YOUR IEA – FOR YOUR RIGHTS

IEA HAS YOUR BACK

Your IEA membership guarantees representation at the bargaining table and ensures you have access to free legal ser-vices should the need ever arise.

UNISERV DIRECTORS – IEA’S FRONT LINE UniServ Directors (UDs), located at 22 offices statewide, are IEA’s front-line support for your local association. UDs ad-vocate for your best professional interests and support your efforts to provide high-quality education. Your working conditions are your students’ learning conditions. Like you, IEA wants both to be the best they can be.

Contract negotiations As a public education employee, your union, as your exclusive bargaining representa-tive, has the legal right to negotiate the terms of your employment. Your contract is the basis for most of your employee rights. It spells out your working hours, evalua-tion process, work/life benefits, job responsibilities, use of social media and school safety.

Your UD supports your local representatives as they negotiate contracts representing your – and ultimately your students’ – best interests.

Other areas of expertise UDs also help your local association, at no additional cost, with:

LEGAL SERVICES – PROTECTS MEMBERS Protecting your rights as a public school employee is at the core of IEA’s mission. IEA employs nine in-house attorneys and legal support staff, and when needed, calls on highly skilled outside legal expertise – all available to you at no addi-tional cost.

Legal Services staff are experts in education law who work directly with your UD and local leadership on issues such as:

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Contract interpretation Bargaining crisis preparation

Grievance processing Retirement concerns

Job security protection Public relations programs development

Training programs to meet local needs Governance matters assistance

Employee counseling for work-related problems

Civil rights violations process

Arbitration case presentations IEA/NEA benefits access

Unemployment information Bargaining crisis preparation

Wage and hour laws Education funding

Unfair labor practices Negotiations

Layoff and recall Discrimination

Retirement Health and safety

Fringe benefits Civil rights

Unemployment compensation Contract enforcement

Financial safeguard – Educators Employment Liability (EEL) program Working with children is one of life’s greatest privileges … and riskiest propositions. Education environments can expose even the best teachers and staff to situa-tions that may give rise to legal actions. Your IEA membership automatically provides you $1 million professional liability insurance coverage through the Educators Employment Liability program. This cov-erage includes attorneys fees, so you won’t have to pay out of your own pocket to defend yourself from em-ployment-related civil lawsuits.

Training Legal Services provides extensive training to your local representatives – and you. We ensure teachers under-stand laws governing their employment and how to steer clear of potential legal situations. When you know your rights and responsibilities, we can often locally re-solve, and even entirely avoid, costly and time-consuming legal action. We also provide extensive training to UDs on recent ed-ucation laws and how to identify potential legal issues. Your UD is prepared to evaluate any legal aspect of your work and provide guidance on your options. Get to know your legal rights. IEA offers “live” training sessions and education-specific legal video courses through the online learning portal, accessible through the “members only” link at www.ieanea.org.

It could happen to anyone …

Legal actions can happen to anyone, even the best em-ployees and staff, through no fault of their own. Here are true stories of how IEA Legal Services has protected IEA members.

Threatened teacher is protected

Administrators determined that a high school student’s online threat to kill his teacher wasn’t serious, opting (without informing the teacher of the threat) to give the student a one-day, in-school suspension. IEA Legal Ser-vices, acting on the teacher’s behalf, obtained an order of protection against the student and convinced the court to direct the district to present a plan explaining how the student would be escorted on school property to ensure no contact with the threatened teacher.

Classroom aide gets her job back

A guest in an early childhood classroom falsely accused a classroom aide of slapping a child. The child had spit on the aide who, in response, raised her hand to block herself and to signal the child to stop. The aide wiped the child’s chin and then took his hand to walk to the sink. The classroom teacher and another aide did not witness the event. The school’s special education direc-tor and principal interviewed the accuser and the aide, who stated she did not slap the child. Still the school board voted to dismiss the aide. IEA Legal Services arbi-trated the case and won an award reinstating the aide to her job with full back pay and benefits.

The Illinois Education Association (IEA), is the state’s larg-est public education association, harnessing the collective power of more than 130,000 teachers, education support professionals, higher education faculty and staff, students and retirees.

Together, we are leading educational reform in Illinois, fighting for excel-lent and equitable schools, working toward improved student outcomes and providing a community for all involved in education. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Find out how IEA is representing YOUR voice, fighting for YOUR rights, supporting YOUR career and life, and protecting YOUR future.

