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SCRIBE-Election Issue
Inside this issue:
Overview
Candidates
for NJEA
Delegate
Assembly
Volume XXXXVII, Number 1
Election Issue 2015
Somerset County Education Association
1
2 -5
Candidates 6-8
for NEA RA reps
This year there will be five
uncontested and three contested
positions for you to cast your ballots:
SCEA President, 2nd Vice President,
Recording Secretary, Delegate
Assembly, and Delegate Assembly
Alternate, Executive Committee, and
SCEA representatives to the National
Education Association Representative
Assembly.
Elections will be conducted by direct
mail between April 1 and April 16.
Ballots must be received at the
address indicated in the mailing.
SCEA Officers
Steve Beatty
President
Daynon Blevins
1st Vice President
Dan Epstein
2nd Vice President
Laura Bochner
Recording Secretary
Dave Yastremski
Treasurer
Patti Robbins
Office Manager
office@sceanj.org
This issue contains candidate
information and job descriptions for
each office so that you may better
familiarize yourselves with the
positions and the candidates vying for
each. All candidates are listed
alphabetically. Please remember to
vote!!
County Officers (elect 1 each for 2
year term)
SCEA President (uncontested)
Steve Beatty Bridgewater-Raritan
SCEA 2nd Vice President
(uncontested)
Dan Epstein Franklin Township
SCEA Recording Secretary
(uncontested)
Laura Bochner South Bound Brook
Delegate Assembly
The Delegate Assembly determines
the policies of the Association,
approves the Association budget,
acts upon reports from the NJEA
officers, the Executive Committee,
and all standing committees, and
elects New Jersey representatives to
the NEA Board of Directors. DA
members are elected by members of
their counties and units of
representation.
Delegate Assembly ( elect 2 for 2 year term)
Laura Bochner
Andrew Coslit
Karen Ellis
Delegate Assembly Alternate (elect 2 for 2 year term)
Dan Epstein
Rhonda Sherbin
Elaine Thurmond
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee executes
policies approved by the Delegate
Assembly. Committee members are
elected for terms of three years by
members in their unit of
representation.
Executive Committee (elect 1 for 3
year term, uncontested)
Gayle Faulkner
NEA Representative Assembly
Responsibilities: The RA is convened
every July during the Annual
Meeting. At this meeting,
representatives to highest
deliberative body debate issues that
impact American public education,
elect top officers, and set policy for
the Association.
NEA RA Representatives (elect 6 for
1 year term)
Laura Bochner
Andrew Coslit
Gwendoline Duralek
Kim Edwards
Karen Ellis
Virginia Hawkins
Elaine Thurmond
Kristina Fallon Tomaino
Dave Yastremski
NEA RA Ethnic Minority
Representative (elect 1 for 1 year
term, uncontested)
Karen Ellis
BALLOTS WILL BE
MAILED TO YOUR
HOME VIA NJEA
BEGINNING APRIL 1.
HAVE YOUR VOICE
HEARD AND RETURN
YOUR BALLOT BY
APRIL 16!
Delegate Assembly (elect 2 for 2 year term)
Laura Bochner for SCEA Representative to Delegate Assembly
Re-elect LAURA BOCHNER
NJEA Delegate Assembly
I ask for another vote of your confidence to re-elect me to the
NJEA Delegate Assembly
Active member of the NJEA Delegate Assembly for several years
I have attended 100% of all my Delegate Assembly meetings ü
As Chair of the NJEA Member Benefits Committee and member
of the NJEA Constitution Review Committee, I have moved
motions from the DA floor that are in the best interests of our
members.
ü With several crucial issues coming up such as possible changes
to our Pensions and Benefits, I will be sure to fight and vote for
the future security of our members
I currently serve as your county SCEA Secretary and am my local Grievance
representative
Was elected by the NJEA Delegate Assembly to be an alternate
NEA State Director
As an active teacher myself, I hear all of your diverse concerns
Please allow me to continue to serve you and all of our members by re-electing me as a
member of the NJEA Delegate Assembly.
ü
ü
ü
ü
ü
ü
Andrew Coslit for SCEA Representative to Delegate Assembly
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Delegate Assembly continued (elect 2 for 2 year term)
Karen Ellis for SCEA Representative to Delegate Assembly
Vote For Karen Ellis
"ELLIS FOR EQUALITY"
Fighting for equity not for one but for us all!
I would be a perfect candidate for Delegate Assembly and the NEA RA because
of the extensive trainings and workshops I have attended. Presently, I'm
represent the county on the state and local level on Minority Diversity committee.
