The Voice December 2011

December 2011 n The NSEA Voice n Page 1

The

VoiceThe Nebraska State Education Association December 2011

Page 2 n The NSEA Voice n December 2011

The Nebraska Department of Education has announced the 2012 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, and she is Luisa Palomo, a kindergarten teacher at Omaha’s Liberty Elementary School. For her story, 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. 4ISSN 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.

Opening Bell

On theCover: Page 6.

UpcomingAssignmentsJan. 4, 2012Opening Day of 102nd Nebraska Legislaturen What: The 2nd Session of

the 102nd Nebraska Legislature convenes for a 60-day run. n Details: Sure to be hot top-

ics: funding for state aid to public schools and the school employee retirement plan. Watch The Voice for details.

Jan. 20-22NEA Western RegionLeadership Conferencen What: This annual meeting

is designed to enhance knowledge of K-12, Higher Ed, ESP, student and retired members. If local as-sociation budgets allow, it is an excellent opportunity for locals to send an individual member or team of leaders. n Where: Oklahoma City.n Details: Online at www.nea.

org/wrlc

June 19-21NSEA Leadership Instituten What: Dates for the 25th

installment of this event are now set. The program enhances leader-ship skills and broadens knowl-edge about the Association.n Details: Call your UniServ

director at 1-800-742-0047.

Welcome to the very first electronic-only edi-tion of The Voice, NSEA’s monthly magazine for members.

This digital edition provides every feature the print publication of The Voice would offer, including news and features, money-saving of-fers, tips and guidelines for educators, as well as personal columns from NSEA elected and management leaders.

For the record, NSEA has had a printed publi-cation since 1872. We will continue to print using a schedule that combines digital and printed ma-terials. For the moment, the December, January, March and May editions are set for the digital versions. February and April are scheduled as print editions.

The change is a result of budget cuts enacted by the NSEA Board of Directors in October. The goal is to continue to meet the needs of members while reducing expen-ditures in a strategic manner.

Welcome to the DigitalEdition of The Voice

Do You Havea New E-Mail?

Did this issue of The Voice arrive in the wrong e-mail in-box? Would you prefer we send to a different location? Go to the NSEA website and change your preferred e-mail address. That site is at:

www.nsea.org

NEA Partners with Teacher Hall of FameThe National Education Association (NEA) has announced a partnership with

The National Teachers Hall of Fame (NTHF) to strengthen efforts to honor the nation’s teachers and raise the profile of the teaching profession.

The NEA, through the NEA Foundation, provided a grant of $25,000 to the Hall of Fame, and will honor the 2012 inductees during National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-12, 2012. NEA leaders will join the Hall’s Board of Trustees and a representative will serve on the national selection committee.

The Hall was founded in 1989 at Emporia State University, and is committed to drawing attention to exceptional PreK-12 teachers through a museum and recognition program. The NTHF is the only organization of its kind dedicated to recognizing career teachers; to preserving and promoting education; and to serving the nation by inspiring others to enter the profession. Learn more at:

http://www.nthf.org/


“...our work

both at school

and outside the

school setting

is critically

important. Our

students need

us as teachers,

leaders and

advocates, at all

times and in

all places.

”

The 26-Hour Day

NSEA PresidentNancy Fulton

Happy holidays to each of you!The calendar year is quickly coming to a

close, and many of you probably have the same thought I’ve had the past few weeks: “How did 2011 go by so quickly?”

It seems that it was just a short time ago that we were in the hustle and bustle of a challenging legislative session, and now here we are, preparing for the 102nd session of the Legislature that starts on Wednesday, Jan. 4. It also seems as though we just closed the doors on the last school year, and all of a sudden, the end of the first semester of new school year is at hand.

That 2011 has zipped by is testament to the fast-paced lifestyle that most of us occu-py. The holiday season becomes even busier as educators push to meet curriculum goals by the end the first semester, attend or spon-sor extra-curricular activities, enjoy holiday events, and prepare for their own holiday celebrations. Personally, sending out holiday greeting cards by mail has become a thing of the past; at best. I try to send them out electronically. Sometimes there simply is not enough time for even that kind of effort – perhaps a 26-hour day would be of help.

Digital, Not PrintI’m sure you’ve noticed that this issue of

The Voice has arrived in digital, rather than print, format. At the October NSEA Board of Directors meeting, the board made adjust-ments to the 2011-12 Association budget. These budget corrections will more accurate-ly reflect expected income and other expens-es for the remainder of the year. The major change: digitize the delivery of at least three issues of The Voice for this Association year.

We live in an electronic world. It’s a rare day that we don’t use our cell phone; send a text message; check multiple e-mail accounts; update our Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn ac-counts. Electronic communication plays an ever-increasing role in our work. Computers and other media devices are used every day in classrooms across the state. Classroom dis-cussion blogs are posted, grades are recorded, assessments taken, webcasts viewed, and on and on – the list seems endless. No wonder the pace of our lives has accelerated!

All Times, All Places

Because the use of electronics can be a quick and effective means of communicat-ing, I anticipate that such use will continue to grow and will likely become the primary means of communicating for most of us. As an organization, we must communicate ef-fectively and responsibly – and I’m not just talking about fiscal responsibility. We must also model correct “etiquette” in sending our electronic messages so that the recipients of our communications have a clear under-standing of the message.

Finally, your dedication is proof that, as educators, our work both at school and out-side the school setting is critically important. Our students need us as teachers, leaders and advocates, at all times and in all places. To be effective, educators need to be rested and renewed. Take the holiday break to rejuve-nate yourself for the work we have ahead of us. Take time to enjoy the company of fam-ily and good friends. Recharge, relax and get ready for a flying start to 2012!

Now, if I can just find the formula for a 26-hour day...

From the President

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

Facebook Discussion:What education-related book or toy would you like for Christmas this year?Go online to see what others have to say!


http://www.firstnebraska.org


Omaha Earns NEA GrantFoundation Awards $1.25 Million to OEA, OPS to Improve AchievementThe NEA Foundation

has awarded a $1.25 mil-lion, five-year, annually renewable grant to a part-nership between the Oma-ha Education Association and the Omaha Public Schools that will engage teachers, administrators and the community in the planning and design of whole school turnaround.

The inaugural grant, for $250,000, will fund the whole school reform model in four high-needs elementary schools, and is part of the NEA Founda-tion’s Closing the Achieve-ment Gaps Grant that uses progressive, union-led policy and practice to raise student achievement.

OEA President Chris Proulx said members look forward to the opportunity to work with the district to develop a plan that will foster a greater sense of trust and collaboration in Omaha schools.

“Research shows that a dominant factor in high student achievement is having highly effective teachers,” said Proulx. “Building a stronger culture of collaboration in all schools in OPS will enhance the effica-cy of teachers as they work with every student in the district. The OEA is grate-

ful to the NEA Foundation for provid-ing the district and our association with this opportunity to work together to benefit students and to model effective collaboration.”

Through the grant, collaborative

school teams will create their own measurable and continuous improve-ment plans. Those plans will feature increased roles for teachers in decision making, and will be tied to student out-comes over the life of the grant. The Omaha partnership will evaluate the success of these four collaboratively de-signed reform models and will identify which among them represent the stron-gest scale strategy for district-wide clo-sure of the achievement gap.

Co-created by the OEA and the Oma-ha Public Schools, with support from the Omaha Schools Foundation, the partnership has marshaled a high level of community support for its proposed effort. The focus areas of the grant proj-ect include, but are not limited to:nTeacher and principal effective-

ness.nCurricular and instructional inno-

vation, especially with regard to time for learning.nCommunity and parent engage-

ment.nEquity and cultural proficiency

projects.Proulx said the OEA is eager to ex-

pand upon its collaboration with the OPS, The Empowerment Network and the NEA Foundation.

“The dedication of our teachers to-wards closing the achievement gap as evidenced by their desire to collaborate with their peers and administrators, and their willingness to put in the extra time and attention our students need, reflects upon the great work already under way in Omaha,” he said.

