ISTA Advocate - Winter 2019

W INTER

2019

A N I N D I A N A S TAT E T E A C H E R S A S S O C I AT I O N P U B L I C AT I O N

Educators Are Committed to Students From school to the Statehouse – educators give it their all PAGES 8-10

CTE: What's the latest on career learning and grad pathways?

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OUR KID S . OUR S C H OOLS . OU R F U T U RE .

WINTER 2019: VOL. 2, ISSUE 2

94%

of U.S. teachers spend their own money on their students behalf.

IN THIS ISSUE

Teresa Meredith President Keith Gambill Vice President Doug Taylor Treasurer

How much have you spent out-ofpocket on your students?

Dan Holub Executive Director

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Kim Clements-Johnson Editor

Indiana State Teachers Association Publisher

Keith Clock Contributor

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Perspectives

Ask Eric

Our Rights

Join ISTA in the Red For Ed movement during the legislative session.

ISTA’s legal counsel answers your questions.

What’s the difference between walk-ins, walkouts and strikes?

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Organizing in Action Advocate to fund our future.

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Our Advocacy

Our Members

What’s on the horizon for ILEARN?

CTE is poised to grow as graduation pathways are implemented.

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Our Profession

Our Association

Extra Credit

Let’s get moving! Making the connection between PE, recess and student performance.

Statements from candidates for ISTA statewide office.

Expert advice on surviving the cold and flu season.

We want to hear from you! Send ISTA your comments about the magazine. If you have story ideas or want to be a contributor, email communications@ista-in.org.

Advocate is the official quarterly publication of the Indiana State Teachers Association, the state level of the United Education Profession. The content of the Association’s publications will be consistent with its mission, strategic objectives and policies.

Melanie Harris Contributor Kara Seward Contributor

EDITORIAL BOARD Jennifer Andrews Elkhart Teachers Association Sarah Chism Greater Clark Para-Educator Association Bianka Tinklenberg Plymouth Education Association Steve Wynn ISTA UniServ Director

150 W. Market St., Ste. 900 Indianapolis, IN 46204

PURPOSE, MISSION, AND GOALS PURPOSE To advocate for and advance the interests of Indiana’s students, educators and public schools.

MISSION The Indiana State Teachers Association is a professional association organized to sustain quality public education, improve students’ educational opportunities and advance the professional status of educators.

GOALS • Unified voice - we are stronger together.

• Economic security and professional working conditions for educators.

• Premier public education system that serves all kids regardless of ZIP code, culture or ability.

ISTA-IN.ORG

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PRESIDENT’S LETTER

I

knew my last year serving as ISTA president was going to be one filled with joy, reflection, reservation, maybe even a little regret, but ultimately, hope for the future. We’re on the cusp of turning the tide in Indiana – I can feel it. I see it in your faces and hear it in your voices.

Last fall, I decided to spend my last year serving as ISTA president traveling to meet with as many members as possible. I wanted to hear what you’re most proud of, what continues to challenge you, what you hope for the future and what you’re prepared to do to move the Association forward.

As of the writing of this, I’ve been in seven districts, walked the halls and stopped in the classrooms of some 30 buildings.

I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with superintendents, principals and support staff. And I’ve met many students – and well, that’s been the best part.

What I’ve seen won’t surprise you. I’ve seen great disparities from district to district depending on the influence and wealth of the surrounding community.

Rural schools in tight-knit communities are struggling to stay afloat, with few administrators and more work assigned to teachers. One rural district pays a small stipend for a teacher to do public relations, handling social media, promoting the district and assisting with local reporters and stories in the paper.

In two large neighboring cities, I saw vastly different situations. One had modern facilities where there are strong community partnerships.

Share your story on social media using the hashtag #RedForEd.

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Teresa Meredith, ISTA President @istapresident

The other had outdated equipment beyond repair, which often causes the space to be shut down for safety reasons.

Overall, I hear how tired you are, how much more you’re doing for just pennies added to your pay or one-time stipends.

