Wisconsin's Cebulski re-elected

Mark Cebulski, a social studies teacher at a Wisconsin high school for the past 30 years, was re-elected Sunday (July 2, 2006) to the National Education Association Executive Committee, the nine-member governing body that oversees the 2.8 million-member association.

In addition, Kay Hansen of Denmark, Wisconsin, was elected at the NEA Representative Assembly to be an Education Support Professional at-large member of the NEA Board of Directors. Hansen garnered the most votes of all the candidates from across the NEA. She joins Ray Heideman of Kenosha, who previously was elected to be an NEA Board of Directors ESP at-large member. Hanson, who is a former WEAC ESP of the Year, serves on the WEAC Board of Directors and is co-chair of the WEAC Bargaining Goals Committee. She is also the Denmark association's ESP president and chief negotiator.

Mark Cebulski
Kay Hansen

Cebulski, who ran unopposed, was elected by more than 9,000 delegates attending NEA’s Representative Assembly in Orlando, Florida. About 300 delegates from Wisconsin are attending the RA.

Cebulski's three-year term begins September 1, 2006. Since his first election in 2003, Cebulski has been called on to represent the association in meetings across the globe, including traveling to Ankara, Turkey, for the 4th World Congress of Education International.

“America’s public schools continue to face many challenges and need our help now more than ever,” Cebulski said. “Our students and members depend on us to fight for them, and that’s what I plan to continue doing.”

A member of the NEA Board of Directors since 1999, Cebulski has also served in a number of leadership roles within the Cedarburg Education Association, including president and vice president. On the state level, Cebulski has been a member of the WEAC Board of Directors and of the WEAC Political Action Committee.

“Mark is committed to the fight for great public schools for every child,” Reg Weaver, NEA president said. “He understands that the community, along with elected officials, parents, and business leaders are all responsible for ensuring students receive a quality education.”

Cebulski received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Lawrence University in Appleton, and a master’s degree in journalism from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 1989. He has been honored with the Wisconsin Association of Educators for the Gifted and Talented Meritorious Award and the North Shore United Educators Dorothy Bartelt for Outstanding Service to Education Award.

In other action at the NEA:

• Delegates approved New Business Item #8, presented by Wisconsin’s Shelly Moore: “The NEA will publish a series of articles in the NEA Today or the website that focus on ESP retirement, paying special attention to the disparities between teacher retirement and ESP retirement.”

• Delegate Jeffery Johnson of Milwaukee helped pass an amended New Business Item # 14, which read, “NEA will designate staff and resources to advocate for arts education in appropriate venues such as national and state legislative programs. NEA Today, and the NEA Web site." The debate on the floor was positive in regards to the philosophy of the motion, although various teachers in the fields of heath, phy ed and foreign language tried to add on to the motion. Paul Hambleton of Baldwin and Brad Lutes of Sun Prairie spoke against various amendments, arguing that the NBI would be ineffective if watered down with the addition of other elective areas. Jeff Johnson's substitute motion passed after a rousing debate, with a number of arts education teachers from Wisconsin supporting it on the floor.

• Lily Eskelsen, an elementary school teacher from Utah, was elected to a second term as NEA secretary-treasurer.

For more information and a full listing of scheduled events, go to   www.nea.org/annualmeeting.