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Snow Day Waiver...
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This morning KEA met with HR and briefly discussed the inclement weather calendar. It is our understanding that the District will apply for three snow waiver days from OSPI. We believe that the waiver will be a topic of discussion at next Wednesday's (March 13th) School Board Meeting.
The waiver days are important for a number of reasons. The most talked about, of course, are the planned vacations at the end of the June. There are additional reasons, however, that the KSD School Board should be submitting the waiver. For instance, a teacher who works one day in July will have a delay in retirement benefits for one additional month. This would have a large impact on a retired teacher's income. Additionally, secondary teachers have five days to submit grades before the end of the semester. Seniors must submit official transcripts/grades to colleges on or before July 1. Without the waiver, grades would not be due before July 1. This would have an impact on KSD seniors who are going to college in the Fall.
Many school districts have already submitted waivers, and they have been approved by OSPI. At this time, please put next week's School Board Meeting (Wednesday, March 13th) on your calendar. We may need you to testify on the impacts of NOT submitting a waiver. KEA will be watching the Board Docs and putting out a communication next week.
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KEA members arrived at Northwest Harvest ready to go on Saturday morning, February 25th. We packed two full pallets of canned food and packaged 3150 pounds of rice to be distributed to local food banks. All agreed that it felt good to support our kids and their families in the Kent community. The next
KEA CARES event will be a sock and underwear drive. Please give your donation of NEW socks and underwear to your building rep no later than Monday, April 1st. You may also drop your donations off at the KEA office (please call first). KEA leaders will take the donations to the Kent Area PTA Clothing Bank on April 2nd. Thank you so much!!!
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Social Justice & Anti-Racism Work...
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In October 2017, a small group of like-minded KEA members started meeting at the KEA office about once a month to discuss race, equity, and social justice issues in education and in the Kent School District. We have lost members of this group to other districts and we have gained a few members since that time. It feels like time to share what has been happening and provide the opportunity for other like-minded KEA members to join in these monthly meetings.
What have we done?
In the spring of 2018, we applied for a Teaching Equity grant to put on a Saturday conference. We did not get the grant because we need to do some additional groundwork working with community-based organizations. If you have connections and have an interest, please consider joining us.
In the summer of 2018, three members of this group were trained as trainers of the WEA course "Understanding Implicit Bias and Microaggressions." KEA started those trainings in December and will continue to offer additional sessions so stay tuned for those opportunities.
In the fall of 2018, we were included in the approval of a grant from NEA in collaboration with the
Rainier UniServ Council
to help support the formation of a network for educators of color in Kent. The first meeting supporting this work will happen this week with plans to expand.
One of the next projects is to create a resource page for all educators who are looking for classroom resources, or professional development, that will help them facilitate and teach dialogue about difficult topics in an increasingly divided world.
Consider coming to a meeting to share your strengths and passion:
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Thursday, May 2, 2019
All meetings are at the KEA office from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. (please RSVP to Alan Sutliff at
asutliff@washingtonea.org
if you want to start attending):
We have much work to do and there is a place for members to share your own expertise, or to grow in your own practice, if you have the time and passion for social justice and/or anti-racism work.
Send us your questions
Do you have questions or issues that you would like to help this group to explore or try to address? Email Alan at asutliff@washingtonea.org or the general KEA email box at kentea@washingtonea.org
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KEA Officer Elections are Underway!
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Elections for KEA Officers are now underway, and ballots will soon be in buildings. Voting ends Wednesday, April 3rd. Positions being elected for 2 year terms are:
- President
- Vice-President
- Secretary/Treasurer
Voting in KEA elections is an important benefit of KEA membership. Only KEA dues paying members may vote and have their voice heard. Have questions about whether you are a member? Contact Becky by calling the KEA office or email: bbabcock@washingtonea.org
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Culturally Responsive Strategies Trainings Rescheduled Yet Again
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Due to inclement weather and elementary conferences, the Culturally Responsive Strategies Trainings have been rescheduled yet again, as follows:
Classroom Interactions - Tuesday, March 26th
Behavior Interventions - Tuesday, April 2nd
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Sick Leave Donation Requests :
Below are fellow KEA members in need of sick leave donations. If you have more than 22 days of sick leave and would like to donate, please download and complete the sick leave donation form and send it via district mail to the HR designee listed
next to the person you wish to donate to.
Jennifer Jones: Send via district mail to Katie Russell
Maryhelen Willert: Send via district mail to Felecia Harrell
Paola Cordero: Send via district mail to Felecia Harrell
LaKenya Moss: Send via district mail to Felecia Harrell
Jane Allen: Send via district mail to Felecia Harrell
Jason Hurley: Send via district mail to Felecia Harrell
Megan Bublitz: Send via district mail to Katie Russell
Robin Bender: Send via district mail to Katie Russell
Nanette Navarro: Send via district mail to Felecia Harrell
Theresa Turner: Send via district mail to Katie Russell
If you are in need of sick leave donations please contact HR. They will notify us that you qualify and we can put your request here.
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Upcoming Events
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March 12
KEA Retired Luncheon
March 13
Exec Board Meeting
KSD School Board Meeting
March 14
PGP Support Training
Part 2
March 26
Culturally Responsive
Classroom Interactions
March 27
Exec Board Meeting
April 1
Sock & Underwear Donations Due
April 2
Culturally Responsive Classroom Behavior Interventions
April 3
Rep Council Meeting
Ballots DUE!
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Visit Our Website
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read your contract online
frequently asked contract questions
KEA Teachers Rock Events:
great events offered at discounted rates just for you- why? because you ROCK!
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