the voice, september 2011

September 2011 n The NSEA Voice n

The

VoiceThe Nebraska State Education Association September 2011

#Sept 2011.indd 1 8/25/2011 2:23:08 PM

n The NSEA Voice n September 2011

The stories of Bob Fuller and Marla Larsen Smith have been intertwined for 30 years. Now, both are Plattsmouth fixtures and proud members of NSEA -- and with very good reason. For more, turn to

the

VOICe Nebraska State Education Association

605 S. 14th StreetLincoln, NE 68508-2742 · www.nsea.org

(402) 475-7611 · (800) 742-0047

Volume 65, No. 1ISSN Number: 1085-0783USPS Number: 000-369

Great Public Schools For Every Child

Executive Director Craig R. ChristiansenAssoc. Executive Director Neal ClayburnDirector of Public Affairs Karen KilgarinAssistant Comm. Director Al Koontz

NSEA BoARd of dIRECtoRSPresident Nancy fulton, Wilber-ClatoniaVice President Leann Widhalm, NorfolkNEA Director John Heineman, LincolnNEA Director Jenni Absalon, Lincoln

Official publication of the Nebraska State Education As-sociation, Suite 200, 605 South 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Periodical postage paid at Lincoln, NE, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send address changes to The Voice, NSEA, 605 S. 14th Street, Lincoln,

NE 68508-2742.

Published 10 times yearly according to this schedule: September, October, November, December, January, Feb-ruary, March, April, May and August.

Payment of annual NSEA membership dues entitles Ne-braska educators to receive The Voice. Total cost of pro-ducing 10 monthly issues of The Voice each year is about $4.84 per member.

Advertising rates of The Voice are available from the assistant communications director. All advertisements and advertisers are screened prior to publication. Ap-pearance of an advertisement in The Voice does not nec-essarily imply NSEA endorsement of either the product being advertised or the views being expressed.

“I am stronger

knowing that

my former

colleagues at

Wilber-Clatonia,

as well as nearly

28,000 other

members across

the state,

stand with me.

”

Appreciate the Present

NSEA PresidentNancy Fulton

xxxxx

Opening Bell

On theCover: Page 8.

UpcomingAssignments Oct. 4NSEA-RetiredFall Conferencen What: The NSEA-Retired’s

annual fall conference, with key-note speaker and breakouts. See page 30 for details.n Where: Nebraska Nature &

Visitor’s Center, Alda Interchange on Interstate 80.n Details: Register online

starting Sept. 10, or through NSEA’s Rebecca Smith at 1-800-742-0047.

Oct. 8Deadline, Blue Cross& Blue Shield Scholarshipsn What: Stipends to cover

part of the cost of professional development coursework. n Details: See page 21.

Oct. 21-22NSEA AdvocacyConferencen What: NSEA’s annual up-

date on bargaining issues, skills and best practices. Given changes to bargaining law in Nebraska this past year, every local should have a team attend. Details on page 25.n Where: Grand Island

Holiday Inn.n Details: Register on the

NSEA website at www.nsea.org.

Educators Rate Wellin Annual Review;Public Says FiscalSupport Lacking

Despite constant criticism of the nation’s schools, Americans rate their public school teachers more highly now than they have in the past, accord-ing to the 2011 annual Phi Delta Kap-pa/Gallup Poll of the Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools.

More than 70 percent of Americans say they have trust and confidence in the men and women who are teaching in public schools. Sixty-nine percent of Americans give public school teachers in their community a letter grade of an A or B, compared to only 50 percent in 1984.

While the public feels positive about teachers in their communities, it has a less favorable opinion of others involved in education. More than half of Americans side with teacher union leaders in disputes with governors over collective bargaining.

Although Americans clearly have concerns about education issues, when the poll asked Americans whether they would encourage the brightest person they know to become a teacher, three of four said that they would. Sixty-sev-

en percent also said they would like to have a child of theirs choose a public-school teaching career, and 76 percent believe America should actively recruit high-achieving high school students to consider teaching as a career.

“Americans expect, even demand, quality — in the food they eat, the clothes they buy, and the cars they drive. And they expect high-quality public schools,” said William Bushaw, execu-tive director of PDK International and co-director of the PDK/Gallup poll.

The 2011 poll also reveals that Americans’ opinions of President Obama’s national education efforts have improved, increasing seven points from last year. Forty-one percent of Americans would give the president a letter grade of an A or a B for his sup-port of public schools, close to what he received during his first year in office.

Vouchers received their lowest ap-proval rating in 10 years, with only one of three Americans in favor of allowing students and parents to use public mon-ey to pay to attend a private school.

The poll also found that funding is the biggest problem facing schools. Thirty-six percent of Americans be-lieve that lack of financial support is the biggest problem facing schools.

For more details on the PDK/Gal-lup Poll, visit the PDK website at:

http://www.pdkintl.org/

PDK/Gallup Poll ShowsConfidence in Teachers

#Sept 2011.indd 2 8/25/2011 2:23:09 PM


NE 68508-2742.

Published 10 times yearly according to this schedule: September, October, November, December, January, Feb-ruary, March, April, May and August.

Payment of annual NSEA membership dues entitles Ne-braska educators to receive The Voice. Total cost of pro-ducing 10 monthly issues of The Voice each year is about $4.84 per member.

Advertising rates of The Voice are available from the assistant communications director. All advertisements and advertisers are screened prior to publication. Ap-pearance of an advertisement in The Voice does not nec-essarily imply NSEA endorsement of either the product being advertised or the views being expressed.

“I am stronger

knowing that

my former

colleagues at

Wilber-Clatonia,

as well as nearly

28,000 other

members across

the state,

stand with me.

”

Appreciate the Present

NSEA PresidentNancy Fulton

Last month, some of my former teaching col-leagues at Wilber-Clatonia traveled to Lincoln for lunch and to wish me well as I embark on this three-year journey as your NSEA president.

Construction delays had set back the start of their school year, and my friends took advantage of an extra day to share time with me and to visit NSEA Headquarters. Their actions were true to the Latin maxim, “carpe diem” – seize the day. They had some extra time, organized their trip and took action. And I thank them for their visit and well wishes.

We all need to do a better job of appreciating the present and getting the most of what we can out of every day. That’s tough to do, especially for educa-tors who balance busy, busy work schedules with family, coaching and extracurricular duties, second jobs and other assorted responsibilities.

In terms of appreciating the present – and the past – Labor Day deserves our appreciation. Along with shorter days, cooler weather, fall harvest and college football, Labor Day marks the traditional end of another summer season. Yet it is so much more than that.

Our Vision: Students First Labor Day was first celebrated in New York City

in 1882, and was a creation of the labor movement dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American middle class workers. The yearly holi-day pays tribute to the American laborers whose contributions have brought strength, freedom and leadership to the United States of America. Some have died, and many have suffered, in that struggle for labor rights.

Let’s be clear: The Nebraska State Education As-sociation and its parent association, the NEA, are labor unions organized by, and for, teachers and ed-ucation support professionals. While we organize as a labor union, our vision statement explicitly states that our students come first. NSEA’s vision state-ment is this: “Our vision is a great public education for every student.” Our NSEA mission statement deepens that commitment to students when it says the Association “advocates for all education profes-sionals, empowering them to provide an excellent public education for every student.”

It is with good reason that students are the focus

of that vision statement perspective: a free, public education for every child promotes, enhances and furthers the quality of our democracy. Indeed, a free system of public education is the foundation, the bedrock of American society.

Substandard Not Good EnoughBut public education does little good for our way

of life if it is substandard. And therein lies much of the reason for NSEA’s existence. Certainly, we exist to bargain for better wages and working conditions. True to the American way, we are professionals who have exercised our constitutional right to organize, form and join a union for purposes of collective bar-gaining and due process rights. The decades of dis-crimination, inequities, and injustices against teach-ers and support staff continue into this 21st century.

Enhanced pay and benefits attract better candi-dates to the profession, and, more important, keep those candidates in the profession. With the excep-tion of good parenting, there is no greater influence on a child’s education than a quality teacher at the front of the classroom. Thus, better pay contributes to that great education for every student.

We also work in the political arena to improve the learning conditions and opportunities for our stu-dents; that’s because everything in the public school world is affected by politics. Smaller class size, im-proved curriculum, additional funding, transporta-tion, safe and secure schools, high academic stan-dards, quality student assessment – NSEA works with policymakers on each of these issues, and more, to make the public school experience valu-able for our children.

Collectively, NSEA members are stronger to-gether than they are standing alone. I am stronger as your president knowing that my former colleagues at Wilber-Clatonia, as well as nearly 28,000 other members across the state, stand with me. Our recent legislative session proved that we must exercise that collective might. We must continue to defend our rights against those who pursue their self-interests against those of us who struggle to maintain a mid-dle class standard of living.

Now is the time to “carpe diem” – seize the day – and work together as one voice, one organization! And in doing so, have a great school year!

From the PresidentOpening Bell

Page 8.

en percent also said they would like to have a child of theirs choose a public-school teaching career, and 76 percent believe America should actively recruit high-achieving high school students to consider teaching as a career.

“Americans expect, even demand, quality — in the food they eat, the clothes they buy, and the cars they drive. And they expect high-quality public schools,” said William Bushaw, execu-tive director of PDK International and co-director of the PDK/Gallup poll.

The 2011 poll also reveals that Americans’ opinions of President Obama’s national education efforts have improved, increasing seven points from last year. Forty-one percent of Americans would give the president a letter grade of an A or a B for his sup-port of public schools, close to what he received during his first year in office.

Vouchers received their lowest ap-proval rating in 10 years, with only one of three Americans in favor of allowing students and parents to use public mon-ey to pay to attend a private school.

The poll also found that funding is the biggest problem facing schools. Thirty-six percent of Americans be-lieve that lack of financial support is the biggest problem facing schools.

For more details on the PDK/Gal-lup Poll, visit the PDK website at:

http://www.pdkintl.org/

PDK/Gallup Poll ShowsConfidence in Teachers

NSEA is on Facebook! Find us, “like” us, follow us and connect with colleagues.

Facebook Discussion:What do you think is the best time of the school day? Why?President Nancy Fulton’s answers on page 12 of this issue – go online to see what others have to say!

#Sept 2011.indd 3 8/25/2011 2:23:10 PM


Thank You, NebraskaTeachers and Schools!May 7 was commencement day for seniors at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Among the 2,788 graduates who crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, there were almost 200 young people who chose teaching as their profession. Research shows that it is the classroom teacher who makes the most difference in the lives of students — more than the building, equipment or materials. Unfortunately, there are many misperceptions and myths regarding teachers and teacher education. One of the most damaging is that aspiring teacher candidates are among the poorest students on campus. I can tell you that here in Nebraska that notion is just not so. We are proud of the work that our education majors do on campus and in classrooms all over the state before and after they graduate. Part of their success is due to the fact that we start with great prospects: students who are already high achievers. Consider that 73 percent of UNL education majors graduated in the top quarter of their high school class, and 96 percent in the top half. Among the world’s top performing school systems – Singapore, Finland and South Korea as key examples – colleges only recruit ‘top third’ students to be teachers. That is, they recruit their teacher corps from the top third of their countries’ high school graduating classes. In contrast, in the United States, on average, only 23 percent of new teachers merit a ‘top third’ high school ranking. As you can see, things are different in Nebraska.Clearly some of Nebraska’s best and brightest are going into teaching, and our state and its children are the beneficiaries. As a matter of fact, the cumulative grade-point average of all teacher education students at UNL, including special education, elementary and secondary education teacher candidates, is a 3.5 (out of 4.0). Moreover, when it comes to grades, teacher education students perform as well as and often better than their counterparts in the disciplines in which they are preparing to teach (such as mathematics, chemistry, physics, history, foreign languages and language arts). We are lucky that in Nebraska the best and the brightest do choose teaching as a career. As everyone knows, academic learning is only part of the picture. Aspiring teachers also need hands-on experience, effective teaching models, and strong mentoring to hone their knowledge and skills. Last year, we placed students in approximately 190 Nebraska schools for student teaching experiences. We are fortunate to have access to excellent classrooms and great role models here in our state, and we are grateful for the privilege of tapping these valuable resources on behalf of our students.Now we’d like to say, “Thank you Nebraska!” Thank you for sending us great students. Thank you for giving us outstanding schools in which they can observe and work with the best. Thanks also to the many Nebraska educators who have inspired our youth to develop a passion for education as a result of the K-12 experiences they had growing up. When it comes to education, we know, “There is no place like Nebraska!”Marjorie Kostelnik, DeanCollege of Education and Human SciencesUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln

#Sept 2011.indd 4 8/25/2011 2:23:11 PM


Thank You, NebraskaTeachers and Schools!May 7 was commencement day for seniors at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Among the 2,788 graduates who crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, there were almost 200 young people who chose teaching as their profession. Research shows that it is the classroom teacher who makes the most difference in the lives of students — more than the building, equipment or materials. Unfortunately, there are many misperceptions and myths regarding teachers and teacher education. One of the most damaging is that aspiring teacher candidates are among the poorest students on campus. I can tell you that here in Nebraska that notion is just not so. We are proud of the work that our education majors do on campus and in classrooms all over the state before and after they graduate. Part of their success is due to the fact that we start with great prospects: students who are already high achievers. Consider that 73 percent of UNL education majors graduated in the top quarter of their high school class, and 96 percent in the top half. Among the world’s top performing school systems – Singapore, Finland and South Korea as key examples – colleges only recruit ‘top third’ students to be teachers. That is, they recruit their teacher corps from the top third of their countries’ high school graduating classes. In contrast, in the United States, on average, only 23 percent of new teachers merit a ‘top third’ high school ranking. As you can see, things are different in Nebraska.Clearly some of Nebraska’s best and brightest are going into teaching, and our state and its children are the beneficiaries. As a matter of fact, the cumulative grade-point average of all teacher education students at UNL, including special education, elementary and secondary education teacher candidates, is a 3.5 (out of 4.0). Moreover, when it comes to grades, teacher education students perform as well as and often better than their counterparts in the disciplines in which they are preparing to teach (such as mathematics, chemistry, physics, history, foreign languages and language arts). We are lucky that in Nebraska the best and the brightest do choose teaching as a career. As everyone knows, academic learning is only part of the picture. Aspiring teachers also need hands-on experience, effective teaching models, and strong mentoring to hone their knowledge and skills. Last year, we placed students in approximately 190 Nebraska schools for student teaching experiences. We are fortunate to have access to excellent classrooms and great role models here in our state, and we are grateful for the privilege of tapping these valuable resources on behalf of our students.Now we’d like to say, “Thank you Nebraska!” Thank you for sending us great students. Thank you for giving us outstanding schools in which they can observe and work with the best. Thanks also to the many Nebraska educators who have inspired our youth to develop a passion for education as a result of the K-12 experiences they had growing up. When it comes to education, we know, “There is no place like Nebraska!”Marjorie Kostelnik, DeanCollege of Education and Human SciencesUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln

2 Column24 Point Headline

2 Col. 36 ptheadline

18 pt. BoldHeadline

Kostelnik

#Sept 2011.indd 5 8/25/2011 2:23:12 PM


Budget Cuts Will Mean Job CutsTell Your Lawmaker that Cuts Slow the Recovery, Hurt Kids

Gov. Dave Heineman’s budget plan makes plenty of cuts to the state budget – the result of a predicted revenue shortfall of $980 million. The governor proposed $869 million in K-12 state aid for 2011-12 –an $81 million cut from the current year and far below the estimated

$1.02 billion actual need under the current education aid formula.For 2012-13, the governor proposed another cut to $860 million. That’s well short of the estimated $1.13 billion in state aid need for 2012-13.Bottom line: those cuts translate to a potential loss of more than 1,500 K-12 teaching jobs statewide.Further, there there are no states or countries that have enjoyed broad-based economic prosperity by cutting education. Nebraska already

ranks 49th in the nation in state support to public schools, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.Nebraska educators must contact state senators and the governor’s office with this message: Nebraska must have a well-educated workforce

to ensure broad-based prosperity – and that means we have to do better in terms of investing resources in education, PK-16. To do so, go to this website:

http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov

Award winners: Four members took awards home

from Delegate Assembly. From left are ESP of the

Year Terry Cook, Overton; Teaching Excellence Award

Winner Penny Patrick, South Sioux City; and Rookie of the

Year Jarred Rowe, Lincoln. Not present was Community Service Award winner Laurel

Miller of Neligh-Oakdale.

In the last days of the 2011 session of the Legislature, the future of collective bargaining – and public education – was at risk in Nebraska.

