NSEA Professional Development Covers Politics and Classroom, Loan Forgiveness, Technology the New Educator February, March Lineup Online Learning Opportunities VOICE Programs all Online n Thursday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m.: How Do Politics Affect Me and My Nebraska State Education Association Ever wonder how and why politics 605 S. 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508 Classroom? — Featuring NSEA’s Brian affect your classroom? Local, state Mikkelsen, learn how politics affect the nsea.org and national politicians have much to 402-475-7611 · 1-800-742-0047 classroom and hear the current status of say about what happens inside your Volume 74, No. 6 legislation this session. classroom, and you can learn why it is n Tuesday, Feb. 23, 6 p.m.: Planning ISSN Number: 1085-0783 vital to stay attuned to political happenings USPS Number: 000-369 for Uncertainty — Collaborative in an online session with NSEA Director decision-making processes and drawing Executive Director Maddie Fennell, NBCT of Political Operations Brian Mikkelsen on real-world situations, training will Associate Executive Sheri Jablonski on Thursday, Feb. 4. Mikkelsen’s online Director & Comptroller demonstrate how educators, counselors Field & Special Michelle Raphael workshop, How do Politics Affect Me and and leaders can build comprehensive Projects Manager My Classroom? will convene at 7:30 p.m. action plans that attend to the wellness Director of Public Affairs Karen Kilgarin CST. To register, go to: needs of both themselves and their & Communications nsea.org/NewEdLearn Assistant Comm. Director Al Koontz students (90 minutes). NSEA is fast becoming your best n Thursday, Feb. 25, 6 p.m.: Repeat NSEA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE source for professional development. of Planning for Uncertainty. President Jenni Benson, Lincoln This list of opportunities over the next [email protected] two months assists members in meeting Vice President Robert Miller, Omaha EdTech Webinar Series [email protected] classroom needs, personal care and n Wednesday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m.: Using NEA Director Tracy Hartman-Bradley, Omaha education technology issues. Sessions Videos in Your Lessons — Videos are a [email protected] are one hour, unless noted, and all times great way to connect with your students. NEA Director Linda Freye, Lincoln are central time. To learn more, and to [email protected] Learn how to create videos using register, go to: QuickTime Player, Screencastify, and Official publication of the Nebraska State Education www.nsea.org/webinars Loom and how to share them in Google Association, 605 South 14th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508- 2742. Periodical postage paid at Lincoln, NE, and ad- Classroom and Seesaw. Explore ways to ditional mailing offices. Postmaster: send address Membership/Association link videos that other people have created changes to NSEA Voice, 605 S. 14th Street, Lincoln, NE Workshops in your online space (90 minutes). 68508. n Thursday, Feb. 11, 5:30 p.m.: n Wednesday, Feb. 17, 6 p.m.: Using Published 10 times yearly according to this schedule: Women and Money. Pear Deck to Engage Learners at a September, October, November, December, January, n Tuesday, Feb. 16, 5:30 p.m.: NEA February, March, April, May and August. Distance — This session will discuss Member Benefits Overview (travel how to use Pear Deck to transform Payment of annual NSEA membership dues entitles focus). your PowerPoint/Google Slides into Nebraska educators to receive The Voice. Total cost of n producing 10 monthly issues of The Voice each year is Thursday, Feb. 18, 6 p.m.: Student interactive presentations. Assess student less than $2 per member. Loan Forgiveness/Reduction (90 understanding in real time or at their own minutes). pace by inserting questions and practice Advertising rates available upon request. All ad- vertisements and advertisers are screened prior to n Tuesday, March 16, 4:30 p.m.: NEA activities directly into your lesson (90 publication. Appearance of an advertisement in The Member Benefits Overview. minutes). Voice does not imply NSEA endorsement of either the n product being advertised or the views expressed. Thursday, March 18, 5 p.m.: n Wednesday, Feb. 24, 6 p.m.: Financial Essentials. Formative Assessments — How n Tuesday, April 13, 5:30 p.m.: NEA popular EdTech tools can be leveraged Member Benefits Overview. to collect formative assessment and n Thursday, April 15, 5 p.m.: Lifestage inform instruction in an asynchronous Investing. environment (90 minutes). Find us on Facebook at: facebook.com/nsea.org Find us on Twitter at: @nsea_org Would You Like to Write for The Voice? Find us on Instagram at: Would you like to write an item for The Voice? Would you like to write an opinion column @nsea_org or an article on what is working in your classroom? Submissions can be classroom-related, Find us on YouTube at: NSEAMEDIA humorous, inspiring or otherwise teaching related. Submit your questions about the process, and your topics to us at: [email protected] A Great Public School On the Cover: Your Association support assisted Lincoln member Jennifer Un- for Every Child. gvarsky as she worked to resolve issues with her paycheck. Learn more beginning on Page 7. PAGE 2 | THE VOICE | FEBRUARY 2021 | #YouBelong Your NSEA President Hindsight in 2020, Foresight for 2021 As 2019 came to a close, I don’t believe anyone saw the chaos of 2020 coming. Pandemic, economic uncertainty, political division – I think we all took it Lessons from 1918 as it came and made decisions as best we could based Influenza Service on the information at hand at the time. (from the January 1919 edition With the benefit of the information that comes of The Nebraska Teacher) with, appropriately, 20-20 hindsight, we can all see The war has produced heroes of the that in many cases we could have made better deci- battlefield in unprecedented numbers. It has sions. Such judgment comes easily when reflecting also discovered many thousands who have on past experiences and actions after the fact. freely offered their lives and their services As we enter 2021, we stop to reflect on our expe- riences and those decisions made in 2020. We have to the Red Cross and the YMCA and allied learned a great deal and your insight is invaluable as organizations. NSEA President we move forward. The influenza epidemic which is re- Jenni Benson ported to have taken a toll of 6,000,000 in Foresight in Treatment three months has also produced its heroes. Over the past couple of months, I have been evalu- When the influenza reached this country, “ ating quite a bit, both personally and professionally. I the trained nurses were nearly all in war service. But the call for help was imperative. The pandemic do not make decisions in isolation or autocratically. I carefully research, consult, discuss and survey others School teachers everywhere responded al- of 2020 delivered before making a shared decision. I listen to experts most unanimously where there was need, and weigh the options carefully. The information and their schools were closed. This service many cases gathered with hindsight, knowledge and expertise on the part of the teachers in this time of of hindsight then contributes to insight and foresight as we move sore trial will never be forgotten. forward. It is futile to attempt to give personal expertise: Should My husband, Mike, has a major blockage in the credit, for every center had its nursing unit basal artery leading to his brain which resulted in sev- have, could have, of teachers and other public-spirited wom- eral ischemic strokes the week before Thanksgiving. en, of whom there were many; but the sick would have. The holidays took on a new meaning as we navigated whose lives were saved by these volunteer our new challenges. Hindsight would suggest there nurses will not soon forget. History was were signs we didn’t notice ahead of the strokes. Many school boards have hesitated to pay being made as On Dec. 30, my brother, Jim, died unexpectedly. teachers their salaries during the vacations He was 59 and had battled health challenges for when the schools were closed by order of the playbook years. Grief is packed full of hindsight and memories. boards of health. State Supt. W.H. Clemmons, If those challenges weren’t enough, as I write was being however, has ruled that these salaries must this, Mike has been hospitalized for five days with be paid. The ruling is right and just. The teach- written. NSEA a chronic infection. Hindsight regarding issues with ers must not be left without funds to live on his infection are all over the internet. Hindsight won’t during such an emergency as this. And when locals and our help, but foresight in treatment will. the schools open again there must be teach- members were The Most Important Voice ers for them. In other words, the teachers must hold themselves in readiness to return vital in making The pandemic of 2020 delivered many cases of hindsight expertise: should have, could have, would to work at any time the school board may pandemic have. History was being made as the playbook was deem it safe to reopen the schools. We are glad that Nebraska is not lagging related decisions being written. NSEA locals and our members were vital in making pandemic-related decisions in their behind the other states in a matter so vital in their school school districts across the state. to the schools. It was not much different from the influenza pan- districts across demic of 1918. As with the current pandemic, edu- ence each of them. the state. cators in 1918 gave vital service in that instance, as cited in the predecessor to The Voice magazine, The We know from experience your voice is the most Nebraska Teacher (see box). important voice. We need you to help educate the Teachers continue to give vital service today, and public and our elected officials. You have the insight ” on their behalf, NSEA continues to advocate and rep- and foresight to make change happen. resent as the legislature begins to hit full stride. There Find contact information for your senator by visit- are already dozens of bills we know will affect our ing NSEA’s Action Center at nsea.org. students, educators, schools and communities across And with foresight, together, we can make 2021 a Nebraska, and we are watching and working to influ- great year for public education!

