President Barb Angaiak

Bold Leadership, Bold Action

2012-01-30T11:55:00.000-09:00

I couldn't be more proud of the decisions made at the 56th Delegate Assembly by our elected delegates! There were some big issues and excellent debate throughout the weekend. Delegates approved changes in our PACE Guidelines and new Vision Statement for the organization. Also approved were renewal of the four priority one items from last year. We have work to do and our lobbying effort will again concentrate on school funding, rural housing, return to retirement with dignity, and ESP retirement credit for unused sick leave. Important to our entire membership, we will focus our energy in achieving these goals. This DA was exciting, entertaining, purposeful and we even adjourned in record time! On a personal note, my sincere thanks to all who had so many kind things to say about my work as state president. It has been a true pleasure to work with so many fantastic members! There is still much more work to be done, and if you think my plan is to take it easy from now until July, guess again! I will continue to push for improving what we do.

It's Delegate Assembly Time!

2012-01-18T12:58:00.000-09:00

Each year we bring elected delegates from across Alaska together to set direction for the coming twelve months. It is a huge logistical undertaking and an important one to our membership. Governance leaders and our staff set the course of NEA-Alaska based upon decisions made during Delegate Assembly. Facing cuts in positions and tough bargaining in a number of school districts, we must face the realities of our own budget. This is the time to double check our expectations with the facts. While we haven't had the same circumstances as many other state organizations, any reduction in membership means a reduction in our resources. Every New Business Item (NBI) should be aligned with our mission and vision. For many years, we took up issues that were not consistent with the role we play in decision-making as related directly to public education and school employees. These were sometimes things we thought were nice and wanted to support because they felt good. We cannot afford to focus on anything that is not specific to the mission and vision we have created. I hope delegates will keep this in mind as we meet and deliberate.

New Year, Renewed Commitment

2012-01-02T09:55:00.000-09:00

Happy New Year! We have much to be thankful for in this new year. We have a renewed commitment to our professions and excellence in all we do. This is our 2012! It is our year to take control of our work by demonstrating our expertise and professional judgement in moving ourselves forward. The work we do in Alaska's public school districts is critical to the future of the state because we are preparing tomorrow's leaders. Specifically, we model hard work, dedication, excellence and care for our students. We take up the slack when our families or communities cannot do the job, regardless of the reasons. We teach all who enter our classrooms, gyms, cafeterias and hallways. We provide undeniable support to be sure the systems within our districts are working properly.The new Mission and Vision statements of NEA-Alaska reflect our work as an organization and powerful voice for the future. Delegates to our annual meeting later this month will take a stand on these items. It is my sincere intent that delegates take the time to think carefully about these statements. We have worked long and hard to develop them in a way that truly states who we are and where we are going.

To each of our members I wish the very best for the coming year. May it be productive, satisfying and positive!
Barb

Holidays and Wishes

2011-12-19T11:55:00.001-09:00

The holidays are a wonderful time to reflect on where we are and where we are going. The past year has been full of changes, disappointments, and rewards. As we look to the new year, let us remember we are educators. We care about all our students, regardless of their background, experience, support or lack thereof. We do our work with intent to provide the very best for Alaska's children and deserve to be acknowledged for our effort. Our priorities reflect our need to be certain the very youngest Alaskans are taken care of and to take be sure decision makers understand how important their actions are to our future as a state. During 2012 I intend to do everything I can and will ask all leaders to do the same to insist public education in Alaska be carefully safeguarded and protected.

Why It Makes Sense to Support President Obama

2011-12-09T09:46:00.000-09:00

NEA-Alaska has a well-developed record of supporting candidates who support the concerns of our membership. We have a strong history of being truly bi-partisan in making decisions about issues, rather than party affiliation. In 2012 we will go to the polls and decide the direction our nation will head. Will we maintain our ability to organize and bargain contracts? I hope so. Will we keep the fundamental middle class values we hold dear? I hope so. Last summer, delegates to the Representative Assembly voted to make an early recommendation to support the re-election of President Obama. This decision was based upon where all of the major candidates stood on our issues. While I don't agree with every policy and decision, the President supports unionism and our right to exist as a union. He supports making sure that all children receive a quality education and decent health care. He supports a strong and well-supported public education system for all. I have not seen or heard anything from his opposition that makes me believe they share my values and concerns. Please join me in supporting President Obama's campaign for re-election.

Mission and Vision

2011-11-25T12:09:00.000-09:00

Well over two years ago, the NEA-Alaska Board of Directors embarked on a journey to renew and revitalize our strategic plan. A diverse group of members, staff, and leaders worked diligently to develop new mission and vision statements that reflected our expectations for the state organization. The committee worked from their own perspectives and those of members across the state who were surveyed one-on-one to develop these statements. This was truly member driven action. In January of 2011, all Delegate Assembly delegates were given a copy of the two items for reflection. A presentation was made to explain the process, reasoning, and expectations. Throughout the process, all constituency groups of NEA-Alaska were represented and have had ample opportunity to give feedback. One change was proposed to the Mission statement in all that time. During the upcoming Delegate Assembly, 2012, we will ask the delegates to adopt the new Mission and Vision statements for the organization. I firmly believe this is the right direction and support passage with no hesitation.

American Education Week Coming Up!

2011-11-03T12:22:00.003-08:00

American Education Week has been celebrated for 90 years in the United States. That's a long tradition of honoring the work of public school educators. Local Associations and our statewide NEA-Alaska take time to recognize the value of the work our members across the state do every day. They are responsible for making sure our children attend school in buildings that are safe, welcoming and provide a high quality learning environment. They connect with community members to help our society understand the importance of public education. Those who do not have direct contact with students help school district systems function properly in all ways, physically and intellectually. We encourage parents and community members to take time to say "Thank You" to school district employees. It is through their hard work and dedication that our students receive a fine education.

Fall Event Success!

2011-10-26T06:11:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, a keynote address by well known educational historian and expert, Diane Ravitch, and fantastic training took place with over 150 members in attendance. There were workshops on technology and social networking, treasurers training, current trends in special education, bullying, brain research, and teacher evaluation and standards. The feedback has been extremely positive from those who participated. I want to thank our staff, management, and presenters who worked hard to pull it all together. They did a fantastic job!

ESEA/NCLB Reauthorization on the Move!

