dec-jan

LEARNING

12 CEA ADVISOR DECEMBER 2018–JANUARY 2019

‘NEW TEACHER’ CONFERENCE OPENS UP TO EDUCATORS AT EVERY CAREER STAGE

Newcomers, veterans welcome opportunity to learn from each other

T wo years ago, a veteran teacher at CEA’s annual New Teacher Conference—designed for educators with less than seven years’ classroom experience—admitted that she returns to the event every year because she continues to learn. For their part, early-career teachers

Jahana Hayes Delivers Inspiring Message “You chose this profession because you wanted to make a

didn’t know how to elevate it.” Hayes recalled her own struggles as a student—growing up in poverty, born to a young mother battling addiction, and becoming a mother

difference, and that means standing on the front lines for democracy,” CEA President Jeff Leake told nearly 200 educators gathered for CEA’s 18th annual New Teacher Conference. Pointing to a “CEA Stronger Together” button he wears every day, he added, “This reminds us that our collective voice is so much more powerful than just one voice and that the best way to improve the fate of our students, our profession, and our communities is through the collective action of democratic, independent unions.” Teachers’ Voice: Helping Students Keynote speaker Jahana Hayes, the 2016 National Teacher of the Year who went on to win her bid for Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District seat, expanded on the idea of teachers’ voice and how she developed her own. In recent years, Hayes shared, she has at times been the only teacher in the room with powerful decision- makers setting public policy that runs counter to what teachers know will serve the best interests of their students. “Much of my journey has been about finding my voice,” she said. “No matter where you are in your profession, this may be something that you, too, are struggling with. I started to practice using my teacher voice with my students, because while I was afraid to speak up for myself, I had no problem fighting for my students. I had no problem advocating for them against anyone. My teacher voice was in me; I just TEACHER TO TEACHER No longer limited to early- career educators, this year’s New

said they valued the chance to ask candid questions and solicit input from their more- experienced peers on everything from classroom behavior to teacher evaluation. “This year, we decided to open up the conference to all teachers,” says CEA President Jeff Leake, “because we believe our

herself at 17. She credited her teachers with lifting her up. “It wasn’t just what was

happening in the classroom but the investment that teachers made in me outside the classroom, doing all of those things that we are told are ‘not our job.’” “Using our voice to advocate, to stand in intercession for people who don’t have a voice—that is what teachers are; that is what teachers do,” she said.

Plainville teachers Jill Limberger and Allison Pascucci, with a combined 52 years in the classroom, say there is always something new to learn at CEA’s annual New Teacher Conference.

members continue to benefit not only from

professional learning but also from interacting with their colleagues at various stages of their careers. Everybody gains a fresh perspective.” Attendees at this year’s conference, held in Southbury in late October, ranged from college students to teachers with nearly 40 years in the classroom. IN THEIR OWNWORDS What Brought Teachers from Every Corner of the State

“I definitely love that we got to meet other pre-service teachers in the CEA Student Program but also teachers from so many districts, because it’s great networking. I liked the diversity of the workshop sessions.” Kristen Iadarola, CEA Student Program, Southern Connecticut State University “I came for the professional development. If we don’t dedicate ourselves to our profession, we won’t be taken seriously. Also, when you’re the new kid on the block, it’s important to have people on your side. CEA has our backs.” Zachary Troiano, CEA Student Program, Eastern Connecticut State University technology training, because I want to use Google to help students organize their work and to help me differentiate my own instruction. I also attended the workshop on struggling writers, because when kids put their heart and soul on the page, I need to know, how do we help them without seeming critical?” Vanessa Ort, first- “We use Google Classroom extensively, and I came for the

Brimming with emotion at the keynote address was Hayes’ former student Iris Marte, now a world language teacher at Brown Middle School in Madison. “I am so inspired by her,” Marte said, blinking back tears. Jahana Hayes and former student Iris Marte, now a teacher, reconnect at CEA’s 2018 New Teacher Conference, where Hayes delivered the keynote address. profession to effectively advocate for the sake of education in this country, in today’s political climate.” Cragin and Timperanza both participated in a session titled Teachers and the Law, which updates teachers on ever- changing legal issues relevant to their practice, as well as Teacher Evaluation, where experienced educators provide support and insights for newer colleagues facing their first professional assessments. Other interactive workshops facilitated discussion among early-, mid-, and late-career teachers about topics ranging from interdisciplinary, project- based curriculum to incorporating “escape room” elements into problem-solving in the classroom. More resources for new teachers are available at cea. org/professional/newteacher . importance of unions. I know that as teachers, we can use our

Danique Williams, Monark Trivedi, and Julia Eldridge—early-career teachers from Hamden, Westport, and East Hartford, respectively—join forces at CEA’s New Teacher Conference. member means I don’t have to fight my own battles, because I have a community of teachers standing behind me.” Monark Trivedi, first-year math teacher, Coleytown Middle School, Westport Kate MacQuarrie (far left) joins teachers from other districts in a workshop that unpacks why student writers struggle and how teachers can help. “ Growing up, I wasn’t much of a talker, so I was a writer. Writing is a huge cognitive load. I’m here to better understand where students are tripping up and how we remediate. I want to set up an environment where risk-taking is safe, so you’re not focusing on the immediate—that is, developing the writing—but the long term: developing the writer.” Tashana Schmidt, fourth-year ELA teacher, Dunbar School, Bridgeport “This conference was so much fun. I’m part of the STEM team, and I was here to think like a student. My co- teacher is a strong union professional who is very active and involved and introduced me to the work of our local association.” Kate MacQuarrie, language arts teacher, East Hartford Middle School “I want to avail myself of everything my association has to offer. Belonging to CEA gives me opportunities for professional development. Also, being a

Teacher Conference helped educators at all stages of their careers learn to better engage their students, manage behavior, assist struggling writers, build a culturally responsive classroom, advocate for themselves as professionals, and more. Geared toward teachers with less than seven years of classroom experience—but now open to all CEA members—the conference featured two rounds of workshops, many of them presented by teachers, and covering a wide variety of topics. Brian Cragin, a 38-year veteran special education teacher, said, “Regardless of how long you’ve been teaching, the education landscape is a constantly changing horizon. One needs to be informed, and we turn to our unions for that information.” “I may be new to the profession,” said first-year teacher Jeremy Timperanza, “but as a social studies teacher, I know the

year special education teacher, Rochambeau Middle School, Pomperaug