#YouBelong | FEBRUARY 2021 | THE VOICE | PAGE 3 PAGE 4 | THE VOICE | FEBRUARY 2021 | #YouBelong Opening Bell Blue Cross to Cover Cost of Vaccine in EHA Plan Testing, Treatment doctor’s office, urgent care facility or n Telehealth (for both COVID-19 and emergency room. It includes inpatient non-COVID-19-related services). also covered hospital stays related to the virus. In addition, the legislation allows With two COVID-19 vaccines now This waiver also applies to those who individuals to use HSA/FSA funds for approved by the U.S. Food and Drug receive coverage through the Blue Cross the purchase of over-the-counter medical Administration, members of the Educators and Blue Shield of Nebraska Medicare products without requiring a doctor’s Health Alliance (EHA) health insurance Supplement and Medicare Advantage prescription. plan through Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. The EHA is a non-profit corporation of Nebraska will be able to get a vaccine created to procure quality, affordable at no cost. ‘Surveillance’ Testing health insurance for Nebraska educational Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Not Covered employees. The rates set by the EHA Nebraska has waived member cost- COVID-19 testing done for non- Board are for the Blue Cross and Blue sharing for in-network testing and diagnostic purposes, such as public Shield of Nebraska health care plan used treatment of COVID-19 through March surveillance or employment, will not by more than 325 public school districts 31 for plan members who present with be covered because it is not considered and affiliate groups in Nebraska. symptoms or have been exposed to others medically appropriate. Surveillance The EHA plan evolved from a statewide who have tested positive for COVID-19. testing is when an individual has no health care plan NSEA founded in the The company encourages members to use COVID-19 symptoms (is asymptomatic) 1960s. Today’s 12-member board has in-network providers, as they will not ask and has no known exposure to COVID-19. six NSEA representatives and three each for up-front payment. Cost shares for COVID-19-related from the Nebraska Association of School “Most Nebraska school districts are telehealth visits returned to normal on Boards and the Nebraska Council of part of the EHA network, and use our Blue Jan. 1. However, recent federal legislation School Administrators. NSEA Associate Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska plan. allows high deductible health plans linked Executive Director and Comptroller Sheri This is a wonderful move by Blue Cross,” to an HSA to waive member cost shares Jablonski chairs the EHA board. NSEA President Jenni Benson said. for the following reasons, without tax More than 80,000 Nebraskans are Members will pay nothing for penalty: covered by the plan, making it the largest medically appropriate in-network n COVID-19 testing, including the health plan in the state. Learn more at: COVID-19 testing and treatment in a office/urgent care/emergency room visit; ehaplan.org Nebraska ESP Salaries Lag Those in Neighboring States Across America, more than 2.7 million education support professionals (ESPs) work in the nation’s public schools and 2021 NEA Conference Offered at No Cost to ESPs colleges, with 77 percent employed at the The 2021 NEA Education Support Professional National Conference will be virtual K-12 level. March 19-21, and free for 2,000 NEA ESPs to attend. Paraeducators make up 32 percent of that “This is the premier professional development opportunity for ESPs across the number, and clerical workers add another 23 nation,” said NSEA President Jenni Benson. percent to that total. The conference will offer up to 30 live and 15 on-demand professional learning Those are the numbers from the opportunities over three days. Participants will have opportunities to network and share National Education Association’s ESP best practices and strategies with peers. Data Book: A Work Force Profile of The conference is offered to NEA members only. Registration opens in February Education Support Professionals, released and will be free, but will be capped at 2,000 participants confirmed on a first come, first in December. The numbers were culled served basis. All workshop sessions will be 75 minutes in length and will be held in the from an in-depth review of the U.S. Census afternoons on Saturday, March 20, and Sunday, March 21. Bureau’s American Community Survey, The conference will be followed by the NEA ESP of the Year celebration on Friday, a nationwide sample survey that has been March 26. Details may be found at: continuously collected since 2005. The www.nea.org/espconference Data Book provides a detailed look at the ESPs in America’s public schools and post- secondary institutions. ($31,085, 25th ), Iowa ($29,220, 31st) and percent and 22 percent, respectively. Salaries for Nebraska’s 14,872 full-time Missouri ($28,965, 33rd), but ahead of The largest group of ESPs in Nebraska ESPs trail the national average. Kansas ($26,451, 47th) and South Dakota are paraeducators (6,238), followed by “Like our teachers, our Education ($24,892, 51st). clerical (4,421) and custodial (2,983) Support Professionals are underpaid when The average salary for a full-time ESP in employees. The remainder are scattered compared to their peers across the country,” the U.S. is $35,159. among food service, security, transportation, NSEA President Jenni Benson said. Another 5,223 ESPs work part-time at technical and other job duties. The survey shows that when looking at their school jobs. Nebraska ESPs are well- The average age of a Nebraska ESP is earnings of the full-time ESP work force, educated, with 12.4 percent owning an 44.9 years and 69.3 percent are female. Just Nebraska’s ESPs rank 34th in average associate degree and another 25.5 percent more than 5 percent live below the poverty salary, at $28,875. That figure stands behind with a bachelor’s degree, both numbers line. Wyoming, ($33,446, 17th), Colorado topping the national averages of 11.8 Earnings data reflect 2019-20 averages.

#YouBelong | FEBRUARY 2021 | THE VOICE | PAGE 5 PAGE 6 | THE VOICE | FEBRUARY 2021 | #YouBelong Cover Story

All Worth It: Lincoln Education Association and NSEA member Jennifer Ungvarsky didn’t know where to turn when she received a paycheck for triple her salary. She called her association president, who helped resolve the problem quickly. Membership Pays Off in Resolving Paycheck Issue Association Steps In to Help Correct Two Miscalculated Payments for Lincoln Elementary Teacher Her 30 years of Association three times what it normally would Saturday and panicked because she membership paid off when NSEA be without putting anything into hadn’t checked it sooner. By the time member Jennifer Ungvarsky the HSA,” said Ungvarsky, a third- she discovered the error the school discovered her paycheck had been grade teacher at Lincoln’s Cavett district payroll office was closed. grossly miscalculated — twice. Elementary School and a member of “I didn’t even know where to start At the start of 2020, Ungvarsky the Lincoln Education Association or who to start calling,” Ungvarsky began participating in a high- and NSEA. said. deductible health savings plan to The error threw off not only her save for the future. Her goal was to bank account, but her withholding Association Takes Lead save as much tax-free money as she amounts for the HSA, taxes and She contacted the payroll could as quickly as she could. While FICA. department the following Monday, she expected the HSA to grow in She knew she had to do something then called Rita Bennett, president of value, she didn’t expect her February to correct the problem but wasn’t the Lincoln Education Association. paycheck to triple. sure where to start. The paycheck “She immediately got on it. “My paycheck ended up being arrived on a Friday. She opened it on She called them and sent emails,”