2011-10-18T05:41:00.000-08:00

I have been asked to come to Washington, D.C. this week to help lobby for needed changes in the federal law that impacts every public school in America. Since the last reauthorization in 2003, educators have talked about needed changes in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. You may remember that President George W. Bush termed the law "No Child Left Behind". It was a catchy term that took hold. Sadly, education professionals recognized that the provisions insisted we focus our schools on assessments. We fully agreed that high standards based on something we could measure was needed. One problem has been a requirement for teachers to be highly qualified in every subject they teach. This is difficult when teachers are assigned to teach classes for which they are not prepared or schedule changes happen due to student needs. Another issue is the concept of turnaround models for school change when not enough progress is being made. The difficulty of staffing a school in a small rural school is tough to begin with, and the added option of either closing a school (essentially closing the doors on a community) or changing the staff when it's already hard to find qualified and willing teachers, is almost impossible. I have meetings with Senator Murkowski and Senator Begich to talk about needed changes. They both understand many of our concerns and I look forward to speaking with them on the specifics of the bill and ammendments upon which they will make decisions.

Alaska's Public Schools: Diverse and Wonderful

2011-09-07T10:18:00.000-08:00

The next set of NEA-Alaska advertisements are being filmed in several locations around the state this week. The focus is on the widely diverse offerings available in our public schools. From charters to immersion programs to boarding schools, Alaska offers a tremendously wide array of offerings to meet the needs of our students. Focus on rigorous academics, preservation and celebration of indigenous cultures, arts curriculum, vocational and technical education are just some of what is available. I am very excited that the new ads will help the public understand all the fantastic variety offered in our state. The new ads are scheduled to begin airing statewide at the end of September. I hope they are appreciated and drive home the point that Alaska's public schools are fantastic, and those who work in them believe in the power of a public education!

New Beginnings, New Concerns

2011-08-16T10:45:00.002-08:00

The start of a new school year is exciting! There are so many things to think about and prepare for as we get underway. The tragic news this week of the plane crash near McGrath gives us pause. It makes us think about many things. First, we send heartfelt condolences to those grieving over the loss of two souls. The pilot and one teacher perished in the accident. The loss to their families, friends and communities will be felt for a very long time. I am also concerned about the young teaching couple and their children who were in the plane. They will survive and ultimately be ok physically, but I still worry about them. Will the community and children in the Anvik school be angry that they survived and another did not? Will they be able to help the community heal from such a tragedy? Will the school board of the Iditarod Area School District make sure their bills are taken care of? Their health insurance coverage does not officially kick in until September 1st. I hope we all check contract language to be sure staff members are covered from their first day on the job. This is important, especially if something happens during the beginning weeks of the year.

To everyone who works at a school, in a school district, attends school or has anything to do with a school in Alaska- Have a wonderful year and please let me know if I can help in any way!

Barb

Good Ideas Get Good Support Nationally

2011-07-02T18:41:00.004-08:00

One of the best things about the NEA Representative Assembly is the debate and revision that leads to good ideas being supported. The NEA-Alaska Delegate Assembly voted in January to send an item to the RA. The language read: NEA work with other education organizations to create a national panel to systematically analyze current response to the increasing public attention and clamor for performance based and "value-added" teacher assessment. Unfortunately, the price tag for such a panel would have been a whopping $220,700. We worked closely with fellow delegates from Georgia and California to establish an ammendment that ended up passing. The revision does not take away the overall intent of the item, but reduces the cost to about $3,000. This was a good outcome for everyone and I hope will result in good information that can be shared.

Three Big Issues in Chicago

2011-06-14T15:51:00.002-08:00

This is an important summer. Three important decisions will be made by delegates to the 2011 NEA Representative Assembly in Chicago. The first is whether to make an early endorsement of Barack Obama for re-election as President of the United States. The second is approval of a policy to explain where we stand on educator evaluation. The third would implement a special dues assessment of ten dollars toward the NEA Crisis Fund. As always, NEA-Alaska delegates will discuss and decide how we feel about each issue. Each delegate will have an opportunity to listen and participate in the debate in our caucus meetings and on the floor of the Convention Center. While we often take a caucus position, delegates are free to choose for themselves and vote accordingly. Similar to our own Delegate Assembly setting direction for NEA-Alaska, the NEA Representative Assembly establishes the direction for NEA for the coming year. This year will be exciting and important. I look forward to working with our delegates again.

Graduation

2011-06-01T15:21:00.004-08:00

My daughter graduated from college on Sunday. It was a fantastic weekend of family, friends and LOTS of tradition! Throughout the entire experience I kept thinking about how important history is to our society.

I sat between my Dad and my husband for the ceremony. It was wonderful to hear my Dad talk of his own graduation from college, 63 years ago! His college experience had been interrupted by his service in the Army during World War II.

We remembered the weekend of my graduation also, and how much fun we had at a huge picnic put on by me and my friends for all our guests at a nearby park.

The traditions of my daughter's University are far older and more rich than those of the colleges I attended. The importance of assuring religious freedom for those who founded her school spoke to me and reminded me that the causes we fight for, even today, are so important to each individual. Tears fell and my pride in my child's accomplishment was overwhelming. The president of the University spoke of the education students received being crucial because of the emphasis in learning to think critically and question. That's really what we can learn from history. We can learn to look carefully and ask why and how so we move foward with better clarity.

May and Away

2011-05-19T09:21:00.005-08:00

As we think about summer plans and most of us prepare to be away from our jobs, it is a great time to think about commitment to our association. The work we do is not, as some like to say, volunteer. We are advocates for ourselves and for our fellow members. If "volunteer" means not getting paid, I guess most active members are volunteers, but I prefer to look at it in a different way. My belief is that those who provide service to the membership do it because they believe in the organization. I think they see it as an opportunity to make sure that an excellent public education is intimately tied to great educators. And when I say educators, I mean ALL who work in public education, not just those with direct student contact. If you are away from your job this summer, please consider the level of help you can provide to our association within the coming year. Can you spare time to help serve on a committee? Can you be a building representative who helps get information to and from the membership? Can you come to a meeting so you'll be fully informed? You don't have to be an expert because we can offer training to those who are willing to serve. Please consider this. Together we are stronger and can have greater impact than we already have. Enjoy the summer!

The Loss of Two Educators

2011-04-21T12:37:00.004-08:00

This week we have lost two educators and the pain is deep. First, we heard of a blow to the entire West High School family in Anchorage. Ten year veteran teacher, Dale Brabec, was enjoying his spare time at Bird Creek south of the city and an apparent accident took his life. My heart goes out to his young family, his students, and his colleagues. This morning I received word that Caroline Wolforth has passed on. Caroline was a longtime educator and proponent of alternative education programs. Her voice and hands were felt throughout the educational community for many years. She was a volunteer, she established many community-based programs, and was a strong advocate for children in Anchorage and Alaska. She shaped much of our thinking and action related to the work of community members and their impact on the lives of our students. She will be greatly missed.

