• The KNEA News Room
• Calendar of Events
• KNEA on the Issues
• News Archive
• Read Across America

KNEA members address school funding, needs of student issues at annual meeting

School funding in challenging times, discussions about elected leaders who kept, or didn't keep, their promises to public schools and student achievement were hot topics at the Kansas NEA Representative Assembly (RA) April 3-5 in Topeka.(See photos)

The 500 delegates from across the state discussed and voted on resolutions and new business items regarding adequate and equitable school funding, parental involvement, teacher quality and professional compensation, health care issues, teacher due process and school safety.

In a "community conversation" format, small discussion groups consisting of delegates from different parts of the state discussed issues relating to KNEA's strategic mission of promoting quality public schools, strengthening the teaching profession and improving the well being of members.

Returning home to greet friends and colleagues was former KNEA President Christy Levings. She now serves on the executive committee of the National Education Association.  She congratulated KNEA members for their good work on behalf of students and public schools. She also asked members to share with her success stories that she will take to policy-makers in Washington, DC.

Educators honored Bruce Goeden with the prestigious KNEA Friend of Education . The former executive director of the Kansas NEA, Bruce Goeden was honored for tackling massive transitions in his 25-year career. "Under Bruce's leadership, KNEA's advocacy grew from adversarial relations to a new culture of collaboration," said KNEA President Blake West. "Students, members and public schools have benefitted."

The delegates also honored 2009 Kansas Teacher of the Year Cindy Couchman.  Couchman, a member of Buhler NEA, is KNEA's nominee for the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence , which recognizes excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession and includes a $25,000 grant. The finalists are chosen based on their outstanding instructional expertise, creativity and innovation, attention to diversity and individual student needs, learning styles and leadership experiences.

Wichita East High School students who created the Never Ignore, Never Forget Relay Team   received the KNEA Human and Civil Rights Award. The students are Nathan Alexander, Matthew Heck, Jacob Heil, Michael Gurley, Kiet Tran, Adam Heil, Adrian Love, Aaron Gurley and Chris Parker.

The students ran 13 miles each day for two weeks last June to complete the 1,300 miles between Wichita and Washington, DC. Along the way, they raised awareness of the atrocities occurring in Darfur and over $25,000 for the Genocide Intervention Network. For more on their project, go to www.neverignore.org.

This summer they will be honored at the national Representative Assembly.  They will receive the NEA SuAnne Big Crow Memorial Award, which is presented to students under the age of 20, whose achievements have helped enhance students' sense of worth and dignity.

KNEA announced the following scholarship winners:

• Amber Roan, Emporia State University, received the C. O. Wright Scholarship.
• Julie Bryant, Haskell Indian Nations University, received the George Frey Scholarship.
• Bonnie Palmer, Pittsburg State University, received the Rodney VanZandt Scholarship.

Photos from the KNEA RA - 2009

The Wyandotte UniServ Singers helped kick off the 2009 KNEA Representative Assembly by singing the National Anthem.

KNEA Friend of Education Bruce Goeden, the former KNEA executive director, said he looks forward to the day when all state lawmakers may be considered a friend of education.

KNEA President Blake West congratulates 2009 Kansas Teacher of the Year Cindy Couchman, Buhler NEA, who received the Teaching Excellence Award.

Christy Levings serves on the NEA Executive Committee and is the former KNEA President. She asked KNEA members to email her success stories at  that she will share with policy-makers in Washington, DC.  The Sunday of the RA was also Ms. Levings' birthday. The basket in front of her is filled with birthday cards from KNEA RA delegates.

Members of the Never Ignore, Never Forget Relay Team are congratulated by (back standing l-r) United Teachers of Wichita (UTW) Vice President Larry Landwehr, KNEA President Blake West and UTW President Paul Babich. Seated in front are (l-r) Jacob Heil, Kiet Tran, Matthew Heck and Nathan Alexander.

During the run, all students were at East High School This year, East High School students are Nathan Alexander, Matthew Heck, Jacob Heil, Michael Gurley and Kiet Tran. Adam Heil is at K-State, Adrian Love attends Wichita State and and Aaron Gurley and Chris Parker attend Friends University.

KNEA Secretary-Treasurer Karen Godfrey shows off the winning KNEA Student Program banner from Colby Community College.

KNEA News Room Archives
2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002
For more information about KNEA and our work, contact the KNEA Communications Department.