#YouBelong | FEBRUARY 2021 | THE VOICE | PAGE 7 Ungvarsky said. Bennett said she was trying to accurately document the errors in the Remember to Include These Items messages. Since Ungvarsky’s hours as a in Final Negotiated Agreement teacher closely mirror the payroll department’s hours, she was not able End of bargaining season approaching to receive their return calls or reach As bargaining draws to a close of the coverage. out to them during the school day. this winter and local associations n Extra-duty schedules: Be sure That’s where Bennett stepped in to and school boards move to ratify to review extra duty schedules for any resolve the issue for her. and approve next year’s negotiated changes before signing. The extra- Ungvarsky wrote a check back to agreements, it’s important to ensure duty schedule is a binding part of Lincoln Public Schools, then received that your signed agreement includes the negotiated agreement and needs her correct pay two weeks later. the following: to be included with the entire signed All was well until April, when she n Salary schedule: While not document. When possible, include received another incorrect paycheck, always available when association a reference within the agreement this time for several months’ worth members vote to ratify the 2021- as you’ll find in the NSEA Sample of pay. 22 agreement, a proposed salary Negotiated Agreement language “Rita…she is getting probably schedule with updated base salary and provided by your NSEA organizational 5,000 calls a day…she jumped any changes to indices or steps should specialist. on it and she had it solved by that be included when the board votes to Perhaps the most overlooked afternoon,” Ungvarsky said. “I was approve the agreement. When both portion of updating a new agreement sides officially sign the agreement, so thankful. I never had to go to is making changes to all effective that salary schedule should be battle. I never had to make phone dates. While date changes to the cover calls.” included. Be sure to include the new salary schedule as an attachment to of the agreement, top of the salary Ungvarsky said the and extra-duty schedules are fairly miscalculations were nobody’s fault. the signed agreement. evident, the agreement may have other A computer glitch in LPS’ new n Insurance coverage: Many references to date-specific items such payroll system, which the district agreements contain a pasted version began using in September 2019, of the 21-22 premium/coverage table as deadlines for action or notifications. caused the disruptions. to supplement the specific language Failure to make those changes could “One thing we have continued that details the terms of the benefit pose significant problems when the to emphasize to members is the provided by the district. Regardless binding nature of the agreement is importance of examining their pay of whether the district covers a called upon. stub promptly and carefully every dollar amount or a percentage of Questions about the ratification month,” Bennett said. the premiums, be thorough when process, board approval or signing proofreading this section of the the agreement should be directed to Efforts Appreciated agreement and watch for deductible your NSEA organizational specialist Ungvarsky echoed Bennett’s amounts, premium amounts and terms at 1-800-742-0047. thoughts, and urged educators to review their paychecks on a regular basis to make sure all pay and withholding amounts are correct. “If you don’t see it, you don’t know it,” Ungvarsky said. MEET YOUR She appreciated Bennett’s quick response and said having somebody PERSONAL else who knew who to call, who NURSE HEALTH could do the footwork for her, saved COACH TODAY! so much time and trouble. “She had the professionalism to Free with your health plan, your health deal with it. She had the know-how. coach and mobile app will help: She knew who to contact and what to • Guide you through the complex health say to get it going,” Ungvarsky said. care system Ungvarsky said maintaining her • Create a personal care plan to help you membership over the years was key feel better today and for years to come to resolving the problem quickly. • Track progress toward your health goals “I’ve been an NSEA and LEA member, and in my 30th Sign up at NebraskaBlue.com/EHAPOP year teaching, I think I’ve used

Association services once before. Health benefits for EHA are provided by Blue Cross and Having this taken care of was worth Blue Shield of Nebraska, an independent licensee of the all 30 years of it.” Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

PAGE 8 | THE VOICE | FEBRUARY 2021 | #YouBelong Legislature Bills to Slash Former Teacher Walz Chairs Education Committee Fremont Sen. Lynne Walz was elected chair of the Legislature’s Education Committee on the opening day of the 107th Legislature’s K-12 Revenue first session, Jan. 6. She defeated former chair Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte. Walz, who previously served as vice chair of the committee, are Introduced promised to bring her passion for teaching and learning to help Constitutional Plan resolve education-related issues and keep Nebraska schools strong. “NSEA is pleased that Sen. Walz, a former classroom teacher, will Would Limit Property Tax lead the Education Committee,” Jenni Benson, NSEA president said. Public education in Nebraska will face “She has proven herself a dedicated advocate for children, public an assault on funding and local control education and education professionals, and NSEA looks forward to in yet another session of the Nebraska working with her in her new role.” Legislature. Walz was elected to the legislature in 2016 and won a second In fact, there are two serious threats to term in November. She taught fourth and fifth grades at Fremont the property tax revenue stream that — Public Schools until Northside Elementary closed its doors, and then because of a dearth of state funding support became a long-term substitute at Archbishop Bergan Elementary. She later transitioned to a career in real estate. — remains the primary source of revenue Walz for Nebraska’s K-12 schools. Walz will also serve as a member of the Health and Human As Gov. Pete Ricketts announced a week Services Committee. Other members of the Education Committee are Sen. Dave Murman, Glenvil; Sen. Adam before Christmas, and then re-affirmed in Morfeld, Lincoln; Sen. Jen Day, Omaha; Sen. Rita Sanders, Bellevue; Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, his State of the State address Jan. 14, he Lincoln; Sen. Terrell McKinney, Omaha; Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, Elkhorn. wants lawmakers to impose harmful budget limits on Nebraska public schools and nearly all other local political subdivisions. consideration this year. Among them: The plan Ricketts backs, Legislative Resolution 22CA, seeks a LB64: Phases out the state tax on Social Security over a five-year constitutional amendment that would insert and lock an inflexible and period. Nebraska is one of just six states that taxes Social Security. impractical lid on property tax revenues into the state constitution. The NSEA-Retired affiliate has been instrumental in the introduction If the legislature approves LR22CA, the proposal would be on the of LB64. (Lindstrom) November 2022 General Election ballot. LB518: Enacts changes under the Student Discipline Act. The “Teachers, education support professionals, students, parents bill addresses surreptitious recording of school activities by students. and others in the education family have struggled and persisted with (Morfeld) great success in the face of a pandemic over the past year,” NSEA LB623: The Remote Instruction Act creates parameters for President Jenni Benson said. “To throw yet another obstacle in the districts offering remote instruction. For details on the team of NSEA way of public education is beyond belief given all that education is members that worked to shape this bill, turn to page 21. (Vargas) dealing with at this time.” LB640: Raises the state reimbursement for early The NSEA and others in the state’s public education childhood education programs from 60 to 80 percent. NSEA community groups support local control of budgets and was involved in discussions on this proposal with other oppose such state-mandated limits. Nebraska public schools public education organizations. (Day) as a whole got 32.8 percent of funding from state sources, LB641: A state statute enacted immediately following according to Census Bureau figures from fiscal year 2018. the flu pandemic of 1918 required the payment of By comparison, Colorado, Iowa and Kansas received 41.2, teachers during the pandemic. LB641 would extend the 53.2 and 65.2 percent of funding from state sources in that same requirement to a school district’s education support year. Wyoming schools received 56.9 percent of funding professionals. (Day) from the state in 2018. “As part of the legislative process, individuals, as well “Our school boards have budgeted conservatively and as advocacy groups like NSEA, can ask for senators to need the flexibility to react to unforeseen circumstances, introduce legislation,” Benson said. “Senators found these including the worldwide pandemic and severe natural and worthy of review and consideration.” man-made disasters, for example,” Benson said. Elkhorn Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, long a leader in the Support for Mental Health Programs, efforts to squash school funding resources, introduced Relaxation of Retiree Substituting Regs LR22CA. More than 600 bills were introduced this legislative Also proposed: LB408, offered by Albion Sen. Tom Nebraska session, and each will be given a public hearing before one Briese. LB408 calls for limitations similar to those proposed Legislature ‘21 of the legislature’s committees. The NSEA has reviewed in LR22CA, and would put those limitations on all local every bill and supports these education-related proposals: governmental subdivisions in statute, rather than the state LB5: Establishes a Purple Star Schools designation for constitution. LB408 the “total amount of property tax revenue raised schools that meet certain criteria in supporting military families by a political subdivision in any fiscal year shall not be more than within their schools. (Blood) three percent greater than the amount raised in the prior fiscal year.” LB67: Allows school health centers to be a student’s home NSEA opposes both LR22CA and LB408. medical or dental practice and allows operation outside of school hours. (Day) NSEA Proposals on Remote Instruction, LB87: Creates a mental health training program to include crisis ESPs Pay Introduced management, referral training, recognition of signs/symptoms and NSEA advocated for several bills to be introduced for de-escalation, funded by lottery Innovation Grants. (Morfeld)

