May 2009
Kansas National Education Association
Patricia Moya and Sara Harjo, United Teachers of Wichita, at the KNEA Rep Assembly - page 8
Issues Never Ignore, Never Forget Relay
In this Issue $alaries - History & Goals
Page 5 Lost Your Job?
Page 7 Legislature Looked LIke Recess
Page 11 Meet Victoria EA Leaders
Page 14
Making public schools great for every child Volume 26 • Issue 10
Wichita East High School students who created the Never Ignore, Never Forget Relay Team received the KNEA Human and Civil Rights Award. The students are Back Row (L to R): Adrian Love, Matthew Heck, Jacob Heil, Michael Gurley. Front Row (L to R): Nathan Alexander, Adam Gurley, Kiet Tran, Chris Parker, Adam Heil. This summer they will be honored Go to to www.neverignore.org. again at the national Representative There you’ll read about how Matthew Assembly. They will receive the Heck and his Wichita East High NEA SuAnne Big Crow School buddies ran 13 miles each day Memorial Award, which for two weeks last June to complete is presented to students the 1,300 miles between Wichita and under the age of 20, whose Washington, DC. achievements have helped Along the way, they raised awareness enhance students’ sense of of the atrocities occurring in Darfur worth and dignity. and collected over $25,000 for the Helping them along Genocide Intervention Network. the way was their cross The students, Nathan Alexander, country coach KNEA Matthew Heck, Jacob Heil, Michael member Darham Rogers. Gurley, Kiet Tran, Adam Heil, Adrian The mothers of Matt Love, Aaron Gurley and Chris Parker, and Nathan are KNEA members Robbi make up the Never Ignore, Never Heck and Jennifer Alexander. Forget Relay Team. For putting their Those writing letters of support learning into action, they received the included East High Language Arts KNEA Human and Civil Rights Award. teacher Jennifer Fry and State The award was presented at the Representative Judy Loganbill, both KNEA Representative Assembly (see KNEA members. page 8 for more on the RA).
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A Challenging Year
Standing by Our Colleagues The coming of May is a bittersweet time for teachers and the many other educators in our schools. Throughout the year, we have witnessed some of our students grow beyond even what they thought might be possible for themselves. We look forward to the opportunity to start over next year; to eagerly pursue those ideas for how to do things even better. This year, the challenges that arose outside our schools are impacting our classrooms like never before. The economy deeply influenced our work, our lives, and the lives of our students. Speculative investment schemes, unrestrained profit interests of oil companies, and the cumulative actions of the financial gurus on Wall Street have torpedoed the hopes and hard work of Americans in every state and community. While the compensation packages of top executives came under fire, there were also those who used financial troubles to blame hard working middle class Americans. They blame teachers, for example, for making too much money and having too good a retirement system. Even right here in Kansas, a select group of legislators came to Topeka following the November election suggesting that public education needs to undergo 10-15% cuts in funding. Businesses have cut back during the downturn when they had fewer customers, but these legislators were asking for 10-15% cuts in education even though we would have the same number or even more students (our customers.)
You can be sure that KNEA is working tirelessly for those whose jobs were cut... Businesses have cut back when they had less demand for their services. With the increase in special needs of students, the expectation that we implement multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and increasing
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achievement standards, public education is experiencing huge increase in demands on our work – not cuts. What baffles many, though, is the idea that, while legislators expect schools to cut staff, teachers to freeze their salaries, parents to send kids to larger classes when times are hard, these same legislators would never consider using increased revenue in growth periods (and we have had times of surplus) to increase teacher salaries or provide more money for schools and colleges. In fact, their strategy in good times – cut taxes for the wealthy. And so what is the strategy of these same legislators in hard times to help our state’s economic woes? Cut taxes for the wealthy and corporations. It’s an imaginative range of options, isn’t it!
Our resolve remains strong The May 1 deadline for schools to notify employees of possible Reduction in Force came and over 1,200 educators have been notified that they, at least for now, are not coming back to their schools next year. KNEA’s grass roots lobbying efforts continue to work to fight back the cuts and to see many of these persons called back to service. At the very least, though, those who have pushed for larger cuts in education have demonstrated their disdain for the very lives of the teachers, support professionals, and other employees who are dedicating their lives in service to children and our communities. Our fight remains clear, our resolve remains strong – we work to create great public schools for every child in Kansas. Our professional commitment remains unchanged – we work to strengthen the teaching profession from recruitment and induction through lifelong professional development. Our dedication to the well-being of our members continues, rooted in the belief that educators deserve professional compensation, the security
of adequate and affordable health care, and a retirement future that does not diminish with each passing year should retirees dare to live too long. Every Kansan ought to have such opportunities for what might be called “middle class” salary and benefits to accompany the good jobs and strong economy of our state. There is only ONE INVESTMENT that must be made to advance this vision of good jobs and a strong Kansas economy – it isn’t speculative… the investment is public education. While we wait for the legislature to act, while we wait for districts to respond when funding is finally approved, you can be sure that KNEA will be working tirelessly – providing service and assistance to those whose jobs are cut, assisting local bargainers to advocate for the best use of local funding to guarantee a true partnership to create great public schools, tracking down services and programs that can save every member even more money. Closing note: The financial times are heavy on our minds but I also want to acknowledge that many of our members have had additional trials in the past year. One example – KNEA Vice President Sherri Yourdon has been battling cancer throughout a major part of this year. Her courage is inspiring to each of us. Her dedication to her work even when chemotherapy took its toll is humbling. But the love and care of members and KNEA staff extended to Sherri are also inspiring. Our family of KNEA members is so important - I would encourage each of us to stand by our colleagues who are on the cutting edge of financial hard times, personal crises, family loss. Take care of each other and have a renewing summer.
