What's happening in DC?

About 4 times a year, our NEA Board of Directors and I spend a day on Capitol Hill visiting each of the offices of our representatives in Washington, DC. Coincidentally, we usually represent at least three of the congressional districts with our team. The tough economic times have highlighed for me the quality of thinking, the depth of analysis, and the spirit of problem solving that is evident with two of our more experienced legislators - Reps. Dennis Moore and Jerry Moran. Representing two different parties, this also is heartening to know that some legislators are able to look beyond position or party to try and find real solutions. Rep. Lynn Jenkins also spent a good block of time with us and, while we are definitely not on the same page on some issues, there is a sense that she is still listening to the voice of teachers and has not colosed out her constituents in favor of predetermined positions. We'll watch carefully how each one of these folks votes AND how they work together across party lines to solve the tough problems of health care, education funding for growth, and our economy.

One more note... our visits to the Hill accompany a series of other meetings so that we maximize every minute of a 3 day trip to DC. During the NEA Board Meeting on Friday, the 25th, we were fortunate to be joined by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Ever since he was named as Secretary, we have been encouraged that he shares our concerns about poor assessment systems that fail to measure growth, lack of a focus on 21st century skills, and teacher salaries that fall far below comparable professions. Solutions? We're still working on those and don't always agree. But being at the table to help craft the solutions is a significant indicator that the Secretary honors the profession of teaching. With all the challenges we face, that's good news.

A gathering to remember in Wichita

What would bring together hundreds of superintendents and union leaders, school board members and students, policy makers from conservative and progressive perspectives, people from all over the midwest and even Washington, DC? The memorial service for Sherri Yourdon, KNEA's Vice President held just last Friday (the 14th) at Heartland Community Church in Wichita, KS. Sherri was diagnosed almost exactly one year ago with cancer. In that year, Sherri battled. She endured numerous chemo treatments. She fought the complications that came with these invasive and destructive strategies to kill the cancer.

That's not all, though. Sherri continued her work on projects with Kansas Learning First Alliance, Kansas Action for Children, Safe Kids Coalition, Kansas Parent Information Resource Center, and most of all, working with the teachers, support professionals, and other school personnel of Kansas NEA. Sherri's vision of a great public school for every child was evident in her work teaching English and Journalism to high school students, helping prison inmates earn high school diplomas, and also as a counselor for thousands of students at the high school and middle school level in Nickerson School District. Her leadership and passion for the transforming power of public education are a major part of what we will always remember about Sherri.

We will also remember that Sherri was a peacemaker when there was division, a collaborator when a challenge arose, a bridge builder when there was a chasm to be crossed, and most of all, a caring and dear friend to all who worked with her, knew her, were her students. There is a tremendous void in so many lives and yet we are all challenged to step forward and pick up the load in her honor. Only together will we be able to continue the progress she had begun. I am sure that is what she would want us to do, too.

Democracy at work

It's 5 AM at the San Diego airport and I'm among the first wave of 9,000 educators on their way home from the Representative Assembly. During this meeting, we set in motion work plans to ensure that teachers will have a voice as national standards including 21st century skills are developed. We supported new and more appropriate systems of assessment to truly demonstrate that students are acquiring these important skills. Dr. Linda Darling Hammond received the NEA Friend of Education Award - we affirmed her inspiring call to raise the status of the teaching profession and improve professional working conditions to match those in countries frequently cited as the "best" on their national assessments. And finally, we acknowledged our dual role as both professional organization and union recognizing that bargaining (particularly in the form of interest based collaborative problem solving) and advocacy are both important tools to achieve improved salaries, needed school funding, affordable health care for all, and to guarantee human and civil rights for both students and educators.

For me, though, the RA was more than a major business meeting. The remarks by the national Teacher of the Year, Anthony Mullen and by Dr. Darling Hammond were inspiring - renewing each of our 170 Kansas delegates' commitment to our desire to touch the lives of our students and make a difference in the world. We were also profoundly moved as we recognized the work of Mr. Bob Chanin, NEA General Counsel who is retiring after 41 years. Lawyers aren't often noted for endearing themselves to our hearts, but Bob is no average attorney. He has argued numerous cases before the Supreme Court, helped craft the bargaining laws in numerous states, and made a career of defending our students, public education, and the educators who work in those schools. Personally, I worked with Bob on a task force to analyze Distance Learning. He facilitated as our members, teachers from across the country, formulated positive and forward-looking guidance for how we should add distance learning to the repertoire of tools to meet the educational needs of each student. Bob brought wisdom, commitment to excellence, and always remembered that our profession needs a united voice if we are to have the power to exert influence on these important issues. Bob's good humor, incisive analysis, and deep caring are a combination that mean his shoes won't be easily filled. But each of us who know him are also committed to do our part to pick up the banner of great public schools for every child that he leaves in our keeping.