#YouBelong | FEBRUARY 2021 | THE VOICE | PAGE 9 PAGE 10 | THE VOICE | FEBRUARY 2021 | #YouBelong LB88: Protects free speech rights of NSEA Supports Broadband Proposals student journalists and student media advisers. (Morfeld) NSEA members, impatient at the lack of broadband internet service in many areas of the LB117: Adopts the Hunger-Free state, voted at the April 2019 Delegate Assembly to create an ad hoc committee to study Schools Act, providing General Fund and push for broadband equity. By Jan. 22, five bills addressing broadband internet had been dollars to fund free breakfast and lunch for introduced in the Nebraska Legislature. school districts that already participate in NSEA Capitol District President Burke Brown, District OR-1 Education Association federally subsidized lunch and breakfast (Palymra-Bennett), said the bills are needed. programs. (M. Cavanaugh) “These are a really good start. We want to make sure that this legislation gets us to LB132: Creates a School Financing where we need to be today, not where we should have been 10 years ago. It is critical that Review Commission, listing member we ensure high-speed, affordable and reliable broadband is available to every public school requirements and duties. (DeBoer) LB135: Streamlines the structure student. Only then can we begin to shrink the homework gap,” said Brown, who chairs the of reimbursement for special education ad hoc committee. NSEA supports each of these bills: services and support services from the  LB388: Adopts the Nebraska Broadband Bridge Act, granting up to $20 million to General Fund. (Wishart) install broadband in unserved and underserved areas. (Bostelman) LB136: Addresses how repeat student  LB398: Raises basic broadband upload and download speeds and changes the Public offenders should be treated with regard Service Commission’s authority to include broadband affordability. (Bostelman) to short-term suspension from school.  LB455: Gives broadband providers access to utility poles at affordable costs. (Friesen) (Vargas)  LB456: The Nebraska Enhancing Broadband Act would facilitate and fund, with grants LB143: Requires notice be given to a or loans, development of broadband networks in unserved and underserved areas. NSEA school district regarding changes in child supports LB456 but will suggest amendments regarding speed of internet service. (Friesen) placement, specifically seven days before  Requires the Public Service Commission to develop a map showing a newly enrolled student begins at the new LB498: school, or 24-hour notice in an emergency broadband availability and speed across the state. (DeBoer) placement situation. (Kolterman) LB146: Allows a retired teacher to Educational Service Units for core services students to participate in a public school’s substitute teach immediately, but for no (approximately $12.5 million per year for extracurricular activities with no course more than 8 days in a calendar month, two years) and technology infrastructure enrollment in that school. (Murman) and defines intermittent service during (approximately $3 million per year for two LB364: Adopts the Opportunity the first 180 days following termination. years). (Dorn) Scholarships Act and provides tax credits Under current rules, teachers who retire are LB322: Adopts the School Safety and for people who contribute financially to a essentially barred from substituting for six Security Reporting System Act to create grade school requiring tuition, such as a months after retirement. (Kolterman) a helpline for threats or possible harm to private or parochial school. This is a rehash LB154: Tracks school discipline by people or property. (Williams) of LB1202, a “scholarship” scheme which method and demographics, with a board LB378: Requires the Commissioner of was died in committee last year.(Linehan) to analyze and report discipline differences Education to report financial information LB417: Authorizes off duty peace or law based on demographics. (Wayne) related to expenditures, revenue and other enforcement officers to possess a firearm on LB198: Changes provisions of the categories including special education by school grounds. (Halloran) Student Discipline Act, tightening the Sept. 1 each year. (DeBoer) window principals have to provide written LB396: Allocates $100,000 for schools documents and adjusting steps for a hearing. to purchase lunch items from local farmers Students shall be given an opportunity to through the Nebraska Farm to School make up work and will not be required to Program Act. (Brandt) attend an alternate program. (Vargas) LB426: Requires the Department of LB247: Creates a task force of legislative Health and Human Services to conduct committee chairs and state commission a cost analysis for capital improvements representatives to coordinate a statewide and structural changes at the Youth mental health hotline in conjunction with Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in local and federal resources. (Pansing Brooks) Kearney by Dec. 15, 2021. (Health and LB258: Adopts the Healthy and Safe Human Services Committee) Families and Workplaces Act, requiring LB428: Entitles juveniles at youth employers to add “safe time” to paid rehabilitation and treatment centers sick leave provisions. “Safe time” is for to receive an appropriate educational absences because of domestic abuse, equivalent to educational opportunities domestic assault, sexual assault or stalking, offered in public schools. (Health and regardless of charge or conviction. (Vargas) Human Services Committee) LB342: Provides $2.5 million per LB473: Creates a $3 million fund under year over the next two years from the the Nebraska Department of Education to General Fund to the Nebraska Department fund requests made by school districts facing of Education for the Early Childhood extraordinary increases in their special Education Endowment Cash Fund, and education obligations. Unspent money shall $2.5 million each year from the General be invested by the state. (DeBoer) Fund to state aid for the program. (Stinner) LB359: Changes provisions regarding Association Opposes the authority of the State Board of Education Extracurricular, in relation to multicultural education Opportunity Scholarship Plans requirements. (Pansing Brooks) NSEA opposes these bills: LB361: Provides state aid to LB210: Allows home-schooled

#YouBelong | FEBRUARY 2021 | THE VOICE | PAGE 11 Higher Education Replies Higher Ed Stretch Across Spectrum Members Feel Varied Opinions Given ‘Disconnected,’ in COVID-19 Survey ‘Very Tired’ Approaches to COVID-19 Prevention and Safety issues at Nebraska higher education Since every institution of higher institutions are widely varied at the education approached teaching in the start of this spring semester, causing pandemic differently, instructors and staff a mixed bag of emotions for college are not on a level playing field. Some have instructors and staff as they prepare to been required to go virtual, and others endure a second spring in the midst of were told they must be on campus. a pandemic. respondents’ institutions were “I feel like my health and safety are not Many NSEA higher education offering remote classes, either valued by my institution,” one respondent members who responded to an completely, synchronously with in- to NSEA’s survey of higher education Association survey feel they don’t person classes or as a hybrid of online members wrote. “I believe the chancellor have the support they need to be and face-to-face at different times. and board’s insistence on in-person effective in their roles. Respondents aren’t necessarily teaching has put me and my family at risk.” NSEA surveyed Association confident that their institutions’ Others were given the freedom to members at 19 Nebraska public chosen models are working. Forty make their own choice. higher education institutions in percent said their current learning “Sometimes, I feel like a person who is December to find out how they model was not equitably meeting the disconnected from others and invisible in feel about working conditions needs of all students. Issues such as life because I have chosen to go remote now instead of having face-to-face classes,” during the COVID-19 pandemic. access to internet, illness, planning Predominately, participants reported wrote another. “However, I worry about time, lack of technology in home getting out and being physically present feeling stressed, overwhelmed offices and a feeling of disregard from and frustrated with administrators, because of COVID-19.” higher-ups headlined those concerns. Some feel they are being left in the though several indicated they felt dark when it comes to the details of more focused or happy with their An Assist from NSEA COVID-19 spread on their campuses. institution’s current situation. As classes resumed last fall, “The school provides overall infection “Administration has really NSEA Organizational Specialist rates but does not relate to us if we impressed me in all of this,” one Rich Wergin worked with members have been in close proximity to infected member wrote. “They’ve been smart on nearly every public college and students or personnel,” one replied. and very communicative in the process university campus in Nebraska as When it comes to preventing the of their decision making, and they the members began a new semester spread of COVID-19 on campuses: have consistently showed compassion n teaching during the pandemic. 92 percent said all students and staff to both staff and students as we all should be mandated to wear masks. walk through this difficult time.” Wergin assisted members in efforts n 95 percent said their students are Many respondents expressed to reach satisfactory accommodations required to mask, but only 89 percent opposite feelings. at the state college campuses at said staff are required to mask. Wayne, Chadron and Peru, where in- n 75 percent said their institutions Not Meeting Needs classroom teaching was mandated. have provided enough personal “No communication and no Like their K-12 colleagues, many protective equipment (masks, sanitizers, recognition of the additional higher ed instructors were teaching shields, etc.) for staff, though some said workload makes me discouraged,” synchronously, were working longer their institutions have not provided any wrote another. hours, and were spending much of at all, largely because they are working The 169 respondents included that time and effort planning. remotely. n professors and instructors of all ranks, “When you combine the face- On a 1 (unsafe) to 5 (safe) scale, 66 percent rated their feeling of safety support professionals and program to-face with the synchronous instruction, providing make-up work relative to COVID-19 while on their directors who serve in a wide variety campus at a 3 or 4. of roles, from associate degree and for those with Wi-Fi issues or being graduate studies to public information too ill to join online, the task seemed Communication and healthcare services. The majority overwhelming,” Wergin said. “Our Several participants said they aren’t have worked in an education setting higher ed members learned very getting clear, consistent communication for 10 to 30 years. quickly that this year would be like from their institution’s administration. Results showed 80 percent of no other.” PAGE 12 | THE VOICE | FEBRUARY 2021 | #YouBelong HIGHER ED SURVEY RESULTS REMOTE CLASSES PREVENTING & EQUITY CONCERNS COVID-19 80% 40% 92% 40% offered remote replied current believe all students think their or hybrid classes learning model and staff should institutions during was not meeting be required to have provided fall semester students’ needs wear masks enough PPE

COMMUNICATION WORKLOAD 47% 54% 57% 64% responded their felt respected felt their employer are working up to institution was and valued by was not concerned 15 hours more per not listening to their institution about their mental week than they did educator input welfare before COVID-19

