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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
Want to be a delegate to NEA Representative Assembly? Learn more. PAGE 15
VIEWPOINT: Why educator diversity is important
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OUR KID S . OUR S C H OOLS . OU R F U T U RE .
FALL 2019: VOL. 3, ISSUE 1
Deadline for ISTA Treasurer Candidates
Keith Gambill President
At the 2020 ISTA Representative Assembly April 25, 2020, delegates will elect an ISTA treasurer. If you are interested in running for this position, you must notify the Office of the Executive Director by March 1 via the candidate form at ista-in.org/governing-documents. If you wish for your candidate statement to appear in the Advocate, submit your candidate form by Nov. 1. All candidate statements submitted after Nov. 1 will be published on the ISTA website.
Jennifer Smith-Margraf Vice President Doug Taylor Treasurer Dan Holub Executive Director Indiana State Teachers Association Publisher Kim Clements-Johnson Editor Keith Clock Contributor
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Organizing in Action
Ask Eric ISTA’s legal counsel outlines changes to education law.
How your local association can use social media to reach broader audiences.
08 Our Members IPS Teacher of the Year shares experience with Newcomer Program.
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Our Advocacy
Our Advocacy
Our Profession
Building mental health supports for students.
Thanks to our I-PACE Leveled Giving donors.
Wafa’ Safi-Hassan hopes to see more educators from diverse backgrounds.
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Professional Development First Books offers a top ten list of the best books for your classroom right now.
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Our Association
Extra Credit
Election rules and nomination forms for NEA Representative Assembly.
Healthful snack options from food service colleagues.
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.
Kara Seward Contributor
EDITORIAL BOARD Mickey Brady LaPorte ESP Association Rhiannon Castetter Seymour Education Association Sanae Glendening Vigo County Teachers Association Ron Curry Delaware Community Classroom Teachers 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.
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PRESIDENT’S LETTER
T
he dog days of summer are giving way to cooler weather, football games and
marching bands and shorter days. Likewise, we and our students have slipped into our regular routine. There’s something comforting in routine. If, however, you are like me and have a new position, you may still be trying to adjust to your
Keith Gambill, ISTA President Follow Keith on Twitter @istapresident
new normal. I began transitioning into this role right after the election, and it’s been nonstop ever since! At the end of July, the ISTA Board of Directors had our first meeting of the new year. At that meeting the board elected John Comer, Jennifer Laughlin, Linda Lucy, Tiauna “T” Washington, Donnie Watkins and Steve Wilson to serve along side the state officers as the executive committee. In addition to our general work we also took part in a trauma-informed/trauma sensitivity training. ISTA Vice President Jennifer SmithMargraf, Treasurer Doug Taylor and I have been crisscrossing the state meeting with members. We have attended membership trainings, new educator events and Red For Ed programs. Additionally, we have attended the governor’s Teacher Compensation Commission hearings. I set out a goal to make sure our work on Red For Ed focuses on funding for
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public education. To boost that point, I am working to spotlight the 60 public school districts that will receive less state funding over this next biennium. From meet-and-greets before and after school to tailgating to band rehearsals, I want our members and our communities to know ISTA is fighting for better funding. You can follow my travels on our social media platforms. ISTA members – you have been AMAZING all summer and into the fall working on Red For Ed. Local associations have marched in parades, held grade-ins in their communities, spoken to legislators, educated the public and in general doing what we always do – working for the best interests of our students. Keep sharing your stories, videos and pictures at InvestInEducationIN.org. Our movement is gaining momentum, and we must continue the pressure. I want you all to know how proud I am of you and the remarkable work you do for Hoosier students.
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.
What is the intent of the Indiana Open Door Law in regard to school boards?
Should my school board be holding executive sessions prior to each school board meeting?
The intent of the Open Door Law (ODL) is that official actions of school boards be conducted and taken openly in order that members of the public may be fully informed and that such meetings be open at all times to allow members of the public to observe and record the proceedings.
No. The Indiana Public Access Counselor handbook states, “A goal of a government unit is to schedule executive sessions sparingly. They should not be held regularly, nor should they be a standing meeting on a governing body’s schedule. A governing body should hold only a handful of them a year, if at all. These sessions are heavily scrutinized by the Public Access Counselor.”
