MSEA Convention 2010

Join your colleagues for two days of networking, learning, and fun at MSEA’s 2010 Convention and Representative Assembly. You can take free workshops and visit more than 100 exhibits all conveniently located under one roof at Ocean City’s Roland E. Powell Convention Center on October 15 and 16. Visit Marylandeducators.org for more information about Convention 2010, including workshops descriptions, special events, hotel discounts, and more. To learn facts about the convention click here. To learn more about special events and convention highlights click here.

BJs Promotion for HCEA Members

This offer is only available (4) times a year - September, December, March and June. Even if it is not time to renew yet, renew early and the 15 months will be added to the end of your current membership. To check your expiration date, it appears on the store cash register receipt or call 1-800-bjs-club. Save $10.00 on the $45.00 annual membership fee OR save $20.00 on the $90.00 annual fee for the Rewards membership. Each membership includes a FREE second card & (3) additional months FREE. Please note : This program it IS NOT available at the store level. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity call the HCEA office at (410) 997-3440.

New Teacher Orientation

Election 2010

More than 500 county and state lawmakers will be elected this year. These officials decide every important education issue that affects your students, classroom, school, worksite, working conditions, benefits, paycheck, and pension. Be sure your voice is heard—VOTE! To see the HCEA/MSEA/NEA recommended candidates click here.

Maleeta Kitchen Appointed to Maryland Council for Educator Effectiveness

Governor Martin O'Malley appointed Maleeta Kitchen to the Maryland Council for Educator Effectiveness. Maleeta is an elementary Mathematics teacher and a member of the HCEA Board of Directors. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from the University of Delaware and a Master of Science in Mathematics Education from Towson University. She developed and directs an after-school program to support minority girls transitioning to the middle school environment. Congratulations to Maleeta!

Discount HCEA Nights at Toby's Dinner Theater

Toby's Dinner Theater is offering HCEA members, friends and family discounted tickets to the hit musical "Nunsense" on Wednesday, September 8th and "Rent" on Tuesday, October 5th. Call 410-730-8311 for tickets. For more information about Nunsense click here.For Rent click here.

The 2010 NEA Rep Assembly Voted No Confidence in the US Dept. of Ed

The 9,000 delegates attending the 2010 NEA Representative Assembly took a position of “no confidence” in the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top program. New Business Item #2, which required a standing vote, passed by a narrow margin. The narrowness of the vote reflects the differences of opinions on Race to the Top among NEA’s state affiliates and members. For more information click here.

Staples Teacher Appreciation Day

Staples Teacher Appreciation Day will be held on Saturday, August 21st from 9 am to 12 pm noon. This year's events and will include a 1” binder filled with all sorts of special values to the first 100 educators in attendance, while supplies last. Click here to view a flyer detailing this year's event. Information about store locations can be found at www.staples.com/teacherday.

2010 Retirement Reception

On Wednesday, June 2nd members of the HCEA Membership Committee welcomed members who areretiring at the end of this school year to a reception hosted at HCEA. Click here to view photos from the reception.

End of the Year Rep Council Dinner

The annual end of year dinner for building reps was once again a great success. Awards were presented in the following categories: Friends of Education, UniServ of the Year, President's Awards, Principal's Appreciation Award, Reps of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Unsung Hero, and Rising Star. Outgoing members of the Board of Directors were also recognized along with members of the Sick Bank Committee and schools with the highest membership. Mary McDonald, Core Service Director for the Consortium for Educational Change was the keynote speaker. Click here to view photos from the dinner.

HCEA Recommends Local and State Officials for Fall Elections

The Howard County Education Association (HCEA) which represents over 5,100 teachers and support professionals employed by the Howard County Public School System has announced its recommendations for local and state offices for the primary election this fall. For more information click here.

NEA Member Benefits Giveaways and Sweepstakes Prizes

NEA members can register on the NEA Member Benefits Web Site (neamb.com) for a chance to win giveaways and sweepstakes prizes for April, May, and June 2010. For more information click here.

HCEA Did Not Forget New Orleans

We will be supporting the New Orleans Public Libraries by providing a collection of books for the Mahalia Jackson Family Center Library and providing funds to purchase a new Book Mobile. Please join us and lend your support to this important cause! For more information on how to donate click here.

2010 MSEA Legislative Wrap Up

A week or two ago we were able to help block a shift of employer pension costs from the state to the counties. We protected our benefits and did not increase our contributions. These were all real possibilities.

In the past three days, we’ve seen significant movement on a number of bills.

SB 590/HB 243: Our Labor Bill passed, creating an independent labor board to resolve bargaining impasses. I note that there is lack of agreement on part of MSEA staff whether this effort took 22 or 23 years. Perhaps we’ll put together a conference committee to resolve the disagreement!

SB 385/HB 946: The BOAST Tuition Tax Credit proposal morphed into a $10 million private school grant program and then self imploded, never making it to the House floor. The amendments created in the Subcommittee on Saturday night created such push-back from advocates—and constitutional problems for the program—that in the end they were not accepted by the Ways and Means Committee. Late last night, the Ways and Means Committee gave the bill an unfavorable report.

SB 899/HB 1263: Differences between chambers on Governor's Education Reform Act were worked out in conference and released in final two hours of the session. The conference report passed 138-1 in the House and 44-3 in the Senate. It increases tenure qualification period from two to three years. Additional supports are added for teachers not on track to receive tenure. Teacher evaluations to include student growth as significant component with no single criterion being weighted more than 35 percent. The evaluation instrument must be mutually agreed to at the local level (the “meet and confer” language was dropped) with State Board making final determination if parties can't reach agreement within six months.

