Vol. 10, Issue 7 April 2010 Important Dates CCEA Run-Off ...€¦ · Classes Resume April 13, 2010...

Important DatesAPRIL is Math Awareness Month

April 4, 2010Easter

April 5, 2010Classes Resume

April 13, 2010CCEA Executive Board Mtg.

April 15, 2010Income Taxes Due

April 19-23, 2010Administrative Professionals Week

April 20, 2010CCEA Executive Board Mtg.

April 21, 2010Administrative Professionals Day

April 22, 2010Earth Day

April 24-25, 2010NSEA Delegate Assembly

April 27, 2010CCEA Association Rep Council Mtg.

April 30, 2010National Arbor Day

MAY is Asian & Pacific-IslandHeritage Month and Better Hearing

& Speech Month

May 3, 2010CCEA Express May 2010 issue

May 3-7, 2010Teacher Appreciation Week

May 4, 2010National Teacher Day

May 5, 2010Cinco de Mayo

May 9, 2010Mother’s Day

May 11, 2010CCEA Executive Board Mtg.

May 12, 2010National School Nurses Day

May 15, 2010Armed Forces Day

Vol. 10, Issue 7 April 2010

Inside This Issue: Pg 2 • A Word from the President | Pg 3 • Frequently Asked Questions |Pg 4 • Legal Corner | Pg 6-7 • National Teacher Day | Pg 8 • Promotions & Discounts | Pg 9 • Earth Day &Math Awareness Month Resources | Pg 10 • NEA & ESEA Reauthorization | P 11 • Grants & Awards

CCEA Run-Off ElectionCCEA and NSEA Board seats elected

Go Green with CCEA…Join us in our effort to preserve the world we live in. Sign up toreceive all communications via e-mail. Visit www.ccea-nv.org today!

The results for all four seats in the run-off election are in. Members ofthe CCEA Elections Committee met on Monday, March 22 to tabulate the ballotsfor the 2010 CCEA run-off election that would determine the representatives forCCEA Executive Board seats 3B and 4B, and NSEA Board of Directors seats Aand E. Elections Committee Chairperson April Kahle notified candidates of theresults and presented them to the Association Representative Council forratification during its March 23, 2010 meeting. Following are the results inthose races:

CCEA Executive Board – Seat 3B: Robert HollowoodCCEA Executive Board – Seat 4B: Jennifer Webb-CookNSEA Board of Directors – Seat A: Wanda KeithNSEA Board of Directors – Seat E: Loretta Harper

A PDF file of the results is available at www.ccea-nv.org, under the “2010CCEA Elections” (orange) tab.

The newly-elected CCEA Board members will take office at the adjournmentof the 2010 NEA Representative Assembly in early July and NSEA Boardmembers will begin serving their term after the April NSEA Board of Directorsmeeting. Congratulations to all!

TLC Survey Begins April 7Participate to improve conditions at your site

The 2010 Teaching and Learning Conditions (TLC) Survey will take place April7 – May 14. This comprehensive online survey tool allows every licensedperson, located at a school site, the opportunity to voice a candid opinion abouthow time, leadership, decision-making, facilities & resources, and professionaldevelopment affect working conditions at their school.

The TLC survey, developed in 2006 in conjunction with the Center forTeaching Quality (a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Charlotte,North Carolina), has helped guide and enrich collaborative practices throughoutthe district. Through your participation, teacher-driven school reform can—andwill—improve our working conditions and, ultimately, student learningconditions.

A pop-up message will appear on Interact providing additional details.Take part in the survey. Help improve teaching and learningconditions at your worksite!

• CCEA Express www.ccea-nv.org

A Word from the Presidentby Ruben R. Murillo, Jr.

CCEA…constantly fighting anti-publiceducation forces

An e-mail from an opponent of one of ourendorsed candidates in the Nevada Legislaturewas brought to my attention. Below is a list ofthe opponent’s ideas needed to balance thestate budget—which is to be accomplished bybalancing the budget on the backs of publicemployees, including teachers.