OEA Team AttendsUnion-District Confab

Teachers Can Lead Reform EffortsFifteen union-district partnership teams, including one

from Omaha, and all supported by the NEA Foundation, met recently in Columbus, OH. Purpose: to share and build upon approaches that teachers, their unions, district admin-istrators, and communities have created and are using to improve the quality of teaching and student performance.

Teachers and unions can, and should, be a major force in reform, if student success is to be achieved and sustained, said Harriet Sanford, foundation president and CEO.

Attending the conference from Omaha were Omaha Ed-ucation Association President Chris Proulx, Carolyn Grice and Janice Garnett. Also on hand were Shelley Henderson, Communities in Schools, and Katie Weitz-White, with the Sherwood Foundaton.

The Foundation’s annual convening of its union-district partnership teams focused on discussions and planning that support three national goals:

To help educators improve their practice so students can increase their academic achievement and develop 21st century skills.

To increase the ability of school districts, local unions, and communities to work together to boost achievement for all students.

To give educators tools to reclaim their voice in shaping public education, helping them to, among other strategies, expand the scope of bargaining agreements to include a greater focus on teaching and learning.

The NEA Foundation awards near-ly 200 grants to support the efforts of educators across the country to close achievement gaps, develop creative learning opportunities for students, and enhance professional development.

There are two primary grant catego-ries open to public education profes-sionals: Student Achievement Grants and Learning & Leadership Grants.

The Student Leadership Grant amount is $5,000. The proposal should engage students in problem solving that

deepens knowledge of standards-based matter. The work should also improve student inquiry, self-directed learning and critical reflection. Proposals result-ing in low-income and minority student success are particularly encouraged.

Learning & Leadership Grants sup-port K-12 teachers, ESPs and/or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education for one of two purposes:nGrants to individuals fund partici-

pation in high-quality professional de-velopment experiences, such as summer

institutes or action research; ornGrants to fund study, including

study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences for fac-ulty or staff new to an assignment.

The Learning & Leadership Grant amount is $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups.

The NEA Foundation sets three ap-plication periods each year. The next deadline is Feb. 1, 2012. Applications for both can be completed online at:

www.neafoundation.org

You Can Win an NEA Foundation Grant!


There was a time when Luisa Palomo was uncertain about her future, when she doubted that her desire to advocate for children could be met while teaching in a traditional classroom setting.

Those doubts have been erased, and her abilities have been given a statewide stamp of approval: Palomo is the 2012 Nebraska Teacher of the Year. A kinder-garten teacher at Omaha’s Liberty El-ementary School, she is the 41st teacher to wear that mantle.

“I know that I’ve been teaching for only eight years, and that I’m really young,” she told guests at the Nebraska Teacher of the Year luncheon at NSEA Headquarters in November. “But I’m really passionate, and I’ve learned at Liberty what it means to be a transfor-mative teacher.”

She credits her father’s devotion to community service with fostering her caring, advocacy-driven nature. Her father has been active in Boy Scouts,

tennis leagues and other community service work for decades.

“It was almost like his service to oth-ers was another member of the family,” said Palomo. “His model was ‘if you have a talent, you should share it.’”

Liberty Elementary’s emphasis on

the “full-service community school model” allows her to use her skills as a champion for children.

“Liberty reinforced that I could be the teacher I wanted to be, that there were schools that would encourage me to be a care giver, a doctor, an advocate

The Palomo FilesnKindergarten teacher at Liberty Elementary School, Omaha,

since 2004.nBachelor’s degree from Creighton University, 2004; English as a

second language endorsement, Concordia University, 2007; master’s degree in educational administration and supervision, University of Nebraska-Omaha, 2009.

Other FactsnA member of the school’s Family/School Advisory Council since

2007, and a facilitator in that program from 2008-10.nAlice Buffett Award for Excellence in Teaching, May 2010.nHas presented on curriculum issues at the building, school dis-

trict and statewide level numerous times over the past six years.nHas developed curriculum and trained staff in after-school programs for the past

two years.

Palomo

Award winner: Kindergarten teacher Luisa Palomo works with some of her students during a writing and response literature project in her classroom at Omaha’s Liberty Elementary School. Palomo is Nebraska’s 2012 Teacher of the Year.

Teacher of the Year Luisa Palomo is in the Right Place to Use Her Advocacy Skills


Five Nebraska educators were fi-nalists for the 2012 Nebraska Teacher of the Year honor. In addition to win-ner Luisa Palomo of Omaha, they were Thomas Michalek, Hastings; Michael Musil, Lincoln; Diane Stauffer, Omaha; and Karen Wolken, Johnson Brock.

Palomo, Michalek, Stauffer and Wolken are NSEA members.

Thomas Michalek, MortonElementary School, Hastings:A K-5 music teacher, Michalek

earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in music from the University of Ne-braska-Lincoln. He taught at Bellevue and Millard before joining his hometown Hastings Public Schools staff in 2006. Michalek credited his mentors for his teaching abilities.

“As my teaching skills have improved over the years, I realize I am not a teacher who was ‘born to teach’ but rather someone who learned from many mentor teachers,” he said. “I am now very excited about the contributions I am making to the lives of children, as well as passing this excitement on to other teachers that I teach or mentor. I am, hopefully, giving children the tools they need to become life-long participants in music-making experiences.”

Diane Stauffer, Alice Buffett Magnet School, Omaha:A sixth grade reading teacher, Stauffer earned a bachelor’s de-

gree in elementary education from McPherson (KS) College and a

master’s degree in educational admin-istration from the University of Iowa. Stauffer wrote that human touch can-not be trumped, and that kindness is the highest form of intelligence.

“Use each of these wisely with chil-dren and you, the teacher, will emerge as one of the most significant, if not the most significant, influence on the stu-dents you teach,” she wrote. “My great-est contribution is my ability to touch the heart of a child, making learning effortless due to absence of fear in the classroom. I believe all children deserve

to be respected for what they can do, and supported in areas of need.”

Karen Wolken, Johnson-Brock Public Schools, Johnson:A grades 7-12 language arts teacher, Wolken earned a bachelor’s

degree in English/Speech and theater from Peru State College, and a master’s degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Lin-coln. Wolken said her bookcases are lined with professional books that have enlightened and instructed her, and forced her to raise the bar. And she said she is a better teacher today than she was a year ago, because she continues to learn.

“After 27 years of teaching, it’s never gotten easier. A teacher doesn’t pull lesson plans from the year before, because the needs of each student and each class are different,” she wrote. “All students can learn if we set high expectation and deliver our content in vari-ous ways to meet their individual learning styles and needs.

Michalek Stauffer Wolken

Mentors, Kindness and a Desire to LearnExpertise of Finalists is in Elementary Music, Reading, Language Arts

– all rolled up into a teacher,” she said.Palomo received a gift package of

cash, hardware and other items from sponsors of the Department of Educa-tion’s Teacher of the Year program. Four other finalists were also honored: Thomas Michalek, Hastings; Michael Musil, Lincoln; Diane Stauffer, Omaha; and Karen Wolken, Johnson-Brock.

A ‘Crazy Adventure’In her Teacher of the Year applica-

tion, Palomo called every day in her classroom a “crazy adventure.” Activity and motion are important parts of her methodology.

“I feel that if you ask a five-year-old to sit still, it’s hard on everyone,” said Palomo.

For instance, in an hour-long reading block, her students move from station-to-station as many as five or six times.

“We have a lot of content to get in, but we do it in a way that works for them, in an authentic way so it’s not forced, or a demand,” she said. “They’re learn-ing from each other, learning as a team, building confidence and fostering an in-herent love of learning.”

Palomo clearly is in love with teach-ing. During a classroom writing exer-cise, Palomo, a para-professional and a student teacher divide her 22 stu-dents into three groups. Palomo keeps the eight charges at her table moving forward with compliments, kindness and probing questions. Students are focused, attentive and engaged as she checks their work, answers questions, and works to build a sense of teamwork and community.

