MINNESOTA EDUCATOR DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019 Tim Walz, Educator- in-chief! Meet The 2018 ESP of the year, Melissa Terpstra! Table of contents December 2018/January 2019 – Volume 21, No. 3 Nominations open for The Minnesota Educator publishes every other Education Minnesota’s 2019 month. It is one of the union’s print and digital Human Rights Award. publications to educate, inform and organize the community of members. The Educator is reported, page 3 edited and designed by union staff members. The paper is printed in LSC Communications’ union Tim Walz and Peggy shop in Menasha, Wisconsin. Find copies of the Educator online at www.educationminnesota.org. Flanagan elected governor Go to the News menu, then Minnesota Educator. and lietenant governor. To reach the publication for queries, page 4 story or commentary ideas Email: [email protected] Math teacher and union leader Mail: Minnesota Educator 41 Sherburne Ave. Julie Blaha elected state auditor. St. Paul, MN 55103 page 5 To report a change of address or end duplicate mailings, contact the Education Education will be a big focus of Minnesota membership department. the 2019 legislative session. Learn Email: [email protected] By web: www.educationminnesota.org and choose how to get informed and involved. the Contact Us link to send a change of address. pages 6-7 To inquire about advertising in the Educator or on the website St. Peter thinking room supervisor Email: [email protected] Phone: 651-292-4864 named the 2018 Education For general inquiries and business Support Professional of the Year. at the state headquarters pages 8-9 Phone: 800-652-9073 or 651-227-9541 For information about union activities, work and Minnesota School Social resources, go to www.educationminnesota.org. Workers Association celebrates Follow Education Minnesota 50th anniversary. Facebook: www.facebook.com/EducationMinnesota Twitter: www.twitter.com/EducationMN page 10 Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/EducationMN Instagram: www.instagram.com/educationminnesota Shakopee educators work Minnesota Educator on bringing equity, diversity (ISSN 1521-9062) is a bimonthly publication. changes to district. Periodicals are postage-paid at St. Paul, Minnesota, and additional offices. Postmaster: pages 12-13 Send address changes to Minnesota Educator, 41 Sherburne Ave., St. Paul, MN 55103-2196. Education Minnesota members Minnesota Educator. All rights reserved, but win national, statewide awards. readers are welcome to reproduce any article in whole or in part on the condition that they pages 14-15 give credit to Education Minnesota. The Minnesota Educator is published for TRA board seats up for election. members to share news about education issues and training opportunities for educators page 16 as well as union and political news that affects public education in Minnesota. Education Minnesota election President: Denise Specht filing forms for officer, governing Vice President: Paul Mueller board, NEA director and NEA RA Secretary-Treasurer: Rodney Rowe state-credentialed delegates. Executive Director: Sara Gjerdrum Director of Public Affairs: Brandon Rettke pages 17-19 Editor: Kieren Steinhoff Art Director: Eric Widi COVER PHOTO: Governor-elect and Lieutenant Governor-elect Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan celebrate after declaring victory at the Minnesota DFL Election Night party at the Intercontinental Hotel in St. Paul. DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019 1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Build on momentum for positive change Nearly two years ago, Education between educators, and then Dog whistle politics has worked Minnesota began to redefine use that power to improve lives. for many years in many places, but what politics could mean From the most engaging in 2018, educators for educators in schools and gubernatorial endorsement and our allies proved worksites all over the state. process in our union’s history, Minnesotans were The first step was to show the to the training and equipping greater than fear. link between elections and the of more than 2,000 worksite working lives of educators for action leaders, to a get-out- Neither our demands any member who didn’t see it. the-vote effort that was for our students Denise Specht We knew it was a problem the envy of every political or ourselves, nor because about 33,000 of our organization in Minnesota, we a rejection of the politics of colleagues did not vote in the learned an important lesson division, were necessarily last midterm election in 2014. about coming together. aligned to a single political party—although more DFL So we began making plans to No matter our differences, candidates unquestionably organize and energize tens of educators want many of the supported our goals this year. thousands of educators to seek same things for their students, out and support candidates including smaller class sizes, Instead, as the legendary union who would, in turn, support to ensure safety through leader Samuel Gompers once students and