WEAC members are Everyday Heroes Learn how Mukwonago’s Meg Graham helps educators engage families with dual-language skills.

Page 2

Get involved in your district: Use online tools to organizeRead tips from Monona Grove’s Jeremy Wallace on organizing your district through email and social media.

Page 7

Benefits of union membership: Learning new skillsMake sure you stay current with your teaching credentials: Use these new Internet classes to boost your instruction.

Page 8

inside

New evaluations of educators and students. Accountability measures for schools. Big

changes to No Child Left Behind. What’s happening? What can you expect?

As the state begins its move to seek a waiver from the NCLB law, evaluation is going

to be a key component. That’s why it is critical

that educators have a voice in the process. With

representation from WEAC the state has been

crafting a set of reform initiatives based on using

multiple measures of evaluation, an important step

to make sure that evaluation is done fairly (for more

see page 5).

That effort coincides with your union’s work

engaging parents and communities in what they

want to see in education reform. Questions like

“What makes a good teacher” and “How can we

measure student success” were discussed in communities across the state to get at the real

issues of reform (for more see page 12).

Educators are not for the status quo – we know that moving education forward means

bringing our ideas to the table. Visit weac.org to get involved and add your voice!

Evaluating educators and making schools accountable – the fair way

Under the state’s new collective

bargaining laws, local unions have

the option to certify as the official

bargaining agent for purposes of

negotiating base wages. Remember

that you can have a union even if you

do not recertify. No legislator or piece

of legislation can forbid you from

being part of a union.

Relief from No Child Left Behind and

a new system of measuring education

effectiveness will be a big discussion

point this fall. See pages 5 and 12 for

what this means to you and how you

can get involved.

Is your teacher license current? WEAC

provides member support to help you

stay current with your Professional

Development Plans. Check your

license renewal stipulations and make

sure you stay current. Contact your

UniServ or WEAC for more information

about PDP support.

3 things to watch for this fall

Educators and community mEmbErs

discuss school accountability.

sEE pagE 12 for morE

<<

OCTOBER 2011

weac.org

an NEA affiliate

October 2011 | WEACinPrint2

Meg Graham shares her skills with other educators – so they can better engage students and familiesHow one WEAC member is Moving Education Forward:

WEAC in Print (ISSN#1531-6831)

is published by the Wisconsin Education

Association Council, an affiliate of the

National Education Association, as a service

to members of its affiliates. WEAC in Print is

published in October, December, January, March,

May and July. Copyrighted 2011 by WEAC, 33 Nob

Hill Rd., PO Box 8003, Madison, WI, 53708-8003,

608-276-7711 or 800-362-8034.

All materials in this periodical may be

reproduced by members for distribution to

students or by WEAC affiliate associations

for their own publications. WEAC dues

include $6.27 for a subscription to WEAC In Print. Periodical postage paid at

Madison WI and additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send address corrections

to WEAC In Print, P.O. Box 8003,

Madison, WI, 53708

Mary Bell, PresidentBetsy Kippers, Vice PresidentDavid Harswick, Secretary-TreasurerDan Burkhalter, Executive DirectorKim Haas, Communications DirectorBill Hurley, EditorMatthew Call, Assistant EditorLaura DeVries, Graphic Design Specialist

an NEA affiliate

Volume 4 | Issue 1

Meg Graham heard it a lot: “I wish I could speak Spanish.”

She’d meet people and they’d become envious of her language skills. She’d talk to other teachers who would start thinking of what they could do with even just a bit of Spanish under their belts.

“People ask me what I do, I say I’m a Spanish teacher and they say, ‘Oh, I wish I could speak Spanish,’” Graham said. And that’s when it hit her: why can’t they?

Graham has spent a great deal of time investing in her language teaching skills but doctors, travelers, other teachers – anyone who engages others on a regular basis – could benefit from basic everyday Spanish. Often just enough to have a quick conversation.

So Graham – a WEAC member and Spanish teacher at Mukwonago High School – wrote a series of books (for sale at ahorahablo.com) focused on familiarizing yourself with just enough Spanish to interact with native speakers in occupational settings. She’s written acclaimed guides for those in the medical and education profession as well as those looking to travel.

One of the things Graham focuses on in spreading conversational Spanish is to help educators interact with students and their families.

Sometimes students become translators between their teachers and their Spanish-speaking parents, which can put them in awkward positions if the topic is student performance.

“It’s much better if the teacher can call home and talk to parents,” Graham said.