û Cut all state government fundedprograms by a minimum of 20%.

û Cut pensions and medical benefits by25% and bring them in line with whatthe private sector is paying and able toprovide.

û Cut pension and other retirementbenefits for all current retiredemployees.

û “Outlaw collective bargaining for ALLstate employees! It is morally wrongand unethical to have unions work incollusion with elected staterepresentatives to bolster wages andbenefits at the expense of the taxpayer!”

û Cut business and sales taxes, fees andother financial mandates.

û Cut higher education by 30%.û Enact statewide voucher program.

It’s pretty easy to predict that those whohave an anti-public education view wouldn’thesitate to gut your collective bargaining law.They would strip you of your negotiated

protections, benefits, and salaries. They wouldmove to regulate anything and everything youdo in your line of work.

CCEA plays a critical role in protecting yourrights as employees of the Clark County SchoolDistrict. As the sole recognized bargainingagent for teachers in CCSD, we were extremelysuccessful in protecting salaries and benefits inthe last two years when CCSD’s budget was cut.The cuts came to the tune of $250 million.CCEA’s success in representing and defendingyou, our members, has made us a target ofthose who blame public employees for all thatails Nevada’s economy. This year is going to betougher as additional cuts will be carried out.

CCEA’s commitment to you: To work hardto ensure these cuts have a minimal impact onyou, professionally and personally. We willaddress the proposed cuts throughnegotiations.

When people ask me what their duesdollars pay for because they haven’t seen anyresults in the last several years, I tell themprotection of your job, salary andbenefits. In fact, last year we were the onlycollective bargaining group to add $55 millionto our contract. Without CCEA, anti-publiceducation groups would succeed. Just refer tothe bulleted points and see what is in store foryou. If that’s not enough to demonstrate to youthe important role CCEA plays in protectingyour job, then I don’t know what will.

Primary & General ElectionsWhy should I get involved and vote?

The special session of the Nevada Legislature shouldserve as a wake-up call—if we don’t get involved inelecting pro-education representatives to thelegislature, the consequences to education are grave.Let’s take the first step in being proactive. Let’s getready for the Primary Election.

If you are not yet registered to vote or have movedsince the last election, register now. It’s so easy. Youcan request a voter registration application formonline. Simply complete the request at

http://redrock.co.clark.nv.us/webvoterlookup/RegAppRequest.aspx and the Elections Department will mailyou an application. Just remember that this requestmust be made no later than May 8, otherwise you willneed to go to the Elections Department in person todo so.

The Primary election will be held June 8. Let’smake sure we have a say-so because there will beso much at stake in the 2011 Session of theLegislature.

www.ccea-nv.org CCEA Express •

FrequentlyAsked

QuestionsBy Kathy Foresythe

CCEA Deputy Executive DirectorLegal Services

Topic:End of School Year Use ofEarned and/or Universal

Personal Leave

May I use earned personal leave during thefirst ten and the last ten days of the workyear?No, earned personal leave may not be usedduring these time periods except as follows:

Earned personal leave may be usedthe last ten days licensed employeesare required to be on duty foremergencies or graduation of amember of the employee’s immediatefamily from school, college oruniversity.

May I use universal personal leave the firstten and the last ten days of the work year?Yes. An arbitrator ruled in December 1997that universal personal leave may be usedduring these time periods.

What happens to my earned and universalpersonal leave if I elect not to use it?You may elect to buy-out both earned anduniversal personal leave at the daily rate ofpay for a short-term substitute teacher.

If I am in a year-round school, is there adeadline by which I must use this leave forit to be charged to the current school year?Yes, July 31.

For more information see Article 20 of theCCEA/CCSD Negotiated Agreement orcontact your UniServ Director at 733-3063 ore-mail us at [email protected].

