Meet Dean Corren Dean Corren talks to board of directors recently.

When your board of directors voted single payer health care.” ourselves,” he said in a recent interview to recommend Dean Corren for at -NEA headquarters. “If Corren, a Progressive who also has the lieutenant governor, the decision we are going to have a functioning backing of Democrats, wants to be a was easy. democracy, we need to restore the lieutenant governor who “will work to meaning of politics.” “He really gets it,” President Martha restore the meaning of politics.” By that, Allen said. “Dean is an unabashed he wants to transform “politics” from This is not Corren’s first stab at elected union supporter. He is a believer in angry, partisan wrangling to a platform office. He served four terms in the the importance of public education. where people of differing views House from 1993-2000; he also was And he, alone among all of the exchange ideas, debate, and agree on an aide to then-Congressman Bernie statewide candidates out there, is a course of action that serves only one Sanders. For more than a decade, dedicated to ensuring our members purpose: to better the lives of everyone. he’s been the chief technology officer are treated fairly in the transition to “Politics, at its core, is how we govern continued on p. 7

Vol. 81 No. 2 • Oct., 2013 www.vtnea.orgThe Official Publicationof the Vermont-National EducationAssociation Anti-Union ‘Think Tank’ Wrong About Vermont Vermont-NEA Vermont-NEA

Editor’s Note: Vermont-NEA President course let alone reality. The same “poll” in favor of corporations and away from Martha Allen wrote the following asserts that almost a third of union members working men and women and their families. commentary in response to an would choose to quit if they could do so while While that crusade has had muted success in inflammatory piece submitted to the retaining the benefits won by the union – even the more than half of the states – like Vermont state’s newspapers by the president without paying dues. (Ever ask someone if – that do not limit the formation of unions, it of Vermont’s anti-union think tank. It they would rather pay for something or get it is a constant reminder that without unions, appeared widely, but we wanted to share it for free? That’s what we’re talking about here). workers everywhere get less. with you directly. Putting aside the “results” touted by Roper, Auditor crunched some numbers It’s always fun – in a what-will-they-come-up- let’s look to the fundamental part of his (from non-think tank sources) and found that with-next kind of way – to read the ramblings argument – that so-called right-to-work states contrary to Roper’s assertion that our elected from Vermont’s most prolific right-wing think are better for working men and women. officials are leading us in the wrong direction, tank. union-friendly Vermont is doing well. And while Roper – in typical fashion – cherry And the latest screed from Ethan Allen picks information that purports to show Vermont is doing better than 21 of the 24 Institute President Rob Roper doesn’t workers better off in states that have all right-to-work states in a bunch of categories disappoint. but obliterated unions in favor of granting that should matter to working people: enormous power to corporations and unemployment, median household income, Waving the “results” of a “poll” done under the employers, the actual facts tell a far different growth in our economy to name a few. auspices of a national anti-union group and story. funded in part by a company shilling liability Our growth in per capita income is better than insurance to teachers, Roper claims that a Before getting to the punch line (spoiler alert: in 17 of the 24 right-to-work states; and, in the majority of Vermonters want the freedom to you’re better off here in Vermont and other kicker, 10 of the right-to-work states lost more join or leave a labor union, and then goes on non-right-to-work states), let’s remember of their manufacturing job base than we did to assert that the General Assembly’s support what unions did for America. since 1990. of workers’ real rights is “out of touch” with The rise of unions in the private and public While the Vermont legislature in recent years Vermonters. sectors coincided with a rise in the country’s – overwhelmingly not Republican – has been With all due respect, it is Roper and his middle class. It brought wage and hour laws; friendly to working men and women and their tired anti-worker, pro-corporation mantra abolished child labor; instituted overtime right to organize, it’s not because they are out (repeated from the Koch Brothers’ national pay; instituted due process in hiring and firing of touch. It’s because they are representing pro-billionaire playbook) who are out of touch. decisions; led to better pay and benefits at the interests of their constituents, who, every union and non-union shops; and was on the other year, return them to Montpelier. To begin with, workers in Vermont are free to forefront of the greatest economic expansion join unions – or not join. And, believe it or not, We agree with Roper in his desire for more the country had ever experienced. people are free to leave unions, too. fairness, common sense and prosperity in In short, unions and their members raised the Vermont. (Who doesn’t?) Indeed, looking into the methodology of the standards of living of both members and non- “polling” done as part of the laughably named Fortunately, he and his anti-worker brigade members alike. “National Employee Freedom Week” reveals aren’t the ones in Montpelier making decisions a two-question survey that wouldn’t pass Sadly, the anti-worker crusaders and their that represent the real interests of Vermont’s muster in an elementary school statistics acolytes like Roper have helped tip the balance working families.