Thanks to the Kansas educators who gave up a week of their time to serve... thanks to Bob who dedicated a lifetime of work!

July 4th for teachers

Each year, the NEA holds its annual Representative Assembly (RA) over the 4th of July... and there seems to be no more fitting way to celebrate our nation's heritage and the birth of our freedom. From Kansas, 170 teachers representing every corner of the state joined almost 9,000 educators from across our country to discuss a wide range of issues: how to ensure every child has access to a great public school, ensuring quality health care is available and affordable for our students as well as for educators, equality and civil rights guarantees - it was a list worthy of the 4th. In addition, a choir of music educators sang patriotic songs, prayers, and readings from our nation's great leaders were all part of a midday celebration in the convention center.

I should also mention that the high point of this RA may have been at the annual Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner. Matthew Heck and seven other members of his cross country team from Wichita East High School were honored for their relay run from Wichita to Washington, DC to raise funds to help refugees from Darfur. These fine young men exemplify the kinds of values of hard work, caring, and responsibility that each of us as teachers hopes our students will see in our lives and learn from our examples. Read more about these students on the KNEA web site's record of the 2009 KNEA RA. This group humbles us all and makes us proud of public education and our students. Watch for more about the RA in a couple of days.

Remembering great teachers

These are tenuous times for schools and the people who work in them across Kansas and the nation. A good friend of mine, former finalist for Kansas Teacher of the Year, is among those who have already received a RIF notice (reduction in force.) It’s just one case in hundreds across Kansas, and it could be thousands very soon, depending on the approach the legislature decides to take when they return this week. Some influential folks continue to demand more tax cuts, making the task of funding crucial services for the disabled, health care for children, and schools almost impossible.

As important as these events might be, though, I feel a need to give recognition to another great teacher who retired a few years ago. It may be inappropriate to share a personal story, but my sister-in-law, past winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics, gave a career of service in my home town of Independence, MO. Sheri Adams helped found the Math-Science Institute about 20 years ago, but her teaching skills helped not only the gifted, but the student with more limited skills.

Sheri was diagnosed with cancer just last fall and it claimed her life earlier this month. I was humbled by her dedication and skill as a teacher for so many years. In the face of this terrible illness, though, I was also humbled and uplifted by her faith and courage. Times are tough for so many people these days; for those who have found teaching to be their calling, may you have faith and courage; and for the legislators who return this week, may they have the wisdom to find solutions that strengthen our schools even when tax breaks and funding cuts are the popular alternative.

Worthy beginnings, inspiring conclusions

The best part of my job is definitely the opportunity to visit schools, seeing the tremendous work of our members and to hearing their concerns and vision for public education. Sometimes, though, I don’t even have to leave the office for that kind of renewing experience.

Yesterday, about a dozen future educators, members of the KNEA-Student Program at Colby Community College came to Topeka, toured our offices, visited classrooms across the street at Topeka High School, and even volunteered for a time at the local Mission. What an inspiring group – their commitment gives encouragement that the next generation of teachers in Kansas will be just as dedicated to our profession and making a difference for students as the outstanding teachers who currently serve in our schools.

At the top of the list of current educators making a difference might be Carolyn May, the sponsor of the KNEA-SP group and faculty member at Colby CC. This was her final field trip… she plans to retire at the end of this year. She is such a positive force; conveying to these aspiring educators both the caring attitude AND the professional skills they will need to excel in their quest as educators. I’m encouraged by the promise exemplified by the next generation of teachers I met from Colby. And even more so, I’m thankful for the teachers like Carolyn who have lived that promise for an entire career.

On the front lines in Wichita KS

Educators across Kansas are on the front lines, working to create 21st century learning opportunities for students in the face of tremendous challenges. No place is this more true than the middle schools I visited last week in Wichita, KS. In particular, imagine that a major architectural defect was discovered in your school over winter break that required 2/3rds of students to be sent elsewhere for their safety. Those students are relocated for second semester to a nearby elementary school that was unused because it 1) was too small, 2) lacked necessary wiring for technology, 3) had inappropriate learning spaces, etc. even to use as an elementary school!