2010 Above & Beyondthe Call of Duty AwardEMAC seeks to recognize members fortheir impact on ethnic minority students

The CCEA Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee is holdingnominations for its 11th annual “Above and Beyond the Call ofDuty Award.” The award is presented to recognize and paytribute to CCEA members who have gone “Above and Beyondthe Call of Duty” in working with ethnic minority students.

Criteria for nomination:1. The nominee must be a CCEA member and nominated by

a CCEA member.2. The nominee voluntarily gave time to his/her school

while working with ethnic minority students on projectsthat are “Above and Beyond the Call of Duty.”

3. The nominee promoted cultural awareness throughprojects while working with ethnic minority students onprojects, which are “Above and Beyond the Call of Duty.”

4. The nominee participated in activities outside of theinstructional day that positively affected the educationalprocess of ethnic minority students without receivingcompensation.

5. The nominee performed duties outside of his/hercontractual responsibilities due to extenuatingcircumstances while working with ethnic minoritystudents.

A one-page description of the activity the nominee isinvolved in and how it impacts ethnic minority students mustaccompany the nomination form. To download a PDF file of thenomination form, visit CCEA’s home page at www.ccea-nv.org.

Mail or fax completed nomination forms and one-pagedescription of activity to the CCEA office, 4230 McLeod Drive,Las Vegas, Nevada 89121, to the attention of Ruben Murillo.Please write “AWARDS” on the outside of your envelope or faxto 866-6131. Completed nomination forms must be receivedby Friday, April 9, 2010.

If you have any questions, please contact Ethnic MinorityAffairs Committee Chairpersons Mary Ringstad or Sione Pulotuthrough Interact.

Awards will be presented on Saturday, May 1, 2010.

CCEA Ethnic MinorityAffairs Committee Social

Wednesday, April 14, 2010South Point Showroom

6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

$5 includes beverage. Come enjoy the company ofother CCEA members.

For more information contact Mary Frances Ringstador Sione Pulotu via Interact.


Transfer v. Surplus v.

Reduction in ForceThe message is clear: change is here. The school district, the media, thelegislature—all have had the same message—a reduction in force ishighly probable. It is appropriate to explain and discuss the differencesbetween transfer, surplus and reduction in force because they are notthe same. Significantly, these processes outlined in the CollectiveBargaining Agreement (“CBA”), follow just that timeline, first comestransfer, then surplus, and finally, ifnecessary, reduction in force.

As many of you know, transfer seasonis upon us. Pursuant to the CBA, transferoccurs during the month of April. Prior tothe month of April, CCSD’s HumanResources has been working withprincipals to determine staffing allocationsin order to determine which vacancies areavailable. Principals have been known toplay with these staffing allocations, i.e.may persuade a teacher who plans toretire to submit their paperwork afterApril, sometimes even after surplus, inorder to “save” the position for someonethey are interested in hiring. During thesetimes of uncertainty, it is important thatthe transfer system is protected andstaffing allocations are as accurate as possible. If you are aware of anydiscrepancies, please report them to us. In the past, there have alwaysbeen more available positions than teachers seeking transfers. This willnot be the case this year. There will be fewer positions, especially on theelementary level. It is important to note that only one transfer will beallowed. Thus, if you interview at several schools and acceptemployment for the first offer and subsequently a better offer comes up,you will not be able to take the second position. One transfer, that’s all.

Surplus, otherwise known as “Involuntary Transfer,” is covered underArticle 35-3 of the CBA and occurs due to a decline in enrollment, closingof a school, failure to meet enrollment projections or a change in thestudent/staff allocation formulas. It is anticipated that there will be amassive surplus this year because the student/staff allocation formulamay change. The Nevada Legislature amended Nevada law to allowschool districts to increase classroom size in grades 1 through 3 by up to2 students. That law alone would result in approximately 462 fewerteaching positions if the student/staff allocation is increased by 2students in grades 1 through 3.