HCPSS Teachers Participate in National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF) Forum

Several Howard County Public School teachers served on a panel discussion at a National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF) forum. The forum was held Wednesday, March 24th in Washington, DC. Hammond High School teachers Lori Bradley, Alan Kostrick and Michele Moore participated in the panel, discussing working on collaborative teams with experiences of a project based learning team engaging math, science and technology teachers and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center scientists in a new model of teaching and learning. Other HCPSS teachers who participated in the project include Eric Cullings, James Pendred, Lori Griffiths, Todd Rosenfeld, Dalrth Sendin, Lisa Sheperd, Jen Clements, Lee Summerville, Ed Nawrocki, Sally Ann Cooper and Rick Marquart. PHOTO: From left, Jen Clements, Lori Bradley, Michelle Moore, Alan Kostrick and HCEA President Ann De Lacy.

HCEA Election Results

Congratulations to the newly elected HCEA 2010 Board of Directors and elected delegates to the 2010 NEA Convention. To view a list of the elected officials click here.

MSEA Seeking Presenters for the 2010 MSEA Convention

MSEA is seeking presenters for the 2010 MSEA Convention workshops. The workshops will focus on relevant and timely education issues in the classroom and worksite. For more information about becoming a presenter click here.

The Literacy Empowerment Foundation

The Literacy Empowerment Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, invites your school or other literacy project to apply for FREE books for Read Across America Day. During the past year, LEF has distributed over 3,000,000 books to schools all across the country for Read Across America Day and other literacy projects. Resources are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Orders must be received by February 12th, 2010. Please share this information with your fellow educators! Free Books for Read Across America Day: To view the order form click here.

NEA Member Benefits

At NMBA.com you’ll find all new giveaways, savings, and resources to provide you with the support you need to take full advantage of the opportunities that await you. And that’s just the beginning! NEA Member Benefits has developed a year-round series of seasonal events for just about every occasion on your busy calendar, including Valentine’s Day, Spring Break, Teacher Appreciation Day, Summer Vacation, the holidays, and more.

You and your Facebook: Take precautions- Your job may be at stake

Home Buyer Incentives for NEA Members

NEA members qualify for several home buyer benefits with Wells Fargo. Benefits include a $200 gift card and $150 donation to a non-profit charity of your choice. For more information click here or call Scott Keenum at (410) 872-1929.

Emerging Leaders Generation V Graduates at Convention

Emerging Leaders Generation V Class receives graduation certificates and portfolios on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at the MSEA Convention. Training team leader Jima Thomas Gilbert is center front, Kristy Lynch, Alethia McCullough, Bonnie Skinner are on row two; Gina Nesmith, Nikki Logsdon, Joe Coughlin, Sylvia Boswell, Erskine Moss, Cindy Waugh, and Karen Searles are on the back row. Not pictured are Troy Diane Falactu, Erica Goodridge, Jill VanderHook, Kathleen Porier,and Ravi Pallilamari.

2009 Crab Feast

Once again the annual HCEA Crab Feast was a huge success! Members picked crabs, danced a few steps and won tons of door prizes!! Thanks to Denise Palmisano and the Membership Committee a good time was had by all. click here. Click here for additional photos.

Maryland Local Presidents Support the Fairness in Negotiations Act

On Tuesday, September 29th, Maryland Local Presidents met with State Senator Michael Busch and Delegate Shelia Hixson at the MSEA headquarters in Annapolis to support the Fairness in Negotations Act. The bill addresses a long-standing problem in the collective bargaining process that operates between teachers and local boards. This bill refines things so that a neutral third party arbitrator will resolve labor disputes within a specific timeline and issue a decision that is binding on both parties.

Photo left to right: Ann Delacy, Randy Cerveny, Debbie Russ, Ted Payne, Doug Prouty, Tim Mennuti, Speaker Busch, Gary Brennan, MSEA Vice President Betty Weller, Del. Hixson, Steven Brooks, Wanda Ruffo Twigg, Cheryl Bost, Debbie Pappas, and John Stange.

Check out HCEA on Facebook

 Check out the HCEA page on Facebook. Find us on Facebook by searching for HCEA or Howard County Education Association. Show your support by becoming our "fan"!

Read Across with Governor O’Malley and County Executive Ulman

Unfortunately Read Across America activities on March 2nd were cancelled due to snow but Governor Martin O’Malley and County Executive Ken Ulman read to second grade students at Running Brook Elementary on March 5th. The reading of Diffendoofer School by Dr. Seuss was followed by a press conference. The event was attended by parents, school board members, Superintendent Dr. Sydney Cousin, RBES Principal Troy Todd, MSTA Vice President Betty Weller and HCEA President Ann De Lacy. See Photos of the event.

HCEA Wins Sick Leave Arbitration

HCEA recently won an arbitration against the Board of Education regarding the reinstatement of sick leave to employees who return to the county after a two year absence. See details on the arbitration, initiated by HCEA UniServ Director Marius Ambrose.

Social Networking

Social networking spaces like MySpace and Facebook may be a good way to keep in touch with friends but teachers and other education personnel should be careful in terms of creating personal profiles, communicating with students, and sharing sensitive information. For tips on your profile and to read a recent Washington Post article click here.