Kansans among more than 9,000 delegates to tackle top issues facing public education
NEA's Annual Meeting includes the largest democratic decision-making body in the world
Some 175 Kansans are among the 9,000 delegates representing teachers, education support professionals and higher education faculty meeting in Orlando, Fla., to shape the National Education Association's policies. NEA's Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly (RA) runs Friday, June 30 through Wednesday, July 5.
Delegates will take part in NEA's Representative Assembly, the largest democratic decision-making body in the world. Every year, teachers and other education professionals meet to discuss and vote on critical issues facing public education in the halls of Congress, in state legislatures and in the classroom, such as No Child Left Behind, teacher recruitment and education funding.
"Delegates are elected to represent the views of all school staff," said KNEA President Christy Levings. "As NEA members, we are coming together to talk with those from other states who do what we do about what we can do collectively to make all kids successful."
This year, NEA will present a plan for delegate approval that lays out the Association's strategic goals for reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (aka No Child Left Behind). Delegates will attend the Joint Conference on Concerns of Minorities and Women, addressing challenges such as creating academic success for students of all cultures. In addition, delegates will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the merger between NEA and the American Teachers Association, honoring that organizations' advocacy for the education of all students during segregation.
At the 2005 Representative Assembly, NEA announced a nationwide campaign for a $40,000 minimum starting salary for teachers and an appropriate living wage for other school personnel. In addition, in 2004, NEA announced its landmark lawsuit challenging the unfunded mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act.
"We'll celebrate everyone's tireless work for quality public schools, but also take a hard look at the state of public education," NEA President Reg Weaver said. "Education professionals are too often forced to play defense. This is a chance to talk about the successes and problems we've seen in schools, and use that first-hand experience to fight proactively for what we know is best for engaging students and helping them succeed."
Highlights of the 2006 NEA Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly:
June 25 - 28
Aspiring teachers will gather for the NEA Student Leadership Conference , "Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow." The conference will help them become more effective leaders in their student associations as well as exceptional teachers when they graduate.
June 26
More than 300 volunteers will help paint, landscape and clean Eccleston Elementary School as part of Outreach to Teach. Welcoming remarks begin at 7:45 a.m. Eccleston is a Title I school located in the southwest section of Orlando. The NEA Student Program started Outreach to Teach in 1996 to give back to a local school in the city hosting the Annual Meeting.
June 27 - 28
More than 1,000 NEA members will attend the Joint Conference on Concerns of Minorities and Women to address issues of race and gender in schools and create academic success for students of all cultures.
June 29
Delegates will take time out to read to local children as part of NEA's Read Across America , a year-round program to promote adults and children reading together on a regular basis. Students from local public schools and Boys' and Girls' Clubs will be NEA's special guests for this event.
July 1
Each year NEA honors educators, public servants and activists who fight tirelessly to promote social justice and dignity for all citizens . This year, 14 individuals from across the country are to be honored at the 40th Annual Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner. The event begins at 6:30 p.m.
July 3
Members will celebrate the 40 th anniversary of the merger between NEA and the predominantly Black American Teachers Association . The celebration will honor the trailblazers who shaped the face of public education, especially education for Black students throughout the South and Southeast.
Also on Monday, Nancy Toombs, custodian supervisor at South Heights Elementary School in Henderson, Ky., will address the delegates as NEA's 2006 Education Support Professional of the Year . The award is NEA's highest honor for professionals in the field of education support.
July 4
NEA member Kimberly Oliver, a kindergarten teacher at Broad Acres Elementary School in Silver Spring, Md., will address the delegates as the 2006 National Teacher of the Year . During her six years in the classroom, Oliver has played a pivotal role in developing and executing several programs designed to improve student achievement.
July 5
NEA presents its Friend of Education Award to the Tom Joyner Foundation , which has raised more than $30 million for students at historically Black colleges and universities across the nation. The award recognizes individuals whose leadership, acts and support have raised the level of excellence in American public education.
For more information and a full listing of scheduled events: www.nea.org/annualmeeting.
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