Yet, you remain hopeful. You believe things must change. You want to do something about it. I do, too. And, we will.

Red For Ed is about engaging entire communities in the issues impacting their area public schools. It’s about creating awareness, support and action. Action comes when we are together, standing in unity for a common interest or purpose.

That interest in Indiana is school funding and educator pay.

Red For Ed is about hope. As educators, we give hope to students every day.

• • •

What are your hopes?

What’s holding you back as an educator?

How would increases in school funding and pay help your students?

Tell us. Share your story. Wear red proudly.

Engage during the legislative session.

Subscribe to our legislative updates and follow ISTA on social media to learn what you can do during this session.

PERSPECTIVES

Red For Ed Spreads Throughout Indiana ISTA educators show their support for fully funding public schools and improving educator compensation by wearing red on Wednesdays.

Join us!

Learn more about the Red For Ed movement at neatoday.org/redfored.

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ASK ERIC

Ask Eric Eric Hylton is ISTA’s legal counsel. He is an attorney and partner at the law firm of Riley, Bennett & Egloff, LLP in Indianapolis.

Hylton holds degrees from Indiana University-Bloomington Kelley School of Business and Indiana University-Indianapolis School of Law. Hylton answers common member questions about legal protections and services, due process and member support.

Submit your questions to communications@ista-in.org.

What is the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board (IEERB) and how does it impact my work and my local contract?

IEERB is a state agency that oversees collective bargaining and exclusive representation of teachers. By law, IEERB must review all collective bargaining agreements for compliance with Indiana law. IEERB also decides cases where local associations allege that a school corporation has committed an unfair labor practice. Before taking a case to court for issues involving collective bargaining, discussion or other unfair practices, local associations must first submit the case to IEERB for a legal determination.

What topics are eligible for discussion? How are they determined? What should a local do if the administration doesn’t bring a discussable topic to the exclusive representative?

Indiana law specifically determines what issues are eligible for discussion. If the exclusive representative knows about

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a topic that needs to be discussed, it has an obligation to bring this issue to the administration. The local should not wait for the administration to bring the issue forward. However, if an issue is not known to the local association, and the administration makes changes to a discussable item without discussion, it may be guilty of committing an unfair labor practice. Pursuant to IC 20-296-7, a school corporation must discuss the following topics with the local association: (1) Curriculum development and revision; (2) Selection of curricular materials; (3) Teaching methods; (4) Hiring, evaluation, promotion, demotion, transfer, assignment, and retention of certificated employees; (5) Student discipline; (6) Expulsion or supervision of students; (7) Pupil/teacher ratio; (8) Class size or budget appropriations; (9) Safety issues for students and employees in the workplace; (10) Hours; (11) Funding for remediation programs; (12) Teacher appreciation grants; (13) Pre-evaluation planning sessions; (14) Superintendent’s report to the school board concerning staff performance evaluations; and (15) Career pathways and mentorship plans.

OUR RIGHTS

WALK-INS, WALKOUTS AND STRIKES How Are They Different?

Educators from around the country have taken job-related actions to improve working and student learning conditions.

Many of these actions started with educators conducting school walk-ins, but some actions, like those in Arizona, lasted several days. So, what is the difference between a walkin, walkout and a strike?

When it comes to educator actions, the choice of terms can mean different legal implications.

Walk-ins Walk-ins have been used all over the country to bring attention to educator or student needs.

With a walk-in, educators gather 30 minutes to an hour before school. School employees meet with parents and other school staff to discuss the needs and purpose of the action. Successful walkins use social media to share photos and the message with the community.

At the start of school, educators all walk into school in unison.

The goal of a walk-in is to show community support for an issue. As opposed to walkouts or strikes, a walk-in has no legal ramifications.

Walkouts vs. Strikes Strikes and walkouts by public employees are illegal in Indiana, and there can be personal as well as Association repercussions.

A walkout is when educators leave their school in protest and can last as little as a few minutes or as much as several days.

Some walkouts in 2018 had the support of school administrators.