Such is the situation faced by the 7th and 8th grades of Hamilton Middle School. In addition to the tremendous overcrowding, all of the educators forced to leave their old classrooms were not allowed to reenter their old building to retrieve ANY of their teaching supplies (many purchased at their personal expense.)

Everyone – the district, the students, and the faculty – are trying to make the best they can of a very bad situation, but be aware that the impact on learning is inevitable. The impact on the resolve of students is measurable. Most amazing to me was the tremendously positive attitude of the educators. They actually shouted for joy when United Teachers of Wichita President Paul Babich brought each member a ream of paper to help them survive the shortages. But of course, I’m sure there are some legislators that think schools just need to tighten their belts & give up all those frills… like paper.

My greatest admiration and appreciation goes out to KNEA members across Wichita. And my challenge goes out to policy makers – stop using the economic down turn as yet another excuse to shortchange the students, families, communities and education professionals of this state.

In the past couple of weeks, there has been much to write about (but apparently, too little time to submit an entry - sorry!) Our Kansas members of the NEA Board of Directors and I did our best to convince our US congressional delegation of how much we needed the federal support for our schools. I also had a chance to meet with members and leaders in several districts from Blue Valley to Buhler and beyond.

Possibly most encouraging, though, was a chance to be part of a presentation on 21st Century Skills at the Kansas Staff Development Conference in Wichita last week. Despite all of the negative economic news, I was so impressed that these teachers and other school personnel were still thinking about how to help our schools do the best job possible. In the face of budget cuts and an antagonistic attitude by key policy makers, our teachers refuse to give up their spirit of commitment to a great public school for every child and a strong teaching profession. I hope we're working on both fronts, though - advocating for our schools AND strategizing how to do our best work.

You can sign up at the KNEA web site to receive news from our legislator or to receive action alerts and become a cyber-lobbyist. You can ALSO learn on that site how to help achieve our vision for 21st century teaching and learning. I hope you'll visit www.knea.org when you get a chance and join the ranks of those committed to making a difference for our schools, our students, and the future of Kansas.

Our profession: In great hands!

Last week, the eight finalists for Kansas Teacher of the Year met in Topeka for their annual visit to the Kansas Legislature. One of the most enjoyable parts of that event for me is the pre-visit workshop during which Cyndi Menzel, KNEA Director of Communications works with the Teacher Recognition staff from Kansas State Department of Education to help these excellent teachers begin to craft their message about our profession; begin their new role as spokespersons for our students, our schools, and our work.

This year’s eight member team, led by Cindy Couchman as Teacher of the Year, developed their remarks, delivered powerful messages, and also did an outstanding job of fielding tough questions from both the House and Senate Education Committees. For me, though, the best part of the two days was a luncheon sponsored by KNEA – a chance for the team to meet with several of us to talk about the future of public education, the challenges confronting us, and a shared vision – great public schools for every child, a strong profession, and the well-being of people who work in our schools.

We had a chance to talk about the challenges they face every day in the classroom and hear the passion they bring to their work with students, parents, their teacher colleagues and their communities. It was an honor to meet these outstanding individuals. It is also heartening to know that KNEA is playing a crucial role to provide research, professional development, and a platform for unifying our voices for the good of public education. And we have a fantastic new group of Teacher of the Year voices to add to the chorus.

To learn more about the 2009 KTOY team... http://www.knea.org/news/2009/ktoy09.html

Meeting our future - A visit at Emporia State University

On Tuesday, January 13, 2009, the highlight of my day was a visit to Emporia State University. One of the regular appointments for me each semester is a presentation for the student teachers at ESU. This time, we talked about a range of legal and policy issues facing Kansas educators. We addressed such questions as, "what are the responsibilities of a teacher to ensure students use technology appropriately" or "what must a teacher do if she/he suspects a student is the victim of abuse?" ESU Student Program President, Alex Weis, also spoke about the importance of KNEA membership to provide liability insurance for professional practice. She also recruited volunteers to participate in a community service project in connection with the inauguration of the next President of the United States.

The 180 new educators at ESU attending this class were a tremendous group. It was so inspiring to hear their enthusiasm and desire to be a positive influence in the lives of students; to learn of their commitment to serving their community and our state. Contrast their dedication to education and our future with the short-sighted, self-centered discussions of Kansas policy-makers these days. There is no doubt who it is that is willing to put their lives on the line for the good of students... and I feel honored to work with these outstanding students - the next generation of my teaching colleagues!.