May-June Advisor 2021 web

REPRESENTING

MAY – JUNE 2021 CEA ADVISOR 15

ELECTIONS Running unopposed, Darien teacher Katy Gale was re-elected to a three-year term as NEA director. Candidates for the office of CEA president and vice president each had an opportunity to address CEA RA

THOMAS P. MONDANI CEA FRIEND OF EDUCATION AWARD CONGRESSWOMAN ROSA DELAURO

LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS HONORED

FOR OUTREACH, COMMUNICATION Good communication is essential to keeping teachers informed about everything from professional development to local education budgets and statewide policy decisions. Each year, CEA’s Public Relations Commission recognizes local associations whose websites and newsletters keep members engaged and up to speed.

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro was awarded the 2021 Thomas P. Mondani CEA Friend of Education Award, the Association’s most prestigious honor, for her nearly two- decades-long crusade to end child poverty. Announcing the award at the 2021 CEA RA, President Jeff Leake said, “This is our biggest, most prestigious award, given only to those who stand head and shoulders above the rest in their commitment to public education and advocacy on behalf of teachers and students.” At DeLauro’s urging, the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill signed by President Biden will cut U.S. child poverty in half by expanding the child tax credit, effectively moving 27 million families across the poverty line. The U.S. Congresswoman representing Connecticut’s 3rd District since 1991, DeLauro began pushing for the tax credit expansion as early as 2003. In her current

position as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, she was finally able to get it over the finish line this year. Dubbed “the children’s version of Social Security,” this is considered the single greatest measure to reduce poverty in generations, delivering up

delegates. Running for a three-year term as president are incumbent Jeff Leake and challenger Kate Dias, who serves as president of the Manchester Education Association. Running for vice president, also a three-year

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro

Katy Gale was re-elected to a three-year term as NEA director.

to $3,600 per child annually to low- and middle-income families, many of whom received nothing under the old formula. DeLauro, whose own parents struggled financially and experienced eviction when she was growing up, recalls the toll that took on her family. “From the time she first introduced legislation to help end child poverty, our great representative has returned to Washington year after year to continue the fight,” says Leake. “Vice President Kamala Harris has called her a gem for our state and our country, and I couldn’t agree more.”

term, are current CEA Vice President Tom Nicholas and Darien Education Association President Joslyn Delancey. Because the CEA RA was held virtually, voting will take place by mail-in ballot. Ballots have been mailed to all delegates who attended the CEA RA. CEA’s Elections Committee will meet in person to count ballots, and results will be announced the week of June 14. BUDGET ADOPTED; RESOLUTIONS, AMENDMENTS PASSED Delegates adopted a CEA budget for fiscal year 2021-2022, resulting in no membership dues increase. A number of constitutional amendments were passed, and resolutions were adopted to clarify existing language or make it more inclusive and up-to-date. Delegates overwhelmingly adopted several resolutions on measures that—among other things—elicit broader support of public education, strengthen the association’s social justice and anti- racism goals, include social and emotional learning as an important component of a comprehensive education, oppose withholding recess as a student disciplinary measure, underscore the need for equity in higher education, involve teachers in gauging the relevance of student assessments, and lower student dropout rates by providing intervention, social emotional and academic support, retention counseling, and career programs.

CEA LOCAL ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER AWARD

CEA CLIFFORD SILVERS EDUCATION ADVOCACY AWARD MARK PEARSALL, GLASTONBURY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

Joyce Bogdan, Editor, WHEA World , West Hartford Education Association CEA LOCAL ASSOCIATION WEBSITE AWARD

Glastonbury world language teacher Mark Pearsall was recognized at the CEA RA with CEA’s Clifford Silvers Education Advocacy Award. Pearsall, who has served in numerous roles with the Glastonbury Education Association, including treasurer and vice president, currently

Jeremy Gervais, who nominated Pearsall. “He has worked tirelessly assisting members, playing an essential role in

contract bargaining for the district, and earning the respect of his peers, the administration, and the membership as a whole. In all of his various roles, he is calm and meticulous and pays great attention to what is being said and, importantly, what is not being said.” In addition to being an experienced union advocate, Pearsall is first and foremost an esteemed educator credited with creating an excellent classroom environment for students and building a well-regarded foreign language program for Glastonbury High School. Regarding his role as an advocate for his colleagues, Gervais notes, “To witness Mark Pearsall in a meeting with a teacher who is upset, nervous, or defensive is a masterclass in expertise combined with empathy. The people he represents are at the center of his work. He is consistently cool under pressure and pays close attention to detail. Mark is able to best speak on behalf of teachers because of his deep love and respect of the profession; he genuinely loves teaching and learning, and in that way, Mark is the ultimate teacher’s teacher.”

Mark Pearsall

First Place: Shannon McNeice, West Hartford Education Association

chairs GEA’s Professional Rights and Responsibilities Committee. “It’s difficult to imagine GEA without Mark and his leadership on negotiations teams spanning decades,” says GEA President

CEA Board of Directors Approves Funding for A Better Connecticut Institute

TITLE/COUNTY

PRESENT Jeff Leake

YES NO ABSTAIN

At its April 16 meeting, CEA’s Board of Directors approved the following motion: Establish a prepaid, designated fund for A Better Connecticut Institute in the amount of $120,000. Funds will be allocated from the 2020-2021 CEA budget surplus and constitute our commitment to the ABCI for a period of three years. ABCI will develop and advance research that advocates for racially and economically equitable solutions for Connecticut’s budget and policy initiatives. CEA has been a partner in establishing A Better Connecticut Institute that will exist as a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank to offer insight on economic and equity policy discussions. CEA is one of several funders that will support the Institute. Additionally, CEA will appoint one member of the Institute’s Board of Directors. The motion passed by a vote of 13 to 10, as follows:

PRESIDENT

X X X X

VICE PRESIDENT

Tom Nicholas

SECRETARY TREASURER

Stephanie Wanzer

David Jedidian Faith Sweeney

NEA DIRECTORS (2)

X

Second Place: Mark Janick, Suffield Education Association

Katy Gale

X

ETHNIC MINORITY (1) Sandra Peterkin

X

CEA-RETIRED (2)

Bill Murray

X X

Karen DiMenna

FAIRFIELD (8)

Vidi Gupta

X

Joslyn Delancey

X X X

Mia Dimbo James Allan

Marilyn DellaRocco X Lammia Agoora

X

HARTFORD (6)

Heidi Florian

X X

Kate Dias

Annie Bigley Mark Janick Lisa Cordova Glenn Spencer

X

X X

X

LITCHFIELD (1) MIDDLESEX (1) NEW HAVEN (4)

Dan Wilbur

X X

Joe Holloway

Peter Downhour Diane Marinaro

X X X X

NEW LONDON (2)

Bruce Yarnall Paul Giblin Nicola Able* Sara Azukas

Third Place: Patricia McLaughlin,Guilford Education Association

TOLLAND (1) WINDHAM (1) STUDENT (1)

X

*Absent