, all stakeholders
must play a role in ensuring students in
Jeffco can achieve real results.
• Building a well rounded
public education experience that is
multifaceted and multi-dimensional.
Teachers, administrators, parents,
community members, teacher
preparation institutions, and state
policy makers should all be held
accountable for growth in student
learning.
• Teaching problem solving,
collaboration and analytical skills.
Test scores are one measure
on one day and don’t have any
impact on student’s grades, ability
to graduate or get into college or
obtain a job. This creates a lack of
• Integrating curriculum with
practical career applications.
• Schools becoming institutions of
learning not institutions of testing.
Our district faces huge challenges
and extraordinary opportunities.
Along with our community partners,
we can make a positive difference
in the lives of our students and our
colleagues.
Contract News & Information
The Leadership
Advisory Team (LAT)
The LAT should be the central
collaborative decisionmaking
body in the school. Other
committees and groups will be
making decisions as well, but
the LAT should be responsible
for the overall decisionmaking
structures.
1. Determine who makes
which decisions
To start, the faculty at large
should discuss which decisions
belong to which individuals or
groups.
2. Form the LAT.
How will teacher reps be
chosen? The principal and the
AR are automatically members,
but should not chair the meetings.
The contract calls for one rep for
every 5-10 teachers. Reps could
be by department, grade level,
team, or even by lunch period or
hallway.
3. Determine norms and
bylaws
Once reps are chosen the LAT
can meet to determine norms or
by-laws. (A by-laws template is
on the JCEA website.) When will
meetings occur? Who will chair?
Who will take minutes? How will
agendas be determined? What
is the process by which the rest
of the building will be informed
of decisions?
Open communication is
important for trust building. JCEA
recommends the meetings be
open to all school staff.
4. Measuring Success
The LAT should also measure
the success of the LAT. An annual
survey or simply feedback through
reps may be enough.
5. Scope and Authority
Under the contract, the LAT —
at a minimum — should discuss
and make appropriate decisions
about use of facilities, staff
utilization, building schedules,
after–hours duties, student
discipline, attendance, and
the use of non-contact days,
professional development needs,
and types and numbers of other
school committees.
Sometimes the LAT will delegate
some of these areas to other
committees.
The LAT should NOT discuss
individuals or individual contract
disputes, or individual evaluation
or disciplinary situations. Overall
building policies and practices
of general interest should be the
topics of discussion.
The TELL data or employee
survey data may prove useful to
the LAT in determining goals and
solving problems.
September 13, 2011— INSIGHT — Page 3
Editorials & Opinions
Voting is critical to our future
by Lisa Elliott
JCEA Executive Director
When I was a little girl my father ran for county
circuit judge. I remember going to ice cream socials
at churches and riding in a truck in a parade with
signs that read “Elliott for Circuit Judge.”
We stood outside the county courthouse election
night waiting to hear if my daddy won. Because of
those early experiences, being a responsible citizen
and always voting have been important values to
me.
I’ve never understood people who didn’t take the
time to be an informed voter. Now as a busy adult,
I do see how individuals might get so overwhelmed
in their daily lives that voting falls off a “to do” list. I
implore all teachers, however, not to let that happen.
If we don’t vote, we might as well live in an
undemocratic country. And as teachers, with elected
officials making so many critical decisions about our
work, not voting means not having a voice in local,
state, and national education decisions.So VOTE in
the Jeffco Board of Education election this fall. Voter
registration closes October 3.
Education should not be a partisan issue
by Kerrie Dallman
JCEA President
Since I was elected president of JCEA in 2008
there has been a growing sense of contempt for
education, teachers, and our association. Nationally
we have seen this rhetoric from a number of
individuals and organizations, but now I have
watched citizens address the school board during
public comment and claim that the vast majority
of teachers in Jeffco are overpaid and failing our
students.
Education should not be a partisan issue. JCEA/
CEA/NEA are nonpartisan organizations, party
affiliation matters not to us. What does matter is an
official’s position on public education and the level
of support for educators. If you are one of our many
Republican members, I encourage you to check out
NEA’s pro-public education, pro-union Republican
website at http://www.elephanteducators.org/.
As JCEA members, you have a unique opportunity
to bring your expertise to bear in influencing the
Republican Party’s positions on public education
and in advocating with Republican candidates and
officeholders for strong public schools. I invite you
to share your ideas on how JCEA can better support
our Republican members in making their voices
heard in the Association and in the Republican Party.
The Jeffco School Board race is supposed to be
non-partisan; party affiliations are not noted on the
ballot. JCEA has supported both Democrats and
Republicans in past elections. This year, however,
the race has been cast as a partisan one from the
beginning.
Below are two recent examples of the kind of
partisanship that I find most disturbing, Judy Merkle
is President of the Mountain Republican Women’s
Club and Bill Leck is the Republican HD 29 Chair.
Their comments are not completely factual. And
some are decrying contract provisions that are
standard practice in business (like earning one sick
day per month).
If you are offended by the contents of either of the
following emails sent to us by Republican members
who received them, I invite you to let your concerns
be known, by contacting Don Ytterberg, Jeffco
Republican Party Chair at www.jeffcorepublicans.com.
Note: The bracketeded sections are my
commentary.
Email #1
From: [email protected]
Subject: Our Duties are called upon as parents,
grandparents and taxpayers
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2011 11:39:40 -0600
To: [Name removed for privacy]
Dear Members and Friends,
The attached union contracts show the limitations
of the budgeting process. Please refer to these
documents to verify the concerns being addressed.