Graham wrote her “¡Ahora Hablo! Educator Edition” to cover that situation – and others – and she also teaches a new online course for the WEA Academy (registration is open at weaacademy.org).

Graham designed her online course over a two-year research period and held a successful test run. In one component class participants recorded themselves speaking into their computer, using a website to send the audio file to Graham for review. One of the course’s participants, a physical education teacher, told Graham he used the lessons to have Spanish language speakers become leaders of the day in his gym class.

“I feel a lot more people should know Spanish,” Graham said. “It helps you build a bond.”

mEg graham

spanish tEachEr

mukwonago

<<

Meet an Everyday Hero

‘I feel a lot more people should know Spanish. It helps you build a bond.’

Your union is a strong advocate for foreign language instruction, calling for funding to enhance language programs in our schools. Learn more and get involved at weac.org.

did you know?

weac.org | October 2011 3

Nominate a special student for fun

activities at UW games fort atkinson tEachEr kari Johnson, lEft, and

wEac VicE prEsidEnt bEtsy kippErs, right, stand

on thE fiEld at camp randall stadium with wEac

kickoff kid moisEs mEdina lopEz and his family.

<<

Get in the game with Kickoff Kids!

This year, Kickoff Kids is more than a visit to a college football field. It’s also a way to honor special students

with a trip to the basketball parquet and the hockey ice – meaning you get to send a student to a Badgers hockey or basketball game.

Kickoff Kids, your union’s partnership with UW Athletics, entered its third year this fall. Special students again were nominated by WEAC members and picked to be on the turf at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison at Badgers home games.

“Community outreach is important for our members to engage families and get students excited about their education,” said WEAC Vice President Betsy Kippers, seen above with Fort Atkinson teacher Kari Johnson and Fort Atkinson

fourth-grader Moises Medina Lopez, who were picked to attend the Badgers season opener against UNLV.

Nominations continueMoving past football this year, Kickoff Kids will also include

UW basketball and hockey games. Students nominated by members can be selected to be a Junior Ball Kid at one of five basketball games at the Kohl Center. The Junior Ball Kids will sit under the basket and help out during the game. Students nominated by members can also be selected to be a Junior Stick Kid at one of five hockey games, helping out with practice shoot-around.

For more information on the Kickoff Kids program and how to nominate a special student, visit weac.org/kickoffkids.

October 2011 | WEACinPrint4

WEAC members who wish to request a rebate of the portion of WEAC dues designated for political activity must do so between September 1 and October 30, or within 60 days of becoming a member.

The refundable Political Action Committee dues are $19.99 for full-time teachers, $10 for half-time teachers and full-time education support professionals, and $5 for half-time ESP.

Individual requests should be made in writing to WEAC President Mary Bell, P.O. Box 8003, Madison, WI 53708. To facilitate processing, please print your name as it appears on your membership form and include your membership ID. Only individual written request letters will be honored; email is not acceptable.

WEAC will issue rebates around November 30 and send a list of individuals receiving rebates to local presidents. Fair share fee payers automatically get a rebate and need not request it.

WEAC-PAC rebate requests

WEAC is now initiating the election process for state delegates to the 2012 and 2013 NEA Representative Assemblies. Nomination forms for state delegates are due to the WEAC executive director’s office no later than December 1.

Nomination forms are available online at weac.org/members, through your UniServ office, or through the executive director’s office by calling 800-362-8034 ext. 219. The forms must be postmarked to the executive director’s office no later than December 1. Those postmarked after that date will not be accepted.

NEA RA delegate election begins

weac.org | October 2011 5

With educators at the table, Wisconsin is ready to roll out a method of measuring education effectiveness that is done fairly and uses multiple methods of evaluation

for educators.

That effort will key the state’s application for relief under federal No Child Left Behind mandates – bringing meaningful education reform and much-needed aid to Wisconsin. In fact, Wisconsin will apply for NCLB relief “at the first possible moment,” State Superintendent Tony Evers said.

The White House has rolled out a program for states to apply and be granted more freedom under the NCLB law. New state education accountability policy currently under design will be used to augment and replace NCLB mandates.

“Wisconsin is really well-positioned to move this initiative forward,” Evers said.

The state’s Educator Effectiveness Design Team will soon present its findings to use multiple measures to evaluate educators and students. That team could wrap up its work in late October or early November.

WEAC is one of the participants on the 30-member Educator Effectiveness Design Team.

