Author: sea54web

Top of the mornin’ to ya’, SEA!

I can just sense the SEA of green in your schools today!

Here is the link to the March 17^th Edition of the Monday Message.

The Region 35 and SEA elections are taking place in your buildings throughout the day today.  Your building reps should have communicated your voting times and locations for these elections.  Please take a few minutes to vote.  We do have a contested election for delegates to the NEA-RA, so be sure to read the candidates bios.  

After school today we will have our monthly Building Representative Meeting.  As always, all members are welcome to attend.  We will have Region 35’s endorsed Board of Education members visiting as guests.  Our meeting takes place in the PLC from 3:30-5:00 PM. 

There is also a 4 PM deadline today to get in your nomination forms for building reps and executive board members for the 2025-2026 School Year.  As of now, I do know the SEA has openings for the following exec board positions: Special Education Co-Liaison, Elementary Instructional Services Liaison, Junior High Instructional Services Liaison, and Sick Bank Co-Chair. 

Thank you for all you do for your students and the District 54 community day in and day out!  Enjoy your spring break next week!

Happy Monday SEA! 

Just two more weeks until spring break! We are getting so close!

Here is the March 10^th Edition of the Monday Message.

You will find a reminder about tomorrow’s SEA/SEEO Yoga Event taking place from 3:45-4:45 PM in the ELC Gym, hosted by Rachel Martin (ELC) who is also helping the SEA start up a “Mental Health and Wellness Committee” for the 2025-2026 School Year.

Next Monday is our next Region 35 election, which we will be voting for delegates to the NEA-RA this summer and SEA President and Vice-President.  The candidate bios are attached for you.  Building reps will be receiving all of the voting materials from Kelly O’Reilly this week.

RSVPs are still coming in for our SEA/SEEO General Meeting on Monday, April 14^th.  We hope you will be joining us!  If you have never attended in the past, we encourage you to check it out!  For our team, it’s like planning a wedding, yet you can come in School Spirit Wear as we celebrate our retirees and all the great work our SEA and SEEO teams have done this year!  

You have one more week to get in your nominations to be a SEA Building Rep or Executive Board member for the 2025-2026 School Year.  Please get those nominations in by 4 PM next Monday.

Lastly, I wanted to share a way the SEA has been advocating for you in regards to being notified about your teaching placements for next year.  While our contract states that May 1^st is the deadline for administrators to notify you of your teaching assignment, we know that some schools have already received this information.  We also know that educators will be attending math planning sessions this spring and thought it would be best that you attend the sessions based on the grade you are assigned next year.  With that being said, admin have been asked to share assignments by March 21^st.  The practice of knowing your assignment before spring break will continue to be a practice for the SEA, as it will also allow people to know prior to the transfer fair their assignments.   

Happy March, SEA!

Love turning the calendar to March to see Spring Break just a few short weeks away.    

Here is the March 3 Edition of the Monday Message.

You will find the April Election Notice shared at last week’s Building Rep Meeting. The SEA is currently seeking nominations for building representatives and executive board members for the 2025-2026 School Year.  If this is something you are interested, please fill out your nomination form by Monday, March 17.  Building reps and executive board members are one year positions and must seek election/re-election annually.

Next week there will be another Yoga Class for SEA/SEEO members taking place on Tuesday, March 11, from 3:45-4:45 PM in the ELC Gym.  Please register for the Yoga class so that Rachel Martin (Early Career Liaison from the ELC) knows how many members to expect.

It’s not too late to RSVP to our SEA/SEEO General Meeting taking place on Monday, April 14.  We are excited that we have the 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year, Dr. Rachael Mahmood, as our keynote speaker.

There will be another round of SEA Job Descriptions reviewed, but this time it will be for the Department of Language and Culture.  If you would be interested in this work, please fill out the Job Description Review form by this Wednesday, March 5.  Dr. Colette Bell and I will be finalizing the teams this Friday, March 7.  This next round of work will require groups to meet on Tuesday, March 11.

Lastly, I attached a flier regarding a K-12 Educators Supporting Immigrant Students webinar taking place on March 5 at 6 PM via Zoom.  The goal of the webinar is to increase educators’ knowledge and best practices on supporting immigrant students and families in and outside of schools.  It’s being presented by ImmSchools and a partnership with TeachPlus.  

Enjoy celebrating RESPECT WEEK in your schools!

Good morning, SEA!

Glad we are finally reaching temperatures above freezing.  It’s been a rough winter, but spring seems to be right around the corner.