A strike involves a vote by the school employees to stop work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "A strike is a temporary stoppage of work by a group of workers (not necessarily union members) to express a grievance or enforce a demand."

Unified action for our kids, our schools and our future can be effective in bringing to light the issues and concerns of educators. Join ISTA at the Statehouse during the legislative session to make sure legislators hear educator voices.

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ORGANIZING IN ACTION

Red For Ed What ISTA Will Be Fighting for This Upcoming Legislative Session As educators continue to advocate for their students and profession through the Red For Ed movement, ISTA members will use their voices at the Statehouse this legislative session. ISTA’s legislative agenda will include these three goals.

Improve Teacher Compensation and Advance the Teaching Profession • Tell elected leaders to declare teacher compensation a priority.

• Make salaries competitive within our region (Ill., Ky., Mich., Ohio and Wis.) on a reasonable timeframe.

• Prioritize spending on classroom instruction and student achievement rather than administration.

Strengthen School Safety • Invest in school counselors, psychologists and social workers.

• Require school buses to have stop-arm lights and cameras installed and implemented over a four-year period.

• Require all new bus purchases to include stop-arm lights and cameras.

Restore Collective Bargaining • Restrict schools from fund transfers and false claims of deficit financing.

• Uncouple teacher evaluation decisions from base salary calculations.

• Restore collective bargaining rights on the days and hours educators work.

Find the full list of ISTA’s priorities at ista-in.org/leg-platform.

Follow ISTA legislative updates to learn how you can advocate for our kids, our schools and our future. Sign up at advocacy.ista-in.org.

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OUR ADVOCACY

Students in Barber’s class wearing coats from Operation Warm.

Courtney Barber Courtney Barber is a fifth-year teacher in Michigan City.

This is her first year teaching fourth grade at Edgewood Elementary. She has served in several roles for ISTA at the local, district and state level throughout the years, even while in college.

One Educator Uses Grants and Community Connections to Better Serve Her Kids One thing we all know too well, educators spend their hardearned dollars on school supplies, and really, anything our students need. The Red For Ed movement has tallied how much educators have spent out-of-pocket nationally – as of publication, it’s more than $500,000. In addition, educators also look for opportunities to secure additional funding to get what their students need. Here’s a story of one educator who found a way to provide for her students.

Continued on page 10

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OUR ADVOCACY

Continued from page 9

To be a teacher, you must have a giving and kind heart. Many of my students come from low-income families, and like many other teachers, I have found myself buying school supplies for them so that they can be successful in the classroom. Having that kind and giving heart has led me to donate clothes to our school closet, buy shoes for students in need and even provide Christmas to a few of my students’ families over the years.

Grant writing is a fantastic way that I have been able to provide more for my students, and I search for opportunities when I have the chance. Recently, a colleague was awarded a large grant through AdoptAClassroom.org, so I started to search for funding opportunities.

Earlier this school year, I saw an opportunity from Lane Bryant. They were partnering with Operation Warm to provide a classroom with 12 winter coats and funding for school supplies. I wrote a short essay explaining why my students were worthy of new winter coats and classroom supplies, and I was awarded the grant.

When accepting the grant, I had the option to take some of the funding to purchase coats for the rest of my students. Not all of my students were in need of a coat, but I still purchased 24 brand new coats for students in my class and the school.

The grant also provided a complete set of Scholastic News and new supplies.

Each student in my class was also given a new crewneck sweatshirt to wear during the school day by a local company.

While a sweatshirt or coat may seem small to some, it meant the world to my students.

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Barber’s class in sweatshirts secured through grant funding.

So far, educators have reported spending $515,436 on school supplies out-of-pocket.

How much have you spent?

Add to the national tally at neatoday.org/redfored/ outofmypocket.

Share your #OutOfMyPocket story on social media.

Dr. Charity Flores Dr. Charity Flores is the director of assessment at the Indiana Department of Education. Flores began her career as an educator in Indiana and has since developed expertise in the assessment industry.

