feb-mar

SUPPORTING

FEBRUARY - MARCH 2018 CEA ADVISOR 7

TEACHERS SHOW WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE Model civic engagement, peaceful protest at Connecticut Women’s March

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

When it comes to social justice, teachers not only talk the talk in their classrooms—inspiring and empowering their students—they also, quite literally, walk the walk. Among the thousands of Connecticut residents who converged on the State Capitol on Saturday, January 20, for the second annual Connecticut Women’s March, teachers were well represented. “As a teacher of government, my favorite chant at these marches is, ‘Show us what democracy looks like? This is what democracy looks like!’” said East Hampton teacher Kristen Keska, who traveled to the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., last year. Keska says her students have a wide variety of views on today’s political issues, and she supports them in advocating for whatever causes they’re passionate about.

Because of uncertainty about budgets and state aid, school districts may be sending teachers more nonrenewal or reduction in force (RIF) notices than in the past. While many educators who receive these notices are back in their classrooms in the fall, the prospect of losing a teaching position you have worked so hard for can be extremely difficult. CEA is here to guide you through the process, protect your rights, and ensure the best possible outcome. Nonrenewal notices must be provided to teachers in writing no later than May 1. If you receive such a notice, talk to your local president or UniServ Rep about whether you should resign (in lieu of being non- renewed). Also ask about your eligibility for unemployment, getting references, and maintaining your union member benefits. 5 things to do right now: 1. Contact Your Union. Talk to your UniServ Rep or local president before signing any paperwork. 2. Reference Letters. Don’t delay! Ask at least two administrators if they will provide you with a reference letter. Keep your union representative in the loop. 3. Medical Coverage. Consider taking care of medical appointments and concerns before your deductible resets. 4. Personnel File. Now is a good time to contact HR and request a copy of your personnel file. If you have any disciplinary letters on file, discuss with your Association representative whether you should submit a rebuttal/response letter before your employment ends, to clarify gaps or inaccuracies. This is your legal right. 5. Association Membership. CEA legal services, member discounts, and other key benefits can be maintained during your layoff through your continued CEA membership. For questions about your membership options, NONRENEWAL NOTICES

Bloomfield teacher Mary Kay Rendock volunteered at the Women’s March.

“They believe in democracy and understand that peaceful protest is an essential part of good citizenship,” she says. East Hartford Education

Association Vice President Jill McNulty also marched in Hartford. “As a public school teacher, I find it’s important to advocate for our students. Last year I marched in D.C. with my daughter, who was a senior in high school, and it was an amazing experience. There was such positive and strong energy, and the diversity was inspiring.” East Hartford special education teacher Becca Thomson went to the 2017 march in Hartford and said the experience helped her feel re- energized and hopeful, so she felt it was important to attend again this year. “All of our kids deserve a well- funded education,” Thomson says. “I worry about attacks on special education at the federal level and want to make sure my students have the resources they need.”

East Hampton teacher Kristen Keska brought the Love Makes Great banner she carried in D.C. at last year’s Women’s March to Hartford this year.

Melanie Kolek, CEA Legal Counsel

First person When members need legal advice or representation, Kolek says, the first person they should speak to is their UniServ Representative. “Speak to no one else,” she adds. “If you’re not sure who your CEA UniServ Rep

Meet CEA Member Legal Services attorney Melanie Kolek. Kolek, who joined CEA in 2011, provides teachers with legal advice related to workers’ compensation matters, DCF investigations, terminations, certification appeals, unfair labor practices, duty of fair representation issues, and unemployment. She counsels teachers individually and offers Teachers and the Law workshops for educators (and administrators) regarding their legal rights and responsibilities. Her proudest moment over the last seven years with CEA, she says, was when she represented a member with a serious work-related injury. “His disability was such that he would never be able to work again,” she recalls. “Though it was very hard for him to give up the career he loved, I successfully negotiated a settlement that would adequately cover his wages and medical treatment for the remainder of his life. That’s just one example of the direct impact CEA Member Legal Services has on teachers’ livelihoods and careers every day.”

godmother, Joan Laskowski, recently retired after 40 years as a beloved teacher in Newington.” If she weren’t

practicing law, says Kolek, “I would be teaching.” Or, she

acknowledges, maybe performing on a bigger stage. “In 2014, I tried out to sing the national anthem at a Red Sox home game.” She didn’t make the cut, she admits, but she plans to keep trying! “I also play the saxophone,” she says. When she’s not working or spending time with her husband and their young son, Kolek often hits the pavement. Last year, she completed her 70th road race and has run through 53 towns. In addition to serving on CEA’s Member Legal Services team, Kolek is also staff liaison to the CEA Elections Committee, Constitution Revision Committee, and Professional Ethics Committee. She was also appointed to serve on the Executive Committee of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Connecticut Bar Association.

is, your local president can put you in touch with him or her, and that person will contact CEA Member Legal Services.” Teachers rarely anticipate being involved in legal matters and often don’t know whom they should—or shouldn’t—talk to. Although talking to a trusted colleague might seem like a good idea, Kolek cautions, it rarely is, especially in cases where colleagues are later required to report anything you shared with them. All in the family Long before becoming a CEA attorney, Kolek developed a keen understanding of the challenges and rewards of being a teacher. “My mother taught elementary school for many years and still tells incredible stories of her local Association striking on the picket line to support teachers’ working conditions in our state. My sister-in-law, Jamie, is a first-grade teacher in Manchester, and my

contact Cheryl Hampson at (860) 525-5641 or cherylh@ cea.org.

CEA can help you prepare to interview for a new teaching position. Attend one of our free 1.5-hour workshops, open to CEA members only, and hear from superintendents, directors of human resources, and people who have served on district hiring committees. Brush up on your resume, cover letter, and interviewing skills. Email myprofession@cea.org .