Summer Advisor 2021

CEA Advisor Summer 2021 • Volume 63, Number 7 • Publ ished by the Connecticut Education Association • cea.org

BRIGHTER SKIES AHEAD FOR EDUCATORS

• Pandemic unemployment assistance, compensation for lost wages | p. 4 • American Rescue Plan funding for higher staffing levels, smaller class sizes, improved air quality in schools | p. 4 • New, added flexibilities in teacher evaluations | p. 5 • Cost of living adjustments for retired educators | p. 11

2 CEA ADVISOR SUMMER 2021

LEADING

Leading: Our Perspective

We have been through an extraordinarily difficult year and have made tremendous progress in the fight against COVID-19. Now is the time to regroup, reflect, and ready ourselves for the challenges ahead. NEA President Becky Pringle summed it up best when she said, “In this moment, as we reflect on the obvious challenges and the often hidden, or yet to be discovered opportunities, we must imagine the possibilities.” And those possibilities are great because of you, CEA members. We have said it before, and we will say it again:

• Training educators to lead on equity and racial justice, leveraging the Leaders for Just Schools curriculum and model • Hiring school-based mental health providers trained to provide culturally appropriate services (such as school counselors, nurses, social workers, drug and alcohol counselors and psychologists) and utilizing

Looking back on achievements, ahead to challenges and opportunities

Jeff Leake, CEA President

trauma-informed, restorative justice practices, meditation/

peace centers, and other proven methods to address student health and well- being • Expand the development of trauma-informed schools and the implementation of trauma- informed practices in education communities to support learning, social and emotional well-being, and inclusive educational environments We hope that as a statewide union, as members of CEA, you continue to demonstrate your commitment, professionalism, and collective advocacy and work for a brighter future for all students and educators through campaigns that • Advocate for just funding formulas that remedy pervasive resource disparities based upon race, income, and geographic wealth patterns • Seek remedy to economic justice issues, including affordable housing, housing insecurity, food insecurity, and access to healthcare and childcare • Increase investments to expand community schools, leveraging the NEA Community Schools Model • Win transformative investments for racially just schools that include addressing the academic, social, and emotional needs of every student through their entire educational journey, including non-biased access to pre-K In the years ahead, we know there will be great opportunities for our

we are proud of you, our members, especially those who have taken on the mantle of leadership. CEA’s leadership team cannot thank you enough for the creativity, compassion, and strength you have brought to the task of navigating and rebounding from a pandemic that has forever changed our lives. After everything you have invested in your students and school community throughout the pandemic, we hope you are taking some much-needed time this summer to focus on yourself and your own mental health needs. (See story, page 9.) In this last column as your president and vice president, we want to express how very proud we are of our efforts over these past years and the opportunities we have had to strengthen public education and the teaching profession in Connecticut. Working with our members has been an honor, and we continue to be moved by your passion and dedication to your students, your colleagues, and your profession. In countless ways, we have worked to improve the lives of CEA members and provide well-deserved relief for educators, families, and students. (See story, page 4.) We put

Tom Nicholas, CEA Vice President

Donald E. Williams Jr. CEA Executive Director

CEA GOVERNANCE Jeff Leake • President Tom Nicholas • Vice President

greater emphasis on coalition-building and collaborating with other unions committed to social, racial, and economic justice issues. As we reflect on our achievements, we must also turn our gaze forward and focus on the road ahead: the “yet to be discovered opportunities” and the excitement as we

union and our profession. As we pass the gavel to our new president and vice president, Kate Dias and Joslyn DeLancey (see next page), it will be up to all of us—aspiring educators, retired teachers, and active members—to work together with them to fulfill our goals. We must continue to organize and mobilize our colleagues both within our union and those in other labor unions to achieve common goals. Becky

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 Sandra Cassineri • Graphic Designer Laurel Killough • New Media Coordinator Eric Ahrens • Web Designer and Developer Summer 2021 Volume 63, Number 7 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.

“imagine the possibilities.”

CEA President Jeff Leake

Without a doubt, the possibilities and opportunities are within our reach as we

CEA Vice President Tom Nicholas

acknowledge the tremendous boost for our ability to build back better with $1.1 billion in federal education funding coming to Connecticut. It will be imperative for all of us to work with other stakeholders to ensure these funds are used wisely, guaranteeing lasting benefits for our students and public education. Educators must have a strong voice at the table during discussions with administrators and boards of education regarding how the money is spent. That is why CEA’s staff is ready to work with you as you help implement real change where change is needed in your local districts. The teacher delegates to the 2021 NEA RA passed new business items highlighting new initiatives educators can propose in their school communities. Some of the suggestions include: • Achieving robust staffing levels, including appropriate class sizes, access to electives, art, librarians, and ESPs

Pringle reminded us that we can and will “lead a movement that unites not just our members, but the nation, to reclaim public education as a common good, and transform it into something it was never designed to be—a racially and socially just and equitable system that prepares every student, everyone, to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world.” Thank you for your support, your dedication, your advocacy, your compassion, and your continuing membership in your local association, CEA, and NEA—making you members of the largest labor union in our great country. We will always be proud of our shared accomplishments, and we know you will continue to address the challenges and obstacles on the road ahead, deftly and boldly, because we truly are stronger together! July 9, 2021