In addition, Nebraska teachers faced the very real possi-bility that changes proposed to the Commission of Industrial Relations could result in the CIR ordering pay cuts of up to 15 percent for teachers involved in bargaining impasse with their school districts.

The outlook was not good.Fortunately, NSEA leaders and

members were watching the Legisla-ture very closely – so closely, in fact, that some legislators were touching base with NSEA constituents during the behind-closed-doors sessions that led to an eventual compromise.

For nearly 18 months, a small but overly-vocal group of critics had sought changes to the CIR. While their ideas were offered under the guise of tax relief, the real goal of those critics – some of them deep-pocketed, out-of-state individuals – was to emasculate or abolish the CIR, which simply provides an impartial third party to resolve public

union contract talks that hit impasse. The reason for destroy-ing, or at least weakening the CIR: to take away a tool that provides public sector unions a level playing field in bar-gaining and negotiations.

In mid-May, after months of negotiations, a tentative agreement had passed first round legislative debate. But those ever-vocal critics, wanting even more concessions

from labor, proposed their own plan. Supporters, including the gover-

nor, hailed the plan as “real reform.” What the “reform” supporters didn’t say was that the amendment would kill collective bargaining for teach-

ers, university professors, police officers, firefighters, snow-plow operators, social workers and other modestly paid pub-lic servants and employees.

Educators Faced Pay CutsThe amendment’s most onerous provisions were saved for

public schools. The plan was drafted so that when asked to settle an impasse, the CIR, instead of setting pay at the aver-

All the Way From Arnold: When NSEA asked members to help push state senators to resolve a negotiations around changes to the Commission of Industrial Relations last spring, these five teachers — members of the Arnold Education Association — felt it was important to take part. As soon as the school day was over, they jumped in a car and drove the roughly 225 miles to Lincoln to make their voices heard during a late evening session by lawmakers. From left are Debby Moninger, Nicole Badgley, Clay Mohr, Berni Crow and Julie Mohr.

age of comparable schools, could set teacher salaries anywhere with-in a range of from 85 percent to 115 percent of average. CIR critics who had consistently called for ‘more cost containment’ made it clear that the amendment would allow a 15 percent reduction in teacher salaries. That would be devastating to public schools and hard-working Nebraska teachers, already ranked 43rd in the nation in average salary.

The amendment also would have:nAllowed a school district to

unilaterally alter the type or struc-ture of any benefit.nReduced teacher pay to an

hourly rate.nLimited negotiations to wag-

es and benefits, prohibiting talks on working conditions such as plan time, maternity leave, class size, testing and curriculum.

Such provisions would have voided every reasonable collec-tive bargaining decision in Ne-braska over the past 44 years.

NSEA’s Collective VoiceThose critics, however, failed

to count on the power of the col-lective voice. NSEA reached out to its 28,000 members. Within hours, phone calls, letters and e-mails flooded the offices of the governor and every state senator. Some senators asked NSEA lead-ers to “turn off the spigot.” The amendment was withdrawn.

Key legislative leaders met again with business interests, management attorneys and labor representatives, including NSEA, to craft a real compromise that preserved collective bargaining.

The new compromise won final legislative approval on a 48-0 vote, and was signed by the governor.

Without a doubt, had NSEA not been involved, collective bargain-ing could have suffered a worse-than-Wisconsin fate. Salaries for Nebraska teachers would have be-gun inching downward; more teach-ers would have left for other profes-sions; fewer students would choose education as their profession; and the quality of education in the state’s public schools would have suffered.

But it didn’t happen. That’s the power of your NSEA membership and collective action.

15 Percent Cut AvertedCollective Action by NSEA Members Repels Proposed Legislation

What the ‘reform’ supporters didn’t say was that the amendment would

kill collective bargaining for teachers...

#Sept 2011.indd 6 8/25/2011 2:23:13 PM


union contract talks that hit impasse. The reason for destroy-ing, or at least weakening the CIR: to take away a tool that provides public sector unions a level playing field in bar-gaining and negotiations.

In mid-May, after months of negotiations, a tentative agreement had passed first round legislative debate. But those ever-vocal critics, wanting even more concessions

from labor, proposed their own plan. Supporters, including the gover-

nor, hailed the plan as “real reform.” What the “reform” supporters didn’t say was that the amendment would kill collective bargaining for teach-

ers, university professors, police officers, firefighters, snow-plow operators, social workers and other modestly paid pub-lic servants and employees.

Educators Faced Pay CutsThe amendment’s most onerous provisions were saved for

public schools. The plan was drafted so that when asked to settle an impasse, the CIR, instead of setting pay at the aver-

Politics Affect Your Job;You Can Affect PoliticsKeeping Tabs on Legislation, Lawmakers is Easy!From class size, to length of school day to the length of your duty-free lunch pe-

riod, your job is affected by politics.For instance, it was in 1986 that, with a push from NSEA, the Legislature ap-

proved a bill to require that teachers have a 30-minute, duty free lunch period.Your working conditions – and the conditions and parameters under which your

students learn – are decided by policymakers. So it is most important that you inter-act with lawmakers, and let them know of your classroom successes and needs. Here are some quick and easy ways to do that:

Lincoln LobbyingWhen you’re in Lincoln for a meeting, an athletic contest or an afternoon, stop by

your senator’s office at the state capitol. Let them know who you are, and that you support public schools.

Back Home VisitsState senators live in their district, and frequently host ‘talk to the senator’ meet-

ings with constituents. Attend, and make your support of public schools known.

Cyber-lobbyingJoin the NSEA cyber-lobbying effort. You’ll receive regular legislative updates

from NSEA, and will learn how easy it is to stay in e-mail contact with your state senator. Just call Cathy Schapmann at 1-800-742-0047 or e-mail her at:

[email protected] if, in your lobbying efforts, you’re unsure what to say, just remember these

two points: First, tell your story. Second, NSEA can offer information on any topic you’d like to address with your senator. Just call 1-800-742-0047 and ask for Gov-ernment Relations or Communications.

All the Way From Arnold: When NSEA asked members to help push state senators to resolve a negotiations around changes to the Commission of Industrial Relations last spring, these five teachers — members of the Arnold Education Association — felt it was important to take part. As soon as the school day was over, they jumped in a car and drove the roughly 225 miles to Lincoln to make their voices heard during a late evening session by lawmakers. From left are Debby Moninger, Nicole Badgley, Clay Mohr, Berni Crow and Julie Mohr.

age of comparable schools, could set teacher salaries anywhere with-in a range of from 85 percent to 115 percent of average. CIR critics who had consistently called for ‘more cost containment’ made it clear that the amendment would allow a 15 percent reduction in teacher salaries. That would be devastating to public schools and hard-working Nebraska teachers, already ranked 43rd in the nation in average salary.

The amendment also would have:nAllowed a school district to

unilaterally alter the type or struc-ture of any benefit.nReduced teacher pay to an

hourly rate.nLimited negotiations to wag-

es and benefits, prohibiting talks on working conditions such as plan time, maternity leave, class size, testing and curriculum.

Such provisions would have voided every reasonable collec-tive bargaining decision in Ne-braska over the past 44 years.

NSEA’s Collective VoiceThose critics, however, failed

to count on the power of the col-lective voice. NSEA reached out to its 28,000 members. Within hours, phone calls, letters and e-mails flooded the offices of the governor and every state senator. Some senators asked NSEA lead-ers to “turn off the spigot.” The amendment was withdrawn.

Key legislative leaders met again with business interests, management attorneys and labor representatives, including NSEA, to craft a real compromise that preserved collective bargaining.

The new compromise won final legislative approval on a 48-0 vote, and was signed by the governor.

Without a doubt, had NSEA not been involved, collective bargain-ing could have suffered a worse-than-Wisconsin fate. Salaries for Nebraska teachers would have be-gun inching downward; more teach-ers would have left for other profes-sions; fewer students would choose education as their profession; and the quality of education in the state’s public schools would have suffered.

But it didn’t happen. That’s the power of your NSEA membership and collective action.

15 Percent Cut AvertedCollective Action by NSEA Members Repels Proposed Legislation

Rotunda Discussion: Curt and Jennifer Thomas felt last spring’s debate on the future of the Commission of Industrial Relations was important enough that they traveled to the State Capitol to state their views to Sen. Lavon Heidemann. From left are Heidemann, Curt Thomas, who teaches at Palmyra; and Lincoln teacher Jennifer Thomas, holding their daughter, Emory.

#Sept 2011.indd 7 8/25/2011 2:23:15 PM


Membership SavedJob of Plattsmouth

Educator, Coach

Smith’s Teaching JobWas on the Line,

Until NSEA Stepped In

Marla Larsen Smith makes it clear up front: she bleeds Plattsmouth blue.

She was born and raised at Platts-mouth, and was a Master Athlete award winner for the Blue Devils in high school. She was on Student Council for four years, was Home-coming queen and went on to play vol-leyball at nearby Peru State College. She completed her student teaching at the middle school, and stayed on to teach physical education and Spanish.

So when she received word in April that her teaching job was to be elimi-nated, it was fair to say that the tears she cried were Plattsmouth blue.

With NSEA’s help, however, Smith is back on the job, teaching and coach-ing at the school and in the communi-ty she loves. The story of how Smith kept her job – and why another Platts-mouth teacher and coach has joined the Association as a result – demon-strates how hard NSEA will work on

behalf of members.

‘Tried to Help Out’Smith’s ties to the Plattsmouth community go this deep:

Award-winning Plattsmouth football coach Bob Fuller was at the hospital the day she was born. Fuller’s presence in Smith’s life was important more recently, as well. But more on that later.

After her student teaching stint was completed in 2002, Smith stayed with the district. When the district’s Spanish teacher passed away unexpectedly, administrators asked Smith to work toward a Spanish endorsement in order to handle the high school Spanish classes – and to teach some English, as well. For five years, Smith did what was asked. She obtained her Spanish endorsement and taught that coursework, even though her dream was to teach physical education and coach volleyball.

“I tried to help the district out, even though it wasn’t where my heart was,” she said.

Then, when a physical education teacher resigned, Smith was one of five Plattsmouth teachers who applied. The dis-trict hired an outside applicant. In 2007, Smith left for a PE and head volleyball coaching job at Nebraska City.

“It was a dream. I wanted to be a head volleyball coach,” she said.

‘Just Wanted to Cry’Three years later, an unexpected middle school physical

education opening at Platts-mouth drew scores of appli-cants. Smith got the job. All went well until Smith was in the middle of class early this past spring.

“The principal came into the room and told me that ‘we need to have a conversation,’” said Smith. “I was pregnant, hormonal, and what not, and I’m not the type to delay things. So during my planning period, I met with the princi-pal and superintendent.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be good. I just wanted to cry,” she said.

Budget issues, they said, had forced each principal to make some cuts. The hometown girl’s job was on the chop-ping block.

“Here I had tried so hard to get back into the district, and we had just worked so hard on revamping the curriculum, and the only district I want to be a part of is smashing my heart to pieces,” she said. “It was very, very emotional. I was very sad.”

Fortunately, she got two pieces of good advice. Her “very wonderful husband” told her “we’ll get through it.” Local association leader Chris Wiseman told her to call NSEA, right away. That’s exactly what Smith did.

Patron SupportThe Plattsmouth Board of Education had a number of

cuts to consider, including more than a dozen positions that included teachers, nurses, para-educators and custo-dian and secretarial hours. At a public hearing discussing those planned reductions in force, patrons essentially told

On the dotted line: When NSEA helped Plattsmouth member Marla Larsen Smith keep her job, long-time Plattsmouth teacher and coach Bob Fuller benefitted as well. Fuller hadn’t kept up his NSEA member-ship, but renewed in August. They talked about the benefits of mem-bership as Fuller enrolled.

“...I had tried so hard to get back into the district, and we had worked so hard on revamping the curriculum, and the only district I want to be a part of is smashing my heart to pieces. It was very, very emotional, very sad.”

— Marla Smith,Plattsmouth

#Sept 2011.indd 8 8/25/2011 2:23:20 PM


Membership SavedJob of Plattsmouth

Educator, Coach

Smith’s Teaching JobWas on the Line,

Until NSEA Stepped In

Marla Larsen Smith makes it clear up front: she bleeds Plattsmouth blue.

She was born and raised at Platts-mouth, and was a Master Athlete award winner for the Blue Devils in high school. She was on Student Council for four years, was Home-coming queen and went on to play vol-leyball at nearby Peru State College. She completed her student teaching at the middle school, and stayed on to teach physical education and Spanish.

So when she received word in April that her teaching job was to be elimi-nated, it was fair to say that the tears she cried were Plattsmouth blue.

With NSEA’s help, however, Smith is back on the job, teaching and coach-ing at the school and in the communi-ty she loves. The story of how Smith kept her job – and why another Platts-mouth teacher and coach has joined the Association as a result – demon-strates how hard NSEA will work on

behalf of members.

‘Tried to Help Out’Smith’s ties to the Plattsmouth community go this deep:

Award-winning Plattsmouth football coach Bob Fuller was at the hospital the day she was born. Fuller’s presence in Smith’s life was important more recently, as well. But more on that later.

After her student teaching stint was completed in 2002, Smith stayed with the district. When the district’s Spanish teacher passed away unexpectedly, administrators asked Smith to work toward a Spanish endorsement in order to handle the high school Spanish classes – and to teach some English, as well. For five years, Smith did what was asked. She obtained her Spanish endorsement and taught that coursework, even though her dream was to teach physical education and coach volleyball.

“I tried to help the district out, even though it wasn’t where my heart was,” she said.

Then, when a physical education teacher resigned, Smith was one of five Plattsmouth teachers who applied. The dis-trict hired an outside applicant. In 2007, Smith left for a PE and head volleyball coaching job at Nebraska City.

“It was a dream. I wanted to be a head volleyball coach,” she said.

‘Just Wanted to Cry’Three years later, an unexpected middle school physical

education opening at Platts-mouth drew scores of appli-cants. Smith got the job. All went well until Smith was in the middle of class early this past spring.

“The principal came into the room and told me that ‘we need to have a conversation,’” said Smith. “I was pregnant, hormonal, and what not, and I’m not the type to delay things. So during my planning period, I met with the princi-pal and superintendent.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be good. I just wanted to cry,” she said.

Budget issues, they said, had forced each principal to make some cuts. The hometown girl’s job was on the chop-ping block.

“Here I had tried so hard to get back into the district, and we had just worked so hard on revamping the curriculum, and the only district I want to be a part of is smashing my heart to pieces,” she said. “It was very, very emotional. I was very sad.”

Fortunately, she got two pieces of good advice. Her “very wonderful husband” told her “we’ll get through it.” Local association leader Chris Wiseman told her to call NSEA, right away. That’s exactly what Smith did.

Patron SupportThe Plattsmouth Board of Education had a number of

cuts to consider, including more than a dozen positions that included teachers, nurses, para-educators and custo-dian and secretarial hours. At a public hearing discussing those planned reductions in force, patrons essentially told

the board that “even if you forget who it is, and even if you forget that this is a hometown girl; we need a female physi-cal education teacher at the middle school level.”

That point, however, fell mostly on deaf ears. The dis-

On the dotted line: When NSEA helped Plattsmouth member Marla Larsen Smith keep her job, long-time Plattsmouth teacher and coach Bob Fuller benefitted as well. Fuller hadn’t kept up his NSEA member-ship, but renewed in August. They talked about the benefits of mem-bership as Fuller enrolled.

‘I Cannot Tell YouHow Glad I Am

That I Made That Call’Unmatched Service to MembersThe hallmark of NSEA service to members, the

service that easily and most clearly sets NSEA apart from any other education membership orga-nization, is the UniServ program.

Founded in the mid-1970s, ‘UniServ’ is short for ‘Unified Service’ – and that’s what NSEA’s 18 field representatives, or UniServ directors, pro-vide to members. Those 18 are on the road and in Nebraska schools working with members every day of the week. They’re well-versed in certifica-tion issues, negotiations, evaluations, Department of Education rules and regulations, and many other issues affecting educators. They can resolve sticky situations with administrators – as they did for this member, who sent this thank-you following a threat from a parent:

“Last fall, I received a phone call late one evening from a very irate parent, concerning a situation that occurred that day at school, regarding her son. It was one of those things I had forgotten, but the parent had not. She was misinformed, but threatened legal action.

“After phone calls to my principal and a fellow teach-er, I was still very upset. That’s when I found my NSEA calendar in my purse and called my UniServ director.

“I cannot tell you how glad I am that I made that call. He was very understanding, professional and reassuring. He advised me how to handle the situation, and told me he’d keep in touch. Little did I know what that meant.

