United Voices, Vol. 4 No. 3

Serving the public every step of the way!

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WHAT’S INSIDE:

LEGISLATIVE VOTING RECORD AND CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS NDU MEMBERS SELECTED FOR HIGHER EDUCATION TASK FORCE EDUCATION ndunited.org SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR NAMED

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MARCH 2018 United Voices is the official publication of North Dakota United, 301 N 4th Street, Bismarck, ND 58501.

Contact Us 701.223.0450 comments@ndunited.org Postmaster, send address changes to: North Dakota United 301 N 4th Street Bismarck, ND 58501 Kelly Hagen Director of Communications kelly.hagen@ndunited.org Tom Gerhardt Director of Public Affairs tom.gerhardt@ndunited.org Sarah Keiser Johnson Special Events Coordinator sarah.johnson@ndunited.org Image Printing Design/Publisher

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PRESIDENT’S POST

With the spring comes hope. At North Dakota United, we are hopeful that you will be a delegate and attend your 2018 ND United Delegate Assembly. The DA will be held at the National Energy Center of Excellence on the campus of Bismarck State College on Saturday, April 14. If you haven’t already, you will find ample information regarding the DA throughout this issue of United Voices.

ON THE CUTTING ED

Every Tuesday, we feature a new episode of The Cutting Ed on our website, www.ndunited.org/thecuttinged, and on Ted Dintersmith’s www.ndplaylist. org. Additionally, you can subscribe to The Cutting Ed on iTunes, SoundCloud, Spreaker, iHeartRadio or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

NDU DELEGATE ASSEMBLY SCHEDULED

The 2018 NDU Delegate Assembly will be held at Bismarck State College, in the National Energy Center for Excellence, on Saturday, April 14. Each Delegate Assembly is likely the most important meeting for the year, where members are given the opportunity and responsibility to share in the governance decisions of our statewide union of public employees and educators, elect members of our Board of Directors, and choose statewide delegates to the National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly (RA), which will be held this year in Minneapolis from June 30 to July 5 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

NDU MEMBERS ON HIGHER EDUCATION TASK FORCE

When the Task Force for Higher Education Governance was first announced

by Gov. Doug Burgum at a press conference in the state Capitol, people were understandably curious about what this body would be, who would serve on it and what they would do. Particularly our university faculty and staff members from the state’s 11 public universities have been keeping an eye out for updates on the Task Force’s progress.

MARY ANN KLEIN IS WINNER OF ESP OF THE YEAR Being a mom of ten children, you could say that Mary Ann Klein, a paraeducator at Hazen Elementary School, was destined to work in education.

You could also say that with that much experience and compassion, it should come as no surprise that she was selected as the North Dakota United Education Support Professional of the Year for 2017.

JOURNEYS STIR EMOTIONS

“Bang, bang, bang! I suddenly heard gunshots! ‘Mushitoke mu fuge melango!’

My neighbor shouted. People were crying, screaming and running,” Fargo South junior Ntumba Lusama started reading in a somber voic

NDU APPROVED

North Dakota United is proud to endorse the following North Dakota state legislators for re-election in 2018. “Their advocacy and support of legislation to strengthen our great public schools, higher education, and outstanding public service over the past two legislative sessions is something of which they can be very proud,” said NDU President Nick Archuleta.

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President’s Post

JOIN US FOR

NDU DELEGATE ASSEMBLY This year’s gathering in Bismarck is your chance to be heard and make a difference in our union

By Nick Archuleta NDU President

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At North Dakota United, we are hopeful that you

will be a delegate and attend your 2018 ND United Delegate Assembly”

As I write this, it is still winter in North Dakota, but there are signs that spring will soon be sprung upon us in all its glory. Many of us are leaving for work each morning in the light of day and returning just as the sky is darkening; the very frigid winter air is yielding to the more temperate breezes; and we are greeting our neighbors more frequently after nine months of winter-imposed isolation.

With the spring comes hope. At North Dakota United, we are hopeful that you will be a delegate and attend your 2018 ND United Delegate Assembly. The DA will be held at the National Energy Center of Excellence on the campus of Bismarck State College on Saturday, April 14. If you haven’t already, you will find ample information regarding the DA throughout this issue of United Voices.

The Delegate Assembly is your opportunity to participate in the governance of your union. It is here that our members can propose ideas that improve the quality of North Dakota United.

The DA is where you can ask questions about our union and share your ideas about how we may better meet the needs of our members. It is also where you can examine our budget, our legislative agenda, our resolutions and provide vital feedback to the officers of NDU as well as your fellow delegates.

Equally important is that the Delegate Assembly is where you can come to hear from both statewide and national leaders of our unions. AFT Executive Vice President Mary Cathryn Ricker will speak from the heart about the future we face, and NEA Executive Director John Stocks will share his impassioned views, as well. Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler will inform us about the exciting things that are happening in education in North Dakota, and we are very happy to have Senator Heidi Heitkamp accept our Friend of Education award and offer her remarks to our assembly. We will also be presenting our Friend of Public Service award to former NDPERS Executive Director Sparb Collins. Finally, Ted Dintersmith, a former venture capitalist and educational provocateur, will join us and share his vision of what North Dakota schools can be. Ted teamed up with ND United to launch the podcast, The Cutting Ed – What North Dakota Schools Can Be.” As you can tell, we will have a dynamite lineup of speakers and guests scheduled to attend our Delegate Assembly, and we are very glad to have them. What would make us even happier is to have you join us in Bismarck on April 14, 2018, for the NDU Delegate Assembly. I hope to see you there!

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Communications Corner

THE CUTTING ED HAS OPENED EYES, EARS

Podcast has expanded NDU’s ability to explore the work being done on behalf of students Northern Cass Superintendent Cory Steiner said it best during one of our first podcast interviews, when he said, “Innovation and messy go hand in hand.” Steiner added, “We don’t have all the answers. This is not a perfect system, and I think we have found out it never will be, and I think that’s ok. Messy is going to have to be ok.”

In the months since we began The Cutting Ed podcast, I’ve been reminded of those words again and again. I’ve learned that innovation is both messy and a somewhat overused, misunderstood term.

It’s messy in that change is both difficult and exciting. Along with that, each community and school district has unique goals, needs, opportunities and challenges. It’s overused in the sense that it fails to fully define itself and gives the impression that it’s something new when in fact teachers always have and always will innovate.

Our goal with the podcast is to acknowledge and highlight the innovative work that goes on in classrooms each day with an emphasis on North Dakota. The Cutting Ed aims to shine a light on teachers and school districts across the state and to spark conversations and ideas. We don’t all have to agree, but at the very least it seems smart to listen to what others are doing and to engage in the process, which ultimately helps our children better define their passions, and their futures.

The exciting news is that, as of the end of February, we have 15 episodes released that cover a wide variety of topics and North Dakota communities. From Governor Doug Burgum and Ted Dintersmith to Senators Poolman and Oban, we’ve talked to key decisionmakers, and those helping to smooth the road ahead for providing teachers with flexibility and students with personalized learning experiences.

I’ve been to schools in Oakes, Mapleton, Garrison and Bismarck, visiting with teachers and administrators covering topics like flexible seating, flex modular scheduling and reimagining education.

By Tom Gerhardt NDU Director of Public Affairs

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Innovation and messy go hand in hand. We don’t have

all the answers. This is not a perfect system, and I think we have found out it never will be, and I think that’s OK. Messy is going to have to be OK.” Cory Steiner Northern Cass superintendent

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With the help of Ted Dintersmith, executive producer of the film “Most Likely to Succeed,” we’ve also worked to provide you with a list of resources. First among these is the website www.ndplaylist.org that Dintersmith is providing. There, you can find information on Socratic seminars, project-based learning and find out what skills and character traits are essential for students moving forward. You can also find out how to bring “Most Likely to Succeed” to your school and find links to each podcast we’ve produced. In the liner notes to each show, we provide links to things like videos, books and Twitter accounts, so you can see firsthand what’s being done and reach out to the teachers and schools.

I’d also like to know, large or small, what’s happening in your school to innovate. We’d like to be able to show demonstrated progress across the state and help share ideas and resources. Tell us about “one little thing you’re trying in your classroom” or “small steps you’ve implemented that have led to big change.”

Another common theme that has repeatedly emerged from these interviews is the desire to do what’s right for kids. In the end, that’s what this podcast is about. Our students aren’t having trouble getting into college, but they are having deciding what they want to do when they get out (and often with significant debt).

If teachers and schools are given more flexibility to engage passion areas for students while continuing to work on skills like self-advocacy, collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity, perhaps we can help forge a better future and quality of life for our children.

Finally, I invite you to take the time to listen and form an opinion. And let me know what you think.

You can find The Cutting Ed online at www.ndplaylist.org or also by visiting our website, www.ndunited.org/thecuttinged, on iTunes, Google Play, SoundCloud, Spreaker, iHeartRadio or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. Additionally, our podcast is now being promoted regularly on Prairie Public Radio statewide, and their weekday program “Main Street” has been playing excerpts of The Cutting Ed each week. So there are lots of ways to find us, and we appreciate each and every one of you who do.

Thanks for listening!

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Superintendent Nick Klemisch, right, and prinicipal Steve Dangel, center, of Garrison Public Schools talk to The Cutting Ed podcast host Tom Gerhardt.

Mapleton teacher and North Dakota United member Kayla Delzer talked about how she implemented technology into her classroom.

Northern Cass superintendent Cory Steiner spoke on the impact he’s seen in in his school by pushing toward innovating the model of how we teach students.

ON THE CUTTING ED

Check out content like this conversation with Garrison’s superintendent and principal each week on our podcast Every Tuesday, we feature a new episode of The Cutting Ed on our website, www.ndunited.org/thecuttinged, and on Ted Dintersmith’s www.ndplaylist.org. Additionally, you can subscribe to The Cutting Ed on iTunes, SoundCloud, Spreaker, iHeartRadio or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

Here is an excerpt of one of our favorite episodes so far, in which we talked to Dr. Nick Klemisch, the superintendent in Garrison, and Steve Dangel, their principal, about the implementation of flexible modular scheduling in their school district.

Tom Gerhardt/The Cutting Ed: “You told me you attended the governor’s Innovation Summit last June. You were able to hear Ted Dintersmith speak at that point. Tell me what struck a chord with you as you listened at that summit.”

Dr. Nick Klemisch/Garrison Superintendent: “Well, just being willing to try something different, you know, for the betterment of kids, and again I go back to I was really disgusted with complacency. But here we’ve been rebuilding some things that needed to occur before we can make any significant changes. Ted really kind of sparked it with the ‘Most Likely to Succeed’ (movie). Granted, we only saw a short summary of that but at the same token it intrigued me enough to bring it back to my administrative team and say this is something we need to look at from there to be developed into. I always preface the video after seeing it multiple times with this isn’t exactly what I want to do in Garrison.

Because, again, High Tech High is High Tech High, and we’re Garrison, North Dakota. So, what can we do for our kids for the betterment of our kids? And what can we adjust and change to make our district stand out as well as better our kids’ education for the future?”

TG: “Steve, were you at the summit and did you see the film?”

Steve Dangel/Garrison Principal: “I remember first looking at it, and the first time you look at it and you think, well, what will this look like? More importantly, you just are thinking, what can we do? What are some of these ideas that we can take and start to bring here? And one of the conversations we’ve had with staff members is, you know, we have a

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really rural setting and a lot of our kids are kind of ag based. And so, you know, really kind of talking to our teachers and saying, ok, not everyone’s going to go off to a four-year school. In fact, most of our graduates go to BSC and Wahpeton. They go to the two-year schools. And it’s great. So, you know, really kind of getting out of that mindset of saying everybody is going to NDSU and UND and Minot State and (University of) Mary and saying, how are we going to help the students that we have, what can we do differently to allow them to succeed and become productive citizens moving forward?”