continued on p. 8

Vermont-NEA Today • ELECTION 2014 1

Vermont-NEA It’s Important to Get Involved Martha Allen The Official Publication When I began teaching over 30 years ago, I did not expect that politics would play a role in my work. of Vermont’s Largest Union Actually, it was the farthest thing from my mind. I wanted to work with my young students and 10 Wheelock Street., Montpelier, VT 05602 help them to learn about the world as they developed the necessary skills to explore and create. My p 802.223.6375 f 802.223.1253 • vtnea.org aspirations were to be the best teacher I could be, meeting the challenges of the potpourri of students who entered my classroom each year. Eventually, I learned that politics and public education are Martha Allen, President inextricably linked, whether I liked it or not! Joel D. Cook, Executive Director I was well aware that public education played a very important role in our society. I was reminded the Darren M. Allen, Communications other day that when our town squares were designed, they always included a school, along with the Director church and general store. Education was deemed as necessary as the spiritual and material needs of a community. Families settled near the town square and to this day schools are at the heart of our communities. Many BOARD OF DIRECTORS realtors use a good school system as a selling point when showing houses and families consider the Alison Sylvester, V. President quality of a school when they shop for a community in which to settle. Steve Owens, Sec.-Treasurer Today, we are faced with a different community structure where many travel miles each day to work. Eric Weiss, NEA Director But, each day they return to where the school, church, and store remain. However, public education is Cathy Mander-Adams, Chittenden 1 expensive and many of our legislators believe that cost savings can be made if the small schools close. Holly Esterline, Chittenden 2 Times have changed and educators have found themselves in the midst of a political struggle. This connection to politics isn’t new because funding for our public schools does take up a large Chris Halpin, Chittenden 3 percentage of the annual state budget and there are many viewpoints as to what is best for our Wayne Whitehill, NE Kingdom 1 budget, our students, our communities and our state. Duke Szymanski, NE Kingdom 2 As educators you are also taxpayers, employees, parents, and community members. Whether we Sarah Burgess, So. Vermont 1 want to or not, we must participate in this political discussion. From our local town meetings to hearings at the State House, educators’ voices are necessary to make sure that our students and Molly Pratt, So. Vermont 2 communities will continue to thrive in our small state. Loriann Darrell, So. Vermont 3 Those new to the teaching profession may think along the same lines as I did so many years ago. They Darcey Fletcher, NW Vermont 1 will want to make a difference in their students’ lives. Don Tinney, NW Vermont 2 I hear that often and it is commendable. We all know we didn’t go into education to get rich. I hear Lance Mills, Upper Valley 1 that a lot, too. But, we don’t have the luxury of separating school from politics. We must accept the Patty Pomerleau, Upper Valley 2 responsibility of our citizenship and make our voices heard. One way to do this is to vote. Erin Carter, Cent. Vermont 1 In this Vermont-NEA Election Guide you will find the results of much hard work done by your Vermont- NEA Board of Directors and members who participated in the senate and statewide candidate Linda Howard, Cent. Vermont 2 interviews. Rose Wenzel, Add/Rut. 1 All candidates were asked to complete a questionnaire on issues of importance to our members. Our Ted Lindgren, Add./Rut. 2 Political Education Activist Committees (PEACs) around the state also participated in the process. Read through the recommendations and talk to your neighbors and colleagues. Use this guide if you need it. Then, vote! It is easy to vote early, too. Simply contact your town clerk and follow the early voting instructions. This is a midterm election and voter turnout is usually low. But, we should all be interested in this election because the winners of this election will make decisions about issues that directly impact you and your students. It is ok to get involved. Your teaching will not suffer. And you will actually serve as a role model to your students demonstrating civic responsibility, something that is at the very heart of the success of our communities. Let’s make sure that our local public schools remain Vermont’s most important resource.