The next noon, I had lunchroom duty. Amongst the noise and confusion, the kids pointed out that there was someone to see me at the door. I nearly cried when I looked and saw my UniServ director standing at the door. He will never know how much it meant to me that he came.

“Nothing ever developed of the situation. But I will always be indebted to my UniServ director, knowing that he cared and that he and NSEA cared and would have been right there had I needed him.

“Thanks, NSEA!”

“...I had tried so hard to get back into the district, and we had worked so hard on revamping the curriculum, and the only district I want to be a part of is smashing my heart to pieces. It was very, very emotional, very sad.”

— Marla Smith,Plattsmouth

#Sept 2011.indd 9 8/25/2011 2:23:21 PM


trict plan of the moment was to move football Coach Fuller from a soon-to-be-eliminated program supervisor’s role into Smith’s middle school physical education job.

Headed to HearingMeanwhile, NSEA UniServ

Director Marlene Wehrbein was working with members and the district in an effort to miti-gate the cuts. Several teachers took early retirements or buy-outs, and by the time most of the dust was settled, just one teaching job remained on the chopping block.

“It came down to just my po-sition,” said Smith.

She had to make a decision: give up and accept the reduction in force, or, with NSEA at her side, go to a hearing before the Board of Edu-cation, where she could state her case for keeping her job.

“We chose to go to a hearing, be-cause I wanted that job,” she said.

For one, she wanted to teach physi-cal education. And she wanted to teach in her hometown. With a baby due in June, health insurance was also important.

Wehrbein, Smith and the district discussed settlement possibilities. The dis-trict offered a para-educator job, which meant a huge pay cut and no insurance. Then came an offer of a job as a preferred substitute. No dice, said Smith.

“We talked about all these various set-tlement possibilities. Then I decided I wanted to be a teacher,” said Smith. “My blood bleeds blue. I wanted to be a teacher in Plattsmouth.”

Said Werhbein: “We kept thinking back to the board meeting; the com-munity wanted a female PE teacher at the middle school.”

Few OptionsAt the same time, Fuller, a former

Coach of the Year in both Nebraska and Kansas, was trying to ascertain his future. His program director’s job was about to disappear.

“I always felt that if I was doing my job, I shouldn’t worry,” he said. “But

in my situation, my job cut was never even on the table, was never brought up until the board meeting.”

Fuller’s options boiled down to this: teach middle school girls’ physi-cal education, or work out an early retirement option with the district. He wasn’t excited about the physical

education job, and without the benefit of NSEA member-ship and expertise, he was unable to work out a satisfac-tory retirement set-tlement.

Smith was ready to go to a hearing – after she posted the date and cause for the hearing on

Facebook, she said she fully expected more than 200 patrons to attend. Weh-rbein said the hearing would have put Smith’s entire argument in one place: hometown girl, community support, the fact that she was the lone female on the physical education staff, and the fact that she had been a volunteer coach for three sports for several years.

Pieces in PlaceWith Smith’s hearing less than two

weeks away, Wehrbein discovered that two teachers who shared a sixth grade social studies class were among the teachers leaving the district. Fuller was certified to teach social studies in

Kansas; with a provisional certificate, he could teach sixth grade content in Nebraska. And Fuller said he would much prefer the social studies class to the physical education post.

“We started assisting Coach Fuller to get the pieces in place for his provi-sional certificate in order to, ultimate-ly, help our member, Marla Smith,” said Wehrbein.

All the pieces were in place on Fri-day before the Monday evening hear-ing. Instead of a hearing, the board hired Fuller for the social studies job, left Smith in the physical education position, and, as a bonus, offered her eighth grade volleyball, basketball and track coaching positions.

The school year for both Smith and Fuller is well under way. Smith’s faith in the power of NSEA is stronger, and Fuller, a former member, has rejoined the Association.

Fuller, also a member of the Ne-braska Coaches Association, said that organization’s support with liability insurance, particularly in the athletic arena, is important. But no other orga-nization provides on-the-ground staff and expertise in the case of unjust fir-ings, reductions-in-force or negotiat-ing early retirement buyouts, he said.

“I can’t say it strongly enough,” said Fuller. “You don’t get the sup-port you get through NSEA anywhere else. I found out how important that support is. You need that support, you really do.”

Helping out: With NSEA’s help, Marla Smith has retained her job, and Bob Fuller is teaching subject matter he prefers. And Fuller has officially rejoined his professional organization, NSEA.

“You don’t get the support you get through NSEA anywhere else. I found out how important that support is. You need that support, you really do.”

— Bob Fuller,Plattsmouth

Locals Bolster Children’s FundPapillion-LaVista, Bellevue Gifts Raise Nearly $9,000

When NSEA members with the Bellevue Education Association and the Papillion-LaVista Education As-sociation found that the Children’s Fund was struggling financially, they went to work.

In Bellevue, NSEA members Brad Wellman and Gayle Christian-sen helped to coordinate a district-wide, week-long ‘denim days’ event in mid-May. The fund-raiser al-lowed staff to wear denim for $2 on any given day, or for the entire week for a $10 donation. Members gave $3,868 to be allowed to don their blue jeans.

“We received lots of positive com-ments about the fundraiser, and I hope we can do something similar again next year,” said Wellman.

Members of the Papillion-LaVista Education Association have been long-time, generous donors to the

‘Brilliant’ Site AllowsReview of Historical

U.S. DocumentsThe National Archives has launched

DocsTeach, an interest-stirring new on-line tool for teaching with documents.

DocsTeach combines primary source content with the latest interactive ca-pabilities of the Internet, in ways that teachers who have pilot-tested the site have called “brilliant!”

The site invites educators to explore thousands of documents in a variety of media from the National Archives hold-ings — items such as George Washing-ton’s draft of the Constitution; the can-celled check for Alaska; Chuck Yeager’s notes on the first supersonic flight; and President Richard Nixon’s resignation letter. It also allows teachers to combine these materials using clever tools to cre-ate engaging activities for students.

The seven tools featured on the site are designed to teach specific historical thinking skills — weighing evidence, interpreting data, focusing on details, and more. Each employs interactive components including puzzles, maps,

National Archives Offers ‘DocsTeach’ Online

#Sept 2011.indd 10 8/25/2011 2:23:21 PM


Kansas; with a provisional certificate, he could teach sixth grade content in Nebraska. And Fuller said he would much prefer the social studies class to the physical education post.

“We started assisting Coach Fuller to get the pieces in place for his provi-sional certificate in order to, ultimate-ly, help our member, Marla Smith,” said Wehrbein.

All the pieces were in place on Fri-day before the Monday evening hear-ing. Instead of a hearing, the board hired Fuller for the social studies job, left Smith in the physical education position, and, as a bonus, offered her eighth grade volleyball, basketball and track coaching positions.

The school year for both Smith and Fuller is well under way. Smith’s faith in the power of NSEA is stronger, and Fuller, a former member, has rejoined the Association.

Fuller, also a member of the Ne-braska Coaches Association, said that organization’s support with liability insurance, particularly in the athletic arena, is important. But no other orga-nization provides on-the-ground staff and expertise in the case of unjust fir-ings, reductions-in-force or negotiat-ing early retirement buyouts, he said.

“I can’t say it strongly enough,” said Fuller. “You don’t get the sup-port you get through NSEA anywhere else. I found out how important that support is. You need that support, you really do.”

Helping out: With NSEA’s help, Marla Smith has retained her job, and Bob Fuller is teaching subject matter he prefers. And Fuller has officially rejoined his professional organization, NSEA.

Locals Bolster Children’s FundPapillion-LaVista, Bellevue Gifts Raise Nearly $9,000

When NSEA members with the Bellevue Education Association and the Papillion-LaVista Education As-sociation found that the Children’s Fund was struggling financially, they went to work.

In Bellevue, NSEA members Brad Wellman and Gayle Christian-sen helped to coordinate a district-wide, week-long ‘denim days’ event in mid-May. The fund-raiser al-lowed staff to wear denim for $2 on any given day, or for the entire week for a $10 donation. Members gave $3,868 to be allowed to don their blue jeans.

“We received lots of positive com-ments about the fundraiser, and I hope we can do something similar again next year,” said Wellman.

Members of the Papillion-LaVista Education Association have been long-time, generous donors to the

Children’s Fund. Maria Wilson de-livered that Association’s gift to the NSEA – a healthy $4,907. The funds were raised through a PLEA Blue Ribbon Week in April. Every mem-

ber who donated earned a PLEA Blue Ribbon to wear during a designated week in April. In buildings where ev-ery member gave, treats were provid-ed to members by the PLEA.

A President’s Challenge Last winter, Lexington Education Association President Adi Carnes saw reports

in The Voice about the floundering status of the NSEA Children’s Fund. While the fund is a bit more stable toda, Carnes saw the need for a challenge.

So Carnes has issued a challenge to all local associations: Raise $1 for every member of your association through a fundraiser or collection, and then send it to the Children’s Fund. In Lexington, that means Carnes and her members would have to raise about $160, depending on final membership numbers. If Carnes’ statewide challenge collects $1 for every NSEA member, it would add nearly $28,000 to the Children’s Fund coffers, a huge boost for the Fund.

If your local is interested in accepting the President’s Challenge, host a fundraiser, collect $1 from every member, or make a straight donation to the Children’s Fund – either way, donations are tax deductible. Every penny will benefit a child in need; NSEA absorbs all administrative costs.

Send donations to the attention of ‘President’s Challenge’ in care of NSEA, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508.

‘Brilliant’ Site AllowsReview of Historical

U.S. DocumentsThe National Archives has launched

DocsTeach, an interest-stirring new on-line tool for teaching with documents.

DocsTeach combines primary source content with the latest interactive ca-pabilities of the Internet, in ways that teachers who have pilot-tested the site have called “brilliant!”

The site invites educators to explore thousands of documents in a variety of media from the National Archives hold-ings — items such as George Washing-ton’s draft of the Constitution; the can-celled check for Alaska; Chuck Yeager’s notes on the first supersonic flight; and President Richard Nixon’s resignation letter. It also allows teachers to combine these materials using clever tools to cre-ate engaging activities for students.

The seven tools featured on the site are designed to teach specific historical thinking skills — weighing evidence, interpreting data, focusing on details, and more. Each employs interactive components including puzzles, maps,

flow charts, and others that both teach-ers and students can tailor to their needs.

The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent Fed-eral agency that preserves and shares

with the public records that trace the story of our nation, government, and the American people.

Learn more at:Docsteach.org

National Archives Offers ‘DocsTeach’ Online

#Sept 2011.indd 11 8/25/2011 2:23:22 PM


Not so long ago, Nancy Fulton would receive a call each August from a local farmer, asking when

he could deliver her annual load of sweet corn. Each year, Fulton would set a date, collect the corn, and then prepare and freeze most of it for later in the year.

As NSEA vice president a couple of years ago, she took the farmer’s call while in Washington, D.C., where she was lobby-ing Nebraska’s congressional delegation. When he called again a week later, she was

on a membership swing in far western Nebraska.

Today, as NSEA’s newly installed president, she’ll have even less time to take such calls.

“That part of my life is definitely on hold,” she said.

Fulton opened a new chapter in her life on Aug. 1 when she assumed du-ties as the Association’s 117th president. She is well-equipped for the job. She has great knowledge of her profession – 34 years as a Wilber-Clatonia elemen-tary school teacher – and she’s already experienced at the art of lobbying state and federal representatives. She also understands As-sociation business nuts and bolts: a long-time negotia-tor for the Wilber-Clatonia Education Association, Fulton served on the NSEA Board of Directors for eight years, followed by six years as NSEA vice president.

The vice presidency was like a second job, Fulton said, where she learned much about how NSEA works with the National Education Association, and how much NSEA is sup-ported by the work and funding from NEA. Former NSEA President Jess Wolf was a “wonderful mentor,” she said.

“Jess has helped so much, keeping me in the loop. He always asked my opinion – which I’m quick to give – and he’s good about tossing ideas out and talking through them,” she said.

An Association FirstThe election of Fulton and Vice President Leann Wid-

halm marks the first time in the NSEA’s 144-year history that women hold the top two elected positions.

Fulton hopes to continue to steer the Association on the positive course it has set in recent years, but does see room for change.

“We need to increase our rapport with the Legislature, the governor and with groups such as the school administrators and school boards associations,” said Fulton. “The past leg-islative session was a difficult one, and it left a few fractures. We need to spend some time building an understanding of our

Classroom veteran: New NSEA President Nancy Fulton will draw on 34 years of teaching experience at Wilber-Clatonia as she leads the Association. As her final day at Wilber-Clatonia approached last May, she worked with stu-dents in her third grade classroom.

Ready to Lead

What DoesThis Mean

to You?

#Sept 2011.indd 12 8/25/2011 2:23:23 PM


Not so long ago, Nancy Fulton would receive a call each August from a local farmer, asking when

he could deliver her annual load of sweet corn. Each year, Fulton would set a date, collect the corn, and then prepare and freeze most of it for later in the year.

As NSEA vice president a couple of years ago, she took the farmer’s call while in Washington, D.C., where she was lobby-ing Nebraska’s congressional delegation. When he called again a week later, she was

on a membership swing in far western Nebraska.

Today, as NSEA’s newly installed president, she’ll have even less time to take such calls.

“That part of my life is definitely on hold,” she said.

Fulton opened a new chapter in her life on Aug. 1 when she assumed du-ties as the Association’s 117th president. She is well-equipped for the job. She has great knowledge of her profession – 34 years as a Wilber-Clatonia elemen-tary school teacher – and she’s already experienced at the art of lobbying state and federal representatives. She also understands As-sociation business nuts and bolts: a long-time negotia-tor for the Wilber-Clatonia Education Association, Fulton served on the NSEA Board of Directors for eight years, followed by six years as NSEA vice president.

The vice presidency was like a second job, Fulton said, where she learned much about how NSEA works with the National Education Association, and how much NSEA is sup-ported by the work and funding from NEA. Former NSEA President Jess Wolf was a “wonderful mentor,” she said.

“Jess has helped so much, keeping me in the loop. He always asked my opinion – which I’m quick to give – and he’s good about tossing ideas out and talking through them,” she said.

An Association FirstThe election of Fulton and Vice President Leann Wid-

halm marks the first time in the NSEA’s 144-year history that women hold the top two elected positions.

Fulton hopes to continue to steer the Association on the positive course it has set in recent years, but does see room for change.

“We need to increase our rapport with the Legislature, the governor and with groups such as the school administrators and school boards associations,” said Fulton. “The past leg-islative session was a difficult one, and it left a few fractures. We need to spend some time building an understanding of our

mutual goal of providing quality education all across our state – and what it takes to achieve that goal.”

Fulton says an addi-tional focus will be to keep the Association on an even financial keel. Other state associations are struggling and it is wise, she said, to be cautious and conserva-tive regarding Association expenditures.

Challenging,Rewarding

On the legislative front, Fulton said priorities will be funding for education, protecting collective bar-gaining rights and preserv-ing the school employees’ retirement system.

Fulton will urge the gov-ernor and Legislature to use the state’s reserve fund to bolster state aid, which was cut by $400 million for the biennium.

“The revenue coming in above projections needs to be used for our children’s educa-tion, for our schools,” she said. “It is the best investment our state can make to ensure a prosperous future. Invest-ing in education is good for Main Street, it’s good for our economy, and it’s great for our children.”

Fulton also enjoys spending time on the road in Nebras-ka, visiting members in their schools and at local association meetings.

“I really enjoyed doing that, on a limited basis, as vice president,” she said. “I look forward to traveling the beauti-ful scenery of our state, visiting different parts of Nebraska and working to meet the varying needs of members from district to district.

“What’s important in the metro area of eastern Nebraska may be different than what is important to members in Val-entine, for instance,” she said.

Most of all, Fulton looks forward to devoting full time to her work as NSEA president. That means her days of putting up sweet corn are on hold for now.

“I’m looking forward to spending 100 percent of my time as the Association’s leader,” she said. “I am confident that it will be challenging and rewarding work.”

Classroom veteran: New NSEA President Nancy Fulton will draw on 34 years of teaching experience at Wilber-Clatonia as she leads the Association. As her final day at Wilber-Clatonia approached last May, she worked with stu-dents in her third grade classroom.

Aside from leading the policy-making pro-cess for the NSEA’s 28,000 members, Nancy Fulton will chair the meetings of the NSEA Board of Directors, which sets policy for the Association. NSEA staff is then charged with carrying out that policy.

Fulton will also represent the Association at local, state and regional meetings; she will represent NSEA at five yearly meetings of the

National Education Association Board of Di-rectors; and she will lead the NSEA delegation to the NEA Representative Assembly each year.