“We have said for a long time that evaluating educators has to be done in a fair and consistent manner while using multiple methods of evaluation, not just student test data,” WEAC President Mary Bell said. “WEAC’s participation on the Educator Effectiveness Design Team will make sure the state’s educators are heard when they advocate for the best way to improve the practice of everyone in our classrooms.”

While President Obama is seeking congressional action to reform NCLB, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said many of its components are “barriers” to reform. Duncan said states that apply for NCLB waivers must present new models of evaluation.

“We remain absolutely committed to accountability,” Duncan said.

For the latest on the Educator Effectiveness Design Team and NCLB relief, visit weac.org.

With the help of your union, Wisconsin seeks relief fromNo Child Left Behind

How can parents help their children learn to read? Why is art in the classroom important to a student’s self-esteem? What role do technical colleges have in helping graduates find jobs?

Wisconsin educators share their answers to these questions – and offer many more tips for student success – in the new parent magazine “Classroom Connections,” available now to help you connect with families of your students.

This magazine, published by your union, connects families to schools across the state with 16 pages of tips and ideas from WEAC members on a host of topics.

Make the connection with the families of your students by using the latest edition of “Classroom Connections,” your union’s annual publication to help parents and guardians of public school students engage with the educators teaching their children. To order copies, visit weac.org/parents.

Your union is engaging families and community members across the state to advocate for real accountability measures in our schools. See page 12 and visit weac.org to learn more.

did you know?

Make the ‘connection’ with the faMilies of your students

October 2011 | WEACinPrint6

Contracts and Negotiations

Handbook. In some place it’s becoming a dirty word now that some districts are forcing them on their employees, wiping away

decades of successful collaboration.

In some districts prep time is being taken away, sick leave is being reduced, classroom assignments are

being arbitrarily changed – all without the input of the educators who are being affected.

Here are some legally dubious clauses put into handbooks by school boards not working collaboratively with employees:

‘Employees-at-will’

Some handbook language appears to require teachers to sign a statement agreeing they are

employees-at-will - who can be terminated at any time.

Requiring staff to work beyond the number of contracted work days without compensation

Some districts are using handbooks to make teachers work

outside of normal schedules without pay, mandating meetings or summer work beyond what was spelled out in previous contracts.

Family and Medical Leave Act

Some districts are using new state laws to employ language that

puts handbooks in direct conflict with state and federal leave acts.

Mandatory equalized paychecks

Some districts are doing away with how educators want to be paid, for instance whether or not they want a 12-month payment arrangement. But state law says employees must be paid within 31 days of working, and that payment can be deferred “at the option of the employee.”

What can you do?

Be aware and be active. Join with your colleagues in your local association to speak out against school board actions that exclude educators. Public school employees deserve to have a say in their profession. Consider creating a network of educators in your district to join together and advocate for your interests (see the next page for tips from a WEAC member).

If you have any questions about your contract or your handbook, contact your local association representative or your UniServ director.

WHAT TO WATCHhandbooks

“ Staff who are required to attend other ad-

ministratively called meetings will receive

no additional remuneration, above their

regularly paid salaries, for attending such

meetings.”

– Kaukauna Area School District handbook

– Freedom School District handbook

Employees will not be permitted to request

leave time for elective surgeries during the

school months “unless there is a doctor’s

specific recommendation.”

Did your school board implement a new handbook this year? What stands out to you? Send us a note at inprint@weac.org.

what’s happEning in your district?

weac.org | October 2011 7

Member Organizing

Jeremy Wallace, a WEAC member and teacher at Monona Grove High School, knows how building a network can reap results. In less than a year of organizing, Monona Grove educators used social media (Facebook, Twitter and email) to create one of the largest local union educator networks in the state – generating a high member participation rate for the summer recalls.

“It only takes a few people really committed to their membership,” Wallace said.

Wallace has these tips to keeping your colleagues connected:

The Monona Grove Education Association Action Team formed in the summer of 2010 and started collecting home emails during a contentious bargaining period with its administration to keep members informed and involved.

Home emails are important (as opposed to work addresses) because of district policies across the state that limit what kind of discussion can take place on district emails.

“Email doesn’t seem as modern or flashy

as Facebook or Twitter but it’s still a very effective way to communicate,” Wallace said.

The staff at Monona Grove shifted their focus from local bargaining to statewide rallies to recall elections. An emphasis was placed on making the connections a vibrant community, Wallace said. The group created “gold” (current teachers) and “platinum”

(current teachers, support staff and retired teachers) lists for people (determined by how involved or how much contact information they shared) to create a sense of ownership in the

efforts.