• Did you know 80% of the School District’s
Budget pays for compensation? [Yes,
education, like health care, is highly
dependent on personnel costs.] Did you
know 275 days a year are paid for so union
members can go lobby? Reference the JCEA
Contract; 35-7-2 [This is inaccurate. We do
have 275 sub days a year for our members
to participate in association business. While
some times our legislative liaisons visit the
capitol, most of these days are used for our
state meeting, the CEA Delegate Assembly in
April.]
• Did you know Out Door Lab Teachers get paid
an additional $100.00 per nite to sleep at
Outdoor Labs? Reference the JCEA Contract;
44-13-1 Their average compensations are
$57,000.00 a year. [And that is a bad thing
because..?]
• Did you know out of 181 working days,
teachers get 9 paid sick days, Reference
JCEA Contract; 35-1 and 2 paid personal
days each year? Reference JCEA Contract;
35-6 [A standard business practice—one
sick day per month.]
• Did you know teachers contribute 8% of
their salary to their retirement, PERA; while
taxpayers contribute 15% of their salary to
their PERA? This 15% will be increased to
20% in 2017. [Remember that teachers don’t
have access to social security benefits.]
I am sending you this information as a concerned
parent, grandparent, taxpayer who wants a better
education for our Jefferson County Public School
children. Our tax dollars need to be better prioritized
for our children in the classrooms. The thought of
our many union teachers being paid by the unions
to lobby at our capital is disingenuous. As I always
say, «we can agree to disagree, but we must work
together on each issue to achieve the most positive
outcomes.» We have to get our communications
The JCEA Mission Statement
The Jefferson County Educational Association exists
to empower educators to
advocate for professional
rights, responsibilities and
practices to achieve educational excellence within a
changing society.
started.
Judy Merkel
Judy Merkel, President
Mountain Republican Women’s Club.
Email #2
From: “Bill Leck” <[email protected]>
Date: August 31, 2011 7:17:26 AM MDT
To: [Name removed for privacy]
Subject: Summary of the Jeffco Executive Council
Meeting
All:
As Nancy is on vacation this week, I have the
duty of reporting on Executive Council Meeting that
occurred last night. Jeffco School Board
o We have candidates!! They present well; and
are very impressive. They are Preston Branaugh in
District 3 and Jim Powers in District 4.
o As you may recall, even though they will be
representing Districts 3 and 4, the entire County gets
to vote for them.
o They are both new to the political process. They are going to need our help!! I am encouraging
everyone to get on board. The last thing the Jeffco
school board needs is more Union hacks. [We have
yet to identify the “union hacks” they refer to. What
these people want is more Laura Boggs.]
o The union posted on your tax funded school
district web site that they would be walking for
their candidates every weekend from 9-17 to 1015. We need to make the same commitment to
our candidates as well. [Obviously our website is
not taxpayer funded—your dues dollars fund our
website.]
o Their branding is simple “Vote for the Dads”,
as their opponents are woman. This should help to
remind voters who they are. [While having “dads”
on the school board is not a bad thing, the inference
here is that having “moms” is a bad thing. One of
the candidates is a home-schooling dad.]
Thanks, Bill Leck HD 29 Chair
The JCEA Insight is the official publication of the
Jefferson County Education Association,
1447 Nelson St., Lakewood, CO 80215
Phone: 303-232-6405; FAX 303-238-2215
Web site: www.jcea-cea.org.
Affiliated with the
Colorado Education Association
and National Education Association.
Production staff:
Kathy Michienzi Rendon: Director of Communications
Maryann Trembath: Editor
Jon DeStefano: Advertising Manager (303-987-3994)
The opinions expressed in The JCEA Insight are not
necessarily those of the editorial staff or JCEA. Responses of
less than 350 words are welcome as Letters to the Editor.
JCEA also does not necessarily endorse the advertisers.
Page 4 — INSIGHT —September 13, 2011
“INVEST IN YOURSELF”
NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION
FOR COLORADO TEACHERS
What is it?
· A renewable, advanced teaching credential good for 10 years.
· A complement to, but not a replacement for, a Colorado’s teacher license.
· Achieved upon successful completion of a voluntary assessment program.
· Designed to recognize effective and accomplished teachers who meet high standards.
· Available nationwide in 25 certificate areas.
How do teachers earn it?
· By individually applying to National Board of Professional Teaching Standards at www.nbpts.
org
· Paying the $565 non-refundable registration and shipping fees.
oFederal and state scholarships may be available to fund the $2,000 balance of the
$2,500 certification costs for the first 100 candidates who apply, if not cut by Congress.
· By completing 10 assessments that are reviewed by trained teachers in their certificate areas.
oFour portfolio entries that feature teaching practice
oSix constructed response exercises that assess content knowledge.
Benefits to the community?
· Teachers who are examining their effectiveness and craft.
· Teachers who promote the certification program as a means of professional development
· Teachers who seek to improve their practice and become better teacher/leaders.
Benefits to schools?
· Improvement in the overall achievement and growth of students.
· Creation of a whole school improvement culture when a cohort from the same school goes
through the process together.
· Students not “left behind” but motivated to excel.
· Classes of teachers working together to complete certification and solve learning problems
across grade, age and socio-ethnic lines.