TG: “Nick, you talked about coming back to school after being at the summit, and I thought a really interesting thing you mentioned was this innovation committee that you formed at the school. Tell us about that and how it’s comprised and how it’s helped as you look at making a transition to flex mod scheduling.

NK: “We got a number of teachers that volunteered for it. And I told them … I have no fundamental purpose here other than to see if there’s something we can do differently. So, the conversation started.

We’ve talked about a number of different things at the forefront would be the flex mod schedule. We’ve talked about a modified week with potentially going four days of traditional or flex mod and a fifth day of potentially PBL or Steam. But before we can jump into that role or at least that avenue, I guess we have to start somewhere, and that’s where the conversations around flex mod really started taking off. And we had a number of teachers that really … I just kind of let him run with it.

They’re kind of the drivers behind this. I mean, he talks about some of his teachers … from both the elementary (and) high school level that were really pushing this because a lot of it goes back to their own kids they know and understand that their own kids learn differently. I mean it’s no different than my 6-year-old, by the time he was 2, he could manipulate an iPad better than I could. Well, it’s in their hands, it’s information that’s accessible, so what are we doing here what do we need to change here to make it better for our kids and give them the tools that they need to make the successful life really.”

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Public Service Perspectives

DELEGATE ASSEMBLY IS OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED

Public employees and higher education faculty and staff are valuable voices in guiding our union North Dakota United (NDU) provides many opportunities for you to be active in your union. One of those opportunities is the NDU Delegate Assembly, which will be held April 14 in Bismarck. If you have never attended a Delegate Assembly or haven’t attended since NDU was formed in 2013, I want to personally invite you to join your fellow NDU colleagues this year for the annual business meeting of the organization.

By Gary Feist Vice President of Public Employees

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Public services are important to everyone in our state.

Significant reductions in the number of full-time state employees and higher education faculty and staff over the last few years has made it difficult to provide the services that the residents of our state have experienced and enjoyed in the past.

The Delegate Assembly will recognize the organization’s accomplishments achieved through the activism of its members, and establish a vision and goals for the coming year. Public services are important to everyone in our state. Significant reductions in the number of full-time state employees and higher education faculty and staff over the last few years has made it difficult to provide the services that the residents of our state have experienced and enjoyed in the past. As members of NDU, we need to advocate for sufficient funding for services and an adequate number of employees to provide quality services.

Our goal to restore services must start now as the political season has begun. Candidates for state-wide offices, Legislature, county commissions and school boards are starting their campaigns. As an employee providing public services, you have the opportunity to educate and provide insight on what is working and what improvements could be made to better serve the citizens of North Dakota.

It has been my experience in discussing issues with elected officials that, in many cases, they are unaware of how a program works and are looking to hear from public employees to learn about programs and the potential changes that could be made to better serve the citizens of North Dakota.

We can help to better communicate the tremendous work that our public workers do each day, for the public and policymakers to hear. In the pages of this magazine, United Voices, on our website, www.ndunited.org, on social media and through our public relations efforts, we are able to not only tell our existing members what is happening within their union, but help to inform the communities we serve. If you have an issue or story that you’d like to spotlight, please contact NDU Communications Director at 701-223-0450 or kelly.hagen@ndunited.org.

Attending the Delegate Assembly will help you become more informed on the issues and give you a voice in setting the agenda for the organization. NDU member activism during the upcoming campaign will enable us to elect legislators that will make public services and the employees who provide them a priority during the next legislative session.

You can help NDU reach its goal by talking to your follow employees, friends, and neighbors about the issues, so that we elect candidates that will work with NDU to ensure that quality services will continue to be provided every day in North Dakota. Join us in Bismarck on April 14.

To be a delegate for NDPE (our statewide public employee and higher education local) or for additional information about the Delegate Assembly, please contact your chapter president or me at gary.feist@ndunited.org or 701-471-9628.

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Education Perspectives

LEADERSHIP ISN’T JUST A TITLE

Live up to your potential at our Delegate Assembly in April

Spending time at the Delegate Assembly each year is an inspiring event for me. I am given the opportunity to visit with leaders from across this great state. Listening to stories about what happens in large schools, small schools and everything in between. The strategies, programs and involvement in education is varied. This makes me wonder, “What makes these leaders?” “What sparks these individuals to take a leadership role?”

Most of the individuals I speak to mention a veteran individual who asked them to help with a project or use their skill set to serve on a committee, lead a project or participate in an activity in their district. Being a leader is so much more than carrying a title. Leadership is more about the disposition of the individual. The ability to problem solve and serve to move a cause defines a leader.

The folks that I have met are sacrificial and generous. They give of their time and resources to improve their profession. Issues arise, and they act. Phone calls are made.

Conversations are held to clarify issues. Information is shared to help motivate others.

These individuals do not carry a title. Their dedication to the students they serve elicits action. They buy supplies to enhance their cause. The benefactors are the students they serve and the colleagues they are associated with in their district.

Another trait of these leaders is authenticity. They are real and speak from the heart about their passion for education. Each person I converse with looks to grow the opportunities for the students they serve. They believe in high-quality service and production. They try to get lawmakers, administrators and community leaders to invest time and money into ideas that would influence student success. They truly believe they can make a difference one step at a time.

By Karen Christensen Vice President of Education

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Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.”

Harols S. Geneen

Many of the leaders I speak to are grateful for the opportunity to be part of defining their profession instead of letting their profession define them. The satisfaction of helping others find their voice, developing a program that makes a difference for students, and sharing strategies that increase production of students and colleagues feeds the motivation to be active. Gratitude for a shared passion with many others in the state compels advocating for education excellence.

Being a leader has little to do with a title. Leadership is about knowing what your strengths are and using them to make a difference in the world around you. Colleagues may recognize your skills before you admit that you have them. I was encouraged to accept a title without the reality of having leadership qualities. I believed I was just doing what needed to be done. I am forever grateful that the association displayed confidence in me by electing me Vice President of Education. I was given a title, but that is not what started leadership.

Use your gifts to serve your union. This may include a title like representative to the Delegate Assembly. Being with others who share your passion may just be the spark that ignites your leadership potential. ndunited.org

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The 2018 NDU Delegate Assembly will be held at Bismarck State College, in the National Energy Center for Excellence, on Saturday, April 14. Each Delegate Assembly is likely the most important meeting for the year, where members are given the opportunity and responsibility to share in the governance decisions of our statewide union of public employees and educators, elect members of our Board of Directors, and choose statewide delegates to the National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly (RA), which will be held this year in Minneapolis from June 30 to July 5 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Additionally, this year’s Delegate Assembly features a tremendous group of guest speakers. Mary Cathryn Ricker, the Executive Vice President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and John Stocks, Executive Director of NEA, will both be in attendance and addressing our assembly. Philanthropist and education innovation expert Ted Dintersmith will be speaking. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is speaking to our assembly, as well as receiving our 2018 NDU Friend of Public Education award. North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) Superintendent Kirsten Baesler will be addressing our members about public education in our state. And the retired Executive Director of the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (NDPERS) Sparb Collins is scheduled to receive our 2018 Friend of Public Services award.

Delegate Report Form Each local is guaranteed at least one representative. Larger locals are allowed one per 50 members. If you do not hear from your president, please contact them and tell them that you would like to attend the NDU Delegate Assembly and represent your local or chapter. Your local and chapter presidents received delegate report forms for our assembly. If you would like to be a delegate, please contact your local or chapter president as soon as possible.

The Delegate Report Form must be completed and sent to our office no later than April 5. More information, including the agenda, will be sent to your local or chapter when we receive your Delegate Report Form.

NDU Foundation Social and Silent Auction: Another great NDU Foundation social and silent auction is in the works, so plan to attend! Come join your colleagues from around the state, meet the NDU candidates running for election, relax and have fun! It will be held Friday, April 13, at 7 p.m., at the Radisson Hotel in the Ballroom.

Hotel Accommodations: If you need hotel accommodations, please contact the Radisson Hotel, 605 E Broadway Ave, Bismarck, ND, at 701-255-6000. Mention you are attending the North Dakota United meeting and GUARANTEE your room for late arrival with a credit card or they will release the room at 4 p.m. Room rates are $81.90 single and $95.10 double (plus tax).

Expenses: Recognizing the importance of participation at the state delegate assembly, NDU will provide the following expense assistance to locals or chapters (not individuals): • the IRS standard business mileage rate for one car per local • one-half of the cost of a double room at the DA hotel for each delegate (if necessary) • $25 for each registered delegate In addition, NDU will be responsible for breakfast and lunch on the day of the assembly. (Vouchers will be available at registration.)

Questions? Please contact kathy.gourlay@ndunited.org or 701-223-0450. More information will be available at www.ndunited.org soon!

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GET TO KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES

Learn more about the candidates for our NDU Board of Directors and National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly (RA) delegates for North Dakota United. The delegates from across the state of North Dakota in attendance at our Delegate Assembly, on April 14, 2018, at the National Energy Center of Excellence, on the campus of Bismarck State College, will be voting on candidates for the Board and NEA RA. In order to have their names placed on the ballot, each of these candidates needed to collect 50 signatures from active members in good standing and file for consideration by Feb. 15, 2018.

So that all of our members can make an informed decision on who will serve in these important leadership roles, we are providing you with biographical information about each one. Best wishes to them all, and thank you for stepping up and taking up the responsibility of being a leader in North Dakota United!

K-12 TEACHERS DIRECTOR – Less than 600 students Brenda Seehafer, the current K-12 Teachers Director for school districts with less than 600 students, is seeking re-election to the North Dakota United Board of Directors. She is a Title I Teacher from Rolla.

She previously taught at Wolford and also worked at the UND Lake Region College library.

She is also the ND Resolutions chair for NDU and represents ND on NEA Resolutions. She is a lead trainer for the Educator Ethics course that NDU offers. She also serves on the NDU Professional Development Committee and the UPAC Committee. She is the Rolla Education Association president and a local bargainer.

Seehafer was raised on a farm by Drake and attended grades K-12 at the Drake School. She got a degree in Elementary Education from Minot State University. She is president of the North Dakota Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) organization; she is the first member from her local Lambda chapter to hold this position. She will hold this position through June of 2019. Seehafer was the North Dakota Reading Association (NDRA) President in 2015-2016. Her local reading council is the Chautauqua Reading Council, where she has held various officer roles as well. She is currently the president for Chautauqua. Seehafer also served on an ESPB committee called the Program Approval Advisory Committee through August of 2017; she served on this committee for several years.

K-12 TEACHERS DIRECTOR – More than 600 students Kjiesta Moch is seeking election to the NDU Board of Directors as K-12 Teachers Director of school districts greater than 600 students. Moch is a Fifth Grade Teacher at Eastwood Elementary School in West Fargo.

She has served as president of the West Fargo Education Association since 2016, and was also elementary representative on the WFEA Executive Board from 2015-16. She has worked at Eastwood since 2014, and taught at Ben Franklin Elementary School in Grand Forks from 2013-14.

