Your January Region 1 News Update is Here

News and Information for Education Professionals

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HELP US WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS!

Jonathan Oberg, Somerset

Mark Stamper, Flambeau

Jackson Terry, Northwood

MEMBERSHIP TIP: January may be the perfect time to remind potential members that advice and representation is only available to members as this year's non-renewal season comes into view.

Dear Region 1 Members,

Happy New Year to all of you! May you have more happiness than you could ever have dreamed of having. May you release all of your past hurts and move on to the new year with peace and tranquility. It is a great way to think about starting your new year. As this year begins, I would like to talk about leadership today.

Every teacher is a leader. You wouldn't be in the classroom if you weren't a leader. Each and every one of you has a gift you share. You lead by example, you teach new ideas, you are a positive role model and you help students to become the best person they can be. Some of you don't believe you can lead but I'm here to tell you that isn't true. I felt like you at one time but there were many positive role models and my union friends/mentors kept encouraging me and showing me I could do more than I believed I could. I started going to union events and meeting new people who have become lifelong friends. I really learned a lot at each event. The more I learned the more I wanted to go back and learn some more. I enjoy finding new ideas to share with my colleagues and students. Take a chance, do something you've never tried before. You will find afterward a joy in your heart. Come join us at the Lismore in Eau Claire for our conference. Meet some new people, try something new, and meet Mandela Barnes! Feb. 22-23.

A leader who has never given up is our new Governor Evers starting his new job after his inauguration on January 7th. A giant step moving forward. I wonder if he had doubts at some point. If he ever believed this would happen. There is an excitement in the air and it's a great time to take the lead to talk to a new member or a former members to bring them back onboard. Governor Evers believes Every Teacher is a Leader also! We will have a plan in place to make the most of this opportunity. Let's all work together. Governor Evers can't do this by himself. It will take calling and writing letters to let our elected officials know what it is they need to be doing on our behalf. We have to stay involved. Now is not the time to let our involvement drop. We have an opportunity to help make a difference. Take advantage of it in your local, region and state. We need each other moving forward. There is strength in numbers and we are building back that strength!

Debra Bell

Region 1 President

IMPORTANT NOTE!

As passed in the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017, union dues are no longer a deductible expense for people who itemize on their personal tax return.

You can find more information in this IRS publication.

* Upcoming Events *

Ongoing Statewide Professional Development Calendar Available (including NBCT Renewal Workshop)

HERE!

We highly recommend checking out this calendar if you haven't done so yet!

Region 1 Board of Directors Meeting

January 16

6:30 pm

Rice Lake Office & Zoom

16 W John St

Learning & Growing Professional Issues Conference

February 22-23

Lismore Hotel, Eau Claire

333 Gibson St

SEE MORE INFORMATION BELOW!

ACROSS THE REGION

To see the full conference lineup and to register, visit: http://tiny.cc/weacevents

Some sessions are filling up (We are not kidding! This is no ploy to get you to register.) So do not delay!

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Another great idea worth noting from our friends at River Falls. Professional development salary schedule movement points available by attending the February 22-23 Learning & Growing Conference!

Tony Evers Sworn In as Governor - Now What??

Glad you asked. While things are not going to change immediately or easily, there is an opportunity to make real improvement in the lives of Wisconsin public school employees. WEAC Region 1, along with WEAC and Regions across the state, are in the planning process of putting together an action plan that will be both pragmatic and aspirational with the purpose of advocating, speaking out for, and making clear to all branches of state government our expectations for the next state budget and more. Can you say "Just Cause"?

To find out more about what might be coming down the road, attend tomorrow's Board of Directors meeting or contact Dan Beck ( beckd@weac.org).

ACROSS THE STATE

Lifetime license background check application available

Educators who hold a lifetime license are required to have a background check once every five years. The application to complete your background check is now available at this link. Educators who hold a lifetime teaching license and have not completed a background check since 2014 must complete their background check on or before June 30, 2019. Failure to complete your background check will invalidate your lifetime license.

The timeline for required background checks coincides with the year in which your previous 5 year professional or 10 year master educator license would have expired. For example, if you last renewed your license in 2015 your background check would be due in 2020. Background check applications are only accepted between January 1 and June 30 each year.

Your background check will include a conduct and competency questionnaire and require a payment of $45. Full instructions on applying for your background check can be found here. Please contact baasj@weac.org with any questions.

Read WEAC's Lifetime License Change FAQ

ACROSS THE NATION

From Education Week

The Teaching Profession in 2018 (in Charts)

By Madeline Will

This year will go down in history as a milestone year for the teaching profession.

In six states, tens of thousands of teachers walked out of their classrooms to protest low salaries and cuts to school funding. Nearly 180 current classroom teachers ran for their state legislatures on a platform centered around funding education, and 43 of those teachers were elected. Suddenly, the whole country seemed to be talking about how underpaid and overworked teachers are.

No wonder some deemed 2018 as the "year of the teacher."

And these implications will stretch far beyond the new year. Take a look at some of the most significant research findings related to teachers that were published in 2018.

SEE THE CHARTS >

Building Vocabulary by Acting Out History

Patricia Gray, elementary ESL teacher, Tennessee

A Martin Luther King Day activity for your English Language Learners! See how this educator teaches powerful history lessons while her students "march" for better understanding.