The president is also heavily involved in ensuring that NSEA members are well repre-sented during each session of the Nebraska Legislature, and will lead the annual member-ship campaign late each summer, among other duties.

The Fulton File Favorite hobby: Reading.Favorite book on education:

Good to Great by Jim Collins and 32 Third Graders and One Class Bunny, Life Lessons From Teaching by Phillip Done.

Favorite time of the school day: Mornings, as students entered the classroom.

Favorite movie/TV show: Water for Elephants is my latest favorite.

Favorite school lunch: Homemade chicken noodle soup and cinnamon rolls.

Favorite school supply: Post-It Notes.Favorite musician: Neil Diamond.Favorite subject to teach: Math. It was my

favorite subject in school and is my favorite subject to teach. I loved the opportunities to make math fun to learn, and to incorporate literature books into the concepts being taught.

Fulton

What DoesThis Mean

to You?

#Sept 2011.indd 13 8/25/2011 2:23:24 PM


Delegates FavorStudents, Members

in Evaluationand Accountability

Votes at RAIf delegates to the National Edu-

cation Association’s annual Repre-sentative Assembly in Chicago had done little else, their demonstration of the Association’s commitment to quality education for all students, and to leading the way on school transformation and the professional-ization of teaching, was of landmark nature.

Among those involved in those actions were nearly 100 NSEA mem-bers, Nebraska educators elected by their peers to represent the state as-

sociation at the RA.On the first day of the Assembly,

the 9,000-plus delegates listened as delegates from five local asso-ciations across the country told how their own struggling public schools are being transformed to successful schools through the NEA Priority Schools Campaign. The inspiring stories of union-led school improve-ment were a sampling of the work that continues through the cam-paign, which is focused on building communities of support to help stu-dents succeed.

What is Best for StudentsIn a groundbreaking decision, del-

egates also adopted a Policy State-ment on Teacher Evaluation and Accountability that puts the focus on what is best for students and the

profession of teaching. The action put NEA on the record, for the first time, as calling for a comprehensive overhaul of both teacher evaluation and accountability systems to ad-vance student learning.

“This action reflects the very real desire of teachers and other school employees to be fully engaged in the national education policy debate and in on-the-ground action to improve schools,” said NSEA President Nan-cy Fulton.

The policy statement, said Fulton, reflects the importance of maintain-ing high standards, not lowering them; robust evaluations by highly qualified evaluators using multiple indicators, not a single narrow met-ric; and ensuring that when a teacher distinguishes herself and attains ca-reer status, it is a meaningful event.

Following the conclusion of the 2011 Representative Assembly, NEA staff will begin the labor in-tensive process of formalizing the tenets of the policy into actionable materials, plans and resources for its members and affiliates.

Cushy Jobs?National Teacher of the Year Mi-

chelle Shearer encouraged educators to steer the conversation about pub-lic education in a positive direction. The Ijamsville, Md., teacher told delegates they should ask critics “Why is it that half of all teachers leave the profession within the first five years if we have such easy and cushy jobs?”

Vice President Joe Biden was applauded when he addressed del-egates, telling them, “We should be listening to you, not lecturing at you. We should be embracing you, not pushing you away. You are not the problem.”

To find details on the Policy State-ment on Teacher Evaluation and Ac-countability, go to this website:http://www.nea.org/grants/46326.

htm

All Smiles: Westside District 66’s Cindy Serfass and Pam McGeary take a moment to smile for the camera during an early-morning NSEA caucus at NEA’s Representative Assembly. Serfass and McGeary were two of 100 Nebraska delegates to attend the annual convention.

NEA: Standing Strong

Celebrity Lineup: NEA honoree Joe Starita poses for a photo with Omaha educator Barb Schroeder on the floor of the RA Convention.

“Why is it that half of all teachers leave the profession within the first five years if we have such easy and cushy jobs?”

— Michelle Shearer,National Teacher

of the Year

#Sept 2011.indd 14 8/25/2011 2:23:26 PM


Two Nebraskans were honored for their work at the NEA’s annual Human and Civil Rights Awards dinner in Chicago in July.

Omaha South High School English and special education teacher and NSEA member Ferial Pearson was honored for her work to support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) students. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Prof. Joe Starita was recognized for his work toward the education and achievement of equal opportunity for American Indians.

Pearson received NEA’s Virginia Uribe Award for Creative Leadership in Human Rights. Starita received the Leo Reano Memorial Award.

“Ferial Pearson doesn’t just teach appreciation of diversity, she lives it,” said Dennis Van Roekel, NEA president. “She has changed the course of many young lives by her commit-ment to GLBT youth.”

Pearson knows first-hand the challenges of being young and feeling like an ‘outsider.’ She was born in Kenya to a Muslim family of Indian origin. She came to the U.S. at age 19 to study at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN, where she became interested in GLBT issues after learning of the discomfort many youth experience when trying to acclimate in the straight world. She began teaching at Omaha South in 2001, and has since sponsored the Gay-Straight Alliance.

Uribe served as a teacher and counselor in the Los Angeles Unified School District for 42 years. She became a leader in the movement to improve the lives of gay and lesbian youth.

“As a teacher and writer, Joe Starita shares the unsung achievements of Native Ameri-cans,” said Van Roekel. “His books are a must-read to better understand Native Americans, their heritage, and their contributions to American life and history.”

A former reporter, Starita’s interests have grown to include the study of history and cul-ture of Native Americans. His 1995 book, The Dull Knifes of Pine Ridge: A Lakota Odyssey, traces the lives of Dull Knife and members of four succeeding generations. The book was nominated for the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction.

His book, I Am a Man – Chief Standing Bear’s Journey for Justice, highlighted the courageous court battle of the Ponca chief to gain equality for his people under the law. Starita began his Native Daughters project in 2009 as a way to help students examine roles that Native American women have played in Indian history, culture, art, medicine and politics.

Leo Reano (1922-1971) was a teacher, artist, and interpreter who dedicated his life to securing educational opportunities for American Indian/Alaska Native children.

The Honorees: Joe Starita, left, and Ferial Pearson, right, were honored by NEA in June for work in the civil rights realm.

Starita, Pearson Honored

profession of teaching. The action put NEA on the record, for the first time, as calling for a comprehensive overhaul of both teacher evaluation and accountability systems to ad-vance student learning.

“This action reflects the very real desire of teachers and other school employees to be fully engaged in the national education policy debate and in on-the-ground action to improve schools,” said NSEA President Nan-cy Fulton.

The policy statement, said Fulton, reflects the importance of maintain-ing high standards, not lowering them; robust evaluations by highly qualified evaluators using multiple indicators, not a single narrow met-ric; and ensuring that when a teacher distinguishes herself and attains ca-reer status, it is a meaningful event.

Following the conclusion of the 2011 Representative Assembly, NEA staff will begin the labor in-tensive process of formalizing the tenets of the policy into actionable materials, plans and resources for its members and affiliates.

Cushy Jobs?National Teacher of the Year Mi-

chelle Shearer encouraged educators to steer the conversation about pub-lic education in a positive direction. The Ijamsville, Md., teacher told delegates they should ask critics “Why is it that half of all teachers leave the profession within the first five years if we have such easy and cushy jobs?”

Vice President Joe Biden was applauded when he addressed del-egates, telling them, “We should be listening to you, not lecturing at you. We should be embracing you, not pushing you away. You are not the problem.”

To find details on the Policy State-ment on Teacher Evaluation and Ac-countability, go to this website:http://www.nea.org/grants/46326.

htm

All Smiles: Westside District 66’s Cindy Serfass and Pam McGeary take a moment to smile for the camera during an early-morning NSEA caucus at NEA’s Representative Assembly. Serfass and McGeary were two of 100 Nebraska delegates to attend the annual convention.

NEA: Standing Strong

Celebrity Lineup: NEA honoree Joe Starita poses for a photo with Omaha educator Barb Schroeder on the floor of the RA Convention.

“Why is it that half of all teachers leave the profession within the first five years if we have such easy and cushy jobs?”

— Michelle Shearer,National Teacher

of the YearSeptember 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 15

#Sept 2011.indd 15 8/25/2011 2:23:29 PM


Worldwide, it’s difficult to find any-one or any organization that would ar-gue against the value of post-second-ary education, says David Robinson, executive director of the Canadian As-sociation of University Teachers.

Yet with higher education so trea-sured, higher education faculty and employees have never been more stressed, Robinson told attendees at the third Biennial NSEA Higher Edu-cation Conference. Robinson keynot-ed the conference in Lincoln in June.

Around the globe, faculty face stag-nating salaries; loss of autonomy, with their authority increasingly removed and placed in the hands of managers; and increasing accountability require-ments.

Among the root causes of the pres-sure on faculty are enrollment growth and globalization of services by for-merly regional universities. For exam-ple, the University of Calgary now has a campus in Qatar. New York Univer-sity is setting up campuses in the Mid-dle East. Those overseas campuses are often serving as for-profit universities, he said.

Privatization of services is expand-ing, and colleges and universities are putting more emphasis on recruitment of international students as a way to make money – “cash cows,” said Robinson. “Sometimes I don’t know where our priorities are.”

False ArgumentStudent loan debt owed by new,

young faculty, is also an issue. Month-ly loan debt payments on $75,000 and $100,000 can be more than what is owed on a mortgage.

Those pressures, said Robinson, are causing reaction. Robinson said there has been much more faculty activism than has been seen in the past 20 years. For instance, in the United Kingdom there have been demonstrations against faculty cuts, pension cuts, tuition in-creases and fee increases.

“I did not think this was possible, even four or five years ago,” he said.

One cause of the pressure: Robin-son said the underlying assumption is that the money that used to go to higher education is gone, and is not

Stressors Aid ActivismFaculty More Active as Campus Priorities Change, Higher Ed Reps Told

#Sept 2011.indd 16 8/25/2011 2:23:30 PM


Worldwide, it’s difficult to find any-one or any organization that would ar-gue against the value of post-second-ary education, says David Robinson, executive director of the Canadian As-sociation of University Teachers.

Yet with higher education so trea-sured, higher education faculty and employees have never been more stressed, Robinson told attendees at the third Biennial NSEA Higher Edu-cation Conference. Robinson keynot-ed the conference in Lincoln in June.

Around the globe, faculty face stag-nating salaries; loss of autonomy, with their authority increasingly removed and placed in the hands of managers; and increasing accountability require-ments.

Among the root causes of the pres-sure on faculty are enrollment growth and globalization of services by for-merly regional universities. For exam-ple, the University of Calgary now has a campus in Qatar. New York Univer-sity is setting up campuses in the Mid-dle East. Those overseas campuses are often serving as for-profit universities, he said.

Privatization of services is expand-ing, and colleges and universities are putting more emphasis on recruitment of international students as a way to make money – “cash cows,” said Robinson. “Sometimes I don’t know where our priorities are.”

False ArgumentStudent loan debt owed by new,

young faculty, is also an issue. Month-ly loan debt payments on $75,000 and $100,000 can be more than what is owed on a mortgage.

Those pressures, said Robinson, are causing reaction. Robinson said there has been much more faculty activism than has been seen in the past 20 years. For instance, in the United Kingdom there have been demonstrations against faculty cuts, pension cuts, tuition in-creases and fee increases.

“I did not think this was possible, even four or five years ago,” he said.

One cause of the pressure: Robin-son said the underlying assumption is that the money that used to go to higher education is gone, and is not

coming back.“I think we need to challenge that

assumption. I think it’s a bit of a false argument,” he said.

About 60 higher education fac-ulty members, NSEA staff and other guests attended the conference, held in Lincoln in June.

Stressors Aid ActivismFaculty More Active as Campus Priorities Change, Higher Ed Reps Told

In Session: Listening to a session speaker at the NSEA Higher Education Conference were, from left, David Robinson, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers; Karen Rodgers, Metropolitan Community College; and Kristi Nies, Peru State College.

#Sept 2011.indd 17 8/25/2011 2:23:31 PM


Fifteen teachers who met at NSEA Headquarters in early July represented more than 460 years of collective teach-ing excellence.

Their resumes spanned dozens of subject areas, from Latin to chemistry, mathematics, English, Japanese, special education, history, journalism and sci-ence.

One is endorsed in the rare combi-nation of speech, theater and physical education. Another is the mayor of her community. One chairs a national com-mittee on effective teaching for the Na-tional Education Association. Another chairs his credit union board of direc-tors, and serves on the National Council on Teacher Retirement.

Others work part time for the Ne-braska Department of Education, the University of Nebraska, or Midland University, among others.

Experience & Passion

Thinking, Talking: Al DiMauro, 1984 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, reviews proposed organizational language while Mary Schlieder, 2008 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, offers a thought during a meeting of Nebraska State Teachers of the Year at NSEA Headquarters in July.

Nebraska Teachers of the Year Organize,Hope to Offer a Voice on Education Policy

#Sept 2011.indd 18 8/25/2011 2:23:33 PM


Fifteen teachers who met at NSEA Headquarters in early July represented more than 460 years of collective teach-ing excellence.

Their resumes spanned dozens of subject areas, from Latin to chemistry, mathematics, English, Japanese, special education, history, journalism and sci-ence.

One is endorsed in the rare combi-nation of speech, theater and physical education. Another is the mayor of her community. One chairs a national com-mittee on effective teaching for the Na-tional Education Association. Another chairs his credit union board of direc-tors, and serves on the National Council on Teacher Retirement.

Others work part time for the Ne-braska Department of Education, the University of Nebraska, or Midland University, among others.

Each of the 15 has a deep love for, and understanding of, the art of teaching and the importance of quality education. They are passionate about their craft.

But what brought them together was a common entry on their resumes: Ne-braska Teacher of the Year.

Their passion and depth of knowl-edge was on full display as they met to begin organization of the Nebraska chapter of State Teachers of the Year – the 33rd state chapter chartered by the National State Teachers of the Year (NSTOY). Formalization of Nebraska’s chapter comes just in time, says Bob Feurer, a science teacher at North Bend and the 2011 Nebraska Teacher of the Year. The National State Teachers of the Year meeting will be in Omaha in July 2012. The Nebraska chapter will be able to lend support to that conference.

“That’s a huge cherry on top for Ne-

Experience & PassionPowerful StoryVoiced Online A very powerful video about the

value of good teaching has been posted to the Nebraska Depart-ment of Education website.

Filmed by NDOE staff, the video features current and past Nebraska Teachers of the Year, including Bob Feurer, North Bend; Patsy Koch Johns, Lincoln; Maddie Fennell, Oma-ha; Dan McCarthy, Hastings; and Mi-chael Fryda and Brenda Zabel, both of Westside; talking about teaching.

The video was used by Com-missioner of Education Roger Breed at the 2011 Administrator’s Days keynote address in Kearney in August.

The video is posted on the home page of the NDOE website at:http://www.education.ne.gov/

Thinking, Talking: Al DiMauro, 1984 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, reviews proposed organizational language while Mary Schlieder, 2008 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, offers a thought during a meeting of Nebraska State Teachers of the Year at NSEA Headquarters in July.

Nebraska Teachers of the Year Organize,Hope to Offer a Voice on Education Policy

#Sept 2011.indd 19 8/25/2011 2:23:34 PM


braska to have that conference in our state,” said Feurer.

Nebraska OriginsIronically, NSTOY got its start in

Nebraska. In 1980, nearly 100 State Teachers of the Year from around the country met in Omaha to set in mo-tion the organization’s formation.

The goal at that first meeting was simple: to provide current and future Teachers of the Year the opportunity to take a leading role in affecting ed-ucation at the local, state and national levels.

Feurer, who was elected to serve as the Nebraska chapter’s charter president, said that goal remains.

“Part of the plan is to be a voice, policy-wise,” said Feurer. “We have a huge amount of experience from across the state; we’re well net-worked; and we can get a pulse on what is going on in classrooms state-wide.”

The Nebraska chapter will provide another voice for state policymakers to consider when pondering education-related legislation. That voice will be heard, said NSEA President Nancy Fulton.

“Most policymakers will give a great deal of consideration to input from a constituent with ‘teacher’ behind their name,” said Fulton. “Add ‘former or current Nebraska Teacher of the Year’ behind their name, and the respect and consideration lev-el goes even higher.”

Nonprofit, NonpartisanBy 1984, NSTOY was charted as a nonprofit, nonpartisan

service organization “grounded in the belief that every child deserves teaching of the highest quality,” according to the or-ganization’s website.

