The polls suggest a low voter turnout in the November 2nd election, meaning that voters who are motivated to get to the polls can impact the election. We think no one have more reason to vote than education employees, since the outcome of the race for governor will have a huge impact on students and school employees. The next governor will have a lot of say about school funding, school employee pensions and contract bargaining rights. The two top candidates for governor, Pat Quinn Bill Brady, have have very different views on those issues. See how they compare.
You can find up-to-the minute association news by “liking” the IEA facebook page. It’s easy – click here to do it. One lucky IEA facebook follower will win a $100 VISA card. The drawing will be held election day – Nov. 2.
IEA members get the Quinn-Simon information from activists
IEA Grassroots Political Activists (GPAs) are working hard to inform IEA members about the reasons the Pat Quinn-Sheila Simon campaign deserves support. During a recent “Political Boot Camp” the GPAs:
- Covered 18 precincts knocking on doors to talk to voters about Quinn-Simon.
- Made 1300 phone calls to IEA members from Quincy to Danville to identify Quinn-Simon supporters.
- Hand-addressed and mailed more than 2000 letters to your IEA colleagues to promote the Quinn-Simon Campaign.
More information about the campaign is available at the Educators for Quinn-Simon facebook page.
St. Louis Rams vs. San Diego Chargers Oct. 17
The hopes of our Southern Illinois members have been answered – We have Rams tickets! Click here to enter to win two tickets to the Oct. 17 Rams vs Chargers game in St. Louis. Game time is noon. Be sure to put “Rams tickets” in the subject line of the email.
CORE Conferences Oct. 29-30
Register today for the regional Fall CORE Conferences Oct. 29-30 in Lisle, Springfield and Edwardsville. Skill sessions, dinner and a phone bank bingo party are scheduled for Oct. 29. Skill sessions conclude Saturday morning following the keynote address by Patrick Dolan, author of Restructuring our Schools, a Primer on Systemic Change.
Visit the IEA website for more information and to register online.
NET wants your input
The Illinois Nutrition Education and Training (NET) program and Illinois Action for Healthy Kids invites K-12 teachers (working or retired) to provide input on a new online course for teachers. A USDA Team Nutrition grant provides funding for this joint project which will support school wellness and participation in the HealthierUS School Challenge. The course will provide teachers with skills and resources they need to promote smart food choices and an active lifestyle for students.
Teachers on the advisory board will receive travel and sub reimbursement , CPDUs and free NET resources for the classroom.
For more information contact Deb Rees (800/466-7998) by Fri., Oct. 15.
TURN event to be held Nov. 8-9
The Great Lakes Teacher Union Reform Network (TURN) of AFT and NEA Locals has scheduled an event Nov. 8-9 at the Northern Illinois University outreach Center in Naperville. This forum will explore the issue of teacher effectiveness, focusing on the use of student growth data in improving teacher effectiveness and appraisal systems.
Members are being sought to share their best practices. Presenters include Dr. W. Patrick Dolan, author of Restructuring our Schools, and lead educational consultant to the GE Foundation and Jo Anderson, senior advisor to Secretary Arne Duncan, U.S. Department of Education.
For more information click here.
NEA Member Benefits
NEA Member Benefits provides low-cost insurance vehicles for every need – including pet insurance. You can also apply for a low-interest credit card, loans and investments. While on the NEA MB website be sure to browse the discounts available to NEA members. You need to register on the NEA MB website to view the member-only discounts.
Horace Mann awards $500 to IEA UD and Macomb School District
Sarah Bird entered – and won! – the Horace Mann “Win $ Win” Sweepstakes, and you can, too! Bird received a $250 prize and the Macomb School District received $250. The deadline for entering is Oct. 15. Click here to enter today!
Website of the Week
Looking for a way for students to bond with their parents at home while learning math, science and patience? PBS has just launched a kids’ cooking site. Click here for great recipes and tips about food, cooking, nutrition and other helpful hints.
Illinois Education Association is an association of more than 130,000 members composed of Illinois elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty and staff, educational support professionals, retired educators and college students preparing to become teachers.