Vol. 2, October 2002

The Professional

A Publication of the Minnetonka Teachers Association

Editor, Mary Tingblad mary.tingblad@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

 

Portions of this newsletter are independent expenditures prepared and paid for by the Minnetonka Teachers Association, 6421 Hazeltine Blvd, Excelsior, MN 55331, in support of the Minnetonka levy and Education Minnesota recommended candidates. This material is not approved by the recommended candidates, nor are the recommended candidates responsible for it.

 ~ 2002-2003 Minnetonka Teachers Association Governance Board ~

~ President Mark Chalupsky ~ Vice President Julie Anderson-Simonson ~

~ Secretary Mary Tingblad ~ Treasurer Joseph Ricke ~

~ DEC Gail O’Rourke ~ Deephaven Diane Jost ~ Groveland Pam Wertjes ~

~ Excelsior Mark Broten ~ Minnewashta Melanie Casiday ~

~ Clear Springs Debra Jensen ~ Scenic Heights Jan Sellman ~

~ MM-East Mark Brzezinski & Heidi Johnson ~

~ MM-West Mary Tingblad & Jeri Goodspeed-Gross ~

~ MHS Joseph Ricke, Jan Nelson, J. Beowulf Boswell, & Mike Cutshall ~

 

~~ Vice-President’s Voicings ~~

MTA Vice-President, Julie Anderson-Simonson julie.anderson-simonson@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

 

I hope your school year is off to a good start. By now, you should have settled into a routine that is comfortable for you. Hopefully, your class lists are updated, your grade book (electronic or paper) is up and running, your lesson plans are complete and ready to be taught, your students are behaving, your parents/guardians are cooperating, and you are able to leave school at the end of the day, empty-handed.

President Mark Chalupsky and I met with Dr. Peterson and Dr. Lovett recently.  During our conversation we discussed: 1) the Graduation Standard day on October 16th, 2) reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and 3) technology concerns.

 We expressed our concern that on October 16th, at least five schools were holding a staff meeting or an in-service on the afternoon of this Graduation Standard day.  Dr. Lovett stated that this is a day to work on high standards. We shared that this day should be set aside for teachers to work in their classrooms on Graduation Standards, and not be required to attend meetings/in-services. We want this to be our time (This topic was again discussed at Meet and Confer on October 10).

Dr. Peterson indicated that the district would like to see the Pledge of Allegiance recited on a regular basis.  Each school must have a plan in place for students who do not recite the pledge (for religious or conscience reasons). If teachers are uncomfortable leading the pledge themselves, then the principal needs to work out a plan for the students in that classroom to start the pledge on their own. 

We raised our concerns regarding technology in the district. This topic was also addressed at the Meet and Confer meeting. Additional meetings with the district, tech team, and the MTA will be scheduled so that the kinks can be worked out and our system(s) are operating the way they should be for a district our size.

Erin Klaers and Jan Nelson are sharing the new Political Organizer position for the MTA. They have sent out information regarding the upcoming state and national elections. They will also be working with the current Committee for Quality Academics to coordinate efforts for the referendum. You should have received a form in your mailbox entitled, “GO-TV, Go Out To Vote, Protect the Excellence”. There are any number of ways you can contribute your time and energy to this vital undertaking. We need to do our part in the state and national elections on Tuesday, November 5th. We need to study the candidates and vote with knowledge as to where each candidate stands on the issues. As one educator to another, it is important that we vote for candidates who will move education forward. We cannot afford to elect candidates who do not view education as a priority. Please vote responsibly on November 5th.

You may have recently received a letter in your school mailboxes from the Committee for Quality Academics requesting money from staff members. Keep in mind that in September the MTA Governance Board approved a contribution of $3,000.00 on behalf of the Minnetonka teachers. If you want to contribute additional dollars on your own, you are welcome to do so.

It will be extremely important for each one of us to get involved in the referendum process. This referendum will touch all of us – regardless of whether it passes or fails. We each must do our part to be involved. Please make the time to participate in the referendum efforts.

I hope your Parent/Teacher Conferences went well this week, that your conversations were productive and that there were ample opportunities to set goals for your students. Best wishes in setting your own district goal(s) and fulfilling them throughout the school year. 

 

Anyone else hoping for a Halloween blizzard?