Moch was born in Minot, N.D., and was raised in a military family, which allowed her to live overseas for five years (Italy and Germany). She graduated from Minot High School and attended the University of North Dakota, to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and her master’s degree in Reading Education. She was a part of the UND Student Government for three of the five years she attended. Moch received the UND Education Student of the Year award in 2012. She is married to her husband, Jason, who is employed as an underwriter at Auto Owners Insurance. They have two children, Charlotte (19 months) and Jamison (four months).

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PUBLIC EMPLOYEES DIRECTOR Jeff Feist is seeking election to the NDU Board of Directors as Public Employees Director. Feist works as Auditor III for the Audit Section of the North Dakota Department of Transportation.

He has been a member of the union for over 20 years.

Feist has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Mary in Bismarck. He started his career with the State of North Dakota as a Sales Tax Auditor with the N.D. Tax Department in 1991. After 14 years of service there, he moved to the NDDOT, where he is currently employed. Feist said he would appreciate the opportunity to serve on the board.

HIGHER EDUCATION STAFF DIRECTOR Jamie Eriksson, the current Higher Education Staff Director for North Dakota United, is seeking re-election to the Board of Directors.

Eriksson works as Facilities/Physical Plant Administrative Assistant at Mayville State University.

She has served as an NDU Board member since merger in 2013, and previously served on the North Dakota Public Employees Association (NDPEA) Board and COPE committee. She has served as her chapter president, vice president and secretary, and is a member of the ESP Advisory Council and PSRP PPC. Eriksson is married to Lars Eriksson, and has two children. She has worked at Mayville State for 29 years, and has been a union member for that entire time. She was named the NDPEA State Employee of the Year in 2001, and the NDPEA Activist of the Year in 2004.

HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY DIRECTOR – Two-year institutions Leah Hamann, the current Higher Education Faculty Director of two-year institutions for North Dakota United, is seeking re-election to the Board of Directors. Hamann is Teacher Education Faculty and Director of Extended Learning at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck.

She has served on the NDU Board of Directors since 2015, and has been the UTTC StudentNDU chapter advisor since 2006. She is currently a member of the NDU Budget Committee, as well as the North Dakota State Commission on Nation and Community Service. She also serves on the N.D. Colorectal Cancer Roundtable for the American Cancer Society, and is UTTC team captain for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life/ UTTC Mini Relay.

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Hamann was born in Manila, Phillipines, and moved to Langdon, N.D., at the age of three when her mother married her stepfather, a Peace Corps volunteer. She kept her education close to home, attending Mayville State University and receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education/minor in Early Childhood & Psychology. Her first teaching position was in Fort Yates, N.D., as a kindergarten teacher, and then a 1st grade teacher. She was offered the opportunity to become faculty at UTTC in 1998, and is coming up on her 20th year of working with pre-service educators. Hamann went on to Minot State University for her master’s degree in Elementary Education, and is a Doctoral Candidate at Capella University, in Curriculum and Instruction. In 2017, she was awarded Faculty Member of the Year by the American Indian College Fund. She resides in Mandan with her partner and their small herd of pets.

HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY DIRECTOR – Four-year institutions Paul Markel, the current Higher Education Faculty Director for four-year-institutions for North Dakota United, is seeking re-election to the Board of Directors. Markel is a tenured professor of psychology with Minot State University.

He has served on the NDU Board of Directors since 2015, and has served as president of the North Dakota University System (NDUS) Council of College Faculties, representing the concern of all faculty within the University System. He has held administrative positions of department chair, interim dean and other directorships. He was also recently selected by Governor Burgum to serve on the Task Force for Higher Education Governance.

Markel is a Bismarck native and graduate of Century High School.

He completed his graduate studies in Boulder, Colo., and worked in biotechnology in Cambridge, Mass., prior to returning to North Dakota.

He is in his 22nd year working in the NDUS, and has been a consistent member of the union since his first day of employment with the state.

ETHNIC DIRECTOR

Alicia Bata, the current Ethnic Director for NDU, is seeking re-election to the Board of Directors. She currently teaches on interactive television from Cavalier and Park River to four other high schools in northeastern N.D.

She was elected and served as the National Education Association (NEA) Director for N.D. for two terms. She was appointed by NEA’s president to serve on the Human and Civil Rights Committee in Washington, D.C., also for two terms. She was selected to participate in the Magna Carta Human Rights Project by NEA, in conjunction with the National Union of Teachers (NUT) in England. She was voted by her peers on the NEA Board to be a delegate representing the U.S. at the World Congress of Education in South Africa. Bata is a National Trainer on the ELL Cadre and on the NEA Cultural Competence team. She is also an N.D. presenter of the “I Can Do It” classroom management workshop.

Bata was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree, teaching certificate, ESL/Bilingual endorsement, and Master of Science degree in Education with a cognate in Bilingual Education from the University of North Dakota. She is married to an N.D. farmer, Bill, and has four children and one grandchild.

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EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS DIRECTOR Tyann Schlenker, the current ESP Director for North Dakota United, is seeking re-election to the Board of Directors. Schlenker works as an Attendance Secretary at Fargo South High School.

She serves on the UPAC Committee, the ESP Advisory Committee and Professional Development Committee for NDU, as well as the Fargo Education Association ESP Board of Directors and as building rep for Fargo South. In the community, she is a volunteer at the Fargo VA, and chaired the Professional Development Conference for Fargo Public Schools.

Schlenker was born in Kensal, N.D. She is single, and belongs to the AMVET, VFW and American Legion Auxiliary. She volunteers for many volunteer events. She says the highlights of her life were being named the NDU ESP of the Year, National AMVET Ladies Auxiliary Member of the Year and Recruiter of the Year for the Department of North Dakota AMVET Auxiliary. The most exciting event of her life was attending the WDAY Honor Flight with her dad, who is a veteran of the Korean War. She is the caregiver of her father, James, who is 89 years old. Also, she owns two very faithful dogs, Brandin and Zeke, who bring joy to her life every day.

Heidi Schostek is seeking election to the NDU Board of Directors as ESP Director. Schostek works as an In-School Suspension Paraeducator at Dickinson High School.

She serves on the NDU ESP Advisory Committee, and has been a delegate for the Dickinson Education Association to the NDU Delegate Assembly since merger in 2013. She was named NDU ESP of the Year in 2016. She serves on the NDU Foundation Board, the NDU PD Committee, and was an NEA RA state delegate in 2017.

Schostek has her Associate of Arts degree in Nursing from Clark College in Vancouver, Wash., and is a Certified Medical Assistant from the Concorde Career Institute in Portland, Ore. She was born in Portland, and moved to Dickinson in 2012 for her husband’s job. She decided to apply for a position at the high school there to be closer to her son, a sophomore at the time, who was struggling in school. While she sometimes misses nursing, she has found that working with students is extremely rewarding, and she feels this is where she is supposed to be.

She has been blessed with three children: two boys who have graduated from school and a daughter that is a freshman at Dickinson High School this year.

NORTHEAST REGION DIRECTOR Tom Young, the current Northeast Region Director for North Dakota United, is seeking re-election to the Board of Directors. Young is a Vocal Music Teacher at Red River High School in Grand Forks.

He has served on the Board of Directors since 2016, after filling a vacated seat. He is the current president of the Grand Forks Education Association, and has also been a negotiator for GFEA in 2008-17. He has also served North Dakota Education Association (NDEA) Ambassador, and is a member of the NDU Election Committee and Policy Committee. He also had the honor and privilege to serve on the Elections Committee at the NEA RA in 2017. He has worked as a teacher in Grand Forks since 1990, and was previously a music teacher in LaMoure, from 1986-88, and in Dodge/ Golden Valley, from 1985-86.

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Young has his Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from North Dakota State University, and Master of Arts degree in Vocal Pedagogy from University of North Dakota. He lives in his hometown of Grand Forks with his wife and best friend, Lori, who recently retired from teaching after 35 years. His daughter, Morgan, is attending UND as a junior, majoring in English. His stepson, Matt, and family live in Fargo.

Young was a founding staff member of the Summer Performing Arts Company (SPA) in Grand Forks, where he served as head of the voice staff and was the founder and artistic director of the SPA Vocal Arts Ensemble. Away from school, he enjoys serving as the Sanctuary Choir Director at Sharon Lutheran Church. When he’s not making music, he enjoys hunting with his stepson, binging on movies with his daughter, fixing his boat and dreaming of fishing in a boat that doesn’t need fixing.

NORTHWEST REGION DIRECTOR Alan Leintz, the current Northwest Region Director for North Dakota United, is seeking re-election to the Board of Directors. Leintz is the Lead Custodian at Erik Ramstad Middle School in Minot.

He has served on the NDU Board of Directors since merger in 2013, and was previously a board member for the North Dakota Public Employees Association (NDPEA) for two years. He has been president of the North Dakota Public Employees (NDPE) chapter 52 for seven years, and served as financial secretary for chapter 52 for six years.

Leintz was born and raised in Harvey, N.D., and graduated from Harvey High School in 1984. He moved to Minot in 1986, and has lived in Surrey since 1991. His wife of 32 years, Cindy, is a teacher/librarian at Nedrose Public School. They have three daughters, Samantha, Kayla and McKenzie.

Leintz has been a custodian at Minot Public Schools since 2001.

SOUTHEAST REGION DIRECTOR David Marquardt, the current Southeast Region Director for North Dakota United, is seeking re-election to the Board of Directors. Marquardt is a physical education teacher in Fargo.

He has served as president of the Fargo Education Association, from 2013-17, and has been a member of the NDU Board of Directors since merger in 2013. He has also been a negotiator several times.

Marquardt has his bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State UniversityMoorhead, and master’s degree from North Dakota State University. He has taught 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades and P.E. K-5 in Fargo Public Schools since 1999. He is married to wife, Mindy, for 16 years. They have three children. Marquardt enjoys camping, having a large garden and coaching his kids’ activities.

SOUTHWEST REGION DIRECTOR Toni Gumeringer, the current Southwest Region Director for North Dakota United, is seeking re-election to the Board of Directors.

Gumeringer is a Speech Language Pathologist for Bismarck Public Schools.

She has served on the NDU Board of Directors since merger in 2013, and has also been president, chief negotiator, vice president, treasurer and building representative for the Bismarck Education Association. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Teachers Fund for Retirement (TFFR).

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Gumeringer was born and raised in Mandan. She lived in Minot to attend college and work from 1977-88. She has been married to her husband, Ron, for 35 years. They have three children, Travis (Sarah), Christopher and Benjamin, and three grandchildren, Chase, Reya and Lukah.

Gumeringer is a unit commissioner for the Boy Scouts of America and has earned the District Award of Merit. She also volunteers for the Faith Formation classes at Corpus Christi Church in Bismarck.

NEA RA DELEGATES Deb Beeler is seeking a delegate spot for the NEA RA in Minneapolis this summer. Beeler is a Speech Pathologist for West Fargo Public Schools.

She has served as the treasurer for West Fargo Education Association, as well as elementary representative on the WFEA Executive Board.

Beeler graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor’s degree, and received her master’s degree in Speech Pathology from the University of North Dakota. She continues to be active in her church, an advocate for the students she works with, and says she enjoys spending much of her time assisting her aging parents.

Laura Bubel is seeking a delegate spot for the NEA RA in Minneapolis this summer. Bubel is an English Teacher at Hazen High School.

She has been a member of NDU and the Hazen Education Association since 2015, and was previously a member of the Shepherd (Mont.)

Education Association and Shelby (Mont.)

Education Association.

