Click here for the form to apply to join our Bargaining teams.

“Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become YOUR WORDS.  Keep your words positive, because your words become YOUR BEHAVIOR. 
Keep your behavior positive, because your behavior becomes YOUR HABITS.  Keep your habits positive, because your habits become YOUR VALUES. 
Keep your values positive, because your values become YOUR DESTINY.”   ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Our First Listening Session – This Wednesday

Join members of the SEA Leadership Exec Team at Pop’s Pizza (817 E. Nerge Rd, Roselle) from 4:30-5:30 PM in our first of five listening sessions to gather some input from you. This month’s topic will be on ‘School Climate’. If you would like to attend this session, please let me know so that I can have an approximate count. We will have our own private room to meet in. Hope to see you then!

Importance of Self-Care

I was recently reading an article about self-care as I know it is something that we all need to make sure we are engaging in. Self-care should be daily and part of our routines, not just something we think about when we know we have a day off work, like next Monday. Set a self-care goal for yourself, whether it involves getting more sleep, exercise, or eating right. Maybe it is a simple as getting outside, reading a good book, or getting yourself organized. One of the best self-care tips I read was learning how to politely say no to others, and say yes to self-care. Trust me, I know saying NO is not easy, but if you are already feeling the stress of the new year, it is time to take care of yourself.

Important Dates in January

January 13: SEA Exec Board Meeting, 3:30-5:00 PM in the Board Room

January 15: Listening Session @Pop’s Pizza (4:30-5:30 PM); Topic – School Climate

January 17-18: SPARKS 2020

January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – NO SCHOOL

January 27: SEA Building Rep Meeting, 3:30-5:00 PM in the Board Room

January 29: Half-day Inservice Day

Volunteer Opportunities

January 13: Addams’ Community Closet (6 – 8 PM) – Let me know if you would like to join our team this evening

May 4: Addams’ Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream.”
~ C.S. Lewis

Happy New Year 2020! Time to get used to writing (or typing) a new year! Welcome back from your well-deserved break. Hoping you have come back refreshed and energized to do the work you were called to do in SD54!

Reminders to Any New Teachers

Just wanted to remind our new teachers, you are always welcome to bring an SEA Building Rep to any of your pre- and post-conferences or student growth meetings. Additionally, be sure to be putting in your evidence into Common Ground, before you attend these meetings. If you need assistance using Common Ground, be sure to reach out to your building mentor. Entering your evidence into Common Ground should be an ongoing process throughout the year and the conversations had with your administration should be based on both of your evidence.

IEA Bargaining Workshop

We are still recruiting a group of SEA and SEEO members to attend the IEA Bargaining workshop on Saturday, February 8, from 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM. This workshop will be held at the NIU Hoffman Estates, 5555 Trillium Blvd. The sessions offered will help us to prepare for our year of negotiations in 2020-2021. If you are interested in attending, please let me know so that we can RSVP our group for this event.

SPARKS – REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENSION

We are keeping the registration for SPARKS 2020 open through this Friday, January 10. The SPARKS planning committee met over break and we are excited to bring this event to our early career teachers.   Click here to register.

Donation to the District 54 Education Foundation – Food for Thought

Did you know about 19 percent of our SD54 students qualify for the free lunch program and may not be starting their day with a nutritious, filling breakfast? Fortunately, the District 54 Education Foundation’s Food for Thought

program helps provide breakfast to these students. Many of our members have made donations to this program in the past. If you haven’t, will you consider being a donor to this program? $5 buys breakfast for a student for a week. You can make an online donation by visiting www.d54foundation.org. All donations are tax deductible.

Important Dates in January

January 10: District 54 Education Foundation’s Windy City Bulls Night

January 13: SEA Exec Board Meeting, 3:30-5:00 PM in the Board Room

January 15: Listening Session @Pop’s Pizza (4:30-5:30 PM); Topic – School Climate

January 17-18: SPARKS 2020

January 27: SEA Building Rep Meeting, 3:30-5:00 PM in the Board Room

Volunteer Opportunities

January 13: Addams’ Community Closet (6 – 8 PM) – Let me know if you would like to join our team of volunteers next Monday evening.