The CBA provides that seniority ranking and licensure on the (continues on page 5)

As thetransfer andsurplus periodtakes place,don’t panic.Contact CCEAat 733-3063or via e-mailat [email protected] yourquestions.

Members Only

Free Study

Session

Nevada School Law ExamNevada Constitution Exam

U.S. Constitution Exam

Date: Wednesday, April 28

Place: NSEA Office Building3511 E. Harmon Avenue(one block east of Pecos Road)Las Vegas, NV 89121

Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Seating is limited to 100 attendees.To reserve your seat, call CCEA at

733-3063. Hurry, classes fill quickly!

Nevada Law booklets may bepurchased at the study session for$15.00 or at UNLV’s bookstore.

•• Exam Information ••

IMPORTANT: You MUST pre-registerfor the exams. Registration link isavailable approximately 5 weeks prior@ http://www.unr.edu/educ/el/nvlaw/

Date: Saturday, March 13OR

Saturday, May 1

Place: Keller M.S. — Cafeteria301 N. Fogg Street(off East Charleston Blvd.)

Time: 10:30 a.m. (doors open at 9:00 a.m.)AND

1:30 p.m. (doors open at 12:45 p.m.)

All three exams are offered.


CCEA Express is published September through Augustby the Clark County Education Association (CCEA),4230 McLeod Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89121. CCEA isaffiliated with the Nevada State EducationAssociation (NSEA) and the National EducationAssociation (NEA).

The publication’s goal is to keep members abreastof issues affecting education and to provide economicbenefits.

Ruben R. Murillo, Jr. PresidentRobert Benson Vice PresidentSharon Lynne Flick SecretaryCassandra W. Bell TreasurerJohn Jasonek Executive Director

Letty Elias Editor & LayoutRuth Serrano Contributing Editor

Contributors:K. Foresythe • A. Sanchez • S. Whalum

Legal Corner(continued from page 4)

seniority list will determine the teacher to be surplused. Thus, theteacher with the lowest seniority ranking in the school on theelementary level will be transferred unless someone volunteers. On thesecondary level, the determination is made by department with theteacher with the least district-wide seniority being surplused. One ofthe dramatic changes this surplus period is that it is NOT recommendedthat you volunteer for surplus. Surplus meetings occur traditionally inmid-May and are done by seniority. It is anticipated that this year, therewill be more surplused teachers than there will be positions. For thoseof you who have participated in surplus before, you know that, based onseniority, you choose an open position for which you are licensed andthe list traditionally has been expansive. This year, it may be that eventhough you have been surplused there will be no open positions forwhich you are licensed. DON’T PANIC, this does not necessarily meanthat you do not have a job.

If at the end of surplus, there are more teachers than positions,reduction in force comes into effect and just because you weresurplused from the school does not necessarily mean you will be out ofa job because Article 30 applies and district-wide seniority applies. Theschool district determines which areas will be reduced in force. Yourseniority, as well as your area (i.e., licensure) will greatly impactwhether you are reduced in force (i.e., layoff). For example, there is anumber of vacancies in certain special education areas. Thus, even anew teacher may not be reduced in force because there are seniorteachers who may not have that license.

There is a lot of speculation as to what will occur. CCEA is diligentlynegotiating, and until the process unfolds, it is good to know theprocess. Knowledge is power, and misinformation is dangerous.

Nevada Reading Week...And a little storytelling magic

FUN TIMEHAD WITHTHE CAT INTHE HAT —CCEA’s Cat inthe Hat (wellrepresentedby SharonWhalum) andPresidentMurillo

delivered some storytellingmagic to Ms. Ringstad’s class atMartinez Elementary School tocelebrate Nevada ReadingWeek. The children weredelighted with “It’s Not EasyBeing a Bunny” by authorMarilyn Sadler.

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“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where hisinfluence stops.”

--Henry Brooks Adams

“Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible andimportant members of society because theirprofessional efforts affect the fate of the earth.”