Does a member of the public have the right to speak at a school board meeting? No. There is no Indiana law that requires that a member of the public be allowed to speak at a public school board meeting. Additionally, if a school board allows public comment, the board can limit the topics and number of comments, and also limit the length of such comments.
What should I do if my school board is violating the ODL? Any person can contact the Public Access Counselor to file a formal complaint or request an informal opinion on whether your school board is complying with the ODL.
Hylton answers common member questions about legal protections and services, due process and member support. Submit your questions to communications@ista-in.org.
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ORGANIZING IN ACTION
Use Social Media Effectively for Your Local Association Promoting the work of the Association and its members in your communities is critical to ISTA’s success as an organization. Using social media channels is one of the best methods of reaching, not only members, but your friends, family and community members as well.
Take advantage of Facebook’s large reach and use it to increase the awareness of your local or work as an educator. Facebook’s format makes it ideal to engage with followers, whether they be members of the local association or community. Recently, videos and live videos have been effective in reaching followers with Red For Ed stories and other advocacy efforts.
Sharing news from your local association and relevant education news stories is an effective use of Twitter. Surveys have shown that most Twitter users utilize the platform as a news source. To increase engagement, consider including photos, videos or GIFs, as well as tagging other users or targets in your tweets. Finding and including relevant hashtags can help too.
Instagram is great for reaching younger audiences. Posting behind-the-scenes photos or photos of the local association or educators at work is effective. Motivational and inspirational quotes are one of the most popular content types on Instagram as well.
Share your #RedForEd story at InvestInEducationIN.org. Upload a video, image or quote outlining why you’re wearing Red For Ed.
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Be savvy about using social media. Everything you post can be screen shot and shared, even if you delete posts or content. Share only truthful information. Have a sense of humor, but don’t be too flippant. You are still representing your local association.
ISTA members snapping a selfie.
How Does Your Local Use Social Media? “Several years ago, leaders from WCTA, including myself, created public pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to reach members, contact lawmakers and raise awareness within our community. On Instagram, by using some strategic hashtags, we were able to reach more people. My hope is that we are rallying not only teachers but also our community and bringing them into the ongoing conversation about public education.” Erin Braune, West Clark Teachers Association
“We do so many things, but often our members didn’t know about them. Reading a long email isn’t always feasible. Tweets allow us to keep our members up to date in a few words. We have found not only does it help our members stay up to date, but many community members follow us and it has allowed us to connect with other locals. Our #RedForEd information and live tweets of school board meetings are our most popular tweets. Twitter has allowed us to tell our story.” Melissa Mitchell, Goshen Education Association
“I believe that our Facebook page is a great way to get information out to multiple people that we normally would not reach! With the page being open to anyone, the information can be delivered to a more diverse audience; it isn’t limited to just MEA members. It is a simple communication tool!” Sue Ellen Sopher, Maconaquah Education Association
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OUR MEMBERS
Ethan Hoffman Ethan Hoffman teaches math to students grades 9 – 11 in the Indianapolis Public Schools’ Newcomer Program. The program serves immigrant and refugee students who are new to the U.S. and, in some cases, have never attended school. Hoffman is the 2020 Indianapolis Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year and a nominee for Indiana Teacher of the Year.
Welcoming Students Through Teaching and Learning My teaching experience began at the launch of the Newcomer Program in the fall of 2016. Indianapolis Public Schools was seeking an alternative program to better serve its many immigrant and refugee students, and I was incredibly excited to begin serving on a small team of caring and dedicated professionals. A handful of teachers and staff set out to support our students in their English acquisition, development of academic skills and adjustment to the U.S. educational system. As with any new teaching role, I faced a number of challenges. I sought to not only teach my students all that I could about algebra, but also assist them in learning English, navigating a new country and communicating even the most basic information. While these odds routinely seem stacked against us as educators, it has been a privilege to help my students achieve success and support them in their own personal growth. I feel honored to teach math to my students, support them through tutoring and mentoring during lunch and drive a culture of service and community around my school. I continue to marvel at the growth they achieve, the hearts of those
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I work alongside and the advancements I have had over the past few years. I am thankful for the lessons my students and colleagues have taught me and for the unified vision and continued commitment of my team.
Growth is never easy, but it is worth the great effort. I hope to continue my service by encouraging my students and fellow servants in education to strive for progress and use every opportunity to care for those around them. It is a great gift to grow through the love and support of others, but even greater to inspire progress by offering the love and support that you yourself have received.