educators. sufficient staffing, more access said, “We must be partisan for So far, so good. to mental health services and a principle and not for a party.” less emphasis on standardized On Nov. 6, Minnesotans That principle is that candidates testing, to name just a few. overwhelmingly elected Tim who received our support Walz, a classroom teacher with Educators also want similar during the campaigns must 20 years of experience, as their changes for themselves, no earn it again in office. No next governor. Walz will serve matter where we live, such educators I know went door with another former teacher— as affordable health care, fair knocking in the sleet, or made State Auditor-elect Julie Blaha compensation for our work, a calls until their voices were —and a labor-friendly attorney voice in the workplace, freedom hoarse, for the victory party. general and secretary of state. to negotiate collectively, a We did it to move an agenda. secure retirement and relief Minnesotans also elected Educators will be called on in from education debt. enough pro-education 2019 to help enact policies that candidates to flip control of And we learned from research lift up students and educators. the state House, in the process funded in part by Education We can be part of the solution rejecting incumbents with ties to Minnesota that educators and by sharing our stories and the corporate-backed American other Minnesotans were sick expertise. We can remind our Legislative Exchange Council and tired of politicians trying friends how hard we worked to and to recent attacks on due to divide us against each elect them—and we can hold process and teacher licensure. other by scapegoating people them accountable if they forget. because of their race, how they Thousands of educators can We now have the prayed, who they loved or what feel proud of their part in momentum and strength country they were born in. these electoral victories, but to make real changes. our goal as a union has always The tactics of shame-and- Together, been bigger than a single blame have always been about Election Day. We wanted to distracting voters from the build our collective power by actions of the wealthy few who strengthening relationships rig the rules in their own favor. Twitter: @DeniseSpecht 2 MINNESOTA EDUCATOR COLLECTIVE VOICE Nominations open for our Where are you reading your 2019 Human Rights Award Minnesota Educator? Do you know an Education Minnesota member Congratulations, Claire Hamblin from Moorhead who has worked to protect the human and for being this issue’s winning submission! civil rights of educators or students? A local Hamblin, and her mother Devera Warner, who union that has worked to build partnerships is also an educator, with communities of color? A member who brough their magazine has promoted educational opportunity for to the top of the physically and/or mentally challenged students? Space Needle! You can help recognize the work of members, Email a photo to local unions or intermediate organizations on [email protected] or issues like those by nominating them for the share it on social media Education Minnesota Human Rights Award. using #mneducator of Submit nominations by Friday, Dec. 28 for where you are reading the 2019 award. your Minnesota Learn more about the award criteria and Educator to be entered how to nominate a deserving educator, local into a drawing to win union or IO at www.educationminnesota. a $50 gift card! org/news/awards/human-rights-award. Submissions are due Jan. 4. Happy reading! Getting social! Members in the news! Educators use social media as a way to connect Education Minnesota members are often with their communities, colleagues and the world. interviewed in their local newspapers or TV We will feature posts from Education Minnesota station. We will feature a quote each issue! members and locals each issue! Make sure to follow Education Minnesota on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and Pinterest! “ I felt like my livelihood and the level of quality education I’m able to provide my students is on the line. “ — Cassidy Baker, an early childhood special education teacher in the Mounds View district, on why she got involved in the union’s worksite action leaders election program, in an Oct. 29 Minneapolis Star Tribune article Abby Taubert, a teacher in Pipestone and @misstgradethree on Instagram, reads a picture book every day with her class and refers back to them as they learn a new comprehension skill. DECEMBER 2018/JANUARY 2019 3 ISSUES AND IMPACT Teacher, education advocate take governor’s office A high school social studies teacher was elected governor of Minnesota on Nov. 6, along with a long-time education advocate as his lieutenant governor. Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan will take office in January after a campaign largely focused on education. Educators across the state played a huge part in the election results. “(This win) is in no small part because of what you SCHOOL FUNDING did,” said Walz, in a video message to Education Fully fund special education costs.