Testing and the New ILEARN The Indiana Department of Education will initiate ILEARN in the spring of 2019. This assessment replaces ISTEP+ for Grades 3 – 8, measuring content in English/language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.

ILEARN differs from ISTEP+ in many ways. For one, ILEARN is delivered online using a computer adaptive testing (CAT) algorithm. Each student is assessed over the same content blueprint. The blueprint defines much of the content standards each student will be delivered during their experience. Blueprints are posted publicly at https://bit.ly/2UbcR3T. In addition, ILEARN focuses on accessibility for all students through the creation and delivery of the assessment.

Item writers consider linguistic complexity of the items to ensure students can access the content of the assessment. Features such as English and translated glossaries are available for students to access the content during

the delivery experience. More information about accessibility is available by visiting https://bit.ly/2DX8oMt. Another way ILEARN stands out is in its very creation. ILEARN was created by Indiana educators. Over 1,200 educators have participated in the development and design so far. This ensures the assessment aligns to instructional practices in Indiana. Along with ILEARN creation, Indiana educators may also participate in scoring the assessment, following administration, this spring.

Participation details can be found at https://bit.ly/2BOCTm6.

Finally, ILEARN will determine proficiency across four levels: Below Proficiency, Approaching Proficiency, At Proficiency and Above Proficiency.

Indiana educators recommended segmenting the scale for students not achieving proficiency to better inform where formative strategies might be needed to gain insight for remediation.

Detailed descriptions of the proficiency levels are available and can be found by visiting https://bit.ly/2RyPoHZ. Spring 2019 marks the beginning of a whole new way to assess Indiana students. With the help of Indiana’s educators, we know we can make it a success.

ISTA-IN.ORG

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Get Organized Defeat clutter with these tips and tools

First, let’s talk digital.

Many educators have a computer or laptop today, and that means digital files. Whether you have documents or Google Drive, files are the main method of organization. But where to start?

1. Make a folder for your school.

2. Inside this folder, make other folders - for example, professional development, math, English 9, Robotics Club, etc. Think of this school folder as your school brain. Anything you deal with at school needs a folder. Some folders may have folders inside of them, for example a reading folder may have fluency, spelling and vocabulary folders inside.

3. Inside these folders could be any documents, articles, activities, notes, slides, PowerPoints or whatever is used in that subject or pertains to that subject.

Paper materials also need a place to live.

I love tiny milk crates and 9” x 5” manila envelopes fit in them perfectly. Half-page center activities can be stored in the manila envelopes and each milk crate can be used for a different center!

Full page worksheets, materials and books can be stored in labeled magazine holders and placed on a shelf behind your desk. These holders are versatile and make materials easy to access.

Megan McAdams Megan McAdams is a teacher at Frances Slocum Elementary and a member of the Marion Teachers Association. McAdams has presented her classroom organization best practices at several ISTA professional development conferences.

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OUR MEMBERS

Scott Simpson Scott Simpson is a 35-year veteran educator. He is dual certified in math and science. He recently served on the graduation pathways advisory committee to the State Board of Education. He currently teaches in the aviation program at the Marion Regional Career Center.

CTE Program to Grow with Grad Pathways It’s 5:30 a.m., and I am driving students to Indianapolis in a white mini bus. Why? Because like educators everywhere, my desire is to provide educational opportunities for those I teach, and those opportunities don’t always occur within the four walls of a traditional classroom.

The goal of Career Technical Education (CTE) is to provide students with training that will lead them into a career after high school. As part of students’ education, skill sets specific to the vocation are taught and practiced, often at a job site. Many programs culminate with a certification which is recognized by the career field in which the students are trained. Some programs are an introduction to the field, and students will continue their education after high school.

Some offer immediate employability skills, which lead directly to a job after high school, and continuing education often occurs on the job. Either way, the direct application of learning a potential

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Scott Simpson (R) with his aviation students.

career appeals to a multitude of students, some who perform well in a traditional classroom and some who do not.

With the implementation of graduation pathways which allows students a variety of ways to earn their high school diploma, CTE will become increasingly important.