Winding Up and Winding Down in Juneau

2011-04-14T21:44:00.002-08:00

The last days of the first session of the 27th Alaska State Legislature are upon us. The end date is April 17th at midnight and there is still much that has yet to be decided at this point. Late today, SB 84 (Senate Education) was given a Committee Substitute that looked little like the original bill. All reference to the Base Student Allocation (BSA)has been stripped out of the document. It now contains money for voc/tech (CTE)at about $11.5 million in total, tax credits for donations to intercollegiate activities, and $500,000 per year for a three year pilot in the Iditarod School District for a "theme based" program. Representative Les Gara tried to insert an increase to the BSA back into the bill. He, Rep. Guttenberg, and Rep. Doogan voted yes on the ammendment. All others voted no. They include Representatives Neuman, Costello, Edgmon, Thomas, Stoltz, Fairclough, Wilson and Joule. I wonder if these elected officials are considering the consequences for children in their school districts. Or, are they thinking more about pushing back at the Senate in a power battle?

First Ever Spring Leadership Academy!

2011-04-11T14:17:00.002-08:00

Wow, what an exhilarating weekend of training and sharing! We offered four strands of training for members from across the state and the response was incredible! The new format and offerings are part of a new strategy to develop members as leaders. We offered something for everyone. There was training for emerging leaders, experienced local leaders, training for those interested in putting themselves into a greater role in a political sense, and a strand for those already in offices within the Association. We had two excellent keynote speakers, Armand Tiberio who heads up the NEA Pacific Region Office as Executive Director, and Paula Monroe from the NEA Executive Committee. Both speakers were inspiring and energetic. We all left the conference with real belief that "We Are One" and "We can get the job done!"

We ARE one, we are EVERYWHERE, and we will NOT be stopped!

2011-04-06T15:04:00.002-08:00

This week was inspirational. We stood side by side with leaders in our communities and talked about the impact laborers have had on middle class America. This was not just union members. These were board members, business leaders, leaders in our faith communities and ordinary citizens. We came together to show solidarity and unity. We came together to show decision makers that we believe in the ideals of the American dream. We believe our battles for equity are just and must be heeded if our society is to move forward. I thank all those who helped coordinate rallies, made signs, stood in the rain, honked the horns on their vehicles and everyone who supports our efforts. Outstanding rallies were held in Ketchikan, Juneau, Soldotna, Mat-Su, Fairbanks and Anchorage. We were there and we showed our unity with the communities in which we live and work to provide the very best to the children of Alaska!

Standing Together As One

2011-02-17T20:40:00.003-09:00

Today's news highlights more attacks than ever on public schools and our nation's educators. Under the guise of budget cuts and other needs, those who believe unions are the problem with public education today are on the attack. They propose legislation that will gut our ability to organize education employees and protect the rights of our members. Ultimately, this harms our children because their teachers and other adults important to their success have to focus on survival rather than professional issues. We stand strong with our brothers and sisters in states across the country who are in deep battle to protect their rights. Members in Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Wisconsin and others have my full support!

A New Mission, A New Vision

2011-02-09T07:25:00.002-09:00

Why we exist and where we are going are the focus of the new statements developed over the last eighteen months by the NEA-Alaska Strategic Planning Committee. This group thoroughly reviewed existing documents and whether they fit our current and future reality. The next steps are to get feedback and ideas from membership on goals and plans of action to move us toward realizing our vision and mission. Our UniServ directors and leaders will be asking for suggestions over the next few months. The NEA-Alaska Board of Directors will be developing goals and action plans at the upcoming retreat in June.

Annual Delegate Assembly This Week

2011-01-25T14:55:00.003-09:00

It's the end of January and that can only mean one thing to activists in NEA-Alaska. It's DA week! Over four hundred members elected by locals across the state will converge on Anchorage and the Hotel Captain Cook to think, create, discuss, debate, and vote on our priorities for the next year. Up for a vote will be decisions on a new mission and vision for the organization and consideration of a renewal of a special dues assessment for our long range image campaign. This is always an exciting time for us and I look forward to meeting with so many members. We ARE the education leadership of Alaska and we're about to renew our committment to public education!

New DEED Commissioner Michael Hanley

2010-12-29T00:16:00.002-09:00

Newly appointed Commissioner Mike Hanley came into the NEA-Alaska Anchorage office for a visit last week. We discussed numerous priority issues such as what to do with/about the HSGQE, education funding, rigor in school programs and coursework, working together, the concerns members have had with certification, the importance of recognizing National Board Certification of teachers, and others. Commissioner Hanley also consented to coming to our Spring Leadership Academy in April to speak to members. He will be making a gradual transition from principal of an elementary school in Anchorage to working full time in Juneau. He intends to be living in the capital city and on the job completely by February. His big concern right now is making sure the students and staff of his school are taken care of and there is a smooth transfer to new leadership. I found Mr. Hanley to be professional, caring and a very good listener. He even jotted down my request that the Department stop using the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage since we are participants in boycotting of the property due to the continued lack of willingness on the part of management to settle the contract with their staff.

Anonymous?

2010-11-04T14:20:00.001-08:00

If you would like to have your comment published, please sign your name. Anonymous comments will not be posted.

We DO NOT use Member Dues for Political Action

2010-10-30T18:28:00.002-08:00

Let's get one thing clear. NEA-Alaska DOES NOT use even one penny of dues payments from our members in political activity. Our Political Action Committee for Education (PACE) is a completely separate account and no dues money is EVER used for political action of any kind. The money used for communication in the political arena are collected outside of membership dues. I have had a few inquiries lately about this and want to make sure there is no doubt about this.

Professional Development Focus of Fall Event

2010-10-25T08:11:00.002-08:00

Regionally appropriate offerings in the areas of bargaining and rights is the current direction we are heading with former offerings in our annual Fall Event. With this shift in how we deliver advocacy training, we were able this year to offer more in Professional Development for our members. Cultural competency, issues of importance in the area of education reform as reflected in bargaining, special education and the law, and other offerings took place over the weekend. This was the largest Fall Event we've ever held in the number of participants. Some sessions were overflowing the capacity of the meeting rooms in which they were held. I'm looking forward to reading the evaluations to get more response from those who attended. College credit was offered at the very reasonable cost of just $69!

How are decisions made?

2010-10-17T19:03:00.003-08:00

Sadly, we can't please everyone. The best we can hope for is to make informed decisions and be earnest in our efforts. So often I am asked about decisions and why they are made. I am a homework person and I do everything I can to find out all the related information about a topic before coming to a conclusion. Many decisions are made along with other leaders and our staff in consultation. There are many inquiring about the PACE decision to support Lisa Murkowski for the U.S. Senate. This was a carefully discussed and thougthtful decision and was not made in haste. I have been responding to members who have concerns about this decision. They have every right to question the decision and I am doing my best to help them understand the process that was used.