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Production date: 7-12-2021

WELCOMING

SUMMER 2021 CEA ADVISOR 3

MANCHESTER TEACHER KATE DIAS AND DARIEN TEACHER JOSLYN DELANCEY TO LEAD STATE’S LARGEST TEACHERS’ UNION

CEA members elected Kate Dias and Joslyn DeLancey to lead the state’s largest teachers’ union for the next three years. Dias and DeLancey will assume the office of CEA president and vice president, respectively, beginning July 15. A voice for teachers A Manchester High School math teacher for the past 21 years, Dias has held numerous union leadership positions, most recently serving as president of the Manchester Education Association and as a member of the CEA Board of Directors. “As dedicated professionals, teachers deserve to be celebrated, respected, and rewarded,” says Dias, who, having worked as a classroom teacher and local leader during the pandemic, understands the chaos and stress facing educators and strongly believes in teachers having a seat at the table when it comes to setting state and district policies relating to public education. “While we have no idea what the future will look like for education,” she says, “in this time of tremendous change and challenge, I will be a bold, strong voice in the center of the conversation that demands educators are heard. I want members to know that I am excited about bringing voice to their concerns and ideas.” She adds, “This union is full of intelligent, vibrant members who really highlight the amazing strength of educators in our communities. It’s the role of our union to position those individuals in a way that brings them the respect they deserve. I’m confident we can organize around the issues that really impact our daily practice and improve our working conditions. We are going into a new year that will bring new challenges, and I’m confident that we can draw upon our own experience and expertise to develop solutions that meet our members’ needs and the needs of our students.” A top priority for Dias is

to fight for what is right was something I enjoyed,” she recalls. Over her six years as DEA president, she helped secure many victories for her colleagues and plans to bring that same commitment and success to her statewide role. “I’m very proud of our negotiations wins surrounding personal days, sick banks, and non- birth parent leave, as well as how strong, active, and involved my local association became.” She credits clear and consistent communication throughout COVID, and actions such as teacher rallies and media outreach, with maintaining a strong teacher voice and protecting educators and students throughout the pandemic. During COVID, she worked with other local presidents to pen an op- ed, published in The Hartford Courant , that encouraged superintendents to switch to fully remote learning during the weeks surrounding the holiday vacation. Words of wisdom As they begin their work this summer, Dias and DeLancey encourage teachers throughout the state to take time to relax and recharge their batteries. “The most important thing I am hoping members do this summer is take time for themselves,” says Dias. “Turn off the computer. Read, walk, or cook. Relax in any way that serves you—this is your time to refresh. This is even more important if you are one of the thousands of people working in summer programs this year. It was an exhausting school year, and everyone needs time to recover, because the next school year is going to be incredibly important as many students and staff return full- time for the first time in months. As we continue to pursue our work on racial and social justice, we will need the energy to commit to examining our institutions and efforts. For sure, this year was intense, but there is still much work to be done.”

Kate Dias (left) and Joslyn DeLancey

connecting with local teachers’ union leaders, empowering them within their communities, and ensuring that the work of CEA reflects the work being done at the local level. “We will be reaching out to local presidents and visiting representative councils, executive boards, and schools,” she explains. “Wherever teachers are doing the work, we will be there. Both Joslyn and I have always prioritized the time spent with members to support their work and build relationships; that attitude will permeate our work at CEA.” Ensuring safety, equity, respect “Kate and I are extremely excited and motivated to begin our work with members,” says DeLancey, a 17-year veteran who has taught third, fourth, and—most recently— fifth grade in Darien, where she was president of the Darien Education Association (DEA). “Having just left the classroom, we understand what teachers are facing every day, and we’re ready to begin the work of empowering members to advocate and organize around issues that have an impact on their everyday lives. We will work together to make teaching and learning in Connecticut safe, successful, and fun. CEA members have a union that hears them, appreciates them, and has their backs.”

DeLancey and Dias have discussed how to prioritize CEA members’ needs and the work of their union, agreeing that connecting with locals, communicating with local leadership, and getting into school districts are key. Tackling issues of equity is also a top priority for both incoming leaders. “We need to look at equity on many different levels,” DeLancey says, “and understand the issues we face surrounding equity within our organization, across school districts, within curriculums, within hiring practices and recruiting efforts, and in how we train and educate professionals. I truly believe CEA must fight for equity in resources, teacher salary, access to employment and leadership opportunities, and funding for all districts. We must also promote systemic change by creating diverse and equitable positions within CEA leadership and staffing. Fighting for statewide equity will allow teachers and students to have stronger, safer, and more supportive public schools.” Advocacy has long been an approach to problem-solving for DeLancey, who became a school building representative early in her teaching career. “I quickly learned that advocating for teachers and empowering others