2 Vermont-NEA Today • ELECTION 2014 Tips for Mid-Semester Blues

from p. 8 Keeping students on track halfway through Teachers also can discourage disruptive actions the first semester by praising positive behavior. can always present challenges. Making Shannon Rasmussen, a middle school language sure your students are arts teacher in Federal Way, Wash., allows engaged and enthusiastic students to earn individual positive behavior is one way to keep the tickets they can redeem for small prizes. The remaining weeks until winter break productive class as a whole earns credits toward special and enjoyable. group rewards when everyone adheres to the rules. More structured actions may be necessary, peek at a classmate’s work. though, for students who demonstrate defiant Host Successful Parent Teacher behavior repeatedly. In those cases, teachers Conferences When teachers catch a student cheating, most suggest developing a behavior management say they offer a warning for a first offense and Start any parent-teacher conference with a plan with input from the student, parents, and make the student redo the assignment. For positive comment about the student before possibly a counselor or principal who outlines repeat offenders, however, teachers meet with addressing any areas that need improvement, behavior expectations and consequences for the student’s parents and school principal and suggests Epps, and have samples of the student’s repeated infractions. impose more serious consequences such as work to support your comments. detention or a comprehensive discipline plan. Address Holiday Distractions Consider including the student in the conference “A lot of times students will cheat if they don’t as well. Shannon Rasmussen helps her students feel comfortable, but if you provide them with Keeping students focused on instruction can compile work samples and then, with her preparation…they won’t feel so nervous and will pose challenges even on a normal school day; guidance, present them to their parents during want to demonstrate what they have learned,” but, with the anticipation of harvest festivals, the conference. says Clarke. “The best way to prevent cheating Halloween candy, Thanksgiving turkey, and is to provide structures and routines in the presents from Santa, the approaching holiday “Student-led conferences are successful if classroom that allow students to feel confident in season adds an extra level of distraction during parents feel like they are getting the same what they know.” the first semester. information they would as when it was just a parent-teacher conference, but it is even better Teachers say the best thing to do this time of year when they get it from the students themselves,” Regain Your Composure is embrace that holiday excitement, rather than Rasmussen explains. fight it. Teaching is stressful and when students push Remember, parents often feel nervous about your buttons it’s easy to fly off the handle and “Holidays are fun and are supposed to be!” says meeting with their child’s teacher and worry lose your cool in front of a class. When that Piergallini. “It’s quite normal for kids and adults the teacher will judge their parenting skills, so happens, teachers say the best thing to do is to be anxious and distracted as holidays arise.” the teacher needs to set a positive tone for the simply apologize for your behavior and talk with To tame that anxiety, Piergallini plans small conference, says Toney McNair, a middle school your students about constructive ways everyone holiday celebrations to encourage students choral director in Chesapeake, Va. can handle overwhelming emotions. to remain focused and on task. These festive “Teachers should never appear to be “Students appreciate humanity and being human events offer students the chance to socialize condescending or inactively listening to the more than being perfect,” says Rasmussen. and represent a tangible reward they can work concerns of the parents.” Teachers can reassure Identifying your triggers, and strategies for toward. parents by offering concrete ideas to support the cooling off in the moment, also can help you “Allowing students the opportunity to celebrate child’s learning and by encouraging parents to avoid blowing your top. helps them focus more in the present, knowing visit the classroom at any time, McNair adds. the day to let loose is coming,” Piergallini says. “Losing my cool doesn’t happen too often,” says Rita Wells, an elementary orchestra teacher Teachers also can incorporate holiday and Stopping Students From in Billings, Mont. But when it does, “I try to seasonal themes into their lessons to keep Cheating step back, take a deep breath, and change the students engaged. To discourage cheating, Maryland middle school direction I’m going. Flexibility goes a long way in During Thanksgiving, Virginia high school language arts teacher Debbie Jackson creates keeping me sane.” social studies teacher Angelique Clarke has her multiple versions of her assessments and prints Jackson, meanwhile, plays music to calm a students research the social customs of early tests on different colored paper so students disruptive class, a cue that tells her students that Americans, including the foods they ate. do not know who has the same version of the she needs some “quiet time,” she says. Clarke’s students develop a cookbook of recipes test. On essay tests, Jackson supplies several If you still feel on the brink of a melt-down, from their assigned time periods and prepare questions and lets each student choose which though, ask a colleague to watch your class food samples the class enjoys the day before one to answer. She also provides multiple for a few moments while you step outside and Thanksgiving break. options for completing assignments, so students can choose whether to create a poem, compose compose yourself, suggests Epps. “Whenever I English teachers, meanwhile, can incorporate a speech, or write a newspaper article to have a situation where a student is disrespectful, plays, poetry, and American folk tales, like The demonstrate their knowledge. I have to remember it’s not personal,” says Legend of Sleepy Hollow, into their instruction Clarke. “If you can keep that perspective, you will to capitalize on seasonal themes, suggests Gail Several teachers also suggest separating keep your composure. Focus on the students and Epps, program manager for the Montgomery students’ desks or positioning students back-to- their learning, and even on those hard days you County, Md., New Teacher Induction Program. back during tests to minimize the temptation to won’t feel like giving up.”