Starting a Facebook page allowed Monona Grove educators to extend their discussion way past email. The page was made open for comments – a vital component, Wallace said, to foster conversation and allow people to ask

questions. The group also uses a Google Group for more private conversations.

With help from staff at Capital Area UniServ-South and Madison’s John Holcomb of Outrigger3.com, the group had healthy Facebook activity before the rallies began in February – when the activity on the group’s Facebook page intensified to more than 12,000 hits in a single week.

Wallace and his colleague Kelly Sullivan also led social media training sessions over the summer to help other locals get better organized.

“We have all these bees in the hive, and now we have to teach them how to sting,” Wallace said.

Create an action team, collect home emails

Create a social ‘hive’

Make it fun

organizingORGANIzINGYOU are the ace of

JErEmy wallacE

social studiEs tEachEr

monona groVE

<<

October 2011 | WEACinPrint8

Your license renewal is going online.

The Wisconsin Department of Public

Instruction is working through a three-

year American Recovery and Reinvestment

Act grant to build an online educator

licensing system.

The Educator Licensing Online

system will change the entire process

for receiving an educator license in

Wisconsin. As a result, there will be

greater data integrity, a more cohesive

and reliable structure within current

data collections, easier-to-access data,

and valued connections between the

DPI, educators, institutions of higher

education, districts, and professional

organizations throughout Wisconsin.

The projected timeline for full

implementation of the new system is as

early as fall 2012 or at the latest June

2013, when the grant expires.

Among other functions to be handled

electronically are payments, professional

development plans, experience

verification, and management of an online

educator profile by the educator. The

system is expected to be easy to use and

well integrated with existing data systems

at the WDPI, including the Longitudinal

Data System.

Visit dpi.wi.gov/elo/index.html for more

information. And for an opportunity to be a

part of the testing of the online program,

visit weac.org/professionaldevelopment to

sign up to add your input.

DPI moving to online licensing

Your union is offering exciting new ways to keep up with professional development and licensing support. The WEA Academy is adding three new courses to its catalog:

• National Board Preparation and Support will provide resources,

mentoring, coaching, guidance and technical assistance

to National Board Certification candidates. It incorporates

intellectual, logistical, emotional, and technical support.

• Spanish for Educators will help teachers develop cultural

understanding and a repertoire of communication skills to

converse with ELL/Spanish-speaking only students and family

members.

• Professional Development for Teaching Online Courses will

provide teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary for

conducting online courses including structuring and designing

courses to actively engage learners, assessing their learning and

individualizing instruction as needed.

Some courses offer credit, and some can be taken as a non-credit option to add value to your Professional Development Plan.

The WEA Academy, established in 1992 to provide low-cost professional development for members, provides online and face-to-face training programs, an online video library, and Educational Support Professional certificate programs. Visit weaacademy.org for more on these online programs and other professional development opportunities.

The benefits of union membership, online

Professional Development

weac.org | October 2011 9

It’s a new school year. A fresh start. And, a whole new financial reality. Wisconsin public school employees are seeing the impact of Wisconsin Act 10 in their paychecks with deductions for pension contributions and health insurance premiums. What changes will you make to cover the added expenses? Will you put your 403(b) or IRA contributions on the chopping block? Think twice. It’s more important than ever to save for retirement.

“Under the circumstances, it may be tempting to stop or not start contributing to an IRA or 403(b),” says Michelle Slawny, CFP® and Senior Financial Planner for WEA Trust Member Benefits. She counters the “I can’t afford to save” argument with “You can’t afford NOT to save.” In fact, she suggests you should be looking for ways to increase your personal contributions. Yes, you will be contributing to WRS – an expense you may not have had before – but the amount going in for your retirement doesn’t change. The only change is that you may be picking up half of the contribution historically paid by your employer.

Your personal savings (403(b) and IRA) will still need to account for 22%-46% of your retirement income depending on your years of service. “Reduced employer-based retirement benefits effectively shift the responsibility to the employee. Members will need to rely more heavily on their personal savings. Anyone considering retirement before age 62 needs to make saving a priority to achieve their goal.”

How am I going to continue saving when my take-home pay has been cut?

Remember when you bought your first house or had your first baby? You may have wondered how you’re going to afford the monthly mortgage payment or pay for day care. But, somehow you figured it out. “Include contributions to retirement with your fixed expenses like your mortgage or utilities,” says Slawny. “Contributing to your 403(b) or IRA may not be as exciting as buying a new house or having a baby, but you will thank yourself when it’s time to retire.”

