From an educator’s perspective, the school year may be more significant than the calendar year-September is the month of beginnings, not January; and June is the month of endings, not December. But from my current vantage point, there are some very important ‘endings’ and ‘beginnings’ taking place that I hope you will take note of, along with other important information included here.
BEGINNINGS:
THE 129th LEGISLATURE AND THE NEW GOVERNOR ARE GETTING TO WORK
Want to keep up with proposed legislation and other happenings at the State House over the next session?
BOOKS FOR OUR KIDS-A GIFT FROM MEA
Thanks to grants that our past President Lois Kilby Chesley obtained, MEA will once again begin delivering a book to every first grader! Be on the lookout for more information in next month’s President’s Message!
I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT YOUR LOCAL!
Now that my feet are on the ground, I want to begin to get them moving and out to your local associations over the coming months!
ENDINGS:
After many years of loyal service to our members and to public education, the Maine Education Association is saying
Ian Deming has been our Comptroller-chief “bean counter” as he would
Linda Heaney, our Administrative Assistant, has kept so many aspects of our Association organized and running smoothly, it is impossible to list them all! When in doubt, we have said for years, “Just ask Linda”, as she always had the answer or has known where to find it.
And our Executive Director, Rob Walker, has been a part of MEA in numerous positions throughout his career in education-MEA is in his DNA! (Always a science teacher at heart, that is an appropriate description of him!)
The dedication of these remarkable people has been nothing less than amazing. Their energy and expertise have helped MEA be the strong Association that we are today. We will miss them terribly, but they have more than earned an enjoyable retirement and we wish them all the best!
AND MORE BEGINNINGS…
We are glad to have Terry Gordon join our staff as our new Administrative Assistant. She is now the new “Just ask…” person and I am especially enjoying learning from her how to improve my organizational skills! (Anyone who has seen my desk, knows there is room for some improvement in that area!)
Next month we will be welcoming our new Executive Director, Paula Voelker! She is coming to us from the Maryland State Education Association. Prior to
OPPORTUNITIES AND ITEMS OF INTEREST (Be sure to note due dates!):
MEA Grants for Leadership, political action
- Applications for Clyde Russell Scholarships offered by MEA for Maine students are due January 31st.
- MEA Read Across America Incentive Grants to presidents of our local affiliates are for association activities for this year’s Read Across America on March 1st. Applications are due February 6th.
- The National Park Trust is again hosting the Kids to Parks Day National School Contest. The deadline for entries is February 14th.
- The Inclusion Contest, an essay
and artwork contest, is sponsored by The Maine Developmental Disabilities Council. The deadline for entries is February 15th. - The Maine Association for the Education of Young Children is sponsoring a few more showings of the documentary, “No Small Matter”.
ICYMI from the Department of Education, here is a link to information and a training about Adverse Childhood Experiences.
Be sure to see the information about upcoming MEA Elections in the next Maine Educator, coming very soon!
Be sure to share your building’s Season of Giving activity with us, and let’s keep Wearing Red for Ed, on Wednesdays!
Wishing you all an enjoyable holiday break as we near the end of 2018 and begin our New Year!
In Unity,
Grace Leavitt, President
Maine Education Association