May 4: Addams’ Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

“Keep looking up…that’s the secret of life.” ~Charlie Brown

You did it! You made it to the Monday before Winter Break! I hope you all have an opportunity to put the grading and planning aside for our two weeks off. It’s time to spend time with our families and friends and celebrate the winter holidays!

SEA Voting TODAY

Today there will be SEA elections taking place in your buildings for delegates to the IEA Representative Assembly in March and Region 35 Council Representatives. Please be sure to stop by your designated voting location in your building to vote before the end of the day. Building reps, be sure to bring the completed ballots to today’s meeting. Make sure to look over the directions provided to before turning in your ballots. Thank you!

SPARKS – REGISTRATION DUE FRIDAY

Just a reminder, registration for SPARKS is open through this Friday, December 20. We do have a few openings left. We invite members with 10 years or less of experience in education to join us for this event held on January 17-18, 2020, at the Wingate by Wyndham in Schaumburg. Click here to register.  All of the information for this event has been attached.

IEA Bargaining Workshop

The SEA is looking to send a team of teachers to the IEA Bargaining workshop on Saturday, February 8, from 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM. This workshop will be held at the NIU Hoffman Estates, 5555 Trillium Blvd. With next year being a bargaining year, we are starting to prep for our negotiations. I am attaching a copy of the agenda and schedule for this event. The flyer has an RSVP listed. If you are planning on attending, please let me know so I can be sure the SEA pays for our attendance at this event.

Upcoming Listening Sessions

Join members of the SEA Exec Board each month as we have focused conversation on various topics that impact our members on a day-to-day basis. Come share your thoughts and experiences as we begin to gather information in preparation for our negotiations next year. All Listening Sessions will be held at Pop’s Pizza in Roselle. Light appetizers will be provided. Here are a list of the dates and the topics:

Wednesday, January 15 (4:30-5:30 PM) – School Climate
Tuesday, February 25 (3:30-4:30 PM) – Classroom Management
Thursday, March 19 (3:30-4:30 PM) – Our Current Contract
Wednesday, April 8 (4:30-5:30 PM) – Instructional Practices

Tuesday, May 12 (3:30-4:30 PM) – Open Discussion

#RedForEd Shirts

Don’t forget, this is your second final chance to get your free #RedForEd shirt. Click here for the link to place your order if you haven’t already done so. We will be closing the ordering window TODAY at 5 PM.

Feed My Starving Children

Last week at our Feed My Starving Children event, together we packed enough meals to feed 81 children for a year! Thank you to everyone who was able to join the SEA and SEEO that evening. We were fortunate to have School Board Members Mary Kay Prusnick and Ken Van Dyke join us for this event, as well as Superintendent DuRoss and Associate Superintendent Dr. Knoll. Always nice to be able to give back to others during this time of the season!

Jason Eliasek Scholarships – Applications Now Available

Each year the Jason Eliasek Scholarship Fund Committee awards three scholarships to children of SEA and SEEO members who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in the area of public service.  The scholarships are awarded at the May SEA Building Representative meeting.  Scholarship applications are now available and must be postmarked by March 16, 2020.  I have attached the application and more information about the scholarships for anyone who is interested.

Important Dates in December/January

December 16: SEA Building Rep Meeting

January 13: SEA Exec Board Meeting, 3:30-5:00 PM in the Board Room

January 15: Listening Session @Pop’s Pizza (4:30-5:30 PM); Topic – School Climate

January 27: SEA Building Rep Meeting, 3:30-5:00 PM in the Board Room

Volunteer Opportunities

January 13: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

May 4: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“Keep looking up…that’s the secret of life.” ~Charlie Brown

Just think, in two weeks from today, we will be celebrating the first day of winter break! But who’s counting down days?

SPARKS – An event for our early career teachers

Just a reminder, registration for SPARKS is still open through December 20. Registration is limited to the first 20 applicants. If you don’t know what SPARKS is, it is a fun, spirited learning experience targeted toward newer emerging voices in the SEA and SEEO. We invited members with 10 years or less of experience in education to join us. This year’s event will be on January 17-18, 2020 and will be held at the Wingate by Wyndham in Schaumburg. It is a free overnight event for our members. I have attached a copy of the SPARKS flyer for more information, which includes a schedule for this event. Click here to register.

