NCAE
NEWS BULLETIN October
2015
NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS
Volume 46, No. 3
Lawmakers Leave Raleigh... Budget Lacks in Education One of the longest sessions of the General Assembly has finally ended and one of the last pieces of business to take place was passing a state budget. Now signed into law, the $21.7 billion budget includes more funding for public education but still continues to fall short of keeping pace with our growing public schools and the needs of our students. In fact, it likely puts North Carolina even further behind, compromising the future of our state and public education. “The General Assembly’s budget doesn’t come close to meeting the needs of our students and public schools,” said NCAE President Rodney Ellis. “North Carolina can’t afford to lose a generation of students by disregarding the resources they need to be successful. With a perpupil spending ranking of 46th and an average teacher pay ranking of 42nd, state lawmakers wasted an opportunity to invest a nearly $450 million surplus in our students.” Ellis added that while NCAE appreciates that no further cuts were made to teacher assistants, other parts of the budget go in the wrong direction. “The disrespect for educators continues by failing to provide a professional pay increase and by tucking a provision in the back of the budget that would limit an educator’s ability to be a leader in their association and advocate for what’s best for our students. It also harms students by draining even more money away from public schools and into a private voucher scheme, which continues a strategic dismantling of public education by some in the General Assembly. North Carolina is so much better than this. Our students, parents, public schools, and state deserve a bold
connectivity to public school buildings You Made a Difference! Increases private school vouchers by $14 Even though this budget isn’t anywhere million in the second year close to what our students deserve – a 129 percent increase and public schools require to be Reduces class size in successful, you as NCAE members the first grade by one made a difference from it being student next year worse. Thank you for the thousands of Enrollment growth of e-mails and hundreds of phone calls more than 17,000 students fully funded and meetings with your local Education legislators. transportation budget cut by 5 percent Allocates $24.1 million in one-time money to fund driver’s plan that will elevate North Carolina into education the forefront of public education, not Read to Achieve summer camps relegate us to the back of the pack!” expanded to 1st and 2nd grade Following are some of the key education items that were included in the In order to ensure that future budgets budget: fully fund public education, it is imperative that you as educators make a Teacher assistants remained funded at the current levels with no LEA flexibility difference at the voting booth. It’s critical to vote for pro-public education over funds candidates because the decisions they All teachers, Education Support Professionals, administrators, and central make impact your classrooms, your personal lives, and the profession. It’s office staff will receive a $750 bonus important to have lawmakers in place The Annual Required Contribution that value what you do in your schools (ARC) was fully funded for retirees but every day to ensure that all students are no COLA was included in the budget successful. The fund for textbooks and digital resources was increased by $21.8 million this year and $31 million next year NOTE: On select items, a more Changes to education leave policy for detailed fact sheet or other groups like NCAE information will be provided by Repeals a long-time provision to Government Relations, Instructional restrict teachers with 27 or more years of experience from extracurricular activities Advocacy, or NCAE Legal. To view a Requires a retired teacher with at least side-by-side detailed analysis of the 30 years of experience to continue House and Senate education licensure requirement if they sub budgets, which can be found on the Fully funds the State Health Plan this year but next year may result in reduced members’ only section of the NCAE benefits or premium rate hikes, or the Web site, click here. To see state may not provide funding information on the 2015-16 salary Provides $2 million this year and $12 schedules, click here. million next year for broadband
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News Bulletin
October 2015
What Are You Ready to Do to Save Public Education? What is it going to take? At what point does ENOUGH become ENOUGH? What do our lawmakers have to do to make you angry enough to engage? For several years now the General Assembly has been on a mission to dismantle public Rodney Ellis education. The budget that was President recently passed is another clear indication that they do not value our students, our schools, or you as educators. North Carolina’s per-pupil spending will continue to fall under the budget, and instead of using a $450 million surplus to invest in our students and turn around a trend of disregarding the resources our students need, they offer more tax cuts. The $750 bonus is a slap in the face to our experienced educators and they increased private school voucher funding by an astounding 129 percent – diverting more money away from our struggling schools. This year, NCAE also had to fight off attempts to limit an educator’s ability to advocate for our students and public schools, to create an Achievement School District which would take over the lowest performing schools and relegate management to a private charter operator, and others. All of this should be enough to evoke public outcry, but if not, what should is the sneaky, closed-door and backdoor way in which some of our lawmakers do business. We don’t elect public officials to come to Raleigh to circumvent the process and totally disregard the Constitution, and most importantly, the voice of the people by ramming their agenda down the throats of North Carolinians. What they have been doing is destroying the democratic process. These bad policies hurt public schools, but unfortunately, not enough people are connecting the dots because we are too busy honing in on issues that are most important to us as individuals. At some point, we need to say enough is enough. Maybe it’s time for us as educators to stop trying to play nice and play