President’s Perspective by KNEA President Blake West
Web 2.0
Ask KNEA
A to Z Teacher Stuff
and places as he travels the state and nation advocating for KNEA members and Kansas public schools.
www.atozteacherstuff.com/Lesson_ Plans Visitors can browse lesson plans to find what they need for themes and thematic units.
Think iPod-style www.apple.com iTunes U is a new online respository that offers free K-12 course materials and teacher development tools – everything from professional development tips to student journalism podcasts.
Green Roof Education www.asla.org/greenroofeducation The Roof is Growing! is a classroom program developed by the American Society of Landscape Architecture (ASLA) to engage and educate middle school students (grades 6-8) about green roofs and their environmental benefits. Using an online, interactive program and a workbook, students gather facts about green roofs. (A green roof is a roof substantially covered with vegetation.)
History Sites www.besthistorysites.net Discover an award-winning site with annotated links to more than 1,000 history sites, as well as links to hundreds of K-12 history lesson plans, teacher guides, activities, games, quizzes, multimedia and more.
Safe Kids
Museums
Pennies for Peace
www.museumstuff.com Search the exhibits of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia or Charleston’s Avery Research Center. Take a tour of the Paper Airplane in Hawaii or get lost in the Ukraine’s Odessa Museum.
Government Resources www.free.ed.gov Get ready to tour more that 1,500 free (yes, FREE) lesson plans and learning resources made available to you from the CDC to the CIA and from the White House to the U.S. Mint.
Blake’s Blog www.knea.org Don’t forget to regularly check out this member-recommended feature on KNEA’s Web site. KNEA President Blake West writes about people, issues
www.safekids.org The Safe Kids Worldwide mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 and under. Find news, statistics, tips, regulations and standards.
www.penniesforpeace.org Pennies for Peace encourages children, ultimately our future leaders, to be active participants in the creation of global peace. Based on the work of Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson, the Web site includes a free downloadable K-12 service-learning toolkit, which was collaboratively produced with support from the NEA Foundation. Materials are tied to national social studies, literacy and mathematics standards.
Online Grant Application www.neafoundation.org The NEA Foundation has posted a video that provides a guided tour and detailed instruction of its new online grant application process for its popular $2,000 and $5,000 Learning & Leadership Grants and its Student Achievement Grants. The new system
www.knea.org
makes applying for grants easier and more convenient. Applications are accepted, reviewed and granted three times a year. Deadlines are June 1, October 15 and February 1.
Awesome Library www.awesomelibrary.org/specialed.html This Web site features a nice collection of special education lesson planning links.
Moving? www.knea.org/members/ membersupdate.html To ensure you receive your KNEA publications uninterrupted, fill out the form on the KNEA Web site.
Recommend a Web 2.0 resource by e-mailing kneanews@knea.org Share the sites that work for you and your students. The following criteria were considered for sharing this information: • It was recently updated. • It contains the author’s name or organization. • It is not purely commercial. • It is “member friendly.” • It has been reviewed by NEA or KNEA.
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Discover the NEA Academy Online Learning Designed for Today’s Busy Educator
The NEA Academy provides today’s busy K-12 educators with practical online courses to meet professional development and continuing education needs. NEA Academy courses combine the power of self-paced study and instructor-led virtual classrooms for maximum flexibility, creating the perfect fit for educators who seek a convenient means of gaining additional skills and tools to make a difference in their students’ lives. Courses offered are carefully screened against a set of quality standards developed by NEA members – only the best courses of the highest quality make it through the screening process. Discover the best in online learning opportunities. NEA’s professional development courses are designed for easy access online and to make learning fun, flexible and collaborative. Courses can help you earn graduate credit, PDC points or CEUs while gaining strategies and resources for immediate use in the classroom and with your students. Courses include Curriculum Mapping I; Teaching Reading in the Content Areas; Using Multimedia to Develop Understanding; Differentiated Instruction for Successful Inclusion; The Five Practices of Highly Effective Classrooms; and Teaching the ESL Learner.
Why the NEA Academy? Credibility – Peer reviewed and evaluated courses are selected by the NEA Content Quality Review Board to help meet the ever-changing needs of today’s educational professional. Experience – Understanding the needs of members is the NEA’s business. Academy courses are designed to assist members in meeting ongoing professional development and certification requirements. Commitment – The Academy’s primary goal is to serve its members by providing the best quality and most practical and useful online professional development opportunities – each of which is evaluated by NEA members. Practicality – We value your time. The Academy has conducted research with members throughout the country, and we have designed our online courses and materials based on what you told us about your professional development needs and interests.
A great option for summer professional development 4
Flexibility – We understand your need for learning that fits a busy personal and professional lifestyle. The Academy offers self-paced and instructor-led courses developed by the Association and leading professional development companies to meet your needs and fit your schedule. Value – The Academy offers a variety of courses for members. Some are provided at no cost, while those from the professional development companies are offered at the best possible price.