Policies related to COVID-19 are for their colleagues and for themselves. few faculty while others are doing only changing rapidly, and they feel they are “We need more mental health their teaching responsibilities,” one being left behind. resources available for K-12 teachers respondent wrote. “(Administrators) have not been and college instructors,” one Regarding mental health and open with us about the number of participant wrote. “I know that many employee workload: students/employees who have had of my colleagues are really struggling n 57 percent felt their employer positive COVID tests, and they are not emotionally and are experiencing was not concerned about their mental seeking faculty input,” one respondent significant burnout, although they would welfare. wrote. never admit it in a department meeting n 23 percent said they have sought Survey results showed: or to administration. We’re all just trying help from a mental health or medical n 47 percent said they felt their to hang on right now.” professional because of increased work Many commented on the institution was not listening to educator stress since the pandemic began. input related to COVID-19. unsustainability of their current n 64 percent reported working n 43 percent said their institution workload, planning classes both in- was not communicating effectively with person and virtually for some. more than they did before COVID-19, educators and staff about COVID-19 “Being tied to my computer is with the majority of those working 4 to updates and plan adjustments. very uninspiring. Balancing computer/ 9 additional hours per week, and some n Only 54 percent said they felt work time with personal time and the tacking on an extra 15 hours or more respected and valued by their institution. expectations of those who are emailing per week. you is hard,” another wrote. n Still, 82 percent said they have no Workload “My institution has encouraged plans to leave the education profession Instructors and staff surveyed faculty to office from home. This has in the next five years. overwhelmingly expressed concerns increased faculty disengagement. Many One participant summed up the about increases in workload and worries shared program responsibilities are situation in just a few words: about mental health—for their students, falling on program leadership and a “I am very tired.”

#YouBelong | FEBRUARY 2021 | THE VOICE | PAGE 13 PAGE 14 | THE VOICE | FEBRUARY 2021 | #YouBelong No More Lids on Kids! “Without us, there are no plumbers, Ricketts’ Lid Plan Spending Limits no chemists, no chefs, no electricians, no Draws Immediate Already in Place doctors, no lawyers, no teachers and no and Broad Opposition When discussing the property nurses. If we stop doing this job, Atlas will tax issue, Nebraskans should know shrug, society will shatter, and all that we The response to Gov. Pete Ricketts’ these facts: hold dear will cease to be,” Gudgel wrote. call to further squeeze funding sources for n Nebraska ranks 48th in the Shutting down schools last spring Nebraska public schools was quick and nation in state aid to K-12 schools. quickly showed their impact on the economy—parents had to stay home from sure. Additional state monies to K-12 work to care for their children, which The alarm was sounded by newspaper schools would lower property tax editorial writers, in meant no workforce. Businesses closed rates. and people lost their jobs. letters to the editor n Nebraska school districts are and by community “If there was ever any doubt that columnists, currently the only governmental public schools are a singularly important among others. subdivision in the state with both institution in American society, 2020 surely The student a spending limit (2.5 percent) and a laid that doubt to rest,” he wrote. “With all representative property tax limit ($1.05 per $100 of this in mind, I am dumbfounded that on the Grand of valuation). Gov. Ricketts, whose mismanagement of Island Board n Deeper spending limits, while the pandemic has put Nebraska in a worse of Education, facing near-unanimous opposition position than most states, has decided that Kendall Bartling, from the state’s K-12 public 2021 is the year in which he will openly spoke out in a education family, were removed declare war on public schools.” long letter to from the LB1107 property tax Nebraska already ranks 48th in state aid his hometown relief bill before it passed last year. to public schools, and any further lids on newspaper, the n The state’s tax revenues in spending will only cause more damage to Grand Island December were 7.9 percent above the already uncertain futures of students. Independent. “As we transition into 2021, we must Omaha North projections. Gudgel remember that any attack on our public High Magnet schools is an attack upon the children, School English teacher Mark Gudgel upset at an already uncertain point in time wrote that in light of the pandemic, he and the society, which are dependent upon for public schools. them,” Gudgel wrote. was “dumbfounded” that Ricketts chose “Few occurrences in history have this time to “openly declare war on public Gudgel called on parents, teachers, more emphatically punctuated the value administrators and students to contact schools.” of public schools than the COVID-19 Newspapers across the state, including their senator and the governor to oppose pandemic,” Gudgel wrote. “In many LR22CA. the Lincoln Journal Star and the Omaha ways 2020 confirmed for all what some World-Herald also supported the idea of already knew, namely that schools aren’t the state shouldering more of the burden. just a place for gaining knowledge A Student’s Stance Ricketts announced just before about the world. Schools are also where Bartling’s opinion was published Christmas that his goal in 2021 is to further many young people go for much-needed shortly after Ricketts announced his plan. cut funding for schools, and that plan is support, for food, to improve their mental “This comes in the midst of an ensconced in Legislative Resolution 22 and physical health, to make friends and unprecedented pandemic, one that has CA. If passed by the Legislature, the plan maintain relationships, and so much more. stretched school resources to their limits, would go before voters in November 2022 In short, schools are perhaps the single staff members past the edge and students as a proposed amendment to the state most critical part of the infrastructure of into never before seen emotional and Constitution. Once in the Constitution, our society.” educational issues. Yet, Gov. Ricketts it would be incredibly difficult to alter or Gudgel led with the idea that teachers thinks spending limits are appropriate,” overturn (see page 9 for more details). are “the glue that binds society,” noting Bartling wrote. “The simplest argument NSEA President Jenni Benson that teachers have a hand in forming against such an overreach was best echoed applauded the immediate response parents, productive citizens and careers. by Sen. Adam Morfeld in a tweet: by the state’s public education ‘We already have spending limits community. on schools — it’s called the local “It’s a new year, and we must Contact Your Lawmaker! rally once again and work to make school board.’ clear to lawmakers that the best Make your voice heard in opposition to LR22CA “Gov. Ricketts has a track way to provide instant property tax and lids on kids. Contact your state lawmakers here: record of being anti-public schools. relief is to provide more state aid n Office of Gov. Pete Ricketts ...Nebraskans realize the benefit to public education,” Benson said. P.O. Box 94848 that strong, well-funded public Lincoln, NE 68509-4848 education brings to our state — A Teacher’s Perspective Phone: 402-471-2244 bright minds, bright futures. There Gudgel, a 17-year English Email: governor.nebraska.gov/contact-form is no real reason, save for crippling teacher and a candidate for Omaha n Find Your Senator the public school system in the state mayor, wrote an opinion blasting nebraskalegislature.gov/senators/senator_find.php of Nebraska, to enforce spending Ricketts for threatening further limits.”

#YouBelong | FEBRUARY 2021 | THE VOICE | PAGE 15 PAGE 16 | THE VOICE | FEBRUARY 2021 | #YouBelong Dintersmith to Address Delegate Assembly The keynote address for the 2021 NSEA Delegate Assembly changes to Association Bylaws and Resolutions and approve dues will highlight what author Ted Dintersmith has learned in for the 2021-22 Association year. They will also vote on an Ethnic conversations with thousands of educators Minority Affairs Committee representative and a Higher Education across the country about what school could Academy Committee representative on the NSEA board. be. Any candidate for the EMAC or HEAC positions who wishes Dintersmith has produced films, keynotes and now a book that focus on the urgency to have campaign material included in the electronic materials of reimagining school to keep pace with the available to all delegates in advance of Delegate Assembly must innovation that is reshaping society. submit that request to NSEA Executive Director Maddie Fennell In 2012, Dintersmith was appointed by not less than 45 days prior to April 23. The deadline for that action President Obama to represent the U.S. at the is 11:59 p.m. CST on Tuesday, March 9. Contact Fennell at: United Nations General Assembly. In 2018, [email protected] he received the prestigious NEA Friend of A handful of awards honoring members and those who have Education Award. contributed to the betterment of public education will be presented. The April 23-24 Assembly is NSEA’s annual business meeting. Any member in The 2021 event will be NSEA’s 160th Assembly since the good standing can seek election to attend Association’s founding in 1867. To make your interest in serving as a delegate known, contact and participate in Delegate Assembly, Dintersmith which includes Dintersmith’s address and your local association president, your local association building professional development on Friday night and Saturday’s day of representative or your NSEA organizational specialist at 1-800- action. 742-0047. All delegates must be elected. Learn more at: On Saturday, April 24, delegates will consider proposed nsea.org/delegateassembly

Cartoonist Fell Honored with Champion of Education Award Cartoonist Paul Fell accepts the NSEA’s Champion of Education Award from NSEA President Jenni Benson in January. The honor was announced at the 2020 Delegate Assembly. Because the event was virtual, Fell stopped by the NSEA office to meet with Benson last month. Fell studied art at Peru State College, served as a high school art teacher and coach, and was a college art professor. His editorial cartoons are now familiar to Nebraskans. Though Fell has teased and skewered politicians on both sides of the aisle and on both sides of every issue, he has remained steadfast in his support of one institution: public education. His cartoons have appeared in Nebraska newspapers over the past 40 years.