by the rules and do what we need to do to have our voices heard! We need to send a very strong and clear message that we WILL NOT tolerate these continued attacks on our students, our schools, and the profession. We can do that in many ways. The lobbying, e-mailing, and phone calls are great, and they have influenced some decisionmaking. Through Action Alerts, educators sent more than 600 e-mails in three days telling lawmakers to reject an Achievement School District and more than 1,000 e-mails and 400 phone calls on the budget. But speaking frankly, these critical times for public schools and the future of our students requires more. It requires more from each of us, but more importantly it requires more of us collectively as one voice for public education. What will it take to turn 600 e-mails into 6,000? What will it take to turn 400 phone calls into 4,000? In addition to these traditional tactics, we must also think outside-the-box to make a difference at the ballot box. We have to be open-minded and willing to engage in new ways through NCAE. As educators, we are not accustomed to the current political climate. In order to survive, we have to quickly adjust. We will be asking NCAE members to engage more frequently and in different ways to fight for our students and what is best for their future. As members of this Association and my colleagues, I want you to be informed. And, I want you to know that the change that needs to occur is beyond just going to the polls. It’s going to take engagement and action. Because what I don’t want you to do is forget – the $750 bonus in the face of an election year when they will try to come up with some sort of salary increase and tout it as the “biggest in history or a certain number of years”; the attempts to eliminate health care and pension benefits for retired educators; the diverting of funds away from public schools; and systematic attacks on veteran teachers. We can’t afford to fall for the rhetoric that will come in an effort to get them re-elected. So again, I ask, what is it going to take? What are you willing to do to fight for our students and protect public education?
Make the
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Keep the future of NCAE in your hands by switching to e-Dues! The process is easy and simple. Click to hear from three colleagues on why signing up is so important.
News Bulletin
NCAE
October 2015
What Does Success Look Like? At 4:18 a.m. on September 30, the North Carolina Legislature adjourned, ending one of the longest long sessions in North Carolina history. Why? What took so long? One word - Politics. And not politics between different political parties. But internal politics in the one political party in power. While politicians were debating party priorities, regular North Carolinians waited to see what would happen to our state. Schools delayed important decisions about teachers and TAs. Students waited to see if they would get the necessary resources to be successful like textbooks, instructional materials, respected teachers, teacher assistants, and more. Educators waited to see if the disrespect would continue. Meanwhile, WalletHub released its rankings and sadly placed North Carolina in the 50th spot once again for states favorable to teaching. When the dust clears, not much will have been done to move North Carolina out of the bottom in the rankings for per-pupil funding and teacher pay, currently at 46th and 42nd respectively in the nation. Despite a significant revenue surplus, public education was not a priority for most lawmakers in this session. Things like tax breaks for the wealthy and for-profit corporations, diverting dwindling resources away from traditional public schools, and voucher expansion were hot topics. All the while, the tab for the General Assembly’s failure to timely complete a budget cost the taxpayers millions of dollars that could have gone to students, public schools, and retaining high-quality educators. To be fair, many legislators friendly to public education and other related issues argued adamantly during this budget debate to protect the legacy of a high-quality public education and effective infrastructure in our state. Their arguments for the most part fell on deaf ears, and we are left with a state budget that does not appropriately invest in public education or our state’s future. So, what now? We remember. And we commit. We remember who voted with us on our issues and who did
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not. We remember that elections matter. We remember that November 2016 is a very short time away. And...We commit to vote for those legislators and public officials who were with us. We commit to hold accountable those legislators who voted against us. We commit to work on pro-public education candidates’ campaigns Rachelle Johnson – making phone calls, knocking Executive Director on doors, and dropping literature. Why? Because we make a difference. Because our voices matter for students and public education. When we combine our collective voices, we are powerful and can influence the direction of our state. During this General Assembly, NCAE, in partnership with those of you who sent e-mails, made phone calls, and met with your legislators, beat back some really, really bad proposals that could have pushed public education and North Carolina back even further. While we strive for moving the needle forward and continue to advocate for what’s best for kids, public education, and our members, we must also be the watchdogs that prevent further decline in our public education system. On a lot of levels, we did that this session. However, it can’t stop here. We must hold those currently in power accountable for the things they did, the things they almost did, and the things they failed to do. We must change those in power who are making bad decisions that affect children, public schools, and educators in order to realize our vision – an equitable quality public education for every child. The only way to accomplish that goal is to vote for those who support educators, public education, and what’s best for students. Campaign 2016 will be about remembering and committing. I’m in. Are you?