For more, go to www.nea.org/academy
Money Matters
Local Negotiations What we do when we work together Turn on the television or radio. Check out the newspaper or the latest on your iPod. Chime in at the dinner table. Everybody’s talking about the same topic: money. As negotiations start across the state, professional career salaries remain a priority. Through collaborative efforts, better-prepared negotiators and strategies such as compacting salaries schedules and collaborative bargaining, KNEA local association bargainers are enhancing educator living and working conditions. In current dollars, the Kansas average teacher salary increased $44,834 between 1971 and 2008, according to KNEA research. Salaries have increased nearly $10,000 in the last five years (see Average Teacher Salary chart) because of team work in the negotiations and government relations arenas. In many districts the increase in average teacher salary has been accompanied by structural improvements to the salary schedule that point to more rapid growth of career level salaries in the future. KNEA helps local negotiators analyze and restructure compensation systems to accomplish maximum annual growth in career level salaries. Two important restructuring strategies involve increased starting salaries and compacting salary schedules.
Growth of Kansas Average Teacher Salary 2003-04 to 2008-09 $55,000 $50,000
= Average Salary w/o Supplementals or Fringe
$52,861
= Average Total Salary $47,050
$45,000
$44,421
$35,000
$43,316
$43,463
$40,000 $38,630
2003-04
$39,351
2004-05
2005-06
Trend: Pay differences are growing Since 2006 the average beginning salary in Kansas has increased $3,150, and both the average maximum BS degree salary and the average maximum MS degree salary are up $4,000. In 2009 the median MS, step 7 salary schedule amount increased by more than $3,500, according to KNEA Research. (see Salary/Degree Summary below) A troublesome trend indicated by the data is a growing increase in differences between average salary amounts. The 2,261 teachers in Shawnee Mission average $63,928 while the 16 teachers in Jewell average $35,040 for 2008-09. That’s a range of $28,888. This inappropriate difference is not explained by the experience and qualifications of the teaching staffs in those districts, said KNEA Professional Negotiations and Research Director Wade Anderson.
Bachelor’s Degree Entry Level-BS, step 1 BS, Step 7 $32,434 $35,464 $32,423 $35,430 $25,337 $28,360 $39,510 $43,476 $14,173 $15,116
Max Salary w/o MS degree $44,416 $43,515 $32,840 $63,450 $30,610
Master’s Degree Average Median Minimum Maximum Range
MS Minimum (step 1) MS, step 10 $35,327 $40,453 $35,230 $40,100 $26,900 $31,240 $44,073 $58,850 $17,173 $27,610
Max Salary w/ MS+hours $51,934 $51,300 $37,960 $74,642 $36,682
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$46,402
$44,788
$41,467
2008-2009 Salary/Degree Summary Average Median Minimum Maximum Range
$50,962
$49,252
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Salaries in the same cell of Kansas salary schedules vary greatly. For example, beginning salaries vary by $14,173 from $39,510 in Maize to $25,337 in Brewster. The scheduled salary for a teacher with Master’s degree in their 10th year of teaching is $58,850 in Kansas City, Kansas, while a teacher with those same qualifications would be paid $31,240 in Jewell. The median MS, step 10 Kansas salary schedule amount is $40,100. Anderson noted that school finance in Kansas is designed to treat all districts equally, regardless of local wealth and location. In theory, all districts should have the same capacity to pay teachers. “School finance is designed to put everyone on a level playing field,” Anderson said. “We need to do a better job of helping districts make quality decisions regarding allocation for existing resources. We can’t let it get worse by trying to save positions for pay (at least in most districts).” “Because you live in western Kansas or in a less wealthy community does NOT mean you should earn less money,” he added. “There should not be a $30,000 difference in average teacher salary between two districts, nor should salary schedule amounts differ by $25,000 at the same location, but they do.” Statistically, a difference in average teacher salary of $4,000 to $10,000 is logical, but not over $28,800, according to Anderson. Likewise there should not be a $14,000 gap between districts’ starting salaries, nor a $30,610 difference between the maximum salary possible without a master’s degree. Continued on next page
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Support Your Bargaining Team Continued from page 5 But, there is. “Why does one district have enough money to pay all teachers a professional salary, but another can’t – or won’t?” Anderson asked. “Locally, decisions to pay teachers involve dramatically different, legitimate reasons, but ‘because we can’t afford it’ is rarely one of them. “No teacher in Kansas should tolerate inappropriate compensation and treatment of a single colleague, no matter where they teach,” Anderson said. How can teaching professionals take action to address these unreasonably large differences? “We must concern ourselves with the teaching conditions in all school districts, not just the one we work in,” he said. More than ever, the health and well-being of the profession depends upon unified collective action of each one of the 40,000 Kansas teachers. We must insist that our colleagues receive adequate compensation and respectful treatment regardless of location. “We’ll have to take steps to eliminate our parochial bargaining perspectives and work together more diligently, across school district boundaries, to become a statewide powerful force with the capacity to demand proper conditions of employment for teachers in every unified school district,” Anderson said.