As one pathway, students can demonstrate their application of knowledge rather than being forced to show what they know on a single assessment. From building trades to information technology systems, welding to aviation, culinary arts to graphic arts, CTE, more than ever, is providing opportunities for students to realize a bright future and fill the needs of tomorrow’s workforce.

What Are the Latest Changes to CTE? CTE has caught the attention of Indiana lawmakers in the past several years, marking a growing national trend to focus on workforce alignment and employability opportunities for students.

The Indiana General Assembly has revamped workforce programs and funding. The focus on CTE has led to disagreements between educators, policymakers and employers about who is best equipped to train Hoosier youth for future educational and career endeavors.

There have been some role shifts between the Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Department of Workforce Development and other agencies, as well.

Beginning with the 2019 freshman class, Hoosier high school students will be required to complete the state’s new graduation pathways.

One of the most recent products of the CTE surge is the local CTE concentrator under the new graduation pathway requirements. These students must earn at least six credits in a state approved CTE pathway cluster. The courses must be aligned sequentially in preparation for an industry-certified credential, technical certification or a degree from a postsecondary institution with an emphasis on a high wage or high demand field in Indiana.

These local CTE concentrator programs must be approved by the Indiana State Board of Education and be developed in partnerships between the school districts and local business and industry, training providers or community organizations.

How Do Grad Pathways Impact Students with Disabilities?

Beginning with the 2019 freshman class, Hoosier high school students will be required to complete the state’s new graduation pathways. The State Board of Education devised the requirements to provide students more flexibility in pursuing their individual educational and career interests.

During the development of the pathway options, educators and parents expressed concerns about the impact of more rigorous requirements on students with disabilities and whether their chances to earn a diploma would be diminished. A student who earns a General Diploma under the new Indiana definitions enacted this year is considered a graduate. Students earning the General Diploma must, however, complete the pathway requirements. Students with more severe cognitive disabilities – about 1 percent of Hoosier students – earning a Certificate of Completion are not required to complete pathways.

Additionally, students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) will need to fulfill the pathway requirements, but the IEP may include accommodations and resources to assist them. Waiver options will also be available under certain circumstances.

School districts will also be implementing local pathway plans approved by the state board, which will provide further opportunities for all students including those with special needs.

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OUR PROFESSION

HOW PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CAN

Improve Academic Performance Brad Bennett Brad Bennett graduated from Indiana State University. He has been teaching physical education/ aquatics at Western School Corporation in Russiaville since 2001. He is the president of the Western Education Association and has been a member of ISTA since he began teaching in 1999.

In the world of high stakes testing, growth models and targeted groups, educators are expected to look at our students as numbers, letters or colors. We are always looking to find better ways to help our students grow and perform when it comes time to test. An often-overlooked strategy that has been proven to get results is physical activity.

Physical education class isn’t just the place where classroom teachers leave their students to learn running form and how to kick and throw a ball, only to return to class a little stinkier. Students also become better learners.

As a swimming instructor, I enjoy giving my students a break from the confines of their traditional classrooms.

In my classroom, kickboards replace whiteboards.

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Splish splash! Bennett’s swim class tests the water before the lesson.

Swimming is an unfamiliar skill for many of my K – 2 students, learning and progress happen quickly for those who model characteristics of good students. If a student listens to instruction, practices the skills and follows up with their recommended remediation, they succeed very quickly. If they don’t, their success is not as fast as their peers.

They can immediately see the difference in their skills when they compare themselves to classmates. As an instructor, I help them capitalize on that motivation and help them realize that improving their skills as a student will help them directly improve their skills as a swimmer. When that happens, they leave the pool as better swimmers and better students.

Recess is often another overlooked gem in the treasure chest of strategies to improve students as learners. In a day

when we have every minute scheduled, it is hard to see the value of time dedicated to nothingness.

But, the absence of a formally scheduled activity is extremely important to a student’s day. Not only is it an opportunity for students to relax and reset, it is a time to exercise and play.