CEA CAMPAIGN TAKES NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

Your Card Is Your Exclusive Pass to Members- Only Information, Savings, Protection From effective retirement planning to teacher evaluation strategies, your CEA membership card is your pass to information that will help you succeed in the classroom and beyond. Unlock members-only content at cea.org , including videos, guides, Q&As, expert interviews, and discounts on hundreds of products and services. Watch the mail for your 2021-2022 card, due to arrive later this summer. Use it to access member-protected resources at cea.org and at business establishments and other venues that offer CEA member discounts. (See a complete listing at cea.org/discounts .) Your CEA member ID number, which is unique to you, is found on your card as well as on the mailing label of your CEA Advisor . Misplaced your card? Create a personal profile at mynea360.org . Once your profile is complete, you can retrieve your member ID anytime. ANNUAL GOLF FUNDRAISER RESCHEDULED Due to weather-related road closures and course conditions, the Connecticut Education Foundation postponed its annual Hands Across the Green golf tournament until Monday, July 19. For more information or to donate a raffle prize, contact chipk@cea.org .

CEA’s Vaccinate Educators Now campaign took the spotlight at this year’s NEA Representative Assembly, where it earned kudos not only for raising awareness of the need to vaccinate teachers in order to make schools safer but also for effectively pushing Connecticut to prioritize teachers and school staff for COVID vaccines and create school-based clinics to facilitate the effort. Developed by CEA’s Communications Department and featuring five Connecticut Teachers of the Year, the public awareness campaign aired on all of the state’s major network television stations as well as on digital media earlier this year.

Clockwise, Teachers of the Year Meghan Hatch-Geary, Regional School District 16; David Bosso, Berlin; Kristen Record, Stratford; Sheena Graham, Bridgeport; and Rochelle Brown, Windsor.

SUCCEEDING

4 CEA ADVISOR SUMMER 2021

CEA ADVOCACY RESULTS IN VICTORIES, RELIEF FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS The COVID pandemic created

children and their families • Protection of teachers’ rights, including a successful fight against anti-union attacks and the implementation of deterrents against employers’ anti-union practices • Ensuring a teacher pension income tax exemption increase to 50 percent after attempts to freeze it at 25 percent

• Lower threshold for retired teachers to receive a cost of living adjustment (COLA) • Removal of a mandate for districts to provide virtual learning options • Restoration of paid quarantine leave to ensure quarantines do not put hardworking educators in financial jeopardy • Successful prioritization of educators for COVID-19 vaccinations • In-district vaccination clinics so that educators would not have to compete with the general public possible by the resounding voices of CEA members, leaders, and staff. Advocacy continues Even as we emerge from the pandemic, advocating for the teaching profession and creating safe, equitable learning environments for every student is a fight that continues. CEA and local associations are urging super- intendents to use a recent influx of federal dollars to replace or upgrade school air conditioning, heating, and ventilation systems for the health and for limited appointments These victories were made

significant challenges for teachers, students, and families, but standing together and speaking with a unified voice helped CEA make critical improvements and pave the way for a brighter future inside and outside the classroom. Successes include • Additional supports for social emotional learning and school climate to meet the needs of our students • A state budget that provides significant increases in school funding and targets districts with the greatest need • New flexibilities in teacher evaluation, including the elimination of the standardized indicator requirement (see story, page 5) • New supports for students with dyslexia and other reading disabilities, including dedicated staff at the Connecticut State Department of Education • An additional $4 million to promote equity and address disparities that affect our neediest

safety of school communities, work with Professional Development and Evaluation Committees (PDECs) to support the social and emotional health of both students and educators, and continue to make strides that strengthen public education. As you enjoy a well-earned break this summer, watch your inbox for more information from your union about how you can help get your school to participate in these efforts.

Student Loan Payments to Resume in October: Here’s What to Know The last in a series of moratoriums on student loan payments is scheduled to end September 30. CEA Member Benefits partner Cambridge Credit Counseling offers these tips to help you stay on track as student loan payments resume in October, stimulus payments end, and credit card balances tick up. • Prepare your budget now to ensure you can make your student loan payments starting in October. • Switch to an income-based plan if your budget is tight. • Review your loan forgiveness options with Cambridge Credit Counseling. • Don’t be fooled by recent statements that may indicate you’re making eligible payments toward loan forgiveness. If you see 17 payments or fewer toward Public Student Loan Forgiveness, you probably aren’t in an eligible repayment plan. (All plans were credited as eligible during the pandemic, but that will also end in September.) • The home foreclosure moratorium and mortgage forbearance were extended through the end of June. That blocks home foreclosures and offers delayed mortgage payments for struggling homeowners. If your budget still doesn’t accommodate rent or mortgage payments, seek a HUD-approved counseling agency now. Questions on student loans or credit card debt? Cambridge Credit Counseling offers free guidance and discounted services for CEA members. Learn more at cea.org/teacher-discounts/cambridge-credit . WHAT WILL MASK-WEARING PROTOCOLS LOOK LIKE IN THE FALL? “Educators know that in-person learning is best for all students, and that’s why CEA has been at the forefront of ensuring safe teaching and learning environments for our students and teachers,” CEA President Jeff Leake said in a statement issued earlier this month, adding, “Safety is and must remain a top priority.” At press time, masks in school buildings and on school buses remain a state requirement, and CDC guidelines released on July 9 favor in-person learning for all students and continue to recommend that all individuals ages two and older who

EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION SHORTAGE AREAS FOR 2021-2022 CONNECTICUT If you’re working under an endorsement that is considered a shortage area, you may be eligible for benefits such as loan forgiveness and mortgage assistance. Based on a survey done in the fall, the State

ALLIANCE DISTRICTS • Ansonia • Bloomfield • Bridgeport • Bristol • Danbury • Derby • East Hartford • East Haven • East Windsor • Groton • Hamden • Hartford • Killingly • Manchester • Meriden • Middletown • Naugatuck • New Britain • New Haven • New London • Norwalk • Norwich • Putnam • Stamford • Thompson • Torrington • Vernon • Waterbury • West Haven • Winchester • Windham • Windsor • Windsor Locks

Department of Education every year releases the Certification Shortage Areas for the coming year. The designated shortage areas for 2021-2022 are as follows: • Bilingual Education, PreK-12, Statewide • Mathematics, 4-12, Statewide • Special Education*, PreK-12, Statewide • School Library and Media Specialist, PreK-12, Alliance Districts only** • School Psychologist, PreK-12, Statewide • Science, 4-12, Statewide • Speech and Language Pathologist, PreK-12, Statewide • Technology Education, PreK-12, Alliance Districts only** • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), PreK-12, Statewide • World Languages, 7-12, Statewide *The Special Education shortage area designation comprises Partially Sighted, Deaf/ Hard of Hearing, Blind, and Comprehensive Special Education teaching endorsement codes. **The Alliance District program is a unique and targeted investment in Connecticut’s 33 lowest- performing districts. See list at right. Read the complete data bulletin on teacher shortage areas from the State Department of Education by going to portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/

Digest/2020-21/ShortageAreaMemo_ Superintendents_4_14_21-signed.pdf .

are not fully vaccinated wear masks indoors. In light of new concerns about the more- contagious delta variant of the virus now spreading throughout the country, CEA is calling on Connecticut’s Department of Public Health and the State Department of Education to clarify mask protocols, based on Centers for Disease Control guidelines. “We anxiously await the new, updated mask guidance to ensure

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that districts develop plans to keep everyone in our school communities safe and allow educators to provide for the educational, social, emotional, and mental health needs of their students,” said Leake. “CEA will continue to advocate for policies that keep students safe and help them grow as we work to move past this pandemic.”

SUCCEEDING

SUMMER 2021 CEA ADVISOR 5

10 QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHER EVALUATION What’s new for the coming school year

10. How do we get more

T hanks to CEA’s continued advocacy and close collaboration with other stakeholder groups, the Connecticut State Department of Education has allowed greater flexibility in teacher evaluations for the 2021-2022 school year. By easing some of the requirements of the Connecticut Guidelines for Educator Evaluation 2017, the added flexibilities are aimed at reducing the burden and stress on teachers, administrators, and students and allowing a more meaningful focus on the welfare of students and educators after a disrupted and difficult school year. With an emphasis on student and educator well-being and growth, the flexibilities are intended to foster an evaluation system that is supportive rather than punitive. Every school district’s Professional Development and Evaluation Committee (PDEC) must meet in order to discuss and reach consensus on whether to adopt the flexibilities or keep their existing plan. Each district must also provide an orientation on any changes to current teacher evaluation plans by September 15, 2021. Additional guidance will be forthcoming from the CSDE, but the most significant changes to be aware of include: • Very clear language requiring mutual agreement between evaluator and teacher on goals and indicators/measures of achievement • Only one student learning goal is allowable; it may have either a social emotional learning (SEL) or academic focus • A minimum of two indicators/ measures of accomplishment are required, but they do not Kate Field

CEA Teacher Development Specialist Kate Field answers the top 10 questions about the new flexibilities.

Will changes to teacher evaluation this coming school year be in place in my district? It depends. The CSDE is offering districts some flexibility in how state evaluation guidelines are implemented. If your district’s PDEC mutually agrees to adopt these flexibilities, there will be significant changes that impact your evaluation. If your PDEC does not agree to the flexibilities, your evaluation process will remain the same as described in your most recently approved educator evaluation plan. What is the rationale behind offering the flexibilities to teachers? The purpose of these flexibilities is to lessen stress, ease some of the paperwork burden on teachers and administrators, and foster more trust and innovation. The flexibilities are also intended to provide space for teachers to focus on SEL rather than solely academic outcomes. What are the key provisions of the flexibilities? • Only one goal is allowable, and it must be mutually agreed upon between teacher and evaluator. The goal may have either an SEL or an academic focus. This focus must be mutually agreed upon between teacher and evaluator. • A minimum of two indicators or measures of accomplishment are required, and both must be mutually agreed upon. • No standardized indicator may be required. All indicators may be non- standardized. Indicators (or measures of accomplishment) do not need to be mathematically quantifiable. • There are fewer observations required for most teachers. No formal observations are required, nor are pre- and post-conferences, although they remain allowable. Informal observations should be short and must be followed by feedback that is actionable and formative in nature (not evaluative). Those in non-instructional roles, like school counselors, may substitute a review of practice in place of a classroom observation. • Educator ratings (including those for administrators) will be required but should be holistically determined rather than mathematically calculated. Learning, growth, and well-being (rather than academic outcomes) are central.