Contact Information
For information on setting up a cohort of teachers in your school contact NBPTS Regional Manager
Nancy Shakowski at 303-904-6063 or [email protected]
For information about federal and state scholarships for certification contact Colorado Dept. of
Education’s Office of Professional Services (Anne Marie Roberts) at [email protected]
For information about certification contact NBPTS at 1-800-22TEACH or www.nbpts.org
For information on setting up a district cohort of teachers contact JCEA President Kerrie Dallman
for at 303-232-6405 or [email protected]
In Jeffco teachers who receive National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification
add 3.5% of Step 1, Level 1 of Base Teacher Salary.
Don’t delay—scholarships may be available only for the first 100
candidates.
All candidates must be registered by December 1, 2011!
September 13, 2011— INSIGHT — Page 7
Welcome new members
Krista Andersen Hashemi, Green Mountain Elem
Joshua Kemery, Mitchell Elem
Naomi Appanaits, Green Mountain Elem
Jeremy Kowal, Jefferson County Open School
Cheryl Archuleta, O’Connell MS
Jared Krueger, Arvada West HS
Sherlyn Armstrong, O’Connell MS
Tara Kulp, Marshdale Elem
Molly Bachrodt, Governor’s Ranch Elem
Jennifer Lane, Columbine Pre-School
Rachel Bahl, Conifer HS
Darren Lee, Arvada K-8
David Baker, Lakewood HS
Lisa Lee, Wheat Ridge MS
Tracey Barnes, Stevens Elem
Carly Lesser, Eiber Elem
Jennifer Bates, Secreset Elem
Kristie Levitt, North Arvada MS
Timothy Bayles, Alameda HS
Janet Ley, Normandy Elem
Katherine Bechtold, Lasley Elem
Carlie Long, Arvada K-8
Allison Beck, Normandy Elem
Ryan Lucas,Belmar Elem
Brian Beckwith, Weber Elem
Michelle Lymber, Witt Elem
Anne Beeble, Warder Elem
Jacqueline Marshall, Swanson Elem
Tracey Berech, Evergreen MS
Allison Mccain, Arvada West HS
Jennifer Brandl, Foothills Elem
Sarah Mccann, Green Mountain Elem
Anna Bryson, Foster Elem
William Mcdaniel, Lakewood HS
Sandra Buitron, Hutchinson Elem
Shannon Milner, South Lakewood Elem
Andrea Butero, Allendale Elem
Aaron Minard, Alameda HS
Danielle Carey, Bear Creek HS
Erin Mohat, Slater Elem
Neil Carr, Slater Elem
Gabriela Morales, Columbine HS
Brittany Christenson, Hackberry Hill Elem
Christopher Morroni, Alameda HS
Katrina Christopher, North Arvada MS
Jody Nagy, Wheat Ridge MS
Samanta Chumacero, Foster Elem
Erin Negri, Weber Elem
Tracy Contreras, Jefferson HS
Heather Newton, Arvada K-8
Jabin Cook, Westgate Elem
Lauren Nickerson, Deane Elem
Monica Dirmeikis, Bear Creek HS
Cassandra Pasion, Dakota Ridge HS
Jeffrey Dixon, Pomona HS
Kathleen Quinn, Lakewood HS
Hallye Durant, Deane Elem
Kyle Rausch, Falcon Bluffs MS
Mica Dute, Campbell Elem
Meghan Ring, Stein Elem
Sharon Eggers, Meiklejohn Elem
Bryan Sanchez, Connections Learning Center
Dylan Fehrman, Green Mountain HS
Tiffany Schaab, Arvada K-8
Heather Frees, Stein Elem
Karen Schroeder, Slater Elem
Justin Fulton, Mount View Detention Center
Michele Seale, Belmar Elem
Mary Gibney, Meiklejohn Elem
Kathleen Seyler, Green Mountain HS
Brandon Gilbert, Oberon Jr HS
Samantha Shall, Bergen Meadows Primary
Keith Gille, Alameda HS
Larry Shavers, Green Mountain HS
Joan Grawe, West Jefferson Elem
Annalise Shingler, O’Connell MS
Lauren Harden, Maple Grove Elem
Shanna Shocklee, Arvada HS
Christine Hartlaub, Green Mountain HS
Darilyn Skanderbeg, Mount Carbon Elem
Christy Hayashi, Standley Lake HS
Raylene Speechley, Hackberry Hill Elem
Jennifer Hodges, O’Connell MS
Aimee Stang, Westgate Elem
Elliott Holm, Wheat Ridge MS
Chris Starmer, Connections Learning Center
Brad Hull, O’Connell MS
Jeremy Stout, Deane Elem
Nicole Iselin, Lumberg/Peck Elem
Mary Sullivan, Leawood Elem
Renee Jayne, Stevens Elem
Kevin Taft, Stevens Elem
Brenda Johanson, Ralston Elem
Christie Taylor, Deane Elem
Jessica Johnson, Summit Ridge MS
Stephanie Vaughn, Lawrence Elem
Jessica Johnson, Arvada HS
Tammy Wachtl, Kyffin Elem
Brett Jones, Everitt MS
Susan Warrington, Pomona HS
Carrie Jones, Parr Elem
Emily Welte, Deane Elem
Evelyn Jones, Everitt MS
Forrest Williams, O’Connell MS
Jenea Jones, Campbell Elem
Beth Wilson, South Lakewood Elem
Lindsay Juhasz, Ralston Elem
Jennifer Wos, Arvada K-8
You make us better!
You make us stronger!