No cutbacks Who will teach our students? KNEA strongly recommends there be no decrease in the number of dollars in the salary pool, the pot of money currently spent on teacher salaries. Is this controversial? Maybe. Regardless of the economy, when your negotiators bargain, one of their goals should be to obtain professional compensation for all by achieving the highest possible career level salary. Just as importantly, they should insist that career level compensation
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be attainable in a reasonable number of years. The really difficult and necessary component of their task is that they must go about it in such a way that the capacity for long term growth of career level salary is enhanced. Failing to improve the salary schedule amounts or “freezing” teacher movement on the schedule is the antithesis of every aspect of this goal. Some teacher negotiators believe that a diminished salary pool is preferable to a diminished personnel pool. In other words, everyone takes a pay cut to save jobs. Some teacher negotiators believe that a reduction in the number of bargaining unit personnel is the only acceptable way to reduce the salary pool, and then only if accompanied by substantial improvement in nonmonetary negotiated provisions. Still others refuse to accept a reduction in the salary pool under any circumstances and also work hard to negotiate job security provisions which protect colleagues from unjust termination. These negotiators believe that in the future it will be much easier to solicit public support for increased instructional services for students (number of teachers) than public support for increased salaries for teachers. Traditional wisdom dictates that the cuts will come. Ultimately, it will be the administration’s decision to decide upon the appropriate number of staff to provide students a quality education. It is up to the local association to negotiate how best to spend the available money for those left behind. “Never acquiesce to compensation take backs, or any kind of salary freeze,” said Anderson. “Historically, those actions never pay off for individuals or the profession as a whole.” While the choices are difficult, he encourages teams to search diligently for ways to move teachers toward the
career level salary and to raise the career salary. “We should not give up on those goals and we should not apologize for our salaries,” Anderson said.
Kansas students deserve a quality education The state is charged with funding that education and local school districts have the responsibility of using those funds wisely, he said. “Compensation for teaching must begin with an appropriate entry-level foundation that matches other professions. Ideally, teachers would also reach full professional compensation within 10 years in teaching,” said KNEA President Blake West. KNEA recommends a compacted salary schedule of no more than 15 years. Teachers should attain career level salaries at the same time they are recognized as a professional in their career. KNEA contends that by the time educators renew the Professional License, which means they have been in the profession between seven and 10 years, they should be at the career level of the local salary schedule. “School districts must have the right number of staff to provide a quality education. If not, they are depriving children of education opportunity,” Anderson said. “The community should, and will, support the retention of teachers.” While acknowledging that colleagues have received RIF notices, Anderson said “those teachers WILL find another job and it will be at a higher salary because of the courageous work done by the local association leaders standing firm against attempts to weaken the profession. Advocating for career salaries is better for the profession in the long run.” Additionally, because finances look bad, doesn’t mean the teacher shortage is going away. The shortfall will be felt again once the economy turns around and the teaching profession is expected to be impacted most.
All issues should be on the table Whatever their approach to protecting the salary pool, typically all agree that when money is in short supply it is essential that additional non-monetary value be added in order to produce negotiated settlement. This points to the importance of expanding discussion to include more than mandatorily negotiable items. Negotiators are asking: what else will enhance our profession and our working conditions (always remembering that teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions)? Strong KNEA leaders work assertively and collaboratively with school districts. Those positive working relationships may be tested during these challenging times.
Your bargain has a statewide impact As your negotiations team meets with school district officials, they realize that the result of local bargains impact teachers and students statewide. Now more than ever it’s important to work assertively and collaboratively with the district and to advocate for the profession, for professional salaries and benefits. Especially in these times, decisions for kids should be made by those in the classroom. Negotiators realize a local need cannot be satisfied at the expense of the profession. A short term benefit that advantages a small group to the detriment of the large group is unacceptable. It is equally unacceptable that some aspect of a settlement or bargain in one district be detrimental to the success of the negotiations in a neighboring district. Sometimes local bargaining teams (and individuals) must make tough decisions that involve local sacrifice in the interest of the profession, Anderson said. Now more than ever it’s important to provide support, resources and strength to your bargaining team. Your team is working hard for you. Remember that the voice of your leaders is based on YOUR commitment to the profession.
Received a RIF Notice? KNEA Cares The situation you currently face is without a doubt one of the most discouraging any worker can experience. Have questions about your non-renewal or RIF notice? Your first call should be to your UniServ Director. Or call the KNEA HelpLine at 800-432-3573. Be assured that KNEA continues to fight for you. We are working tirelessly to bring you back with the students and to create the staffing levels that ensure a healthy environment for all students. KNEA is committed to the ongoing effort to provide appropriate funding to keep quality school employees in the public schools so every student gets a great education. We hope that you weather this storm quickly and with the help of KNEA colleagues and resources will be on your way back in a classroom or school site in Kansas. We look forward to the day when you and the other dedicated professionals who have fallen victim to these trying economic times return. In the meantime, know that the KNEA and your local association will do our part to assure this end.
It’s not your fault Through no fault of your own, you are suddenly facing unemployment. There is help out there; you will have a job again and the economy will rebound. But right now you have to take action to ensure that you do everything possible to ease the fear and burden of unemployment. Take a deep breath, and we’ll walk you through some of the steps you should take to make it through this very difficult time for you and your family. There’s a natural tendency to let a depressive mood take over. This is sometimes easier said than done but: Don’t let that happen! Focus on the new opportunities that lie ahead. You did not create this situation; it is not fair, but you will get through! And remember, you are not alone! Obviously, your top priority is to find a new job, but there are several other important matters to sort out and address once you’ve been handed a pink slip.