OUR ADVOCACY
How Indiana Is Growing to Support the Whole Child The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) created the social, emotional and behavioral wellness team, housed within the Office of School Improvement, to connect school improvement to social, emotional and behavioral wellness. Indiana’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan reflects this commitment by including a section on supporting all students, outlining the collaborative effort needed across multiple public and private sectors to fulfill the needs of the whole child. More information on this section of the plan can be found on the IDOE website. For Indiana students to be successful, an intentional emphasis must be placed on their academic, behavioral, social and emotional needs.
Christy Berger Christy Berger, MSW, LSW, is the assistant director of social, emotional and behavioral wellness at the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work. She started working at IDOE in 2018.
IDOE believes through a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework our schools can support all students by working through a coordinated system of resources, stakeholders and partnerships. To support Indiana educators, IDOE’s MTSS team has provided professional awareness on the creation, development and implementation of MTSS. In September and October of this year, IDOE’s team will provide nine regional trainings on the implementation of MTSS. Currently, IDOE is collaborating with six districts to create model sites for the implementation of the MTSS framework. For additional information, please visit the IDOE website.
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OUR ADVOCACY
Leveled Giving Makes Advocacy Possible Donations to the Indiana Political Action Committee for Education (I-PACE) support the election of pro-public education candidates and the passage of public school funding referenda. Thank you to those ISTA members and public education advocates who have gone beyond the typical gift. Consider increasing your donation. Learn more at ipace-in.org/donate.
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Craig Blume Thomas Burns Jennifer Clutter Veronica Embry Mark Ray Felix Dan Holub Patricia Kennedy Hilda Kendrick-Appiah Heidi Miller David Smith Jennifer Smith-Margraf Gail Zeheralis
Mary Bird-Lowry Ginger Calhoun Franklin Denton Keith Gambill Marla Glover Julie Hyndman Teresa Meredith Angela Miller Jeff Vest Sara Wood-Gibbs
Diana Bucher James Clauser Julie Eaden Janet Hayes Angie Marie Hood Jeanna Jones Rosemary Moore Mary Ann Elizabeth Pollard Randall Studt Brenda Weddell Judy Woodson
You Have the Choice Options Guaranteed, or political action committee (PAC) giving, is a program that supports bipartisan friends of public education in the Indiana legislature, state officeholders, local school boards and referenda. Electing officials who respect our profession and the kids we serve is more important than ever as is funding our schools with local dollars through referenda.
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If you would like to opt out of Options Guaranteed, ask your local association membership chairperson or local president for a waiver. Remember that contributions to local and state PACs or the NEA Fund are voluntary, non-tax deductible, not a condition of membership and not a condition to receive membership services or benefits.
OUR PROFESSION
Just Like Me Benefits of Diverse Colleagues to Educators and Students Over a year ago, our district’s chief equity officer, wanted to put together a video representing as many student groups possible in our district. Being a teacher, a person of color and a sponsor to one of those student groups, I was also included. As I answered the questions with ease, she asked me a question that caused tears to well up, rather than words. I had to hold those tears back until I could gather the words.
Wafa’ Safi-Hassan Wafa’ Safi-Hassan is a teacher and equity coach at Hamilton Southeastern High School. She teaches AP environmental science and forensic science. She has a BS in environmental sciences from the University of Cincinnati and holds a MAEd from the University of Phoenix-Hohokam Campus.
Her question? Is it important for students to see teachers that look like them? I wanted to scream an emphatic, “YES!” but was too busy fighting those tears back. Through my whole K – 12 educational experience, I did not have one teacher (or even a substitute teacher) of color in any of my classes. This gets very lonely. I explained how one day in the hallways, there was a young African American man walking down the hallway. A new substitute teacher in our district. I did not talk to him as it was a fleeting moment in the hallway, but my heart leapt. I was so happy. Here is someone who could relate to my experiences because he had probably “been there, done that,” too. He did not last long in our district. And my heart broke. Just seeing him, his very presence, made me feel a little less lonely. Imagine, if our children had teachers that looked like them. And for those students who are white, to be exposed to people from different ethnicities, faiths, orientations, etc. If I had a dollar for every time a student told me, “I would have never met someone like you, if you were not my teacher,” or “I never knew someone like you could be so normal,” I would probably have an additional year of my salary. The benefits to our students are endless. The benefits to each other, as colleagues, are endless, too.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Teachers’ Top 10: New Books That Make an Impact First Book asked teachers which books published in the last year were making a splash in their classrooms, either because they made kids smile, turned reluctant readers into book worms or helped broach difficult topics. The results included titles for kids ages 0 – 18, with the majority featuring diverse characters, and all garnered top teacher recommendations. First Book makes sure that great books and resources are affordable. Everything on the First Book Marketplace is available year-round to educators serving kids in need at 50 – 90 percent off retail. To register with First Book, visit fbmarketplace.org/register.