Can my district adopt some of the flexibilities but not others?

No, your district must adopt the flexibilities as a set. Otherwise, your district must keep its existing evaluation plan or submit an amendment to the CSDE for approval. When is the deadline The deadline to adopt the flexibilities or to submit a waiver is October 1, 2021. How can I measure an SEL goal? Under the flexibilities, goals do not need to be mathematically quantifiable. SEL growth is hard to quantify with a number. Instead, you may select artifacts such as student work, self- to adopt the flexibilities? Goals and indicators must be mutually agreed upon, even if the flexibilities are not adopted. If mutual agreement with your evaluator is not possible, you should contact your local union president about next steps, which could include using your district’s dispute resolution process. How will observations be impacted by the flexibilities? Most teachers will have fewer observations and may not be observed formally at all. In addition, pre- and post-conferences are no longer required. This change was intended to minimize the amount of paperwork associated with the evaluation process. Teachers without their own classrooms, such as social workers and content coaches, may mutually agree to an additional review of practice instead of a classroom observation. Should teachers expect Yes. There will likely be significant changes to the evaluation process in the future. The Educator Evaluation and Support Council, which includes teachers, union representatives, and administrators, will be creating new evaluation guidelines over the course of the next year. more evaluation changes in the future? assessments, lesson plans, or portfolios of work, among many options. My evaluator told me what my goal has to be. What should I do?

information? Contact CEA’s Kate Field at katef@cea.org or refer to CEA’s Teacher Evaluation Made Simple guide, available to CEA members only at cea.org . CEA also offers PDEC facilitation, guidance on implementing the flexibilities, and evaluation workshops for teachers and PDEC members.

need to be standardized assessments, nor do the indicators/measures of

accomplishment have to be mathematically quantifiable • Final summative ratings are required, but they should be based on a holistic review of artifacts and data rather than mathematically calculated

CEA Teacher Development Specialist Kate Field regularly leads workshops on topics relevant to educators.

ORGANIZING

6 CEA ADVISOR SUMMER 2021

ENFIELD TEACHERS BUILD COMMUNITY, EVEN AMIDST CHALLENGES OF PANDEMIC

Teaching can be difficult even in the best of times. Restrictions on social gatherings brought on by the pandemic, however, left many teachers with fewer opportunities to bond with colleagues and find much- needed camaraderie and relief. Fortunately for those in Enfield, leaders of the more than 400-member Enfield Teachers’ Association (ETA)—which had already been prioritizing events that allowed members to come together pre- pandemic—continued finding ways to hold social events that allowed members to connect throughout an extremely challenging year. “I’ve been a teacher for 29 years, and when I first started teaching, you had enough time in the day where you could develop good friendships with people,” says ETA’s Chief Organizer Michele Wilcox, a teacher at Hazardville Memorial Elementary School. “If you had questions, you could go to friends next door, and they would sit with you and give you ideas. Now we’re so overwhelmed with curriculum and student issues that we don’t have time to sit and talk. In Enfield we decided we needed to create time for teachers to develop friendships so they’re comfortable working together, asking questions, and being more of a team.” “We haven’t had convocations or similar district events, even before COVID, so we don’t get that time to connect with each other over triumphs and challenges,” says ETA President Emily Hulevitch. “Michele’s events give us something fun to connect over that’s not school- related. We’re able to have that time to meet people in the district we

wouldn’t normally meet.” From hikes to a cider social to yoga outside a dairy farm, Wilcox has organized open-air gatherings that have allowed members to connect safely during a pandemic. “My goal is always to have our members engaged in the union” she says, “and my job is to plan events that are going to be relevant to teachers but also fun and inclusive so even teachers new to the district feel welcome.” Pandemic forces new kinds of gatherings “Michele has lots of really great ideas for fun, family- centered events,” says CEA Regional Organizer Brendan Murphy. “She really has stepped up and wants to make things work for teachers.” After years of event planning, Wilcox knows what’s popular with her colleagues, but the pandemic made a lot of favorite activities impossible. “I’ve had to think outside the box this year,” she says. The first big event of the fall was a cider social outside Collins Creamery, an Enfield dairy farm with a pumpkin patch. The parents of two of Enfield’s teachers own the farm, which made organizing the event relatively simple. Educators came out with their families, picked pumpkins, and stayed for ice cream and cider. The spacious grounds allowed for COVID-safe distancing. In November, Wilcox organized a guided hike along the Scantic River. “I talked to the Scantic River Watershed Association, and they provided a guided hike,” she says. “Members came out with their families—children, babies, dogs— and it was really nice. The watershed

Retired Enfield reading teacher Beth Wadden leads a yoga class for fellow educators and family members outside Collins Creamery.