Vermont-NEA Today • ELECTION 2014 3 Election 2014 / The Issues of Importance to Us

This summer, we asked all candidates for acknowledge the sacrifices employees have discrete matters that would improve the quality office to let us know their opinions on issues made in compensation over past decades and, of our school systems. A few basic examples: important to members and to the profession. in the transition to Green Mountain Care, making the job of superintendent doable, making The following explains these issues, and enact provisions to offset possible loss in the position of principal attractive, making the summarizes the board’s position on them. You coverage or increased costs. professional needs of educators paramount, can see candidate responses at vtnea.org/ helping communities with increasingly small election2014. School Finance: Adjust, Don't schools plan their future, using the regulatory Discard, the Current System process and technology to ensure breadth of Paid Employee Leave learning opportunities, all so that the adults The purpose of our public education system is to can really focus their complete attention on the Too many working Vermonters – especially enable every child to graduate high school with needs of all our children. women and workers in low wage jobs – have to the knowledge and skills necessary for success Vermont-NEA believes the current school go to work sick or lose a paycheck. Too many in college, continuing education, careers, and governance system, despite certain flaws, Vermonters must choose between caring for an citizenship. The State's constitutional obligation serves an overriding Vermont value and that ill child or parent and foregoing pay. Too many is to ensure access to a substantially equal the State should focus instead on discrete working Vermonters must choose between amount of funding for each student, regardless matters that would improve the quality of our staying home to care for a sick child and of community. A related purpose of the original school systems and our communities. sending that sick child to school. And, too many Act 60 was to enable low wealth communities Vermonters must choose between taking time off to level up. It was a striking success, but that to seek help against domestic or sexual violence leveling up fed a public perception that, coupled Equal Opportunity for All School- and losing income and hope for economic with our state's decline in school-aged children, children independence. It is time for Vermont to affirm the we are spending "too much" on their education. Providing actual equal opportunities for all primacy of worker and family health and safety The state is paying no more on schoolchildren schoolchildren is important. It just is not needs. The cost of providing a modicum of paid now, as a percentage of total income, than it has, something that simply happens by consolidating time to employees to enable them to care for dating back to years prior to the enactment of Act the structure of school systems. Generally, themselves and family is insignificant compared 60. In recent years, the total number of school schoolchildren in Vermont perform better than with the social, health, and productivity costs employees in Vermont has declined by nearly just about anywhere else. Report after report of leaving its provision discretionary with 1000, as school districts continue to acknowledge confirms we are doing well by them: Vermont's employers. Some 60,000 Vermont workers are enrollment declines. It is not possible to cut costs schoolchildren are among the smartest, caught between the inevitability of illness and in lockstep with enrollment declines. Increased happiest, healthiest, and safest in the United the necessity for pay. costs stem largely from matters outside the States. The general, however, masks the specific, control of schools themselves, such as necessary Vermont-NEA believes that all employees here and across the nation: students from technology changes, health care, and State and should be entitled – in law – to earn a lower income households, for all our efforts to federal initiatives. reasonable amount of paid time off to take spread education resources equitably, typically care of themselves and their families when Vermont-NEA believes the current school do not keep up with their better off peers. illness strikes or safety requires. funding system is fundamentally and While the achievement gap in Vermont is less constitutionally sound, but that it can and pronounced than elsewhere, it is and remains Green Mountain Care: Transition should be made more overtly related to the most difficult and intractable problem for us for All Employees taxpayer ability to pay. to address as an education community. While it is a primary focus in our schools, and while a Vermont-NEA has been and remains a leading District Consolidation: good education remains an essential way out of and effective advocate of health care reform, Supporting Vermont's poverty, we cannot legitimately pretend children and it supports the vision and goals of Green are somehow magically capable of shedding their Mountain Care. Over decades, school employees Communities socioeconomic conditions at the schoolhouse – and other workers – negotiated for good health Just about every five years over many decades, door. To be "ready to learn" once through that care and openly sacrificed wage and benefit state-level policymakers have tried to cajole or door, all schoolchildren must have a roof over gains in order to obtain and retain it. For 20 require the elimination of town-based school their heads, food in their bellies, and security in years, Vermont-NEA and school boards have districts in favor of about 50-60 consolidated their daily lives. saved taxpayers many tens of millions of dollars school districts. Every five years, the twin Vermont-NEA believes the state should through reduced insurance premiums in a single promises of consolidation are reduced costs engage in constant effort to address the statewide insurance group (VEHI) for all active and increased learning opportunities, but the effects poverty has in our schools by and retired school employees and their families. evidence from states that have "consolidated" constant attention to social programs and As the State now moves to consider funding or "centralized" shows neither promise fulfilled. fiscal policies that diminish poverty in our and other components of Green Mountain And every five years, forced consolidation is communities. Care, it must protect all Vermont employees rebuffed by Vermont's local communities. from substantial compensation losses in the Besides missing the mark about efficiency and Teaching Career: Recruiting and transition. Absent helpful legislative attention, opportunity, Montpelier overlooks something the combined impact of separating health care fundamental about Vermont: Vermonters Retaining New Teachers benefits from employers and a new broad-based cherish community, the capacity to elect and Too many teachers new to the profession leave it public payment system – which we support – hold accountable locally elected school officials, within a short period. That speaks volumes about could lead improperly to substantial losses in and the accompanying opportunities for civic the difficulties new teachers face, and it masks compensation for active and retired employees engagement. Every five years, because the State untold millions of dollars wasted in preparing generally, whether in unions or not. focuses on "governance" consolidation, we miss continued on p. 5 Vermont-NEA believes the State must the opportunity to address less global, more