Bubel has Bachelor of Arts degrees in English Education and Literary Studies from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont. She has worked at Hazen High School since 2015, and previously worked as a high school English teacher at Shepherd (Mont.) High School from 2013-15 and Shelby (Mont.) High School from 2012-13. She was born and raised in Baker, Mont., and played on the women’s basketball team at Rocky Mountain College. She graduated from college in 2011. She is married to husband, Josh, and they moved to North Dakota in 2015.

She is currently in her sixth year of teaching high school English. Her husband works as a plant operator for Coyote Station in Beulah, N.D., and they have a two-year-old son named Reid.

Tim Thueson is seeking a delegate spot for the National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly (RA) in Minneapolis this summer. Thueson is a Title I coordinator and Title I math and reading teacher at Solen.

He served as president, vice president and negotiating team member on the local level. He is also a member of the Communications, Speech and Theatre Association of North Dakota. He has been involved in school improvement, the North Dakota Theatre Arts Curriculum Frameworks Committee, the North Dakota Reading Association, and the North Dakota Geography Alliance. He is actively involved in the Lions Club and has held many leadership roles.

Thueson graduated Cum Laude from Mayville State University with a bachelor’s degree in Education. He received his Master of Science degree in Education from Minot State University. He is married to Lynell, and they have one son, Mark. Special recognitions include: Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers (three times), listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Professionals (two times), and a Melvin Jones Fellowship awardee. He is lifetime member of the North Dakota Firefighters’ Associaiton, a Melvin Jones Fellow and has received four Lions Club International President’s Certificates of Appreciation

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MARY CATHRYN RICKER Bio: Mary Cathryn Ricker is the executive vice president of the AFT (American Federation of Teachers).

She was elected to this position in July of 2014 at the AFT’s biennial convention in Los Angeles. In 2012, she became an AFT vice president. Ricker is a native of Hibbing, MN., and has taught in classrooms in St. Cloud and St. Paul, MN.; Camas, WA.; and, remarkably, Seoul, South Korea. She is a member of the AFT’s Democracy Committee and has represented the AFT abroad in Finland, Germany, and the Middle East. (Credit: AFT) JOHN STOCKS Bio: John C. Stocks is the Executive Director of the National Education Association (NEA) – the nation’s largest union. As Executive Director, Stocks oversees the operations of NEA’s $350 million annual budget and 477 staff. Since his appointment in 2011, he has been at the center of the union’s efforts to champion an Association-led movement to ensure great public schools for every student. As NEA’s Deputy Executive Director from 2004-2011, Stocks spearheaded NEA’s policy, political and membership priorities. Under his leadership, NEA charted a new course: mobilizing its ranks in support of improving the federal No Child Left Behind law, transforming its political organization, and building new strategic alliances to champion public education. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Stocks is a graduate of Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. He and his wife, Connie, have two children, J.T. and Emily.

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TED DINTERSMITH Bio: Ted Dintersmith is on a mission to give our kids a real chance to thrive in the innovation era. He organized and executive produced Most Likely to Succeed, an acclaimed documentary that premiered at Sundance and has been screened by more than 4,000 communities around the globe. Along with co-author Tony Wagner, he wrote Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era. His forthcoming book (April, 2018), What School Could Be, shares inspiring examples of learning at its best, based on his travels to all fifty states in a single school year. Ted is a Partner Emeritus with Charles River Ventures. He was ranked by Business 2.0 as the topperforming venture capitalist in the U.S. for the years 1995-1999.

In 2012, he was appointed by President Obama to represent the U.S. at the United Nations General Assembly, where he focused on education. Ted earned a PhD in Engineering from Stanford University and his undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary, receiving High Honors in Physics and English.

SENATOR HEIDI HEITKAMP Bio: A lifelong North Dakotan, Heidi grew up alongside her six brothers and sisters in the small, rural town of Mantador. Raised by a school-cook mom and a dad whose jobs ranged from volunteer firefighter to seasonal construction worker, Heidi was taught the values of hard work and service to her community from a young age.

Heidi knows hardworking North Dakota families because she was born and raised in a hardworking North Dakota family. Her deep love of North Dakota and the folks who call this state home is what drives her to put politics aside and bring that North Dakota common sense to Washington. Heidi lives in Mandan with her husband, Dr. Darwin Lange, a family practitioner. They have two grown children, Ali and Nathan.

ND United Voices

Local View

Fargo workshop will share insights on how to effectively support and engage refugee students

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Every school should be required to attend this!”

Members of the May-Port CG Education Association serve homemade soup to the public to raise funds for their scholarship fund.

PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE

May-Port CG local association raises money for scholarships Since 1986, members of the May-Port CG Education Association have been awarding scholarships to May-Port CG graduates who are accepted into Mayville State University’s teacher education program. To date we have provided scholarships to 41 teachers, five of which currently teach within the MayPort CG district.

To keep the scholarship viable, our association has tried different fundraisers. Our most successful fundraiser is our homemade soup supper. Members work together to prepare and serve the meal during a basketball double-header.

To improve on the fundraiser members contributed homemade goodies to add a bake sale to the line-up. To help with cost, a member applied for a Thrivent donation of $250.

All totaled, we were able to raise $1,100 with the full amount going towards future scholarships. It was a HUGE SUCCESS! (This article was sent to United Voices by Shelly Murphy of the May-Port CG Education Association, and we wish to thank her for sharing this story for publication. Additionally, we’d like to invite ALL of our locals and chapters to send us your stories and pictures like this one! Send us your news any time at comments@ndunited.org, and your Local Views will be seen and read by the 12,000 subscribers of United Voices.) ndunited.org

– 2017 Building Bridges Conference attendee.

As our communities grow increasingly more diverse, many educators want to learn about the most productive ways to engage and teach students of different cultures and educational experiences.

Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota’s annual conference, “Building Bridges: Strengthening Partnerships for Stronger Foundations,” is designed to enlighten, educate and inspire teachers, service providers and community leaders who work with refugee populations.

The event, which is slated for March 27-28 at the Fargo Holiday Inn, qualifies attendees for one graduate workshop credit, as well as Continuing Education Units.

The conference will feature four experts on humanrights and refugee issues, including Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, an author, lawyer and human rights activist. In 2012, Anna published a book, “Nowhere, a Story of Exile,” which she wrote at age 14 as her family settled in North Dakota as Armenian refugees in the early ‘90s.

The conference also will feature several education-oriented panels and sessions: • A session on how to better understand the strengths of the bi-lingual student. There will also be a panel of ELL teachers and social workers, including Leah Juelke, North Dakota Teacher of the Year, ELL teacher at Fargo South, and originator of the “Journey to America” writing project that resulted in 31 South students’ stories being published in the book, “Green Card Youth Voices: Immigration Stories from A Fargo High School.”

• Information on cultural considerations to make when accommodating New American students with special needs.

• A crash course in the refugee experience. Learn more about what life was like for refugee children, how their education backgrounds differed from an American system, and the cultural differences an educator might encounter when working with New American kids and their families.

To learn more, visit www.lssnd.org/buildingbridges.

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NDU MEMBERS ON HIGHER EDUCATION TASK FORCE BSC staff member will play valuable role in determining recommendations for governance model

By Kelly Hagen, NDU Communications

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Faculty and staff are the people closest to the learning that takes place at our institutions, and it’s essential to have input from those with the most information on how education is delivered and how innovation happens inside and outside the classroom. Their voices are vital to the discussion.”

Gov. Doug Burgum

When the Task Force for Higher Education Governance was first announced by Gov. Doug Burgum at a press conference in the state Capitol, people were understandably curious about what this body would be, who would serve on it and what they would do. Particularly our university faculty and staff members from the state’s 11 public universities have been keeping an eye out for updates on the Task Force’s progress.

“The Task Force for Higher Education Governance has been charged with evaluating the governance structure of higher education in North Dakota and determining whether the collective system of higher education is operating to its fullest potential, furthering the educational and workforce needs of the state for the 21st century,” Governor Burgum told us, when asked about the goals and aspirations he had for the Task Force. “The Task Force is currently in the learning and analyzing phase of reviewing all state governance models equally and discovering where we want to focus to achieve a model for North Dakota that incorporates best practices from across the country.”

When Burgum announced the names of the 14 Task Force members in late December of 2017, two members of ND United were among those chosen. These two individuals, Dr. Ellie Shockley from Bismarck State College and Dr. Paul Markel from Minot State University, were selected to represent the viewpoints of faculty and staff at our institutions.

Their perspective will be invaluable to the Task Force, according to Burgum. “Faculty and staff are the people closest to the learning that takes place at our institutions,” Burgum said, “and it’s essential to have input from those with the most information on how education is delivered and how innovation happens inside and outside the classroom. Their voices are vital to the discussion.”

Shockley said that she was honored to have been selected from among the 230 applicants to serve. “I was struck with how diverse the opinions were of this Task Force,” Shockley said. “I noticed the mixed feelings, and I listened closely to the mix of some folks’ concerns

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ND United Voices

Members of the Task Force for Higher Education Governance met for the first time on Jan. 12 on the campus of Bismarck State College.

and some folks’ tentative optimism. I quickly developed a sense of the significance of this Task Force and that well-informed voices of those who genuinely want to serve North Dakotans would be critical to its success. Finally, when ND United encouraged its member to apply, it finally clicked for me that I personally had something to offer to this Task Force.”

Additionally, Shockley said that she feels that she brings several assets to the table by being part of this historic group. “First, I am personally very well trained in methods of deriving sound conclusions from data,” she said. “In other words, I can assist with truly evidence-based decision-making. I also personally strive to be a good listener and to be a problem-solver who can acknowledge stakeholders’ competing concerns while keeping what’s best for students at the forefront of my mind.

She also contributes a professional perspective gained from her years of study and practice on the path that led her to her current position at BSC, as an Institutional Research Analyst for the past two and a half years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Duke University, and worked for two years at Drexel University as a Research Coordinator. She received her master’s degree and Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Chicago, and completed a post-doctor fellowship at the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, before moving to North Dakota. In her position at BSC, she is responsible for federal reporting of student outcomes data and is involved in any way that the college leverages that sort of data for decision-making.

“I do a lot of quantitative analyses at BSC, and I do survey analyses and such,” Shockley said. “And I also periodically serve the (North Dakota) University System, more generally.”

She sees her role on the Task Force as similar to the one she serves at BSC and for the NDUS. “I have seen first-hand how Systemlevel policies impact individual colleges, and have reflected upon the strengths and weaknesses of the current governance structure,” she said. “I have also assisted with research on occupational demand throughout the state. So, altogether my role in the Task Force is to guide us toward genuinely well-informed decisions in which all stakeholders are taken seriously and students are put first.”

The Task Force met for the first time on Jan. 12 in Bismarck, on the campus of BSC, and then held its second meeting in Fargo on Feb. 21. Shockley, Markel and the Governor have all stressed that the Task Force is still very early into the process, and any predictions of what recommendations they may ultimately make. “If the Task Force ultimately recommends legislative changes, our goal would be ndunited.org

to have them ready for the 2019 session,” Governor Burgum said, “with Task Force members playing a vital role in conversations with legislators during the session.”

Shockley stated that one thing has become clear to her already.

“Many possible changes to higher education governance would involve modifying our state constitution in some capacity,” she noted. “In turn, many possible changes would, at some point in the process, need to be vetted by the voters of North Dakota. Thus, it is not only ethical and responsible to consider the point of view of the state’s voters, but it is indispensable. I think we should do our due diligence to think of the entire process that any possible changes to governance must undergo before they can be achieved.”

Governor Burgum, who serves as chair of the Task Force, said he has full confidence in the wide swath of perspectives that their group possesses, and in their ability to assess the nearly 80-year-old governance structure current in place.