A quick moment later her students are up and ready for music. Another kin-dergarten class, two pre-kindergarten classes and a Head Start classroom join her students on the floor as they sing, clap and dance through a half-dozen songs. Among the selections are “The Chicken Dance” and “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.”

“We keep them moving and active. We do a few A-B-C songs, a few word-rich songs, some stand-up and sit-down songs and maybe some theme songs, like Thanksgiving,” said Palomo.

But it’s about more than movement. With music pumped through an iPod, Palomo leads the singing from a bright-

ly-colored rocking chair in a corner of the room. Other teachers, para-profes-sionals, student teachers and volunteers sit on the floor among the children.

“The children are less hesitant to sing, to try new words and sounds, if the adults are on the floor with them.

“We’re also building literacy skills for the group of early childhood stu-dents, giving them those fundamentals and the feeling like they have an um-brella of adults looking out for them,” she said.

A ConnectionPalomo certainly looks out for, and

connects with, her students. A walk through the Liberty’s halls and dozens of students greet her, hug her, wave or high-five her. She’s found a home, but her career very nearly bypassed the schoolhouse door. The legal profession also enticed the Gering native.

In high school, she worked at a school for children of migrant workers, and also spent time working in a law office, so she knew the merits of both professions. She leaned toward teaching – she remembers that lawyers deal with


a lot of paperwork. Absent from the legal profession is another perk: as a teacher, Palomo is able to curry ben-eficial, long-term relation-ships with children and their families.

Her search for a college included two qualifiers: a lo-cation “just far enough from home” and a specific study-abroad program that incor-porated service learning and studies on social justice. She found just what she wanted at Creighton University and in the university’s Semes-tre Dominicano program, a program she said “is so much more than a typical study abroad program.” She spent six months in the Do-minican Republic living in a community with other students as she refined her Spanish and learned through a service learning model. Her linguistic abili-ties improved, as did her appreciation for public education.

“After spending six months abroad, I knew that if we had education for all, we could eliminate the problems that Third World countries face,” she said.

Upon her return, she began to question whether teaching was the right career choice when an advisor suggested she con-

tinue her pre-service work at Liberty Elementary, with its emphasis on writing and an inclusive instruction model. There was an immediate connection.

In her first pre-service week at Liberty, Palomo encountered a child whose mother could not attend parent-teacher conferences – the woman had just given birth.

“The principal said ‘why don’t we go to her,’” said Palomo.

So rather than accept and be resigned to the fact that the parent could not attend, a unique effort was made to foster parental involvement, to keep a child on track. The conference with the mother

was held in her home. That experience, and others at Liberty, opened Palomo’s eyes. Work on her master’s degree had taught her the value of finding the “right fit.” Palomo had found hers at Liberty Elementary.

“I just felt it was so much more than teaching in a traditional classroom,” she said. “It empowers teachers to advocate for children.”

No doubt.

It’s No Secret: Kindergarten teacher Luisa Palomo, Nebras-ka’s 2012 Teacher of the Year, readies her charges for the lunch line.

http://www.neamb.com/insurance


In Favor of a Secure Social Security PlanCan Nebraskans influence the outcome of Congressinoal

deliberations over Social Security and Medicare cuts?Several state senators believe so, as do NSEA members who

testified during a Retirement Committee hearing in November.State Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha introduced Legisla-

tive Resolution 10, which urges Congress to “reject harmful

cuts to Medicare and Social Security.”Though it ultimately failed to make a recommendation to

Congress, a so-called “super committee” considered all man-ner of proposals, including cuts to Medicare and cuts of $150 billion to Social Security benefits over the next 10 years. To stave off automatic spending cuts starting in 2013, the super

An actuary told the Retirement Committee of the Nebraska Legisla-ture that excellent returns on invest-ments for the state’s teacher retire-ment plan have left the plan in gener-ally good shape.

For the year that ended on June 30, the return on investment was 23.3 per-cent, said Dave Slishinsky, a consulting actuary for Buck Consultants. That re-turn has helped offset investment loss-es in 2008 and 2009. Combined with increased contribution rates by educa-tors over the past year, Schlinsky said projected future state contributions to keep the plan solvent are “substantially less” than they were a year ago.

Even with the plan’s improved standing, at least one senator cau-tioned that senators will need to study whether the defined benefit plan can be maintained.

Tortoise, HareOffering written testimony in favor

of the existing plan were members of the Bellevue Education Association Re-tired (BEAR) and NSEA-Retired Presi-dent Roger Rea. The unified focus: the continued stability of the defined benefit plan, managed by the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement System.

Bellevue’s Mary Kay Gibson said the healthy Nebraska defined benefit retirement plan, bolstered by larger contributions from members and school boards, has stopped the pover-ty cycle for teachers. Forty years ago, she said, the maximum retirement benefit was $52.50 per month.

“In some plans, people retire early when the stock market is up and delay retirement when the stock market is down” said Gibson. “This is not in the best interest of schools and students. Our formula system provides excellent

financial planning and predictability at a lower cost than other types of plans.”

Rea reminded senators that retire-ment plans have a 50 year horizon – 30 or more years of member contributions and another 20 years of retirement.

“There is nothing short-term about the contributions that will come in, and nothing short-term about the stream of retirement benefits to be paid,” he said.

The historical long term investment return for a diversified portfolio has av-eraged more than 8 percent over every rolling 30-year investment period since records have been kept, beginning in 1930, said Rea. Since 1983, the Ne-braska plan has averaged 9.4 percent.

Rea encouraged all involved – the Retirement Committee, the Invest-ment Council and the Public Employ-ee Retirement Board – to keep that long-term investment perspective.

“It is good to remember the old par-able of the tortoise and the hare – it was the slow and steady runner who won that race. It will be the long-term, steady investment return of monies that will eventually provide funding

for the promised retirement benefits for school employees,” he said.

‘Better Than Average’The plan utilizes a five year

“smoothing” to ease dramatic mar-ket swings. Thus, losses during the 2008 and 2009 plan years are still on the plan’s current books, and the gain made last year – $905 million – will be spread equally over the next five years, mitigating those losses some-what. The result is good: projected state contributions to the plan are re-duced. Earlier this year, projections called for state contributions to the re-tirement plan of $18.8 million this fis-cal year and $48 million the next fiscal year. Today, those numbers are at $23 million and $19 million, respectively. By 2014, the state’s contribution to the plan will fall to about $1 million.

Slishinsky said that with 2008 and 2009 losses still on the books, the plan is only 80 percent funded, compared with 82 percent funded the previous year.

“The average, nationwide, is proba-bly in the 65-70 percent range,” he said. “So the plan is better than average.”

Good Marks for NPERSReturns Up; NSEA Members Testify for Defined Benefit Plan

At the Legislature: Attending a recent hearing of the Nebraska Legislature’s Retirement Committee were, from left, Phil Kaldahl, Mary Kay Gibson, Roger Rea, Mary Spurgeon and Alice Ferris. Rea is of Omaha, and is president of NSEA-Re-tired; the others represented the Bellevue Education Association-Retired. Kaldahl served as NSEA president in 1973 and again in 1974-75.


committee had been tasked with finding ways to cut deficits by at least $1.2 tril-lion over 10 years.

When the Legislature’s Retirement Committee hosted a hearing on LR10, NSEA members were well represented through testimony in favor of Omaha Sen. Nordquist’s resolution.

NSEA President Nancy Fulton told senators that Social Security income keeps senior citizens above the federal poverty line and off social aid programs.

“For the typical Nebraska retiree, So-cial Security represents more than half of their retirement income,” she said. “Those Social Security dollars allow them to stay in their own homes, and to remain independent.”

Roger Rea, Omaha, is president of the NSEA-Retired and serves on the Executive Committee of the National Council on Teacher Retirement. Rea said that cuts to Social Security, includ-ing cuts to cost-of-living adjustments, will push more of the state’s senior citi-zens below federal poverty levels.