4 Vermont-NEA Today • ELECTION 2014 Election 2014 / Statewide Candidates Offer Choices for Vermonters Here’s a List of People Running for Statewide Office...

Member of Congress MATTHEW ANDREWS Liberty Union MARK DONKA Republican CRIS ERICSON Independent RANDALL MEYER Independent JERRY TRUDELL Energy Independence Democratic

Governor The Issues PETE DIAMONDSTONE Liberty Union CRIS ERICSON Independent

from p. 4 DAN FELICIANO Libertarian Republican young professionals for a career almost half of BERNARD PETERS Independent them abandon in short order. There are proven ways usefully to address this public issue. They EMILY PEYTON Independent include providing each new teacher respectful Democratic compensation, ensuring professional mentoring for two years at the start of her career, helping with teachers' own student debt, extending the The Candidates Lt. Governor period of required student teaching, limiting the MARINA BROWN Liberty Union range of non-teaching duties for new teachers, In previous issues, we’ve explained who the ensuring manageable class sizes for new board recommends for all statewide races DEAN CORREN Progressive/Democratic teachers, and providing useful training for all (except for attorney general, where the board Republican teachers regarding special needs students. does not make a choice). From top left, the board recommends the re-election of Peter Welch to Vermont-NEA believes the most important Congress; the re-election of Gov. Peter Shumlin; State Treasurer education policy matter our State faces is the election of Dean Corren for lieutenant to make teaching sufficiently attractive to MURRAY NGOIMA Liberty Union governor; and the re-election of Treasurer Beth high caliber young professionals both before Democratic Pearce, Auditor of Accounts Doug Hoffer and entering and during their initial years in their Secretary of State . You can read more DON SCHRAMM Progressive own classrooms, and the State should address about them and all candidates at our election this issue by investing in proven ways of Secretary of State website, vtnea.org/election2014. helping young professionals. JIM CONDOS Democratic The “Common Core”: Proper BEN EASTWOOD Progressive technology in every school. If the state merely MARY ALICE HERBERT Liberty Union Implementation a Necessity directs school districts to implement the Vermont is among the many states that have Common Core without providing adequate adopted the “Common Core,” national standards training, materials, and time, nothing much will Auditor of Accounts that purport to ready students for college change, except that student scores on the new DOUG HOFFER Democratic/Progressive and career. Like so many “new” approaches to tests will drop. Some states taking Common Core education over the decades, the potential for seriously are devoting significant new dollars to success of the Common Core will be determined schools, to provide the technology needed, the Attorney General training needed, and the time needed. by how well the state chooses to implement ROSEMARIE JACKOWSKI Liberty Union it. If teachers are provided adequate training, Vermont-NEA believes the children of SHANE MCCORMACK Republican materials, and the time they need in which to Vermont deserve the investment needed to develop new curricula and try them out, our ensure the implementation of Common Core WILLIAM H. SORRELL Democratic students will succeed under it. Accompanying in their schools is smooth, of high quality, and (Vermont-NEA does not recommend the shift to Common Core is a new system helpful to our children. candidates in the AG race.) of standardized testing requiring up to date