 

 

~~ MTA Contract Administration Update ~~

julie.anderson-simonson@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

 

The Contract Administration meeting on October 9th, included Joseph Ricke, Julie Anderson-Simonson, Mark Chalupsky, Mike Lovett, and guests Sandy Skavnak and Lisa Hennen. The following items were discussed:

·        The revised Schedule C to show the middle school rates

·        Career Transition Trust Implementation according to contract language

·        Published Seniority lists

·        Payroll descriptions on the check stubs to list what extra work was actually done for a stipend - new time cards will be created to include a check-off list

·        Postings during the school year

·        Work time and issues for part-time teachers and teachers who share buildings

·      Setting committee members and timeline for the Voluntary Teacher Compensation Strategy Committee (Appendix "p" in Master Agreement)

 

~~ Teachers’ Rights Review ~~

mary.benson@minnetonka.k12.mn.us, anita.otten@minnetonka.mn.k12.mn.us

 

Welcome back all MTA members! We hope everyone is having a great year so far! The Teachers’ Rights Committee is again up and running. Our first Teachers’ Rights meeting was on September 25th. We had a great turn out and would like to introduce our Teachers’ Rights Representatives.

MHS - Jan Nelson and Sonja Saunders

MME - Kieran Monaghan

MMW - Mary Benson

Minnewashta - Jeff Beckstrom

Groveland - Pat Stiller

Excelsior - Anita Otten

Clear Springs - Brett Bernard

Deephaven - Cathy Fitzgerald

Scenic Heights - Dylan Briest

If you have any concerns, please contact your building’s Teachers’ Rights Representative. If you still have concerns, contact your district Teachers’ Rights Co-Chairs, Mary Benson or Anita Otten. Remember, if you ever have some free time, please read over your contract. It’s always good to know what rights you have and don’t have! Have a wonderful year!

 

˜ ˜ ˜

 

~~ Teacher Tee-Hee’s ~~

 

Teacher:    George, go to the map and find North America.

George:      Here it is!

Teacher:    Correct. Now, class, who discovered America?

Class:         George!

 

Note found on a university classroom door:

Advanced Argumentation Class will meet

 in CRAIG HALL, ROOM 312 TODAY

Students’ notes added below that message:

WILL NOT

WILL TOO

WILL NOT

WILL TOO

~~ News from Education Minnesota ~~

 

“Minnesota Educator’ Goes Electronic

 

          Get the latest news from Education Minnesota electronically via a new weekly electronic newsletter, or listserv. The listserv will provide timely updates about educational issues, helpful classroom tips, free resources, and more. “We offer this new service to improve the effectiveness of our communications efforts,” said Education Minnesota President Judy Schaubach.

          With the start of the listserv, the “Education Monthly” newspaper will be published monthly during the school year, instead of twice a month. To subscribe, go to the Newsroom section of www.educationminnesota.org, log in and click on the “more” link below the listserv description (You must be logged in to subscribe).

 

ESI Programs Save You Money

 

          Education Minnesota ESI sponsors a variety of products and services specifically for your benefit. Many of your colleagues report saving the cost of their dues and more!

Education Minnesota ESI offers long-tern care insurance, financial services to help you in investment and retirement planning, auto and home insurance (with an average member savings of $374 a year), auto buying and leasing, home mortgages, credit management and debt consolidation, credit card, travel and more. You also have access to several other insurance and discount programs through AFT PLUS and NEA Member Benefits. For more information contact ESI at 651-292-4856 or 1-800-642-2624, or visit http://esi.educationminnesota.org. 

 

How Can We Best Help Students at Risk of Failure?

 

A recent study, combined with the supporting literature on learning, brings hope for finding more ways to motivate at-risk students. Responses show that students fell more motivated to learn, receive better grades and accept more responsibility for their work in the lab environment.

Cooperative learning, authentic tasks and assessments, and the meaningful use of available technology are identified as powerful tools. For more information, visit www.principals.org/news/bltn_realkids0902.html. 

 

~~ News from NEA and AFT ~~

 

Yes, Teaching Reading IS Rocket Science

 

          To jumpstart the professional development component of its Reading First initiative, the US Department of Education has funded a project of the Texas Center for Reading and Language Arts to revise its Teacher Reading Academies K-2 professional development components.

The center will excerpt parts of the ever-popular “Teaching Reading IS Rocket Science,” published by AFT in 1999, for inclusion in materials that will be disseminated to each state, territory and department of education. “Teaching Reading IS Rocket Science” is posted on the AFT website as a PDF file at www.aft.org/edissues/downloads/rocketsci.pdf.

 

Speaking of Rocket Science...