Further, NSTOY is “committed to the idea that education is a vital part of our democratic society,” and “strives to let the voice of outstanding teachers be heard in order to contribute to

the continued improvement of mankind.”Feurer said the Nebraska chapter’s voice will be heard “as

little or as much as we want it to be.” Discussion during the ini-tial meeting touched on mentoring young teachers; teacher and principal effectiveness standards now under consideration by the Nebraska Department of Education; teacher salaries; and retention of young teachers in the profession, and other issues.

The discussion also focused, as expected, on the formation of the Nebraska chapter. Besides Feurer, officers include Mad-die Fennell, Omaha, vice president; Helen Banzhaff, Seward, treasurer; and Mary Caffey, Valley, secretary.

All told, 40 Nebraska teachers dating back to 1973 have earned state Teacher of the Year status. All but one (Gunnar Horn, Omaha) are still living, and all were invited to the initial meeting. Many responded with regrets, but were interested, in-dicating their passion for quality teaching and quality education still lives.

1972: Patrice Jensen, Hastings1973: Charles A. Brown, York1974: Rolland Essman, North Loup-Scotia1975: Gunnar Horn, Omaha1976: Julie Jantzi, Milford1977: Ardith Abboud, Omaha1978: Jerry Siders, Nebraska School for the Deaf, 1979: Arvon Engel, Centennial1980: Marge Tabor, Millard1981: Will Locke, Hastings1982: David Bernard-Stevens, Papillion-LaVista1983: Julie Schanou, Millard1984: Alfred DiMauro, Omaha1985: Randall McCutcheon, Lincoln1986: Cleon Ochsner, Hastings1987: Everett Lerew, Superior1988: Barbara Hopkins, Lincoln1989: Roger Rea, Northwest High, Omaha1990: Duane Obermier, Grand Island1991: James Kubik, Norfolk

1992: DeLoris Tonack, Lincoln1993: Betty Kort, Hastings1994: Lynn Kaufman, Millard1995: Susan McNeil, Loup County Public School1996: Jean LaGrone, Westside1997: Celine Robertson, Lincoln1998: Patricia Randolph, Scottsbluff1999: Helen Banzhaf, Seward2000: John Heineman, Lincoln2001: Mary Jane Caffey, Valley2002: Anne Cognard, Lincoln2003: Suzanne Ratzlaff, Henderson2004: Diane Woodford, South Sioux City2005: Brenda Zabel, Westside2006: Patsy Koch Johns, Lincoln2007: Madaline Fennell, Omaha2008: Mary Schlieder, Norris2009: Daniel McCarthy, Hastings2010: Michael Fryda, Westside2011: Bob Feurer, North Bend

The NSTOY Belief Statement

We believe that NSTOY: nIs a voice and an advocate for qual-

ity education and recruitment of compe-tent professionals.nImpacts professional development

of teachers.nBrings teacher voice to influence

policy for decision-making opportunities.nLeads and advocates for educa-

tional excellence for every child through quality teaching.nStimulates professional growth of

members, and encourages active partici-pation in a variety of educational activities.nIs an agent of progress.

Experienced Voices: A group of former Nebraska Teachers of the Year met at NSEA Headquarters in July. Front, from left, are Susan McNeil, 1995; Patricia Ran-dolph, 1998; Maddie Fennell, 2007. Second row, from left, are Mary Schlieder, 2008; Al DiMauro, 1984; Roger Rea, 1989; Mary Caffey, 2001; Helen Banzhaf, 1999. Third row, from left, Jim Kubik, 1991; Duane Obermier, 1990; Bob Feurer, 2011. Back row, from left, Will Locke, 1981; Daniel McCarthy, 2009; John Heineman, 2000. Not pictured is Patsy Koch Johns, 2006.

Nebraska Teachers of the Year

Take theInsurance!New Hires Have Brief

Signup WindowIf you’re a new hire in your school

district – whether a first-time teacher or a veteran teacher just starting in an-other district, take note of this health insurance deadline: you have just 31 days after employment to enroll in the Educator’s Health Alliance (EHA) Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska health insurance program! If you don’t act within that window, you may not get another chance!

EHA rules prohibit late enrollment in the Blue Cross program. Thus, teach-ers should consider their decisions carefully, said Neal Clayburn, NSEA’s associate executive director.

“Health insurance is an important benefit, and decisions around that in-surance should not be made lightly. Educators should not rush decisions and decline health insurance in order to ‘save the district money,’ or because their spouses are already covered,” he said. “In many instances, declining the EHA insurance is irrevocable.”

New Spouse, Child?Rules are slightly different for dis-

tricts with 50 or more employees, than for smaller districts, said Clayburn.

In the larger districts, after 31 days of employment, teachers are not eli-gible for enrollment in the EHA plan unless there is an involuntary change in coverage because of the death or di-vorce of a spouse or job loss.

In districts of 50 or fewer members, a late open enrollment program during the month of August is available, with an 18-month pre-existing condition clause.

Regardless of school district size, he said it’s important that teachers not be dissuaded from taking the insurance, or be persuaded into taking other options in lieu of insurance.

Also important: if members using the EHA plan gain a spouse through marriage or a child through birth or adoption, those dependents must be en-rolled within 31 days to be eligible.

Questions? Contact the NSEA at 800-742-0047.

#Sept 2011.indd 20 8/25/2011 2:23:35 PM


the continued improvement of mankind.”Feurer said the Nebraska chapter’s voice will be heard “as

little or as much as we want it to be.” Discussion during the ini-tial meeting touched on mentoring young teachers; teacher and principal effectiveness standards now under consideration by the Nebraska Department of Education; teacher salaries; and retention of young teachers in the profession, and other issues.

The discussion also focused, as expected, on the formation of the Nebraska chapter. Besides Feurer, officers include Mad-die Fennell, Omaha, vice president; Helen Banzhaff, Seward, treasurer; and Mary Caffey, Valley, secretary.

All told, 40 Nebraska teachers dating back to 1973 have earned state Teacher of the Year status. All but one (Gunnar Horn, Omaha) are still living, and all were invited to the initial meeting. Many responded with regrets, but were interested, in-dicating their passion for quality teaching and quality education still lives.

1992: DeLoris Tonack, Lincoln1993: Betty Kort, Hastings1994: Lynn Kaufman, Millard1995: Susan McNeil, Loup County Public School1996: Jean LaGrone, Westside1997: Celine Robertson, Lincoln1998: Patricia Randolph, Scottsbluff1999: Helen Banzhaf, Seward2000: John Heineman, Lincoln2001: Mary Jane Caffey, Valley2002: Anne Cognard, Lincoln2003: Suzanne Ratzlaff, Henderson2004: Diane Woodford, South Sioux City2005: Brenda Zabel, Westside2006: Patsy Koch Johns, Lincoln2007: Madaline Fennell, Omaha2008: Mary Schlieder, Norris2009: Daniel McCarthy, Hastings2010: Michael Fryda, Westside2011: Bob Feurer, North Bend

Experienced Voices: A group of former Nebraska Teachers of the Year met at NSEA Headquarters in July. Front, from left, are Susan McNeil, 1995; Patricia Ran-dolph, 1998; Maddie Fennell, 2007. Second row, from left, are Mary Schlieder, 2008; Al DiMauro, 1984; Roger Rea, 1989; Mary Caffey, 2001; Helen Banzhaf, 1999. Third row, from left, Jim Kubik, 1991; Duane Obermier, 1990; Bob Feurer, 2011. Back row, from left, Will Locke, 1981; Daniel McCarthy, 2009; John Heineman, 2000. Not pictured is Patsy Koch Johns, 2006.

Nebraska Teachers of the Year

Scholarship ProgramAids Educators

Seeking to ImproveKnowledge, Skills

Educators seeking advanced de-grees can have some of the costs of those degrees covered by a scholar-ship through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska Professional De-velopment Fund.

The competitive schol-arships are awarded three times each year, and the next deadline, for the fall term, is Saturday, Oct. 8. All appli-cations must be made through the NSEA website. Applicants will re-ceive an e-mail confirming receipt of the application (if you do not receive an e-mail, call NSEA).

Scholarships may be used to pursue an advanced degree, seek additional teaching endorsements or to take course work for certification require-ments. Stipends may cover up to 50 percent of the cost of a single, three-hour college course. Each applicant may apply for scholarship dollars for no more than three hours of course work. Books and supplies are not cov-ered.

To apply, NSEA members must complete the application form on the NSEA website. The form will be post-ed on the NSEA website through the Saturday, Oct. 8, deadline.

Scholarship winners will be no-tified in November. The goal is to award stipends to the largest number of members from each of NSEA’s sev-en governance districts. To be eligi-

ble, NSEA members must be covered by either single or family Blue Cross/Blue Shield health care.

Previous applicants, successful or not, may re-apply. However, appli-cants may be scholarship

recipients in only two of the three scholarship cycles during a school year. Winners must provide evidence of completion of course work at an accredited post-secondary institution before they receive the scholarship funds. All courses must be for credit.

Since 1986, 4,552 NSEA members have shared more than $580,000 in scholarship dollars, thanks to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.

The program does not affect premi-ums. To apply, go to the website at:

www.nsea.orgFor details, contact Sally Bodtke at

1-800-742-0047 or via e-mail at:[email protected]

Apply for BCBS StipendsTake theInsurance!New Hires Have Brief

Signup WindowIf you’re a new hire in your school

district – whether a first-time teacher or a veteran teacher just starting in an-other district, take note of this health insurance deadline: you have just 31 days after employment to enroll in the Educator’s Health Alliance (EHA) Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska health insurance program! If you don’t act within that window, you may not get another chance!

EHA rules prohibit late enrollment in the Blue Cross program. Thus, teach-ers should consider their decisions carefully, said Neal Clayburn, NSEA’s associate executive director.

“Health insurance is an important benefit, and decisions around that in-surance should not be made lightly. Educators should not rush decisions and decline health insurance in order to ‘save the district money,’ or because their spouses are already covered,” he said. “In many instances, declining the EHA insurance is irrevocable.”

New Spouse, Child?Rules are slightly different for dis-

tricts with 50 or more employees, than for smaller districts, said Clayburn.

In the larger districts, after 31 days of employment, teachers are not eli-gible for enrollment in the EHA plan unless there is an involuntary change in coverage because of the death or di-vorce of a spouse or job loss.

In districts of 50 or fewer members, a late open enrollment program during the month of August is available, with an 18-month pre-existing condition clause.

Regardless of school district size, he said it’s important that teachers not be dissuaded from taking the insurance, or be persuaded into taking other options in lieu of insurance.

Also important: if members using the EHA plan gain a spouse through marriage or a child through birth or adoption, those dependents must be en-rolled within 31 days to be eligible.

Questions? Contact the NSEA at 800-742-0047.

#Sept 2011.indd 21 8/25/2011 2:23:35 PM


Science Teacher ConfabPlanned at Fremont

Details are still being finalized, but the date and location of the fall con-ference of the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science have been set.

The conference will be held at Camp Calvin Crest, along the Platte River just southwest of Fremont, Sept. 29 through Oct. 1, 2011. The three days of sessions will include a series of workshops, field trips, multi-media presentations, computer simulations, and numerous motivational activities. Also scheduled: concurrent sessions specifically designed for teachers of physical (physics and chemistry), earth, biological and elementary sci-ences.

More conference details, registra-tion forms and directions to the con-ference can be found at the NATS website at:

http://www.neacadsci.org

Outdoor EducationMeet in Nebraska City

The Nebraska Alliance for Con-servation and Environment Education (NACEE) has announced its annual conference on Sept. 22-24 at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Ne-braska City.

The conference features a keynote by Lincoln Supt. Dr. Steve Joel and includes topics for educators — both formal and non-formal — who have a desire to better understand the benefits and techniques of outdoor education.

Participants will attend field work-shops including Lewis & Clark Mis-souri River Basin Visitor and Nature Center and Arbor Day Farm Tree Ad-venture. Concurrent sessions include how to create or enhance your outdoor classroom, linking environmental edu-cation to state education standards, the Wind for Schools Project, and simple science activities for early learners.

Registration details are at NACEE’s website:

www.nacee.org

Writing Seminar Aimedat Elementary Level

Veteran Nebraska teacher Ron Co-niglio will host The Nebraska Elemen-

tary School Writing Seminar at three locations in October.

The seminar is designed for kin-dergarten through fifth grade elemen-tary school teachers, as well as school administrators. The conference will share new techniques and strategies for teachers seeking to increase student performance in writing, and will help them to come into compliance with the Common Core State Standards for Writing.

The conference will be held in LaV-ista on Oct. 3; Kearney on Oct. 10; and North Platte on Oct. 11.

Coniglio has taught at the elementa-ry, middle, high school and college lev-els, and has worked with educators in 49 states and several foreign countries.

There is a fee to register. For details on the conference content, schedule and registration, e-mail Coniglio at:wizardscastlepublishing@hotmail.

com

Del Monte OffersCash for Classrooms

Del Monte Fresh will soon open its second online “Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms” contest to U.S. public schools.

The program encourages K-12 public school teachers to incorporate healthy eating and living messages into class-room activities. Over six weeks this fall, 60 teachers will each win $1,000 to pur-chase school supplies and fresh fruit for students. Ten grand prize winners will win a salad bar for their school. Many more winners will get a Del Monte Fresh Field Day event for their school, in which the entire student body will enjoy a day of Del Monte fresh fruit, games and fun activities.

To be eligible, teachers must register, and then encourage their fans to vote for them online. Ten winners will be se-

lected each Monday for six consecutive weeks in October and November 2011. Winners are based solely on the num-ber of votes they receive. Contest voting opens on Sept. 26. To register, look for the ‘Teacher Monday’ link at:

http://www.fruits.com/

Moss FoundationOffers Arts Grants

The P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education has grants available to be awarded in 2011 to edu-cators who need assistance to further their program goals.

Applications may be made for a grant up to $1,000 to support a new or evolving program that integrates the arts into educational program-ming. The purpose is to aid and sup-port teachers who wish to establish an effective learning tool using the arts in teaching children who learn differ-ently. The application deadline is Sept. 30. For details, go to:

http://mossfoundation.org/

Head Start Graduate?An iPad Could be Yours!

Are you a successful Head Start graduate, or do you know one? Think they could use an iPad? Then help them connect with the ‘Our Head Start’ pro-gram.

The First Five Years Fund has opened the ‘Our Head Start’ campaign to edu-cate policymakers, community leaders and the public about the critical role Head Start plays in shaping the lives of so many successful Americans.

The goal is to gather at least one story in every U.S. Congressional Dis-trict. To do so, through Sept. 30, suc-cessful Head Start alumni who submit their stories will receive a reusable tote

News You Can Use

Holocaust Studies Enhanced at Wyuka

Studying the Holocaust? Consider a tour of Nebraska’s Holocaust Memorial at Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln.

In addition to the Memorial, tours of the historic cemetery are available. A meet-ing room is also available, where, after visiting the Memorial and before the Wyuka tour, teachers can hold a class or request a lecture on genocide, culture and preju-dice.

For details, contact Gary Hill at 402-420-0602, or at:[email protected]

Sept 11 – bNetS@vvyRead By: AK__KK__CG__

For those who may not be familiar with it, the NEA Health Information Network hosts the bNetS@vvy web-site – an online program with resourc-es, tools and insights that can be used to promote safe and smart Internet be-haviors.

The goal of the program is to help tweens, parents, guardians, educators and other adults better understand the risks and benefits associated with Internet use. The site works to be a trusted one-stop shop for informa-tion, tools and links to high-quality resources that can help teens stay safe online!

The site explores issues including cyberbullying, sexting, consumer pri-vacy, and social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.

Visitors can sign up for bi-monthly e-newsletters and stay abreast of the latest Internet safety topics. To learn more, go to the site at:

www.bnetsavvy.org

bag and be entered for a chance to win a new iPad 2. Submitting a story is fast and easy — alumni can upload a story, photo or home video. The most compel-ling text or video story will be featured on the Head Start website.

For details, go to this link:www.ourheadstart.org/view-stories

European Tour Opento NSEA Members

NSEA members can join a group of educators on a tour to Germany and the Czech Republic during the summer of 2012, and earn up to six credit hours.

Led by NSEA member Wendy Bren-nan, the tour is organized through the EF Educational Tours group, which is accredited through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, among other groups. Eligible are teach-ers, administrators, education support professionals, librarians and others.

The all-inclusive package for the June 12-21 tour is approximately $3,000, in-cluding round trip airfare from Omaha. School visits are planned, and partici-pants can earn up to six graduate credits through the University of the Pacific.