Vermont-NEA Today • ELECTION 2014 5 Recommended Candidates for House, Senate Senate Candidates Caledonia-Washington CATHERINE “KITTY” Orleans 2 CARL B. DAVIS TOLL Addison CLAIRE AYER Orleans 2 JULIE RABOIN Chittenden 4-1 Bennington BRIAN CAMPION Orleans-Caledonia CHRIS BRAITHWAITE Chittenden 4-2 Bennington DICK SEARS Orleans-Caledonia SAM YOUNG Chittenden 5-1 Caledonia MIKE HEATH Rutland 2 DAVE POTTER Chittenden 5-2 JOAN G. LENES Caledonia Rutland 4 THOMAS P. TERENZINI Chittenden 6-1 JOANNA COLE Chittenden Rutland 5-1 JAMES P. CANDON Chittenden 6-1 ROBERT HOOPER Chittenden PHIL BARUTH Rutland 5-3 HERB RUSSELL Chittenden 6-2 JEAN O’SULLIVAN Chittenden VIRGINIA “GINNY” LYONS Rutland 5-4 SHERRI DURGIN-CAMPBELL Chittenden 6-3 JILL KROWINKSI Chittenden Rutland 6 STEPHEN A. CARR Chittenden 6-3 CURT MCCORMACK Chittenden DIANE B. SNELLING Rutland-Bennington ROBIN CHESNUT- Chittenden 6-4 CHRISTOPHER A. PEARSON TANGERMAN Chittenden DAVID ZUCKERMAN Chittenden 6-4 Rutland-Windsor 1 ANNE L. GALLIVAN Essex-Orleans JOHN S. RODGERS Chittenden 6-5 Washington 1 JEREMY HANSEN Essex-Orleans ROBERT A. STARR Chittenden 6-5 MARY M. SULLIVAN Washington 1 MARVIN MALEK Franklin SARA BRANON KITTELL Chittenden 6-7 Washington 2 J. GUY ISABELLE Franklin WILLIAM ALAN ROBERTS Chittenden 7-2 Washington 2 FRANCIS “TOPPER” MCFAUN Lamoille RICHARD A. WESTMAN Chittenden 7-3 Washington 3 PAUL N. POIRIER Orange MARK A. MACDONALD Chittenden 7-4 MAIDA F. TOWNSEND Washington 3 TOMMY J. WALZ Rutland ANISSA DELAURI Chittenden 8-1 DEBBIE EVANS Washington 4 MARY S. HOOPER Rutland ELDRED FRENCH Chittenden 8-2 TIM JERMAN Washington 4 WARREN F. KITZMILLER Rutland KEVIN J. MULLIN Chittenden 8-2 LINDA WAITE-SIMPSON Washington 5 TONY KLEIN Washington Chittenden 8-3 LIZ SUBIN Washington 6 JANET ANCEL Washington WILLIAM “BILL” DOYLE Chittenden 9-1 JIM CONDON