Honor a Co-worker at 2021 Delegate Assembly New this year: members will recognize under the ‘Call for Nominations’ link at: in volunteer work outside of classroom an outstanding administrator at NSEA’s nsea.org/delegateassembly hours. Delegate Assembly. The Administrator  Local Public Relations: Honors of Excellence Award will honor an Members are eligible for these awards, local associations for outstanding internal administrator who works every day for the which carry a $250 cash prize: communication. success of students and staff. Nominations  Early Career Educator of the Year: should focus on the honoree’s effort to For a teacher in their first 5 years of teaching. advocate for public education, willingness  Award for Teaching Excellence: Also to be presented: to seek input from educators, and support of Honors a teacher for long-term excellence.  Friend of Education: Honors an NSEA.  Education Support Professional of individual or organization that has made a For other honors, any NSEA member the Year: Honors an ESP for excellence. statewide contribution to education. may nominate a member teacher, ESP or  Administrator of Excellence: Honors group for recognition. Mailed nominations NSEA members are also eligible for: an administrator for support of public must be postmarked by Friday, Feb. 12,  The Great Plains Milestone Award: and sent to NSEA Awards, 605 S. 14th St., Honors an individual/group for promoting education and NSEA. Lincoln, NE 68508-2742. Nominations may human and civil rights.  Media: Cites a newspaper, television also be submitted online, with supporting  Community Service: Honors NSEA or radio outlet for coverage/promotion of material sent to NSEA. Online forms are members and/or local associations involved public education.

#YouBelong | FEBRUARY 2021 | THE VOICE | PAGE 17 Words Matter More Than We Think NDE Promotes Educator Effectiveness Through SEED Program

One of a series of invited articles begin the work to inquire about policies, practices and by Nebraska Department of Education characteristics within organizations that may hinder the staff and partners opportunities of students or serve to exclude certain Words matter. The intentional communication of groups of people. words may never be more important than it is today. The power of these words lies within the intentional Why Come Together? communication behind them. The revised Nebraska Words matter. As education moves into the Teacher and Principal Performance Standards are post-COVID era of schooling, why does Nebraska’s intentional in outlining the expectations of all educators educational community need to come together as a in Nebraska. With this intent comes needed support. group of individuals to impact the whole? Two words: morally compelled. Supporting Educator Educators and all members of Nebraska’s Effectiveness through Development educational system are morally compelled to have intentional conversations about the fact that schooling Dr. Kim Snyder, The Nebraska Department of Education’s Supporting Educator Effectiveness through Development has barriers, including benefits for some while creating Director, (SEED) team is committed to a system of support biases toward others. NDE Statewide and development, aligned with effective evaluation The NTPPS is intentional about elevating Teacher and practices, that relies on an ongoing process of checks conversations around equity and data-driven practice Principal Support and balances. Because words matter, all parties must to a frequent, regular, reflective space. The Leadership be engaged and all voices must be heard, which Academy of New York offers these suggestions to help subsequently requires an environment where curiosities educators reflect: lead to questions and growth can happen over time. n Confronting behavior that openly or covertly The word evaluation was intentionally left out of promotes inequity, color blindness and deficit-thinking; the acronym SEED. Why? Because words matter. n Regularly examining district data for signs of Support and development is an ongoing process that inequity with the district leadership team; requires collaboration and purposeful reflection. n Purposefully building the capacity of others to Evaluation is only one part of this process and can be examine their own assumptions, beliefs and personal counterproductive if used as a stand-alone indicator of biases; one’s abilities. n Establishing high expectations (performance and Words matter. Great educators know vocabulary behavioral) for adults and students in our school(s), Dr. Julie Downing, instruction is a strategy to support learning in all content regardless of identity or background; and NDE Educator areas. n Regularly engaging in conversations with Effectiveness The Nebraska Department of Education and its stakeholders about racial equity and access, even in the Specialist educational partners recognize the importance of face of risk and push back. utilizing this same strategy of vocabulary instruction to The NDE and its partners are committed to leading lead educators in conversations surrounding the NTPPS. and supporting all Nebraskans in learning, earning and Why? Because words matter. The NTPPS demonstrate living. The NTPPS demonstrate necessary shifts toward the commitment to an expectation of equitable and data- consistency in expectations. As Nebraska learns from driven practices for Nebraska’s teachers and principals. the silver linings of pandemic change, these standards The NTPPS intentionally communicate this serve as an anchor of excellence and a direction for commitment through these powerful words: COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 instruction and school “Confront and eliminate institutional bias and student leadership. marginalization.” Confront is a strong word with many (Leadership Academy information used from www. definitions. This is what the Collins Dictionary says: leadershipacademy.org) Con.front /kən'frənt/ verb A link to the NTPPS can be found at: n to face in hostility or defiance; oppose education.ne.gov/educatoreffectiveness n to present for acknowledgment, contradiction, As director of Statewide Teacher and Principal Support, Dr, Kim etc.; set face to face Snyder works closely with Educational Service Units, institutes of Ryan Ricenbaw, n to stand or come in front of; stand or meet facing Higher Education, and other educational partners, as well as with NDE Leadership n to be in one’s way districts themselves, to provide statewide systems of support and n development that ensure equitable access to effective teachers and and Learning to bring together for examination or comparison principals for each student in Nebraska. Network (emphasis added). As part of a new and unique partnership, Dr. Julie Downing, a Specialist The NTPPS’s approach to the word “confront” is a professional learning specialist at ESU No. 13, will support NDE in call to action for educators to ask better questions. To the development and implementation of the newly revised Nebraska Teacher and Principal Performance Standards. prepare for this work in organizations, with colleagues As the Nebraska Leadership and Learning Network (NLLN) and in schools, the work must start with the individual. specialist, Ryan Ricenbaw collaborates with the office of Statewide Questions regarding our own awareness, blind spots Teacher and Principal Support to maximize the value and influence of school principals. The NLLN is charged with designing a framework and biases are the starting point for personal reflection. of support to build critical equity-driven leadership skills as outlined Only after we confront our personal awareness can we in the Nebraska Teacher and Principal Performance Standards.

PAGE 18 | THE VOICE | FEBRUARY 2021 | #YouBelong Teachers on Television Watch your local radio, television and newspaper outlets for a new NSEA outreach effort that kicks off on Monday, Feb. 8, highlighting and building public awareness and support for teachers, school staff and Nebraska public schools. The campaign, funded through an NEA Advertising Assistance Grant, features teachers, parents and students sharing stories of how they connected and supported learning during the pandemic. NSEA worked with the Columbus, Fremont and Westside school districts to safely record the new ads. The members share stories that demonstrate teachers’ commitment to their students. Pictured above are Daniel Moran, a dual language teacher at Fremont, and Sara Rodwell, a third grade teacher at Westside District 66. Your NEA Member Benefits

NEA Discount a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, and Saturday, 9 network (5G now available in many a.m. to 1 p.m. EST. cities). Plus, NEA members get up to Marketplace a 15 percent discount on monthly cell The NEA Discount Marketplace phone service and 20 percent off select enables members to earn cash back AT&T Offers Advantages wireless accessories (subject to terms when they shop and save on brand- Only for NEA Members and conditions. name merchandise from more than Plus, subscribers get free use of 2,500 retailers and online stores, Still searching for that perfect AT&T’s 34,000 hotspots across the including Blue Apron, Dell, Kohl’s, mobile phone? Consider using AT&T U.S. Get all the details at: Macy’s, H&R Block and more. as your service provider. With AT&T, enjoy blazing fast speeds of the neamb.com/shopping-discounts/ Check out member exclusive deals nea-wireless for February at: nation’s largest and most reliable 4G neamb.com/marketplace NEA Member Benefits: Always Here to Help Join the Members seeking to keep those Hastings College New Year’s resolutions alive can get health and wellness tips for educator/ Teacher Education members at: neamb.com/family-and-wellness Faculty! In addition, if you currently participate in member benefits The Department of Teacher Education at Hastings College invites programs and have been affected by applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor the coronavirus, you may be able to position. We are looking for an educator to teach content and get assistance with your bills. Call methods courses in special education, reading, elementary math, 1-800-637-4636 or email ask-us@ or elementary science. The Teacher Education Department works neamb.com with questions about to prepare students to become excellent, impactful teachers. NEA Member Benefits products or For details, please visit: services. hastings.edu/jobs Help is available Monday-Friday, 9