Third Annual NCAE Law Conference 11 07 15 WHERE: NCAE Center, 700 South Salisbury St., Raleigh TIME: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. REGISTRATION: Click here before October 26 The conference is open to NCAE members ONLY.
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Instructional Leadership Institute Helps Members Elevate the Profession Advocating for students as well as colleagues has always been an important part of being an educator for Judy Richards and Emily Potter. Participating in the recent Instructional Leadership Institute, sponsored by NCAE, NEA Education Policy & Practice, and Student Achievement Partners, has given them new skills and tools needed to enhance what they do in the Judy Richards classroom and how they collaborate with their colleagues and the community. Over four days, Richards and Potter, and Emily Potter approximately 50 other participants from North Carolina, Maryland, Ohio, and Nevada, learned how to serve as a resource for College & Career Ready Standards, how to build relationships with educational leaders, and increased their knowledge of the shifts in the standards and classroom application. “What I discovered through the training confirmed how important it is to make sure that we know our students, using what we know about them as a means to build a bridge to improve the mastery of skills they need to be successful in life,” said Richards, a sixth-grade language arts teacher at Lexington Middle School in the Lexington City Schools District. “The standards drive what we do in the classroom every day. Not only have I fine-tuned my skills, but have developed a focus in my department centered on these standards and growing our students.”
Potter, a kindergarten teacher at Bunn Elementary School in Franklin County, was super excited about digging deeper into the Standards and acquiring advocacy tools that will enable her to more effectively talk about them as they relate to teaching. “I now have the skills to stand before my peers and tell them why what they’re doing is wonderful, intentional, and purposeful,” said Potter. “And, I am in a better positon to participate in outreach projects such as writing a letter to the editor, sharing information in the community, and talking with legislators about the standards.” Currently serving as the lead mentor and the ELA Department chair at her school, Richards says she used what she learned at the Instructional Leadership Institute to develop an ELA professional development unit for her colleagues. She has also conducted a session for parents to help them understand what education in North Carolina looks like and ways in which they can help their children succeed. Lessons from the institute are also helping Potter in her classroom. “I have a deeper understanding of the standards. I have been able to review them with my colleagues and delve more into them this year. I am more focused on things that I know I need to accomplish for my students. As a leader in the school, I may
be able to talk with others about what we’re doing but if I am able to show what is going on in my classroom then that’s much more powerful than just talking about it!”
News Bulletin
October 2015
Participants will reconvene in November and April to gain new skills in literacy and mathematics, in order to support educators in their school communities around standards-based learning. As well, they will gain new advocacy skills during these ReConnect sessions. In between the ReConnect sessions, participants have been asked to complete three actions connected to their learnings from the ILI. Such actions can include writing letters to the editor of their local paper, hosting informational sessions on standards-based learning for parents or their colleagues, sharing resources, or connecting with their legislators to help policy-makers understand how college and career ready standards improve teaching and learning.