The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman
“Whether you teach later elementary or middle grade, you need this touching read in your classroom library. A great read for kids who need to find their own sense of family, or who have to ‘adult’ too much, or who are grieving a loss.” Kristine P., First Book educator
Lu by Jason Reynolds
“They have devoured it within days of reading it. My reluctant readers and my engaged readers love it.” Anna F., First Book educator
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1. The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden
2. Yasmin the Fashionista by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Hatem Aly
3. Potato Pants! by Laurie Keller
4. Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
First Book’s Title Raves List 5. Baby 101: Anatomy for Babies by Jonathan Litton, illustrated by Thomas Elliott
7. Lu by Jason Reynolds
Find teacher reviews of these titles at First Book
8. The Wind Called My Name by Mary Louise Sanchez
9. The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman
6. The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague by Julia Finley Mosca, illustrated by Daniel Rieley
10. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López
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OUR ASSOCIATION
2020 and 2021 NEA Representative Assembly State Delegate Election AC T I V E N E A R A D E L E G AT E E L E C T I O N G U I D E L I N E S
The 2020 NEA Representative Assembly (RA) will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, from July 2 – 6. The 2021 NEA RA will be held in Denver, Colorado, from July 2 – 6. Following are election guidelines for state delegates to the 2020 and 2021 NEA RA meetings as approved by the ISTA Board of Directors at the July 27, 2019, meeting. NOMINATION RULES 1. Between October 12, 2019, and November 8, 2019, there will be a period of open nomination for state delegates. State delegates shall be required to participate in Indiana caucus meetings in the city where the Assembly is being held as well as all sessions of the 2020 and 2021 NEA RA meetings (See dates and locations above). 2. NEA active, life and education support members may participate in the nomination and election of state delegates. Nominations will be accepted for both Category 1 members and Category 2 members as outlined below. 3. A petition for nomination of approximately 34 state delegates (final number to be determined by NEA membership records on January 15, 2020) will be provided to all members.
4. Nominations must be made in writing and signed by the nominee. Education position (Category 1 and 2 must be completed). Candidates may list a maximum of three qualifications. Each statement must be six words or fewer. Category 1 members: Includes NEA active members who are not supervisors1 and NEA life members who are not supervisors, retired or staff. Category 2 members: Includes NEA active members who are supervisors1, NEA-Retired life members2, NEA staff life members and NEA active members for life who are past presidents of the Association and who do not meet the requirements for membership set forth in Bylaw 2-1.b. Supervisor and administrator shall mean any person who has continuing authority to hire, evaluate, transfer, discipline, dismiss or otherwise direct employees or to effectively recommend any of the aforesaid actions (Bylaw 12-1.f.). 1
NEA members who are eligible to hold an NEA active life membership and an NEA-Retired membership (either retired annual or retired life) have a choice. For delegate allocation purposes (as well as others), they may choose to be considered as an NEA active life member or an NEA-Retired member, but not both. In the absence of notification from the member, NEA will assume that these dual members will maintain their retired membership for governance purposes and the NEA active life membership will be placed in a hold status. 2
Rules Continued on Page 16
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Rules Continued from Page 15
5. Completed petitions for nomination must be forwarded to the Office of the Executive Director, ISTA, 150 W. Market St., Suite 900, Indianapolis, IN 46204, postmarked on or before midnight, November 8, 2019, or hand-delivered by 4:30 p.m. ET on the same day. 6. Persons whose nominations are received by the executive director as stipulated shall constitute the properly certified candidates. 7. All nominated names will be posted and regularly updated on the ISTA website at ista-in.org/nea-ra until the petition for nomination deadline.