“As you know, when a senior citizen falls below the poverty level, there is a great likelihood that he or she will be-come eligible for Medicaid – a program where the costs are borne to a large ex-tent by the state of Nebraska rather than the federal government,” said Rea.

Social Security and Medicare com-bined pump more than $6.25 billion into Nebraska’s economy each year. “That is income being spent in every county in the state. It provides money to purchase goods and services in every area of the state,” he said.

John Jensen, Omaha, is vice presi-dent of the National Education Associ-ation-Retired and is a past president of the National Council on Teacher Retire-ment. Jensen said that under existing law, Social Security cannot go into debt, and the program has had no effect on the country’s deficit.

“Reducing benefits to Social Security will lengthen the time that the trust fund will last,” he said. “That $150 billion cut over the next 10 years does not – in any way – reduce our nation’s debt.”

State senators who have signed on in support of LR10 include Sen. Bill Avery, Sen. Danielle Cook and Sen. Amanda McGill of Lincoln; Sen. Tanya Cook, Sen. Heath Mello, Sen. Steve Lathrop and Sen. Gwen Howard of Omaha; Sen. Annette Dubas, Fullerton; Sen. John Harms, Scottsbluff; Sen. Russ Karpisek, Wilber; and Sen. Norm Wall-man of Cortland.

It’s a fact: a strong lo-cal association adds to the strength of the state associ-ation, which, in turn, ben-efits the local association.

But what traits make for a strong local association? This series reviews traits that the NSEA and NEA call a “Full Capacity Local Association.” The series will allow current leaders, future leaders and mem-bers to measure the current strengths, as well as opportunities for gaining full capacity, with the local association.

This month’s issue: communication.

Lynne Elwood has served NSEA members as a UniServ director for near-ly 14 years. A former special education teacher, she understands the need for ef-fective communication skills.

“A local education association can be successful with a strong communication plan that addresses external and internal public relations,” said Elwood. “Local leaders should be trained in communi-cation skills and media relations, in or-der to maintain effective internal com-munications and external visibility.”

An effective, full-capacity local should exhibit these traits:

nRegular communication with members in person, in print, with Association bulletin boards and via home and or work e-mail.nTraining for top leaders on how

to communicate with the employer, with the community, with parent groups and with local media.nRegular distribution of NSEA,

NEA and UniServ information to all members on state, federal, local and education issues.nRegular, visible activities with

members, including socials, profession-al development, polling or focus groups.nPromotion of regular annual activ-

ities such as American Education Week, Read Across America and National Teacher Day.nRegular efforts at creating local

association visibility through participa-tion in community activities and events.nRegular communication with

news staff at local newspapers and radio stations, providing story ideas about the local association, local school district and public education.

Does your local meet these traits? NSEA has available a complete assess-ment survey. It will help determine if your local meets these and other bench-marks. Questions? Contact your NSEA UniServ director at 1-800-742-0047.

Reaching Full CapacityAs Always, Good Communication is Key

Elwood

http://www.peru.edu


Christmas in NebraskaCommunity Aided

by The Children’s FundEditor’s Note: These remarks were offered

by “Margaret,” a 30-year teacher, follow-ing her first-ever use of the NSEA Children’s Fund a year ago.

Our school nurse walked down to my room one day in mid-December, not because I’m our local association president, but because I’m originally from our small community, and she just needed help.

One of our students was scheduled for sever-al operations in Omaha. Mom had wrecked the car in a snowstorm a couple of weeks before, and there wasn’t going to be Christ-mas at their house because of a lack of money. She told the nurse that she would be able to borrow a car from a friend, but didn’t know how she was going to put gas in it. During their conversa-tion, she told the nurse that she had told her kids that there wasn’t going to be any Christmas this year.

I picked up the phone and made a call to a friend who manages the local Co-op. Someone needs gas and I can’t tell you who or why....does that matter? He said, “Nope, just tell them to walk in and tell me ‘Margaret sent me’ and I’ll turn on the pump.”

Then I picked up the phone and called NSEA and said, “We have kids that need coats, hats, boots – can you help?” And again, the an-swer “Do you have a Target store? It makes it so much easier.”

Teachers and administrators gave money for the pre-schooler to have winter clothes, and a new single teacher bought toys for the little boys. He thought they should have some presents. Out of nowhere, sweatshirts and t-shirts that our boosters sell appeared for the teenage girl. For the first time, she had the same clothes as her classmates.

I had the extreme pleasure of shopping

with mom and two of the boys, courtesy of the Children’s Fund donation. Everyone should be so lucky. I don’t think my own kids are that picky, but when the upper elementary boy couldn’t find the coat he wanted in his size, he turned to his brother and said “you get this one cause it’s really cool and I’ll take the red and black one. I can always see you when you wear it.”

It was a shopping experience I will never forget.

Santa knocked on their door that Saturday and delivered the presents personally. There were gift certificates from businesses in town and $400 cash from various people and the churches. Our youth group paid some of their winter utilities.

When the nurse and I saw all of this un-fold, we decided it would be a private mat-ter. Churches wrote checks, people donated

and they didn’t even know who was to benefit. We decided that as private as the

mom is, she wouldn’t appreci-ate her picture in a newspa-per, and we didn’t want her to feel indebted to anyone. The teachers know, but will

never say a word.I came back to my home-

town to live, raise my family, and perhaps give something back to the community by teaching here. I’m extreme-

ly proud of our community. When asked to give, they gave freely,

didn’t ask who it was for, and said if we ever need anything again to come back.

You all are a piece of this story too. The dollars collected at local association meetings have already made so many children warm this winter.

The Children’s Fund is about someone see-ing the print on the chalkboard who hasn’t seen it before; it’s about someone having snow pants so he can slide on the snow like the other kids for the first time. The Children’s Fund provides what every child should have, no more.

‘Tis more blessed to give than receive? In-deed it was this past Christmas in our com-munity.

Have a good year, and thank you all for serving the teachers and students of Nebraska.

It’s Cold!Many Nebraska Children Aren’t

Clothed for Winter Weather

Like it or not, cold weather is here.

Some of us can take refuge in warm coats and gloves as we get to and from work, but that’s not the case for every child. Heartbreaking as it is, not every family has the ready cash to spend on cold weather gear, or proper dental care, or eyeglasses.

That’s where the NSEA Children’s Fund makes a difference.

Teachers often use their own dollars to help these children. That’s why NSEA created the Children’s Fund. Since 1994, donations to the Fund have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to help children in need. NSEA picks up all ad-ministrative expenses.

To help a student, there is no red tape, no form for teachers to fill out. Simply contact the NSEA at 1-800-742-0047 and ask for Sally Bodtke. Or e-mail her at:[email protected]



What happens when more than 100 college students, retir-ees and other volunteers descend on a single school building on a cold November Saturday morning?

A school building gets refreshed, and the work that gets done saves school district staff countless hours of time. In this case, the beneficiaries were the teachers at Howard El-ementary School, and the district staff of the Grand Island Public Schools as the fifth Student Education Association of Nebraska (SEAN) Outreach to Teach event was held Nov. 19. Outreach to Teach is patterned after a National Education As-sociation project held in the host city of the NEA Representa-tive Assembly each year.

Howard Elementary School Principal Julie Schnitzler said the work was greatly appreciated, in particular the work of volunteers to update bulletin boards throughout the building. That alone saved teachers four weekends of work, she said.

“The quality of work was exceptional,” said Schnitzler. “The students were motivated, stayed on task and completed all tasks above expectations.”

One crew of hardy volunteers spent a good share of the day outside in below-freezing temperatures as they refurbished the school’s inner courtyard. As part of that work, two picnic tables were given a new “splatter paint” look.

“The kids thought the picnic benches looked ‘cool,’” said

Schnitzler. “The courtyard took a lot of manual labor. It’s no-ticeable to everyone.”

Other volunteers moved old and unused items from the building basement, and organized the building coat and clothes closet into plastic tubs, with clothes separated by gen-der and size.

