Category: Mobley’s Monday Message

•  Can’t find IEP info? Teachers should have access to IEPs on infinite campus. Psychs should inform you of 504’s and also give you copies of the 504’s. Nurses also should give teachers care plans, at least info that you need to have as their classroom teacher. Remember HIPA laws prohibit us from getting some information. When you look at your rosters in infinite campus, the students have blue stars next to their name with special information and a “document” icon that might indicate an IEP or other paperwork. Checking with the CST coordinator at your building is a good resource as well. It is your responsibility to “know” your kids.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Share resources with others in your PLC and your department all across the district. Contact someone who teaches the same course or book at another building and share ideas with each other. District 54 is FULL of resources of all kinds including people – talk to your coaches, mentors and tech coaches. The item you need is out there. We are all in this together.
• Care to confront – if you have an issue with a colleague, go to them FIRST before heading into the building admin’s office. It is better to talk it out and come to some kind of mutual agreement (even to agree to disagree) then one or both of you ending up with a reprimand in your file. Be professional and talk to that person and not behind their back. Nervous? Have your building rep help you, or your building mentor or even another staff member.

That’s it for this week. Here’s hoping the week finishes strong for you. IF you get a chance – answer the question below either by sending the info to me here in district or with the email address after the question.

Have a wonderful day!!

Chery

 

PS – Record’s Day – the Friday before the last day of school or the day after the students are done? Don’t know what records day is? Ask a colleague.

No rationale, yet, just your vote – “Friday before” or “day after” – choose one and send it to me if you want. Send to my home email

Hello! I hope MAP testing is going well. Here are this week’s topics.

• Base salary x 26 and compare to the lane and step you believe you belong. Problems? Contact Sally Skalany 5020 or Diana Peters 5035 – please be patient if they don’t return your call or email right away – the first pay could have errors – we all make mistakes – the new salary schedule is attached.
• SCORE grant information attached – it is for early career staff (10years experience or under) and SEEO please buddy up with a veteran staff member if you like. Deadline is September 26, 2016 and notification of winners by the middle of October. Please use the link below to find out more – you can actually see some grants that were awarded from years past to get ideas J Talk it up in your buildings and get those great ideas flowing – please include your paras – they can apply as well!!
   www.ieanea.org/score/score-grant-application/
• Jr High staff and Chromebooks – you are not “on call” 24/7 – yes, your students will email you all the time with questions. You do not need to answer them – if we didn’t have the Chromebooks you wouldn’t be expected to answer their email at all hours and that has not changed just because we added this new piece of technology. It’s up to you to decide when you stop answering emails but if you begin the year by answering every single one that comes in at all hours, you will set that as the norm and Dr. Myers said that is NOT the expectation and it is not wise. If you have concerns, please share them with me and I can get further clarification.
• Urban grant information
• Those jr high staff members who have fall student teachers – please contact your tech coaches – your student teachers should have logins for the Chromebooks – if you have questions or need help, contact Carolyn Lejman.
• The School board relations team is looking for 2 more jr high reps. Eating dinner and having great discussions with a board member every other month is the basics. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Anjum Poonawalla.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. Have a great rest of the day and an even better weekend.

Chery

PS – did you know that in Alaska it is illegal to wake a bear to take its picture? It begs the question…why would you? Yikes!!!

CONGRATULATIONS! You have almost made it through your first week!!! I hope you all had a chance to see the PowerPoint from the SEA/SEEO yesterday. If you have questions, please contact me.

 

