WEAC members key to responsible education policy

WEAC member actions in the next few weeks are a key component to ensuring responsible education policy in Wisconsin, according to WEAC President Stan Johnson.

"WEAC members' voices need to be loud and strong as the Legislature begins work on the state budget," Johnson said. "Hearings get under way throughout the state next week, and we urge WEAC members to speak out for great schools."

Johnson asked members to e-mail the governor and thank him for introducing a responsible budget and promising to veto the Republican tax freeze gimmick. Members are also asked to contact their legislators and voice their support for the governor's plan through the OnWEAC Cyberlobby.

"The Joint Finance Committee has scheduled hearings throughout the state beginning next week," he said. "If a hearing is in your community, please consider dropping in after work and registering in support of the governor's plan. You don't have to speak - just register to show you support great schools."

Winter Conference draws 360 members

About 360 WEAC members learned new skills, heard from State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster and other education experts, and spoke up for great schools at the WEAC Winter Conference this past weekend.

The Winter Conference featured training sessions in a number of areas, including collective bargaining, public relations and communications, teaching and learning, emerging voices, education support professionals, and the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Conference attendees also had opportunities to network with colleagues, visit informational booths, and send messages to their legislators via the OnWEAC Cyberlobby.

Organizations team up to help Milwaukee ESP become 'highly qualified'

Education support professionals in Milwaukee Public Schools can meet the "highly qualified" requirements of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act by participating in the WEAC Professional Development Academy's certification program.

Thanks to an agreement between the Milwaukee Educational Assistants Association/Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association and Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee ESP can comply with the new requirements by completing the PDA's ESP Certificate program.

The agreement calls for approximately 700 to 750 ESP members to participate in the program, which consists of 40 hours of structured learning. Participants take classes in communications, legal and ethical consideration, behavior management, growth and development, reading, writing, and math.

MPS will provide some of the training on school time during banking days, and the MEAA is scheduling workshops at times and places convenient for members.

"This opportunity is the result of very creative thinking by MEAA leaders and staff at MTEA," WEAC President Stan Johnson said. "Had it not been for MEAA President Laura Vernon's leadership and MTEA Assistant Executive Director Cheryl Barczak's persistence, this would not have happened."

Johnson said the agreement helps members take control of their professional development.

AP teachers needed

The Wisconsin Advanced Placement Distance Learning Consortium is looking for teachers who are interested in participating in the program. Teachers will instruct AP courses during the regular school day in a distance-learning lab. All licensed teachers are eligible to participate.

The consortium is seeking teachers in all subjects, but there is a special need for instruction in biology, calculus, chemistry, economics, English literature, environmental science, European history, French, German, physics, psychology, Spanish., statistics, and world history.