Here’s a plug from one of our Class of 2019 SPARKS attendee, Rachel M.:

SPARKS helped me to get to know my union and all the help they provide to their teachers. It allows us to go deeper than the half day we experience at New Teacher Week. The information I received during SPARKS helped me be a better union member and inspired me to become more involved with the SEA.

Feed My Starving Children – TONIGHT!

If you signed up for Feed My Starving Children, our SEA/SEEO/District 54 night at FMSC is tonight from 6-7:30 PM. Don’t forget, Schaumburg has a NEW FMSC location (740 Wiley Farm Ct.). Google Maps has the new address already listed. If you haven’t signed up, there are still spots available, so just come and join us. Remember, NO jewelry may be worn in the packing room. Feel free to wear comfortable clothes, like your SEA #RedForEd shirt.

#RedForEd Shirts

Speaking of SEA’s #RedForEd, we are going to do one more order for the shirts we provided to you, our members, during American Education Week. Many of you were feeling a little left out when the shirts were distributed, so here is your second and final chance to get your free #RedForEd shirt. Click here for the link to place your order if you haven’t already done so. We will be closing the ordering window next Monday, December 16 at 5 PM.

SEA Voting Next Week

Next Monday, December 16, there will be SEA elections in your buildings for delegates to the IEA Representative Assembly in March and Region 35 Council Representatives. I am attaching a copy of the ballots with the candidates’ biographies for you to reference in advance. Building Reps will be receiving all of the ballots later this week. Please be sure to vote next Monday!

Important Dates in December

December 9 – TONIGHT: Feed My Starving Children, 6-7:30 PM – Wear your #RedForEd SEA shirt – Join Code NM631G

December 16: SEA Building Rep Meeting

Volunteer Opportunities

January 13: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

May 4: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.” ~Dolly Parton

We have officially reached the month of December, even though it sure has felt like December for the past month or two! Hope everyone had a great five-days off!

Have a Mindful Monday!

Need to relax more, even though you just came back from having five-days off?  There’s an App for that!  Check out a few apps to help you get into the right mindset to accomplish your day-to-day tasks and focus on positivism:  Happify; Sanvello; Headspace; Stop, Breathe, & Think; & Calm.

Listening Sessions

Beginning in January 2020, members of the SEA will be offered opportunities to meet with various SEA leadership teams. We will be conducting monthly listening sessions, which are focused conversations on various topics that impact us on a day-to-day basis. We are seeking your input for topics to consider which impact our members most. These listening sessions with help us gather information as we enter into negotiations during the 2020-2021 School Year. In order to gauge what topics impact our members the most, please click here to complete a one-minute survey. Thank you for your assistance with this!

Building Representative Shout-Outs

As we are in officially in the season of gratitude and giving, I want us to take a moment to thank our SEA Building Representatives. Our building representatives wear many hats, not only as educators, but as an adviser, advocate, problem solve, contract enforcer, and communicator for you, our members. Take a moment sometime this week to recognize your building rep(s) for what they do to support you and the members in the buildings by clicking here to fill out the form.

NEA Member Benefits – Travel & Vacations

With winter break right around the corner, you may be already trying to figure out how you are going to get some extra relaxation in. Check out NEA Member Benefits NEA Vacations site and their “Travel & Vacations” site to start planning. You are already rewarded travel dollars to use just by being a member of the NEA. And once you login, they send you travel dollars each year to use.

SEA/SEEO’s Feed My Starving Children event

We have just a few openings available for our Feed My Starving Children event next Monday, December 9 from 6-7:30 PM at Schaumburg’s NEW FMSC location. Click here to register to join us. Families and friends are welcome to attend!

ISBE’s Emergency Rules and Employee Rights Regarding Workplace Safety

On Wednesday, November 20, the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica posted an article about the use of isolated time-out rooms and certain physical restraints on some students in public schools. The ISBE was quick to respond to the article and issued emergency rules. If you have not yet heard about ISBE’s response, click here to read the response. Also, because of these new rules, the Illinois Education Association has been contacted with many questions. Click here for a link to IEA’s Memorandum regarding ISBE’s Emergency Rules.