 

          US high school and junior high school students are invited to enter the first national model rocket competition. Teams will design, build, and launch a model rocket carrying two raw eggs to exactly 1,500 feet, and try to return both eggs unscrambled! The contest is limited to a total of 500 school teams. The deadline to enter is November 15, 2002.

          The top five teams will share a grand prize pool of $59,000 in cash and savings bonds. In addition, three of the top ten teams are eligible to win $2,500 grants, including travel expenses, to launch an advanced rocket with NASA. Each of the top 25 teams’ schools will be invited to send one teacher on an all-expenses-paid trip to attend an advanced rocketry workshop with NASA scientists and engineers, and tour research and development facilities at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. Detailed information, including an application, is located at www.rocketcontest.org.

 

‘Guidance for Grownups’ Ad Campaign

 

          Thanks to a partnership between NEA and the Advertising Council-Connect for Kids, a new public service television ad campaign on parental involvement will air this fall. The public service ads focus on practical tips for parents who want to help their kids in school.

          The playful ads use humor to make a personal connection with adults by highlighting situations that they may face daily. To view the ads, and find out more about Connect for Kids, go to www.connectforkids.org. These ads come on the heels of a very successful television and radio ad campaign that conveys a positive message about our members and public schools.

~~ What’s New at Your School? ~~

 

Art Teachers on Display

melanie.casiday@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

 

          Minnetonka elementary art teachers Cherie Dowd (Clear Springs), Jennifer Sauls (Excelsior), Jane Meyers (Groveland), Jonathan Maki (Scenic Heights), and Melanie Casiday (Minnewashta) had an art exhibition at Dunn Bros. in Minneapolis (owned by the parents of a 5th grader at Minnewashta). Several principals and many wonderful colleagues attended the reception on September 22nd. The exhibit ran until the second week of October.

Minnewashta Welcomes Laura Kopel

 

Laura Kopel is one of the newer members of the MTA, teaching 5th grade at Minnewashta Elementary School and LOVING it! Laura left Tyler, a small town in southwest Minnesota, to move on to bigger and better things in Duluth. She’s a UMD graduate with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Social Studies and Dance. She did her student teaching down under in Australia and then returned home as a reserve teacher for one year.  She moved to Minnetonka in May. Some of her hobbies include volleyball, dance, running, and biking; but as a first year teacher, she really hasn't had all that much extra time to enjoy these things. She’s thrilled to be here, and we are thrilled to welcome her!

 

So, What’s New at YOUR School?

 

There are “good news” things happening everyday in our schools. Send your school’s good news to mary.tingblad@minnetonka.k12.mn.us to be included in The Professional. I’ve been told that this is one of the favorite features of the newsletter. It’s the way that we can share all the good things going on with our teachers!

 

 

 

Editorial/Commentary/Opinion Page

Editorials, commentary, opinions, and letters to the editor are not necessarily the position of the MTA. All members are invited to share their unedited views, thoughts, concerns, etc., to be published on this page by submitting them to:

Mary Tingblad, MM-West, 6421 Hazeltine Blvd, Excelsior, MN  55331

mary.tingblad@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

 

Minnetonka Teacher of the Year?

 

          As we are winding down from Parent-Teacher Conferences, now is the time to consider the question: who are Minnesota’s great teachers? It’s nomination time for Minnesota Teacher of the Year. We all know dedicated colleagues worthy of this great honor, so let’s do something about it. The Education Minnesota website, www.educationminnesota.org, provides an online nomination form and more information—just click on “Professional Development”).

Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teachers may be nominated for Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Nominees must hold at least a bachelor’s degree and a license to teach in Minnesota, must have taught at least three years, and intend to continue teaching. Colleagues, students, parents, other school personnel or anyone else may nominate teachers for this honor.

Once nominated, those who choose to apply must submit an entry portfolio, which includes a nomination form, their teaching philosophy, professional accomplishments and letters of recommendation. A panel of 20 to 25 judges selects the Teacher of the Year from these portfolios, choosing first a group of Teachers of Excellence (semi-finalists) and then Honor Roll Teachers (finalists). The Minnesota Teacher of the Year is selected from the Honor Roll Teachers.

The Minnesota Teacher of the Year program has been recognizing excellence in teaching in Minnesota for 37 years. The program chooses one teacher to represent Minnesota’s thousands of excellent educators. The Minnesota Teacher of the Year and finalists speak to community groups, education organizations, students, teachers, legislators and media.

So, think about it, and then do something about it. Nominate a deserving colleague. The deadline for nominations is November 15, 2002.