“One way in which we do that is to identify trends and create a governance structure that’s nimble and quickly able to adopt and implement best practices to best serve our educational and workforce needs in the 21st century,” he said. “This is an exciting opportunity for higher education in our state, and we look forward to partnering to ensure we have a world-class, highly competitive higher education system in North Dakota.”

Shockley agrees with the Governor’s dedication to listen to all stakeholders, and hopes that all of the members of North Dakota United will stay engaged in the process, and reach out to her or Markel with questions or concerns.

“I think this Task Force is going to become what all North Dakotans make of it,” she said. “I don’t see any reason why ND United members can’t treat Task Force members the way they treat any other public servants. By that I mean that we work for you and all other North Dakota constituents, and so we need to be receptive to your input. In the process of joining the Task Force, all members took an oath of office in which we affirmed that we will support the state constitution. As stakeholders and constituents, feel free to play a role in helping ensure that the recommendations coming out of the Task Force are timely, relevant and important.”

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Member Profile

MARY ANN KLEIN IS WINNER OF NORTH DAKOTA UNITED ESP OF THE YEAR

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By April Sauter, NDU Communications

Every child deserves to be successful.”

Mary Ann Klein 2017-18 NDU Education Support Professional of the Year

Being a mom of ten children, you could say that Mary Ann Klein, a paraeducator at Hazen Elementary School, was destined to work in education. You could also say that with that much experience and compassion, it should come as no surprise that she was selected as the North Dakota United Education Support Professional of the Year for 2017.

“I was surprised. I guess I was shocked because I feel like I’m just your average worker like the rest of them,” she said. “We’re all just trying to do a good job and help the kids be successful.”

When she first came to Hazen Elementary School, Klein had never worked in an educational setting before. In fact, she never saw herself working in education. She grew up in Cleveland, N.D., as the daughter of a rancher. Her graduating class in 1980 was made up of only eight students. She went on to graduate from Mary College – now the University of Mary, with a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing and an emphasis in health education. She had, of course, been on the other side of the education system as a parent.

“You see a part of it as a parent, but once you’re working within the system, you realize there’s so much more to it that we don’t see as parents.”

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ND United Voices

NDU President Nick Archuleta presented Mary Ann Klein, a paraeducator at Hazen Elementary School, with the ESP of the Year award at an assembly in Hazen.

Klein came to Hazen in 2012, and she described that at first, she just did what a normal para-educator would do. A couple of years later, she started working with kids who needed an education that was more tailored to their individual needs. Now, Klein is a jack-of-all-trades in the Hazen school district. She is there every morning at 7:30 and doesn’t go home until after 5:00 some days. Not only does she perform her usual ESP duties, she has a before- and after-school tutoring program. She also just recently started offering to drive kids home after school or after their activities. During the summer, Klein works as a custodian for the school district.

But her busy life does not stop there. Since joining North Dakota United two years ago, Klein has been a very active member. Hazen Elementary School music teacher and president of the Hazen Education Association, Chris Harvey, had much to say about this.

“She has taken part in local, state and national activities. She has attended our local meetings in Hazen and has helped with the ESP membership drive,” he said. “She was instrumental in Hazen offering membership to ESP members beginning in the 201617 school year. She personally visited with many ESPs in our district and convinced them to join HEA and NDU. Klein also represented North Dakota ESP members at an AFT conference in Detroit. Last spring, she placed her name on the ballot to serve as a statewide delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly, and was selected to attend and served as a statewide delegate at the RA in Boston.”

Regarding the NEA Representative Assembly, Klein expressed her appreciation for Harvey.

“I really have to thank Chris. He’s very good at making us aware of the different opportunities that we have with North Dakota United,” she said. “I think I would’ve been a lot more overwhelmed if it hadn’t been for Chris’s support in helping me get through the process.”

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The job of an ESP is one with many challenges. To perform to the best of their ability, an ESP must have a lot of energy and a positive attitude, which Klein most certainly does.

“I think it’s the work ethic. My parents and brothers and I, we all have a very strong work ethic. We also have a strong community service calling in my family,” she said. “I’ve worked with children and students all my life. I was a 4-H leader before I even had kids in 4-H.” Klein works hard every day to make sure that no student is struggling. She helps them through tough times and encourages them to be the best they can be.

“Every child deserves to be successful,” she said.

Though working as an ESP has its challenges, it equally has its rewards. Klein said that she has experienced many different rewards throughout her career as an ESP, and these experiences have helped her grow as an educator.

“I had this view of what education was, but then I came in and I found out that I needed to expand that view,” she said. “I get to work with a lot of different teachers – ones that have had 30 years of experience and ones that have had only one year of experience. The ones that have had 30 years of experience have tried and true methods, and the ones that have only had a year of experience come in with new methods that are innovative. It’s a neat experience because you’re always learning. I’m teaching the students and they’re learning from me, but the students are also teaching me and I’m learning from them.”

We know one thing for certain: the students and staff at Hazen Elementary School are extremely lucky to have Klein working for them, always willing to lend a hand.

“I love children, I don’t know how else I can say that,” she said, with a laugh. “I think children are just like a diamond. They sparkle, and I enjoy seeing them sparkle.”.

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LEGISLATIVE INTERIM COMMITTEES REPORT NDU lobbying team keeps close eye on what legislative bodies are doing between sessions

By Sarah Johnson, NDU Communications

North Dakota United has been busy following 12 legislative interim committees since they began meeting in July 2017. Most committees are still in fact-finding mode, but we expect them to take steps toward draft legislation in the next few months. Some highlights include: Budget/Government Finance: OMB’s November 2017 forecast numbers showed an increase from the May 2017 forecast, including: an estimated ending general fund balance in June 2019 at $90 million, an increase of $50 million; general fund forecast revenue up $45 million, and oil revenue forecast up $532 million. However, even with these increases, the estimated funding gap for the next biennium is $750 million.

Education Funding: This committee is taking a “hard look” at the funding formula.

Presentations so far have been given by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), the Governor’s Office, The N.D. Council of Educational Leaders (NDCEL), the N.D. Indian Affairs Commission, the Education Commission of the States and N.D. Regional Education Associations (REAs). It is very clear that this committee and the education policy committee are looking very hard at what efficiencies can be found in K-12 education. It seems highly likely that some legislation will be introduced next session to consolidate some agencies and then move the remaining agencies under the DPI umbrella.

The NDU lobbying team will continue to monitor these committees closely.

Education Policy: Dedicated to providing the best possible education for all students in N.D., this committee is working in conjunction with DPI’s strategic vision to draft legislation that would help students graduate choice-ready with the knowledge, skills and disposition to be successful. Presentations on budget, governance, services, quality assurance, duplication of services and efficiency have been given by the following organizations: DPI, CTE, Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB), REAs and the N.D. Educational Technology Council.

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ND United Voices

Employee Benefits: Rep. Mike Lefor (R-37) is the new committee chair and opened the September 2017 meeting by thanking PERS board members for attending at his invitation, stating that he wants the two committees to “get to know each other” as they work toward a common goal of “providing the best health-care coverage at the most competitive cost.” He also said he wants “input from both sides” on future decisions. Of important note to our members, at the October 2017 meeting, Sen. Oley Larsen (R-3) stated that he has legislation drafted that downgrades PERS to a single (individual) policy for state employees, removing the family coverage. He also mentioned this notion in the August 2017 Health Care Reform & Review meeting. North Dakota United is working on a plan to address this threat.

Health Care Reform Review: Among other topics, this committee is comparing the current hybrid PERS plan to a selffunded insurance plan for public employees. At the most recent meeting in February 2018, the committee held a panel discussion of N.D. health insurers regarding potential revisions to the N.D. Century Code sections on PERS self-insured plans revolved around keeping language flexible when possible, for example not mandating stop-loss insurance. Discussion about language setting a required reserve, developing a well-thought-out scorecard, and changing the current language, which allows the PERS board to choose a self-insured only if the cost is lower than fully-insured.

N.D. Insurance Department Deputy Commissioner Jeff Ubben presented a bill that creates a new section of the Insurance code to govern a PERS self-insured plan. The Insurance Department currently plays this role over the fully-insured/hybrid plan, and this draft legislation extends the department role to include a selfinsured plan. The bill doesn’t change the role of the PERS board, but keeps ND control over a self-insured plan so the governance doesn’t fall solely under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). PERS Interim Executive Director Sharon Schiermeister gave an update on how other neighboring states provide health benefits for public employees and proposed PERS Board clean-up legislation. Sen. Oley Larsen (R-3) asked Sharon to ask these states if any require an employee contribution to the health plan.

Higher Education: Again, the focus is on the funding formula.

From our observations, it seems the committee is currently willing to support the current funding model and push back on the efforts underway by Governor Burgum to reinvent the system. We also attended the first meeting of the Governor’s Higher Education Governance Task Force and will continue to monitor those developments closely. The latest meeting, held in January, had a broad focus on important topics including budget issues, working with reduced FTEs (the new normal), enrollment numbers, financial stability of the institutions, tuition (including a new model that will be implemented at NDSU and BSC this fall) and repeated mentions of the importance of challenge grants. No bills were offered to legislative management to draft Initiated & Referred Measure: NDU President Nick Archuleta was appointed to this brand new committee tasked with improving the current initiated & referred measure process in North Dakota.

Secretary of State Al Jaeger strongly feels that there are two rights ndunited.org

that need to be balanced in this process: the right of the people of North Dakota to launch an initiated/referred measure, and the right of the right of the people of North Dakota to know that the measure was launched correctly and legally. Several ideas have been forwarded by members of the committee, but no action is expected to be taken until later this year. President Archuleta encourages our members to be patient with this process, as the committee is charged only with making a recommendation to the Legislature. The Legislature would then have to vote to agree. Then the people of N.D. would have to agree to give up or alter the direct democracy that the IM and RM allows them. As a general rule, people don’t vote to make themselves less relevant.

Judiciary: Draft legislation has been written regarding N.D. Century Code 62.1, Weapons with an overall purpose to provide clarification in the code while maintaining the intent: sections are moved within the code; duplicative language removed; clarifying language added; and double negatives eliminated.

Sen. Kelly Armstrong (R-36) suggested a blanket statement that aligns with the Attorney General’s opinion be added to allow for constitutional carry. This led Rep. Jeffrey Magrum (R-28) to suggest that this legislation should be drafted to allow constitutional carry on all taxpayer-owned buildings, to which Sen. David Hogue (R-38), committee chairman, replied that Magrum’s suggestion was “a substantive change outside the committee’s marching orders” and reminded the committee members they are all in a position to propose legislation on their own.

Justice Reinvestment: The January 2018 meeting focused on high-risk youth and various strategies, programs and desired outcomes. As an overall impression, the speakers offered a broad overview of what they do, but no specific action was taken by the committee.

Legacy & Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory Board: Proposed legislation was suggested by Bank of North Dakota President/CEO Eric Hardmeyer to use $200 million to $300 million Legacy Fund fixed income allocation investments as a “carve out” to fund ND infrastructure projects through BND’s Match Loan CD program as a way for the Legacy Fund to invest in the State. No action was taken.

Legislative Management: In September 2017, Legislative Management held a closed Executive Session for the first time in history to discuss litigation against Gov. Burgum. In December 2017 the Legislature served the Governor a 33-page lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of five instances of partial vetoes of bills passed in the 65th Legislative Assembly.