“The basement organization is not in a public place or re-ally noticed, but staff appreciated all the effort to clean out the basement,” said Schnitzler. “It’s not embarrassing to take

Outreach 5Artistic help: University of Nebraska-Lincoln student Meredith Schneider, above left, helps Howard Elementary

kindergarten teacher Dara Sindelar with classroom artwork. Below, NSEA President Nancy Fulton works with student Hannah Schnitzler to sort clothes for the school’s clothes closet.

GI’s Howard Elementary Spruced Up


people down for clothing. We’ve already been down in the basement pulling coats and clothes. It saves time being able to pull just the right size.”

Another crew helped organize and straighten the school media center, repairing damaged books, disinfecting comput-ers, and returning books to shelves.

Because the building’s four kindergarten classrooms will soon move to a new, adjacent building, several student volun-

teers spent time assembling new furniture. That work saved district personnel a lot of time, as well, said Schnitzler.

Donors helped make the event happen, giving cash or prod-ucts to help with the work. NSEA-Retired gave $300. Other donations came from Viaero, Runza, Hy-Vee, Walmart, Sam’s Club and former Howard teacher Candace Edwards.

Jill Kimbrough, a student at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, chaired the event this year.

Working inside and outside: York College students Heather Colby, Drew Leonard and Morgan Goracke, left, display their picnic table handiwork. Above right, University of Nebraska-Lincoln students Kari Atkins and Ibrahim Acar place plastic edging in the courtyard garden. Below, University of Nebraska-Kearney’s Jami Scott and Hastings College’s Shannon Reachard power up to put a table together.


http://myblue.unk.edu


A Bumper CropNSEA President Nancy Fulton, left, and NEA Director Jenni Absalon, right, were on hand for delivery of some of the

more than 7,200 books delivered to Riley Elementary School first-graders during the Lincoln Education Association’s annual Harvest of Books. Since 1997, Harvest of Books has delivered more than 170,000 books to Lincoln schoolchildren.

Get Creative!Grab a Camera For NPPD Contest ‘Easy Bein’ Green’ Focus is Energy Conservation

An idea. A video camera. Energy efficiency.Combine the three, and what do you have? A competition among Ne-

braska schools to create an ingenious, 30-second message about energy effi-ciency. The Nebraska Public Power District, along with its wholesale partner utilities, is sponsoring the contest, “It’s Easy Bein’ Green!”

The contest gives students an opportunity to learn about conserving en-ergy; to build awareness about energy-wasting habits; and to promote ener-gy-saving alternatives – all by writing and starring in their own 30-second television commercial. The last competition saw more than 40 videos sub-mitted, with Norfolk Junior High taking top honors, followed by the Doniph-an-Trumbull Public Schools.

Energy efficiency and conservation are important parts of NPPD’s long-term strategy to meet growing energy needs.

“We know that the cheapest and greenest kilowatt is the one we do not use. It is our job to make sure younger generations know and understand the importance of energy efficiency,” said Diana Luscher, NPPD’s community relations and education specialist.

The contest is open to Nebraska junior and senior high school students in communities served by NPPD and its utility partners. Entries must be sub-mitted by a school sponsor, exactly 27 seconds in length, and should focus on creative and unique energy-saving ideas for the home, school, farm, or business. Entries must be submitted by March 2, 2012. Qualifying entries will be posted online. A panel of energy industry experts will select the top three winners. The video with the most YouTube views will receive special recognition.

The winning schools and students may be featured in NPPD news re-leases, social media websites and through other NPPD publicity outlets. Se-lected commercials will also be considered for professional production and possible statewide placement. For details, go to:

www.nppd.com/videochallenge

McAuliffeAward a Nodto Courage

Courage is an important quality not often recognized in teachers. The Christa McAu-liffe Prize for Courage and Excellence in Education honors courageous teachers from across Nebraska.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Col-lege of Education & Human Sciences invites Nebraskans to help find the best candidate. Nominations are due by Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. The award recipient will be named in March.

The winning teacher will receive a $1,000 stipend. The winner’s school will receive a $500 award to help support school activities.

“Rewarding courage selects out a different kind of teacher,” said Dr. Gregg Wright, prize creator and co-chair of the selection commit-tee. “The teachers who have been recognized are all excellent educators who have shown a special kind of courage in their career.”

The prize honors Christa McAuliffe, the teacher/astronaut who lost her life in the Chal-lenger space shuttle accident in January 1986.

Nominations are submitted electronically and should include a letter of nomination; the nominee’s resumé; a statement from the nominee of his or her philosophy on educa-tion; and a statement from the nominee of the way in which they exemplify courage, commitment to excellence, creativity and the ability to inspire. Other letters of support are welcome. Learn more at:

http://courage.unl.edu


The 2011-12 NSEA Mem-bership Card will be in your mailbox soon.

The new card – a gateway to savings – is scheduled to arrive in your mailbox before the end of the year. In the meantime, your current card is good until the new card arrives.

As is usual, the NSEA card opens a whole world of savings, and gives members the oppor-tunity to save much more than the cost of annual membership. And during the holiday season, with the New Year ahead, sav-ing money is important.

NSEA’s Access Card serves double duty. It’s both an Association membership card and a discount card that can be used at thousands of merchant sites across the country. Whether you’re shopping for new clothes, dining out, look-ing for hotel discounts or buying home electronics, your NSEA Access Membership Card can save you lots of cash.

The new card is valid through December 2012. All NSEA members, including first-time members, can access

savings by using their individ-ual 10-digit Association identi-fication number, which appears above the name on every Asso-ciation mailing.

To start saving, members must activate their card once it arrives. It’s easy to do, by fol-lowing these steps:nLog on to the NSEA web-

site at www.nsea.org.nEnter your member ID

number (located on the front of the card or on the mailing label above your name).nCreate your personal ac-

count by following the registration instructions. You can also activate your account by calling the toll-free

number listed on the back of each card: 1-888-313-6591.Some merchants require that you present your card at

the time of purchase. Others require that you print a cou-pon from the Access website, so be certain to check the individual merchant page on the website for specific in-structions.

Start saving!

Your NSEA Card Will Save You Cash!Membership Card Will Arrive in Your Mailbox by Year’s End

Leslie H.‘Les’ Anderson

Leslie “Les” H. Anderson, of North Platte, died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, at his home following a battle with cancer. He was 68.

A veteran of the United States Army, Anderson served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and was awarded the Purple Heart. He retired with the rank of lieu-tenant colonel.

Anderson received his bachelor’s de-gree in accounting from Arizona State University and later earned a master’s degree in psychology, as well as a special-ist’s degree in school psychology, from Kearney State College. Before his retire-ment, he was employed for more than 30 years as a school psychologist by the Educational Service Unit No. 16 at Ogal-lala.

Anderson was a long time member of the NSEA and served for many years as treasurer of the Educational Service Unit No. 16 Education Association. He is survived by three sons, a daughter and three grandchildren.

http://www.sprint.com/njea


Bright LightsEducation Coordinator

Bright Lights, a unique summer non-profit organization for elemen-tary and middle school students in the Lincoln area, seeks a 12-month, full time Education Coordinator (EC). Must have strong leadership skills; strong communication and public speaking skills; organizational skills; and networking skills, in both the uni-versity and K-12 schools. Administra-tive certificate, teaching certificate, MS Office and Excel experience, and nonprofit experience helpful. Program serves 2,300 students with classes at 12 sites. The EC will:nBe an administrator in the

three-week, six-session program. nHire 100 teachers, with 20 new

instructors each summer. nConfirm school sites.nBuild the summer schedule.nWork with class descriptions.nSupervise background checks

for teachers and assistants.nWork w/ program evaluations.To apply, e-mail resume, w/ three

personal references, [email protected]

Salary $37-$42,000. Position will remain open until a suitable candidate is selected.

College juniors or seniors preparing to student teach during the 2012-13 academic year may want to consider applying for a SEAN-NSEA Re-tired Scholarship.

Up to three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded, based on both finan-cial need and essay question answers.

