CEA Advisor_April 2022

2 CEA ADVISOR APRIL 2022

LEADING

Hurdles Ahead— And Hope Leading: Our Perspective

Weeks ago, lilies and hostas began to break through the gray gardens, and we became excited for the possibilities that spring provides. Walks outside without extra gear, longer days, relaxing on the deck. Then it snowed. That prettymuch sums up this year. But spring is coming, and hope can’t be frozen out forever! So, let’s talk about hope.

look at new ways to grow our Aspiring Educator program. Brainstorming ways to support, encourage, and grow with our newest educators was so exciting. In the same vein,

Kate Dias, CEA President

we held a retreat for local presidents and our board of directors that gave us time to find support and inspiration in the work being done across the state. It reminded us once again of how dedicated and creative our leadership teams are. On the heels of that, we attended the Early Career Educator Conference, where veteran teachers shared their experiences and expertise to help newer educators continue developing their craft. (See highlights on pages 10-11.) There was also more hope to be uncovered in our other events and programming, including our first-ever What’s Real in Education forum, hosted by CEA in conjunction with AFT Connecticut and Connecticut’s superintendents. Students, educators, and legislators came together to talk about race, equity, diversity, and their place in education. What a great evening to dig deep, talk about the big issues we’re facing, and come together about what real, productive change looks like. (Read more on pages 4-5.) For our students, CEA’s charitable arm—the Connecticut Education Foundation—sent the beloved blue Read Across Connecticut bus back out onto the road, where it traveled from school to school for an entire week with free books and fun activities to share. New London Education Association President Rich Baez, his amazing teachers, and their very enthusiastic students all gave us a warm welcome as the bus made stops throughout town. The reading bus tour—an annual favorite— finished with a celebration hosted by Education Association of Plainfield President Susanne Bajek and her terrific teachers and students. What a way to celebrate our young readers and their celebrity role models alike. (Curious about who climbed aboard the bus? See page 16.) Every time the bus pulled up to a new school, we saw hope and joy on so many faces. And the fun didn’t end there. Recognizing that reading continues to be important in the middle and upper grades, we called on some of our favorite homegrown celebrities from the basketball court to the boulders of Colorado to share their own reading journeys with students and inspire them to keep making literacy and learning a priority. Videos and materials are available year-round at cea.org/read-across-connecticut/ . Fun and games aside, we know educators are tired and hurting, and we can’t ignore that reality. But we are also resilient and persistent. To quote Glennon Doyle, we can “do hard things.” As you continue to do the important work of an educator, we will continue to advocate for you and look for new and creative ways to grow this amazing profession. Thanks to our combined efforts, we have much to look forward to and be hopeful for this spring.

Where do we place our hope in challenging times? For us, that has been the work of looking to the future. In our immediate future are the final days of a legislative session that has been both short and hectic. We are pushing hard for some big changes. Indoor air quality standards and funding for those modifications top the list of agenda items that the legislature has embraced. We are excited to see that issue being supported with bipartisan efforts to move it to the floor for passage. In addition, we have worked hard to advance some of our agenda items related to students’ mental health, including reducing the ratio of students to social workers/counselors/ psychologists. In that lane, we have asked legislators to consider the mental health impact of the kindergarten start age, the importance of play in the early elementary grades, and the need to prohibit dual instruction. Those would require amendments to existing proposals, but we are working to identify lawmakers to champion our causes. (See pages 6-7.) We are also seeking an amendment that would award teachers a pandemic credit toward their retirement. To be fair, this is a long way from done, but we are asking and advocating hard for all of our members, and we are proud that so many of you are right there with us advocating for your colleagues, yourselves, and—as always—your students. On the subject of advocating for students, CEA launched a major social media campaign—What You Don’t See—where some inspirational members and supporters gave voice to pressing issues facing our members and our students across the state: anxiety, trauma, sick buildings, and countless other challenges largely invisible to those outside the classroom. (See pages 8-9.) If you have not already done so, take some time to watch the videos and read the stories of your colleagues and the families we support. What You Don’t See offers a place for you to tell your own story as well, at cea.org/whatyoudontsee . There is still time to add your voice to the cause; please trust that your story matters. Hundreds of educators have shared their stories, and our legislators are listening. Make no mistake, they are the decision-makers when it comes to many significant issues important to your daily work. You are also contributing your own ideas to our mission, and they are helping make our profession and our professional association alike stronger. Recently we had the opportunity to convene a group of CEA board members at a leadership conference. One of the ideas we walked away with inspired us to

Joslyn DeLancey, CEA Vice President

Donald E. Williams Jr. CEA Executive Director

CEA GOVERNANCE Kate Dias • President Joslyn DeLancey • Vice President

Stephanie Wanzer • Secretary David Jedidian • Treasurer

Tara Flaherty • NEA Director Katy Gale • NEA Director

CEA ADVISOR STAFF Nancy Andrews • Communications Director Lesia Day • Managing Editor Laurel Killough • New Media Coordinator Eric Ahrens • Web Designer and Developer Apr i l 2022 Volume 64, Number 5 Publ ished by Connect icut Educat ion Associat ion 1-800-842-4316 • 860-525-5641 cea.org CEA Advisor The CEA Advisor is mailed to all CEA members. Annual subscription price is $5.72 (included in membership dues and available only as part of membership). Institutional subscription price: $25.00. Advertising in the CEA Advisor is screened, but the publishing of any advertisement does not imply CEA endorsement of the product, service, or views expressed. CEA Advisor USPS 0129-220 (ISSN 0007-8050) is published in August, October/November, December/ January, February/March, April, May/June, and summer by the Connecticut Education Association, Capitol Place, Suite 500, 21 Oak Street, Hartford, CT 06106-8001, 860-525-5641. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, Connecticut. Postmaster: Send address changes to CEA Advisor , Connecticut Education Association, Capitol Place, Suite 500, 21 Oak Street, Hartford, CT 06106-8001.

Gatherings such as our recent Early Career Educator Conference help us recharge and look to the future with renewed strength and hope.

Production date: 4-4-2022