First Ever Spring Leadership Academy!

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!

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

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

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

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

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.

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