Legislative Revenue Advisory Committee: The state budget and upcoming forecasts are at the core of this committee’s meetings. During a meeting in July 2017, Dr. David Flynn, chair of UND’s Economics & Finance Department, stated that the current forecasting model meets only two out of five best practices and has been greatly out of range the majority of the time since 2005.

The committee decided to look at how other states forecast, creating a legislative forecast to compare against the executive forecast, and draft an RFP for a legislative forecast.

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In Your Voice

JOURNEYS STIR EMOTIONS N.D. Teacher of the Year assists students in telling their immigration stories to crowds of listeners

By Leah Juelke, EL Language Teacher at Fargo South High School

“Bang, bang, bang! I suddenly heard gunshots! ‘Mushitoke mu fuge melango!’ my neighbor shouted. People were crying, screaming and running,” Fargo South junior Ntumba Lusamba started reading in a somber voice. Minutes later, as she was nearing the end of her three-minute excerpt that she chose to read for our public reading at North Dakota State University, and I heard her voice start to waver. She read, “My grandfather knew he wasn’t going to make it. We were only about a half a mile away from the refugee camp when he died. We couldn’t carry him, so we had to leave his body in the forest …” At that moment her eyes filled with tears, and she turned away from the microphone. During our two weeks of practice, Ntumba had practiced countless times and read through her story without tears or much emotion. On this day, reading out loud for an audience made everything seem so real, and her emotions came flooding back.

I rushed up to the front and comforted her with a hug. I asked her if she wanted to continue, as students have done the same in the past. She shook her head, and I told her she could just say “to be continued.” I sent another student with her, as she made her way out of the room. I quickly introduced the next student and then snuck out to talk to Ntumba. She was in the hallway, bent over, wiping tears from her face. “I’m so sorry.

I don’t know why I started crying. I didn’t before. I’m sorry I ruined the reading,” she sobbed.

“What? No way, you didn’t ruin anything. Tears don’t mean you are weak, they mean you are real,” I said, with tears of my own eyes. “You are such a strong, resilient young woman.

Never apologize for that. You are honoring the memory of your uncle and grandfather, and they would be so proud of you!” She nodded, smiled and then asked if she could go back and finish reading her story.

When I started the Journey to America project with my high school English Learner students four years ago, I never imagined that it would have such a huge impact on myself, my students or the surrounding community. After reading the first drafts of stories, which were at the time simply a part of a class assignment, I was amazed at how much I learned about my students and how honest and heartbreaking their stories were. I wanted other teachers, students and the community to better understand the reasons as to why and how our refugee and immigrant neighbors leave their native lands. I knew that the stories would also help our teachers connect with these students and therefore facilitate better differentiation for those who needed it.

In 2014, I applied for the Eleanor Laing Law Literacy Grant and received funding to create copies of a class book that featured every story. The grant also helped to bring Sudanese Lost Boy and CEO, John Dau, to Fargo South to inspire the whole school with his message of resilience and to work with my students during a writing workshop. His story of fleeing war, walking thousands of miles and drinking his own urine to survive helped to inspire my students to believe in themselves and to not be ashamed of where they came from.

After the first year, I continued to start off our Journey to America project with immigrant and refugee speakers from around the community. This year students also participated in a modified Narrative 4 story exchange activity with a senior English class of mostly 20

ND United Voices

native English speakers. Also new this year, was the addition of visits from the Imagine Thriving mental health organization.

Considering the great amounts of trauma that many of my students have faced, it was quite beneficial to bring in experts to help facilitate some activities to address underlying trauma and to let the students know that there are resources to help them.

building relationships and empowering students to advocate for themselves. My students are some of the most resilient, compassionate and hardworking young people that I have ever known. I learn something new from them everyday and I am a better teacher because of them.

The next stage involves university students, professors and community members who volunteer with us during the eight-week writing workshop. Students get help with the technical writing of their stories, but also end up connecting with the volunteers on a more personal level. I see the students start opening up and sharing more details about their hardships and their journeys as the volunteers encourage them throughout the process.

For Ntumba Lusamaba, and all of the other students in my class, January was the first time that they shared their harrowing stories with a group of people, but it will not be their last. Now, more so than ever, it is important that we educate our community about diversity. Through this project, my students have become empowered and are ready to continue sharing their stories, in hopes that our community will better understand their new neighbors and open their minds and their hearts to change. Â

Once students finish the writing and editing process, they create an e-book and it is posted on our class website (www.ellfargosouth. weebly.com). A hard copy of the collection of stories soon follows and is distributed throughout the community. The culminating activity for our project is a public reading of the stories at North Dakota State University. Students read a three- to four-minute excerpt of their story in front of a public audience. Last year, and again this year, Fargo Davies High School EL English 4 class also joined in on our project. The feeling I get after watching one of my students confidently read their story to a public audience, in their second, third or even fourth language, is indescribable.

I beam with pride, often holding back tears as I watch them in amazement.

(Leah Juelke was chosen as the 2018 North Dakota Teacher of the Year, and is an active member of her local association, the Fargo Education Association.

She will be a featured speaker at our Student-North Dakota United (SNDU) Professional Development Conference on April 6-7 at the National Energy Center of Excellence, on the campus of Bismarck State College, as well as our NDU Professional Growth Institute on June 4-6 at the CanadInn in Grand Forks. We invited Juelke to share her story in the pages of United Voices, and additionally we would like to open up an invitation to all of our members to do the same for our In Your Voice feature. Send NDU Communications Director Kelly Hagen a note at kelly.hagen@ndunited.org with a brief description of the story you’d like to share, and we will help to shine a light on the great work you all do for our state and our people!)

Since our first reading, my students and their stories have been featured in magazines, literary journals, newspapers and on the radio. They have won awards from the Scholastic Art and Writing Contest, as well as the Reflections Contest. Through this project, they have been empowered to make a difference and have shared their stories at nursing homes, schools, local conferences and even partnered with a local theater company to spread cultural awareness. A group of students even shared their stories at the State Capitol, in regards to legislation opposing refugee resettlement. My heart continues to swell with pride as I watch my students advocate for themselves and for others.

Last year, the success of the project connected me with the director of Green Card Voices, a Minneapolis based organization that works on telling the stories of immigrants and refugees. From this partnership, spawned a professionally published book of 31 Fargo South students from twenty one different countries. Along with the book are online interviews, a traveling banner exhibit, and a resource guide for teachers. Two universities as well as Fargo South currently use the book as part of the curriculum. This year, students continue to travel around North Dakota and do book readings and will participate in the first annual Green Card Voices Youth Leadership Summit sponsored by the Malala Fund. (http:// www.greencardvoices.com/book-fargo/) Each year, the Journey to America project brings my class closer together and fosters trust and understanding, creating a foundation to facilitate further learning. What started out as a way to help teach our community about diversity, resulted in a vehicle for ndunited.org

Fargo South students pose with Ms. Juelke after reading their stories at North Dakota State University.

An NDSU professor helps student Thong Tran with his story.

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general fund and $94 million from school districts. The formula provided payment at 0.5 per student. The bill did not require Pre-K programs be implemented in districts that do not offer them. The state has never funded ECE programs, and the bill was quickly killed in the Senate.

2017 LEGISLATIVE VOTING RECORD FUNDING:

House Bill 1324 Determination of State Aid Payable to School Districts and Regional Education Associations; Transportation Grants Position: Supported Outcome: Passed House 80-10, Passed Senate 45-0 - Win HB 1324 is the K-12 policy bill for schools in North Dakota. Thanks to the passage of Measure 2 in the fall of 2016, lawmakers repeatedly said they were able to hold K-12 harmless ($2.3 billion budget) during the upcoming biennium. The per pupil payment remains the same at $9,646.

It also includes yearly audits for REAs, keeps in lieu of tax payment the same (there is a study) and provides millions for transportation.

House Bill 1361 Limitation on Levies without Voter Approval Position: Opposed Outcome: Passed House 58-32, Failed Senate 0-46 - Win HB 1361 was introduced by House Majority Leader Al Carlson (R-41) and attempted to cap property tax assessments at 3 percent each year unless it goes to a public vote. At its initial hearing, school superintendents lined up to testify against it along with NDU President Nick Archuleta. Schools were removed from the bill, and it was amended multiple times before ultimately being killed in the Senate.

House Bill 1382 Establishment of Education Savings Accounts/Vouchers Position: Opposed Outcome: Passed House 72-17, Failed Senate 14-32 - Win HB 1382 would have used public tax dollars for non-public education.

NDU President Nick Archuleta testified vehemently against this cookie-cutter bill crafted outside of North Dakota. Ultimately, the House Education Committee turned this bill into a study before being defeated in the Senate.

Senate Bill 2194 Payment for Early Childhood Education Programs Position: Supported Outcome: Failed Senate 9-35 - Loss SB 2194 would have provided state payments for schools that offered ECE (Pre-K) programs at $94 million over the upcoming biennium from the

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Senate Bill 2250 Early Childhood Education Programs Position: Supported Outcome: Division A Failed House 44-47 - Loss

Passed Senate 47-0, Passed House 81-8 - Win SB 2250 provides early childhood education to children throughout the state. NDU testified in support of this bill, with President Archuleta saying, “research overwhelmingly indicates that young learners who experience early childhood education are far more likely to experience long-lasting success throughout their academic careers. That success leads to the likelihood that the student will graduate college, work, or military ready.” And while NDU continues to support universal Pre-K, and recognize there was another bill out there, we believe 2250 is the vehicle to move this vital service. Division A in the House lowered the age a child could begin early childhood education from four years of age to three years, and was defeated in the House.

GOVERNANCE:

House Bill 1436 PERS Governance Changes Position: Opposed Outcome: Passed House 71-19, Failed Senate 0-47 - Win HB 1436 was a delayed bill introduced right before Crossover that attempted to move PERS to a self-insured program from a self-funded program. The bill also mandated for the health insurance contract to be rebid every two years.

Senate Bill 2030 NDU Statutory References Position: Supported Outcome: Passed House 76-14, Passed Senate 46-0 - Win SB 2030 began as a clean-up bill to update language in Century Code from “North Dakota Education Association” to “North Dakota United.” President Nick Archuleta testified in support of the majority of this bill, but against a section that would have removed an NDU member from the Board of Directors of the Teacher Fund for Retirement (TFFR). We are happy to report the language has been updated and we have maintained our membership on the TFFR board.

HIGHER ED:

House Bill 1264 Non-Resident Tuition Rates Position: Opposed Outcome: Failed House 38-53 - Win HB 1264 would have set tuition rates for non-resident students at a higher, fixed rate. For instance, the bill called for at least 115 percent of the resident tuition rate for nonresident students from the state of Minnesota. We believe with tight budgets across the University System, passing this bill would make it more difficult to enroll.

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House Bill 1265 Number of Non-Resident Students Admitted to SIHE under Reciprocity Position: Opposed Outcome: Failed House 26-65 - Win HB 1265 would have set limits on the number of non-resident students admitted to the North Dakota University System by percentage through the year 2025-26, based on the number or resident students admitted.

Again, we believe this bill would have limited out-of-state student enrollment in the North Dakota University System, and with tight budgets we believe that is a mistake.

the legislation, NDU President Nick Archuleta was appointed to the committee by Governor Burgum.

RIGHTS:

SAFETY:

House Bill 1246 State Employee Claims of Discrimination Position: Supported Outcome: Passed House 65-25, Failed Senate 8-39 - Loss HB 1246, introduced by Rep. George Keiser (R-47), called for a streamlining the grievance process by allowing an employee to bypass his or her supervisor and go to the Department of Labor and Human Rights or the Federal Equal Opportunity Employment Commission.