Page 8 — INSIGHT —September 13, 2011
Helping members make smart financial decisions
INSURANCE PROGRAMS
Protecting families from the unexpected
NEA DUES-TAB® Insurance* — Up to $1,000 of life insurance coverage
at no cost to eligible members, up to $5,000 of AD&D Insurance, $50,000 of
accidental death and dismemberment insurance while on the job or serving as an
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insurance protection of up to $300,000 for NEA members and their families.
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NEA Members Auto & Home Insurance Program® —An auto and home
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NEA Homeowners® Insurance — Inflation-proof protection for owners and
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FINANCIAL SERVICES
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Note: Some programs are not available in all states.
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FREE MEMBER EDUCATION GUIDES
•
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•
•
•
•
•
•
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Homeowners Insurance
Tax-Deferred Annuities
The Survivor’s Information Guide
A Simple Guide To Home Financing
Managing Credit
A Shopper’s Guide To Long-Term Care Insurance
Understanding Your Disability Income
Protection Needs
Understanding Medicare and Medicare Supplement Insurance
A Consumer Guide to Credit Cards
23 Financial Mistakes You Can’t Afford To Make
RESEARCH & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
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• CEA Member Benefits, 303-837-1500
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members.
Spanish-speaking representatives available.
With NEA Member Benefits
Membership doesn’t cost. It pays!
September 13, 2011— INSIGHT — Page 9
Let these NEA Member Benefits reps show you
why membership doesn’t cost; it pays!
Investigating insurance policies? Planning for retirement?
Find out why membership doesn’t cost; it pays!
Talk to the professionals who understand you and whose
products are backed by your Association.
Member Benefits Vendor
NEA Member Benefits
www.neamb.com
California Casualty
www.calcas.com
Horace Mann
www.horacemann.com
Wells Fargo
www.wellsfargo.com
Western Governors University
www.wgu.edu
Walden University
www.waldenu.edu
Contact
Sean Mabey
[email protected]
Kara Snell
[email protected]
Shawn Courtney
[email protected]
Robert Lee
[email protected]
Sancie Rupple
[email protected]
Sheila Pamplin
[email protected]
Amanda Besmanoff
[email protected]
How they may help you
JCEA/CEA/NEA members save
hundreds of dollars a year
NEA auto and home insurance
NEA homeowners insurance
NEA home financing program
Reduced tuition
Masters Program
Reduced tuition
Masters Program
NEA Member Benefits: Making Members’ Lives Better!
JEFFERSON CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH PRESENTS
Save the date!
HELPING KIDS THRIVE
CONFERENCE
October 20, 2011
5:00 – 8:45 pm
Creighton Middle School
75 Independence St., Lakewood, CO
FREE
Past
participants
say...
“...great program”
“Excellent
resources...”
“...full of useful
information &
practical ideas”
“issues that I am
concerned about”
“instructors were
great...”
Classes include:
4 The Early Years: Creating a Blueprint for Success
4 The Elementary Years: Foundation for Healthy Growth
4 The Teen Years: Framing Boundaries and Expectations
4 Separation and Divorce: Working as a Parenting Team
4 Blending Families Roundtable
4 Texting, Facebook and Cyberbullying…How to be a
Techno-savvy Parent
And more!
•
•
•
•
•
For participants, drinks and sandwiches are available
For children, fun supervised activities and pizza dinner on-site
(Children must be potty-trained)
Community resource tables
Practical & informative tips for raising kids of all ages
Spanish translation available for some classes
For more information, visit www.jcmh.org
or call (303) 432-5144
www.jcmh.org
Para más información en español, comuníquese por favor con Peter al (303) 432-5189 o Esmeralda al (303) 432-5286.
JCEA psrtners with community for
Helping Kids Thrive conference
Since 1985 JCEA has been a
key player in working to address the
troubling high incidence of youth
suicide in Jeffco. In that year, and
for most of the rest of that decade,
Jefferson County had the sad
distinction of leading the nation in
the incidences of death by suicide.
Particularly troubling was the clustering of suicide attempts
and completions at various Jeffco high schools. Today,
the youth suicide rate has been reduced but still remains
alarmingly high.
In response to teacher and community concerns, JCEA
established the first youth suicide prevention coalition in
Jeffco and worked with district and community mental
health workers to produce the "Save a Friend, Share
a Secret" fliers. These have been distributed through
counselors’ offices and various other county locations for
over 20 years.
The genesis of the flier's research-based message was
that in many cases, but not all, teens talk to their peers
about contemplating suicide. The flier urges "friends" to
share that information with a counselor, minister, mental
health worker, or other trusted adult.
The coalition also worked with district administrators and
the Jefferson Center for Mental Health (JCMH) to craft a set
of protocols to help schools respond positively to a youth
suicide and, ultimately, any school tragedy. Today JPS has
one of the finest counselor-led crisis response programs in
the nation.
After several years of leading this coalition, JCEA turned
over responsibility for youth suicide prevention to the JCMH
but has maintained a strong partnership with them.
The HKT conference grew out of the reality that you
simply cannot get people to attend a conference on suicide
prevention. The conference focuses on how parents and
other adults can help children grow in healthy positive
ways, thus avoiding self-destructive behaviors including
suicide.
HKT provides practical, take home ideas for parents and
other adults in an uplifting and supportive environment.
September 13, 2011— INSIGHT — Page 11
JCEA members active in numerous initiatives
to achieve positive results for students
JCEA members are striving to
achieve real results for students. We
know that in order for our students to
get real results, we need to ensure a
quality teacher in every classroom,
provide a 21st Century Education
so that our students can compete in
the global economy, and we need
to ensure that all stakeholders are
accountable for a quality public
education system.
agreement into alignment with SB 191.
