Obama recommendation tops NEA Rep Assembly action

Presumed presidential nominee Barack Obama addressed nearly 10,000 Association members attending the July 1-6 National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly (RA) in Washington, D.C. He spoke to the delegates July 5 via satellite after they voted to officially recommend him for President.

The delegates' recommendation was based on the stated positions of the two major party candidates – Barack Obama and John McCain -- on public education issues. More than 125 members from Colorado attended the annual meeting.

In his remarks to the delegates, Obama called for overhauling No Child Left Behind, providing adequate resources to educators, and encouraging parental and community involvement. He said, "I want to lead a new era of mutual responsibility in education -- one where we all come together -- parents and educators, the NEA and leaders in Washington, citizens all across America; united for the sake of our children's success. Bringing about that future begins with fixing the broken promises of No Child Left Behind.

"We must provide the funding that was promised, give our states the resources they need, and finally meet our commitment to special education. But that alone is not an education policy. It's just a starting point."

Reflecting on the delegates' recommendation, NEA President Reg Weaver said, "Barack Obama has stood with educators throughout his career in public service. He understands the importance of educators to the future of our great country. It's time for change. We need a pro-public education president who will treat children as more than test scores and ensure that every child attends a quality public school."

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NEA Leadership Elections
Delegates elected Dennis Van Roekel, longtime math teacher and Association leader, to a three-year term as NEA President. Van Roekel, a teacher from Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix (AZ) assumes his new duties September 1. He is currently finishing his second term as vice-president. Van Roekel will serve as chief executive officer, lead NEA's efforts on Capitol Hill, and preside over meetings of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

"My goal is to continue the work of the Association in creating great public schools for every student," Van Roekel said. "I plan for this Association to stay the course of making sure that all children -- regardless of their race, zip code, or economic status -- have access to quality public schools."

Van Roekel succeeds two-term President Reg Weaver, a 30-year teacher from Illinois. "I have enjoyed working with Dennis, and I know he will work hard to keep NEA members energized," said Weaver. "The entire country is ready for change, and a new direction for public education, and Dennis has the skills and leadership to take us there."

Delegates elected Utah teacher Lily Eskelsen as vice president. Eskelsen served twice as NEA secretary-treasurer and was also on the executive committee. She is on leave from her teaching job at the Christmas Box House Children's Shelter, a K-6 residential facility for children awaiting foster home placement. Eskelsen's term as vice president will also be three years and begin September 1.

RA delegates elected Becky Pringle secretary-treasurer. Pringle, a 30-year science teacher from Harrisburg (PA), will complete the last year of Eskelsen's term. Her responsibilities include oversight and maintenance of the Association's multi-million dollar budget and the fiscal integrity of the 3.2 million member national organization.

NEA's nine-member Executive Committee and Board of Directors are responsible for the Association's general policies and interests. The Board of Directors consists of at least one director from each state affiliate and an additional director for every 20,000 NEA active members in the state. Three Colorado Education Association (CEA) members serve on the NEA Board. Barbara Clementi, middle school teacher and Pueblo EA member, and Brenna Isaacs, elementary teacher and Aurora EA member, are CEA's two state affiliate board members. Judy Near, elementary school health technician and Canon City ESPA member, is an at-large education support professional (ESP) member on the board. The board also includes at-large representatives of ethnic minorities, school administrators, and higher education faculty.

Awards and Honors
NEA honored Richard and Michele Steckel, Littleton (CO) residents, with the Author-Illustrator Human and Civil Rights Award, presented to those whose graphic and literary creations help students understand the significance of human and civil rights in everyday life. The Steckels received the award July 2 at NEA's 42nd annual Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner.

The Steckels' book, "The Milestones Project," uses photos and children's thoughtful musings to connect youngsters and their families with their counterparts around the world. While the book highlights unique aspects of world cultures, it artfully deemphasizes characteristics and differences that are often sources of conflict.

The Steckels' work has taken them around the world and earned them wide recognition. They have established a Milestones Peace Prize for Children and published workbooks in English and Spanish for Head Start. In 2003, they were awarded the Global Tolerance Award from the Friends of the United Nations and, in 2005, the Ambassador of Peace Award from the Conflict Center in Denver. That same year, "The Milestones Project" received the Notable Book Award from the Children's Book Council and the National Council for the Social Studies.

Barbara Morgan, Idaho teacher and NASA astronaut, received the NEA Friend of Education Award. Morgan participated in the Teacher in Space program as Christa McAuliffe's back-up for the Space Shuttle Challenger mission. She stayed in the program, training as a mission specialist, and flew on STS-118 in August 2007.

Michael Easley received the NEA America's Greatest Education Governor Award. Presented for the first time this year, the award recognizes elected public officials who have demonstrated exemplary achievements and accomplishments in advancing public education. Easley was elected North Carolina governor in 2000 and re-elected in 2004. His commitment to education includes three highly successful initiatives: More at Four, the state's first academic pre-K program for at-risk four-year-olds; N.C. Learn & Earn, which allows high school students to jump-start their college education through 42 Learn & Earn high schools on community college/university campuses; and EARN, which has allowed 25,000 students from low/moderate-income families to each receive up to $8,000 of financial aid.

Official Action: New Role for Federal Government
The delegates to this year's RA took official action calling for a new federal role in education with the government embracing its role as a supporter -- not a manager -- of state and district responsibilities. The delegates said the federal government should support public schools by:

• Strengthening enforcement of civil rights laws to promote access and opportunity;
• Funding past congressional actions and current federal mandates;
• Helping create the capacity at the local and state levels for school transformation.

"The federal government has a critical role in public education, and should focus on equity, opportunity and targeted assistance to underserved communities," President Weaver said. "At the same time, the government must respect the role of states and school districts as the primary providers of education services."

NEA's recommendations echo new policy proposals by groups such as the Economic Policy Institute, the Forum on Educational Accountability, and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). NEA will use its role as an education leader to bring together organizations to work with the new administration and the next Congress. Read more about the proposal at NEA's Legislative Action Center.

Other Delegate Action
The delegates approved the opportunity for active membership for preschool teachers and support professionals who work in private schools and for college faculty and support professionals who work in private colleges and universities. RA delegates also passed numerous new business items and amendments to NEA's extensive body of resolutions, including a strong emphasis on urging Congress to pass the Social Security Fairness Act, repealing the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

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