December 2023

Dear PEI Member,

New opportunities are knocking for Susie and me, and at the end of this month Terry Gladfelter will assume the Executive Director role at PEI. The transition will be seamless, as we (the board of directors, Terry and I) have spent months planning for this day. It has been my privilege to serve you over the past 5+ years and to be a front-line educator for the past 38 years.   

A lot has changed over the past 4 decades; however, there are certain axioms, maxims and truths that have found me and have informed my work over the years. I share them here, hopeful that one will resonate with you in this season of life… 

• “To be unclear is to be unkind.”- Dave Ramsey 
• “Prejudice assumes somebody is the way ‘all those kinds of people are’ instead of caring enough about the truth to find out what this particular person is like, what this particular person is really saying…We habitually assume that all people of different gender, races, classes, vocation and cultures are basically the same. But when others treat us that way, we feel dehumanized. Prejudice is a form of answering before listening." - Tim Keller 
• “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” - Romans 12:18 
• “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea…until they have something to forgive.” - Anon     
• “A wise man seeks much counsel…a fool listens to all of it.” - Larry Burkett 
• “We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.” - John Stott 
• “Just keep in mind: the more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.” - Epictetus 
• “Very few things in life will ever be as important as the team you surround yourself with." - Anon
• “When choosing a team, you should always prioritize teamwork over talent.” - Anon 
• “Progress means getting nearer to the place you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turn, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.” - C.S. Lewis 
• “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” - Psalm 94:19 
• “It’s the same boiling water that softens potatoes, that also hardens eggs…it just depends on what you’re made of.” - Anon 
• “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” - Colossians 3:23-24 

Again, thank you for the opportunity to serve, and thank you for your commitment to the students of our state. Please look for a welcome message from Terry in January!

Merry Christmas!  



Bryan 

The legislative session is starting soon. As we prepare for another round of education bills, we wanted to look back and recap one major piece of legislation from the last session. Signed into law on May 26, 2023, HF 604 is a bill whose impact is still being gauged. The bill was in response to the influx of violence against teachers and students we see in education. Continue reading below for a summary of the provisions.

Professional Educators of Iowa Foundation introduces the  

Jodie Nation Award for Servant Leadership 

PEIF is seeking to reward educators with a passion for service which extends beyond the classroom to service that is respected in the school community and in the profession.

Professional Educators of Iowa Foundation (PEIF) announces the launch of its Jodie Nation Award for Servant Leadership (JNA) for 2024. This award is designed to recognize teachers who serve with passion and humility, both in the classroom and in their walk outside the classroom. The recipient will be a valued and revered member of his/her school community, as evidenced through sacrificial service to the greater good. 

The JNA award is open to current public and private school educators in the state of Iowa. PEIF will award a $1,000 cash prize to the winner each year. 

PEIF believes that humble service bears enormous potential to initiate change, ultimately impacting the trajectory of lives influenced through selfless love. PEIF hopes to encourage more and more individuals who consider their craft a calling to serve in the same manner Jodie did – with passion, humility, and the heart of a servant. 

With its new Jodie Nation Award for Servant Leadership, PEIF hopes to recognize passion and calling among its members. 

“PEIF and PEI are committed to investing in our membership, and we believe that every act of service — even the seemingly small ones — can serve to leave our classrooms, communities and places of work just a little better than when we arrived” said Bryan Stearns, Executive Director of PEIF. “We hope our new award will not only encourage our members, but also inspire them to be ‘the lead servant’ in all aspects of their lives.” 

Nominations will be received through January 31, 2024. The recipient will be announced March 1, 2024. 

To nominate an educator, please submit a letter (500 words or less) highlighting the nominee’s servant leadership characteristics. Email submissions to Betty Anderson at betty@peiowa.org  

Professional Educators of Iowa Foundation exists to celebrate and to advance the profession. Your tax-deductible gift is used to sponsor both student and teacher awards/scholarships, and to support activities which celebrate those committed to serving students across our state. 

Email: 

info@peiowa.org

Phone: 

515-221-2330

Web:

peiowa.org 

Address: 

974 73rd St, Suite 30

West Des Moines, IA 50265

Mon-Thurs 8am-5pm

Friday 8am-4pm



Summer Hours:

Mon-Thurs 8:30am-4pm

Friday 8:30am-3:30pm