Major issues to be examined include
transfers and reduction in force.
This year, JCEA is focused on
several initiatives to get us closer to
achieving our goals.
Other areas related to
professionalizing the Jeffco teaching
profession will also be examined
including leave policies.
Increase school funding
There is no doubt that we have a
school funding crisis in Colorado.
Our state is nearly $2,000 below the
national average in per pupil spending
and every year our state legislature
approves additional unfunded
mandates.
Our Association is committed to
finding both short and long-term
solutions to school funding in Colorado
because we know that in order to
ensure real results for students and
have the ability to prepare students to
compete in the global economy we
need to properly resource our public
school systems.
If you are a member, you can learn
more about the work the Association
is doing to increase school funding by
logging onto our members only page
on our website.
Strategic and Sustainable
Change task force
The Strategic and Sustainable
Change task force is dealing with three
major items:
First, to determine what contractual
changes need to be made to bring
the JCEA/Jeffco Schools negotiated
Secondly, a new collaborative
decision making model within the
context of a more professional work
environment for teachers will be
developed, incorporating current CDM
practices and models from current
district initiatives like Adaptive Schools
and Success in Sight.
Thirdly, the Board of Education
would like recommendations on a new
system for compensating teachers.
The task force will make
recommendations to the bargaining
team by December. Items will then be
discussed at bargaining in the spring
of 2012.
Jeffco Strategic
Compensation Pilot
We believe that in order to provide
real results for students we must have
quality teachers in every classroom,
provide a 21st Century education so
that our students can compete in the
global economy and accountability
from all stakeholders in our community.
In order to achieve these goals,
we must try to do things in new and
different ways and that is why we
are very excited to be part of this
several-year, $32 million Teacher
Incentive Fund grant to pilot strategic
compensation in Jefferson County. (See
page 2 story.)
JCEA collaborated with the school
district and the Jefferson County
Administrators Association to secure
this federal grant.
The project is being implemented in
20 elementary and middle schools this
year. The pilot will study the impact of
increased compensation, additional
teacher support and planning time on
student achievement.
Educators will be rewarded for
meeting individual, team and school
goals as well as receiving successful
evaluations and taking on leadership
roles.
For more information visit the
Strategic Compensation website at
www.JeffcoStrategicCompensation.org.
TURN – Teacher Union
Reform Network
JCEA is a participating member of
Southwest TURN, a regional affiliate
of the national Teacher Union Reform
Network (TURN). JCEA President Kerrie
Dallman is a member of the planning
committee for Southwest TURN and
other JCEA members have participated
in TURN meetings throughout the past
few years.
TURN is a network of NEA and
AFT locals. Leaders of the TURN
locals assemble three times per year
to discuss and explore issues related
to education reform and the role of
teacher unions in advancing the cause
of public education.
Mission Statement
Teacher unions must provide
leadership for the collective voice of
their members. Teacher unions have
a responsibility to students, their
families, and to the broader society.
Teacher unions are committed to
public education as a vital element
of our democracy. What unites these
responsibilities is our commitment to
help all children learn. We affirm the
union's responsibility to collaborate
with other stakeholders in public
education and to seek consistently
higher levels of student achievement
by:
• Improving continuously the quality
of teaching.
• Promoting in public education
and in the union democratic dynamics,
fairness, and due process for all.
• Seeking to expand the scope
of collective bargaining to include
instructional and professional issues.
• Improving on an ongoing basis
the terms and conditions under which
both adults and children work and
learn.
If you would like more information
about national TURN and SW TURN
you can go to www.turnexchange.net.
1338 Evaluation Committee
The 1338 Personnel Performance
Evaluation Council is a statutorily
required body that consults with
the local board as to the fairness,
effectiveness, credibility, and
professional quality of the licensed
personnel performance evaluation
system and its processes and
procedures and conducts a continuous
evaluation of the system.
The council is comprised, at
a minimum, of teachers, district
administrators, principals and a parent
of a child in the district as well as a
citizen without a child in the district.
JCEA’s representatives on this
committee are:
• Dane Hartman (Wheat Ridge
HS)
• Carrie Malinowski (Deer Creek
MS)
• Robin Ogren (Mortensen EL)
• Lisa Elliott, JCEA Executive
Director.
Council recognizes retirees, gives annual awards
Each May JCEA holds a reception
to celebrate our retiring members and
recognize continuing members whose
contributions have stood out.
The 2010-11 award winners,
recognized at last May’s Council
meeting and retirement reception,
include: Christine Trujillo and Laura
Queen—Jeffey Award; Rhiannon
Wenning—Lion Award; Karin
Carter—Super Jeffey Award; and
Sara Gagliardi, Jonna Levine and
Kelly Johnson—Friend of Education
Award.
Award winners are nominated by
members in the spring of each year.
For more information visit www.jceacea.org.
Outgoing JCEA-R President Gail Knowles congratulates
one of the many retirees attending the reception with
a certificate and a handshake.
Longtime member Karen Carter, Chatfield
HS, (left) received a Super Jeffey Award from
Awards Committee Chair Mary Ellen Fuller and
committee member Lorraine Bowman. Carter
was also recognized as a retiree.
Christine Trujillo, Edgewater Elem., is surprised with
her Jeffey Award from Awards Committee member
Lorraine Bowen.
Parents Jonna Levine and Kelly Johnson are pleased with their
Friend of Education Awards.