association taught us about the history of the river, and we ended the hike right by the Powder Hollow Brewery, so members who wanted to stay and socialize safely could do so.” One of the ETA’s most popular traditions is a Christmas Cookie Night, where members gather to bake and swap cookies. This year the event was held virtually, with two culinary teachers leading the evening and the ETA offering canisters of hot chocolate for members to take home and enjoy while baking. May brought an outdoor yoga class, and in June, members embarked on a walking tour of Enfield. Recognizing the constraints on teachers with young children, Wilcox says, “Having family-friendly events makes it inviting and possible for everyone to engage,” and holding events outdoors or virtually has allowed the union to maintain COVID safety. “I’ve loved it,” Wilcox says, “and I think we will do it next year as well.” Having an organizer position on the executive board in Enfield has been key to holding the types of events Wilcox has organized, Hulevitch says. “When I talk to teachers in other locals, I get a lot of ‘wows,’ and ‘Where do you find the time?’” “Emily does an excellent job empowering our executive board under her leadership,” Wilcox says. “She trusts her executive board to do their jobs well. With the events I plan, most of the executive board comes ready and willing to help. We work hard and respect each other's strengths and expertise.” Focus on early career educators In addition to holding all-member events, the ETA also took on a special initiative for early

career teachers. With the help of an early career educator grant from NEA, they provided professional development sessions for teachers in their first six years, along with take- home dinners. "Culinary teacher Josh Ogrodowski is a fabulous chef and teacher,” Wilcox said. “He and his students prepared dinners for teachers in to-go containers, and they were delivered to teachers’ schools. Our early career educators could finish their workday, pick up dinner in the teachers' lounge, and go home to enjoy some good PD.” Wilcox adds, “I thought about what would have made it hard for me to participate in professional development when I was young, and I decided the more convenient we could make things, the better. Teachers didn’t have to drive anywhere to get dinner.” “Early career educators really need support, especially this past year,” says Hulevitch. “Two new teachers in my building participated and remarked the next day, ‘Wow, that was great!’ They commented on how great it was not to have to cook.” CEA Teacher Development Specialist Kate Field led the PD, which was a self-care workshop focused on early career educators. “I offered some simple strategies teachers can work into a daily routine that can lessen stress and also be shared with kids,” she says. “The professional development and grab-and-go dinner are a wonderful way for Enfield to support their newest educators,” she adds. “Enfield is a larger local, and it’s so important to focus on your new teachers, connect with them, and build community.”

For fun ways to spend quality time with your colleagues and friends, take advantage of your CEA member benefits at cea.org/discounts . There you’ll find discounted rates and special offers at yoga studios, adventure parks, amusement parks, theaters, sporting events, and more. CEA also offers workshops on health and well-being. For more information, go to cea.org/professional-development .

Enfield teachers and their families enjoy a guided hike along the Scantic River.

REPRESENTING

SUMMER 2021 CEA ADVISOR 7

CEA MEMBERS JOIN NATIONAL COLLEAGUES TO SET NEA POLICY, HEAR FROM INSPIRING LEADERS DURING 100TH NEA RA

President Biden: “You deserve a raise—not just praise.” President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden joined the NEA RA to thank teachers for their dedication to The first lady reminded delegates of her promise that if Joe Biden were elected, educators would have one of

Nearly 100 CEA members joined 8,000 educator colleagues from around the country June 30 – July 3 for the 100th National Education Association Representative Assembly. The NEA RA, which was held virtually this year, is the top decision-making body for the more-than-three- million-member NEA and sets Association policy for the coming year. Delegates heard from many inspirational guests and took on the work necessary to set the agenda for the nation’s largest labor union. After Year of Anxiety, Exhaustion, and Grief, Educators Emphasize Importance of Coming Together to Move Forward

their profession and stress the importance of investing in public education. “NEA is one of the nation’s indispensable organizations,” the president told delegates. “And I’m not just saying that because the first lady is a member.” He continued, “The entire country has witnessed the dedication and resolve of NEA members. The American people understand what you have been saying for years: You are professionals. All of you. And all of us have a responsibility to make sure you have what you need to educate our children equitably, safely, and well.” Although the NEA RA took place virtually, NEA leaders and staff gathered in person to broadcast their portion of events live, and President Biden and the first lady joined them in D.C. Before Biden, Bill Clinton was the last sitting president to visit the NEA RA, in 1993. Previously, Dwight Eisenhower (1957) and Lyndon Johnson (1965) participated. On the campaign trail, the Bidens stressed their commitment to public education, reaching out to NEA members and earning widespread support.

their own in the White House. “Well, here we are,” she said. “You helped make this real, so thank you, NEA. I have never been prouder to call myself an educator.” NEA President Becky Pringle praised President Biden for an “unwavering commitment to our students, to educators, to unions, to racial and social justice… to the shared values we all hold dear: freedom and fairness, equity, and equality.” Biden’s federal budget proposal unveiled in April and the American Families Plan that he has introduced call for enormous investments in students and public education. “This is a historic effort to decrease the funding gap between rich and poor school districts,” Biden told delegates. “No student’s education should depend on their ZIP code.” He said that a top priority of the funding bill would be higher teacher salaries and additional resources for schools. “This is absolutely necessary if we are going to compete in the 21st century,” he said. “Unions and teacher protests across the country made it clear that you deserve a raise—not just praise!”