Slawny also points out that the new expenses associated with WRS and health insurance are pre-tax, so the impact may not be what you think it is. The example on right calculates the impact for someone making $48,000 a year.

Try it on. It just might fit.

Still not sure you can manage the 403(b) or IRA contribution? Test it out for a couple of months to see how you do. If it doesn’t work, sit down with your budget (if you don’t have one, create one) and take a hard look at your discretionary spending. If you must, reduce your contribution but don’t stop saving.

“The positive side of learning to live on less now is that it prepares you to live on less in retirement,” notes Slawny.

Consider attending Basics of Budgeting and Saving, Finances 101, or other financial seminars offered by WEA Trust Member Benefits. Go to weabenefits.com/calendar for details.

A new financial reality

‘Anyone considering retirement before age 62 needs to make

saving a priority.’

Calculating your take-home pay, post Act 10

$48,000 Annual gross salary.

$2,784 Amount contributed annually to WRS (5.8%).

$1,440 Amount deducted annually for health insurance premium for family plan (Assuming the minimum of 12% of plan that costs $12,000 per year.)

$43,776 Taxable annual income after deducting WRS and insurance.

$4,224 Amount by which your annual taxable income is reduced. You will not pay taxes on this amount.

$253 Wisconsin income tax reduction (6%) on the $4,224.

$507 Federal income tax reduction (12%) on the $4,224.

$760 Total income tax reduction ($253 + $507).

$3,464 Net reduction to take-home pay due to pre-tax WRS and health insurance contributions noted above. ($4,224 less $760.)

$133 Net impact per paycheck. Your take-home pay will be reduced by this amount per paycheck. ($3,464 divided by 26 paychecks.)

This example is for illustrative purposes only. Your results may vary depending on your gross salary, the percentage of health insurance premiums you are required to pay as well as the actual premium for your plan.

Personal Finances

October 2011 | WEACinPrint10

O U R P A R T N E R S

StrongDependable Competitive

We are proud to serve you.800.279.4000

Financial Planning Services. For every stage of your life.

TM

All investment advisory services are offered through WEA Financial Advisors, Inc.

Now scheduling appointments for fall.

Call 1-800-279-4030, Ext. 2753 weabenefits.com/fps

More than 2,000 state and public employees switched health plans in 2011 to the WEA Trust as part of the Wisconsin Group Health Insurance Program (State Health Plan).

For 2012, in just the second year as an option for State Health Plan members, the Trust is more than doubling its coverage area – from 24 counties in 2011 to 49 counties in 2012. The Group Insurance Board recently named the Trust as a Tier 1 option (lowest employee cost) in 18 northwestern counties and 31 eastern counties.

Continued success in the State Health Plan will be good for the Trust, good for school employees, and allow more public employees to experience the Trust’s quality service.

If you know a friend or family member in one of the service areas (see map) who is covered by the State Health Plan, encourage them to consider switching to the Trust. Let them know what many of you have experienced – that there really is a Trust Difference. The state enrollment period for 2012 ends October 28.

The new northwest service area includes: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Trempealeau, and Washburn counties.

The expanded eastern service area includes: Brown, Calumet, Columbia*, Dodge*, Door, Florence, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Jefferson*, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marathon*, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Portage*, Racine, Rock*, Shawano, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, and Wood* counties.

To learn more, go to WeaTrustStateHealthPlan.com.

*New for 2012

WEA Trust expands coverage area in state plan WEA Trust State Health Plan

2012 Service AreasNorthwest (yellow) and East (green)

KEW

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FLORENCE

MARINETTE

LANGLADE

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DUNN

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TAYLOR

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WEA Trust is not owned or operated by WEAC. It was created 40 years ago by WEAC to provide quality benefits and services to Wisconsin public school employees, and it is a separate legal entity.

did you know?

weac.org | October 2011 11

As our union downsizes following the punishing changes in Wisconsin law, the WEAC Member Benefits program will transition to WEA Trust Member Benefits and I will retire. In the last 10 years, I have met individually with more than 6,000 members and had more than 20,000 attend my seminars. I have loved every minute of it and thank you for your support and interest. I will miss all of you a lot.

Now to the business at hand:

Many members will see take-home pay cuts this year, thanks to our new governor. But the rules of financial planning haven’t changed. So in this final article I want to briefly remind you yet again of the principles you should be following regarding your money. Managing your money does not have to be complicated.