YOU Are Deserving of an NCAE Award! Whether you are an accomplished teacher or administrator, are an outstanding Education Support Professional, or have an artistic talent that you’d like to share, NCAE presents several annual awards that you as a member can apply for or nominate a colleague to receive. Here is a list of awards that are available (deadlines vary). Applications can be found on the NCAE Web site, www.ncae.org under “Get Involved/Awards.” • NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence • Linda Rader Professional Development Opportunity Award • Terry Sanford Award for Creativity and Innovation in Teaching and Administration • Kay Trull Outstanding Educator Award • Division of Principals/ Administrators Awards • Education Support Professional of the Year Award • NCAE Multicultural Arts Contest • Human and Civil Rights Awards • Student Services Division Outstanding Leadership Award and Mini-Grants
News Bulletin
October 2015
NCAE
Partnership Between NCAE and Rick Glazier Continues in the Fight for Public Ed Former legislator Rick Glazier believes there is no substitute for public education. “My hope is that we strengthen our commitment to the public school system and that we grow and adapt it as it needs to be for the 21st century, so that we can create a globally competitive opportunity for every child in North Carolina, regardless of the strengths and weaknesses they bring to the schoolhouse doorstep.” A long-time public education advocate and friend of everything NCAE, Glazier resigned his post in the General Assembly this past August. Although the Association will miss collaborating with him in the Legislature to improve education policies in the state, we will continue our relationship with him in a different capacity – as executive director of the North Carolina Justice Center. During his 12-year tenure as a lawmaker, Glazier visited schools across the state on a regular basis. He felt that in order to do his job as a state representative, it was imperative to know what was happening in schools, especially those in his district, Cumberland County. “I don’t think any legislator can honestly and legitimately be fairly voting on education issues and education appropriations if they are not regularly spending time in our schools,” said Glazier, who was named winner of the 2014 America’s Legislators Back to School Program. He made it a point to visit all 87 schools in his district. To show our appreciation for his commitment and dedication to public education, NCAE presented Glazier with the President’s Award in 2011, which is given annually at the discretion of the NCAE president to a person or organization in recognition of outstanding work being done to advance the cause of public education. “Rick Glazier has been a true champion for North Carolina’s students and public schools,” said NCAE President Rodney Ellis. “He worked tirelessly to ensure that every child in this state received what is constitutionally due them and we commend him for that work. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the N.C. Justice Center under Rick’s leadership and the new chapter it will bring.” Not only has Glazier advocated for public education, but he also positively impacted the overall well-being of North Carolina’s citizens. He has sponsored many bills focused on the environment, healthcare, and the justice system, to name a few. He is a proven leader with the backing of a proven track record and remains committed to making North Carolina a better place for all residents.
5 CCAE President Joe Source, left, with executive board members Tamika WalkerKelly and Beverly McClelland at a New Teacher Orientation.
How Branding Can Work for Your Local Local affiliates, are you looking to be seen as the primary organization for education issues in your district? Then you may want to consider building your brand. The Cumberland County Association of Educators (CCAE) went through the process a few years ago and it has helped increase the organization’s visibility and membership. Tamika Walker-Kelly and Carol Olinger, members of the CCAE Executive Board, say their branding campaign began with a vision put in motion by President Joe Source, who wanted the community to know about CCAE and its purpose. “First we revamped our logo and then we began branding items such as pens and notepads to give to members and our community partners,” said Walker-Kelly, a music teacher at Morganton Road Elementary. “Branding has helped us build effective partnerships with several local organizations including the Fayetteville NAACP, Democracy NC, and Quaker House.” Olinger, an instructional assistant at South View High School, added that the local also restructured its weekly newsletter, reactivated its Facebook and Twitter accounts, and started a blog. “We began taking a more active role in the political process and participating in local events hosted by other organizations. We have also begun to be more actively engaged in and sponsor events focused on education.” Volunteering in the community has also lead to more visibility. Members are becoming engaged because of these opportunities and CCAE has gained the trust of the community through its activism, the support of community issues, standing up for children’s rights, and the support of parents. According to Olinger, CCAE board members are frequently invited to events, or asked to speak on topics related to education. Walker-Kelly said membership recruitment has been the greatest gain. “Our brand has helped jump-start those one-on-one conversations that are important in engaging potential members. Many have joined because they have seen our logo in their buildings or in the community. We have also been able to gain new associate members as supporters of public education.” The branding process involves a willingness to change, and a lot of work, Olinger added, but the outcome can be beneficial. “Getting everyone on board and getting them to understand the process is a continuous effort can be difficult, but once you get buy-in the transition becomes easier.” “But,” said Walker-Kelly, “it’s worth the work and time to ensure that your local has a voice, and with the help of the community, can continue the fight for our students and our public schools.”