Important Dates in December

December 2: SEA Executive Board Meeting, 3:30-5:30 PM

December 5: “Share the Workload” event at Frost, Room 121, 2:30-6 PM

December 9: Feed My Starving Children, 6-7:30 PM – Wear your #RedForEd SEA shirt

December 16: SEA Building Rep Meeting

Volunteer Opportunities

December 9: Feed My Starving Children (6-7:30 PM) – Join Code NM631G

January 13: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

May 4: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org

“Education breed confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.” ~Confucius

This is always one of my favorite weeks of the school year! We can definitely get through two days.  We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for the week ahead. I want to wish everyone not just a Happy Thanksgiving, but a RESTFUL Thanksgiving. Enjoy the five days off, as we definitely all deserve it!

SPARKS – An event for our early career teachers

SPARKS is a fun, spirited learning experience targeted toward newer emerging voices in the SEA and SEEO. We invited members with 10 years or less of experience in education to join us. This year’s event will be on January 17-18, 2020, and it will be held at the Wingate by Wyndham in Schaumburg. It is a free overnight event for our members. I have attached a copy of the SPARKS flyer for more information, which includes a schedule for this event. Click here to register.

“Share the Workload” event

SEA is having its first “Share the Workload” event on Thursday, December 5, in Room 121, from 2:30-6 PM. What is a “Share the Workload” event you are asking? Sometimes it feels like your to-do list is never ending, so we are providing a space to work and veteran teachers to help you get through some of that work. The volunteers at this event can help you organize papers, grade papers, enter grades into your grade book, cut or help create materials, organize an activity, brainstorm a lesson, or anything you feel you need an extra set of hands to complete (so you don’t have to take the work home over winter break!). If you would like to attend this event, please contact Michelle Mason (michellemason@sd54.org) at Frost.

Get Rewarded for Holiday Shopping

Hard to believe that Black Friday is just a few days away! And why not reward yourself this holiday season? Visited NEA’s Member Benefits site to find out about the many customer loyalty programs out there that you can use to treat yourself to something special this holiday season!

And don’t forget, you also get member-only discounts on GE Appliances. Visit the GE Appliances Store for exclusive access to great deals on their full line of GE appliances, special savings with promotional and rebate offers, and convenience in-home delivery, installation, and haul-away services. Another great way to recoup your dues dollars!

SEA’s Donation to the District 54 Food Pantries

Earlier this month, the SEA made their annual $1 per member donation to the six District 54 Food Pantries. The principals at Eisenhower, Lakeview, Keller, Mead, Muir, and Stevenson schools were each presented with a $300 check from the SEA to put towards the needs of their school’s food pantry. Each of the principals have thanked our association for our donation.

#RedForEd Shirts

It was nice to see all the #RedForEd shirts that were distributed and worn last Wednesday during American Ed Week. If you did not get to pre-order your shirt, we do have a few large and extra-large t-shirts left. Please send me an email with your name, school, and size and I will send them out through inter-office mail until we run out.

Important Dates Next Month…

December 2: SEA Executive Board Meeting, 3:30-5:30 PM

December 5: “Share the Workload” event at Frost, Room 121, 2:30-6 PM

December 9: Feed My Starving Children, 6-7:30 PM – Wear your #RedForEd SEA shirt

December 16: SEA Building Rep Meeting

Volunteer Opportunities

December 9: Feed My Starving Children (6-7:30 PM) – Join Code NM631G

January 13: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

May 4: Addams Community Closet (6 – 8 PM)

This Week in History

President George Washington was the first president to proclaim a Thanksgiving holiday.  He proclaimed November 26, 1789, a Thursday, as a day of national thanksgiving for the United States Constitution.  Then, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving to officially fall on the last Thursday of November, and the modern holiday we know Thanksgiving to now be, was celebrated nationally. On November 26, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a bill officially establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.

Lori Mobley

Schaumburg Education Association President

lorimobleysea@gmail.com

Cell: (847) 344-5249

Office @IKE: (847) 357-5450

www.sea54.org