--Helen Caldicott, author and peace activist

“Compassionate teachers fill a void left byworking parents who aren’t able to devoteenough attention to their children.Teachers don’t just teach; they can be vitalpersonalities who help young people tomature, to understand the world and tounderstand themselves. A good educationconsists of much more than useful factsand marketable skills.”

--Charles Platt

“The dream begins, most of the time, with a teacherwho believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leadsyou on to the next plateau, sometimes poking youwith a sharp stick called truth.”

--Dan Rather

“Teachers teach because they care. Teaching youngpeople is what they do best. It requires long hours,patience, and care.”

--Horace Mann

“The future of the world is in my classroom today, afuture with the potential for good or bad... Severalfuture presidents are learning from me today; so arethe great writers of the next decades, and so are allthe so-called ordinary people who will make thedecisions in a democracy. I must never forget thesesame young people could be the thieves andmurderers of the future. Only a teacher? Thank God Ihave a calling to the greatest profession of all! I mustbe vigilant every day, lest I lose one fragileopportunity to improve tomorrow.”

--Ivan Welton Fitzwater

“There’s no word in the language I reveremore than ‘teacher.’ My heart sings when akid refers to me as his teacher, and italways has. I’ve honored myself and theentire family of man by becoming ateacher.”

--Pat Conroy, Prince of Tides

“The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.”--Mark Van Doren

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacherexplains. The superior teacher demonstrates. Thegreat teacher inspires.”

--William Arthur Ward

“Above all things I hope the education ofthe common people will be attended to;convinced that on their good sense we mayrely with most security for the preservationof a due degree of liberty.”

--Thomas Jefferson

“If you plan for a year, plant a seed. If for ten years,plant a tree. If for a hundred years, teach the people.When you sow a seed once, you will reap a singleharvest. When you teach the people, you will reap ahundred harvests.”

--Kuan Chung

“Better than a thousand days of diligent study is oneday with a great teacher.”

--Japanese proverb

“The whole art of teaching is only the art ofawakening the natural curiosity of young minds forthe purpose of satisfying it afterwards.”

--Anatole France

“There is an old saying that the courseof civilization is a race betweencatastrophe and education. In ademocracy such as ours, we must makesure that education wins the race.”

--John F. Kennedy

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twentyor eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”

--Henry Ford

“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliantteachers, but with gratitude to those who touched ourhuman feelings. The curriculum is so muchnecessary raw material, but warmth is the vitalelement for the growing plant and for the soul of thechild.”

--Carl Jung

“In a completely rational society, the best of us wouldbe teachers and the rest of us would have to settle forsomething less.”

--Lee Iacocca

“Be all that you can be. Find your future—as ateacher.”

--Madeline Fuchs Holzer

SS A Tribute to Teachers TTBecause your dedication makes the world go around


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CCEA members who purchase a new home atMaplewood Springs will receive $2,000 to use

toward window blinds or builder options.(Must bring this ad to Sales office. Offer expires 6/30/10.)

Nevada LegislaturePasses New Estate

Planning Laws

Do you have an estate plan? If so, when was thelast time you reviewed it? Have you had a life-changing event since then, such as a marriage ornew baby? The Nevada Legislature recentlypassed laws which make substantive changes toestate planning and probate.

The new laws went into effect of October 1,2009, adopting the Uniform Power of Attorney Actand making changes to other related Nevadastatutes. The goal is to make it more cost-effective and easier to utilize a power of attorney.There is now a statutory form for the durablepower of attorney, as well as the power ofattorney for health care decisions.

Contact Martin & Allison’s Estate Planningprofessionals at 702.933.4444, to review yourestate plan and updateyour plan to reflect thenew laws.


AR CouncilCCEA sends a big “THANKS” to the AssociationRepresentatives (ARs) from these work sites forattending the February 23 meeting. Your commitmentto keeping the members at your work site wellinformed, makes the Association stronger!