One Nation Rally in Washington D.C.

2010-10-02T17:21:00.003-08:00

Today I was overwhelmed by the impact of the One Nation rally and march on the mall in Washington D.C. So many were there expressing concern over the need for Americans to have jobs, a place to live, food, health care, and opportunity. It was a non-denominational event, and it was a non-partisan event. This was a huge outpouring of concern and emotion about the state of so many in our country as they struggle to survive. I feel honored to have represented Alaska and NEA-Alaska members at this moment in our history.

Representing Our Membership

2010-09-25T13:54:00.002-08:00

Much has been said lately about the decisions of the NEA-Alaska PACE. This is the committee that decides which candidates for office we will be supporting as an organization. It would probably be impossible for everyone to agree on every race, but we use a democratic process. The group consists of the entire Board of Directors, including officers and at-large members. Additionally, we elect one committee member for each of the regional directors. The current total of the committee is 61. Every member has a voice and every member can run for a seat on the board or PACE. I routinely encourage those who express disappointment in our decisions to get involved and make their wishes known. This is how we arrive at good decisions and it is how we get real representation.

This weekend I am in Juneau and Fairbanks. On Tuesday I head for Washington, D.C. to represent NEA-Alaska at meetings of our national organization.

NEA-Alaska PACE

2010-09-20T09:35:00.002-08:00

Wow! Much has been stated in the last twelve hours via Facebook regarding the actions taken by the NEA-Alaska PACE. First, here are the facts about how the PACE decisions are made and who makes them. The committee consists of the entire board of directors and officers, along with one additional member elected per regional director at our statewide annual meeting. So, the board members and officers have been elected by all members who choose to participate in our elections. The delegates to the annual meeting from each region vote for the members who will represent them in the additional seats on the committee. This is a democratic process. Leadership of NEA-Alaska does not decide who these representatives are in isolation. The process is completely transparent.

In June 2010, the NEA-Alaska PACE selected and approved recommendation of Lisa Murkowski for U.S. Senate. The vote taken for this action was a 2/3 majority of PACE and we forwarded the recommendation to NEA. As of last Friday evening, we still had this recommendation. Yesterday, during the PACE meeting, the committee again chose to endorse Lisa Murkowski, again with 2/3 or more of the group approving. Again, transparent and elected representatives of the membership made the decision.

Why do I support the decision of the committee? I believe the two most important issues at the federal level for educators are the upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as No Child Left Behind, and the Government Pension Offset/Windfall Elimination Provision affecting Social Security benefits for our members. Senator Murkowski has been working on finding solutions to problems in NCLB since she went to Washington. She has been extremely receptive to ideas and suggestions we have presented. She has made sure decisionmakers understand what Alaska's needs are by bringing three Secretaries of Education to our state. She signed on immediately as a co-sponsor of the bill to repeal GPO/WEP and has not wavered in her support. I don't always agree with her decisions and votes, but I think about the impact on a daily basis that these two issues have for us. Those who think differently are entitled to their opinions. I will be voting for Senator Lisa Murkowski on November 2nd because she believes in the issues I care most deeply about.

Moving Forward

2010-09-09T19:21:00.002-08:00

Many new changes are on our horizon. A dedicated and knowledgeable group of leaders, members, and staff has been meeting as an ad hoc committee to work on our organizational technology needs. We have been making specific recommendations and requests to improve our ability to communicate with each other and with our membership. Some examples of the work are improvements to the NEA-Alaska website, a plan to pilot response devices at upcoming meetings, use of technology to provide our board with information, and development of new formats for member engagement. Watch for these and many more changes in the near future!

Primary Election Results

2010-08-30T10:14:00.002-08:00

Thanks so much to all who played a part in making sure Ballot Measure 1 was defeated! This was one of the top four priorities from the 2010 Delegate Assembly and our management team helped make sure the word got out through staff and members across the state. A special thank you to those who participated in phone banking!

We still wait for the absentee and questioned ballots to be counted and the election certified. NEA-Alaska recommended Senator Lisa Murkowski in the primary and we hope for a positive outcome once all is known.

How Nice When Politicians Get It!

2010-08-20T10:41:00.002-08:00

On Monday I'll be joining U.S. Senator Mark Begich in announcing two pieces of legislation that will help public education in Alaska. The first will make the i3 grants a permanent mechanism for funding innovative educational plans. The second will provide added support for Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) programs and focus on assistance to educators in related fields. I applaud the Senator's efforts in this area and appreciate his work to improve public schools in ways that make sense.

Huge Contributions, Tragic Loss

2010-08-14T19:20:00.002-08:00

Former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens was among the five who perished in a tragic plane crash this week. Regardless of political differences, no one can dispute the huge contributions made by "Uncle Ted" to Alaska and to America. It surprised me to learn that Senator Stevens was instrumental in the creation of Title IX and the equity it provided. I was the beneficiary of Title IX's provisions as a student athlete. As a member of the University of Oregon women's golf team from 1974 to 1978, I was afforded opportunities no women previously were allowed. In today's world my daughter has no doubt about being a part of her college crew team. This is but one of the many ideas and priorities the Senator cared about. His presence and influence in Alaska and our nation will be missed greatly.

Let's Be Sure All Students Are Ready for the New Year!

2010-08-06T16:41:00.003-08:00

Ah, there's nothing like new clothes and school supplies. It's the signal of the beginning of a new year at school. It's exciting for educators, support staff, parents and students. It's the promise of things to come. It's new learning, new friendships, and new horizons. Sometimes I worry that all the newness isn't so wonderful for our neediest youth. We know who they are. They are the ones who don't have anything new. They are the ones who come to us without the support systems in place that are needed for success. I noticed an ad on television the last couple of years where community organizations offer to help with start of the year essentials like coats and backpacks. This year I plan to see what I can do to help with this effort. Maybe we can initiate efforts like this in every community to be sure that EVERY student starts the year off with something new.

Higher Education and Career Readiness

2010-07-29T10:05:00.003-08:00

Refreshing is the way I would describe the newly created task force on higher education and career readiness. The bill passed by the Alaska State Legislature this year established a group that had a specific agenda to be completed. We are to make recommendations as to needs in our state to set a direction for our students. The goal is to be sure that every student leaves high school ready to pursue whatever further training or work they desire, without needing remediation or fundamental skill development. I am encouraged by the intent of the group and the individuals who are participating. It's a group with knowledge and expertise. I admire them and am honored to be working among them. I'll keep you posted on what specific recommendations are being discussed. So far, we have only talked about current reality and haven't had deep dialogue regarding where we need to go.