“We not only made it through a year of fear and loss, anxiety and exhaustion, uncertainty and grief, anger and discouragement,” said NEA President Becky Pringle during her address, praising teachers’ courage, creativity, and caring during a year that was more challenging than any most educators have experienced in their professional lives. “We didn’t just survive this year. We learned. We grew. We questioned, and we answered. We didn’t just make it through. We lifted

up our voices, and we took action in ways that demonstrated our individual and collective power.” In prerecorded remarks to NEA members, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona thanked President Biden for his unprecedented investments in education, saying, “This is our moment to make our education system work for all students and for all educators.” Cardona and National Teacher of the Year Juliana Urtubey, a Nevada special education teacher, both stressed that collaboration is key for successfully educating all children. “It has been a very difficult year- and-a-half through the COVID-19 pandemic, and one of the things I have learned is that family partnerships are indispensable to a thriving community,” Urtubey said, adding that strong family partnerships allow students to be themselves at school, and it takes

everyone in the education community to make those partnerships possible.

“Everybody plays a critical role in ensuring our children and families are seen, embraced, and welcomed and that their strengths are uplifted.”

NEA President Becky Pringle greets First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.

Stacey Abrams Asks NEA Members to Speak Up and Defend the Right to Vote The timing of voting rights activist Stacey Abrams’ remarks to the NEA RA was fitting as delegates prepared for the July 4th holiday weekend to celebrate our democracy. “One of the reasons I’m always so honored to be in community with the NEA is because you speak for so many young people who may not have the power to act on their own, but they have you to lift their voices up, to make choices that can improve their lives, and to share the values that can build a brighter future for each of them,” Abrams told educators. She told delegates that the recent Supreme Court decision rolling back voting rights should anger us but not defeat us. As we consider Juneteenth and July 4th, Abrams said that we must remember that Juneteenth is not simply about the celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation; it’s the story of justice delayed. “It’s the story of refusing to acknowledge a changed world, clinging to the past, and refusing to tell the

President Joe Biden, pictured with NEA President Becky Pringle, is only the fourth sitting president to visit the NEA RA during its 100-year history.

Education Justice Front and Center As delegates worked to set the agenda for the nation’s largest labor union— debating amendments to the NEA Constitution, bylaws, policy statements, and resolutions, as well as 59 new business items—they considered a number of items involving education justice. Delegates quickly passed New Business Item A, which calls on NEA to create a task force that identifies the criteria for safe, just, and equitable schools. Other items call on NEA to work to eradicate institutional racism. “Our dedicated educators know their job is to educate students with honesty and integrity and to allow them to develop critical-thinking skills based on facts,” CEA President Jeff Leake said. “Educators are committed to teaching the truth about racism, inequities, and social justice in our public schools, in age-appropriate ways, and helping students examine the systems in which we all work and live to help build a better future for everyone. “It is a disservice to our students, our nation’s future leaders, to deny them a complete, honest examination of our nation’s history, including the opportunity to learn about centuries of history that we cannot ignore but must acknowledge,” he continued. “Only by helping students understand our history fully can we expect them to learn from it. In a recent speech delivered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, marking the hundredth year after the Tulsa race massacre, President Biden said, ‘For much too long, the history of what took place here was told in silence, cloaked in darkness.’ He added, ‘We can’t just choose to learn what we want to know and not what we should know.’” In an op-ed in USA Today , NEA President Becky Pringle shared similar sentiments, writing, “Teaching all of our children—regardless of their race or ZIP code, whether Native or newcomer—means teaching them the truth. It means finding age-appropriate ways to have difficult conversations in the classroom.”

truth. And on Juneteenth in Texas, the truth was finally told. It did not undo the past harm, but it created space for future good. And as we celebrate our Independence Day this coming weekend, we need to remember that independence is something we didn’t inherit; it’s something we fought for and something we fight for every generation, every day. And we fight for it most explicitly when we fight for the right to vote.” She told delegates that every educator who believes in the right to vote should reach out to their elected representatives to urge them to pass both The Voting Rights Advancement Act and S 1, The For the People Act.

Heading into the July 4th weekend, voting rights activist Stacey Abrams told delegates that it is an act of patriotism to defend the right to vote.

8 CEA ADVISOR SUMMER 2021 SUPPORTING TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES, OTHERS WITH CEA GRANTS, TEACHERS TAKE ON PROJECTS TO ENHANCE STUDENTS’ PRIDE IN THEIR SCHOOLS From murals and shiny new

with which the town has longstanding ties. “The teacher who organized this great event is the wonderful Michelle Gladue, a fourth-grade teacher at Pine Grove,” says Moss. “She always finds opportunities to teach her students the importance of helping others and being civic-minded individuals. When she heard that we wanted to organize a food drive, she didn’t hesitate to volunteer as a leader. She worked with her students to publicize the event, make signs, and count up the contributions as they came in.” “A lot of people are in need,” Gladue explains, “including many who find themselves in circumstances they didn’t expect— loss of a job, illness, or loss of a loved one. We live in one of the richest states in one of the richest One of the first-place winners, Anchor School at Harbor Landing in Stamford, is an alternative school moving into a building of its own for the first time this fall. The school had previously rented space in an office building, and teachers were very limited in their ability to decorate classrooms and modify the space to make it feel welcoming to students. “Now that we have our own space, we want to make it truly our own,” says grant recipient Ryan Perkins, an English teacher at the school. “When I saw the application for the grant from the CEA AE, I saw a unique opportunity to make our environment student-centered.” Anchor School at Harbor Landing serves middle and high school students who have previously struggled in a traditional school setting. The school offers smaller class sizes and a greater focus on social and emotional needs and community than most traditional secondary schools. Perkins and the other teachers have not yet had a chance to visit their new space. They plan to get a feel for the building and decide after the first few weeks of school how