William Bailey MSJohn Bass ES

John Beatty ESRex Bell ES

John Bonner ESJoseph Bowler ES

Jim Bridger MSHelen Cannon JHSCanyon Springs HS

Centennial HSCimarron-Memorial HS

Ed Clark HSCSN HS West

Eileen Conners ESLois Craig ES

Cynthia Cunningham ESDel Sol HS

Desert Pines HSDesert Rose HSRuthe Deskin ESOllie Detwiler ESRuben Diaz ES

Ira Earl ESElbert Edwards ESWilliam Ferron ESRobert Forbuss ES

Ruth Fyfe ESTheron & Naomi Goynes ES

Don Hayden ESHelen Herr ESFay Herron ES

Lilliam Luhan Hickey ESHyde Park MS

Indian Springs ESIndian Springs JHS

Walter Jacobson ESJay Jeffers ES

Helen Jydstrup ESK.O. Knudson MS

Robert Lake ESFrank Lamping ES

Liberty HSLicensed Personnel

Ann Lynch ESMack Lyon MS

Jerome Mack MSJack & Terry Mannion MS

Reynaldo Martinez ESMiley Achievement Center

John E. Miller SchoolSandy S. Miller ES

Andrew Mitchell ESMojave HS

Irwin Molasky MSMorris Behavior Jr/Sr HS

Mountain View ESNWCTA

Northwest RegionWilliam Orr MSPalo Verde HS

Rancho HSHarry Reid ES

Betsy Rhodes ESAggie Roberts ESDell Robison MS

Bertha Ronzone ESJesse Scott ES

Marvin Sedway MSSeigle Diagnostic Center

C.T. Sewell ESShadow Ridge HS

Silverado HSJames & A. Rae Smalley ES

Hal Smith ESSECTA

SW Behavioral Ctr Jr/Sr HSC.P. Squires ESEthel Staton ESJudith Steele ES

Helen Stewart SchoolSunrise Mountain HS

Wayne Tanaka ESValley HS

Virgin Valley ESFredric Watson ES

West PrepWestern HS

English Lang LearningNurses

Speech PathologistsTeaching and Learning

ConditionsCCEA Executive Board

If your work site was not represented at themonthly meeting, encourage your AR(s) to participate.If a conflict of schedule exists, you can volunteer toattend on your site’s behalf!

If your site doesn’t have an AR, you can step rightup and take charge. Simply call CCEA Vice PresidentRob Benson at 733-3063 to get started.

Celebrating Math & Sportsduring Math Awareness

The American Mathematical Society, theAmerican Statistical Association, theMathematical Association of America,and the Society for Industrial andApplied Mathematics announce that thetheme for Mathematics AwarenessMonth, April 2010, is Mathematics andSports.

Sports offer a multitude of instancesinvolving data, strategies and chance,each of which is perfectly suited to

mathematical analysis. Beyond the obvious uses ofmathematics for things such as rating baseball players andfootball quarterbacks, mathematics is used to design thedimple patterns on golf balls and the composition of racingtires; it is used for scheduling tournaments and forranking teams; and it is used to determine tactics andpredict the ultimate limits in sports records.

In the 1960s the ABC television network began apopular weekly series called “The Wide World of Sports”that spanned the globe to show the tremendous variety ofsports. For 2010, the Joint Policy Board of Mathematicshas chosen the theme “Mathematics and Sports” tohighlight the intersection of the sports world with the wideworld of mathematics—a universal language that is used toinvestigate problems ranging from the athletic to thecosmic.

Visit http://www.mathaware.org/mam/2010/ forarticles on baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, trackand field, tennis, and car racing as well as videos and linksto other resources.

April 22: Earth DayOn April 22, 2010 millions around the

world will celebrate Earth Day this yearmarking its 40th anniversary.