#YouBelong | FEBRUARY 2021 | THE VOICE | PAGE 19 PAGE 20 | THE VOICE | FEBRUARY 2021 | #YouBelong From the Executive Director Teachers Affecting Policy If you’ve read this column before, you know during the pandemic to bring their crucial perspective that one of my favorite phrases is “If you’re not at to the table. Jenni turned to her mental Rolodex of the table, you’re on the menu!” as I speak of the contacts (we often joke that she is just two degrees importance of teacher voice in decision making. of separation from every Nebraskan) and compiled This fall and over the winter break I had the a group of educators to work on the development of privilege of seeing two different groups of NSEA this policy. members exercise their teacher voice, affecting By the end of December, a dozen NSEA members policy development for teachers across the state. met for about five hours with Eynon-Kokrda, Packer and Mandy regarding their remote learning Conversations with the Commissioner experiences. The knowledge and expertise of these Last spring, we were working closely with members contributed to the creation of a framework Commissioner of Education Matt Blomstedt on for remote learning legislation that would ensure COVID-19-related events. He mentioned that he that regardless of location (urban, suburban, rural), was meeting regularly with administrators across core standards related to areas such as instructional Executive the state to discuss the rapidly changing COVID-19 pedagogy, consistent access and hours of actual Director landscape. NSEA President Jenni Benson asked him instruction would be followed so that any student Maddie Fennell to also meet with teachers across the state; she knew engaged in remote learning is offered the same that it was important for classroom practitioners to be high quality education offered in the in-person able to share directly with the commissioner and his environment. The group also made it clear that “ staff the impact of COVID-19 on their classrooms, when leveraging the benefits of remote instruction, Even the best colleagues and students. we do not simply attempt to re-create the classroom of intentions Teachers across the state submitted their names for environment in a remote setting. consideration. The commissioner selected 15 NSEA They began by discussing what constitutes can go awry members from Chadron to Omaha and met with them various modalities of learning including in-person regularly this fall, inviting his staff to also participate learning, virtual learning, distance learning and when policy and learn directly from practitioners. Questions were remote learning. The group then deliberated in development posed to the group and they were divided into small small groups on a series of questions that explored groups to discuss their perspectives. access, finding, technology, broadband internet, is devoid One of the positive outcomes of these instructional strategies, professional development, conversations was reported in October – the funding, synchronous and asynchronous instruction, of the commissioner announced that school districts could mandated subjects of bargaining and more. At the practitioner reduce their instructional hours up to 12 hours per end of the day Sen. Vargas joined the group to listen quarter (48 hours this school year) and devote that and explore some of these points. perspective. time to professional learning, staff work time, or to On Jan. 20, Vargas introduced LB623, the Remote connect with parents. Learn more about Blomstedt’s Instruction Act. It’s comforting to know that teachers guidance at: were treated as the experts in the development of this http://bit.ly/ndeguide2021 piece of legislation. ” While this group grew from the 2020 COVID -19 crisis, we have encouraged Blomstedt to continue Now It’s Your Turn this “kitchen cabinet” to be able to hear regularly and In the Nebraska Unicameral it is often said that directly from educators about how policy from NDE the second house is the people and their voices are can positively affect our kids and classrooms. heard through the committee process. Every bill introduced must have an open hearing with open LB623: The Remote Instruction Act public testimony. Hearings have run from a matter of Meg Mandy, legislative aide to Sen. Tony Vargas, minutes with few testifiers to many hours with scores contacted NSEA in November and asked for NSEA of testifiers. input on legislation Vargas wanted to develop With COVID-19, this legislative session will be regarding remote learning. As the use of remote unique. Whatever the final look of the new hearing learning becomes more prevalent across Nebraska processes, it is crucial that teacher voices are heard. for a multitude of reasons, key concerns have risen We will ask you, just as we asked those educators about ensuring equitable education for all students noted above, to lend your experience and knowledge engaged in remote learning, whether that is by choice to pass legislation that will make schools stronger or or because of district action. to stop bills that will harm public schools. In December, NSEA staff met with Mandy and We will ask you to make calls, write letters Elizabeth Eynon-Kokrda and Scott Packer from the and perhaps even meet with senators so that they Education Rights Counsel, a non-profit organization understand how the legislation will impact YOUR dedicated to education equity. As we listened to the students and classroom. Even the best of intentions ideas being discussed, it became evident that we can go awry when policy development is devoid of needed the voices of those who were actually teaching the practitioner perspective.

#YouBelong | FEBRUARY 2021 | THE VOICE | PAGE 21 NSEA-Retired Corner

Take a Zoo Retired Teachers Honored by Endowment Grand Island Northwest High School seniors soon will be rec- Tour at 2021 ognized for their efforts beyond academics, thanks to a new award Conference named in honor of two longtime NSEA-Retired will take its spring educators and NSEA/NEA-Retired conference virtual in 2021. Because of members. COVID-19 and gathering restrictions, the The Northeast Education Foun- April 22 conference will he held online— dation recently approached James but that won’t halt opportunities to connect and Martha McGahan, who taught and learn. at Northwest, with a desire to cre- ate an endowment in their honor. The morning session will include a “You cannot talk to a North- behind-the-scenes tour of the Lincoln west graduate who graduated be- Children’s Zoo, presented by Zoo President fore 2000 and not have the McGa- Photo courtesy Grand Island Independent/theindependent.com and CEO John Chapo. hans come up in the conversation,” In Their Honor: The Grand Island Attendees will then hear from the Lincoln Foundation Executive Director Gian Northwest Education Foundation will give a Yoga Center about the TAKE 5 program, Baxter-Collins said. “They are a staple new scholarship award in honor of longtime addressing the need for a holistic approach to the high school. They both were at educators James and Martha McGahan. to childhood mental wellness in schools and Northwest for so long, and every student was touched by one or both of them.” giving students an effective way to quell Martha McGahan offered heartfelt appreciation toward the foundation. She said she and inner turmoil in just five minutes. her husband both felt students should be recognized for their citizenship and what they do Breakout rooms and a short session for others, rather than just their academics. about I Love Public Schools’ recent work “These students would have the chance to earn an award on their own merits and not will round out the conference. their academic performance,” she said. “Our sense is that it is not just the scholars who Registration details for the conference ought to be recognized for what they do for the school. There are people at all levels who will be available online beginning in March. come to school, are proud of the school, are nice kids who do things for other people and To register, go to: care about other people. They are just good citizens.” nsea.org/retired “In order to receive the award,” James McGahan said, “a Northwest student must be nominated by a Northwest staff member. This ensures that the student truly is deserving Elections coming up: File soon of the award.” Elections are coming up quickly for leadership roles within the NSEA-Retired Have you started a new adventure or hobby? Share details with us by organization. Those seeking office may file sending your story to NSEA-Retired President Dr. De Tonack at: for election until Friday, Feb. 12. To file, [email protected] select ‘Elections’ at nsea.org/retired. Open spots on the NSEA-Retired Board of Directors, each a three-year term, include one seat each from the Capitol District and from the Capitol District; five delegates asked to email, phone or write their senators. Metro District. Terms begin Aug. 15, 2021. from the Metro District; three each from the Select the ‘Calendar, Events & Registration’ Retired members also will elect Tri-Valley and Elkhorn districts; one each link at: delegates to the April 23-24 NSEA Delegate from the Panhandle and Sandhills districts; nsea.org/retired Assembly. Elected will be four delegates and two at-large delegates. The NEA Representative Assembly Discount for new members delegate allocation now has one delegate To show appreciation for all teachers from the Metro and Capitol districts have done, NSEA-Retired is offering a $75 combined; one delegate from the Elkhorn, rebate on the NSEA Pre-Retired/Retired Sandhills, Tri-Valley and Panhandle districts Lifetime memberships for new members joining by June 1. and out-of-state combined; and three at- After retirement, NSEA-Retired large delegates. members continue with classroom liability Candidates for RA delegates and NSEA- insurance, access to NEA member benefits, Retired board delegates must submit a 50- opportunities to support and assist educators word biography. and NSEA, free newsletters, and conference and lobbying opportunities. Governance/Lobby Day To join, go to nsea.org/retired and select Goes Virtual ‘Join Now.’ The cost for NEA-Retired and The 2021 NSEA-Retired’s Governance/ NSEA-Retired memberships are shown, Re-Elect Lobby Day will be virtual, from 10 a.m. to and installment payments may be available. noon on Monday, Feb. 22. Once you join as a new member, you will Margie Nowak It will include opportunities to visit with receive a $75 rebate from the NSEA-Retired to the state senators, get a legislative update and dues. For more details, contact NSEA’s NSEA-R Board, get assistance contacting senators. Members Rebecca Smith at [email protected]. Capitol District who register will receive the Zoom link. — De Tonack, After the event, participants will be NSEA-Retired President