Washington 7 Washington Chittenden 9-2 MAUREEN P. DAKIN Washington-Chittenden REBECCA ELLIS Windham Chittenden 9-2 KRISTY SPENGLER Washington-Chittenden TOM STEVENS Windham Chittenden-2 TERRY MACAIG Windham 2-1 VALERIE A. STUART Windsor OHN CAMPBELL Chittenden-2 JIM MCCULLOUGH Windham 2-2 MOLLIE S. BURKE Windsor RICHARD “DICK” MCCORMACK Chittenden-3 BILL FRANK Windham 2-3 Windsor ALICE W. NITKA Chittenden-3 Windham 3 CAROLYN W. PARTRIDGE Franklin 3-1 KATHLEEN C. KEENAN Windham 3 MATTHEW A. TRIEBER House Candidates Franklin 3-1 MIKE MCCARTHY Windham 4 DAVID L. DEEN Addison 1 BETTY A. NUOVO Franklin 4 MICHEL CONSEJO Windham 4 Addison 1 Franklin 5 ROBERT B. IRISH Windham 6 ANN MANWARING Addison 2 WILLEM JEWETT Franklin 5 DANIEL NADEAU Windham-Bennington JOHN MORAN Addison 3 Franklin 6 DANIEL F. CONNOR Windsor 1 JOHN BARTHOLOMEW Addison 3 JOHN B. SPENCER Franklin 7 Windsor 1 DONNA SWEANEY Addison 4 MICHAEL FISHER Grand Isle-Chittenden MITZI JOHNSON Windsor 2 MARK HUNTLEY Addison 4 DAVE SHARPE Grand Isle-Chittenden ROBERT C. KREBS Windsor 3-1 LEIGH J. DAKIN Addison 5 SUSAN SMILEY Lamoille 2 LINDA J. MARTIN Windsor 3-2 ALICE M. EMMONS Bennington 1 Lamoille 2 MARK E. WOODWARD Windsor 3-2 ROBERT “BOB” FORGUITES Bennington 2-1 Lamoille-Washington AVRAM PATT Windsor 4-1 TEO ZAGAR Bennington 2-2 KIAH MORRIS Lamoille-Washington SHAP SMITH Windsor 4-2 KEVIN “COACH” CHRISTIE Bennington 3 ALICE MILLER Orange 1 SUSAN HATCH DAVIS Windsor 4-2 Bennington 4 STEVE BERRY Orange 2 SARAH COPELAND HANZAS Windsor 5 ALISON H. CLARKSON Caledonia-1 CLAUDETTE SORTINO Orange-Caledonia Windsor-Orange 1 SARAH E. BUXTON Caledonia-2 JOSEPH “CHIP” TROIANO Orange-Washington-Addison PATSY Windsor-Orange 2 TIM BRIGLIN FRENCH Caledonia-3 MICHELLE FAY Windsor-Orange 2 Orange-Washington-Addison MARJORIE Caledonia-3 BOB SOUTH Windsor-Rutland RYERSON