The idea behind the day—honoringthe planet and all living things thatinhabit it—began during the early 1960’s

hippie movement, as Earth Day bloomedinto a grassroots cause that eventually

culminated in the first official U.S. observancecelebrated in 1970.

Today, many cities extend Earth Day celebrations foran entire week. It is designed to increase awareness ofrecycling and better energy efficient communities andneighborhoods. It culminates with the official Earth Dayobservances on April 22. This year watch for a majorcampaign in A Billion Acts of Green to help get theentire planet involved in recycling, planting a tree, or anyaction you have taken to better the earth.

Discover what else happens on the big day—with facts,news, student projects, coloring pages, crafts ideas,information and history, as well as environmental events &festivities, celebrations & activities across the country thathelp protect the future of the only planet we have—Earth.

For more information and resources visithttp://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/earth-day.htm.


ESEA reauthorization is heating up. TheObama administration has a blueprint forreauthorization that NEA believes hassignificant problems and raises seriousconcerns. Of particular concern are acontinued reliance on test scores as ameans of categorizing schools andevaluating teachers and an emphasis ontroubling school turnaround models. TellCongress to rip out the pages of theblueprint that don’t work for kids andreplace them with better solutions.

On March 17, Education SecretaryArne Duncan presented theAdministration’s priorities for changingour nation’s leading education policy forelementary and secondary education.NEA does not support theAdministration’s blueprint because it isbased on the same flawed logic of NoChild Left Behind—determining winnersand losers based on test scores.

“If we’re serious about creating astronger foundation for America’s public

schools, it’s important to get the blueprintright before it becomes policy” said NEAPresident Dennis Van Roekel. “The 3.2million members of the NationalEducation Association would like nothingmore than to see No Child Left Behind(NCLB) left behind. For nearly a decadethis legislation has punished studentsand entire communities with do-or-die,high-stakes testing.”

NEA continues to oppose theblueprint being presented to Congress.

“Achieving a world-class educationthat prepares children for college andcareer, and allows them to compete inour ever-changing global economymeans that we’re going to have toradically change the way we think aboutpublic education—our kids have got tobe more than a test score,” added VanRoekel. “This is exactly why we cannotsupport the blueprint as it’s currentlybeing presented to Congress. It simplydoes not go far enough to help all

students succeed. It’s still based onhigh-stakes, low quality standardizedtests where some kids win and some kidslose. President Obama promised wewould fix this—and fix it for all students,not just some.”

President Van Roekel concluded,“Educators know what works forstudents. They’ve been sharing theirviews for years and no one is more eagerto fix the problems of NCLB than NEA’smembers. If the Administration andCongress want our support, they’ll haveto put a draft in front of us that reallyallows teachers to help their studentssucceed, that doesn’t rely on high-stakesstandardized tests. Our children arecounting on the adults to get it right.”

For more information about NEA’sprinciples for the reauthorization of ESEA,visit www.nea.org/esea.

“Focus on kids, fix the tests,” says NEA PresidentBlueprint does not go far enough to help all students succeed

Good Idea GrantsState association offers$1,000 grants to turnideas into reality

NSEA is pleased to offer grants ofup to $1,000 to members withinnovative ideas to help improveeducation in the state of Nevada.Good Idea Grants allow membersto make their good ideas a reality,and may be utilized in manyways. Members may use thefunding to develop a special unitor project for use with students inthe classroom, present aworkshop or class for educators,or to create materials or lessonplans for individual or widespreaduse.

Grant proposals must besubmitted by Friday, April 16,2010, without exception. Fordetailed information and todownload an application, pleasevisit http://nsea-nv.org/2010GIG.htm.

2010 ToyotaInternational TeacherProgramAdvancing environmentalstewardship and globalconnectedness

The 2010 Toyota InternationalTeacher Program to the GalapagosIslands, funded by Toyota MotorSales, U.S.A., Inc., andadministered by the Institute ofInternational Education, is nowavailable for application. Thisfully-funded professionaldevelopment program for U.S.educators aims to advanceenvironmental stewardship andglobal connectedness in U.S.schools and communities.