Unemployment Compensation If you’ve become unemployed through no fault of your own (such as non-renewal or laid off ) and you meet the requirements for wages earned or time worked during a certain period, you likely will qualify for unemployment benefits. One issue that keeps some from applying for unemployment has nothing to do with eligibility, and is more about a perceived stigma. Don’t feel bad about getting unemployment checks; you have paid your taxes and now you are using the safety net that you’ve paid into for years. Just remember you didn’t ask for this. The Legislature did not plan for economic downturns when they decided to cut taxes in the good years, and they did not “hold education harmless” when they decided funding education was not a top priority. • You should file for Unemployment Compensation quickly because it takes your benefits a couple of weeks to start up. The application process is painless as long as you have all your documentation collected beforehand. You can apply for unemployment over the phone or on the internet (www.dol.ks.gov). • Visit the KansasWorks Web site - www.kansasworks.com. Also, on the Kansas Department of Labor Web site access information on how much jobs pay in Kansas (wage survey), what kind of jobs are in Kansas (job vacancy survey, etc.), and where to find job training. KDOL also links to KansasWorks. • Other helpful links include www.kansasteachingjobs.com or changelivesteach. com. These contain a database for Kansas teaching jobs. For more, go to KNEA’s Web site: www.knea.org (under the Resources tab) or call the KNEA HelpLine at 800-432-3573. Your UniServ office has valuable resources if you’ve lost your job and as you look for a new job.
www.knea.org
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KNEA delegates address school funding, needs School funding in challenging times, discussions about elected leaders who kept, or didn’t keep, their promises to public schools and student achievement were hot topics at the Kansas NEA Representative Assembly (RA) April 3-5 in Topeka. Please ASK your locally elected delegate to share what happened at the RA. The 500 delegates discussed and voted on KNEA’s budget and issues regarding adequate and equitable school funding, parental involvement, teacher quality and professional compensation, health care issues, teacher due process and school safety. Returning home to greet friends and colleagues was former KNEA President Christy Levings. She now serves on the executive committee of the National Education Association. She congratulated KNEA members for their good work on behalf of students and public schools. She also asked members to share with her success stories that she will take to policy-makers in Washington, D.C. E-mail her at clevings@nea.org. In a “community conversation” format, small discussion groups consisting of delegates from different parts of the state discussed issues relating to KNEA’s strategic mission of promoting quality public schools, strengthening the teaching profession and improving the well-being of members. KNEA announced the following scholarship winners: • Amber Roan, Emporia State University, received the C. O. Wright Scholarship. • Julie Bryant, Haskell Indian Nations University, received the George Frey Scholarship. • Bonnie Palmer, Pittsburg State University, received the Rodney VanZandt Scholarship.
Community conversations meant discu taking, sharing of ideas and opinions, agr colleagues locally and statewide. Above top: Linda Sieck (l) and Jill Conno Shawnee Mission, listen to Tiffany Pierson Above: Talking and taking notes are (l-r) City EA; Jonathan Goering, United Teache Spearville TA. At right: Kristine Carr, Garden City TA (l) Karen Rodgers, NEA Kansas City Kansas. Left: Tim Knoles, Independence and Cec clarify what was discussed.
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of students
Couchman honored for Teaching Excellence
The delegates honored 2009 Kansas Teacher of the Year Cindy Couchman. Couchman, a member of Buhler NEA, is shown here with KNEA President Blake West. Couchman is KNEA’s nominee for the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence , which recognizes excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession and includes a $25,000 grant. The finalists are chosen based on their outstanding instructional expertise, creativity and innovation, attention to diversity and individual student needs, learning styles and leadership experiences.
ssions, sharing, note eeing and disagreeing with
on (R) both from NEA n, NEA Kansas City, Kansas. ) Jennifer Toland, Junction ers of Wichita; Jessica McGee emphasizes her point to
celia Jaggard, Blue Valley EA,
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For these are all our children We will all profit by or pay for Whatever they become –James Baldwin
Legislative Update Stay Current! Regularly go to
www.knea.org and click on the Legislative Update. If you haven’t done so, sign up for “Under the Dome” on our Web site and get daily updates e-mailed to you. Kansas students need us Are YOUR lawmakers supporting public schools? Legislators are proposing to balance the budget on the backs of schools and public employees This despite a series of proposals, such as tapping gambling dollars, diverting funds from cities and counties, and gathering up unused regulatory fees sitting in funds outside the state’s main bank account, that would boost revenues. The governor’s revenue adjustments would bring an additional $179.6 million into the state budget. KNEA and others back “decoupling” the state’s income tax code from the federal code and suspending tax cuts previously scheduled to take effect next year. Together, those proposals would generate $257 million toward closing the deficit. Our lobbying has never been more crucial. Jobs, student achievement and the success of Kansas public schools are on the line. Legislators have only so many opportunities to get the job done right. Watch what your legislators do. Stay informed by reading “Under the Dome” and watching for Legislative Alerts. Advocate for our schools. It will take all of us – together – to protect funding for Kansas public schools.