Today after school in the PLC is our monthly Building Representative Meeting from 3:30-5:00 PM, followed by the Region 35 Council Meeting from 5-6:30 PM.  Any SEA member is welcome to attend both meetings to find out the latest news from the SEA & IEA.

Here is the February 24^th Edition of the Monday Message.

Information highlighted this week include the following:

• Workplace Solutions LifeSpeak Breathe & Webinars on Demand available to you from our EAP
• RSVP to our SEA/SEEO General Meeting on April 14
• Register for IEA’s Spring Session Virtual Book Studies
• Time for another SEA/SEEO Yoga Event on Tuesday, March 11

Nomination forms for SEA & Region 35’s March Elections are due today at 4 PM.  Any questions about the elections or to help count ballots, contact our Elections Chair, Kelly O’Reilly.

Lastly, the SEA Exec Board member you should get-to-know this week is Tracy Conlin, one of our Special Education Co-Liaisons.  Tracy works alongside Jenny McDermott to help answer special education related questions and concerns.  Thank you to Tracy and Jenny for reaching out monthly to all of our SEA SpEd members!

See you at our SEA Building Rep Meeting today!

Good morning, SEA!

Hope you had a productive afternoon on Friday and that you are taking time to enjoy this scheduled day off, unlike the surprise snow day last week!

Here is the link to the February 17^th Monday Message.

You will find your official invitation to our SEA/SEEO General Meeting taking place on Monday, April 14^th, from 3:30-5:45 PM at Chandler’s in Schaumburg.  Entertainment will begin at 3:30 PM and the program will run from 4-5:45 PM.  Our keynote speaker this year will be Dr. Rachael Mahmood, the 2024 Illinois Teacher of the Year.  RSVP to join us for our annual meeting!

Other information you can find in this week’s Monday Message:

• One week left to submit your Region 35 Nominations for the March 17^th Elections
• IEA’s Spring Virtual Book Studies | Register here
• IEA’s Early Career Spring Conference | Register here | Apply for funding from SEA

This week’s Exec Board member spotlight is on Michelle Burke, Speech-Language Pathologist at Hale.  She serves as SEA’s Bylaws Chair.  Check-out SEA’s bylaws here to find out more about the document Michelle helps us keep up-to-date and makes sure SEA follows. 

Time to celebrate being 2/3’s of the way through this school year!  Enjoy your day off, SEA! 

Happy Super Bowl Sunday, SEA!

Figured I would take a break from emailing with Bill Murray to send out the February 10^th Edition of the Monday Message. There really have been some great commercials this year!  And of course, delicious snacks in our household.   

If you still wanted to place a candy gram order, I will be finalizing all orders at 12 PM on Monday.  Here is your last chance to place your order and make a donation to the D54 Education Foundation Crisis Fund.  So far we have 240 orders!

Highlights from this week’s Monday Message include:

• Translators Short Film Screen & Discussion – Monday, Feb. 10^th, 5 PM in the Board Room – last chance to register here!
• IEA UniServ Director Intern Program – login to your IEA account for more info.

This week the SEA Exec Board member you should know is one of our Membership Co-Chairs, 8^th Grade LA/Social Studies teacher from Frost, Michelle Mason.  Got a question about dues or your membership, she is one of your main contacts: michellemason@sd54.org.

Check out SEA’s Instagram and Facebook posts to find out who the SEA & SEEO have endorsed for the April 1^st D54 School Board Elections!

Enjoy the rest of the game (or commercials)!

Hi SEA!  Welcome to February!

Here is the February 3^rd Edition of the Monday Message.

You will see the Region 35 Election Notice for the March 17^th elections.  There are a number of positions you will be electing including delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly on July 2-6 in Portland, Region 35 Council Members, and SEA President and Vice President.  Nomination forms must be submitted by 4 PM on February 24.  Click here to apply.

Don’t forget, we have our School Board Recommendation Hearing today after school from 3:30-6:30 PM at the Schaumburg Library.  It’s not too late to join us.  Click here to register.

We are still taking requests for CANDY GRAMS to support the D54 Education Foundation.  In just the last couple of days we already have over 100 orders! 

Click here to place your order.  Then make your donation to the D54 Education Foundation Crisis Fund here.

This week we the SEA Exec Board member you should get to know is Victoria Mikos, Speech-Language Pathologist at Blackwell/Hale.  She serves as SEA’s Trauma Responsive Schools Chair.  Shout out to Victoria for helping to plan Region 35’s SPARKS event last weekend for our early career members and emerging leaders! Pictures are coming soon from our event on SEA’s Instagram and Facebook.

Hello SEA!

