Communications Training
2011 KNEA Leadership Academy

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KNEA provides outstanding professional conferences and training opportunities like those listed below.

An emerging leader training, REACH stands for Realizing, Engaging, Achieving, Creating and Honoring new members. It is held each year for educators and support professionals with five or fewer years of experience who have been identified by colleagues or staff as having potential leadership skills. REACH has been called one of the best learning experiences because members use the techniques and training received with students as well as with parents and other education employees. REACH topics include hands-on team building activities plus communication, assertiveness and learning about useful KNEA resources.  For details, contact Kevin Scarrow.
REACH Nomination Form

Leadership Academy

This program is designed to target mid-career educators who are ready to expand their influence and impact, develop leadership skills, and become more involved in their profession through the Association. If you know a promising emerging leader with 10 or more years of experience in the profession and who is planning to remain in public education for at least five more years, contact Kevin Scarrow to nominate him or her to attend the Academy.

New Presidents Training

Held during the summer, this engaging day-long session helps you network with colleagues from across the state.  Useful topics include how to run an effective meeting, developing your leadership skills, what NEA and KNEA resources will help you and how to make the best use of KNEA and NEA member benefits.  For details, contact Kevin Scarrow.

Professional Education Resources

The many quality professional development resources offered locally through KNEA include classroom management and student engagement, strategies to prevent and deal with bullying and Professional Development Council training. Localized services include the KEYS Online Survey, which provides data for school improvement planning, and KNEA's Quality Public Schools cadre, which helps with school improvement efforts. For details, contact Peg Dunlap.

KNEA Bargaining Training

Multiple opportunities are available for those interested in professional negotiations.  A bargaining conference, which covers the nuts and bolts of negotiations preparation and practice, is held twice per year.  The KNEA Bargaining Academy for advanced negotiators is held annually. KNEA offers various services, resources and presentations on compensation issues at the local and UniServ levels. For details, contact Wade Anderson.

Local Planning Retreats

Joining KNEA is good personally and professionally. Members know that it is part of our professional responsibility to unite together for the good of our students and for our profession. Held during the summer, these day-long sessions for local association leadership teams help leaders plan for the upcoming year. It is a great opportunity to build relationships with colleagues across the state and to (re)discover the great benefits of KNEA and NEA membership. For details, contact Kevin Scarrow .

Training of KNEA Trainers

Kansas NEA is proud of its reputation for using quality trainers in all of its sessions.  Adult learning styles and training techniques are held on an as-needed basis. When new topics or issues are introduced, presenters or facilitators are trained to provide the information in a way that is easy to learn and apply.  For details, contact Kevin Scarrow .

Success By Seven

Organized at the local level, these sessions start at 5 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. Four topics are covered: financial planning, identify theft, home buying and job changes. Localized topics can replace a standard. For details, contact Ward Symons.

KNEA Pre-Retirement Seminar

Planning for your retirement? These sessions sponsored by KNEA Retired provide a step-by-step guide for retirement planning plus give you the latest on Social Security, KPERS and legal issues. For details on seminars in your area, contact Carolyn Schmitt.

KNEA Student Program Fall Conference and KNEA Student Program Representative Assembly

For college students studying to become teachers there are various campus events throughout the year.  The Fall Conference focuses on leader development issues and the spring Representative Assembly involves professional issues.  For details, contact Kevin Scarrow  .

Communications Training

Newsletters, websites, message development, public speaking, internal and external campaigns that promote your association and Kansas public schools, crisis communications. All of these and more are available for you and your local. For details, contact Mark Desetti.

Health Insurance

Two types of training are available. Both are customized to meet local needs. The first is for those preparing to bargain health insurance.  The second is for district health insurance committees. Includes the booklet "More Than An Apple A Day - A member guide to health care and insurance." For details, contact your UniServ Director.