• You should be checking the portal to make sure you have all your degrees listed and that you’re being compensated for them – has your address changed? Your name?  Any changes in contact info? Are all your sick days correct in AESOP? Any personal business you did not use last year should have changed over to sick leave for this year. Making sure that all of this information is correct is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY! Check the portal periodically to see that everything is correct. (There is a link to the portal on the  district’s SharePoint page)
• Licensure update – you should have received an email from Pete Hannigan about recertification. The original system is still in place. PD can be entered at any time during the renewal cycle up to the time of renewal.  Teachers with advanced degrees can take a reduction in the amount of PD owed for the remainder of the renewal cycles through 2018. (120 for bachelors/80 for masters/40 for doctorate) There are no more reductions for advanced degrees for anyone whose first full 5 year renewal cycle began July 1, 2014 or after. You cannot pay for your license until April of the year that it expires.  Principals should continue to send CPDU forms to their employees. J Read through the attachment Pete sent and if you have questions, contact me  (6005) or Diana Peters @ 5035. Those that did not renew this past June (and should have) please do it immediately!!!
• After you pay for your license through ISBE, please make sure the payment clears. We had a member who was notified that his payment never cleared so he paid again and now ISBE contacted him and he paid twice! They are going to take care of him but please make sure you are tracking payments like this – just a word to the wise! (Thanks, Chris!!)
• Jr High staff – please remember that the Chromebooks are the property of the school district and, just like our laptops and desktops, they can see what you are searching for in any browser at any time. They will not spend time looking at what each staff member is doing 24/7 but if concerns arise they can. Please remain professional as we add this great new piece of technology into our classrooms. By the same token, let’s share with each other the wonderful websites, techniques and uses for the Chromebooks.

 

If you need me, call me. I will continue visiting more buildings next week. If you are doing something you want me to see, or you just want me to come over, call me or email me. I would love to see what is happening J

Chery

 

PS – did you know that the Wednesday staff development was an item that the union bargained for? Without that staff development, we would all be looking outside the district for our 120 hours of professional development and possible paying for those as well. KUDOS to the team bargained that into our contract!!

 

Wonderful SEA Members –

CONGRATULATIONS – Because of your hard work, we have all earned the 1% enhanced compensation!!! It will be attached to next year’s salary schedule. We will receive a copy of that schedule in the fall. I am so proud to represent you each and every day. Again – Congrats on all your work with all of the students!!

I will be working for you on and off throughout the summer. If you have questions, concerns, need assistance, please email me using either account (listed below). I will check my email accounts over the summer but cannot promise an immediate response. Please only call my cell if you need immediate assistance. I will be in Washington DC representing you at the NEA-RA (National Education Association Representative Assembly) with others from our region the first 2 weeks in July and then on vacation the rest of the month.

Survey Monkey – if you haven’t completed the survey, please try and find time to do so. Thanks J  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SG3XSLR

cheryanderson@sd54.org

630-400-8887 – I will not answer right away – please leave a message – I receive many annoying robocalls.

 

PS – 100% of district 54 SEA members are the best of the best and I wish every single one of them the greatest summer. I hope you can relax at some point and let thoughts of the school year go for at least a little while. You are appreciated and supported by the SEA, IEA and NEA. Enjoy your time off. I can’t wait to hear about all the wonderful things you did over the summer.

Much respect – Chery

*I will be sending a survey monkey out very shortly after this email. It only has 15 questions and shouldn’t take longer than 5 minutes to fill out. Your executive team would really like the input so we may plan for next year. You will have until June 3^rd at midnight to complete and you may forward the email home if you feel more comfortable doing so. Thank you.

* Your administrators can observe you at any point. At this time of the year, however, unless they see a huge issue, they should not input any info into common ground. Please contact your building rep or me if you are feeling troubled by an observation.

*Thanks so much to those you attended paper tigers last night. It was a very informative session. Many of us are attending the training session on June 14^th in Elgin. If you are interested, please check the IEA website for more info. www.ieanea.org

*At this point of the year I do not spend much time in my office at Mead, so if you need me, please call my cell number. (630-400-8887) I have been visiting buildings, watching field days, presentations, and working out of the Palatine office.

*I will be working for you through June 10^th. If you have questions, concerns, need assistance after June 10^th, please email me using either account (listed below). I will check my email accounts over the summer but cannot promise an immediate response. Please only call my cell if you need immediate assistance. I will be in Washington DC representing you at the NEA-RA (National Education Association Representative Assembly) with others from our region the first 2 weeks in July and then on vacation the rest of the month.

 

cheryanderson@sd54.org

630-400-8887 – I will not answer right away – please leave a message – I receive many robocalls (annoying).