The program will take placeNovember 20 – December 4, 2010.Deadline to apply is May 26,2010. Full-time classroom

teachers and librarians of allsubjects for grades 6 – 12 areeligible to apply! Visitwww.toyota4education.com forapplication instructions, FAQs,and to apply online.

If you have any questions orrequire additional information,please e-mail [email protected] call (toll-free) 877-832-2457.

Freedom AllianceScholarship FundAssistance for college-agechildren of soldiers

The Freedom Alliance ScholarshipFund honors the bravery anddedication exhibited byAmericans in our Armed Forceswho have sacrificed life or limbdefending our country byproviding educationalscholarships to their children.Thousands of soldiers, sailors,airmen, Marines and Guardsmenhave been killed in the War onTerror.

Thousands more members ofour Armed Forces have beenpermanently disabled, leavingtheir families in difficult financialsituations. Their children – thesons and daughters of America’smilitary heroes – (many of whomare now young) will be eligible fora Freedom Alliance Scholarship inthe years to come.

Freedom Alliance hasestablished a permanentScholarship Trust Fund to aid thechildren of these brave Americansso that we will be able to help thechildren of American heroes whenit is their turn to attend college.

Through the generosity of somany patriotic Americans, theFreedom Alliance ScholarshipFund will provide scholarships forthousands of young Americans,reminding them that theirparents’ sacrifice will never beforgotten by a grateful nation.

To be eligible for one-year

scholarships, students must behigh school seniors, high schoolgraduates, or registeredundergraduates at an accreditedcollege or vocational institution.They must also be dependentsons or daughters of a militaryperson who was killed orpermanently disabled in the lineof duty or currently classified as aPOW or MIA. They must be underthe age of 26.

Deadline is Saturday, July31, 2010. For more information,visit http://www.freedomalliance.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=22&Itemid=93.

Toshiba AmericaFoundation SeeksInnovatorsMath and Science projectswanted

The Toshiba America Foundation(TAF) is currently acceptingapplications for grants to supportinnovative projects designed bymath and science teachers tomake their own classrooms moreexciting and successful forstudents.

Check out the deadlines foryour grade level and download theapplication form and guidelines.Discuss your project ideas withyour principal and call or e-mailTAF if you have questions aboutthe process. We look forward toworking with you!

Applications for grants ofmore than $5,000 for grades 7 to12 are due August 2, 2010.

TAF requires applicants tofollow its proposal format.Proposal guidelines andaccompanying application formsare available for download athttp://www.toshiba.com/tafpub/jsp/about/HowApply.jsp.


Clark County Education Association4230 McLeod Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89121Tel. 702-733-3063 • www.ccea-nv.org

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDLas Vegas, NVPermit No. 57

2009 TAX INFORMATION If you were a dues paying member of CCEA for the calendar year January 1, 2009 toDecember 31, 2009, the itemized miscellaneous dues deduction that you may be able todeduct on your 2009 tax return is $704.48.

For more information, see page A-10 of the instructions for IRS form 1040, schedule Aitemized deductions, line 21, or consult with your tax adviser for specific tax questions andadvice.

TEA FOR TEACHERS!Thank you for your

dedication to educatingSouthern Nevada youth!

May 19, 20104:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.Special Tea Shoppe

Lakeside in Desert Shores

Please RSVP with preferred time toPamela at 702-233-3795 or by e-mail [email protected]. Seating islimited.

Event sponsored by:Royal Tea Society / Lakeside Events

Special Tea Shop

Vol. 10, Issue 7 April 2010 Important Dates CCEA Run-Off ...€¦ · Classes Resume April 13, 2010...

Documents

Transcript of Vol. 10, Issue 7 April 2010 Important Dates CCEA Run-Off ...€¦ · Classes Resume April 13, 2010...