Applicants shall be juniors or seniors who will student teach in 2012-13, and who have been a member of the Student Education Association of Nebraska (SEAN) for at least two years, including the current academic year.

Three letters of recommendation shall accompany the completed ap-plication form: one letter from a faculty or staff member; one letter from a local SEAN chapter officer; and the third, a recommendation from the chapter advisor.

Completed applications and letters must be postmarked by March 1, 2012. Download the current application from this Web site:http://www.nsea.org/members/sean/awards/SEAN_Scholarship.htm

For details, contact Tamra Mick at 1-800-742-0047 or via e-mail at:[email protected]

At the SEAN Delegate Assembly in April, NSEA-Retired Vice President Jim McDermott presented four $750 scholarships to SEAN stu-dents for use during their student teaching semes-ters. Pictured, from left, are Joel Kosch, University of Nebraska-Kearney; McDermott; and Kelli Raile, Nebraska Wesleyan University. Not pictured are Kristine Price, Peru State College and Kristen Tassemeyer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

SEAN Stipends Available

Peru Student Education Association Chapter

Also HonoredPeru State College student Megan

Brown was honored with the Jeffrey Miller Outstanding Underclassman Award at the NEA’s National Student Leadership Conference in Chicago.

Brown is president of the Peru State College chapter of the Student Educa-

tion Association of Nebraska (SEAN), and vice president of SEAN.

Brown is a special education and early childhood education major. Said Associate Professor of Education and PSEA advisor Dr. Judith Ruskamp: “We are extremely proud of Megan. Her en-thusiastic leadership and willingness to contribute to the success of the Peru Student Education Association is de-serving of national recognition. PSEA will continue to be an innovative and

active campus organization under Me-gan’s leadership.”

The Peru State chapter was also hon-ored with the NEA’s Outstanding Local Newsletter Award.

Brown Honored at NEA Student Leadership Confab

http://www.nppd.com/videochallenge


http://www.neamb.com/clickandsave


Snookie’sSnippets

For competitive yields, and the safety of FDIC insurance up to the maximum amount al-lowed by law, it would be wise to check out the NEA Money Mar-ket account. A special member bonus rate; low minimum deposit ($500); and easy access to your funds; make it a great choice. Family members are also eli-gible. Call 1-800-215-2727 and mention NEA Group Identification No. 10394.

Did You Know?California Casualty, NEA Member

Benefits’ business partner for the NEA Auto & Home Insurance Program, is of-fering the California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant of $1,000 or more for high school sports programs affected by reduced budgets.

Applications will be accepted through Jan. 15, 2012. Award recipients will be announced in April. To learn more, or to apply for a grant, visit:

www.CalCasAthleticsGrant.com

Consumer Tip of the MonthIf you seek help to repair credit,

make sure it comes from a legitimate source and is free or reasonable in cost. Beware of credit repair or high-fee loan advance scams. Learn how to choose a reputable credit counselor by seeking help from NEA’s partner, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, at:

www.debtadvice.org.nea

NEA Click & Save WebsiteHertz is on a mission to give free

rentals to 40,000 returning troops. For all car rentals through Dec. 31, 2011, Hertz will donate one percent of the pro-ceeds towards that goal. Rent, save and thank our troops for their service.

Real Deals!Retailers offering great deals during

the holiday season include Nordstrom, Macy’s, Sears, Best Buy and Kmart. To start saving today, go to:

www.neamb.com/clickandsaveSnookie Krumbiegel is Nebraska’s

NEA Member Benefits representative.

NEA Member Benefits

Krumbiegel

You get up and go to work each day and don’t think twice about it. But what if you sustained a disabling injury or illness that prevented you from performing your job and earning an income? While that possibility may seem remote, statistics paint a different picture:

Nearly one in three women can expect to suffer a dis-ability that keeps them out of work for 90 days or longer at some point during their working years. For men, the odds are about one in four. And one worker in seven can expect to be disabled for five or more years before retirement.

For most people, a sudden interruption of income would have se-rious financial consequences. No doubt you have some kind of personal debt, like a mortgage or credit cards. Would you be able to pay your bills and main-tain your standard of living if you were too ill or injured to work for an extend-ed length of time? In fact, nearly half of all mortgage foreclosures and a sig-nificant number of personal bankrupt-cies are caused by disabilities, accord-ing to the Life and Health Insurance

Foundation for Education.Another point to keep in mind: an

accident or illness that keeps you out of work could be very costly in ways you don’t anticipate. For example, not all your medical debts may be covered by insurance, and a disability could

require you to make expensive modifications to your car or home. Of course, many peo-ple must also continue to pro-vide for their dependents.

Most anyone who works — whether single, mar-

ried, with dependents or not — should take ac-tion to protect his or her income. Fortunately,

NEA Member Benefits and American Fidelity Assurance

Company have designed a disability income protection plan for NEA mem-bers that offers both short-term and long-term coverage options, as well as special features for NEA members only.

Learn about the advantages of the NEA Income Protection Plan, and see how easy it is to enroll online. Go to the NEA Member Benefits website and click on ‘NEA Income Protection Plan.’ The site is at:

www.neamb.com/insurance

Why You Need toProtect Your Income

Interruption of Income a Serious Matter

Buying a New or Used Car?You Can Save With NEA Member Benefits!!

The NEA Auto Purchase Advantage Program saves you an average of $4,441 off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). Before you even set foot on a car lot, you’ll receive a guaranteed low price in writing that our carefully selected network of dealers will honor — no haggling or pricing games at the dealership!

Program advantages include low prices on new and pre-owned vehicles; used car pricing below Kelley Blue Book; savings, in terms of time and money; hassle-free buying experience.

With the holiday season approaching, you can expect to save even more. From now until the end of the year, manufacturers are offering incentives to motivate you to buy. You could be driving home in the car of your dreams! To find the NEA Auto Purchase Advantage Program in the Everyday Living tab under “Discounts,” go to:

www.neamb.com


By Kurt GenrichEHA Plan Advocate

Firing up our body’s metabolism through exercise is the theme of the fun-filled December 2011 EHA Well-ness program, Flab on Fire. Whether you’re a new or seasoned exerciser, this program, available to Educators Health Alliance groups, will help keep you ac-countable and inspire you to commit to making time for daily physical activity. In addition, the Flab on Fire program will give you ideas on finding oppor-tunities to sneak physical activity, in-cluding resistance training and aerobic workouts, into your daily routine.

There are so many health benefits to exercise, including activating the body’s natural lipid burners that fight fat, in-creasing energy, and reducing stress — which are all critical during the hectic holiday season.

“We think this is the perfect time of year to ignite our healthy-living engines. We hope you’ll join the EHA Wellness Flab on Fire movement and move more in December!” said Linda Kenedy, EHA Wellness coordinator.

All participants in the Flab on Fire program will receive an exercise sports towel to use during their daily workouts. Participants who are compliant with the program guidelines for at least 20 days during December will be entered into a drawing for one of 200 gift cards valued at $25 each.

Look for promotional posters at your school. Your wellness representative will have details on how to sign up.