For details, use Tour No. 1080383 at this website:

http://www.eftours.com/enrollDeadline for registration is March 1,

2012. Contact Brennan at:[email protected]

Win $30k in Campaignto Fight Child Obesity

Nearly a third of American children are overweight, and most are not getting enough exercise as physical education budgets continue to face cuts.

To improve those numbers, Henkel – makers of Dial, among other household products – has teamed with President Clinton’s Alliance for a Healthier Gen-eration (AHG) to award $30,000 to im-prove youth health through the Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit program.

Schools that answer the question, “What would your school do with $10,000 to improve youth fitness?” by Sept. 30 will be entered. Fifteen final-ist schools will be announced on Oct. 31, and three winning schools will be selected later, based on a public vote that will help schools, communities and families rally to address child obesity.

For details, go to:www.HenkelHelps.com

#Sept 2011.indd 22 8/25/2011 2:23:36 PM


Franklin Gothic Heavy 20/22

Gill Sans 11/11.5

lected each Monday for six consecutive weeks in October and November 2011. Winners are based solely on the num-ber of votes they receive. Contest voting opens on Sept. 26. To register, look for the ‘Teacher Monday’ link at:

http://www.fruits.com/

Moss FoundationOffers Arts Grants

The P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education has grants available to be awarded in 2011 to edu-cators who need assistance to further their program goals.

Applications may be made for a grant up to $1,000 to support a new or evolving program that integrates the arts into educational program-ming. The purpose is to aid and sup-port teachers who wish to establish an effective learning tool using the arts in teaching children who learn differ-ently. The application deadline is Sept. 30. For details, go to:

http://mossfoundation.org/

Head Start Graduate?An iPad Could be Yours!

Are you a successful Head Start graduate, or do you know one? Think they could use an iPad? Then help them connect with the ‘Our Head Start’ pro-gram.

The First Five Years Fund has opened the ‘Our Head Start’ campaign to edu-cate policymakers, community leaders and the public about the critical role Head Start plays in shaping the lives of so many successful Americans.

The goal is to gather at least one story in every U.S. Congressional Dis-trict. To do so, through Sept. 30, suc-cessful Head Start alumni who submit their stories will receive a reusable tote

News You Can Use

Holocaust Studies Enhanced at Wyuka

Studying the Holocaust? Consider a tour of Nebraska’s Holocaust Memorial at Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln.

In addition to the Memorial, tours of the historic cemetery are available. A meet-ing room is also available, where, after visiting the Memorial and before the Wyuka tour, teachers can hold a class or request a lecture on genocide, culture and preju-dice.

For details, contact Gary Hill at 402-420-0602, or at:[email protected]

bag and be entered for a chance to win a new iPad 2. Submitting a story is fast and easy — alumni can upload a story, photo or home video. The most compel-ling text or video story will be featured on the Head Start website.

For details, go to this link:www.ourheadstart.org/view-stories

European Tour Opento NSEA Members

NSEA members can join a group of educators on a tour to Germany and the Czech Republic during the summer of 2012, and earn up to six credit hours.

Led by NSEA member Wendy Bren-nan, the tour is organized through the EF Educational Tours group, which is accredited through the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, among other groups. Eligible are teach-ers, administrators, education support professionals, librarians and others.

The all-inclusive package for the June 12-21 tour is approximately $3,000, in-cluding round trip airfare from Omaha. School visits are planned, and partici-pants can earn up to six graduate credits through the University of the Pacific.

For details, use Tour No. 1080383 at this website:

http://www.eftours.com/enrollDeadline for registration is March 1,

2012. Contact Brennan at:[email protected]

Win $30k in Campaignto Fight Child Obesity

Nearly a third of American children are overweight, and most are not getting enough exercise as physical education budgets continue to face cuts.

To improve those numbers, Henkel – makers of Dial, among other household products – has teamed with President Clinton’s Alliance for a Healthier Gen-eration (AHG) to award $30,000 to im-prove youth health through the Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit program.

Schools that answer the question, “What would your school do with $10,000 to improve youth fitness?” by Sept. 30 will be entered. Fifteen final-ist schools will be announced on Oct. 31, and three winning schools will be selected later, based on a public vote that will help schools, communities and families rally to address child obesity.

For details, go to:www.HenkelHelps.com

Nebraska’s fourth-graders for the second year will learn about the vi-tal role of agriculture in the state when they visit the State Capitol Build-ing, thanks to a program co-sponsored by the Ne-braska Soybean Board (NSB), the Nebraska Pork Producers Association (NPPA), and the Nebraska CornBoard (NCB).

The Nebraska AG Sack Lunch Pro-gram is designed to educate Nebraska fourth-graders and their families on how important agriculture is to the state — historically, currently and into the fu-ture. The program was first offered last school year. Letters of invitation will be sent in early September to fourth-grade teachers in 660 elementary schools in 44 counties in the eastern third of Ne-braska — schools considered most like-ly to make the Lincoln trip.

The program takes advantage of the fact that more than 20,000 fourth-grad-ers visit the State Capitol Building in Lincoln each year as part of their cur-riculum. Events include a sack lunch, donated by the NSB, NPPA and NCB, which features nutritious foods pro-duced in Nebraska; a 15-minute pre-sentation by Ag Ambassadors on the vital role agriculture plays in the state’s

economy; and a fact-filled card game designed for students to take home,

which helps carry the ag-centered message to their families. The Ag Ambas-sadors are University of Nebraska-Lincoln stu-dents.

“The program was highly successful during the 2010-11 school year,” said Victor Bohuslavsky,

executive director of the NSB. “Inter-est exceeded our projections, so we in-creased the number of lunches we could provide. Feedback from participating teachers complimented the program highly, so we decided to offer the pro-gram again this school year.”

In all, 4,000 students from 84 schools participated in the program during the 2010-11 school year. The Nebraska CornBoard joins the NSB and NPPA as co-sponsors for 2011-12.

The lunches, donated by the NSB, NPPA and the NCB, are limited to the first 5,000 students to register for the program. Project coordinators urge teachers to register their classes as soon as possible, even if they haven’t sched-uled their Capitol tour yet. Registration is available on-line at:

http://brokawmarketing/reservation

Free Lunch is Back!

Trio of Nebraska Ag Groups

Offer Free Lunch to Fourth Graders Touring Capitol

#Sept 2011.indd 23 8/25/2011 2:23:36 PM


Supplies Help in Tornado RecoveryOn May 22, an enormous tornado hit Joplin, Mo., killing

153 residents and flattening a nearly one-mile-wide swath through the city of 50,000.

Among the dead were seven students and one school staff member. The twister also destroyed Joplin High School and Irving Elementary School. Two middle schools were listed as “likely total losses,” and two more elementary schools suf-fered significant damage.

Yet the 2011-12 school year for Joplin’s 7,700 students opened on schedule on Aug. 17, thanks at least in small part to gifts of books and school supplies like those collected by NSEA members at Omaha’s Sunny Slope Elementary School.

Third grade teacher Jane Scoles hatched the idea for the school supply drive, along with the help of fellow teachers Chris Schnase, Raelynn Buffington and friend Sara Lukesh. Their efforts gathered a mid-sized U-Haul filled with K-12 library books, textbooks, bulletin board materials, three big

boxes of Crayons and other school supplies.Scoles said Sunny Slope staff members offered a wonder-

ful outpouring of gifts and supplies for the drive, and also helped in the organization of the gifts. Other members of the Omaha Public Schools and Omaha Education Association families, as well as from surrounding school districts, also gave supplies and cash donations.

The Omaha Public Schools Foundation covered the rental of the U-Haul and the cost of the truck’s fuel.

“This makes me really proud to be a member of OEA and OPS,” said Scoles.

In addition, the drive collected $500 in Barnes and Noble gift cards, $800 in cash, and 25 Target gift cards.

The Omaha Education Association office served as the collection site for the drive, and Scoles and others sorted the donations by grade level before departure. Scoles, Schnase and Buffington delivered the truck to Joplin Public Schools officials on Monday, Aug. 1. To help, go to the website at:

www.joplinschools.org/

Loaded Up: Ready to pile supplies into a U-Haul truck are, from left, Sara Lukesh, Tom Buffington, Chris Schnase, Lannie Lukesh, Chris Proulx, Raelynn Buffington, Jane Scoles and Melissa Comine.

Two familiar faces have joined the ranks of NSEA’s UniServ directors on Aug. 1.

Trent Steele and Carol Hicks joined the NSEA staff on that date, replacing retirees Bill Nowak and Tom Martin. Both Steele and Hicks have wide and varied experience that will serve NSEA members well.

Hicks returns to her UniServ roots. A Tex-as native, she served her UniServ internship in Nebraska, and worked northeast Nebraska as a UniServ director from late 1993 through October 1996. Hicks then returned to Texas to work and to be near her mother, who was ill.

Hicks spent nearly three years as a UniServ director for the Texas State Teachers Association, then worked for Horace Mann Insurance before returning to teaching at Fort Worth, where she was a career and technology teacher, site technology coordinator and business department chair.

Hicks will serve the Niobrara UniServ Unit, is bounded by Keya Paha, Rock and Loup counties on the east, Scotts Bluff and Sioux counties on the west, up to the South Dakota border.

Steele was NSEA’s Tri-Valley District president in the late 1990s, while he taught at Kearney. He left teaching to earn a law de-gree, and practiced law for several years in Kearney. He earned an administrator’s cer-tificate, and returned to education as an ad-ministrator. He served as K-12 principal at

Anselmo-Merna, and was an assistant principal at Beatrice before returning to Kearney, where

he was assistant principal at Kearney High for the past six years.Steele takes charge of NSEA’s Central UniServ Unit, which

is bounded by Franklin County to the southeast, Red Willow County to the southwest, and Custer County to the north.

Omaha Drive Benefits Joplin Schools

Hicks Steele

Hicks, Steele Join NSEA UniServ Ranks

Bargaining’s ‘Brave New World’

Changes to CIR, Bargaining RulesMake Advocacy Conference a ‘Must’

When state senators approved changes to the Commission on Industrial Relations during the 2011 legislative session, their action put a big red circle around the weekend of Oct. 21-22.

Those are the dates of the NSEA Fall Bargaining Confer-ence – and that’s a date that local association bargainers cannot afford to miss.

“There’s a first-ever bargaining schedule that must be met, there are new bargaining rules for some units, and the changes to the CIR run pretty deep,” said NSEA President Nancy Ful-ton. “Every local association will want to have a team of repre-sentatives in attendance in order to be up to speed.”

There are enough changes in store for negotiators this year that conference organizers have christened the gathering ‘The Brave New World of Collective Bargaining.’

In attendance will be Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop, chair of the Legislature’s Business and Labor Committee and prima-ry author of LB397; Bill Raabe, NEA’s director of Collective Bargaining and Member Advocacy; and representatives of the Iowa State Education Association, where school districts and local associations follow a set bargaining schedule.

The conference will include sectionals on the new bargain-ing rules for K-12, higher education and education support pro-fessionals.

Registration is online at the NSEA website. For more details, contact your NSEA UniServ director, or check the website at:

www.nsea.org

NCLB Waivers OfferedIssue May be Moot in Nebraska

In August, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan reiter-ated a plan to allow states to set aside federal proficiency re-quirements mandated by No Child Left Behind.

The plan would let individual states that adopt certain educa-tion reforms to sidestep compliance with NCLB. Duncan said he was taking that step because, as of mid-August, Congress had failed to re-authorize NCLB, even though it is four years past reauthorization, and even though the Obama administra-tion proposed reforms to Congress two years ago.

Nebraska education officials weren’t sure the state would qualify. Nebraska falls short on two Obama administration pri-orities: a statewide system to hold districts accountable for stu-dent achievement; and a lack of “common core” standards for English and math.

NSEA Executive Director Craig R. Christiansen told the Omaha World-Herald that NCLB is “punitive and destructive,” and its goals “wildly idealistic.” Trading NCLB provisions for education reform is a bad idea, he said.

“I find the offer of bartering to be unacceptable,” he said.It may be a moot point. Nebraska Commissioner of Educa-

tion Roger Breed told the World-Herald that “in all likelihood Nebraska would not qualify, and it would be a waste of every-body’s time to put in for that waiver and have it considered.”

#Sept 2011.indd 24 8/25/2011 2:23:37 PM


boxes of Crayons and other school supplies.Scoles said Sunny Slope staff members offered a wonder-

ful outpouring of gifts and supplies for the drive, and also helped in the organization of the gifts. Other members of the Omaha Public Schools and Omaha Education Association families, as well as from surrounding school districts, also gave supplies and cash donations.

The Omaha Public Schools Foundation covered the rental of the U-Haul and the cost of the truck’s fuel.

“This makes me really proud to be a member of OEA and OPS,” said Scoles.

In addition, the drive collected $500 in Barnes and Noble gift cards, $800 in cash, and 25 Target gift cards.

The Omaha Education Association office served as the collection site for the drive, and Scoles and others sorted the donations by grade level before departure. Scoles, Schnase and Buffington delivered the truck to Joplin Public Schools officials on Monday, Aug. 1. To help, go to the website at:

www.joplinschools.org/

Loaded Up: Ready to pile supplies into a U-Haul truck are, from left, Sara Lukesh, Tom Buffington, Chris Schnase, Lannie Lukesh, Chris Proulx, Raelynn Buffington, Jane Scoles and Melissa Comine.

Hicks will serve the Niobrara UniServ Unit, is bounded by Keya Paha, Rock and Loup counties on the east, Scotts Bluff and Sioux counties on the west, up to the South Dakota border.

Steele was NSEA’s Tri-Valley District president in the late 1990s, while he taught at Kearney. He left teaching to earn a law de-gree, and practiced law for several years in Kearney. He earned an administrator’s cer-tificate, and returned to education as an ad-ministrator. He served as K-12 principal at

Anselmo-Merna, and was an assistant principal at Beatrice before returning to Kearney, where

he was assistant principal at Kearney High for the past six years.Steele takes charge of NSEA’s Central UniServ Unit, which

is bounded by Franklin County to the southeast, Red Willow County to the southwest, and Custer County to the north.

Omaha Drive Benefits Joplin Schools

Hicks, Steele Join NSEA UniServ Ranks

Arlene McFall

Arlene McFall, 58, of Plattsmouth passed away on Aug. 14, 2011 in Omaha following a lengthy battle with cancer.

A Fort Hays, KS, State University grad, McFall taught at Loomis, Holdrege and Westside District 66 in Omaha be-fore retiring in 2006 for health reasons.

McFall was a long-time member of NSEA and was committed to her pro-fessional organization. She served 11 years on the NSEA Board of Directors, and another five on the NSEA-Retired Board of Directors. She also held of-fice at the local and district association levels and was a regular delegate to the NSEA Delegate Assembly and the NEA Representative Assembly.

She enjoyed singing, dancing and was an active member of the Holdrege Community The-ater while she lived there. She enjoyed spending time with her family and her pets. McFall is survived by her husband, Tom Kinsel of Plattsmouth.

Memorials are suggested to the NSEA Children’s Fund.

McFall

Fred Wacha

Long-time NSEA member and activist Fred Wacha, 76, of Clarkson, died July 13, 2011, at Columbus.

A 1952 Clarkson High School grad, he taught two years in Colfax County rural schools, was drafted into the Army in 1957, was trained and served almost two years in Germany in charge of atomic warheads. After his return, he taught another year in rural Colfax County, and then attended Wayne State College to earn a bachelor’s degree in 1963. He later earned a master’s degree in science edu-cation from Creighton University. He taught three years in Pilger, and then in Clarkson, where he taught math, chem-istry and physics for 29 years, retiring in 1995.

A past Clarkson city councilman and mayor, Fred was active in many local civic organizations, as well as the NSEA. He was honored by the University of Nebraska as a Teacher of the Year.

Wacha is survived by his wife, Pat; and two sons and two daughters and their families.

Linda Baumert

Linda Baumert, 49, a first-grade teacher at Schuyler and a long-time NSEA member, was killed in an automobile ac-cident near North Bend on May 11.

A North Bend resident, Baumert was active in her community and her church. In a statement on the school district website, Schuyler Supt. Robin Stevens said Baumert “possessed professional characteristics to which we all as-pire,” and called her a “natural to the teaching profession.”

Baumert taught for 28 years at North Bend. She is sur-vived by her husband, Kurt, a son and three daughters and their families.

Bargaining’s ‘Brave New World’

Changes to CIR, Bargaining RulesMake Advocacy Conference a ‘Must’

When state senators approved changes to the Commission on Industrial Relations during the 2011 legislative session, their action put a big red circle around the weekend of Oct. 21-22.