Laura Queen. Summit Ridge MS, has a few words to say after
receiving her Jeffey Award from Awards Committee Chair
Mary Ellen Fuller.
PTA vs PTO: What’s the real difference?
September 13, 2011— INSIGHT — Page 13
by Michelle Patterson, 4th Vice
President of Communications for
Jeffco PTA
It’s an argument that’s been
ongoing for decades. Which is
better? PTA or PTO? PTO is a term
for “Parent Teacher Organizations”
in general. PTA is a trademarked
name standing for “Parent Teacher
Association.”
The most notable and obvious
difference is that PTA requires a
yearly membership fee, while PTOs
may or may not.
PTA’s membership dues are very,
very low when compared to other
membership organizations.
Most PTAs charge $10 or less
for a year. The breakdown of dues
per member is as follows: $2.25 to
National PTA, $3 to Colorado PTA,
and $1 to Jeffco Council PTA. The
remainder of that $10 membership is
left for the local PTA. So, altogether,
$6.25 is the bottom line per-member
dollar amount required for all local
units.
In return, local units receive
materials, training, and support
and members have the knowledge
that PTA representatives from across
the country, in Washington D.C.,
at the Colorado State Capitol, and
right here in Jefferson County are
going before Congress, our state
legislatures, and local school boards
to fight not only for adequate funding
of our schools but for reasonable
and realistic (not to mention funded)
mandates for teachers.
For example, did you know that
Colorado PTA advocated against
using CSAPs as the primary method to
assess teacher performance?
Locally, it is your PTAs that have the
networking capabilities and support to
campaign for mill
levies and ballot
initiatives that
benefit our schools
and our children.
Roughly 20,000
of the 140,000
signatures
gathered for
Rollie Heath’s
ballot initiative to increase taxes for
school funding were collected by PTA
members across the state.
Here are some other reasons your
school will benefit more from having a
PTA than a PTO:
• PTA is a non-profit 501(c)(3)
while PTO Today is completely
for-profit. Many PTOs find
themselves in trouble with
the IRS for not reporting
fundraising and other dollars.
PTA is here to help local units
navigate the IRS system.
• PTA equals “all children”
(there’s a reason the tagline is
everychild.onevoice) whereas
PTOs are focused solely on
their own schools.
• Support – Need help with a
conflict or dealing with an
embezzlement? PTAs support
system ensures our local units
receive the help they need to
run smoothly. PTOs have no
support system.
• Insurance – PTA makes certain
our local units receive the best
rates for the best coverage.
PTOs may have a harder time
finding good
rates, if they have
insurance at all.
• The
Reflections
Arts Program
(started in 1969
by a Colorado
PTA president)
engages more
than half a million students
each year.
• PTA Healthy Lifestyles program
awards more than $20,000 in
grants each year to local units.
• PTA Takes Action helps parents
and citizens learn more about
federal public policies effecting
children and schools.
• Member benefits and discounts.
Think a PTA is forced to abide by
rules a PTO isn’t? When it comes to
IRS laws, they aren’t. Neither are they
when it comes to maintaining nonprofit status. The same rules apply to
us all, and PTA has made following
those rules as simple as possible for
local units.
PTA is the largest volunteer child
advocacy organization in the world
with nearly 5 million members
supporting its work.
With the exception of a limited
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number of employees at the national
level and state level (it varies from
state to state, Colorado PTA has one
paid Administrative Assistant), PTA is
comprised solely of volunteers from
our local schools to the Colordo PTA
president right on up to the National
PTA president.
All are volunteers focused on
the mission of PTA: To ensure the
education, health, and well-being of
all children.
PTA has a history rich in
accomplishments. The creation of
kindergarten classes, child labor laws,
a public health service, the hot lunch
program, the juvenile justice system,
and mandatory immunizations are
only a few.
Won’t you be part of this great
legacy?
With ESEA up for renewal and
Congress planning to make heavy
cuts to needed programs, having
PTA in Washington, D.C., is more
important than ever. The benefits of
your $10 membership far outweigh
the cost.
Lend us your voice. When your PTA
asks you to join this year, please say
yes.
Help us in the battle to make
certain all our schools are wellfunded and to assure that all our
children have the opportunity to lead
successful, happy lives and to reach
their full potential.
This is who we are. We are PTA.
We speak for every child with one
voice. Join us.
September 13, 2011— INSIGHT — Page 15
It’s Elementary
The gravitational pull of modern advances and conveniences
by Amy Thomas
Hold Your Horses!
I’ve been sucked into a vortex, and
I bet you have too. The gravitational
pull? Modern advances and
conveniences.
It started out small with Tang,
instant oatmeal, and Shampoo with
conditioner. Then dad brought home an
IBM electric typewriter with eraser tape!
I was hooked.
Years later, and a mom, I depended
on life’s shortcuts. They freed up time for
sleep. I bought lunchables and cooked
dinner in a crock pot while I taught. I
allowed giftcards to replace thoughtful
gifts and learned to google lesson
plans. Cellphones and a computer we
purchased “for the boys.”
All was good until our boys found
video games. Who knew how addictive
they’d be? Video games led to hand
held games, portable DVD players,
and to the iPod, which ended parent/
child conversations altogether. Today
we’re all tied to our cellphones which
unabashedly interrupt every outing. It’s
quite frankly a bit embarrassing.
My boys are now young adults, and
the next generation of gamers — tiny
tots capable of opening I phone aps
before they could walk — is in my
classroom. They have their hands on all
that is new.