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A Teacher Perspective Legislature Looked Like Recess “Very informative,” said Wendi Bono, NEA Turner, of her visit to the Statehouse. “It motivated me to pay closer attention to what legislators do and how our Legislature operates.” From a teacher perspective she said “there seems to be A LOT of wasted time on the floor. I’m not totally familiar with the process of course, but it looked like recess when there were people at the podium speaking.” “We watched the House from the galley on the day I was there. I noticed that several, and I mean a very large percentage, did not even seem to be paying attention. One representative was even watching The View on his laptop,” she said. “This begs me to ask, how much do they even know about the subjects they even vote on?” On the other hand, she added, “we were there for the Senate Bill 23 and the Yoder bill debate. A Representatives sought out my group to ask exactly how we thought he should vote and how the language would affect our district. “The other two legislators we met with gave us political jargon. I asked questions and he looked as if he was going to literally choke. I guess he didn’t have an answer for my question or was even aware of the information I was giving. What did I ask him? Why he was absent on the day Senate Bill 23 was voted on and if he knew and understood that our district, in fact, made AYP last year. “ Look for more member comments at www.knea.org.
Thank you! Your contact with legislators makes a difference. Many of you have come to Topeka. KNEA members have sent 3,374 more e-mails than last year through our web portal. You’ve sent 1,402 more e-mails than the previous alltime high in 2007. Keep up the good work!
Opportunities! KNEA provides outstanding leadership training that will serve you well personally and professionally. Sessions are available throughout the year. The sessions listed here are held especially in the summer. Check out these opportunities and go to the KNEA Web site for details and registration. Better yet, contact your UniServ office for more opportunities! KNEA JUMPSTART Training for National Board Certification candidates. Applications are due June 6. The sessions will take place July 22-23 at Emporia State University. Pre-Retirement Seminars for those planning to retire within five years. Held at various times and locations, sessions can be personalized to meet your needs. See page 15 for more. KNEA Leadership Academy A “master’s level” leadership training. The second session is in June.
Local Planning Retreat The ultimate in local leader training! Access this year, plan next year, learn how to use relational and issue organizing. Hays – June 10-11 Newton – June 16-17 Dodge City – June 11-12 Chanute – June 17-18 Abilene – June 15-16 Overland Park – June 18-19 Salina July 9-10 Day 1: 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Day 2: 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Who’s Invited: Membership Leader + four other Potential Leaders (REACH Graduates and Leadership Academy Participants) For you to: • Have fun • Meet new people • Plan your membership year • Learn new skills • Discover KNEA grants for local activities • And more! Hotel accommodations and meals are provided. For details and to reserve your space TODAY please contact Katie Raveill at Katie.Raveill@knea.org.
KNEA Bargaining Academy Negotiators today need to understand instructional and financial issues. School quality, instructional and professional development issues belong on the bargaining table. Traditional bargaining has been a tool for resolving problems at the negotiations table for decades. Newer, more collaborative approaches to bargaining are effective in many districts in Kansas. Collaboration is a useful problemsolving tool for issues beyond the
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typical negotiated items, too. Taking a collaborative problem-solving approach, even at the building level, enhances the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom. This is especially true when economic times are tight – involving teachers in determining how to deal with budget problems at the building and district level results in the best educational decisions being made. Research indicates student achievement is higher in districts where the association is a strong, collaborative voice for problemsolving.
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NEA/KNEA Grants Make it happen with a grant!
Derby Members Receive $5,000 Grant NEA Foundation Funds Technology To Prepare Students For College and Careers Amy Elizabeth and Tracy Anderson of Derby Middle School received a $5,000 Student Achievement Grant from the NEA Foundation for a project designed to build students’ career skills. Students will learn research, writing, editing and presentation skills as they choose a career, observe professionals at work and learn about college entrance and graduation requirements. Students will use technology to present their career paths to assemblies of students and parents.
Tracy Anderson
Amy Elizabeth
Photos by MacKensie Cornell, Derby Public Schools Information Office
The NEA Foundation has awarded 47 grants nationwide, totaling $205,000, to support educators’ ideas to improve teaching and learning or professional development efforts. Since 1999, the NEA Foundation has funded 21 grants for Kansas educators. “Through these grants, NEA is improving the quality of teaching and learning for everyone,” said KNEA President Blake West.
May 23 due date for KNEA Strategic Focus Grants KNEA funds members’ projects and activities through the Strategic Focus Grant program. Local officers and members, UniServ districts, committees, or consortiums of two or more membership units are eligible to apply for grants addressing KNEA’s priorities: 1. To promote quality public schools 2. To strengthen the teaching profession 3. To improve the well-being of members Also considered priorities and eligible for funding are projects that: 4. Promote and increase membership 5. Develop strong and effective leaders 6. Develop strong local associations 7. Broaden member involvement in Association activities Find the grant application in the Resources section of the KNEA Web site (see Grants on the left side of the page). There is $18,000 budgeted in the current fiscal year. Reasonable requests will receive serious consideration. Grants are due May 23; committee action will take place on June 6. For details, contact KNEA Secretary-Treasurer Karen Godfrey (karengfrey@aol.com) or KNEA Associate Executive Director Kevin Riemann (kevin.riemann@knea.org).
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The NEA Foundation reviewed more than 364 proposals received between June and October 2008. A team of 20 educators, many of whom are former grantees, carefully reviewed all applications and evaluated each one against a set of criteria. Funded grants were selected based on the quality of the proposed ideas and their potential for enhancing student achievement. The NEA Foundation plans to fund about 150 of its Student Achievement Grants and Learning & Leadership Grants over the next year.