1. Involve your spouse, and every year do a review of your finances, goals for the future, etc. You should frequently have casual discussions of your financial situation.

2. Subscribe to and read one good financial magazine every month like “Money,” “SmartMoney,” or Kiplinger’s “Personal Finance.”

3. Make sure you have completed wills and power of attorney forms.

4. Retirement investing should be done using 403(b) TSAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k) (spouse). Concentrate on using inexpensive no-load index funds or target retirement date type funds.

5. Know your marginal tax bracket. If it is 15%, (line 43 of form 1040 is less than $34,500 single or $69,000 married), concentrate on Roth IRAs or Roth TSAs. Remember, Roth IRAs can serve as an emergency fund if necessary.

6. Make sure you have no high-cost credit balances like credit cards. Paying off debt is making an investment. Using savings to pay off a 4% car loan is usually preferable to earning .5% in the savings account.

7. Do not invest in any investment product (something that builds a cash value) from any life insurance company. The fees and penalties are too high. Universal life is not a good deal. Variable (stock market) life is not a good deal. Index annuities are not a good deal.

8. Mortgage rates hit an all-time low in August 2011. Review your rates and check to see if you could save money by refinancing. Shop around for good rates, and especially for low closing costs. As of this date, I am seeing 15-year rates in the area of 3.5% and 30-year rates around 4%.

a fond farewell

By Bob Moeller – WEAC Member Benefits

Take control of your personal finances

Visit the WEAC

Savers’ Club at weac.org to save on Halloween costumes, treats and

more.

Oh MY!Oh MY!There’s nothing scary

about saving! Don’t let this year’s Halloween shopping spook you;

just log on to your Association’s website

and click the Access link to shop and save from

places like:

.

9. If you need life insurance, buy only term insurance. Don’t use life insurance as an investment vehicle. Choose a term policy with a specific ending date, far enough out to take care of kids’ college graduation or your retirement date or other significant milestones like a mortgage being paid off.

10. Do not rely on advice from any financial advisor who does not have an enforceable fiduciary obligation. That means he/she must only suggest investments that are in your best interests. Get assurances of that in writing on letterhead.

11. Know what current rates are before spending a lot of time trying to get the best rates. Bankrate.com will give you a good idea of CD rates and mortgage rates available locally and nationally. Currently, all bank and brokerage house short-term rates (money market funds and savings accounts, etc.) are so low that It might just be easier to stay at your local friendly institution.

12. The most important indicator of your future financial success is not your genius at investing, but rather your ability to spend less.

Always consider any financial decision with the realization that this is YOUR money and YOUR future. Your decisions will affect your family and your retirement. Take your time and understand what you are doing before you do it.

I thank each of you for reading this column over the years and my very best wishes for your financial future!

This article is for informational purposes.

Educators, parents and others are speaking out on what

they want from their public schools. After all, they are

in the best position to know what works for today’s students

– and they’re behind a drive for real reform for Wisconsin’s

schools.

The ABC’s of School Accountability featured community

forums and listening sessions in schools to share ideas for

education reform.

While WEAC opted not to sit down with the governor on his

accountability task force, we instead took the conversation

to local schools. These forums are a way to address what communities really want in their schools. To

truly move education forward, everyone needs to be on the same page and to develop a set of principles

that has students’ best interest at heart.

The results of the ABC’s of School Accountability forums will be published in a report and

shared with elected officials. Visit weac.org for more on the forums and to share your ideas.

33 N

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E d u c a t i o n r E f o r m

from those who know best

Four outstanding Wisconsin educators

were selected as Teachers of the Year

for the upcoming school year. The 2012

Teachers of the year are:

•Marsha Herman, a kindergarten,

first-grade, and learning disabilities

teacher at Westside Elementary School in

Sun Prairie, Elementary Teacher of the Year.

•Donna Sturdevant, a seventh-grade

mathematics teacher at Karcher Middle

School in Burlington, Middle School Teacher

of the Year.

•Bradley Markhardt, an agriculture

education teacher at Black River Falls High

School, High School Teacher of the Year.

• Kimberly Brown, a technology

integration specialist at Waubesa

Intermediate School in McFarland, Special

Services Teacher of the Year.

Markhardt was selected to represent

Wisconsin as the state’s representative to

the national Teacher of the Year program.

Visit weac.org/news for more on each of

the teachers.

Congratulations! 4 educators selected as Teachers of the Year for new school year

Visit weac.org/teachers

for WEAC's new Teacher

Resource Guide – with

in-depth looks at license

renewal, classroom

management, and more.