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FEA Articles: http://feaweb.org/articles

TEACHER UNION FIGHTING JUST TO AVOID FUTURE SCHOOL CUTS

By KATHLEEN HAUGHNEY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Nov. 10, 2009........ The union representing the state's teachers is preparing for the worst for next year's budget, while hoping for the best. “I think we're looking at a disaster,” said Florida... Read more

Alex Sink Wants Florida Under New Management

Sink Wants to Put Florida “Under New Management” Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink made the case for public education and asked delegates to the Florida Education Association Delegate Assembly for their support in her bid to become governor in the 2010 elections. Speaking... Read more

Lawsuits Filed Against the State

FEA recognizes that you don’t need to be a constitutional lawyer to recognize that the State hasn’t devoted sufficient resources to public education. The Southern Legal Counsel public interest group filed a lawsuit contending that the State Board of Education,... Read more

Dollars and Sense Campaign to Prevent Further Cuts to Public Education and Other Public Services Launched in Florida

Dollars and Sense Campaign to Prevent Further Cuts to Public Education and Other Public Services Launched in Florida Weingarten Meets With Florida Leaders and Educators About Preventing Cuts to Essential Services View video clip from the press... Read more

Wise Use of Technology at School and at Home

Technology has the power to transform and enhance the work you do as education professionals. Yet it is important to be aware of the potential hazards. You've heard the stories about school employees who were fired due to inappropriate online behavior or inproper use of school equipment. It's... Read more

Alachua Educator Champions Excellence

Alachua Educator Champions Excellence Phyllis Meredith, a Head Start Instructor at Metcalfe Elementary School in Gainesville, was named Education Staff Professional (ESP) of the Year by the Florida Education Association (FEA). The award, which carries a $5,000 prize, is FEA’s highest... Read more

Race to the Top

The largest federal discretionary program for education in history could spur innovation through state grants Teachers will have an opportunity to make their voices heard on key education issues over the next month. That's the period during which educators and other interested parties... Read more

A Choice to Redefine the Schools Debate

By E. J. Dionne Jr. Friday, December 19, 2008; A couple of weeks ago, a senior adviser to Barack Obama dismissed the argument raging at the time over the choice the president-elect faced in naming a secretary of education. Obama's options were said to be clear-cut: He could... Read more

UFF Rally to Stop UCF Cuts and Layoffs

UCF Moves To Eliminate Programs Students and Faculty Speak Out Link to Article: http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/students-faculty-speak-out-1.1786853 Compiled by Ashley Inguanta and Caitlin Bush Published: Sunday, July 26, 2009 “We already have a terrible... Read more

Collier Teacher Honored for Excellence

Collier Teacher Honored for Excellence Contact: Mark Pudlow May 20, 2004 850.224.1429 or 850.508.9756 Claudia Simmons, a Collier County teacher with more than 30 years experience in the classroom, has been named the winner of the annual Florida Education Association Award for Teaching... Read more

Urge U.S. Senate to Approve Education Appropriations Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to approve the Labor-Health and Human Services (HHS) – Education spending bill for fiscal year 2010. The bill, which provides educational opportunities critical to the nation’s long-term prosperity, is a win for the... Read more

The Journey Less Traveled: Choose to Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph

Osceola County Member Works to Transform Lives Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph … A simple phrase that motivates Loretta Harris to embrace the daily challenges of life. It is also part of a title of a new book, "The Journey Less Traveled: Choose to Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph", that... Read more

The Make Our Schools A Priority Rally was a Huge Success!

See More Pictures from the Rally See Video of the Rally On Saturday, February 28, over six-thousand FEA union members converged on the UCF Arena. Many traveled from as far away as Escambia, Okaloosa, Monroe, Broward, and Dade counties. Duval even showed up a in a... Read more

Shanks School Makeover

A Community Conversation = A School Makeover in Gadsden Teachers and students are starting the school year with freshly painted classrooms and hallway floors that have been mopped and polished. The gym is sparkling, and the cafeteria looks great See pictures from... Read more

Being Informed is Not Enough

An interview with Madison CEA President George Williams Email: GELOWIMS@EARTHLINK.NET George Williams doesn’t just believe in being an active part of his community, he lives it. In the North Florida community of Madison, George is the head custodian at Lee Elementary School, where... Read more

AFT: Fight for America's Future: It's Dollars and Sense

AFT Campaign Focuses on the Economy, Starting In Florida Dollars and Sense in FloridaFlorida will become the first in a nationwide focus on strengthening and protecting public schools, colleges and other institutions during the current economic crisis. AFT president Randi Weingarten... Read more

FEA Director Named to Directors of National Education Group

Danielle Montes, the director of FEA’s Department of Professional Development, has been named to the Board of Directors of the National Council on Educating Black Children.   The group was founded by the late Congressman Augustus F. Hawkins, then chairman of the Education and Labor... Read more

NEA Foundation Grant Winners 2009

CONGRATULATIONS Student Achievement Grants: Winter 2009 Recipients Ms. Shannon Peck-Janssen, Tampa 9th to 12th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Freedom High School Partner: Ms. Margaret Barthel Grant Amount: $5,000 Students in Mrs. Peck-Janssen’s archaeology classes and Dr. Barthel’s... Read more

Pennies for Kids

2.6 million Pennies for Kids Have you heard? FEA is collecting pennies! In case you are wondering what's going to happen to all of those pennies. All pennies collected by our members and the community, and delivered to Tallahassee before the March 18 Lobby Day Rally would be donated... Read more

Florida Trend

FEA in the Florida Trend Florida Trend Ad: Make Our Schools A Priority (February 2009) Florida Trend Ad: Closing the Acheivement Gap (October 2008) Florida Trend Advertorial: Florida Must Recruit and Retain Highly Qualified Public School Teachers (September 2007) Read more

How Far Can 2 Million Pennies Go?