Find it here The Web site is http://neafoundation. org/grants.htm. You’ll find information on the following grants and more. Learning & Leadership Grants The grant amount is $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups engaged in collegial study. Application deadlines are February 1, June 1 and October 15. Student Achievement Grants Provides $5,000 to improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning and critical reflection. Application deadlines are February 1, June 1 and October 15. NEA’s Books Across America Library Books Awards Awards 50 grants of $1,000 each to public schools serving economically disadvantaged students to purchase books for school libraries. Closing the Achievement Gaps For NEA affiliates, school districts and community organizations working to accelerate the achievement rate for disadvantaged and minority students, while raising achievement for all groups of students. Application is by invitation only.
Bruce Goeden K NE A Friend of Education Bruce Goeden is the 2009 KNEA Friend of Education. The prestigious Friend of Education Award recognizes leadership, acts and support that have contributed to the improvement of public education on a statewide level. The former executive director of the Kansas NEA, Goeden was honored at the KNEA Representative Assembly for tackling massive transitions in his 25-year career. In presenting the award, KNEA President Blake West noted that under Goeden’s leadership, KNEA’s advocacy moved from adversarial relations to a new culture of collaboration. He complimented Goeden and the KNEA staff for work that benefitted students and members. “KNEA has been the recipient of Bruce’s servanthood. With sensitivity to the impact of change on people, he led with caring and compassion,” West said. Goeden is credited with, among other things, the following: • Providing leadership to help KNEA become the most influential voice for public education and the profession of teaching in Kansas. • Serving as mentor for teacherleaders within KNEA for over two decades. • Facilitating change to help KNEA address professional concerns of teachers. • Working to ensure that the KNEA strategic focus means effective change that benefits members and schools. • Implementing strategic planning that relies on broad goals with targeted measurable outputs to determine progress. • Helping secure funding for research to identify links between teacher working conditions and student achievement. • Leading efforts to create Partners in Collaboration – Kansas. PICK is a group of administrators and KNEA representatives that can
Bruce Goeden accepts the Friend of Education Award from KNEA President Blake West. as they conducted “Community jointly facilitate interest-based Conversations” at Wyandotte High bargaining and problem solving. School, raising student achievement This initiative has had transformative and receiving national recognition. impact, moving from adversarial to • Helping lead KLFA in a statewide collaborative Association-District Community Conversation to help relationships, a culture supporting districts deal with NCLB. That event student achievement and fairness for featured Governor Kathleen Sebelius employees. and then-commissioner Andy • Helping secure funding for multiple Tompkins. major communications projects • Leading the effort to implement a at KNEA, most recently acquiring major training for western region $115,000 to disseminate video leaders to make our state affiliates messages about the teaching stronger organizations – the profession. outcome in Kansas is KNEA’s new • Providing leadership to Kansas Leadership Academy. Learning First Alliance (KLFA)
www.knea.org
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It’s not just best practice...
Better Practice Victoria
EA
KNEA honors the work of local association leaders who achieve KNEA’s mission of making public schools great for every child by promoting quality public schools, strengthening the teaching profession and improving the well-being of members. This month we highlight Victoria EA for it’s best practices. Victoria was first nominated by KNEA Professional Negotiations and Research Director Wade Anderson who complimented them on obtaining training and then using what they learned. The result: they helped change the culture and working relationships in Victoria to benefit educators as a whole. VEA leadership is also noted for their: 1. Communications and a willingness to put fun in every job. 2. Taking advantage of KNEA’s resources and trying something new and different. 3. Effective association leadership.
From the Local President “We worked hard to bring our teachers closer together Putting the “fun” in the fundamentals of an effective local are Victoria Education Association leaders (standing l-r) Debbie Bottorf and Rhoda by educating them about the negotiations process this year,” VEA President Debbie Bottorf said. “This enabled us Urban and (sitting) Christie Sander and Kim Nowak. Photo: Kathy Rome to stand as a unified group during negotiations instead of a small team of three.” From the UniServ Director A primary focus was to improve their contract. “Our “I think this group has a good time,” said Cottonwood UD team spent many hours analyzing our contract to seek Kathy Rome. They seem to be able to keep the ‘fun’ in their improvements for the teachers,” she said. local. At the same time, VEA leadership and members enjoy VEA welcomed three new members to the local and respect each other.” organization giving it a total of 12. Part of the success of this small local comes from the KNEA Resources communication amongst members, she said. “The president “Our local Cottonwood UniServ staff has been a does a great job of communicating with members.” tremendous resource! A special thanks to Kathy Rome and They are supportive of each other, in the bargaining arena Sue Schmidt,” Bottorf noted. and throughout their work with the district. This spring VEA leadership has had tremendous support and the members and nonmembers joined together on various assistance from experienced members from other local activities for the good of the whole. For example, teachers associations in the Cottonwood UniServ. “They took time showed their support at bargaining meetings and at school to attend our negotiation meetings and provided input. A board meetings. special thanks to UniServ President Jackie Flowers,” she said. VEA members attended the KNEA Bargaining Academy, “Attending meetings for leadership and negotiations have Rome said. “From that experience they learned that what provided us a venue to learn and collaborate with others.” she had been happening in the past was NOT bargaining – but noted. agreeing to what the superintendent said.” “The KNEA documents online provide us a view of what “They actually ‘bargained’ this year,” she added. “They were other districts and locals have done in regards to their persistent and asked questions that were not asked before. negotiations. It also helps to compare our district to other They made great strides in their contract language. It wasn’t districts similar in size.” always pretty, but in the end they, and members as a whole, Note: KNEA docs (www.kneadocs.org) is a member-only benefitted.” area that contains negotiated agreements bargained by While many agree it has not always been easy, there is a KNEA local affiliates plus a myriad of research and resources. respectful relationship between the school district and the Leaders can get a password from their UniServ Office. Victoria Education Association. Bottorf said the KNEA and NEA Web sites provide a lot of Superintendent Linda Kenne said she has the utmost information on various topics. “And the KNEA Membership respect for VEA, especially president Bottorf, saying she is a Access card provides opportunities to save us a lot of money!” great teacher and does a number of things for the district.