CAMPAIGN RULES 1. Following close of nominations on November 8, 2019, names and qualifications of all candidates will be published and mailed to all Category 1 and Category 2 members residing in Indiana and contiguous states. 2. The official mailing list of ISTA and/or NEA shall not be made available to any candidate for the purpose of campaigning for an NEA state delegateship. 3. Campaign materials may contain references to ethnic heritage. 4. No local, district, state or national dues money may be used to promote the candidacy of an individual or groups of individuals.
ELECTION RULES 1. The election for state delegates and successor delegates to the 2020 and 2021 NEA Representative Assembly
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meetings is for a two-year term and shall be conducted between January 25, 2020, and February 26, 2020. 2. Ballots will be distributed in or before February 2020, to all Category 1 and Category 2 members residing in Indiana and contiguous states whose membership forms have been processed by NEA. 3. Names will be placed on the ballot in order as drawn from a common receptacle by the executive director or agent with appropriate witnesses. 4. Each ballot shall contain a list of the properly certified candidates. No other information about candidates may be included on the ballot. 5. Each eligible member may vote for any number of candidates not to exceed 33 Category 1 and one Category 2 (or final number to be determined by NEA records). Any ballot on which more votes appear than the total allowed in a given category shall not be counted for that category only. 6. Ballots must be returned in the official ballot envelope marked “Active Delegate Ballot� which has been placed inside another envelope. MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO USE THE ENVELOPE SUPPLIED WITH THEIR RETURN ADDRESS ON THE OUTSIDE ENVELOPE TO MAKE MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION POSSIBLE. 7. Only official ballots meeting these rules which are received by the Office of the Executive Director, ISTA, 150 W. Market St., Suite 900, Indianapolis, IN 46204, postmarked on or before midnight February 26, 2020, or hand-delivered by 4:30 p.m. ET on the same date shall be counted.
8. The ballots shall be separated from outside mailing envelopes, tabulated and certified by the designated counting agency. 9. Results of the election shall be determined by the above agency in the following manner: • The top 33 candidates (or final number to be determined by NEA records) in Category 1 receiving in rank order a plurality of votes cast shall be declared state delegates. • The top one candidate (final number to be determined by NEA records) in Category 2 receiving a plurality of the votes cast shall be declared state delegates, if applicable. • Successor delegates (alternates) shall be all those candidates receiving a plurality in each category in rank order following the certified delegates. 10. All certified state delegates and successor delegates shall be notified of their rank order by email as soon as possible after the results are known.
13. If a member is elected as both a local and state delegate, the member must notify the local affiliate and ISTA in writing of the position accepted and the one refused within five days after being notified by ISTA by email of being elected as a state delegate. Acceptance of one position relinquishes claim to the refused position. Failure to comply with this rule results in the state delegate position being declared vacant. 14. Each certified state delegate shall receive funds for expenses as allocated in the ISTA budget. 15. Ballots shall be impounded by ISTA for two years.
CHALLENGE RULES Any challenge to these rules, or any activity or result governed by them, shall be submitted in writing to the Office of the Executive Director, ISTA, 150 W. Market St., Suite 900, Indianapolis, IN, 46204, by March 16, 2020.
11. Notification of Indiana’s certified state delegates and successor delegates shall be sent by ISTA to NEA Membership Records Office by May 15, 2020.
If necessary, the ISTA Executive Committee will meet to review and act upon any submitted challenges. Any Executive Committee member who is a candidate for a position involved in a challenge shall be ineligible to participate as an Executive Committee member in the pertinent deliberations.
12. Names of all certified state delegates shall be published and made available to all local associations.
The Office of the Executive Director will notify all involved parties of Executive Committee action.
Register today Fill out the active NEA RA delegate petition for nomination form on page 18
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OUR ASSOCIATION
AC T I V E P E T I T I O N F O R N O M I N AT I O N ACTIVE ELECTION FOR CANDIDATES FOR ISTA STATE DELEGATE TO 2020 AND 2021 NEA REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY MEETINGS
I hereby declare my eligibility and candidacy as ISTA State Delegate to the 2020 and 2021 NEA Representative Assembly meetings. CANDIDATE INFORMATION *These fields are required for this registration form to be processed. *FIRST NAME:
MIDDLE NAME/INITIAL:
ISTA ID#:
LOCAL ASSOCIATION:
*LAST NAME:
*HOME MAILING ADDRESS
*CITY
*STATE
*ZIP CODE
PHONE: (CIRCLE ONE) HOME / SCHOOL / CELL
SCHOOL EMAIL:
HOME EMAIL:
EDUCATION POSITION: (MUST CIRCLE ONE) CATEGORY 1* / CATEGORY 2** (SEE PAGE 15)
You may list three Association activities. Each statement must be six words or fewer. 1. 2. 3.