PAGE 22 | THE VOICE | FEBRUARY 2021 | #YouBelong Association News Roundup NPERS Board Elects Leadership Openings Available; Elliot to Another Term Filing Deadline is Approaching Starting Friday, Feb. 19, NSEA members will vote for candidates to fill nearly three dozen district leadership posts, Omaha Central Educator to Chair including openings on the NSEA’s Board of Directors and Retirement Board for a Second Time openings on NSEA’s six regional governance districts. Electees will assume roles in determining the Association’s future. But The Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems Board of first, those candidates must file for election. Directors in January re-elected Janis Elliot to a second term as The filing window opened Jan. 1 and closes Tuesday, Feb. 7. chair of the board. Voting takes place online, and will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Elliott, chair of the science department at Omaha Central High Feb. 19. It will close at midnight on Sunday, March 14. School, is a former member of the NSEA To view the vacancies, or to file, go to the NSEA website and Board of Directors, and is in her second five- click on the ‘2021 District Elections’ link. Select your district, year term on the board, which expires in and then select the office of interest. Candidates will need their 2024. Board members are appointed by the 10-digit NSEA membership number. That number can be found governor. above your name on the mailing label of The Voice. Call NSEA Elected vice chair of the board was Kelli for details 1-800-742-0047. The website is at: Ackerman, director of accounting and payroll www.nsea.org/your-leadership-needed for the Lincoln Public Schools. Ackerman is also in her second five-year term on the Assembly will be a virtual affair, with delegates conducting board. Elliott was also recently elected to serve business, setting dues and electing delegates to the NSEA Delegate as the secretary-treasurer of the National Assembly, set for April 23-24. Council on Teacher Retirement. The NCTR The Aspiring Educators Delegate Assembly is Saturday, March is an independent organization dedicated 27. Members of Aspiring Educators who would like to serve as to safeguarding the integrity of public a delegate should contact their local chapter leadership team or Elliott retirement systems for teachers. advisor. The Public Employees Retirement Board was created in 1971 to administer Nebraska retirement plans for Children’s Fund Bolstered school employees, state employees, judges and the State Patrol. by Papillion-Lavista Denim Day Drive The board assumed administration of the retirement system for Members of the Papillion-LaVista Education Association Nebraska county employees in 1973. raised $2,261 for the NSEA Children’s Fund during a first semester Denim Day fundraiser. The gift was delivered to NSEA NEA Grant to Fund Issue Organizer Position in early January. More of your NEA dues dollars have been returned to For the past few years, the PLEA has hosted a Denim Day in Nebraska. NSEA received a grant of $119,306 from the NEA support of the Children’s Fund. Participating staff donated at least Center for Organizing to fund an 11-month Temporary Member $5 and in return were able to wear jeans on a pre-set date. Issue Organizer. PLEA Communications Director Andrew Nabity said the The person hired for the position will lead organizing efforts, fall event was successful, despite pandemic-caused challenges. especially as those efforts relate to member concerns, working One of the biggest obstacles, he said, was with members in locals across the state. Such organizing has been making district staff aware of the event. extremely effective in the past. As an example, in early 2016, early Nabity said the PLEA building representatives childhood educators in Omaha were bogged down with excessive helped resolve that issue and make the drive assessment requirements that forced hours of computer keyboard a success, along with the association’s social time and led to a lack of effective plan time. media posts. The Omaha Education Association organized the teachers, “We were not able to have a big kick- dialogued with Omaha administrators, and eventually had a face- off event as we had anticipated, so this to-face discussion with the Nebraska Commissioner of Education. communication was vital to the success of Both OPS and the state cut back on the required number of the philanthropy. Thankfully, our BRs are assessments, benefitting teachers and students statewide. amazing and took this challenge and ran with The work of the organizer will focus on conducting one-on-one it,” Nabity said. conversations that lead to the identification of issues that can be It was also helpful that the association addressed through member organizing. Additionally, the grant will gained permission to send materials through Nabity focus on providing affiliate leadership development, training local the district’s inter-school mail system. associations in organizing best practices and member engagement. “That eliminated any possible problems with the distribution or collection of supplies and money,” he said. Aspiring Educators Nabity has coordinated the PLEA’s philanthropy in recent will Focus on Delegate Assembly years. “I am proud of the work that PLEA has done to support Because of the constraints of the pandemic, the Aspiring the students, staff and stakeholders in our district and around the Educators Board of Directors has decided to forego a spring state,” he said. conference this year, and focus on the organization’s annual PLEA has already set another Denim Day for Wednesday, Delegate Assembly, typically held with the conference. The March 3. The goal is to raise $5,000 this school year.

#YouBelong | FEBRUARY 2021 | THE VOICE | PAGE 23 Speaking of Education “There’s no word in the language I revere more than ‘teacher.’ None. My heart sings when a student refers to me as his teacher, and it always has. I've honored myself and the entire family of man by becoming a teacher.” — Pat Conroy Mailed By: The Nebraska State Education Association American author, 1945-2016 605 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE 68508-2742 Children’s Fund Wanted: Proposals for NSEA University 2021 Mid-July is 22 weeks away, but request for proposals — process, which is Benefits Students discussions are already ongoing for plans now under way. We are currently planning NSEA members recognize that many for the third edition of the members- to return to Innovation Campus in students in our schools are struggling. Some only NSEA University. July with hopes of a healthier 2021! live without basics like food, clothing and The first edition, held in 2019, Topics are expected to cover issues shelter. featured more than 180 professional such as social justice, leadership, The NSEA established the Children’s development breakout sessions educator wellness, advocacy and Fund in 1994 to fulfill the immediate needs and 300 educators attending at the more. The conference will also attract of these students. University of Nebraska’s Innovation nationally known keynote speakers. “NSEA’s Campus over three days. The If you have an area of expertise Children’s Fund 2020 edition was virtual and was and would like to share your benefits many shortened by the pandemic, but was knowledge with teachers from across students all across a success as well. the state, complete the RFP application form Nebraska, especially Planning has begun for the July 13-15, found at: in the winter months 2021, edition, and the first step is the RFP — https://bit.ly/NSEAU-RFP when children are in need of warm coats or proper boots and shoes,” NSEA President Jenni Benson said. The Children’s Fund makes money available to NSEA members who might otherwise reach into their own pockets to buy a warm coat or a new pair of shoes for a student. In some cases, the fund supplements other sources of assistance and cooperates with merchants to help a child with a more complex problem, like a need for an eyeglass prescription. The fund works to ensure that the physical, social and emotional needs of students do not stand in the way of their success in school. There is never red tape or lengthy delay for members who want to use the fund. A toll-free call to 1-800-742-0047 is usually all that is needed. All requests are handled discreetly and confidentially. The generosity of Children’s Fund donors has helped pay for medical and dental needs, provided assistance to a family whose home and belongings were Twenty Years Later, Same Message: For decades, Lincoln cartoonist Paul destroyed by fire, purchased a bus ticket Fell has supported public education through his artwork. A former teacher for a child with no other means to get to and association member, Fell earned the 2020 NSEA Champion of Education school and much more. Contributions are Award, an honor usually bestowed at Delegate Assembly each April. The 2020 tax deductible. For more information, call Assembly was virtual, so NSEA President Jenni Benson met with Fell in January 1-800-742-0047 or go to: to deliver the award. Sadly, Fell’s cartoon, above, dated 2001, is still relevant. See nsea.org/childrensfund details on Fell’s award delivery on page 17. PAGE 24 | THE VOICE | FEBRUARY 2021 | #YouBelong