Education Reform

2010-05-27T13:11:00.002-08:00

Where is public education headed? This is a huge question and one that requires thinking about a variety of topics.

When I read about the "failure" of our schools I think about the very narrow definition based upon standardized testing and assessment. I submit that public schools in America, and specifically in Alaska, are NOT failing. American public schools today are faced with artificially set standards based upon the ideas of non-educators and expectations that are unrealistic.

How many Americans realize that Asian countries are currently revamping their educational systems to be more like ours? We represent the most creative, innovative, and inventive nation on earth. Why are we trying to be like countries who are now understanding that we have led the way to the future?

Do we have work to do in public education? Yes. Do we have schools that need improvement? Yes. We also have an obligation to include the community interests in what we teach and what programs we offer to our children. This is a big job and it will take all of us to work together if we are going to transform public schools.

National Teacher Day

2010-05-04T17:43:00.003-08:00

Teachers are trustworthy individuals who give of themselves every day of the school year. Today we honor their work by saying "Thank You" for the investment they make in our children. Teaching is much more than imparting specific knowledge and curriculum into our kids. Teaching is a commitment to providing a model of behavior and living honorably through respect and truth. Those who believe an education can be organized on a business methodology or that a person can learn to be a teacher in just a few short weeks are mistaken. Skilled practitioners take years to perfect their craft. The experience of a seasoned teacher cannot be replicated except through duplication of time and energy. There are no shortcuts to good teaching. I am awestruck every time I walk into the classroom of a professional educator who is bringing a love of learning and knowledge to the students who sit before them. Thank You to each and every teacher who taught me, my family members, my daughter. We are all better because of you!

Legislative Wrap-Up

2010-04-24T15:40:00.004-08:00

The second year of Alaska's 26th Legislative Session ended last week. It was a good session in some respects such as education forward funding and money allocated for schools in high need for replacement. We continue to be frustrated at the ability of one legislator, the chair of any given committee, to prevent a bill from moving. There have been two such "roadblocks" in the last session. Representative Kurt Olson, chair of House Labor and Commerce, refused to allow HB 30 out of his committee. Senator Bert Stedman, Co-chair of Senate Finance, refused to allow SB 23 out of his committee. This lack of action is unacceptable and we will redouble our efforts in the coming year to move forward in our quest to return all public employees to a reliable defined benefit retirement.

Spring Leadership

2010-04-11T21:56:00.002-08:00

This year's Spring Leadership Conference was energizing! Members from across the state and presenters from across the country converged on the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage to learn and share. The majority of sectionals were offerings that had not been part of our training events in the past. New ways to look at bargaining and the role of local presidents were explored, as well as communications, organizational analysis skills, and minority leadership training were all included in the weekend. During a lunchtime presentation on Saturday, I tried my best to explain the alphabet soup and acronyms that are coming at us on a daily basis. It included such terms as ESEA, I3, RTTT, SIG, challenge schools, the four change models, and more. There is so much to keep track of and so much confusion that we felt it would be a good idea to help members try to make some sense of what's out there. I hope it was helpful.

Respect for Our Elders

2010-03-21T14:01:00.003-08:00

We lost a greatly respected elder earlier this month. Merritt Olson will be remembered for his commitment to education in Alaska by all those who knew him, or knew of him. I can still recall meeting him for the first time. He was on the ASPIB board. He told me it was very important that I pay attention to what was happening in Juneau because it would impact my life in many ways. He was right and I have appreciated his willingness to share his perspective with me over and over again. Those who didn't have the chance to meet him or know who he was, must take time to understand what he meant to public education. Merritt's work to help establish a solid retirement for Alaska's educators was paramount in our ability to retire from public service with dignity. His efforts make it much more clear that we MUST win the battle to return all public employees to a defined benefit retirement. We must make our needs known and do everything we can to convince policymakers of the importance of a solid and reliable retirement to Alaska's future. Not only is it crucial to us, but it honors the work of our elders who pushed so hard to make sure we were taken care of into the future. Merritt will be missed by the entire NEA-Alaska family.

Cat in the Hat Going to the Dogs!

2010-03-08T16:14:00.004-09:00

Hugh Neff, veteran Iditarod and Yukon Quest musher, is headed for Nome and carrying a piece of Americana with him. NEA-Alaska has partnered with Hugh to promote literacy and the importance of reading in our Read Across Alaska project. When Hugh and the team, including leaders Annie and Watson, reach Nome they will hand the book over to Nome Education Association President Todd Hindman. The book is a gift to the children of Nome and we hope it will excite them into reading throughout the year. This is the first time we've had a statewide project plan in place and next year we hope to expand the effort.

Voting Has Begun

2010-02-22T12:41:00.002-09:00

Members of NEA-Alaska can easily click on the voting button on the front page of our website, log in, and vote in regional and statewide elections. If a member needs their member identification number, all they need to do is call one of our regional offices in Juneau, Anchorage or Fairbanks and ask for the number. It just takes a few seconds. The new electronic voting system usage began last year and is continuing in this election cycle. It is easy to log in and vote. Members can even print out a receipt showing that they voted. A large number of local associations are using the new system also. NEA-Alaska Board members and Local Presidents will receive weekly updates on the percentage of members who have voted in each region during the entire thirty day voting cycle.

Juneau Open House

2010-02-18T15:46:00.003-09:00

On Tuesday, February 16th, NEA-Alaska showcased our new office building in Juneau by inviting many of our friends, neighbors, legislators, members and the community to stop in and see our new digs. Everyone had a great time visiting, eating and touring our brand new building. It is exciting to think that we have the best spot in Juneau and that our board will have ample space to meet. The members of the Juneau Education Association stopped in to see where they'll be able to hold meetings and training offerings. The staff did a great job of giving tours and serving as gracious hosts for the event.

Anti Free Speech, Not Anti Corruption

2010-02-04T14:08:00.002-09:00

The nerve of those outside our state who wish to determine what we can and cannot do is astonishing! Delegates to this year's annual meeting of NEA-Alaska voted to take a firm stand on the initiative that will appear on the primary ballot in August. The item is titled "Anti- Corruption" but is really an attempt to limit the ability of Alaskans to speak their minds. It will block individuals as well as organizations from political activity. This language has been peddled around the country and funded by a millionaire in New York. If this person has so much money to put into this type of effort, perhaps he would be willing to spend some of that wealth in helping our students! I stand ready to make suggestions as to how we can improve public education in our state and country.