SEND TO: Office of the Executive Director ATTN: ACTIVE CANDIDATE NOMINATION 150 W. Market St., Suite 900, Indianapolis, IN 46204
SIGNATURE OF NOMINEE
Must be post-marked on or before midnight November 8, 2019, or hand-delivered by 4:30 p.m. ET on the same date. Please write “ACTIVE CANDIDATE NOMINATION” on your envelope.
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I S TA- R E T I R E D : I S TA R A A N D N E A R A E L E C T I O N G U I D E L I N E S
Below are the two-year term election guidelines for the 2020 and 2021 ISTA Representative Assembly (RA) retired delegates and alternates and NEA RA retired delegates and alternates. The ISTA RA for the coming two years will be held on April 25, 2020, and April 24, 2021. The NEA RA for the coming two years will be held July 2 – 6 in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2020 and Denver, Colorado, in 2021. These procedures have been developed by the ISTA-Retired Executive Committee and approved by the ISTA-Retired District Council. The guidelines are as follows:
NOMINATION RULES 1. There will be a period of open nominations of candidates for ISTA RA retired delegates and NEA RA retired delegates (terms stated above and below). 2. Only ISTA-Retired members who have retired from their education positions are eligible to participate in the nomination and election of the open positions listed above. 3. The Retired Petition for Nominations and the Election Procedures for 2020 and 21 terms will be printed in the fall Advocate and delivered to retired members’ mailboxes. The election procedures will also be printed in the retired newsletter, The Chalkboard, and posted on the ISTA website. 4. Nomination petition forms printed in the fall Advocate may be cut out or copied from the Advocate. The form must be signed by the nominee. ISTA will verify your membership ID number. Nominees may list three qualifications and any such statements must be six words.
5. The petition of nomination must be returned to the Office of ISTA-Retired, Attn: ISTA-Retired Candidate Nomination, 150 W. Market St., Suite 900, Indianapolis, IN, 46204-2875, and must be postmarked on or before midnight, November 8, 2019, or hand-delivered no later than November 8, 2019, 4:30 p.m. ET to the office of ISTA-Retired. 6. Persons whose nominations are received by the Office of ISTA-Retired, as stipulated above, shall constitute the properly certified nominees.
CAMPAIGN RULES 1. Following the close of the nominations on November 8, 2019, the names of all candidates and three listed qualifications will be printed in the winter Advocate along with the ballot and mailed to all ISTA-Retired members, who have retired. 2. The official mailing list of the eligible ISTA-Retired voters shall be made available upon request to any candidate to be used only for campaigning for the open seats for which they are running. The candidate requesting the lists are responsible for all costs in their campaign. 3. Campaign materials may contain references to the candidate’s own ethnic heritage. 4. No dues money—local, district, state or national—may be used to promote the candidacy of an individual or groups of individuals running for office.