Records Day is our last day of school. It is a full day. You should be using this time to complete any final report card corrections, the student cumulative folders, special education IEPs and any other records. If you have time during the day you may also finish packing boxes for any potential move. This is a WORK day and if we do not use it as such we run the risk of losing this day in future bargaining sessions. Yes, having a faculty luncheon is acceptable and appropriate (and fun!!). If you have questions, please contact me.

o   You should have received your placement for next year but only if you are making a significant move. IF you are staying right where you are you may not receive “official” notification. I also understand that some of the numbers for Special education are not completed. If there is a question or concern, please contact me.

o   On the same note, the 30% IEP students on a class is a State rule – this question was asked at the rep meeting.

o   When your schedule is set for next year, please check to make sure you have a duty free lunch, and all of your plan time (240 per week – 150 of which is your “personal” plan time). If there is an issue, NOW is the time to discuss with your building administrator. If you have concerns, please talk to your rep first and then your administrator. If it cannot be resolved, contact me.

o   STAY IN THE EDUCATION FAMILY – JOIN IEA-Retired today.

IEA/NEA-Retired has nearly 10,000 members and represents ALL education retirees: Certified Educators, ESPs, Higher Education and their interests and retirement issues. $1 million in liability insurance for members who wish to continue part-time employment or substitute in public education. The IEA lobbying team works for active and retired members on education issues and to protect our pensions and 133,000 members collectively across the state stand together when attacked. Involvement with the organization that has a big impact on TRS. All four elected teacher positions on the TRS Board of Trustees are filled by IEA members and both annuitants on the TRS Board of Trustees are IEA-Retired members.

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/IEARMP Twitter @IEARMP

A full range of Member Benefits Programs that can save you more in one year than the cost of lifetime dues. Check them out at: www.neamb.com

A toll-free line so you can contact your organization and the retired staff person without cost. Call 1-800-252-8076 and ask for the retired contact or call Kim Riley directly at 309-662-5359.

http://www.ieanea.org/media/2014/08/Retired-Membership-Form-3-2015.pdf

Morning. I hope everyone is doing well.

-We have our final Representative Meeting Monday – if you are a newly elected rep, please join us in the board room @ 3:30pm. REPS  – please bring the NEA Fund envelope with you to the meeting.

-NEA Fund envelopes have gone out to buildings to the reps. See full explanation of NEA fund in last week’s SEAside.

-We are going to have a new logo contest for t-shirts, hats, etc. If you are interested, please create something the SEA can use to show our solidarity, love of education and devotion to our students. Please send me your ideas by May 13^th. The winner will be announced before the end of the school year.

-Administrators may observe a staff member at any time of the school year. We have asked that they not log any info into common ground after May 15^th unless the circumstance is extreme. Please contact me if you have concerns with an observation after May 15^th.

-By Monday, all staff should know their placement for next year. Please contact me if you have not heard anything by Tuesday morning. (per contract language)

 

I hope our weather improves soon (although, it could be worse!)

Chery

 

PS – The 57 on Heinz ketchup bottle represents the varieties of pickles the company once had! 57 types of pickles?

