April_2019

REPRESENTING

APRIL 2019 CEA ADVISOR 13

CEA’S 171 ST ANNUAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY MAY 10-11 CEA President Jeff Leake will convene the 171st Representative Assembly (CEA RA) at the Mohegan Sun Earth Expo and Convention Center at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 10. The RA adjourns the following afternoon, Saturday, May 11.

Delegates will adopt CEA’s fiscal-year budget that supports strategic objectives, programs, and services for members. If the $22.1 million budget is adopted as proposed, annual active membership dues will not increase and will remain at $499. Elections Delegates will also elect a new CEA Treasurer and CEA Secretary. CEA Treasurer Kevin Egan, having served as interim treasurer, and CEA Secretary Stephanie Wanzer are both seeking re-election. Read their statements below.

More than 500 delegates representing members in CEA’s 159 local affiliates will vote on proposed new business items and adopt Association policies, including amendments to standing rules, constitution and bylaws, and resolutions.

Candidates for office at the 2019 CEA RA

CEA Ethnic Minority Director At-Large Position CEA RA delegates may elect one or more Ethnic Minority Directors At-Large.* These are three-year terms that begin July 1, 2019, and expire June 30, 2022. Ethnic minority members, as defined in the NEA Bylaws, Section 12-1h, may be eligible for nomination. If open, the nomination deadline is Friday, April 26. Members interested in being nominated must notify the office of CEA President in writing. Nomination letters must be sent by certified mail, return-receipt requested. CEA RA Standing Rules permit candidate nominations from the floor for all positions. Nominations must be in writing and must be received by the presiding officer within 30 minutes of the Call to Order. The CEA Elections Committee will confirm eligibility of nominees running from the floor. Nominees are required to follow all applicable Standing Rules. If only one candidate is nominated for one position, no election is required, and the candidate will be declared elected by acclamation at the CEA RA, on May 10. If there is more than one open position and more than one nominee, an election will be held during the CEA RA, on May 11. *The outcome of the county director elections and the elections of county vice chairs, who would move up to director positions, will determine whether there will be an election for additional Ethnic Minority Directors At-Large. Get Involved in a CEA Commission or Committee CEA is seeking your help in shaping our professional organization. Member involvement and input are vitally important to the Association’s daily activities. Become part of the process and share your thoughts and ideas. If you are interested in serving on one of 12 CEA commissions or committees, fill out the online form at cea.org/about/commissions .

TREASURER

SECRETARY

Kevin Egan

Stephanie Wanzer Stephanie Wanzer, a special education teacher from Cooperative Educational Services

As our organization enters a new era in the history of labor organizing, the challenges that we confront from external forces will place a heavy burden on our teachers that support our continuous

Educational Association (CESEA), is running for reelection as CEA Secretary. Stephanie understands the issues which affect CEA members on the local, state, and national levels. As a teacher in a Regional Educational Service Center (RESC), she brings a complimentary perspective to our leadership in Hartford. She has served as Chair of the Constitution, Bylaws and Policy committee as Secretary. During her six years as a CEA Director for Fairfield County, she passionately advocated for public education and devotedly served teachers as a member of the CEA Ad Hoc Committee of the Future, Elections Committee, Equity Pratt, and Staff Personnel Committee. As CESEA President, Stephanie has shown a steadfast commitment to improving working conditions of teachers and has worked tirelessly to forge relationships with district officials resulting in improved communications. As a political activist, Stephanie has testified in front of the SDE, lobbied in Washington, and rallied in Hartford for teachers and students. As a devoted delegate to many NEA Representative Assemblies, Stephanie has served as chair to the Constitution Committee, co-chair of the NEA RA New Business Item Committee, and chaired the Resolutions Committee. As Stephanie has become more involved on the local and state level, she has seen how important it is to have a board composed of leaders to help guide our state Association, particularly as we plan for the future. She continues to work to ensure your voice is heard on current issues which impact our profession.

struggle to improve public education. This burden will extend to our financial resources and require that we continue to maintain diligent management of the funds that our members from all over Connecticut faithfully contribute to CEA every year. As the current CEA Treasurer, I recognize that such selfless contributions of my fellow teachers in support of CEA’s agenda requires our Treasurer to be always mindful of the source of CEA revenue and to exercise the fiduciary responsibilities of the position with the highest standards of care and restraint. Such efforts will be essential to ensure that CEA can maintain a level of fiscal stability to meet the challenges ahead with success. In close collaboration with my fellow CEA leaders, we have successfully managed the finances of our association, faithfully providing the resources needed to fully support our teachers while abiding by all state and federal reporting agencies. I am confident that the detail oriented experience that I have attained in the capacity of CEA Treasurer provides the knowledge needed to maintain the integrity of our finances during these most uncertain times. In closing, it would be my greatest honor to continue as your CEA Treasurer and continue to work with our staff and teachers to maintain the fiscal and organizational strength of CEA.

FREE FILM SCREENING, TALK: SCHOOL-TO-

RETIRED TEACHERS’ LOBBY DAY—APRIL 30 • Tuesday, April 30

Retired from the classroom but still an active education advocate? Ensure that legislators hear your perspective as an experienced public school teacher. On Retired Teachers’ Lobby Day, retired teachers will meet with legislators to talk about issues critical to both active teachers and retirees. Top of the agenda are teacher pensions and health insurance, as well as public school funding and classroom safety.

• 10:00 am to 2:00 pm • State Capitol Building Old Appropriations Room 310 For more information, visit artct.org .

PRISON PIPELINE CEA members invited to April 25 event How are attitudes, experiences, and stereotypes impacting young people of color in Connecticut today? Join your fellow CEA members April 25 in Bridgeport for a film screening and discussion with experts on cultural responsiveness and juvenile justice. Register at cea.org/workshops/#emac . Sponsored by the CEA Ethnic Minority Affairs Commission, this event is free for CEA members and includes a viewing of the CPTV film Color of Justice Revisited . Guest speakers include • Michael Lawlor , Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, University of New Haven, Former Undersecretary for Criminal Justice, OPM • Meghan Korn , Cultural Responsiveness Specialist, • Testo’s Restaurant and Banquet Facility 1775 Madison Ave, Bridgeport

• Registration: 4:30pm • Event: 5:00-8:00pm • Appetizer buffet, cash bar

Connecticut Judicial Department • Michelangelo Palmieri , Juvenile Matters Supervisor II, Superior Court for Juvenile Matters, Middletown