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Financial Security?
A successful retirement is built on many factors. For most retirees, there’s one more essential ingredient: Financial security. Whether you have already retired or are just about to, financial security is probably on your mind. And with good reason. Thanks to longer life expectancies, improved health care and early retirement options, the typical retirement is longer than ever before. A woman turning 65 in 2004 will live, on average, to be 85, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. A man the same age can expect to live to 82. So depending on when you stop work, this new life phase could easily last 20 or 30 years – or longer. That’s the good news. But, a longer retirement may require you to stretch your financial assets further than you ever anticipated. What’s more, the longer your time horizon, the more difficult it becomes to forecast income and expenses. For women, getting a handle on the financial future is particularly urgent. Not only do they live longer, but women still earn less than men on average– which translates into lower Social Security and pension benefits. Everyone has a different vision of retirement. You may be planning to travel the world, volunteer in your community, study Sanskrit or perfect your golf swing. But the one thing you don’t want to do is waste time worrying about money. That’s why NEA Member Benefits put together numerous resources to help you. Find it all at www.neamb.com. NEA MB provides answers to the most common money-related questions. There is a subject index to help you locate information most relevant to your personal situation. There’s also great information on basic financial planning, regardless of age and income. We hope the information will help you build a safer, happier, more financially secure retirement. Or, if you’re not retiring, we hope the information will help you feel more financially secure so you can take care of your family.
KNEA Pre-Retirement Seminars Another benefit of membership: Hands-on, user-friendly pre-retirement seminars are FREE to KNEA members and are sponsored by KNEA-Retired. The seminars include advice about KPERS benefits; financial planning for your investments; legal advice on wills, estates and taxes; and Social Security information. These seminars are for members contemplating retirement within the next five to seven years. They are held throughout the year. Find dates on the e-calendar, located on the right side of the KNEA Web site (www.knea.org). You can also contact KNEA-Retired Staff Liason CJ Schmitt at carolyn.schmitt@ knea.org.
Now is also the time to consider joining KNEA-Retired, if you haven’t done so already. Can a person join KNEA-R and NEA-R before they actually retire? Yes, a person may choose to join as a “pre-retired” member and pay the lifetime dues while he/she is still working. By the time retirement occurs, the lifetime dues are paid. Many teachers in Kansas choose this option. How can local associations use the expertise of retired members? Don’t forget them. Many retired members volunteer to help with Read Across America activities, work on local newsletters, put up yard signs during elections and even deliver Association material to schools. KNEA Retired officers are President Judy Day, Arkansas City; Vice President Alma Lee Powers, Ulysses; Secretary/ Treasurer, Janis Taylor, Overland Park; Past President Terry Jochems, Pratt; The Apple Corps Editor Pam Taverner, Wichita; KNEA Board Member Betty J. Morgan, Paola. Contact your UniServ Director or KNEA for details.
Yet Another Resource!
NEA Home Financing Program Now Offers $200 Gift Card Bonus for Mortgage and Refinance Loans NEA Member Benefits is pleased to announce that, beginning April 1, 2009, the NEA Home Financing Program, operated through Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, will offer a $200 Hallmark Insights Gift Card bonus for NEA members signing on a new mortgage or refinance loan. The $200 gift card bonus is available on all mortgage and refinance loans, including Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans. (Previously, the bonus offer was a $200 closing cost rebate bonus, which did not apply to FHA loans due to U.S. Housing and Urban Development regulations.) The Hallmark Insights gift card may be used by members to make purchases at dozens of merchants nationwide including department stores, restaurants, movie theaters, electronics and book/music retailers, drugstores, hotels and more. To learn more about the NEA Home Financing Program, please call 1-800-NEA4YOU.
The mission of the Kansas National Education Association is to empower its members to promote quality public schools, strengthen the teaching profession and improve the well-being of members. KNEA Issues is published 10 times during the school year by the Kansas National Education Association, 715 West 10th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas, 66612. Subscription: $2.50 of KNEA dues are designated for the Issues; $10 per year for nonmembers. Copyright, 2009, by KNEA; all materials in this periodical may be reproduced by members for distribution to students or by KNEA affiliates for their own publications. President: Blake West -- Executive Director: Claudette Johns -- Editor: Cynthia Menzel -- Asst. Editor: Mike McGugin
www.knea.org
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Your KNEA Membership ACCESS Card Presents
Savings are always in style Visit www.knea .org and discover attractive deals for summer plans!
KNEA Issues May 2009, Vol. 26, No. 10 715 SW 10th Avenue Topeka, KS 66612-1686
Meet Sandra Walker Lawrence EA “I appreciate the peace of mind of knowing that there are VERY good people to help me out if I need them! I also appreciate my KNEA membership because of the wealth of information available to me at the click of a mouse or a phone call.”
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 9 Topeka, KS