Not sure whether your school is in-

volved? Need more details to get your school to participate in EHA Wellness? Contact Linda Kenedy, EHA Wellness coordinator, or Howie Halperin, EHA Wellness administrator, at:

[email protected]@ehawellnessprogram.orgThe EHA Wellness website is at:

www.ehawellness.org

Blue Cross Blue ShieldOpens National Dental Network

On Jan. 1, 2012, members of the Educators Health Alliance will be able to utilize a new National Dental Net-work. The Blue Grid, the name for the Blue Cross Blue Shield network, will allow EHA members to have ac-cess to participating providers in oth-ers states. The dental grid is a network of multiple BCBS plans that, when combined, offers one of the largest

national PPO networks. Furthermore, when using these pro-

viders, the out of pocket cost will also be lowered. EHA members who live or travel out of state will now be able to go to providers and dental specialists that are closer to them. Just like the Na-tional Medical network (Blue Card), the dental grid will be seamless to members for services received outside the state of Nebraska. The dental grid network di-rectory will be online on Dec. 15, 2011, and you can find it at:

www.nebraskablue.com

The Educators Health Alliance has named Kurt Genrich to serve as the EHA Plan advocate. Genrich will work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebras-

ka plan participants to answer questions and promote the plan. The EHA Board is comprised of six NSEA representa-tives and three each from the Nebraska Association of School Boards and the Nebraska Council of School Admin-istrators. NSEA Associate Executive Director Neal Clayburn is 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]

Wellness Plan Fired Up for DecemberBCBS Q&A

Have You Moved?Have you changed your name by mar-

riage? Are you planning to move?If so, you can update your Association

membership information online.How? Log on to the NSEA website and

click on the ‘For Members’ button on the left side of the screen. Then click on the ‘Members Only’ link and look for the ‘Mem-ber Update’ icon in the center of the next screen, and follow directions. Keep handy an issue of The Voice or the e-mail that deliv-ered the digital edition, as the mailing label include and the e-mail include your mem-bership number, used to access your infor-mation. The NSEA website is at:

www.nsea.org

http://www.MidlandU.edu


The Safety Line: NSEA Executive Director Craig R. Christiansen with one example of the protective lines in our society.

From the Executive Director

The LineWhen I was learning how to drive, my father was insistent

that I knew exactly where the edge of the car was. “There are lines on the road to protect you and the other drivers. That line is there for everyone’s protection. Don’t cross it.” It was an important lesson. Drifting over that line has been fatal for too many drivers. Crossing other lines in our society can be just as dangerous.

The lines on our streets and highways are good reminders of the protective nature of rules in our society. These lines are protective only if we can de-pend on everyone believing in their importance — and only if we follow these rules as a mat-ter of habit. Our shared public habits and expectations of be-havior become the institutions of our society.

Missing the PointRecently, there has been

much attention in the national news on examples of what, overwhelmingly, is regarded as grossly inappropriate behavior of adults towards children. Fortunately, our society has es-tablished, as a societal institu-tion, clear behavioral lines that should not be crossed between adults and children. Unfor-tunately, there is still confu-sion and discussion about the responsibilities of adults who may witness or have knowl-edge of someone who has “crossed the line.”

I worry when students hear adults trying to define what the exact legal requirement is for someone to report abuse to the authorities — or whether adults are ever required to intervene in such abuse. Doesn’t that sound like adults are trying to find a way out of protecting children? Does it really matter what the minimum requirement is? Questioning whether interven-tion or reporting is mandatory misses the point of the role of adults in this society. There may or may not be a legal obliga-tion to report or intervene, but it is always an expected part of being an adult. It is not someone else’s job — it is everyone’s job to protect children.

Some states define, in the law, the responsibility to report abusive behavior. Nebraska law requires that everyone is required to report suspected abuse to legal authorities, with

special reference to the requirement for doctors, hospitals, nurses, school employees, and social workers. Other states have different legal requirements. The question is whether adults can live up to their responsibilities by only meeting minimum legal requirements.

OutrageousNumbers

It has been estimated that one out of four girls and one out of six boys will be sexu-ally abused by the time they reach 18. These numbers are outrageous. Most of this abuse occurs in private. And, sadly, even when abuse is public, there are those who do not intervene or report the incident. They always have reasons for not report-ing child abuse: some worry that reporting might endanger the child or destroy the rela-tionship between the child and the abusing adult. Let the authorities handle those concerns. Our actions should always be for the protection of the child.

Some people question the definition of “child.” What about senior high or college age students? Do we still have an obligation to report suspected abuse? Always. The line between adult and child is the same line between the professional and the cli-ent. High school teachers and

college professors have the same ethical responsibility as elementary teachers, both in their behavior and in their so-cietal duty, to report or intervene for the protection of their students.

The Bottom LineThis is the holiday season. It has always been about chil-

dren — candy canes, gifts, Santa Claus, the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, and being included in special family and religious celebrations. The holidays are centered on chil-dren, their laughter, smiles and well-being. One of the gifts this society — you and I — can give to all children is the gift of protective care from every adult. It is the bottom line for a civilized society. And it is the responsibility of every adult.


2011-12 Officers: The slate of officers for the NSEA-Retired affiliate of NSEA is on the job and at work. From left are President Roger Rea, Omaha; Elkhorn District Director Francis Rohrich, Norfolk; Treasurer Art Tanderup, Neligh; Tri-Valley Direc-tor Jan Barnason, Hastings; Metro District Director Walta Sue Dodd, Omaha; Vice President Tom Black, West Point; Panhandle District Director Twila Griffiths, Scotts-bluff; Sandhills District Director Dee Gillham, Bartlett; and Metro District Director John Jensen, Omaha. Not pictured are Secretary Ruby Davis, Omaha; and Capitol District Director De Tonack, Lincoln.

NSEA-Retired Corner

Nominations Forms for Office Will Appearin Digital Format

In the past, the nomination cou-pons that retired members used to file for election to NSEA-Retired posi-tions appeared in the January edition of The Voice. Also among those coupons were nomination forms for delegates to NSEA Delegate Assembly, and the NEA Representative Assembly.

Members could simply nominate themselves for election by filling out the coupons, cutting them out of The Voice, and mailing them to NSEA. That will not be the case this year, as the January 2012 edition of The Voice, like this edi-tion, will be digital in format.

The nomination coupons will still ap-pear in the digital edition of the January 2012 issue. Active and retired members will have access to a computer: 1) to receive an e-mail message with links to the digital edition of the January edi-tion of The Voice; and, 2) to locate the page(s) that include the nomination cou-pons. Members will be asked to print out and complete the coupon, and then mail it to the NSEA.

This is Really, Really Important!There are policymakers on the na-

tional scene, as well as here at home, who want to reduce or eliminate your Social Security benefits, to reduce or end your Medicare benefits, to change your hard-earned state pension.

They falsely argue that this is neces-sary to reduce the national debt, even though these programs are generally supported by contributions from you, the recipient, and not by tax dollars.

They might also argue that these pro-grams should not be the responsibility of government — that the recipients should totally foot the cost of the pro-

grams. If such plans were to pass, they would be a disaster for senior citizens who have spent years making contribu-tions to Social Security, to their teach-ers’ pensions, and to Medicare.

It would be even more disastrous to current active members who may find themselves at retirement without the benefits of Social Security, Medicare and their pension income.

Stay abreast of these issues. Make it your habit to access NEA and NSEA websites; to read your NEA and NSEA magazines; and to keep up on the latest news on these attempts to destroy your retirement plans. Then write or call your state senator to tell why you oppose leg-islative attempts to do away with these important programs. Here’s how:nE-mail your senator (first name

initial and last name @leg.ne.gov, as in [email protected] your representative at Sena-

tor John Doe, District No. X, State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509-4604.nCall 1-402-471-2311 and ask to

be directed to your senator’s office.In the near future, Social Security,

Medicare and pensions will be debated in Congress. Use these addresses to tell your congressmen why you oppose cuts or elimination of these programs:nSen. Ben Nelson: 720 Hart Sen-

ate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510-2706, phone 1-202-224-6551.nSen. Mike Johanns: 404 Russell

Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510-2705, phone 1-202-224-4224.nRep. Jeff Fortenberry: 1515

Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-2701, phone 1-202-225-4806.nRep. Lee Terry: 2331 Rayburn

House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-2702, phone 1-202-225-4155.nRep. Adrian Smith: 503 Cannon

House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-2703, phone 1-202-225-6435.

— Tom Black, Editor [email protected]

Welcome to the Digital Age...Again!

Are you looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a differ-ence? If so, the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide — the nation’s largest free tax preparation and assistance service — seeks volunteers for the 2012 tax season. You don’t need previous experience.

Buford Williams, Minatare, has been an NSEA member since 1963. He volunteered through the program last year, and said one-third of volunteers at Scottsbluff’s AARP site were retired teachers. Wil-

liams said the AARP had 34 Nebraska sites offering tax prep services, staffed by 179 volunteers. Those volunteers prepared nearly 8,200 returns, with an emphasis on those who are 60 and older.