I've had training that includes negotiations, salary guides, grievances, school law,
leadership classes, diversity, and Minority Leadership and Recruitment, just to
name a few. I'm also serve on the Executive Board of Somerset County and the
NJEA Delegate Assembly, which both are decision- making bodies.
Experience
Local:
• Building Representative
• Constitutional Review committee
County:
• SCEA Executive Board
• SCEA Rep. Council
• SCEA committee
chairperson
• NEA Representative Assembly
. NJEA Delegate Assembly
• NJEA Activities committee
• NJEA Delegate Assembly
• NJEA Ethnic Minority Delegate
• SCEA constitutional committee
Alternate
State:
National:
• NJEA Minority Leadership and
• NEA Representative Assembly
Recruitment committee
Delegate
Delegate
• NJEA Representative Assembly
Alternate
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Delegate Assembly Alternate (elect 2 for 2 year term)
Dan Epstein for SCEA Delegate Assembly Alternate
Dan Epstein for Delegate Assembly Alternate
I am the SCEA Second Vice President, NJEA Government Relations
Committee member, and an officer in my local association. I have been an
elementary special education teacher in Franklin Township for nine years
teaching second, third, fourth, and fifth grades. As a classroom teacher I
understand the challenges our members face with many of the new laws,
regulations, and initiatives. With my involvement in the state, county, and
local associations I recognize our upcoming challenges with pension/benefits
and high-stakes testing. As an alternate to the Delegate Assembly I will help
to ensure that the policies and practices of the NJEA match the needs and perspectives of ALL of
our members. Vote for Dan Epstein as DA Alternate!
Rhonda Sherbin for SCEA Delegate Assembly Alternate
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DA Alternate continued (elect 2 for 2 year term)
Elaine Thurmond for SCEA Delegate Assembly Alternate
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NEA Representative Assembly (elect 6 for 1 year term)
Laura Bochner for NEA RA Representative
Re-elect LAURA BOCHNER to the NEA/RA
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I am your SCEA Secretary
Somerset County Delegate to the NEA/RA for past five consecutive years
Serve at NEA/RA as the Somerset County PAC Captain and NJEA State Contact
for Alabama
Chairperson of the NJEA Member Benefits Committee
Member of the NJEA Constitution Review Committee
SCEA Executive Committee and Representative Council
Local Grievance Chair
Please send me back as your Delegate to the NEA/RA
Thank you always for your continued support
Andrew Coslit for NEA RA Representative
Gwendoline Duralek for NEA RA Representative
Kim Edwards for NEA RA Representative
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NEA RA continued (elect 6 for 1 year term)
Karen Ellis for NEA RA Representative
"ELLIS FOR EQUALITY"
I would be a perfect candidate for Delegate Assembly and the NEA RA because
of the extensive trainings and workshops I have attended. Presently, I'm
represent the county on the state and local level on Minority Diversity committee.
I've had training that includes negotiations, salary guides, grievances, school law,
leadership classes, diversity, and Minority Leadership and Recruitment, just to
name a few. I'm also serve on the Executive Board of Somerset County and the
NJEA Delegate Assembly, which both are decision- making bodies.
Virginia Hawkins for NEA RA Representative
I am nominating myself to be a delegate for the 2015 NEA/RA conference. I am a longtime dedicated
employee for Franklin Township's school district. I am currently a 1on1 and shared paraprofessional at
MacAfee Rd School. I am, and have always been, in good standing with my employer and the FTEA. From
1995 until now I've assisted parents with advocating responsively, respectfully and effectively for their special
needs children and loved ones. I've attended the RA/NEA conferences for several years.
Elaine Thurmond for NEA RA Representative
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NEA RA continued (elect 6 for 1 year term)
Kristina Fallon Tomaino for NEA RA Representative
Support Kristina Fallon Tomaino for NEA RA state delegate
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Published advocate for public education and educators.
Active association member: Local Secretary, Association Rep, Local
Negotiations, LAT, County Rep, Working Conditions and Editorial
Committees. NJEA Apprentice Graduate.
D. A. Alternate
A proven committed informed candidate ready to represent all members
in these challenging times.
Vote For Kristina Fallon Tomaino
And Our Concerns
For Public Education Will Be Heard!
Dave Yastremski for NEA RA Representative
After serving as a delegate to the Representative Assembly for eleven
years, I would like to continue as your state delegate to bring the voice and
mission of the SCEA to the national arena. So many issues affecting New
Jersey Public Education are brought to the floor of the RA. As your elected
representative, I pledge my goal to you, all the members of SCEA, that
your voice and mission will be heard. We all share the same goal, our
passionate support and investment in New Jersey Public Education.
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