•  I need to know if you are qualified (and interested) in writing by May 11^th so the existing board may consider those qualifications.
• Sick bank – To access Sick Bank an individual would contact the Sick Bank chairperson (whoever that may be – right now it’s Keith Lange) and ask for the Sick Bank request form. The form can be sent to you through the mail or in an e-mail. You would follow the instructions on how to fill out the form and send it back to the Sick Bank chairperson in a timely manner. Once an individual has depleted all of their own personal sick/business days they would start in the Sick Bank. A verification letter would be sent to the individual (typically in twenty (20) day increments) until their doctor has cleared them to return to school. You may use a Maximum of 90 days in your career. (Anyone who is not participating cannot use days – no exceptions. The form is in the SEA contract p. 38. You all filled one out when you were hired – unless you chose not to participate. People can change their status but must resubmit the form before Sept. 1st to Julie Goolish @ Keller- no exceptions. If you remove yourself from the bank you do not get those unused days back.
• NEA Fund envelopes have gone out to buildings to the reps. The NEA Fund is our voice in Washington—it speaks on behalf of our 3.2 million members from all 51 affiliates of the National Education Association. As the NEA’s national PAC, the NEA Fund provides direct financial support to recommended candidates for President, the U.S. House, and the U.S. Senate who will fight to support teachers, staff, and students and improve public education. The NEA Fund also supports pro-public education candidates in gubernatorial and other important state races as well as making independent expenditures asking people to vote for or against candidates based on their position on public education. Every member who contributes to the NEA Fund does so voluntarily. Every dollar contributed to a candidate, a political party, or independent expenditures is voluntarily given. NEA does not use dues dollars for this purpose. Just as the NEA Fund relies on small contributions from thousands of members, the NEA candidate recommendation process is driven by NEA membership. NEA never recommends or endorses a candidate for federal office without the support of your Illinois Education Association leaders. Many of you have already donated through payroll deduction. Please feel free to add more to the fund if you so choose J
• We have a new logo contest for t-shirts, hats, etc. If you are interested, please create something the SEA can use to show our solidarity, love of education and devotion to our students. Please send me your ideas by May 13^th. The winner will be announced before the end of the school year.

Chery

 

PS – Over 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow. HA!

Morning! There is a great deal going on in the district as we begin to close down the school year. The next few SEAsides could be lengthy but please stay with me!

• Next week is Teacher Appreciation with Tuesday being National Teacher Day. Don’t forget to thank your school nurse on Wednesday which is National School Nurse Day.
• Renewal information went out to all district employees this past week from Diana Peters.
• Linda Stolt, a retired teacher from Schaumburg and current president of the IEA-Retired Northwest Suburban chapter, has been selected by the Illinois Education Association as this year’s recipient of the Mary Lou and Keith Hauge Retiree of the Year Award. Stolt was recognized for the award on Thursday in front of some 1,200 association delegates, guests and state dignitaries at the IEA’s annual Representative Assembly in Rosemont.
• I wanted to let you know about a wonderful opportunity the Illinois Education Association Palatine Office is offering next month.  The IEA Regions 34, 35 (Schaumburg), 42, 43, 64 and High School District 214 cordially invite you to a screening of the movie PAPER TIGERS.  This event is free to those interested in attending.

Paper Tigers is an intimate look into the lives of selected students at Lincoln High School, an alternative school that specializes in educating traumatized youth.  Set amidst the rural community of Walla Walla, Wash., the film intimately examines the inspiring promise of trauma informed communities – a movement that is showing great promise in healing youth struggling with the dark legacy of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES).

I personally invite you to attend this powerful event!  You can watch the trailer and learn more about the film at PaperTigersMovie.com   I have attached an invitational flier and encourage you to invite other administrators, community leaders and parents.

 

Thanks for reading and staying with me through the year. I hope these messages have been helpful in some way J

Chery

 

PS – Did you know that a crocodile cannot stick his tongue out?

Good Morning! I hope this email finds everyone well and finished or nearly finished with PARCC.

I hope those that attended the General Meeting on Monday enjoyed themselves and found it informative as well. Kathi Griffin did an excellent job, as always, entertaining us and informing us. We had a record number in attendance!! Let’s hope that number continues to grow. Congratulations to all our retirees, if you were unable to attend I will be dropping off your certificates very soon. And, lastly, congratulations to Vicki Mikos who received the Felicia Cichy Award for service to the SEA/IEA/NEA. She is truly deserving of this award.

• Renewal information will come out on Monday, so if you haven’t already logged all your CPDUs, now is the time. Diana Peters will be sending the info and the process hasn’t changed. If you have questions, you may call her, me or Shirley Bloom. Shirley’s contact info will come with the directions on Monday.
• I am still getting questions on taking Mondays and/or Fridays off. Please use your days professionally. If you need to take them because you are sick or have business that cannot be conducted after school hours, then take the day. But please make sure you have some sort of documentation. Remember, the district is looking for patterns, not a one-time absence.

That’s all – only 6 weeks left! I find that very hard to believe.