best to use the grant money to enhance students’ pride in their space. Ideas include new bulletin boards and painting projects, including working with students on creating murals of their own design. “Our school is very diverse, and I’d love to use some of the money to allow students to culturally develop the school and make sure they feel represented in the space,” Perkins says. “Enhancing their feelings of

thousands of Connecticut residents have struggled with hunger; more than 150,000 of those residents have been children. With schools shutting down last spring and summer, cutting many students off from a primary source of their daily nutrition, teachers quickly mobilized. Many volunteered hours of their time evenings and weekends to collect and distribute food to families in need. This summer, CEA members continue to take up the cause. “Our members care deeply about their students and know what a difficult year it’s been for so many of them,” says CEA Regional Organizer Brendan Murphy. “They know firsthand that food insecurity threatens children’s health and development and causes greater difficulty in school. In spite of so many other demands placed on our educators since the start of the pandemic, they continue to do everything in their power to ensure their students are not undernourished or overlooked.” From late May through mid-June this year, teachers organized food drives at their schools, collecting nonperishable items such as canned fruit and vegetables, dried beans, canned soup, tuna, and chicken, shelf-stable milk and juice, peanut butter, and dried herbs and spices. Avon Education Association President Jon Moss notes that his district’s Pine Grove School collected more than 800 items for Gifts of Love, a local charitable organization bulletin boards to power-washed exteriors and flowerbeds, schools around Connecticut will be more welcoming for students and staff this fall, thanks to grants from CEA. Each spring, the CEA Aspiring Educators (CEA AE) Program typically organizes beautification projects at underresourced Connecticut schools. College students who are pre-service educators take on painting, cleaning, and gardening, among other projects, to give schools a brighter, more welcoming feel for students and staff. Due to COVID restrictions this spring, the CEA AE decided to instead offer grants to CEA members seeking to improve the look of their schools. The CEA AE initially offered $3,000 grants to two Connecticut schools in need of sprucing up. When applications came in from CEA members around the state, however, aspiring educators saw that the need was much greater. CEA’s Board of Directors stepped up and authorized additional funding so that two second- place winners could receive grants of $2,500 and 13 third-place winners would receive $1,000 grants.

The CEA Aspiring Educators Program usually organizes an annual beautification project at an underresourced Connecticut school; however, due to COVID restrictions, this year students decided to offer grants to schools instead. In this 2017 photo, CEA AE members work to paint murals, posters, and kindness rocks at Langford Elementary School in East Hartford.

Arita at Stamford’s Davenport Ridge Elementary School. Third-place awards went to schools in the CREC district, Cromwell, Danbury, East Windsor, Enfield, and Stamford. Photos and descriptions of completed grant projects will be posted to CEA’s blog .

connectedness to the school will only help them want to come to school and be there every day.” Also receiving a first-place award was Kelly Shea at Enfield’s Prudence Crandall Elementary School. Second- place grant awards went to Maureen Curran at West Hartford’s Louise Duffy Elementary School and Kevin

TEACHERS HELP COMBAT HUNGER IN THEIR COMMUNITIES As the pandemic exacerbated food insecurity, hundreds of affording food. “One of my students commented

three schools took the lead in organizing their local food drive. One of those teachers, Broad Brook School’s Elaine Shapiro, who serves on EWEA’s executive board, helped collect several grocery bags’ worth of food from a list provided by FoodShare. “I see the need for families and the toll this year has taken on them,” she says. “Donating food is a clear way to help them.” “Even though the economy is picking up and many people are going back to work, the need is still there,” says Jette. “This becomes even more crucial during times when school is not in session, because many students get at least one, if not two, of their meals at school.”

that he loved coming into school and watching the thermometer rise on the poster we made as the number of items collected increased. It was also rewarding to see the faces of the students light up as they were thanked for the groceries they contributed. It was cool for the kids to see the boxes fill up and realize their small contributions added up to make a big difference.” “Though we were winding down and looking forward to summer, we also realized the importance of helping people in need,” explains Jon Jette, president of East Windsor Education Association, explained in June. In East Windsor, teachers in

countries in the world. If everyone gave what they could when they could—whether it is time, money, or both—our world would be a better place. And if I want change, I need to be a part of it. This was something small I could do.” Teachable moments Gladue’s students helped by contributing to the food drive and creating posters explaining why some people had difficulty

Before the school year ended, Avon teachers and students collected hundreds of donations to feed the hungry. Avon teacher Michelle Gladue gives two thumbs up to the colleagues and students who pitched in and made their school’s food drive a success.