U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick (D-Idaho) has introduced House Resolution 879 to commemorate the 88^th observance of American Education Week, an event co-sponsored by the National Education Association and the American Legion since 1921.

The event’s annual tagline, Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility, reflects the Association’s calling upon America to provide students with quality public schools so that they can grow, prosper, and achieve in the 21^st century.

“Public schools are the backbone of America’s democracy, providing young people with the tools they need to maintain our values of freedom, civility, and equity,” Minnick said. “People working in the field of public education—teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff—work tirelessly to serve students and communities throughout the nation with care and professionalism. American Education Week celebrates the efforts of these dedicated professionals by highlighting different aspects of public education and encouraging community, parental, and elected official involvement in public schools.”

Minnick recently participated in a tele-town hall with approximately 800 teachers, educators, and parents throughout Idaho’s First Congressional District. He discussed education issues, his views and his plans to help Idaho schools weather these tough times for education funding. NEA hosted the town hall.

For more information about American Education Week, visit www.nea.org/aew

To read more about the Rep. Minnick’s tele-town hall or listen to the event, visit www.nea.org/townhall

The IEA-ESP Committee will be publishing information on a variety of workplace issues, white papers, throughout the year. The first in the series is on Repetitive Stress Injuries.

Let us know what topics you would like to see in future issues.

“I really don’t think of myself as an exceptional teacher,” Smith said after accepting the award. “But I do know I have exceptional students, and I do know we have an exceptional staff here at Sacajawea.”

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna presented the award to Smith.

“As a math teacher at Sacajawea Junior High, she works hard each and every day to improve student achievement by showing students the real-life applications of the lessons they learn in the classroom. In just a few short years in the classroom, she already has proven to be an excellent and innovative leader among teachers in her district and across the state,” Luna said.

Smith, who has taught for seven years, will receive $1,000 from the State Department of Education; $16,000 in technology equipment, software and donated training from the SMARTer Kids Foundation; and a 32-seat clicker set valued at $1,100 from Turning Technologies donated by the State Department of Education.

The Idaho Teacher of the Year program began in 1959 and has become one of the most prestigious honors in the state for teachers. The program focuses public attention on excellence in teaching that has a real impact on the students of Idaho. School districts and charter schools across Idaho can nominate one teacher for the program each year. A state selection committee representing teachers, education leaders, parents and legislators from throughout the state choose the Idaho Teacher of the Year from the nominations.

A recent thank you note from an IEA member on behalf of a student recipient states, ” Thank you so much for helping my student feel special today. When I told her about the Children’s Fund she was amazed that there are people who want to do nice things for her and others. We bought her some warm clothes, gloves, and a hat, and we stuffed it into a new backpack (pink, her favorite color). She carried it home and couldn’t wait to try everything on. Thank you again.”–Rathdrum, ID

If you want to know more about the IEA Children’s Fund or request a donation for a student in need (only IEA members can make requests), go to Children’s Fund FAQ or contact the IEA at 1-800-727-9922.

Charonne Gunter          Pocatello EA

Emily Spellman             Potlatch EA

Jessica Stark               Idaho Falls  EA

Jodi Liby                     Horseshoe Bend EA

Alison Noble                 Idaho Falls EA

Erica Retzer                 Boise EA

Tamara Clark                Shelley EA

Ami Farrington              Lewiston EA

CONGRATULATIONS to these new educators!

IEA members with 5 years or less experience may enter the drawing by clicking on the COLD HARD CASH icon on the website and submitting the completed form. If you do not win in this month’s drawing, your name will be included in the drawing for the next month.

The ESP members pictured are: Marty Meyer, custodian and IEA Vice-President, and Kathie Axtell, para-educator and 2009 NEA ESP of the Year from the Washington Education Association.

A Day Without ESP was produced by Indiana member, Mary Neylon.

The Education Club is a great place for students who share the goal of becoming an educator to connect and explore ideas about schools and public education. At each meeting the members bring strategies and information that will help them be successful in the classroom.

The Education Club participates in three yearly projects that help members gain experience in teaching while benefiting the local schools and community. These projects are all centered on promoting literacy and benefit students from the Children’s Village, the Coeur d’Alene Tribal M.S., and 3 different school districts for the Read Across America program.

Education majors also have the opportunity to develop leadership skills through the Education Club. Club members Victoria Finney and Stephanie Miller have both served as the IEA-Student Program chair, and many student program members have represented Idaho at education conferences across the U.S.

Azure Trecker, senior education major, states, “I decided to join because I thought it would be good experience, and it would help me understand more of what a teacher does.”

The goals for the Statewide Teacher Evaluation Framework are to:

• impact teacher performance
• incorporate multiple measures of effectiveness and achievement
• Communicate clearly defined expectations
• Enhance and improve student learning
• provide equality and consistency in evaluation
• provide flexibility for unique situations
• implement a fair and consistent system
• include formative and summative evaluations
• to include self-evaluations and professional reflection

The SDE guidelines require that school districts work with education stakeholders in their community to develop their local evaluation model during the 2009-10 school year. Each district must submit their proposed model to the SDE for approval by February 2010. The district’s model must be signed by representatives from the Board of Trustees, administrators and teachers.

School districts must begin piloting their approved Teacher Performance Evaluation models in Fall 2010.

To learn more about the Framework for Teaching and the impact on certificated employees, contact your region office or visit the SDE website .

The award will be presented to a school custodian that demonstrates outstanding leadership in the field of school cleanliness, and reflects the contributions that education support professionals (ESP) can make to public health. The award program is a joint initiative of the National Education Association (NEA), the NEA Health Information Network (NEA HIN) and the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA).

Up to five awards will be presented to one top recipient and four runners-up. The awards will recognize a single custodian or a team of custodians from one school. Applicants may self-nominate or they may be nominated by someone in their school, district, or state/local affiliate. Only current NEA members are eligible to apply.

The National C.L.E.A.N. Award recipients will receive:

• All expense paid trip, including travel, lodging, meals, and salary reimbursement, to the NEA National ESP Conference to receive the award
• Cash award
• One year NEA and National Council of Education Support Professionals (NCESP) membership
• Products/supplies for school
• School celebration for the top-recipient on National C.L.E.A.N. Day, which may include a visit by representatives from NEA and SDA
• Recognition in national, state, and local publications and magazines