Your IEA … FOR YOUR RIGHTS

Local UniServ Directors provide expertise in negotiating your contract, griev-

ance processing, arbitrations and unemployment hearings.

Legal Services has your back, protecting your employment rights and provid-

ing you $1 million of professional liability insurance.

Your IEA … FOR YOUR WALLET

Special member benefits offset the cost of your IEA dues by providing steep

group discounts on products you need, including car, home and life insurance,

and up to 50 percent off of products you want, such as restaurants and cloth-

ing.

Your IEA … FOR YOUR CAREER

The Center for Educational Innovation supports your professional develop-

ment needs and empowers your local association to be a driving force in

school transformation.

Your IEA … FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION

Government relations profes-

sionals advocate for students,

teachers and education sup-

port professionals, and help

you elect friends of public edu-

cation.

Member-only communications

keep you informed about the latest education reforms and initiatives.

Your IEA … FOR YOUR FUTURE

IEA leaders and staff are vigilant in protecting your pension and retiree health

care benefits.

How your IEA works for you

Through IEA, 130,000 Illinois school employees speak with one powerful voice to advocate for the best teaching and learning conditions in our schools.

Here are some examples of how IEA works for you.

Looks out for your quality of life, en-

suring your contract provides for work/

life balance.

Defends your profession by partnering

with other education stakeholders and

policymakers to ensure educational

reforms are in the best interests of stu-

dents and their teachers.

Fights for your future income by legally

challenging SB1, which is designed to

reduce your retirement pension.

Protects the jobs of education support

professionals, such as bus drivers and

cafeteria staff, from outsourcing.

Created the Teachers’ Retirement Sys-

tem (TRS) and State Universities Re-

tirement System (SURS), driven and

managed by teachers to ensure your

income in retirement.

Opened doors to retiree knowledge

and experience, putting retirees back

in the classrooms as substitutes for up

to 120 days per year.

130,000+ MEMBERS, SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE

YOUR IEA

IEA is your gateway to becoming the best teacher you can be and your ally in Illinois educational reform. Together, we are building the best learning environments for Illinois students. Here’s how IEA is making that happen.

CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION (CEI) IEA’s Center for Educational Innovation (CEI) is at the cen-ter of IEA’s mission to “… effect excellence and equity in Illinois public education.” From individual professional development opportunities to empowering your local as-sociation to become a driving force in school transfor-mation, the CEI is here for YOU.

Professional development training Teacher quality is a crucial factor in determining what chil-dren learn. Continually sharpening your skills is just as im-portant to building a successful career as it is to creating a successful learning environment for your students. Your IEA dues provide you many free, custom-designed resources to enable your success within our state’s cur-rent public education climate. Here is just a sampling:

Skills-based training – on topics such as in-structional preparation; classroom management; effective discipline; pro-fessional responsibilities, goal-setting and growth plans; job interviewing; and how to succeed in public education.

Educational training – on topics such as the Danielson Framework for Teaching; gathering evaluation data. Induction and Mentoring – access to best-practice men-toring and coaching techniques, and vetted mentors across all Illinois school districts.

Professional learning communities – guidance on forming school and district teams using real-time data to drive stu-dent achievement and other School Improvement Pro-gram (SIP) initiatives. District strategy coordination – consultation with local associations to ensure information and professional devel-opment opportunities align with and support District strategies and goals. Online learning portal – access to, through the “members only” link at www.ieanea.org, classroom-related, legal, technology and other courses, and soon-to-be available qualifying Continuing Professional Development Unit (CPDU) credit courses.

CONSORTIUM FOR EDUCATIONAL CHANGE (CEC) The CEI is a founding partner of the Consortium for Educa-tional Change (CEC), a research-based, not-for-profit, or-ganization focused on improving student learning and achievement. Specifically, CEC is a consortium of 80 statewide districts and their unions committed to creating “high performing systems that support successful students.” The CEC ac-complishes this goal by helping school boards, administra-tion and local education associations like yours coordinate their school improvement efforts based on nationwide best practices. As an IEA member, your local association can access CEC services online at www.cecillinois.org.