54th Delegate Assembly Underway

2010-01-28T22:36:00.002-09:00

Tonight was the opening session of the 2010 Delegate Assembly. Speeches, televison ads, and nominations for statewide officers to be elected this year all took place, and it was an exciting evening! One of the nicest parts of DA is the chance to renew friendships from all over the state. I just wish there were more hours in a day so I could have the time to visit with everyone! Tomorrow it's on to caucus meetings, critical issues and committee work. Awards, words from a true friend of educators in the state legislature, acceptance speeches, a candidate forum, and a great social event with music and dancing for all take place tomorrow.

Democracy at It's Finest

2010-01-23T06:42:00.005-09:00

In the coming week we will gather leaders from across Alaska to set our direction for the next year. NEA and it's state affiliates, like NEA-Alaska, maintain one of the most democratic systems of decision making in the world. We insist on the principle of one person, one vote as we work to achieve our goals. Delegates to our annual meeting must be elected by the membership. They come from communities that are small and remote, and they come from towns on the road system. We hold a special opportunity for those who can only meet face to face this one time, called PARSA (Policy Assembly for Rural and Small Associations). Delegates to the annual meeting determine internal priorities and external priorities. This will be an exciting and VERY busy week for NEA-Alaska and I look forward to watching real democracy in action!

2010 Year of the Educator

2010-01-09T18:42:00.002-09:00

I am declaring 2010 the Year of the Educator! This is the time for us to make sure our views are known and the public understands the need to insist that Alaska's schools are our highest priority. Who is the voice for making this happen? NEA-Alaska! We're positioning ourselves to have greater impact than ever in the upcoming legislative session. Want to know what's going on? Subscribe to the LCS message and get the latest delivered to your email account. We will also be posting updates on new twitter and facebook pages.

The Great Northern Road Trip!

2009-10-29T22:21:00.002-08:00

Wow! 977.2 miles in three days on a whirlwind trip to visit members in Glenallen, Kenny Lake, Tok, Delta, Fairbanks, Nenana, Healy and Cantwell! I am so impressed with the committment and compassion of our members as they work to make sure that Alaska's children are fully educated. Watch for photos coming soon!

New View of Alaska

2009-09-12T16:53:00.002-08:00

A couple of months ago I received an intriguing invitation. It was from the Institute of the North, a forward thinking group founded by former Governor Wally Hickel. The invitation was to attend the 2009 Dialogue to discuss issues of importance to our state and our citizens. I accepted the invitation and attended the dialogue in Talkeetna this weekend. It was a powerful experience. There were presentations by an array of speakers from a communications multinational corporation, to someone who works with a small village in Africa, to current and former legislators and public policymakers. The Dialogue began on Thursday night and ended today at noon. My mind is filled with ideas and plans on how we can work to impact the future of Alaska. I'm so happy I attended. It was a great opportunity to share vision and become more aware of the plans and activities of other groups. Of great interest was my extended conversation with the director of the Cold Climate Housing Research group. We have excellent plans to discuss rural teacher housing.

Secretary of Education Comes to Alaska

2009-08-16T20:36:00.003-08:00

Last week was a real opportunity to share the Alaskan perspective on NCLB and education. Secretary Arne Duncan was in our state to listen and collect information on the needs of public educators and Alaska's schools. During his visit to Bethel on Wednesday I was able to share the need to correct the requirement that a letter be sent to parents explaining that teachers are not highly qualified in every subject they teach. This puts undue doubt into the minds of community members that educators may not be able to do the job. Further, it is demoralizing to teachers when they are working hard and don't have control over which courses they are assigned to teach. I also stated concern about a lack of role models for rural students and encouragement for them to become teachers. It is tough to share a love of learning with students when they see educators doing non-stop test prep instead of providing creativity opportunities for growth. The good news is that I think the Secretary was really listening and has plans to do a thorough remodel of NCLB. He even wants a new name for it!

Best Spot in Our Capital City

2009-08-07T14:59:00.002-08:00

Wow! Our new building in Juneau is finally finished and it is wonderful! For those who remember our space at the corner of Second and Main, we're in the same spot. To make a long process short, we bought the old building we had used for a very long time, tore it down, and built a completely new office building at the same location. I'm waiting for all the signs and final details to be completed before posting photos, but I know we will make good use of the space and enjoy the convenience of the location only two blocks from the capital. Please stop in to say hello if you're in Juneau! We will be holding an Open House in January.

New Board/New Direction

2009-07-31T15:52:00.004-08:00

At the end of May 2009, we held a unique board retreat in Talkeetna. After riding the train together and getting settled in at the McKinley Princess Lodge, we went to work. Our work focused on setting priorities for how we will work together as a board of directors to provide leadership to our members. It was a wonderful start, and I anticipate having even more discussion in the upcoming year. Look for new ideas, new intensity, and new energy as we move the agenda of NEA-Alaska forward!

A friend has stated recently that blogs with photos are much more fun and interesting, so I'm posting some pics from the retreat. Enjoy!

NEA Representative Assembly 2009

2009-07-09T14:35:00.002-08:00

I am just back from San Diego, California where this year's annual meeting was held. Fifty NEA-Alaska members represented our state during discussion and debate on a number of topics. Several items that we brought forward from our own in-state annual meeting were approved! Overall it was a productive week and I am so proud to be involved with such wonderful NEA-Alaska delegates. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the summer and that the great weather holds.

Standards

2009-06-02T15:41:00.002-08:00

It's not always possible to be as clear as we hope we can be when asked about our opinions. This became crystal clear to me this morning. Yesterday a reporter from the Anchorage Daily News contacted me. She wanted to know what NEA-Alaska's opinion was regarding standards. I thought I made it clear that we support standards but that sometimes implementation in areas of our state is difficult. It came out that we support the Governor's decision to stay out of the discussion regarding standards in reading in math that are taking place. We support the idea of moving slowly to implement standards to be sure they can be implemented in Alaska. It was not my intent to say we like the idea of letting others decide without our voices in the room.

Ah, the Sun

2009-05-04T06:38:00.003-08:00

It's the time of year when we see more of the sun and anticipate spending time outdoors. Days are warmer, ice is melting, and the end of the school year approaches. This is the time for us to stay focused and take advantage of learning opportunities with our students. The standardized tests are behind us and there is still time to incorporate our most creative ideas for learning. We've got to push right to the very end of the year.

