dec-jan

DECEMBER 2018–JANUARY 2019 CEA ADVISOR 3

News Briefs

IN THIS ISSUE

2 LEADING

Showcase Your Local Association and Members! Each year, CEA recognizes

Teachers scored decisive victories at the polls on Election Day, but the hard work of strengthening public education continues as CEA looks ahead to the new year and start of the legislative session. MOBILIZING Grassroots activism, from phone banking to doorknocking, was instrumental in electing legislators who care about students and teachers. REPRESENTING Teachers will be well represented at the State Capitol and in D.C. as key positions are filled by public education advocates such as Jahana Hayes in Congress. Read how teachers are already playing a big role in policymaking. Uncovered in a growing number of schools, mold is making teachers sick. Find out what CEA and local associations are doing to keep you safe in your classroom. Meet 2019 Connecticut Teacher of the Year Sheena Graham and distinguished colleagues from school districts throughout the state and find out what earned them the state’s highest honor. Azerbaijan to Mozambique—all the world’s a classroom for Connecticut teachers who were granted fellowships that let them travel the world to bring global experiences back to their students. LEARNING Catch all the highlights from CEA’s 18th annual New Teacher Conference. Hear from your colleagues about the importance of professional development and why the conference is beneficial to early, middle, and late career teachers. BUDGETING An update on CEA’s fiscal health from Treasurer Kevin Egan. INFORMING From negotiating the terms of your contract to securing resources for your students, your union is your eyes, ears, voice, and guide to your rights and responsibilities. Read about UniServ organizers, local building reps, and other teacher allies available to help you. CEA-RETIRED NEWS Even outside the classroom, retired teachers are tireless advocates for public education. Learn how their activism is helping you. 18-19 HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS NEWS Get expert advice on responding to aggressive student behavior, creating LGBTQ-inclusive classrooms, and handling difficult topics, such as hate crimes. 20 VOLUNTEERING 12 13 16 17 For the fifth year in a row, teachers lend a hand and shake a leg at the Eversource Hartford Marathon to benefit the Connecticut Education Foundation. ON THE COVER Pushing back ceiling tiles reveals a pervasive mold problem plaguing Stamford schools, as well as school buildings throughout the state. CEA and local teachers associations are working hard to remove teachers and students from unsafe environments and provide assistance with workers’ compensation claims. 4 5 6-7 INVESTIGATING 8-9 HONORING 10-11 EXPLORING

Nominating yourself, your local association, or a colleague is easy. Visit cea.org/about/ grants-awards and learn more about the following awards: • ABCD Award (Above and Beyond the Call of Duty) • CEA Clifford Silvers Education Advocacy Award • CEA Newsletter/Website Competition • CEA Salutes Award • Charles B. Kelly Local Media Award • Thomas P. Mondani CEA Friend of Education Award • Norman E. DeLisle Public Relations Grant

local associations, individual members, and community stakeholders who make the teaching profession shine. Awards and grants are given for best association website and newsletter, outstanding teaching professionals and advocates, new public relations projects, best media coverage, and more. The annual competitions are open to all local associations across the state, and the deadline for entries is 5 p.m. on Friday, February 22, 2019. Award winners will be recognized at the CEA Representative Assembly in May.

Nominated by a colleague, Enfield first-grade teacher Emily Hulevitch was honored with the 2018 CEA Salutes award.

Teddy Bears on Ice Benefit Connecticut Students Amid the usual cheers of the hometown crowd when the Bridgeport Sound Tigers scored their first goal of the night on Black Friday, hundreds of fans’ hearts. CEA Recognizes Teaching Excellence Nominate yourself or an outstanding colleague for the John McCormack CEA Award for Teaching Excellence. This award, which includes $2,000 and an all-expenses paid trip to the NEA Foundation’s Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Gala in Washington, D.C., honors teachers who are creative, student-focused, culturally responsive, dedicated to lifelong learning, and strong advocates for public education. The winner of the McCormack Award goes on to become CEA’s nominee for two additional prestigious honors: the Horace Mann Award and the NEA Member Benefits Award, with prizes up to $25,000. Apply by January 28 at cea.org/about/grants-awards .

In a new video at BlogCEA.org, Wallingford teacher and former McCormack Award winner Christopher Stone encourages teachers to apply for this prestigious award.

Watch a fun, 30-second video of the teddy bear toss at blogcea.org .

“We’re very grateful that the Sound Tigers are donating the bears they collected—more than 300 of them—to our Holiday Bear project,” said Nicholas. Each year, Holiday Bear delivers gifts and

teddy bears rained down onto the ice. Hockey fans that evening brought—or bought—stuffed animals of every size and color to donate to children nominated for this year’s CEF Holiday Bear project. “It was a lot of fun. Fans were excited about the bear toss,” said CEA Vice President Tom Nicholas, who serves as president of the Connecticut Education Foundation (CEF), CEA’s charitable arm. Even though the Sound Tigers lost 3-2 to the Hartford Wolf Pack, the teddy bear toss warmed

holiday cheer to Connecticut’s neediest children— students who have been nominated by teachers aware of their families’ needs. This year, thanks not only to Sound Tigers fans but also teachers and other sponsors throughout the state, gifts were

collected for 800 Connecticut children from preschool through twelfth grade. “We loved being a part of Holiday Bear,” says Dan Tamburro, director of group sales for the Sound Tigers and Webster Bank Arena. “We are very involved with our community, and it means a lot to us to expand our reach throughout the state.” The Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Webster Bank Arena host numerous CEA Teacher Appreciation events throughout the hockey season and year-round, with discounted tickets and themed games for CEA members. Don’t miss December 27, Union Night, where you can take advantage of a special package and get a complimentary beverage and beanie!

Sound Tigers forward Kieffer Bellows and goalie Christopher Gibson help make the holidays brighter for Connecticut schoolchildren through CEF’s Holiday Bear project.

CONNECT WITH CEA

cea.org

facebook.com/ CTEdAssoc

youtube.com/ ceavideo

blogCEA.org

twitter.com/ ceanews

instagram.com/ cea_teachers

flickr.com/ photos/ceapics