Our monthly SEA Building Rep Meeting is today after school in the PLC.  Our meeting begins at 3:30 PM.  As always, all members are welcome to attend.

Here is the January 27^th Edition of the Monday Message.

You’ll find information about an upcoming film screening and discussion of the short film Translators taking place on Monday, February 10^th, at 5 PM in the D54 Board Room.   All SEA, SEEO, and members of the D54 community are welcome to attend.  Dinner will be provided.  Please register here for the event so we know how many will be in attendance and if there are any dietary restrictions. 

We still have open space for members to attend the School Board Candidate Recommendation Hearing on Monday, February 3^rd, from 3:30-6:30 PM in the Rasmussen North Room at the Schaumburg Library.  We are definitely wanting to fill the room for this event! Please register here.

Additional highlights in this week’s Monday Message include:

• IEA’s Early Career Spring Conference
• Solidarity 2025: Public School Strong Training Series
• Candy Grams to support the District 54 Education Foundation are back!  $5 each.  Send a Candy Gram to anyone in the district.  Order your candy grams here.

This week’s SEA Exec Board member of the week is Sue Hindenburg, Interventionist at Fox.  Sue is one of our SEA Membership Co-Chairs and can answer any of your questions about membership and dues.

I am so looking forward to Region 35’s SPARKS event taking place this upcoming weekend.  We have close to 40 SEA and SEEO members attending this year!

Have a great week!

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day, SEA!

Here is the January 20^th Edition of the Monday Message for you to read through sometime this week.  You’ll find information about why February 1^st is a significant date in our SEA contract.   

Additionally, you can find out more about the following:

• SEA Awards – nomination window closing soon!
• IEA’s Early Career Spring Conference (April 11-12) | Register here
  • Any one interested in attending can apply for funding through the SEA to attend by filling out the Conference Pre-Approval Request found on SEA’s Website.
• SEA’s Potential Job Share Interest form

Region 35 continues to encourage SEA & SEEO members to sign up to attend and participate in a School Board Candidate Recommendation Hearing at the Schaumburg Library (Rasmussen North room) on Monday, February 3^rd from 3:30 – 6:30 PM.  Each candidate will be interviewed individually and allowed an opening and closing as well as respond to the same questions the other candidates will be asked.  We still have some open spots for SEA and SEEO members to attend, so grab your seat now via this link:  REGISTER TO ATTEND THE RECOMMENDATION HEARING

This week’s SEA Exec Board member you should get to know is our Treasurer, Michelle Meyers.  She does such an amazing job with our finances and updates us monthly via the reports on your SEA Boards.  Want to find out more about being SEA’s treasurer?  We are looking for members to shadow Michelle next school year.  Please reach out to Michelle or me for more information!

Glad we are getting to spend time indoors and avoiding the frigid weather outdoors today! 

Good morning, SEA!

Brrrrr!! Days like today call for hot chocolate with extra marshmallows. Stay warm!

Here is the January 13^th Edition of the Monday Message.

We are still accepting registrations for Region 35’s SPARKS event taking place on January 31 – February 1.  As a reminder its open to all SEA & SEEO members.  Please click here to register by this Friday, January 17^th.  We have to finalize information with the hotel and other special activities we have planned.   Don’t forget to recruit a friend or two to join you! 

Region 35 welcomes all SEA & SEEO members to sign up to attend and participate in a School Board Candidate Recommendation Hearing at the Schaumburg Library (Rasmussen North room) on Monday, February 3^rd from 3:30 – 6:30 PM.  Each candidate will be interviewed individually and allowed an opening and closing as well as respond to the same questions the other candidates will be asked.  We have space for 75 SEA and SEEO members to attend, so grab your seat now via the link!  REGISTER TO ATTEND THE RECOMMENDATION HEARING

This Thursday, January 16^th, is our Yoga Event afterschool from 3:45-4:45 in the ELC gym.  Thank you to Rachel Martin, blended classroom teacher at the ELC, and SEA’s Early Career Liaison, for running this event for us.  Rachel is the SEA Exec Board Member of the Week you should know!  Register here to attend.

I had an SEA member reach out to me seeking information on job shares and whether or not I knew of any SEA member interested in future job share.  There is language in our contract that allows tenured teachers to job share or work part-time (page 13-14).  All job share proposals are due to district by February 1.  A Google form has been created to gather names of members who may want to job share in the future so that I can provide contact information to anyone who might want to create a job share proposal (appendix F, page 44).  The information from this form is for SEA’s information only – this isn’t a formal proposal and the names won’t be shared with District 54.  Click here to fill out the form.

Enjoy your upcoming three-day Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, SEA!