I stopped on my way to Washington, D.C. for NEA Superweek to watch my daughter race in Providence, Rhode Island on April 25. The Brown women's crew team battled Ivy League competitors from Cornell and Columbia. It was exciting to be there and thrilling to see Bruno win all of the races. =)

This is a Test

2009-04-06T21:35:00.003-08:00

At this time of the year it's a toss-up as to who will pass their tests. Will it be legislators in completing their work? Will it be Anchorage voters in their quest to pick the best candidate from a dozen on the ballot? Will it be Alaska's children struggling to survive the seemingly endless series of mandated assessments, instead of being allowed to focus on real learning related to the real world? Will it be school boards passing budgets that are reasonable?

The answers to these questions, and more, will likely be revealed in the next couple of weeks.

Stay tuned!

Juneau On The Move!

2009-03-23T18:38:00.004-08:00

Wow are things moving in Juneau right now! As you have seen on our webpage, we are responding to the Governor's statement that she has reservations about accepting all of the stimulus package money bound for Alaska. Additionally, House Bill 30 was heard in the House Labor & Commerce Committee today. This bill would return public employees to Tier 2 TRS and Tier 3 PERS. Fantastic testimony was given by Holly Abel, Shawn Arnold and Lee Butterfield in person. Jill Showman and Ladawn Druce were both online at the LIO offices to give their testimony also. Be sure to watch for the LCS message coming out this week!

Working on Our Priorities

2009-02-22T11:35:00.002-09:00

NEA-Alaska's top three priorities for 2009 are school funding, rural teacher housing and a return to a Defined Benefit pension plan. All three have been the focus of our work this month. If you didn't catch it, take a look at the February 22 Anchorage Daily News editorial on the Defined Benefit issue. The momentum is building to fix the problems associated with the change in our retirement systems. Public testimony was taken on Thursday on the senate side for SB 23. We anticipate it moving out of the Labor and Commerce committee in the coming week.

I had a very productive meeting on Friday with Senator Lisa Murkowski and representatives from a number of other groups on housing for public employees in rural communities. This was a preliminary meeting and the group agreed to meet monthly to address this huge need. The Denali Commission, AHFC, RuralCap, PSEA, AFL-CIO and NEA-Alaska were all in the room. We identified other groups we hope to include in future meetings. Several others were invited, but it didn't work out for them to join us. I will be setting up a schedule for upcoming meeting dates this week.

School funding is uncertain at this time. I should know more soon as I will be in Juneau all week.

Are you enjoying the sunshine coming back? This is my favorite time of year!

Barb

The New Year- Lots Happening

2009-02-01T19:25:00.002-09:00

January 2009 has come and gone. We've seen a new President inaugurated, the opening of the 26th Legislature in Juneau, and just finished our annual NEA-Alaska Delegate Assembly. My mind is so full with all the things I've learned in the last week! This year's DA had many highlights for me. I've been at DA since the mid- 1980's and this was certainly the most unique for me yet. You get a totally different perspective when chairing the meeting instead of being a delegate. I am so thankful for the response from so many members and leaders who helped me throughout the weekend. I met new friends, greeted and visited with long-time friends, enjoyed the debate thoroughly, and learned volumes from our OUTSTANDING parliamentarian extraordinaire, Jon Ericson!

I hope those who read this and attended DA 2009 will post their opinions of this year's meeting.

I'm off to Washington, D.C. this week for meetings.

A Day of History

2009-01-20T18:28:00.002-09:00

January 20, 2009 is a day that will live in the minds and memories of Alaskans for many years. We watched and listened today as the 44th President of the United States of America took the oath of office. President Obama shared his concerns and his hope for our country. I certainly wish him all the best as he takes on a job of unbelievable proportions.

2009 A Year for Action and Progress

2009-01-06T13:18:00.003-09:00

Happy New Year to All!

2009 promises to be filled with exciting activity. I already met with the special assistant to our governor yesterday. My intent was to outline NEA-Alaska's priorities of returning to a Defined Benefit Pension System, Increasing School Funding, and Rural Teacher Housing. Anna Kim is now responsible for issues related to education in the governor's office. Ms. Kim was very responsive and understood the examples and explanations I gave to her. I am hopeful, still, to meet with Governor Palin soon. The governor has a real opportunity to help us recover our formerly great retirement and I am asking her to do so.

We are gearing up for this year's Delegate Assembly and Legislative Session. There is a Health Trust meeting on January 16th. Many locals are sending members to the Pacific Region Leadership Conference in Seattle during February in addition to the NEA funded members we send each year. Watch for more updates soon!

I hope you had a safe, restful and rejuvenating Holiday.

Barb

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-19T09:14:00.004-09:00

I wish each of you a happy and peaceful holiday season. This is a perfect time of year to enjoy the company of family members and friends. I will be sharing time with my loved ones in Bethel during our office closure.

The NEA-Alaska staff and leadership made the lives of two families a little brighter this season by making donations through an organization called Stepping Stones.

A little bit about the Stepping Stones program--

The Stepping Stones and the Alaska Women's Resource Center (AWRC) are two of AKEELA familiy of programs, which provide essential and unique services to women and their families in support and opportuntiy to achieve positive life changes. The Stepping Stones Residential Treatment Program provides residential substance abuse treatment to women with children. Each family resides in an apartment within the treatment facility. The program includes services designed to strenghten and improve familly functioning and help women with children recover from the effects of addiction. The program provides services for 15 women and their children for up to one year. The program includes onsite licensed day care for infants through pre-school.

My best wishes to everyone for a joyous holiday and prosperous 2009,
Barb

Got an Opinion? Voice It!

2008-12-02T13:01:00.003-09:00

During the upcoming Town Hall meetings, we will have a chance to tell our stories. It is very important that our elected officials hear what we have to say about concerns we have regarding what our lives will be like when it comes time to retire. Some of us are almost there. Many of us are in the early part or middle of our careers. Regardless of how long we have been working, a retirement with dignity is important and crucial to the well-being of our families and our state. Please, attend the upcoming meetings and step forward to tell your story. Policy makers and elected officials hear from leaders on a regular basis. It is crucial for them to hear from all public employees so they know that we are not the only ones with opinions. Your word as an individual is the single greatest way to have an impact on the minds of those who hold our future in their hands.

Talking Up at Home

2008-11-18T13:32:00.002-09:00

The election is over and we await the last few results to confirm who will represent us. Now the real work begins to help legislators understand the concerns we have.

We, along with our Labor Coalition partners, are helping coordinate Town Hall meetings in Bethel, Juneau, Kenai, Mat-Su, Fairbanks, and Anchorage over the next six weeks. This is our opportunity to explain to elected officials what the change in the public employee retirement systems means to us.

Firefighters, police, city workers and school district employees will be telling their stories. The most important goal of these meetings is to show the faces and make real connections that demonstrate how Alaska's communities will be the ultimate victims if we fail to recruit and retain high quality employees in public jobs.