The latest and greatest gadgets are
such flirts. My son in Alaska is sharing
(via Facebook) videos he’s filmed
underwater with a 2” camera and I’m
eating it up. We’re lost without our
flashdrives, digital cameras, document
cameras, Smartboards, Skype and the
Smartphone. We need them! Every year
I add something more to my list. Kids
are equally adamant about needing
their games.
Buckle down for some gross
generalizations. Media (primarily
gaming) has become the third parent
and its impact is clear. Kids can
navigate complex games, yet interacting
with peers — that’s not so easy. There is
a budding notion that everything worth
attending to must be highly entertaining
and include all of the options. And
it has to be fast. Games don’t teach
patience is a virtue.
Teachers can and do work with the
challenges gamers present. They have
no choice. They’ve been faced with
either changing their instruction or
losing their audiences.
Acquiring new skills, that hasn’t
changed — it still takes time. It takes
time for new synapses to form and
pathways to be established in the brain.
Developmental milestones can’t be
rushed; they appear in their own good
time, a time that doesn’t always align
with the school calendar.
My mentors, wizened teachers that
they were, insisted children weren’t truly
ready to read before losing their first
baby teeth. When I attend to their rule I
find few exceptions. Kids can word call
early on; reading is more complicated.
Our hurry-up-and-get-at-it mentality
clashes with early readers. I ache for
those students whose path to reading
is more tortuous than delightful. The
ILPs we write for kids who can’t keep
pace (our timeline, not theirs) send an
unfortunate message to parents and
incidentally to the child. Who needs
that? Can’t we just be a bit more pliable
with the youngest and most vulnerable?
Why rush what can’t be rushed?
It’s a recipe for disaster. Children/
gamers, accustomed to instant
gratification, struggle to stick with the
hard work of learning. They’ve little
resolve to try, try again something which
lacks appeal and has delayed rewards.
And it’s not just the kids. Our
community, no our country, wants
instantaneous results. We want the
recession to end, higher test scores,
to lose weight … and we want it
NOW. What’s become of the adage
of something being worth the wait, or
worth the effort?
We are the sum of our experiences.
I come from a rich, loving background
that many would envy. When I read
aloud to my students I have cherished
memories say for picking berries,
climbing trees, or playing kick the can.
I use my experiences to bridge my
students’ understandings. You want a
slice of life story? I’ve got hundreds from
before I even entered school. They’re
everyday stories like playing “Dark
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Elevator,” misbehaving in church, or
of building a city in the woods. The
Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP simply
don’t lend themselves to storytelling.
I’m not advocating reverting to a
simpler time void of cellphones, iPads,
document cameras, etc. I personally
wouldn’t much care to write without my
laptop. My revision process is entirely
too cumbersome for pen and paper.
Nope, I want the perfect blend of the
old and the new.
Many families are finding that
balance by limiting screen time. I fear
for coming generations of learners
whose parents mightn’t be so worldly.
Where will they meet the school system?
Let’s start a revolution! Use the time
the gadgets have saved for you. Turn
off your electronics and go engage our
future in an everyday activity. Jump rope,
kick the can, build a tent city, play! Just
for a bit, delight solely in one another.
Amy Thomas is a veteran elementary
teacher at Witt whose opinions are her
own and not necessarily those of JCEA.
Her column will alternate monthly with
that of Paula Reed, who will be writing
from a secondary teacher point of
view. By definition, columnists provide
provocative perspective. They make us
react, laugh and get angry, but mostly
they are written to make us think!
Responses are welcome as “Letters to
the Editor” and will be published as
per Insight policy.
Page 16 — INSIGHT —September 13, 2011
For Your Information
Professional Growth Funds
Professional Growth Funds are a negotiated benefit for JPS educators to attend
professional and instructional conferences in accordance with Article 15-2 of the
Master Agreement.
explained at the workshop.
Register online at www.co-case.org.
• CASE and Learning Forward
Colorado Members Fee: $299 per
person or teams of 3 or more $249
per person; JCAA members: $329 per
person; Non-members: $399
Questions? Contact CASE Director
of Professional Development Mary
McNeil at [email protected] or
(303)762-8762.
The beginning of a new school year means change and transition for most Jeffco
Public Schools employees, even those who work all year. This is an incredibly busy
time, with meetings to attend, decisions to make, and deadlines to meet. You are
welcoming new students and staff. You may be teaching new courses or working
at a new site.
Some of us feel
excited and invigorated when dealing
with change and
transition, while others experience
increased negative
stress (or distress). Studies show that
people cope with
change and transition more effectively if
they:
Have a natural
tendency to look for the benefits that result
from transition
Are in partial or full agreement with the change taking place
Are given advance notice, which allows time to adjust to the change
Have some level of input or control over changes being implemented
Most of us are fairly resilient. When things get hectic, we are able to shift priorities
and focus on those things that require our immediate attention. Afterward, we move
back into a more normal schedule. We need to pay special attention, however, if
we begin to experience “distress.”
During times of transition it is especially important that we take good care of
ourselves. We all know the basics — eat right, drink plenty of water, exercise, and
get plenty of rest. We may also need to recognize our own limitations and learn
to say “no.” Give your body and your mind time to adjust and ease into the year.
Employee Assistance Program counselors are available to meet with employees
to empower them to build their own sense of resilience. EAP counselors are also
available to assist Jeffco Public Schools’ employees, retirees, and their families with
many types of professional or personal issues.