The employee also would have had the right to waive the employer’s and division’s grievance processes, and take the case to district court.

House Bill 1386 Anti-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation Position: Supported Outcome: Failed House 22-69 - Loss HB 1386 sought to add sexual orientation to the reasons for which people cannot be discriminated against, in employment and in housing.

NDU always sides with equality and fairness, and against discrimination of any kind, especially in employment.

House Bill 1401 Collective Bargaining for Law Enforcement Officers and Paid Full-time Firefighters Position: Supported Outcome: Failed House 19-75 - Loss HB 1401 would have provided collective-bargaining rights for law-enforcement officers and full-time firefighters. The parties would negotiate in good faith regarding the terms and conditions of employment and employer-employee relations. Law enforcement and full-time firefighters would not have been able to strike under the agreement.

Senate Bill 2135 Initiated & Referred Measure Study Commission Position: Opposed Outcome: Passed Senate 31-14, Passed House 71-19 – Loss SB 2135 created an initiated and referred measure commission to study the current measure laws of North Dakota. NDU worked diligently to get ourselves added to this committee to allow us to ensure that the people’s voice continued to be heard through future initiated and referred measure processes. While NDU was not listed directly in

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Senate Bill 2336 Contributions to and Expenditures of Campaigns for Initiated or Referred Measures Position: Opposed Outcome: Failed Senate 5-38 – Win SB 2336 relates to contributions to and expenditures of campaigns for initiated or referred measures. It would have limited the ability to spend NDU resources on initiated and referred measures in the future.

House Bill 1310 Guns in Schools Position: Opposed Outcome: Passed House 73-19, Failed Senate 18-27 - Win HB 1310 would have provided a pilot program for first armed responders at up to 10 schools in North Dakota. NDU opposed the bill on a variety of fronts, including the fact that no schools testified in support of the bill in either House or Senate committee. Several schools testified against the bill during its initial hearing in the House. Secondly, our polling showed the majority of our members opposed the idea. Thirdly, while NDU does support highly trained School Resource Officers (SROs) or retired law enforcement in schools, we do not support anyone else with limited training carrying concealed in our schools.

SALARY/BENEFITS:

House Bill 1023 PERS Budget Position: Opposed amendments Outcome: Passed House 80-8, Passed Senate 30-15 - Loss This is the budget bill for PERS. However, throughout the session a number of policy amendments were added to it by House Majority Leader Al Carlson (R-41). The most significant amendment was a proposed mandatory rebid on health insurance in two years. Carlson also proposed a new legislative committee dealing with health care coverage. The House and Senate came to a last minute agreement on the bill which appeared to be a big win for Carlson. However, Governor Doug Burgum vetoed the sections dealing with the rebid and health care committee. The bottom line for public employees is that your health insurance won’t change in the next two years outside of increases in co-pays and deductibles.

House Bill 1168 Restricting Compensation & Travel for Public Employee’s Attendance at Legislative Meetings Position: Opposed Outcome: Failed House 5-86 - Win HB 1168 was a bill introduced by Rep. Rick Becker (R-7) to restrict compensation and travel reimbursement for public employees to attend legislative hearings and meetings. The bill never gained any traction and drew the ire of public employees, and overwhelmingly failed in the House.

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Senate Bill 2037 Teacher Shortage Loan Forgiveness Programs Position: Supported Outcome: Passed Senate 46-0, Passed House 67-25 - Win This is a significant teacher loan forgiveness bill that merged SB 2243 into SB 2037 to come out with a product that will incentivize new teachers to work in rural school districts, fill critical need positions in both rural and non-rural districts and help to make sure our students have a teacher in their classroom. The program will help erase student loan debt for new teachers. In fact, an educator filling a critical need area in a remote school district for a maximum of four years could earn $24,000 of loan forgiveness. On the other end of the spectrum, filling a critical-need position in a non-rural school district over the same fouryear period could equate to a maximum of $12,000 in loan forgiveness.

TEACHING & LEARNING:

House Bill 1432 Duties of the Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction Position: Opposed Outcome: Division A Failed House 27-62, Division B

Failed House 10-78 - Win HB 1432 was introduced as an anti-Common Core bill that would limit the power of the Supt. of Public Instruction, erase new standards written for North Dakota students by more than 70 North Dakota educators over the last two years, and replace those with over a decade old standard from Massachusetts. In an attempt to get part of the bill passed, the sponsor split it in two on the House floor. Both sections failed.

Senate Bill 2180 Intent to Refuse Federal Education Funding Tied to Federal Mandates Position: Opposed Outcome: Failed Senate 3-43 - Win SB 2180 was a misguided attempt to refuse federal funding for local school districts. What the bill sponsor didn’t know was that school districts can already refuse federal funding but still must follow federal mandates. We testified against this bill citing the loss of revenue to school districts that would have to be made up by taxpayers.

Senate Bill 2186 Education Innovation Position: Supported Outcome: Passed Senate 43-1, Passed House 75-17 - Win SB 2186 allows local school districts to submit plans, approved by local school boards, to the Department of Public Instruction for waivers to allow for innovation in the classroom. It’s worth noting the plan would also need support from parents, community members, teachers and staff. The bill, which is a pilot program, has unanimous support from education associations, the Department of Public Instruction and multiple school districts who are waiting to submit plans for approval.

SB 2186 will allow locals to customize learning, and then measure and report successes.

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NDU APPROVED

North Dakota United has endorsed these candidates for re-election North Dakota United is proud to endorse the following North Dakota state legislators for re-election in 2018. “Their advocacy and support of legislation to strengthen our great public schools, higher education, and outstanding public service over the past two legislative sessions is something of which they can be very proud,” said NDU President Nick Archuleta.

“Their willingness to work together, regardless of political persuasion, to find solutions to challenges is inspiring and much appreciated by our members and the people of North Dakota.”

The endorsed legislators voted in-line with North Dakota United priorities an average of over 70 percent during the 2015 and 2017 legislative sessions. We thank them for their dedication to public educators, public employees, students, and our communities.

Representative Andy Maragos (R-3) Senator Nicole Poolman (R-7) Representative Tracy Boe (D-9) Representative Marvin Nelson (D-9) Senator Richard Marcellais (D-9) Representative Gretchen Dobervich (D-11) Representative Ron Guggisberg (D-11) Senator Tim Mathern (D-11) Senator Judy Lee (R-13) Senator Dave Oehlke (R-15) Representative Greg Westlind (R-15) Senator Ray Holmberg (R-17) Representative Kathy Hogan (D-21) for Senate Representative Mary Schneider (D-21) Senator Joan Heckaman (D-23) Representative Alisa Mitskog (D-25) Representative Tom Beadle (R-27) Representative Bob Martinson (R-35) Senator Erin Oban (D-35) Senator Rich Wardner (R-37) Representative Pam Anderson (D-41) Representative Mary Johnson (R-45) Senator Ron Sorvaag (R-45) Please join us in the primary election on June 12, and again for the general election on Nov. 6, to ensure that these dedicated public servants are elected to continue to govern with our membership in mind.

ND United Voices

Overall House of Representatives Score Member Anderson, Bert Anderson, Dick Anderson, Pamela Beadle, Thomas Becker, Rich S. Becker, Rick C. Bellew, Larry Blum, Jake G. Boe, Tracy Boehning, Randy Bosch, Glen Boschee, Josh Brabandt, Roger Brandenburg, Mike Carlson, Al Damschen, Chuck Delmore, Lois Delzer, Jeff Devlin, Bill Dobervich, Gretchen Dockter, Jason Ertelt, Sebastian Grueneich, Jim Guggisberg, Ron Hanson, Karla Rose Hatlestad, Patrick Headland, Craig Heinert, Pat. D. Hogan, Kathy Holman, Richard G. Howe, Michael Johnson, Craig A. Johnson, Dennis Johnson, Mary Johnston, Daniel Jones, Terry B. Kading, Tom Karls, Karen Kasper, Jim Keiser, George J. Kempenich, Keith Kiefert, Dwight Klemin, Lawrence R. Koppelman, Ben Koppelman, Kim Kreidt, Gary Laning, Vernon Lefor, Mike Longmuir, Donald W. Louser, Scott Magrum, Jeffery J. Maragos, Andrew Marschall, Andrew Martinson, Bob McWilliams, Aaron Meier, Lisa Mitskog, Alisa Mock, Corey Monson, David Nathe, Mike Nelson, Jon O. Nelson, Marvin E. O’Brien, Emily Oliver, Bill Olson, Christopher D. Owens, Mark S. Paur, Gary Pollert, Chet Porter, Todd Pyle, Brandy Roers Jones, Shannon Rohr, Karen M.

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Party Dist 2015 2017 Average R R D R R R R R D R R D R R R R D R R D R R R D D R R R D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D R R R D R R R R R R R R R R

2 6 41 27 43 7 38 42 9 27 30 44 5 28 41 10 43 8 23 11 7 26 12 11 44 1 29 32 21 20 22 6 15 45 24 4 45 35 46 47 39 24 47 16 13 33 8 37 2 5 28 3 16 35 20 32 25 18 10 30 14 9 42 4 13 17 19 29 34 22 46 31

26% 40% 100% 69% 31% 23% 23% n/a 80% 17% n/a 100% 14% 26% 23% 20% 100% 20% 23% n/a 40% n/a n/a 91% n/a 49% 17% n/a 100% 97% n/a n/a 57% 71% n/a n/a 26% 26% 29% 49% 20% 20% 40% 14% 20% 17% 17% 54% n/a 20% n/a 86% n/a 83% 39% 40% 91% 100% 17% 40% 40% 91% n/a n/a 23% 31% 17% 26% 37% n/a n/a 20%

53% 59% 98% 91% 63% 2% 31% 60% 98% 39% 60% 100% 17% 38% 48% 50% 97% 19% 34% 98% 60% 18% 60% 97% 100% 69% 43% 62% 100% 97% 60% 50% 62% 74% 5% 48% 41% 48% 18% 71% 43% 49% 60% 0% 33% 22% 20% 39% 76% 29% 24% 67% 29% 71% 31% 60% 88% 91% 67% 59% 76% 90% 73% 57% 26% 62% 49% 48% 60% 78% 71% 27%

40% 50% 99% 80% 47% 13% 27% 60% 89% 28% 60% 100% 16% 32% 36% 35% 99% 20% 29% 98% 50% 18% 60% 94% 100% 59% 30% 62% 100% 97% 60% 50% 60% 73% 5% 48% 34% 37% 24% 60% 32% 35% 50% 7% 27% 20% 19% 47% 76% 25% 24% 77% 29% 77% 35% 50% 90% 96% 42% 50% 58% 91% 73% 57% 25% 47% 33% 37% 49% 78% 71% 24%

Member Ruby, Dan Ruby, Matthew Sanford, Mark Satrom, Bernie Schatz, Mike Schmidt, Jim Schneider, Mary Schobinger, Randy A. Schreiber-Beck, Cynthia Seibel, Jay Simons, Luke Skroch, Kathy Steiner, Vicky Streyle, Roscoe Sukut, Gary R. Toman, Nathan Trottier, Wayne A. Vetter, Steve Vigesaa, Don Weisz, Robin Westlind, Greg Zubke, Denton

Party Dist 2015 2017 Average R R R R R R D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

38 40 17 12 36 31 21 40 25 33 36 26 37 3 1 34 19 18 23 14 15 39

9% n/a 60% n/a 31% 23% 91% n/a 43% 34% n/a n/a 23% 26% 26% 20% 23% n/a 20% 29% n/a 54%