Those are the dates of the NSEA Fall Bargaining Confer-ence – and that’s a date that local association bargainers cannot afford to miss.

“There’s a first-ever bargaining schedule that must be met, there are new bargaining rules for some units, and the changes to the CIR run pretty deep,” said NSEA President Nancy Ful-ton. “Every local association will want to have a team of repre-sentatives in attendance in order to be up to speed.”

There are enough changes in store for negotiators this year that conference organizers have christened the gathering ‘The Brave New World of Collective Bargaining.’

In attendance will be Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop, chair of the Legislature’s Business and Labor Committee and prima-ry author of LB397; Bill Raabe, NEA’s director of Collective Bargaining and Member Advocacy; and representatives of the Iowa State Education Association, where school districts and local associations follow a set bargaining schedule.

The conference will include sectionals on the new bargain-ing rules for K-12, higher education and education support pro-fessionals.

Registration is online at the NSEA website. For more details, contact your NSEA UniServ director, or check the website at:

www.nsea.org

NCLB Waivers OfferedIssue May be Moot in Nebraska

In August, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan reiter-ated a plan to allow states to set aside federal proficiency re-quirements mandated by No Child Left Behind.

The plan would let individual states that adopt certain educa-tion reforms to sidestep compliance with NCLB. Duncan said he was taking that step because, as of mid-August, Congress had failed to re-authorize NCLB, even though it is four years past reauthorization, and even though the Obama administra-tion proposed reforms to Congress two years ago.

Nebraska education officials weren’t sure the state would qualify. Nebraska falls short on two Obama administration pri-orities: a statewide system to hold districts accountable for stu-dent achievement; and a lack of “common core” standards for English and math.

NSEA Executive Director Craig R. Christiansen told the Omaha World-Herald that NCLB is “punitive and destructive,” and its goals “wildly idealistic.” Trading NCLB provisions for education reform is a bad idea, he said.

“I find the offer of bartering to be unacceptable,” he said.It may be a moot point. Nebraska Commissioner of Educa-

tion Roger Breed told the World-Herald that “in all likelihood Nebraska would not qualify, and it would be a waste of every-body’s time to put in for that waiver and have it considered.”

#Sept 2011.indd 25 8/25/2011 2:23:37 PM


Snookie’sSnippets

A new school year is under way, and NEA Member Benefits offers new strat-egies, products, services and innovative think-ing – all combined to formulate the most ef-fective ways to support NEA members.

Check out the NEA Member Benefits web-site, or call the Member Benefits Service Center at 1-800-637-4636 for details.

Product of the MonthAccidents happen. NEAMB pro-

vides protection you can count on. Ac-cidents are the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., with auto accidents topping the list.

For an NEA rate as low as $19 a year, members can get $30,000 protection for covered accidental deaths and $130,000 for those that occur on public transpor-tation. As a member, you’re guaranteed acceptance, with additional benefits. Call or go online for details.

Tip of the MonthClaim your FREE magazine sub-

scription by going on-line at neamb.com! The NEA Magazine Service in-vites you to choose from more than 40 titles spanning sports, entertainment, education, travel and more – yours free for an entire year.

Bright Ideas for 2011Discover the changes we’ve made

to help NEA members make the most of new special member savings from our exclusive offers, plus ways to make your life easier and more secure. Save big on brand-name merchandise that offers member savings on hundreds of top retailers, online stores and with local merchants. For instance:nCheck the NEA Auto Purchase

Advantage Program, where members save an average of $4,300.nCheck deals at Target, Best Buy,

J.C. Penney, Restaurant.com and more.Find the latest deals at:www.facebook.com/NEADealsThe Member Benefits website is at:

neamb.comSnookie Krumbiegel is Nebraska’s

NEA Member Benefits representative.

By Kurt GenrichEHA Plan Advocate

Effective Sept. 1, 2011, the Educa-tors Health Alliance (EHA) will be ex-panding the benefits offered to its mem-bers at no extra cost!

These changes in services are occur-ring due to the Patient Protection Af-fordable Care Act (PPACA) passed by the Federal Government in 2009. The changes include Increased Preventive Services, Unlimited Benefit Maximums and Coverage for Dependents to age 26.

And those additional coverages come with no rate increase, thanks to careful management and lower use of the plan in recent months. Here are details:

Preventive services expanded: Un-der the current 2010-11 EHA contract, mammography, pap smears, routine im-munizations and prostate screening as-sessments were the only items covered at 100 percent. The office visit and other preventive services were subject to the deductible and coinsurance to a maxi-mum of $500. Effective Sept. 1, the of-fice visit will now be paid at 100 percent for preventive services, and many new preventive benefits (age/gender specif-ic) will be available for EHA members. There will no longer be a dollar maxi-mum for any preventive service. For a list of expanded services, go to:

www.ehaplan.orgEligible dependents to age 26 now

allowed on EHA plan: Effective Sept. 1, eligible dependents of employees of participating schools will now be al-lowed to stay on the health/dental plans until they reach the age of 26. This law, part of the Federal Health Care Reform, will allow dependents, no matter their circumstance, to come back on to their

parents’ plan until age 26. If they don’t add the dependent on for September, they will not be allowed to come on to the plan at a later date. The law allows married individuals, employed depen-dents, part-time students or unemployed individuals the ability to have health care coverage. The EHA plan will no longer ask for student verification of members because of the change in law. If the member adds their child back to the plan, they must fill out a paper ap-plication available from their school’s benefit manager. The member may have additional cost if they have to move to a different tier of coverage (Employee/Spouse to Employee/Family).

Unlimited maximum benefit/pre-existing conditions for children under age 19: With the September renewal, the EHA Plan will no longer have the $5 million maximum benefit and will expand to an unlimited maximum bene-fit. Furthermore, the internal maximum benefit of $500 will no longer be in place for preventative services. Finally, there will no longer be pre-existing condition limits for children under the age of 19.

Questions? Visit the EHA website or contact me – contact details below.

Flab on Fire!The EHA Wellness program has

been growing by leaps and bounds since its inception two years ago. Now, with more than 150 participating schools, the

plan has been improving member life-style behaviors and making a difference in participant’s lives!

Participants complete a personal health assessment (PHA) to provide feedback to each individual and de-termine the health risks, interests and knowledge levels of the population. Once a member completes the assess-ment, they will receive a $25 Gift Card from EHA! Members who completed the assessment last spring will be given an opportunity next spring to do it again. These assessments target wellness ac-tion plans that will focus on maintaining or improving members’ current level of health, and reducing lifestyle-related risk factors such as tobacco use, physi-cal inactivity, poor diet and obesity.

This fall, there are two bi-monthly programs that members will be able to utilize. They are Healthy Dinner Club and Flab on Fire! To participate, contact your school’s Wellness Representative. If your school isn’t participating, con-tact EHA Wellness Coordinator Howie Halpern, 402-960-1164, or at:

[email protected] wellness plan website is at:

www.ehawellness.org

The Educators Health Alliance has named Kurt Genrich to serve as the EHA Plan advo-cate. Genrich will work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska plan par-ticipants to answer questions and promote the plan. The EHA Board is comprised of six NSEA representatives and three each from the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. NSEA Associate Executive Director NealClayburn is vice

chair of the EHA Board of Directors.Call Genrich at 1-866-465-1342; on his cell phone

at 402-217-2042; or e-mail him at:[email protected]

New Year, New Benefits, Same Price!BCBS Q&A

Nurses who teach or supervise in the medical arts area should not start the school year without the NEA Educators Employment Liability Program Insurance.

For just $13, NEA provides nurses and other health educa-tors and athletic trainers additional liability insurance coverage for teaching and supervisory responsibilities.

The policy for active and active part-time NSEA members covers school nurses for:

Rendering first-aid and regular nursing services as a part of the member’s educational employment.

Administering oral prescription medicine to students, if ad-vance written authorization has been provided.

In addition to nurses, eligible school employees include den-

tal hygienists, occupational therapists or physical therapists. NSEA members who are athletic trainers may also buy the ad-ditional coverage.

NSEA members wishing to purchase this extended cover-age should send a letter requesting the coverage, along with a check for $13, payable to NSEA, to: Megan Lyons, NSEA, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Be sure to indicate your occupation (school nurse). Also include your home and work telephone numbers.

Checks for the 2011-12 school year must be received by Oct. 1, 2011. Checks received after that date will provide cover-age for the remaining months of the employment year.

For more details, call NSEA at 1-800-742-0047.

Extra Liability Coverage Offered to Nurses, Trainers

#Sept 2011.indd 26 8/25/2011 2:23:38 PM


“Gill Sans MT 13/14 governor that I hoped he would consider all of the retired teachers in the state who truly depend on that retire-ment money to make ends meet. Making changes to the fund really threatens the living conditions of many of those.”

— Cheryl BluePeru State College

Franklin Gothic Heavy 20/22

Gill Sans 11/11.5

11/11.5webformat

Snookie’sSnippets

A new school year is under way, and NEA Member Benefits offers new strat-egies, products, services and innovative think-ing – all combined to formulate the most ef-fective ways to support NEA members.

Check out the NEA Member Benefits web-site, or call the Member Benefits Service Center at 1-800-637-4636 for details.

Product of the MonthAccidents happen. NEAMB pro-

vides protection you can count on. Ac-cidents are the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., with auto accidents topping the list.

For an NEA rate as low as $19 a year, members can get $30,000 protection for covered accidental deaths and $130,000 for those that occur on public transpor-tation. As a member, you’re guaranteed acceptance, with additional benefits. Call or go online for details.

Tip of the MonthClaim your FREE magazine sub-

scription by going on-line at neamb.com! The NEA Magazine Service in-vites you to choose from more than 40 titles spanning sports, entertainment, education, travel and more – yours free for an entire year.

Bright Ideas for 2011Discover the changes we’ve made

to help NEA members make the most of new special member savings from our exclusive offers, plus ways to make your life easier and more secure. Save big on brand-name merchandise that offers member savings on hundreds of top retailers, online stores and with local merchants. For instance:nCheck the NEA Auto Purchase

Advantage Program, where members save an average of $4,300.nCheck deals at Target, Best Buy,

J.C. Penney, Restaurant.com and more.Find the latest deals at:www.facebook.com/NEADealsThe Member Benefits website is at:

neamb.comSnookie Krumbiegel is Nebraska’s

NEA Member Benefits representative.

NEA Member Benefits

Krumbiegel

Let Member BenefitsSmooth Your Path

The First Month of School Can be Made EasierThere’s nothing like the excitement

that accompanies the start of a new school year — but for educators, the pressure is ON! You’ve just welcomed dozens of new students for their best educational experiences ever, but you also have homes, families, and other non-school obligations that demand your attention.

That’s why NEA Member Benefits is extending a helping hand — through important member-only programs, ser-vices, discounts, informative articles and online courses designed to help you make a smooth transition into fall and a productive school year. Getting back to school will be a lot easier with these sweet opportunities:nNEA exclusive $100 statement

credit offer! Apply now for your own NEA Credit Card with WorldPoints rewards and receive a $100 statement credit after qualifying transactions. n20 percent discount at Lesson

Planet! Eliminate guesswork and save valuable time searching online for re-sources, activities and lesson plans for your students. For only $39.99 per year (regular price: $49.99/year), gain access to Lesson Planet’s 350,000 teacher-reviewed and rated curriculum resources for pre-K through grade 12 educators!

nEnter to win $1,000 in VISA gift cards! September is Life Insur-ance Awareness Month, and the NEA Members Insurance Trust is sponsor-ing the “Who Do You Love” contest to encourage you to think seriously about life insurance as an expression of love. From now through the end of Septem-ber, enter the contest by submitting a photo and brief story online and you could win two $500 VISA gift cards — one for you and the other for your loved one! Enter at:

www.MyNEALife.comnSave up to 50 percent at Smile-

Makers! Now until Dec. 31, 2011, get free shipping on all orders (no minimum) and up to 50 percent off classroom décor, student rewards and more!nWin a $7,500 School Lounge

Makeover! Compliments of Cali-fornia Casualty, provider of the NEA Auto & Home Insurance Program, four lucky schools will be able to transform their school lounges from ordinary to positively extraordinaire! Enter at:

www.schoolloungemakeover.comGet more details on these and other

great Back to School offers at the NEA Member Service Center at 1-800-637-4636, or at:

www.neamb.com/backtoschool

NEA Member Benefits and CurrikiOffer Free Learning Tools for Educators

A new partnership between NEA Member Benefits and Curriki provides NEA members access to a wealth of online resources, including thousands of useful learning tools such as lesson plans, worksheets, multimedia activities and courses.

The open source publishing resources will enable NEA members to publish and store their own educational materials and share them with colleagues. Perhaps most importantly, it enables NEA members to collaborate with educators around the world, assisting each other with their curriculum planning process and sup-porting student learning outcomes.

Curriki is a global K-12 community for creating, sharing and finding free learn-ing resources that improve teacher effectiveness and student outcomes. Curriki supports educators, learners and committed education experts who are working together to create quality materials that will benefit teachers and students around the world. Members can access Curriki through either of these links:

www.neamb.orghttp://link.curriki.org/NEA

plan has been improving member life-style behaviors and making a difference in participant’s lives!

Participants complete a personal health assessment (PHA) to provide feedback to each individual and de-termine the health risks, interests and knowledge levels of the population. Once a member completes the assess-ment, they will receive a $25 Gift Card from EHA! Members who completed the assessment last spring will be given an opportunity next spring to do it again. These assessments target wellness ac-tion plans that will focus on maintaining or improving members’ current level of health, and reducing lifestyle-related risk factors such as tobacco use, physi-cal inactivity, poor diet and obesity.

This fall, there are two bi-monthly programs that members will be able to utilize. They are Healthy Dinner Club and Flab on Fire! To participate, contact your school’s Wellness Representative. If your school isn’t participating, con-tact EHA Wellness Coordinator Howie Halpern, 402-960-1164, or at:

[email protected] wellness plan website is at:

www.ehawellness.org

The Educators Health Alliance has named Kurt Genrich to serve as the EHA Plan advo-cate. Genrich will work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska plan par-ticipants to answer questions and promote the plan. The EHA Board is comprised of six NSEA representatives and three each from the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. NSEA Associate Executive Director NealClayburn is vice

chair of the EHA Board of Directors.Call Genrich at 1-866-465-1342; on his cell phone

at 402-217-2042; or e-mail him at:[email protected]

New Year, New Benefits, Same Price!

tal hygienists, occupational therapists or physical therapists. NSEA members who are athletic trainers may also buy the ad-ditional coverage.

NSEA members wishing to purchase this extended cover-age should send a letter requesting the coverage, along with a check for $13, payable to NSEA, to: Megan Lyons, NSEA, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Be sure to indicate your occupation (school nurse). Also include your home and work telephone numbers.

Checks for the 2011-12 school year must be received by Oct. 1, 2011. Checks received after that date will provide cover-age for the remaining months of the employment year.

For more details, call NSEA at 1-800-742-0047.

Extra Liability Coverage Offered to Nurses, Trainers

#Sept 2011.indd 27 8/25/2011 2:23:38 PM


The Last First DayIn the town of St. Deroin (or what is left of it), stands

the old public school, now a museum. Once a lively landing point on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River south of Brownville, it is now a ghost town. Its only vis-itors are those who come to the state park that surrounds it. The school still stands, but there are no students. There will be no more first days of school. Standing in that one-room school, it is easy to imagine that St. Deroin was just exactly like every other community we know.

The first day of school was an exciting time for stu-dents, parents, and teachers, for families and for those without children, for the very old, and for youngsters cry-ing at the prospect of leav-ing Mom to enter school. It is still that way for most of America. The first day of school changes traffic pat-terns, significantly affects spending and money flow on Main Street, alters the schedules of a quarter of the adults across the county, and creates new questions for the supper table: “What hap-pened in school today?”

The first day of school was probably much the same for old St. Deroin, but the last first day of school for St. Deroin occurred many years ago. The town was flooded and destroyed by the river. The loss of the town and its school was a natural disaster that could not have been avoided.

No EscapeToday, the story is different for most communities. Pub-

lic schools face a flood of criticism that is, at best, often irrational and, at worst, too often intentionally destructive. The flood against the community of St. Deroin could not be escaped. The flood of attack against the public schools in our communities can be stopped and must be, if our schools — and our communities — are going to survive.

In most of America, the loss of its public school is a major threat to the very existence of the town or com-

#Sept 2011.indd 28 8/25/2011 2:23:39 PM


The Disaster of No More First Days: NSEA Executive Director Craig R. Christiansen in the old school at St. Deroin, Nebraska.