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News Bulletin
October 2015
NEA Leadership Grants Open Doors for Members to Share on a Na<onal PlaForm
PROUD MOMENTS Haynes-‐Inman Administrator Recognized for Commitment to Physical Educa<on The right of every child to have access to physical education is important to Kevin Carr, the principal of HaynesInman Education Center, a public pre-K through 12 school for students diagnosed with significant disabilities in Guilford County. Described as a distinguished principal who demonstrates educational leadership, respect, responsibility, and compassion, Kerr has been lauded for consistently valuing the goals and objectives of the adapted physical education curriculum. He was recently named the 2015 Principal of the Year by the North Carolina Physical Education Association (NCPEA), and will be recognized later this month. A teacher said of him, “Kevin inspires our school community toward increased physical activity.” And another added, “With all of his important responsibilities, he never forgets that the most effective way to positively influence children (and adults) is to establish meaningful relationships.” NCPEA promotes and supports North Carolina physical education through advocacy, professional development, and education to develop physically educated individuals and support a physically active North Carolina.
Wendi Pillars and Julia Vaughn are the winners of $2,000 NEA Foundation Grants, which allowed them to complete professional development activities that are enhancing their roles as educators. Pillars, a ninth-11th grade English as a second language teacher at Jordan-Matthews High School in Chatham County, participated in the International Forum of Visual Practitioners to improve her use of visual note taking in her classroom. “Visual note taking is something that is supported in and demanded by big businesses – for big money – around the world. This work, Wendi Pillars if we teach children how to really think about the content, will deepen their cognitive skills while they have fun learning!” Vaughn attended a climate change seminar in Alaska. The sixth-grade teacher who works at Koontz Intermediate School in Buncombe County, wanted to improve her knowledge of ecological and global competency issues. “Our students are future engineers, ecologists, chemists, and biologists and will be some of the first Julia Vaughn generations to truly be impacted by the effects of global climate change. I am hoping to inspire students through science lessons to embrace their environments with greater awareness and care.” Both Pillars and Vaughn have shared the knowledge they have gained by posting lesson plans and curriculum on an open-sourced platform. The NEA Foundation awards grants three times a year. The next deadline is October 15, 2015. Applications are available at www.neafoundation.org
How Would You Like a Chance to Win $5,000? The N.C. Foundation for Public School Children is kicking of its 2015 Holiday Giveaway! Last year’s giveaway was a huge success, netting $30,000, which benefitted the Children’s Fund and other Foundation programs. And it was all because of you! We invite you to help again this year by selling and purchasing tickets. Cash prizes include $5,000 - $2,500 - $1,000 and 10 (ten) $100 prizes. Tickets are $5 each. For more information, visit www.NCFPSC.org, or contact Marca Hamm at marca.hamm@ncfpsc.org or 704-633-6466.
Now is the time to work on completing that degree. Visit the NEA Academy for more information.
News Bulletin
NCAE
October 2015
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10 Reasons Why You Should Be an Active Member Talent: You Have It, We Want It! NCAE members come from every walk of the profession. Each person has something unique to share for the betterment of the group. Add your talent, and your voice, in the fight for public education.
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NCAE Advocates for Public Education – NCAE members advocate for their schools, their profession, and most importantly the well-being of the students they serve.
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NCAE is for ALL Educators – Teachers, administrators, Education Support Professionals, pre-service students, retired, and higher education groups are all groups represented by NCAE. We’re here for you.
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Political Clout – Perhaps more than ever, public education professionals need a voice in the statehouse. Decisions and policies are member-driven and support the profession. The Association has a government relations team that works on members’ behalf and provides regular updates on changes as they occur during the legislative session.
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Power of the Collective – NCAE members are part of the largest education advocacy organization for public school employees in the state. This group is run for members, by members with a unified voice.
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Working Conditions and Compensation – NCAE is an unapologetic advocate for fair treatment and fair pay. Together our members rely on support from NCAE to promote these ideals.