Common reasons why people might come to the EAP include stress, couples/
family concerns, job problems, alcohol or other drug use, managing conflict, and
balancing work and family. The EAP provides short-term counseling, referral to
community resources, conflict resolution/mediation, and training on a variety of
topics. EAP services are confidential and provided without cost.
If you would like further information on dealing with change and transition, or to
speak with an EAP counselor, please contact your confidential Employee Assistance
Program at 303-982-0377 or visit our website at http://jeffcoweb.jeffco.k12.co.us/
eap/.
Your EAP offers no-cost assistance to all Jeffco Public School employees, their
family members over age 15, and retirees.
“Confidential help from caring professionals…”
Member Benefits smooth
your way back to schoo
Arvada Center discounts
for JCEA members
Applicants must submit three (3) copies of Form #942 (available from school
secretaries or on the “teaching” page of the JCEA website), a personal letter
outlining the request, and registration forms and other conference information.
Funding Months
Application Deadline
Appeals Deadline
September/October 2011
August 26, 2011- 4 p.m.
September 9, 2011
November/December 2011 October 21, 2011 4 p.m.
November 4, 2011
January/February 2012
December 2, 2011 4 p.m.
December 6, 2011
March/April 2012
February 10, 2012 4 p.m.
February 24, 2012
May/June 2012
April 13, 2012 4 p.m.
April 27, 2012
July/August 2012
May 11, 2012 4 p.m.
May 25, 2012
Send completed applications to the following Professional Growth Funds
Committee members: Elementary—Amy Stadler, Vivian; Middle School—Jennifer
Widdowfield, Carmody MS; High School—Heather McAdams, Wheat Ridge HS; and
SERS/Special Education—Jen Marquez, Wheat Ridge HS.
Please, do not send applications to the JCEA office!
To maximize the money available, the committee will fund conferences according
to the following priorities: release days will be funded first, registration second, and
travel last. As you consider attending professional conferences and applying for
funding through Professional Growth Funds, please keep the budget and funding
priorities in mind.
Please direct all questions to Peggy Muhn, Human Resources, 303-982-6546 or
by email at [email protected]
JCEA launches new
website in mid-September
Our new website will launch
sometime the week of September 12.
We hope you will find it more modern,
user friendly and relevant than our
previous site.
Please note: to access the Members’
Only section, you will need to create
a login. The login can be used for
both JCEA’s and CEA’s members’ only
sections. If you have any questions,
please contact Kathy Rendon at
[email protected]
Transform School Cultures
through Conscious Leadership
In response to popular demand,
CASE and Learning Forward Colorado
(formerly Colorado Staff Development
Council) are very pleased to offer an
exclusive workshop opportunity with
internationally-renowned consultant
Rob Bocchino.
The workshop will be on
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 from
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the JCEA
Training Center, 1447 Nelson Street,
Lakewood, CO 80215. Includes
continental breakfast and working
lunch.
Bocchino has worked all over the
world helping educators become
more effective leaders, and this is
your chance to learn from him. Move
beyond theory to hands-on application
and get ready to take your leadership
to the next level.
This workshop is geared towards
principals, central support services
managers, instructional coaches,
school and department leadership
teams, and any other school
administrators who want to improve
their effectiveness as a leader. Get the
most value by bringing your leadership
team.
Included in your registration fee
are leadership coaching sessions to
be held following the workshop to
enhance what you will learn during
the workshop. Several options for
receiving the follow-up coaching
will be offered to participants and
Welcome back from your
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
There’s nothing like the excitement
that accompanies the start of a new
school year — but for educators,
the pressure is on. You’re about to
welcome dozens of new students for
their best educational experiences ever,
but you also have homes, families,
and other non-school obligations that
demand your attention.
That’s why NEA Member Benefits is
extending a helping hand — through
important member-only programs,
services, discounts, informative articles,
and online courses designed to help
you make a smooth transition into fall
and a productive school year. Getting
back to school will be a lot easier with
these sweet opportunities: 20% Discount at Lesson
Planet! Eliminate guesswork and
save valuable time searching online for
resources, activities and lesson plans
for your students. For only $39.99
per year (regular price: $49.99/
year), gain access to Lesson Planet’s
350,000+ teacher-reviewed and rated
curriculum resources for pre-K through
grade 12 educators!
Save up to 50% at
SmileMakers! Now until December
31, 2011, get free shipping on all
orders (no minimum) and up to 50%
off classroom décor, student rewards
and more!
Get more details on these and other
great Back to School offers at www.
neamb.com/backtoschool or call the
NEA Member Service Center at 1-800637-4636. Have a wonderful school
year!
The Arvada Center is offering
JCEA members $12 off for any seat
in any musical during the 2011-2012
theater season. To get the promo code,
visit the member benefits page in the
members only section of the JCEA
website at www.jcea-cea.org.
Eldora offers discounts
for JCEA members
Eldora will be offering Corporate
4-Packs to JCEA members for $119,
less than $30 a day to ski!
• 4-packs are non-refundable and
non-transferable.
• Employees may purchase
4-Packs for themselves and
family members.
• Eldora will only issue one
Corporate 4-Pack per
individual, but employees may
purchase for multiple people.
• There are no black out dates.
•
All days must be used in the
2011-2012 season; they will
not carry over to next year.
• 4-Packs are not direct to lift.
Once the ID card is issued the
4-Pack holder will need to go
to an Eldora ticket cashier to
redeem for a lift ticket.
• Only one ticket will be printed
per day.
To access the promo code to take
advantage of this discount, visit the
member benefits page in the members’
only section of the JCEA website at
www.jcea-cea.org.