37% 49% 71% 60% 2% 59% 100% 57% 71% 51% 5% 26% 29% 38% 60% 29% 57% 45% 57% 48% 71% 71%

23% 49% 66% 60% 17% 41% 96% 57% 57% 43% 5% 26% 26% 32% 43% 25% 40% 45% 39% 39% 71% 63%

8 36 1 39 5 19 27 16 34 41 32 26 28 12 23 38 17 4 47 14 40 42 43 3 30 22 13 25 9 11 18 10 21 35 15 20 44 7 24 46 2 31 45 33 6 29 37

58% 55% 67% 39% 58% 58% 48% n/a 21% 58% 45% 100% 58% 100% 100% 42% 82% n/a 55% 30% 67% n/a 39% 27% 60% (H) 24% 73% 39% 94% 100% n/a n/a 100% 100% 61% n/a n/a 61% 100% n/a 67% 45% 61% 36% n/a 39% 73%

78% 74% 69% 57% 65% 71% 69% 56% 58% 79% 64% 100% 77% 100% 97% 69% 77% 64% 69% 61% 81% 72% 69% 53% 58% 80% 83% 58% 89% 100% 81% 58% 100% 100% 81% 69% 89% 81% 100% 83% 69% 77% 81% 81% 81% 69% 81%

68% 65% 68% 48% 62% 65% 59% 56% 40% 69% 55% 100% 68% 100% 99% 56% 80% 64% 62% 46% 74% 72% 54% 40% 59% 52% 78% 49% 92% 100% 81% 58% 100% 100% 71% 69% 89% 71% 100% 83% 68% 61% 71% 59% 81% 54% 77%

Overall Senate Score Anderson, Jr., Howard Armstrong, Kelly M. Bekkedahl, Brad Bowman, Bill Burckhard, Randall A. Campbell, Tom Casper, Jonathan Clemens, David A. Cook, Dwight Davison, Kyle Dever, Dick Dotzenrod, Jim Erbele, Robert Grabinger, John Heckaman, Joan Hogue, David Holmberg, Ray Kannianen, Jordan Kilzer, Ralph Klein, Jerry Krebsbach, Karen Kreun, Curt Laffen, Lonnie J. Larsen, Oley Larson, Diane Lee, Gary A. Lee, Judy Luick, Larry Marcellais, Richard Mathern, Tim Meyer, Scott Myrdal, Janne Nelson, Carolyn C. Oban, Erin Oehlke, Dave Osland, Arne Piepkorn, Merrill Poolman, Nicole Robinson, Larry J. Roers, Jim P. Rust, David S. Schaible, Donald Sorvaag, Ronald Unruh, Jessica Vedaa, Shawn Wanzek, Terry M. Wardner, Rich

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Save the Date!

The 2018

SNDU Professional development Conference Friday, April 6 & Saturday, April 7

National Energy Center of excellence, Bismarck state college at the

Featuring 2018 ND Teacher of the year, leah juelke 26

ND United Voices

From left, North Dakota Newspaper Association executive director Steve Andrist, Prairie Public Radio news director Dave Thompson and “It Takes 2” radio show host Amy Iler served as a media panel at the 2018 EFLC Candidate Training Academy in Jamestown.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE

Candidate Training Academy helps build relationships in the grassroots of our state NDU assistant executive director Ryan Nagle was integral in planning and implementing this year’s Candidate Training Academy.

For the second election cycle, North Dakota United teamed up with North Dakota AFL-CIO and North Dakota Farmers Union to provide the Education Farm and Labor Coalition (EFLC) Candidate Training Academy. The event was hosted at Farmer Union headquarters in Jamestown on the weekend of Feb. 17-18, and approximately 30 candidates for office and activists from the membership of these three organizations attended and learned what it takes to win elected office in the state of North Dakota.

This intensive, two-day training session covered the importance of fundraising, knock on doors and communicating with voters in the field, talking to the media, campaign finance and paperwork, and a lot more. Candidates were also given the opportunity to network, share best practices and encourage each other.

Candidate Training Academy is also an opportunity for NDU, NDFU and ND AFL-CIO to build good relationships with future leaders in the Legislature, on city commissions, school boards and local leadership councils across the state, and to build on the cooperative spirit felt between our three member organizations.

The future of North Dakota looks brighter for educators and public employees, for working people and family farmers, and for all of the students and citizens of the state who we serve. Thank you to all of our participants, and good luck in your campaigns!

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UPCOMING NDU

PROFESSIONAL COURSES Did you know that your high quality, relevant professional development opportunities are available to you at a significantly reduced cost?

Thanks to a NEA Great Public Schools Fund grant, North Dakota United is offering professional development opportunities at a reduced rate for our members now through August 2019. Now until August 2018, participants pay only 1/3 of the cost, which is typically $50 including a graduate credit.

Beginning in August 2018 that cost will rise to $100, and starting August 2019, members will be charged the full cost of the course, projected to be $150.

The time is NOW to take advantage of the reduced rates on all our professional development opportunities that have been designed with you in mind.

Upcoming courses include: Educator Ethics:

This course reviews ethics as defined by the ND Educational Standards and Practices Board. Participants examine various ethical situations along with actual cases that the Board has addressed including: technology do’s and don’ts; contracts and resignations; relationships with students, parents, and colleagues, and; the dichotomy of a school employee’s life. It includes decision-making methodologies and is a highly interactive course.

Member Cost: $35 (no credit), $50 (1 credit), or $100 (2 credits); Non-member cost: $100 (no credit), $200 (1 credit), or $400 (2 credits) Available for 1 or 2 credits through the University of North Dakota Course dates: Minot: April 20 – May 20, 2018 Professional Growth Institute: The 2018 Professional Growth Institute will be focused on “Working 4 North Dakota” and include enrichment courses for all educators and public employees on topics such as self-care, mindfulness in the classroom, defining trauma, stress and time management, financial and retirement planning, student mental health, social media ethics, leadership, and innovative education best practices. The threeday event will feature a combination of keynote speakers, break-out sessions, and interactive activities.

Member cost: $35 (no credit) or $50 (1 credit); Non-member cost $150 (no credit) or $200 (1 credit) Cost includes double occupancy lodging, two breakfasts, two lunches and a social.

Single occupancy adds $100 to the above cost.

Course dates: June 4-6, 2018 at the CanadInn in Grand Forks To register, please visit www.NDUnited.org.

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ND United Voices

Awards and Honors Rooke honored as a LifeChanger of the Year

North Dakota United member Eric Rooke, the director of bands for Williston High School, has been recognized as a LifeChanger of the Year by National Life Group. He was nominated by his colleague, Peter Frankman.

LifeChanger of the Year award is an annual program that is sponsored by National Life Group, and recognizes and rewards K-12 educators and school employees across the country. Their program celebrates those who are making a significant difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership.

Rooke has transformed music and the performing arts, not only at Williston High School, but throughout the community of Williston as a whole. Last year, his work with the WHS Wind Ensemble was named the Governor’s Band of North Dakota. They were given the opportunity to perform in the Capitol Building for Governor Doug Burgum and state legislators.

“I think music and the arts are a really cool place to be more creative, to think outside the box and to create something from nothing,” Rooke said. “Because, as I say to my kids on a regular basis, we take paper and ink and we turn it into something that creates and evokes feelings and emotions in people. And that’s a really powerful thing to do as a musician. You take a hunk of metal or a hunk of wood and a piece of paper, and you make music that evokes emotion and creates feelings and brings people together in a way that nothing else does.”

“I could go on talking about Mr. Rooke’s excellence ad nauseam, but instead I’ll end with this: I’ve never seen a teacher make more of a difference than Mr. Rooke,” Frankman said. “He truly deserves recognition.”

To find out more about the award, please visit lifechangeroftheyear.com.

Dr. Dragseth and Business Ethics class receive Outstanding Volunteer award

The Northern Plains Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals hosts National Philanthropy Day each November where North Dakotans and northwest Minnesotans who engage in philanthropy and volunteerism are honored. The 2017 regional event took place Nov. 16, in Fargo.

Dickinson State University professor and North Dakota United member Dr. Debora Dragseth and her Business Ethics class received the prestigious “Outstanding Volunteer Group Award.” For the past four years, the Business Ethics class, taught by Dr. Dragseth, has collected items for the annual “Red Paper Clip Auction.” At the beginning of the semester, each student receives one red paper clip and must make a minimum of eight exchanges to barter the paper clip for bigger and better items. In April, the class holds an auction and the proceeds are donated to a charity or charities that the class chooses at the beginning of the semester.

Peterson given award as NDSHAPE Middle School P.E. Teacher of the Year

Sheila Peterson, a 17-year teacher and member of North Dakota United and the Bismarck Education Association, was given a special jacket commemorating her win of the NDSHAPE Middle School Physical Education (P.E.) Teacher of the Year award in front of her sixth-grade students at Wachter Middle School in Bismarck on Jan. 19, 2018 In order to be eligible for an NDSHAPE award, the individual must be a member of NDSHAPE – North Dakota Society of Health and Physical Educators. Nominations come from school districts. The teachers chosen to represent North Dakota move on to compete at the district level, and if they win there, they have a chance to go on to the national level.

“My students definitely motivate me because I want to create kids who are lifelong movers, so I want to provide them with a variety of activities,” she said. “I have fun because my kids know how to motivate me now, and they come in asking me, ‘What are we going to do today?’ I think they’re expecting me to always come up with something new,” she laughed.

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CS370218 CSNR0814

NDU-Retired

GETTING ORGANIZED

NDU-Retired members urged to speak up and be heard at Delegate Assembly

By Nancy Peterson NDU-Retired President

This April 14, members of North Dakota United will meet in Bismarck for our Delegate Assembly, in order to chart the course of our organization for the next two years. As retired members, we will be sending 10 members to represent us at this delegate meeting.

Important decisions will be discussed, debated and voted on. Election of officers and board members, as well as the budget, will be also voted on. Important decisions that will direct what actions the Board will take for the next two years will also be discussed.

If there are concerns about the budget or other items that will be discussed on April 14, please let me know. You can contact me at 701-238-5469. If I am not available to speak with you, please leave a message. I will get back to you as soon as I can.

As retired board members, we are always looking for new ways and ideas to attract and retain new members. What services can we provide our retired members? And what services do you need from our association? Both of these topics are discussed at each Retired Board meeting.

If you have ideas that can and will help the Retired Board as well as the NDU Board, please send them to me. I always like to hear from members, and anything you and I discuss will be discussed at the NDU-R Board meeting.

Thank you for your membership, and I am looking forward to visiting with you soon!

YES, SIGN ME UP NOW IN NDU/NEA/AFT-RETIRED Complete and mail with your check today to NDU-Retired, 301 N 4th St, Bismarck, ND 58501-4020 Name: _________________________________________________________ Social Security Number: _______________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ City: ______________________________________________________________ State: ______________ Zip: _________________ Phone: _________________________________________ E-mail: ____________________________________________________ Local Association: _______________________ Signature: ___________________________________________Date: ____________ _______ I wish to join as Annual Retired and pay $54 per year. Mail this form and your check to NDU, 301 N 4th Street, Bismarck, ND 58501-4020. (NDU membership year is from Sept. 1 to August 31.) _______ I wish to pay a one-time payment of $459 for Lifetime Retired. _____ Expected Date of Retirement ___________ (month/year) _______ I wish to pay one payment of $51 and have 8 (eight) electronic transfers of $51 from my bank account for Lifetime Retired. ndunited.org

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ND United Voices