If you are willing to tell your story at one of these Town Hall gatherings, please do so. The more we can highlight the problems we are facing, the higher the chance that we will influence lawmakers to make a positive move to put us back into a defined benefit system.

Not able to make it to the meeting? Please write down your story and send it to me. I will make sure that it gets forwarded to legislators.

Keep in touch,
Barb

Together We Move Forward

2008-11-10T10:14:00.003-09:00

Last week was exciting, to say the least. We still don't have final results of several key races in Alaska. With an estimated 81,000 votes left to be counted, we won't know for sure how things turned out for possibly another ten days or so. Regardless of the outcome, a huge win for NEA-Alaska through this election season has been the work we have done with our labor partners. This is new territory for us, and I hope it continues. The relationships we have developed will help us move forward in the areas we share, and it gives us new friends to help with our own issues as well. I anticipate that this new day in Alaska will serve us well into the future. Not enough can be said about the working partnerships we have forged with the AFL-CIO family.

I am thrilled with the confirmation during our NEA-Alaska board meeting of Lori Miner, CEA member, for the 2009 Education Support Professional of the Year. Additionally, Bob Williams of MSEA, has been chosen as Alaska's Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to Lori and Bob!

Improved and Better!

2008-10-25T10:59:00.003-08:00

The Delegate Assembly review committee met this week to make plans for the 2009 annual NEA-Alaska annual meeting. We reviewed the changes made to last year's meeting, looked at the evaluations we received from delegates, and made plans for the next DA. Overall, the response to last year's changes were extremely positive.

I will spend Monday of next week helping select the 2009 Teacher of the Year. There are four outstanding finalists and I am honored to be part of the process.

The rest of the week will be intensively focused on the last push for the election. Next Saturday we will participate in the largest literature drop around the state in Alaska's history. Regardless of your political affiliation and opinions, I certainly hope every member votes!

Barb

The Countdown is On!

2008-10-09T15:19:00.002-08:00

Less than a month from now we will know who our new leaders will be in Juneau and in Washington, D.C. This is the time to elect public officials who will work on behalf of our members and our children. We have to put all our energy into electing candidates who will put education at the top of their list of priorities! Please join me in campaigning for education candidates, contributing to education candidates, and getting out to vote on election day so we know that we did everything possible to impact the future of Alaska in a positive way. These decisions are too important to leave them up to someone else to decide for us.

"Super" Week

2008-09-24T17:49:00.003-08:00

Wow! There is so much to do and find out about. I am in Washington, D.C. this week for something NEA calls "Super Week". The only reason I can see for calling it "Super Week" is the "Super" overload of my brain with all I am learning!

Lydia and I arrived on Sunday night after traveling all day to get here. Monday and Tuesday were spent with other Executive Directors and State Presidents who were new pairings in their states. It was valuable time spent in clarifying each of our roles and responsibilities, identifying areas we should be aware of in our communication, and other important knowledge in our working relationship.

Today I spent 7 and a half hours getting media training from NEA public relations department folks. Following the training was a four hour meeting of the state presidents with new NEA President, Dennis Van Roekel. More and more to learn!

I saw Glen Ramos briefly during a break in one of my meetings. He is here for the NEA Board of Directors meeting to represent us.

Three more days of meetings and introductions coming up.

Just in case you're curious, I've had LOTS of questions about Sarah Palin!

More next time...

Barb

Labor United

2008-08-30T08:16:00.004-08:00

Lately my days have been filled with opportunities to discuss our shared issues with those in and outside of organized labor groups in Alaska.

I had the privilege of being named the Labor Leader of the Week. You can view the profile at the labor coalition website. The address is http://labor2008.typepad.com/ak/2008/08/labor-leader--3.html.

I was at "Election Central" on Tuesday night as results came in very slowly from across the state. There weren't too many surprises, except the closeness of the battle in the Republican primary for Alaska's one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Wednesday evening was a wonderful chance to host a table at the AFL-CIO's banquet. I was honored to dine next to George Cannelos of the Denali Commission. We discussed NEA-Alaska's concerns regarding rural teacher housing. He was very receptive and agreed that more needs to be done in this area.

On Thursday, FEA and ESSA leaders, as well as Vice President Tim Parker and Past President Bill Bjork helped me present early endorsement checks to Scott Kawasaki and David Guttenberg. We've now given these checks to nine true friends of eduction. There is much to do in helping them get re-elected.

The biggest news of the week is undoubtedly the selection of Governor Sarah Palin to be the running mate of John McCain. As I greeted the members of the Anchorage Education Association Executive Board on Friday morning, it was impossible not to quote what I certainly believe fits the announcement, "We live in interesting times"!

I'm off to the cabin for a couple of days and then it's on to assist in the LKNEA (Lower Kuskokwim) membership drive. I'm not sure about all the places on the list, but am very happy to be asked to assist in Nightmute and Tununak.

Please have a restful and safe Labor Day weekend.

Much To Do!

2008-08-20T19:43:00.002-08:00

Wow! There is so much to be done I need to consult my calendar several times each day to know what's coming up next. Tomorrow I head for Kodiak to work with KIESA and KBEA in their membership drives and member meetings. Today I had the pleasure of presenting early endorsement checks to four of the nine legislators we approved through our PACE process. The checks could not be given earlier due to special sessions. It is not allowable for legislators to accept campaign contributions during regular or special session times. So far, checks have been delivered to Beth Kerttula, Harry Crawford, Berta Gardner, Max Gruenberg, and Hollis French. I also look forward to working with new Anchorage Education Association President Jim Lepley at the Alaska State Fair on Saturday. If you're in the area, please drop by to say hello.

Membership Drives Are Underway

2008-08-14T10:58:00.001-08:00

On Monday and Tuesday of this week I had the pleasure of helping the Northwest Arctic Education Association and the Northwest Arctic Education Support Professional Association with their membership drives in Kotzebue. We enjoyed ice cream together, signed up new members, and connected with long time friends. I even got a chance to catch up with a second year teacher in Buckland who was my student when he was in the sixth grade! OK, truthfully it made me feel old, but also rewarded to see a former student beginning a career in education.

Barb

Welcome to the President's Blog!

2008-08-13T10:14:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone! One of my highest priorities as your new president is to expand the ways we communicate with each other. This blog space is where I plan to update you with news of my activities, meetings, and events. I welcome you to view my postings, as well as make comments. I want to know your thoughts and look forward to reading them. Please write respectfully. I will try to post something new each week if possible. I am carrying my camera with me so that I can share photos too.

My best to all as we begin an exciting new school year!

Barb