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YOUR IEA – FOR YOUR CAREER

YOUR SUCCESS EQUALS YOUR STUDENTS’ SUCCESS

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND EDUCATION REFORM INITIATIVES Illinois public education is in the midst of unprecedented change. Your ability to be successful is directly connected to successful negotiation and implementation of educa-tional reforms. IEA stands up for the interests of teachers and students by putting CEI staff at the center of every major reform discussion. We hold seats on the: State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, to en-sure requirements are appropriate and fair to teachers, and in the best interests of students. Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC), which makes recommendations for state rules and regulations related to the Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) of 2010.

When it’s time to implement reform, your CEI staff pro-vide training and support resources on all education re-form initiatives, including: PERA – design and implementation of standardized per-formance evaluation systems and tools that incorporate student achievement measures, including the Illinois Teacher Evaluation Development (ITED) materials.

Common Core State Standards – implementation strate-gies on new Illinois Learning Standards School Improvement – resources and supports for in-creasing student achievement by increasing teacher effectiveness

EARLY CAREER AND STUDENT PROGRAM This program addresses the unique needs and issues of teachers with 10 years of classroom experience or less. CEI staff organize the collective voice of college students and new teach-ers statewide, working with local associations to provide sup-ports to ensure their career success, such as training on:

Leadership,

Classroom management and resources,

Instructional strategies,

Curriculum development, and

Professional responsibilities.

IEA Student Advisory Board provides a path to education leadership and informs IEA on up and coming educational issues.

OTHER RESOURCES

No one teacher can be an expert on everything. That’s why your IEA membership connects you to many other external resources to help you be effective and successful in your career, including: NEA Academy – Your IEA membership includes National Education Association (NEA) membership. The NEA Acad-emy partners with several universities to offer you nearly 50 masters degree programs with discounts of 5-20 per-cent on courses, fee waivers and member-only scholar-ships. The academy, at www.neaacademy.org, also offers numerous continuing education credit programs and leadership development courses. BetterLesson – In partnership with the NEA, BetterLesson has created the Master Teacher Project, which provides 3,000 common core-aligned and classroom-ready lessons, created by 130 Master Teachers nationwide. Go to cc.betterlesson.com to get started.

By sticking together, we can make both a reality. The teachers, education support professionals, high-er education staff, students and retirees who make up the IEA form a massive and powerful alliance of professionals with one common goal: to provide the best education possible to all Illinois students. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

The voice of 130,000 IEA mem-bers rings clear in the halls of the Illi-nois State Capitol, where major deci-sions affecting your profession are made.

Policymakers play a key role in deciding school em-ployees’ salaries, health benefits and working condi-tions, as well as the amount of money allocated to public schools, colleges and universities. IEA’s Gov-ernment Relations team works closely with state leg-islators, the executive branch, Illinois State Board of Education and other education advocacy organiza-tions to influence public policy on behalf of IEA members and the students they serve. Public education is not a Republican or Democrat issue; it’s our issue. We believe that having relation-ships on both sides of the political aisle and working through differences gives us the best chance to have your concerns heard by legislators.

Illinois Public Action Committee for Education (IPACE) IEA’s political action committee – IPACE – ensures that when education issues are discussed at the state or local level, the voices of IEA members are heard and taken seriously. IPACE works to elect friends of public education at all levels of government. IPACE identifies legislators, statewide candidates and local school board mem-bers who share IEA’s vision for public education. For more information on IEA’s legislative and politi-cal work, visit the Political Action tab at www.ieanea.org.

IEA’s legislative and political efforts give you a voice in

determining what your school looks like and what

public education in Illinois looks like. After all, you

know your students best.

YOUR IEA – FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION

EVERY CHILD DESERVES A GOOD EDUCATION AND EVERY TEACHER DESERVES THE SUPPORT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN

As a member of IEA, you also are a member of the National Education Association (NEA). Those mem-berships give you buying power. The combined strength of 130,000 IEA members and NEA’s 3 million education professionals make available unbeatable savings on goods and services wherever you happen to be. By taking advantage of countless discounts, you can save more money in one year than the cost of your annual IEA dues. MEMBER BENEFITS SAMPLING Insurance

NEA complimentary life insurance – no-cost life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) cov-erage Additional insurance – supplemental life, disability, long-term care, pet, home, auto and other policies at specially negotiated rates. Discounts

NEA Click & Save – online savings at thousands of stores.