Students who are in better balance physically and mentally return to the classroom ready to perform better in the testing arena.

Don’t be afraid to incorporate more physical activity into your students’ day.

If you can create a learning environment that puts them in a healthy balance, mentally and physically, you will have created a perfect situation for student learning and positive test results that show student growth and satisfy any performance box that needs to be checked off on an evaluation.

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OUR ASSOCIATION

C A N D I D AT E

STATEMENTS At the 2019 ISTA Representative Assembly (RA), there will be three statewide positions up for election – president, vice president and National Education Association (NEA) board of director. The following candidates submitted their intention to run in time for publication in the Advocate. Interested candidates may complete a candidate form by March 1, 2019, to be eligible for candidacy at the RA on April 27. All candidates will be featured on ista-in.org/blog and ista-in.org/ista-ra prior to the RA.

INTERESTED IN RUNNING?

Learn more at ista-in.org/governing-documents.

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CAN D IDAT E S FO R PRE S I D E N T

Paul Farmer

Keith Gambill

We are at a turning point in our profession and association where the alarming rate of educational change requires a leader with the tools, fortitude, personality and collaborative skills to meet challenges head on. Public school advocacy and lobbying state legislators for financial support of public schools have always been a focused objective, but the teaching profession and how we broker legislative support must change. It is time we meet this challenge head on. We must change our approach to how we battle against vouchers and charters, so that we work collaboratively to avert factions that seek the destruction of public schools and our association.

We must embrace our pluralistic differences in order to move forward and succeed in the battle to support public schools for ALL students.

I promise that if elected ISTA President, I will work tirelessly to provide leadership for our members, so they can accomplish their goals of educating our youth of today and tomorrow. Combating accelerated change and the prolonged attack of our public schools and association, requires organized, collaborative efforts from all and I am the person to lead those efforts.

Public education is the great equalizer.

Unfortunately, there are leaders in our state and nation that seek to destroy this valued institution. For over 160 years the ISTA has been a stalwart in protecting public education, fighting for members’ rights, and championing our students. We have come too far to turn back now.

As Vice President of ISTA these past six years, I have had the privilege to witness, firsthand, the hard work and struggle of our members. I have seen members give their time, money, love, compassion, sweat, food, clothing, and other necessities for their students.

I know the sacrifices educators, and their families, make to ensure all students receive a quality education.

It is my belief in public education and the great work of the Association that drives my decision to seek the office of President. For more than 30 years, I have sought to be the best teacher for my students inside the classroom and the best advocate for them outside the classroom. I have faith that collectively we can make a brighter future. As your next president, I pledge to work in solidarity to advance public education in Indiana and I thank you for your support.

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OUR ASSOCIATION

CAN D IDAT E S FO R VICE PR E S I D E N T

Jennifer Smith-Margraf

Steve Wilson

Respect.

I am Steve Wilson, candidate for VicePresident of the Indiana State Teachers Association. During 30 years as a Spanish teacher, I was Vice-President and President of the Northwestern Classroom Education Association in Kokomo, and elected to the ISTA Board of Directors. I now serve on the negotiating team and am ViceChair of District 7. I was grateful to receive training for emerging minority leaders through the National Education Association. I regularly attend state and national representative assemblies.

While traveling the state exchanging thoughts and ideas talking with teachers, education support professionals, and retired members I hear a common theme. We all want our profession to be respected and valued.

As a female educator I recognize that society’s view of the role of educators as caregivers plays to that lack of respect and how this perception negatively impacts every educator – male and female.

I believe that ISTA needs to be proactive and take the initiative in generating support for our policy positions in our communities and at the state legislature by consistently advocating for a model school funding formula, full bargaining rights for our ESP members, and a yearly COLA for our retirees.

We will achieve success by organizing our members around these issues.

As we have seen with the Red for Ed movement across the nation, we do have the power to make positive change on behalf of public education.

As your next ISTA Vice-President I pledge I will work on every member’s behalf to bring back the respect that our profession deserves. I ask for your vote for ISTA Vice-President.