Rules Continued on Page 20
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OUR ASSOCIATION
Rules Continued from Page 19
ELECTION RULES 1. The election for ISTA RA retired delegates and alternates, and the NEA RA retired delegates and alternates shall be conducted between January 25, 2020, and February 26, 2020. The election rules will also be posted on the ISTA website and included in the August/ September and November/December ISTA-Retired newsletter, The Chalkboard. 2. Ballots will be included in the ISTA winter Advocate and mailed in or before February 2020 to all ISTA-Retired members whose membership forms have been processed by ISTA by December 2019. 3. The names will be placed on the ballot in the order determined by drawing from a common receptacle by the executive director or designee with appropriate witnesses. 4. Each ballot shall contain a list of the properly certificated candidates. No other information about candidates may be legally included on the ballot. 5. An eligible member may vote for up to thirty-two (32) ISTA RA retired delegate candidates and six (6) NEA RA retired delegate candidates. Those candidates, beyond the winning candidates, shall be ranked in order and serve as alternates. Any ballot on which more votes appear than the total allowed shall not be counted. 6. Ballots must be returned in the official ballot envelope included in the winter Advocate marked ISTA-Retired Ballot. ISTA-RETIRED MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO PLACE THEIR NAME AND RETURN ADDRESS ON THE ENVELOPE TO MAKE MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION POSSIBLE. IF NO NAME IS PLACED ON THE ENVELOPE CONTAINING THE BALLOT, IT WILL VIOLATE THE RULES AND NOT BE COUNTED. 7. Only those official ballots meeting the rules, and which are postmarked on or
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before midnight February 26, 2020, shall be counted. 8. After verification of membership, the ballots shall be separated from the mailing envelopes, be tabulated and certified by the designated counting agency. 9. The results of the election shall be determined by the above agency in the following manner: • All candidates for ISTA RA retired delegate and NEA RA retired delegate will be ranked in order (identified below), with two-year terms as follows: o ISTA RA retired delegate for the 2020 and 2021 meetings. o NEA RA retired delegate for the 2020 and 2021 meetings. 10. The certified ISTA RA retired and NEA RA retired representatives shall be notified of his/her rank order in writing as soon as possible after the results are known. 11. The ballots shall be impounded by ISTA for two (2) years. CHALLENGE RULES 1. Any challenge to these rules or any activity or result governed by them shall be submitted in writing to the Chairperson of the Elections Committee, in care of the Indiana State Teachers Association, 150 W. Market St., Suite 900, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2875, by March 16, 2020. 2. If necessary, the ISTA Elections Committee will meet as soon as possible after receiving such challenge to review and act upon any submitted challenges. Any Elections Committee member who is a candidate for a position involved in a challenge shall be ineligible to participate as an Elections Committee member in the pertinent deliberations. 3. The executive director or designee will notify the appropriate party of the action of the Elections Committee.
R E T I R E D P E T I T I O N F O R N O M I N AT I O N RETIRED ELECTION FOR CANDIDATES TO THE ISTA RA AND NEA RA MEETINGS 2020 - 2021
I hereby declare my eligibility and candidacy for (check one or both): ISTA Representative Assembly retired delegate
NEA Representative Assembly retired delegate
CANDIDATE INFORMATION *These fields are required for this registration form to be processed. * F I R ST N A M E :
MI DDLE NAME/I NI TI AL:
I STA ID#:
LOCAL CHAPTER:
* L AST NAME :
* H O ME MA IL IN G A D D R ESS
*CITY
*STATE
* Z IP CODE
P HO N E : (C IR C L E O N E ) HOME / CELL
HO M E E MA IL :
You may list three Association activities. Each statement must be six words or fewer. 1. 2. 3.
SEND TO: Office of ISTA-Retired ATTN: ISTA-RETIRED CANDIDATE NOMINATION 150 W. Market St., Suite 900, Indianapolis, IN 46204
S IGNAT U RE OF NOMINE E
Must be post-marked on or before midnight November 8, 2019, or hand-delivered by 4:30 p.m. ET on the same date. Please write “ISTA-RETIRED CANDIDATE NOMINATION” on your envelope.
ISTA-IN.ORG
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EXTRA CREDIT
Fueling Your Day with Healthful Snacks During the school year, we try to teach our students about the heathful food choices they can make, giving them options like grapes, carrots, celery, oranges and apples. This doesn’t only apply to the school year. As we served lunches this summer, we reminded students that when they are out and about that having simple things like cheese sticks, celery with peanut butter, yogurt with granola, apple slices and fresh fruits or vegetables are better for them than the chips and sweets they may wish to eat. We also reminded our students that water is one of the best forms of hydration that they can have.
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Teresa Sotelo, Melissa Catania, Leticia Valenzuela and Veronica Torres (pictured L-R) are food service professionals. Sotelo, Catania and Torres are members of the local association ESP of River Forest.
As food department employees, we never stop worrying about what our students eat while they are away from us. We hope what we instill in them during our time with them leads them to follow our guidance into their everyday lives. What we tell our students also applies to educators! Make healthy choices and stick with fresh fruits and vegetables that will leave you fueled for the school day.
Horace Mann helps fund education Horace Mann is a national sponsor of DonorsChoose.org, a website dedicated to funding classroom projects. It’s just one way Horace Mann says “thank you” to educators. To learn more, visit DonorsChoose.org or horacemann.com, or talk to your local Horace Mann agent.
ISTA-IN.ORG
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150 W. Market St., Ste. 900 Indianapolis, IN 46204