NEA Auto Buying Program – low-and-no-haggle prices on new and used cars from certified dealers.

NEA car rental program – preferred rates from ma-jor rental companies. IEA Access savers program – up to 50 percent off on purchases when you use your IEA membership card at more than 100,000 retail locations (go to the IEA web site at www.ieanea.org, scroll for the member-ship card icon, enter your 10-digit member number and search for participating stores and products.) My Deals app – a free app (for Apple and Android) that locates deals and coupons (because My Deals is availa-ble only to IEA/NEA members, first reg-ister your membership on IEA’s website to receive your required mobile access code). NEA financing Low-interest and reward credit cards – four options available. Home financing – mortgages, equity loans and lines of credit. Other loans – education and personal. Visit the IEA web site, www.ieanea.org, or NEA member benefits at www.neamb.org to take ad-vantage of all of these discounts and more.

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YOUR IEA – FOR YOUR WALLET

TURN YOUR DUES INTO SAVINGS

How you can save The exact dollar value of your many IEA resources and supports – including career development, legal cover-age or public advocacy – may not be quantifiable … but the money you save using your member benefits IS. Take a look at how two IEA members, Tim and Jessica, make up the cost of their IEA dues and much more by taking advantage of discount programs and purchases, and credit card rewards. Tim teaches fifth grade. Jessi-ca is a bus driver. They each drive American-made cars, insured at IEA preferred rates. Jessica owns a modest home, also in-sured at a preferred rate. They receive discounts on most of their everyday purchases and earn cash back on those purchases by using NEA® Cash Rewards credit cards. Tim and Jessica turn their IEA/NEA dues into real savings! Here’s how it all stacks up:

To access your IEA discounts, visit www.ieanea.org or NEA member benefits at www.neamb.com.

Amount saved per year

Tim Jessica

Insurance coverage $250 (auto) $400 (home & auto)

Purchases

Food, including grocery store and restaurant $500 $720

Everyday needs & services, such as clothing, home improvement and auto oil changes

$200 $360

Entertainment $300 $190

Travel $400 $330

Cash back from Cash Rewards credit card $350 $300

TOTAL SAVINGS PER YEAR $2,000 $2,300

IEA/NEA dues cost $611 $325.50

In-pocket savings (total savings in one year minus dues cost)

$1,389 $1,974.50

IEA looks out for your future while you focus on giv-ing your best to students. When it’s time to retire, you have a right to expect that your years of public education service are se-cure. IEA leaders and staff work hard to ensure your pension and health care benefits are there when you need them.

FIGHTING FOR YOUR PENSION The Illinois General Assembly passed and Governor Quinn signed “SB1,” a bill designed to reduce pen-sion benefits despite protections contained in the Illinois Constitution. IEA is fighting back for you.

Through “We Are One Illi-nois,” a coalition of public sector labor partners repre-senting more than 1 million statewide public employees, IEA filed a lawsuit against the state charging that SB1 is un-constitutional.

For more information about the lawsuit and We Are One

Illinois, go to www.weareoneillinois.org. SCHOOL FUNDING THREAT—COST SHIFTING IEA is fighting a “cost shift” legislative proposal that would force local property taxpayers to pay the state’s share of its contribution to your pension ben-efits. This proposal would diminish your school’s re-sources for such things as salaries, benefits, hiring and extracurricular activities.

IEA lobbyists are working to help legislators under-stand the real-life impact of cost-shifting on public schools and, most importantly, on students who de-serve an equitable and quality education.

PROTECTING YOUR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE Your health care benefits are under attack, too, and IEA is standing guard. Some legislators want the state to reduce its portion of the cost of providing health care coverage to public employees, which means your costs for coverage are at constant risk of increasing. IEA lobbyists and leaders are working to hold down your costs and keep health care coverage intact for IEA members and retirees.

YOUR RETIREMENT SECURITY … GET INFORMED

From each paycheck, you pay a portion of your hard-

earned income to your “defined benefit” pension

plan. The state also pays into your plan, as required

by law. Your monthly pension benefit, likely your pri-

mary source of income during retirement, is based

on a complex formula determined by law. To learn

more about your pension benefits, go to

www.trs.illinois.gov.

YOUR IEA – FOR YOUR FUTURE

IEA PROTECTS YOUR FUTURE