From the Executive Director

The Last First DayIn the town of St. Deroin (or what is left of it), stands

the old public school, now a museum. Once a lively landing point on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River south of Brownville, it is now a ghost town. Its only vis-itors are those who come to the state park that surrounds it. The school still stands, but there are no students. There will be no more first days of school. Standing in that one-room school, it is easy to imagine that St. Deroin was just exactly like every other community we know.

The first day of school was an exciting time for stu-dents, parents, and teachers, for families and for those without children, for the very old, and for youngsters cry-ing at the prospect of leav-ing Mom to enter school. It is still that way for most of America. The first day of school changes traffic pat-terns, significantly affects spending and money flow on Main Street, alters the schedules of a quarter of the adults across the county, and creates new questions for the supper table: “What hap-pened in school today?”

The first day of school was probably much the same for old St. Deroin, but the last first day of school for St. Deroin occurred many years ago. The town was flooded and destroyed by the river. The loss of the town and its school was a natural disaster that could not have been avoided.

No EscapeToday, the story is different for most communities. Pub-

lic schools face a flood of criticism that is, at best, often irrational and, at worst, too often intentionally destructive. The flood against the community of St. Deroin could not be escaped. The flood of attack against the public schools in our communities can be stopped and must be, if our schools — and our communities — are going to survive.

In most of America, the loss of its public school is a major threat to the very existence of the town or com-

munity that is built around it. It is the fear of every com-munity. But today, as much as the school is viewed with the long-cherished belief that it is the social and eco-nomic center of a community’s future, the American public school is often treated as a common problem to

be solved. In fact, as most of the merchants and employ-ers on Main Street under-stand, our public schools are the solution to our common problems.

A Dangerous ThreatDeclining birth rates, lo-

cal effects of the global eco-nomic disaster, declining taxpayer support, and shifts of young families to other locales are all common rea-sons for the loss of support for a community’s school.But a far more dangerous threat to the existence of our schools is the increasingly virulent criticism of the “public” in public schools.Be careful. These critics are not attacking education. They are assailing the “pub-lic” in public education.

Somehow, it has become fashionable to forget the meaning behind the word “public.” This country was built by rugged individu-alists…who understood perhaps better than most today the meaning of “pub-lic good.” Public value and

public good have meaning only because we have his-torically understood their basis as shared efforts, shared destiny, shared sacrifice, and shared interests. When we abandon our public schools to mindless criticism, we abandon our schools — and their role in the community. Unlike St. Deroin, we can avoid this disaster.

We cannot allow the constant attack on our teachers and the work they do and not endanger the future of our schools as an institution. Like St. Deroin, public schools may one day be nostalgic museums, buildings without students, schools with no public. Don’t let the first day of school in your community ever be its last one. It is a disaster that can be avoided.

#Sept 2011.indd 29 8/25/2011 2:23:40 PM


NSEA-Retired Corner

Sitting still is not an option for most retired educators. Thus, retirees will be pleased to learn about two upcoming activities that should keep the mental juices flowing!

First is the NSEA-Retired Greater Nebraska Fall Conference, set for Tues-day, Oct. 4, at the Nebraska Nature and Visitors’ Center on Interstate 80 at Alda.

Topics scheduled to this point include sessions on genealogy, iPads, nutri-tion and attracting Nebraska songbirds to your garden. Look for more details speakers and breakout sectionals, plus registration information, in the NSEA-Retired Advocate which will be in your hands in mid-September.

Online registration begins at the NSEA website on Sept. 10. The NSEA website is at:

www.nsea.orgOtherwise, contact NSEA’s Rebecca

Smith at 1-800-742-0047. E-mail her at:[email protected]

Also on the calendar is the Intergen-erational Mentoring program.

This NSEA-Retired program is one of the stellar offerings by retired pro-grams across the country. It pairs retir-ees with pre-service teachers in a men-tor-mentee relationship for a year or more. The retiree/mentors are rewarded with the opportunity to share years of experience and teaching wisdom, while the pre-service/mentees have someone other than a supervisor or professor with which to discuss classroom issues and techniques – a win-win situation.

The pairing of mentors and mentees will take place at Hastings College in November. For details, or to register, contact Smith or Maureen Nickels at:

[email protected] as important is the NSEA-Re-

tired Lobby Day. Each year, in mid-Feb-ruary, retired NSEA members gather in Lincoln to lobby state lawmakers. The 2012 event is set for Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. Watch this space for more details.

NSEA-Retired Local Affiliatesfor 2011-12

Your NSEA-Retired organization has local affiliates across the state. By join-ing one of these local affiliates, you’ll

Get Ready for a Busy Fall!October Conference, Intergenerational Mentoring on Schedule

Another Quilt on the Block: The NSEA-Retired affiliate has another top quality quilt — donated by Lincoln’s Lorene Behrends — ready to give away via raffle, with proceeds to benefit the NSEA Children’s Fund. The winner of the 2011 quilt give-away, which raised nearly $1,500, was retiree Loretta Pillard of Springfield. Displaying the current quilt up for grabs are, from left, former NSEA President Jess Wolf; NSEA President Nancy Fulton; and NSEA-Retired President Roger Rea. Tickets are available at most NSEA-Retired functions, or by calling NSEA’s Rebecca Smith at 1-800-742-0047.

stay in touch with education issues, and will also enjoy regular meetings and ad-ventures with other retired educators.

Following is a listing of those locals:

Platte Valley RetiredEducation Association

Guy Roggenkamp is president. Oth-er officers are Martha McGahan, vice president; Linda Dahlstrom, secretary; Marlin Sekutera, treasurer; James Mc-Gahan, communications; and Linda Ri-ley, Greeting Cards Committee.

Future programs include Nancy Klimek on Nebraska Veteran’s Home History, scheduled for November; and Vi Wray on Teaching in Australia, set for February. PVREA will host the NSEA-Retired Greater Nebraska Fall Confer-ence on Oct. 4, 2012, at the Nebraska Nature and Visitors’ Center at Alda (see more details in the September NSEA-Retired Advocate). Check out the new PVREA information on the NSEA web-site by clicking on the ‘For Members’ link, and then NSEA-Retired on the left side of the homepage, and then look-ing for ‘Local Retired Organizations.’ NSEA’s website is at:

www.nsea.orgContact Roggenkamp at 308-383-

3579, or at:[email protected]

Elkhorn/Sandhills Education Association-Retired

President is LuEtta Clark. Officers are Tom Black, vice president; Mari-anne Wright, secretary; and Pat Mon-son, treasurer. Future meetings include a September tour of Cuthills Vineyard; a February visit to Affiliated Foods; and a June visit to Ponca State Park.

Contact Clark at 402-327-6601.

Millard EducationAssociation-Retired

Jim Rames is president. Patricia Brinkman is secretary/treasurer. A full year of activities is planned around Soaring Wings, Orphan Train, Commu-nity Playhouse, Douglas County CSI Lab, Omaha Press Club, and the NSEA-Retired Lobby Day and Spring Confer-ence. The chief member concerns are retirement benefits, cost of living, and keeping the Defined Benefit Retirement System fully funded.

Contact Rames at 402-895-2484, or:[email protected]

Tom Black, Editor [email protected]

National Audience: Tommie Leaders, former president of the Student Education Association of Nebraska and current chair of the National Education Association’s Student Program, addresses the Save Our Schools Rally on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., on July 31. Leaders is an education major at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

From the Public Education Network ‘Weekly NewsBlast’ comes this news: A report from McKinsey & Company ana-lyzed 20 education systems around the world, all with improv-ing but differing levels of performance. The study examined how each achieved significant, sustained and widespread gains in student outcomes.

The authors found substantial improvement is achievable relatively quickly, regardless of student outcome level, geog-raphy, culture or income. The majority of interventions in their sample were “process” in nature, and systems generally spent more time improving instruction rather than content. It also found a consistent cluster of interventions moves systems for-ward from poor performance to fair. There was little evidence of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.

The research found six key interventions: building instruc-tional skills of teachers and management skills of principals; assessing students; improving data systems; facilitating im-provement through the introduction of policy documents and education laws; revising standards and curriculum; and ensur-ing an appropriate reward and remuneration structure for teach-ers and principals. It also found that continuity of leadership was essential.

The PEN Weekly NewsBlast is a free newsletter about school reform, finance and related issues. To subscribe, look for in-structions at the lower left side of the page at:

http://www.publiceducation.org

Corporations Rewrite American LawThe Center for Media & Democracy and the Nation has

launched a website that documents how global corporations and state politicians work behind closed doors – through the American Legislative Exchange Council – to try to rewrite laws that govern the rights of educators, as well as to affect public education. The so-called “model bills” reach into almost

How Other Countries Did It

#Sept 2011.indd 30 8/25/2011 2:23:41 PM


NSEA Executive Director Craig R.

Christiansen

“The

distribution of

wealth is not

the issue. It is

the equitable

distribution of

taxation to pay

this state’s bills.

”

NSEA-Retired Corner Extra Credit

Math Work

17,000n The number of Nebraska

children who have lost their homes to foreclosure since 2007, according to the 2011 na-tional Kids Count Data Report.

41%n The percent of Nebraska

school children who qualify for school lunch subsidies, as reported by Commissioner of Education Roger Breed in ad-dressing school administrators in Kearney in August.

Get Ready for a Busy Fall!October Conference, Intergenerational Mentoring on Schedule

Another Quilt on the Block: The NSEA-Retired affiliate has another top quality quilt — donated by Lincoln’s Lorene Behrends — ready to give away via raffle, with proceeds to benefit the NSEA Children’s Fund. The winner of the 2011 quilt give-away, which raised nearly $1,500, was retiree Loretta Pillard of Springfield. Displaying the current quilt up for grabs are, from left, former NSEA President Jess Wolf; NSEA President Nancy Fulton; and NSEA-Retired President Roger Rea. Tickets are available at most NSEA-Retired functions, or by calling NSEA’s Rebecca Smith at 1-800-742-0047.

3579, or at:[email protected]

Elkhorn/Sandhills Education Association-Retired

President is LuEtta Clark. Officers are Tom Black, vice president; Mari-anne Wright, secretary; and Pat Mon-son, treasurer. Future meetings include a September tour of Cuthills Vineyard; a February visit to Affiliated Foods; and a June visit to Ponca State Park.

Contact Clark at 402-327-6601.

Millard EducationAssociation-Retired

Jim Rames is president. Patricia Brinkman is secretary/treasurer. A full year of activities is planned around Soaring Wings, Orphan Train, Commu-nity Playhouse, Douglas County CSI Lab, Omaha Press Club, and the NSEA-Retired Lobby Day and Spring Confer-ence. The chief member concerns are retirement benefits, cost of living, and keeping the Defined Benefit Retirement System fully funded.

Contact Rames at 402-895-2484, or:[email protected]

Tom Black, Editor [email protected]

National Audience: Tommie Leaders, former president of the Student Education Association of Nebraska and current chair of the National Education Association’s Student Program, addresses the Save Our Schools Rally on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., on July 31. Leaders is an education major at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

From the Public Education Network ‘Weekly NewsBlast’ comes this news: A report from McKinsey & Company ana-lyzed 20 education systems around the world, all with improv-ing but differing levels of performance. The study examined how each achieved significant, sustained and widespread gains in student outcomes.

The authors found substantial improvement is achievable relatively quickly, regardless of student outcome level, geog-raphy, culture or income. The majority of interventions in their sample were “process” in nature, and systems generally spent more time improving instruction rather than content. It also found a consistent cluster of interventions moves systems for-ward from poor performance to fair. There was little evidence of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.

The research found six key interventions: building instruc-tional skills of teachers and management skills of principals; assessing students; improving data systems; facilitating im-provement through the introduction of policy documents and education laws; revising standards and curriculum; and ensur-ing an appropriate reward and remuneration structure for teach-ers and principals. It also found that continuity of leadership was essential.

The PEN Weekly NewsBlast is a free newsletter about school reform, finance and related issues. To subscribe, look for in-structions at the lower left side of the page at:

http://www.publiceducation.org

Corporations Rewrite American LawThe Center for Media & Democracy and the Nation has

launched a website that documents how global corporations and state politicians work behind closed doors – through the American Legislative Exchange Council – to try to rewrite laws that govern the rights of educators, as well as to affect public education. The so-called “model bills” reach into almost

every area of American life and often directly benefit huge cor-porations.

The website allows viewers to access 800 sample pieces of ALEC legislation, including some that would privatize pub-lic education. The website also details how model legislation would crush teacher’s unions, and push American universities to the right. Among other things, these bills make education a private commodity rather than a public good, and reverse America’s modern innovation of promoting learning and civic virtue through public schools staffed with professional teachers for children from all backgrounds.

Also on the list: current and past state chairmen from all states, as well as alumna governors. Find the details at:

http://www.alecexposed.org

Clayburn Will Lead EHA BoardNSEA Associate Executive Director

Neal Clayburn will become the chair of the Educators Health Alliance Board of Direc-tors on Sept. 1.

The EHA Board governs the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska health care plan used by nearly every one of Nebras-ka’s 250 school districts. The plan covers more than 70,000 Nebraskans.

The EHA Board of Directors include six representatives from NSEA, and three each from the Nebraska Council of School Administrators and the Nebraska Associa-tion of School Boards. The board manages the health care plan organized in the mid-1960s by NSEA.

Clayburn is a former executive director of the Lincoln Education Association, a former NSEA UniServ director, and taught and coached in Gering and Grand Island.

How Other Countries Did It

Clayburn

#Sept 2011.indd 31 8/25/2011 2:23:42 PM


Mailed By: The Nebraska State Education Association Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742

Family of Teachers

The Hain Family: There are many teachers in the Tom and Marilyn Hain family, and these are just a few of them.

From left are Theron Troxel, a teacher and coach at Freeman High School at Adams; Tom Hain, retired elementary principal, assistant high school principal and assistant athletic director for the Chase County Schools at Imperial, and now an elementary principal at Hershey; Stacey Hain Troxel, formerly a middle school English teacher for the Norris Public Schools at Firth, and now a stay-at-home mom; Marilyn Hain, taught K-4 special education at Chase County Elementary at Imperial, and then taught at North Platte before retiring; and Carrie Hain Nesbitt, a second grade teacher at Sidney.

Not pictured are Connie Hain Bredemeyer, a special education teacher at St. Stephan’s in Omaha; Dorothy Hain, a kindergarten teacher at Westchester, PA; Betty Gruca, an elementary teacher in Colorado Springs, CO; Becky Bredemeyer, a teacher in Omaha’s Catholic school system; and Clay Seeba, a teacher at Kearney.

Crime Science LabFrom Jim Hurley, a chemistry and physics teacher at Waverly-Shell

Rock High School in Waverly, IA:

“In my many years of teaching chemistry and physics, I observed that the laboratory investigations that created the most enthusiasm were those that cast the student in the role of crime lab analyst. Rather than lockstep procedures to verify expected outcomes, I present experiments as criminal case descriptions

which require careful evidence analysis. Questions like ‘Was the anesthesia administered in too great a concentration?’ or ‘Does the index of refraction of the glass chip embedded in the robbery suspect’s shoe match the glass from a broken store window?’ help frame experimentation in a real world

context. English instructors can even initiate cross-curriculum mystery writing units.”

Sign up for Works4Me at this link:http://www.nea.org/tools/Works4Me.html

Speaking of Teaching“The more we demand from teachers

the more we have to demand from students and parents.”

—Thomas Friedman, author‘The World is Flat’

NEA HasYou Covered

Liability Insuranceis Part of MembershipEvery member of NSEA is covered

by the Educator’s Liability (EEL) In-surance policy purchased by the Na-tional Education Association.

In general, the EEL policy provides coverage for members arising out of their educational employment activi-ties. Those activities are generally de-fined as duties performed pursuant to the express or implied terms of their employment or at the express request of the member’s supervisor acting within the supervisor’s school employment.

In addition to defending civil mat-ters, the EEL insurance provides re-imbursement for bail bonds in em-ployment-related criminal matters and reimbursement for personal property damages caused by an assault at school or while performing school duties.

Further, the EEL insurance provides reimbursement in criminal matters aris-ing out of educational employment activities if the member is found not guilty.

The specific terms and coverage pro-vided by the EEL insurance policy are governed by the insurance company.

For additional information, contact your NSEA UniServ director, who will be happy to provide you with additional details. Reach your UniServ director at 1-800-742-0047.

#Sept 2011.indd 32 8/25/2011 2:23:42 PM

the voice, september 2011

Documents

nsea voice n page

n details

nsea website

nsea endorsement

nsea advocacyconferencen

proud members of nsea

nsearetiredfall conferencen

nseas annual