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Professional Development – Workshops through the Center for Instructional Advocacy, leadership development, National Board Certification, and much more are available for members as opportunities to expand professionally.
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Camaraderie – Sharing a common love for all things learning related, NCAE members enjoy time spent together. NCAE activities build relationships and a strong support network.
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Legal Advocacy – Any time there is an employment issue or concern, assistance is only a phone call away. Your rights as an educator are important and the staff attorneys in the NCAE Advocacy Center are here to help.
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Save Money -- Through the NCAE
10 and NEA Member Benefits
Program, NCAE members have an opportunity to save money on products and services that could offset the cost of membership. Discounts on everything from amusement parks, to life insurance, to automobiles are available.
You Can Be an NCAE Convention Delegate Did you know that all active NCAE members are eligible to run for the position of delegate to the NCAE Representative Assembly (Convention)? Next year’s convention will be held on March 18-19, 2016, in Winston-Salem. Elected delegates from across the state gather to discuss the business of the Association. If you are interested in being considered, please contact your
local president. A list of all local presidents and their e-mail addresses can be found at www.ncae.org under “Who We Are.” If you have any questions, please contact Susan Kane at susan.kane@ncae.org.
STAND UP for Bullied Students! October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying is a serious problem in schools and affects thousands of students each year. Whether verbal, physical or psychological, bullying hurts. But it doesn’t have to. As a caring adult, you can keep a bullied student from dropping out of school or help save a bullied student’s life. You can act now by taking the “NEA Bully Free: It Starts with Me” pledge and by clicking on this link http:// www.nea.org/home/neabullyfree.html to learn how to identify bullying, how to intervene in a bullying incident, how to advocate for bullied students, and for tools and resources. The NCAE Center for Instructional Advocacy also offers workshops for educators that are connected with the North Carolina State Standards – “Bullying and Harassment Don’t Belong in Schools!” and “GLBT Safety and Bias Training.” These workshops are FREE for members. For more information, contact Elic Senter at Elic.Senter@ncae.org. It’s time to create a bully-free nation!
“The paradox of education is precisely this -- that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.” -- James A. Baldwin
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News Bulletin
DEALS
2015
for NEA Members Click and Save “Buy Lights” for October NEA Click and Save is the online discount buying service for NEA members. Check out these featured retailers and merchants for the month of October and start saving! • Bed, Bath & Beyond – Free shipping on orders of $49 or more • Home Depot – Free shipping on orders of $45 or more • J. Crew – Free shipping on orders of $150 or more, plus 1X WOW points (see Click & Save site on how to use WOW Points) • Kohl’s – Free shipping on orders of $75 or more • Lids.com (hats) – Free shipping on orders of $50 or more • Payless Shoes – 4X WOW Points; free shipping on orders of $25 or more
October 2015
Dates to Remember October 5th 6th 12th 16th 19th-23rd
Child Health Day American Libraries Day Columbus Day (NCAE Offices Closed) Dictionary Day NEA Executive Professional Development, Washington, DC 23rd-25th NEA Minority Leadership & Women’s Leadership Training Conference-EAST Celebrating the Bilingual Child Month International Walk to School Month National Book Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
NOTE: Up-to-date information on merchant discounts, shipping terms, and WOW Points appears on the NEA Click & Save Web page, www.neamb.com/clickandsave and may change at any time. Save 25 Percent with Corwin Professional Learning Resources Corwin’s vast publishing program offers educators more than 4,000 resources designed to bring research to practice – on everything from the Common Core to 21st century learning to classroom management and the fundamentals of teaching reading, writing, math, and science. Make professional learning a priority this year – visit www.neamb.com/corwin and use NEA Member PROMO code D12BA5 to obtain your 20 percent discount.
N C A E
N E W S
Let’s celebrate the survivors, encourage those fighting the disease, and remember those who have lost the battle.
B U L L E T I N
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Positions stated in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official position of NCAE unless so identified. The NCAE News Bulletin, a journal of the Association, is published by the North Carolina Association of Educators, 700 S.Salisbury St., Post Office Box Box 27347, Raleigh, NC 27611, 1-800-662-7924. www.ncae.org
Linda Powell-Jones, Editor/Designer