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Raising achievement and closing the gaps for ALL students.
OEA Tip-Off
May 15, 2015
EMAC Social Justice Training:
Transformation Through Social Justice
The issues of social justice have become increasingly urgent to
OEA members and their students. The EMAC Committee of
the NSEA Metro Board is proud to offer members training in
vital issues of social justice.
Workshops will include topics of: Social Justice (Provided by
the NEA Human and Civil Rights Office), Bullying, LGBTQ,
ELL, Mascots, Classroom Management, Technology, and the
past present and future of EMAC. Note: There will be two sessions of the Social Justice workshop provided by NEA staff;
one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each of those
sessions is limited to 40 participants. Participants will have the
opportunity to select from our other workshop choices if the
Social Justice sessions are full.
The keynote speaker for the event is Ferial Pearson, UNO College of Education Instructional Coach and author of "Secret
Kindness Agents." http://writelife.com/product/secret-kindness-agents/
The event will be held at the Milo Bail Student Center on the
campus of UNO. Maps of the UNO campus and parking availability can be found here: http://www.unomaha.edu/maps/
Registration will begin at 8:00am with the program beginning
at 8:30am. Lunch will be provided.
Sponsors include: NSEA Metro Board, NSEA EMAC, Omaha
Education Association, Papillion-La Vista Education Association, and the Millard Education Association, with support from
the NSEA and the NEA.
Stay Informed / Be Involved!
Code of Conduct, teacher work load, School Board, decision making, plan time, student assignment plan, testing, team plan
time, lesson plans, teacher evaluation, communication, SIG Grants. . .
Do you care about all these issues? Have you ever wondered, “Why doesn’t OEA do something about . . .” The answer is, we
do! Your OEA Representatives, OEA Organizing Specialists, Board Members, Vice Presidents and President all represent educators on these issues and so much more.
The Omaha Education Association is the voice of the teachers. Use your voice! Talk to your representatives, communicate with
your OEA leadership. OEA advocates for students and teachers. Board meetings are the first Wednesday of the month and
AR meetings are the second Tuesday of the month.
Your voice matters. YOU are the OEA.
President Chris Proulx – chris.proulx@nsea.org
Vice President Advocacy – Bridget Donovan – bndonovan@cox.net
Vice President Member Benefits – Edward Ventura - venturaomaha@gmail.com
Elementary and Middle School - Marlene Wehrbein - marlene.wehrbein@nsea.org
Secondary & All Others - Carol Hicks - carol.hicks@nsea.org
Chris Proulx, President, chris.proulx@nsea.org
Omaha Education Association
Phone: (402) 346-0400
Carol Hicks, Organizational Specialist, carol.hicks@nsea.org 4202 S 57 St
Fax: (402) 346-8410
Marlene Wehrbein, Organizational Specialist, marlene.wehrbein@nsea.org Omaha, NE 68117
Website: www.OmahaOEA.org
Makes a Difference
in Your Classroom
http://www.nsea.org/all-its-worth-measuring-what-matters
Every month during the 2014-15 Association year, the For all it’s Worth series provides easy-to-access
information about your NSEA membership. Throughout the school year, you will receive monthly
membership editions via email, highlighting three key areas: Membership Benefits, Working Conditions and Action & Advocacy.
In regards to Action & Advocacy, we all know that well-designed assessment plays a critical role in
student success. Teachers use these assessments to improve their practice and provide extra help to the
students who need it.
But today’s students are being over-tested. From federally-mandated testing to state and local assessments, it’s not just students that feel the burdens and stresses of high-stakes standardized assessments
– parents and educators also feel its stresses.
Reducing the Amount of Testing
The consequences for teaching and learning are real. Students and teachers continue to lose more and
more class time to testing and test preparation. Time that should be spent teaching and learning a rich,
engaging curriculum. With your association membership, you can help shift this high emphasis on
testing back to teaching and learning. Your membership is a ticket to A+ opportunities, resources, and
connections, including a professional network that is more than 3 million members strong. It provides a
unified voice and a powerful platform that enables changing the landscape of today’s testing mania.
You and your colleagues know what policymakers do not — reducing the amount of standardized testing would:
• Create more time for instruction to promote critical thinking skills, foster a love of learning and creativity, and improve student achievement;
•Provide educators and schools the flexibility to strengthen and broaden the curricula; and
•Help focus on areas critical to student success, such as class sizes that enable teachers to
connect one-on-one with each student, adequate school funding and time for teachers to
collaborate with their colleagues.
Find more information at: www.nsea.org/all-its-worth
Perhaps You Are Nebraska’s
Next Teacher of the Year
http://www.nsea.org/time-toy
If you are open to challenges, and are dedicated to teaching, you’ll want to give serious consideration to applying to become Nebraska’s next Teacher of the Year.
The recipient is a spokesperson for education, travels the state and nation, and receives numerous
gifts and recognitions.
Since 1972, the Nebraska Teacher of the Year program has recognized outstanding Nebraska certified teachers working in a pre-kindergarten through grade 12 classroom setting, and who plan to
continue in an active teacher status in a state-approved or accredited school.
Questions on the application form seek details on educational background and personal development, community involvement, philosophy of teaching and learning, and the teaching profession
from the viewpoint of the applicant.
Finalists will be interviewed in October. An awards luncheon and reception will be held at NSEA
headquarters in November.
SMART Technologies provides the recipient a package of hardware and software for classroom
use. Cash and other assorted gifts add to the value of the title. The program receives financial
support from The Sherwood Foundation, Union Bank & Trust Co., the Nebraska Academy of
Sciences and ConAgra Foods Foundation.
The program will accept applications through midnight on Aug. 7. The application is on the
Department of Education website, and can be completed electronically. Copies will be mailed to
individuals who request them.
For details, call Lora Sypal at the Nebraska Department of Education, 402-471-5059. The application can also be found at: www.education.ne.gov
Laurels 2015 Award Winners
Rookie of the Year
•Krissa Hetletvedt - 2nd Grade Elementary Teacher, Catlin Arts Magnet
School Bell Award
•Nebraska Loves Public Schools - Sally Nellson Barrett, Executive Producer
Spirit of Collaboration
•Dr. Janice Garnett - Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Omaha Public Schools
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Omaha Education Association Board of Directors and Executive Officers presented Dr. Janice Garnett with a special award in appreciation for her years of exceptional dedication
and professional excellence in providing educational leadership to the students and teachers of the Omaha
Public Schools. The Board wishes Dr. Garnett best wishes as she moves forward and offers our sincere thank
you for all she has done for education.
Leaving OPS for Any ReasonCall OEA First!
OPS Policy provides that the District may refuse to accept the resignation of a certificated employee for the following school year after April 15. Because the April 15 date has now passed,
if you feel you need to end your employment with OPS, for any reason, please contact your
Organizational Specialist, Marlene Wehrbein or Carol Hicks at the OEA Office, 402.346.0400.
Failure to properly end your employment with OPS can create problems with future employment.
Elementary and Middle School - Marlene Wehrbein, marlene.wehrbein@nsea.org
Secondary & All Others - Carol Hicks, carol.hicks@nsea.org
OEA Tip-Off
The OEA Tip-Off is a bi-monthly
publication printed for members of the
Omaha Education Association.
Direct Inquiries to:
Chris Proulx
chris.proulx@nsea.org
402-346-0400
Sue Perkins, Communications Specialist
sue.perkins@nsea.org
Visit us on the web at:
www.omahaoea.org