6 Vermont-NEA Today • ELECTION 2014 Corren Supports Unions, Health Care and You

from p. 1 for a sustainable energy company. And he’s been a champion of single-payer health care, marriage equality, energy efficiency, increased government transparency, and stronger consumer protections for many years. Indeed, while he hasn’t held elective office for 14 years, he says “I have never been out of politics, just out of partisan elective politics.” That much is clear when you spend just a few minutes with him. As he rattles off a vision of Vermont that is fairer, greener, healthier, and more prosperous, Corren is especially passionate about the role educators and public education play in keeping Vermont a wonderful place to live. “Those of us who aren’t educators actually know very little about the nuts and bolts of education,” he said, decrying the tendency of elected officials from all stripes to make pronouncements about how our public schools should be run. “It makes sense to me that the people who do education for a living should have a substantial say in how it should work.” Stopping by... Corren said he became an early supporter and admirer of unions when he was young. Lt. Gov. candidate Dean Corren spent time at Vermont-NEA to talk about his vision for Vermont. He especially understands the importance of Vermont-NEA and other public educators’ unions. the sacrifices made over the decades by union during the transition, recognizing and accounting “I think it is absolutely false that job protections members who have traded salary gains for solid for the value of those contributions is crucial to in union contracts detract from teaching and health benefits. “It is my belief that the health successful implementation.” care packages bargained by the major public learning,” he said. “Instead, I think unions give The transition from VEHI to Green Mountain Care employee unions – Vermont-NEA and VSEA – be teachers the ability and security to do their jobs.” is an important one, and Allen said that Corren’s the floor for Vermonters,” he said. Allen appreciates Corren’s support of unions, commitment to the well-being of members sets particularly at a time when many elected leaders He said that one of the main reasons he wants him apart. “Dean really gets how important the – Democrats and Republicans alike – try to run to be lieutenant governor is to ensure that the issue is,” Allen said. “All of us have fought hard away from unions. “He is a breath of fresh air in single-payer health system Vermont adopts is at the bargaining table to establish a health his unabashed support of unions,” she said. “He fair to everyone, and he intends to seek Vermont- insurance benefit that is worth a lot – in coverage, understands that the shrinking membership of NEA’s input at all stages of the process. in cost, and, most importantly, in peace of mind.” unions has brought about a general decline in the “It has always been my position that health care Corren is also alone among the candidates for quality of life for all working people.” costs are always paid by employees,” he said. statewide office in that he isn’t engaged in private fundraising – he qualified this spring for public Another important way to improve the quality of “This is the case whether it is through the value financing of his campaign. life for working Vermonters, according to Corren, they create, the salary or other benefits they is to ensure the state does become the first with forgo, or a combination of the two. Once we “This lets me focus on issues and on working my a publicly financed, universally available health have finally divorced healthcare coverage from hardest so that Vermonters are better served by care system. But, he says, care must be taken employment, these dynamics will disappear. But their government,” he said. to ensure that any public system doesn’t ignore

Election resources at your fingertips. Througout this issue you’ll find tons of information designed to help you understand the issues facing you and your fellow members, as well as which candidates your board believes are the best choices to fight for your interests. You can also find out much more about candidates and where they stand by visiting vtnea.org/election2014. There, you’ll be able to read what candidates had to say on the issues (more than 100 filled out our candidates’ questionnaire). Take the time to be informed, and be sure to vote.

Vermont-NEA Today • ELECTION 2014 7 Five Ways to Break the Mid-Semester Blues By Kristin Loschert who exhibits rude behavior, talks back, or just refuses to work. Those students are frustrating and disruptive for sure, but teachers agree that NEA Today building a positive teacher-student relationship is crucial for taming Does this sound familiar? You make it halfway through the first semester and obstinate behavior. just when you find your groove, it hits: the mid-semester slump. The novelty “When a student exhibits defiant behavior, I take it as a plea for help of the new school year has faded, the rules and routines that worked so well because often it is a red flag that something is not right in his or her during the first grading period have become a source of tension between life,” says Brian Sites, a high school math and social studies teacher you and your students, and your once organized and well-managed class is in Richland, Wash. At those times, Sites talks with the defiant student becoming a room full of distracted, and, at times, openly defiant children. It’s privately to find out if something in the student’s personal life is enough to make even a seasoned educator count the days until winter break! motivating the disruptive behavior. Fortunately, fellow educators can help. We’ve collected their best advice for Often times, defiant students simply seek attention, says Monica tackling five common mid-semester challenges, strategies to help get you out Hulubei Piergallini, an English language learner specialist in Yakima, of that slump. Wash. Showing the student you care about his or her wellbeing or share Manage Defiant Students a common interest can build a connection and defuse the behavior. “If a defiant student knows you are an ally and not a dictator, behaviors can At one point or another, every teacher encounters a defiant student—one change,” she says. (Continued on page 3)

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Did you know? Early voting has already begun in Vermont. There are multiple ways to cast your ballot: in person at your town clerk’s office between now and the election; absentee by mail; or on Nov. 4 at your town’s polling place. For more, visit our website vtnea.org/election2014.

Vermont-NEA The Official Publication of the Vermont-National Education Association www.vtnea.org Vol. 82 No. 2 • ELECTION ISSUE 2014

Our Interests Drive Our Issues, p. 4

President’s View: It’s More than OK to Get Involved, p. 2 SBEA Chief Negotiator Eric Stone addresses the press after he Handy Pull-Out Guide to Recommended and his fellow members vote Candidates, p. 6 overwhelmingly to strike. Learn more at vtnea.org