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Adversity in education created the need for a strong union in Indiana to protect and advocate for our public schools amid the current negative climate. I advocate that diversity in leadership positions will make ISTA more capable to serve its active and retired teachers, education support professionals, and student members. We must also reach out to other unions and community organizations throughout the state to forge a powerful coalition to improve the pay and working conditions of our members.

If elected Vice-President of ISTA, I will work tirelessly to foster effective communication among ISTA affiliates, all membership categories, and local communities. My desire is to be an agent of change where needed to move us forward in a positive and progressive manner.

CAND IDAT E FO R N E A B OARD OF D I R EC TOR S

I am continuously engaged in the state of public education. Over the past twenty-plus years, I have taken an active role in seeking communication with our legislators and establishing opportunities for our members to share their personal stories with elected officials. I regularly promote ISTA/NEA legislative programs and lobbying activities.

Julie Hyndman Our public schools must be a priority to ensure that all children receive an equitable education and appropriate services. I am Julie Hyndman, and I am seeking to serve ISTA as a member of the NEA Board of Directors. As a local president of the Fort Wayne Education Association, active participant in both the State and National Representative Assemblies, and elected IPACE member,

I served in a number of capacities on the ISTA Board of Directors from 2010-2016; I was elected to the Board Management Committee and worked on the Member Benefits and Affiliations teams. I have comanaged a membership blitz, facilitated local and state training, proactively engaged in one-on-one conversations with members, and sought and received grants to advocate and encourage our organization’s principles. We must strive to stimulate the success of our public schools. I ask for your vote of support to help achieve this goal.

Interested in running? Learn more at ista-in.org/governing-documents.

The candidate statements were prepared by the candidates for the offices of president, vice president and NEA board of director. Each statement has been printed in its entirety, unabridged, as it was received, but limited to 200 words or fewer. ISTA Rules Governing Elections, (III. A., 2., b. and c.) prohibit the use of Association staff and equipment on behalf of any candidate for Association office.

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EXTRA CREDIT

TAC K L E T H E CO L D A N D F LU S E A S O N

As we pull out our sweaters for the cold weather, it’s also time to prepare for the inevitable cold and flu season.

Here are my top five tips to help us all survive the next few months.

1

Get a flu shot! Research shows it is the number one way to avoid getting and/or spreading influenza.

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Don’t touch your face! Your skin provides an excellent barrier, however the “holes” in your face (eyes, mouth, nose) provide an avenue for those germs to sneak in!

Cough or sneeze into your elbow to prevent contaminating your hands and spreading microorganisms to nearby surfaces.

2

Wash your hands frequently – soap and water for at least 20 seconds is best, but you can use an alcoholbased hand sanitizer if a sink is not handy.

5

Avoid getting run down by getting enough sleep and reducing stress.

W I S H I N G Y O U A L L A H E A LT H Y, H A P P Y Y E A R !

Sunny Stachera ISTA member Sunny Stachera represents the nurses of Fort Wayne Community Schools. She has been in public education for 15 years and currently works at North Side High School where she cares for 1,600 students and 140 staff.

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Sprint Works℠ for Educational Professionals Teachers, administrators, and other education staffers enjoy special savings through the Sprint Works Program. It’s our thanks for your good work.

Being rewarded for being an educator works for me.

http://sprint.co/2DgLWLX Bring this code to the closest Sprint store along with proof of employment, such as your work badge or paystub to receive your discount. Corporate ID: GDVRT_ZZZ Activ. Fee: Up to $30/line. Credit approval req. Sprint Works Offers: Sel. SWP only. Offers avail. for eligible company/agency employees or org. members (ongoing verification). Subject to change according to the company’s/agency’s/org’s agreement with Sprint. Offers are avail. upon request. Other Terms: Offers/ coverage not avail. everywhere or for all phones/networks. May not be combinable with other offers. Restrictions N175944CA apply. See store or sprint.com for details. © 2018 Sprint. All rights reserved.

Let's Get Moving! Physical Activity and Student Performance

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