Many volunteer opportunities are available — from tax volun-teers to greeters. Training is in coordination with the IRS. To volun-teer, call 1-888-687-2277, or visit:

www.aarp.org/taxaide

Looking to Volunteer? How About Becoming an AARP Tax Guide?


Extra Credit

Third GradePivot Point

A study by the American Educa-tional Research Association reports that a youngster who is unable to read at grade level by the third grade is four times less likely to graduate by age 19 than is a child who reads pro-ficiently by that age. When poverty is considered, a student is 13 times less likely to graduate on time.

“Third grade is kind of a pivot point,” Donald J. Hernandez, the study’s author, told Education Week magazine.

“We teach reading for the first three grades and then after that children are not so much learning to read but using their reading skills to learn other topics. In that sense, if you haven’t succeeded by third grade, it’s more difficult to [remediate] than it would have been if you started be-fore then,” said Hernandez, a sociol-ogy professor at Hunter College.

Learn more at:http://www.aecf.org/Knowledge

Center/Education.aspx

Asking insightful questions. Collect-ing relevant evidence. Applying data to devise and test hypotheses. Over the past few years, these staples of investi-gation – both criminal and scientific – have made “CSI” a house-hold acronym in American living rooms.

The University of Ne-braska–Lincoln’s National Center for Research on Rural Education (R²Ed) wants to en-sure that science teachers promote these same skills in American classrooms. R²Ed aims to achieve this goal through a project fittingly dubbed CSI: Coaching Science Inquiry in Rural Schools.

The CSI project will examine how professional development and follow-up coaching efforts influence teachers’ knowledge and implementation of guid-ed scientific inquiry, a classroom ap-proach designed to help students learn the methods that scientists use to study the natural world.

“Recent research has suggested that this approach leads to greater student achievement in science than the more traditional approaches using standard textbooks and materials,” said Dr. Gwen Nugent, a lead researcher on the project.

CSI is recruiting the participation of

more than 160 middle and high school science teachers from communities in rural Nebraska. The research team will randomly assign roughly half of the teachers to receive training in scientific

inquiry, while the remain-ing participants will con-tinue teaching science as they previously have. R²Ed faculty and staff will train the designated teachers

over the course of an eight-day summer institute. Those same teachers will later receive coaching via distance technol-ogy to support their implementation of inquiry strategies in the classroom.

In addition to gauging the impact on teachers’ inquiry knowledge, skills and practice, researchers will assess how the resulting classroom lessons influence students’ knowledge of scientific concepts and inquiry prin-ciples. The team will document stu-dents’ willingness and ability to en-gage scientific questions; utilize the evidence at their disposal; and formu-late, evaluate and communicate pro-posed explanations.

Nugent and her colleagues believe the project will provide valuable infor-mation about disseminating scientific inquiry to schools in rural communities.

“The research results should help us identify how to best instruct educators in inquiry methods,” Nugent said, “ulti-mately advancing our understanding of how to improve science education.”

For details visit: http://r2ed.unl.edu

A handful of NSEA members will be honored at NSEA’s annual Delegate Assembly in April. Will one of those award winners be a deserving co-worker? Only if you nominate them!

Any NSEA member may nominate an individual or group for the awards listed below. All nominations are due Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at: NSEA Awards, Suite 200, 605 S. 14th St., Lin-coln, NE 68508-2742. Nominations may be submitted online, with any required supporting material mailed to the NSEA. The online forms may be found under the link on the NSEA website at:

www.nsea.orgNSEA members are eligible for these awards:nRookie of the Year: Recognizing a teacher who sparkled

in his/her first year of teaching in the 2010-11 school year.nTeaching Excellence: Honoring a teacher for long-term

excellence in the classroom.nEducation Support Professional of the Year: Awarded

to an ESP who has excelled.nThe Great Plains Milestone Award: Recognizes an in-

dividual or group that has promoted human and civil rights.nCommunity Service: Recognizes individual NSEA

members or local associations actively involved in volunteer work outside of classroom hours.nLocal Public Relations: Honors local associations for

great communication within the association and community.These awards will also be presented at Delegate Assembly:nFriend of Education: NSEA’s highest honor. Local as-

sociations are encouraged to nominate an individual or organi-zation that has made a statewide contribution to education.nMedia: Recognizes a media outlet for outstanding work

in covering education.Winners will be announced at the Delegate Assembly in

LaVista on April 20-21, 2012. For nomination forms, go to:www.nsea.org

Classroom CSIUNL Research Project is RecruitingRural Science Teachers for Study

Great Colleagues! Does a Co-Worker Deserve Recognition?Nominate Them for an NSEA Award


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

Family of Teachers

The Kinzer Clan: When children and grandchildren of Charles and Mary El-len Kinzer gathered to celebrate the marriage of Emily Wilke and Curt Reese, they took the opportunity to take a photo of their Family of Teachers.

From left are Ed Kinzer, who has taught science for 35 years at Columbus Lakeview and is now retired; his daughter, Jill Kinzer, a former physical educa-tion teacher at Columbus; Emily Wilke Reese, a Spanish and English teacher at Norfolk; Curt Reese, a science teacher at Battle Creek; Emily’s mother, Kathy Kinzer Wilke, a teacher at Randolph Elementary School; and the sister of Ed and Kathy, Joni Kinzer Moore, who taught for 10 years in Nebraska and now makes her home in Utah.

If you have a Family of Teachers, snap a photo and send it to Family of Teach-ers, c/o Nebraska State Education Association, 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508.

Football Behavior ProgramFrom Diane Postman, a teacher in Yorktown, VA:

“Years ago, Poquoson Primary School used sports to cre-ate a school-wide behavior incentive program for January. We used a die-cut machine to cut footballs. Each teacher was given a stack. We were asked to carry a few with us at all times. When we saw another class (not our own) that was well-behaved in the hallway, cafeteria, at the bathrooms, or the like, we handed a football to a student in the class. They could also earn a football for an individual act of good citizenship. Upon returning to the classroom, the teacher talked about what the class did to earn the football and would post it on a paper football field that was displayed outside of her door in the hall. Each time the class earned a football,

their ‘team’ would advance 10 yards on the field. (This was great for teaching counting by 10’s.) When the team reached the goal post, they would earn a touchdown and start over. Tally marks were used to display and track points earned.

“When it was time for the Super Bowl, the totals were given to the principal. We then had a culminating assem-bly and everyone wore sports-related clothing to school. The principal and assistant principal dressed like football players, complete with helmets and pads! The top scoring classes got to do cheers, and all classes were praised for

their behaviors. Examples of especially good deeds and behaviors were announced for all to hear. This activity was extremely popular, and allowed us to ‘catch ‘em being good’ rather than to give out reprimands.”

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

Speaking of Teaching“I reject the idea that we have to strip away collective bargaining rights to compete in a global economy. We

shouldn’t be in a race to the bottom, where we try to offer the cheapest

labor and the worst pollution standards. America should be in a race to the top. And I believe we can win that race.”

— President Barack Obama,introducing the American Jobs Act,

Sept. 8, 2011

DonorsChooseAids Teachers Program Ties Donors

with Classroom ProjectsThe message from DonorsChoose to

the public is simple: “You Give. We De-liver. Kids Learn.”

DonorsChoose.org grew out of a Bronx high school, where teachers ex-perienced the scarcity of learning mate-rials in public schools. A social studies teacher sensed that many citizens would be willing to help distressed public schools, but were frustrated by a lack of influence over their donations. Do-norsChoose.org was created in 2000 so that individuals could connect directly and easily with classrooms in need.

Educators sign up online, explain their need and wait. Donors can review and choose to give. If enough funding is received, DonorsChoose purchase the materials and ship them to the school.

Teachers can sign up and create a project for consideration by donors. Just go to the website at:

www.donorschoose.org

Documents

The Voice December 2011