SEE MORE PHOTOS How Far Can 2 Million Pennies Go? In jugs, plastic bags, crates and boxes more than 2.6 million pennies have traveled miles across the state with a final destination of Tallahassee. The... Read more

Partnership to Address Dropout Crisis

National Partnership Formed to Address Dropout Crisis NEA and Boys & Girls Clubs of America to develop initiative to collectively promote high school graduation Groundbreaking Alliance Addresses the National Dropout Crisis with Collective Action and... Read more

George Williams elected President of American Association of Classified School Employees (AACSE)

George Williams, the longtime President of the Madison County Education Association has been elected President of the American Association of Classified School Employees (AACSE), which is based in Portland, Oregon. The American Association of Classified School Employees (AACSE), a coalition of... Read more

BTU Merger: It's Official

FEA Congratulates BTU President Pat Santeramo and new BTU Vice President for Education Support Professionals Ernestine Alleyne for their hard work in shaping the merger between the Broward Teachers Union and former Broward ParaProfessionals Association. The newly merged organization... Read more

FEA urges Senate Chairs to Make Schools Priority

FEA Urges New Chairs of House Education Committees to Make Schools a Priority Florida Education Association President Andy Ford today congratulated the new House Education committee and council chairs urging them to make Florida public schools a priority during these difficult economic... Read more

Duncan hears from NEA members on education reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Will Potter July 2, 2009 (202) 822-7823, wpotter@nea.org Education Secretary Duncan hears from NEA members on education reform Education secretary addresses more than 7,000 NEA members at Annual Meeting ... Read more

SFEA Joins Outreach to Teach in San Diego

SFEA Joins the Hundreds of NEA volunteers to transform Balboa Elementary School in annual ‘Outreach to Teach’. Educators put down their pencils and pick up shovels for a good cause "We look forward to our Outreach project every year. The expressions on the faces of the... Read more

Two Florida Teachers Receive Presidential Award

President Honors Outstanding Math, Science Teachers Two Florida public school teachers have been awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation’s highest award for K-12 teachers in those fields. Becky Pittard, a fourth and fifth grade... Read more

Kosmas Introduces Teachers Tax Relief Act

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL) wants to help educators deduct more of the money they pay “out of pocket” for classroom expenses. Kosmas has introduced the America's Teachers Tax Relief Act, which would double the current $250 deduction for out of pocket classroom... Read more

School Nurses Respond to Flu Outbreaks

School Nurses Nationwide Respond to Influenza A (H1N1) As sick students streamed into Mary Pappas's small office, the school nurse knew something was terribly wrong. In fact, Pappas was about to help identify the first cases of H1N1 in the United States. Within days of her call... Read more

A National Win for Students and FEA Members

Education Appropriations Bill Wins Approval A win for students and FEA members, But now we need to encourage the Senate to follow suit The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to approve an appropriations bill that contains several wins for FEA and its national affiliates. The... Read more

Clinton to Address Lawton Chiles Leadership Corps

President Clinton to Address the Next Generation of Florida’s Leaders Lawton Chiles Leadership Corps students to gather support for statewide “Worst To First” initiative President Bill Clinton is scheduled to be the keynote speaker as more than 300 students... Read more

New Chief of Staff Brings Wealth of Experience

New Chief of Staff Brings Wealth of Experience to FEA Alfreda V. Davis is fond of challenges. And that’s why the native of Washington is leaving the nation’s capital and joining the team at the Florida Education Association (FEA) as the new chief of staff. “You have to... Read more

Flu Season School Guidance

Updated federal guidelines offer state and local public health and school officials a range of options for responding to 2009 H1N1 influenza in schools, depending on how severe the flu may be in their communities. The guidance says officials should balance the risk of flu in their... Read more

Health Care Reform

Get the Facts on Health Care Reform Skyrocketing Health Care Costs are Robbing Families Will Health Care reform Cause Job Loss? Health Care and the Economy Debunking the Myths: Fact Check Health Reform Will: Hold down rising... Read more

School Vouchers Impact on Special Ed

School vouchers: How do they impact special education? Do school voucher programs that educate disabled students mean more children will be diagnosed with a learning disability? That’s the question a new study by the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, tries to answer. The... Read more

Preparing For the Worst, Hoping for the Best

TEACHER UNION FIGHTING JUST TO AVOID FUTURE SCHOOL CUTS By KATHLEEN HAUGHNEY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Nov. 10, 2009........ The union representing the state's teachers is preparing for the worst for next year's budget, while hoping for... Read more

Governor's Fitness Challenge

Join the Challenge and Win! Help your school win thousands of dollars' worth of sports or fitness equipment and to receive designation as a Governor’s Fitness Champion... Read more

Negotiate with Creditors

TIPS ON HOW TO NEGOTIATE WITH YOUR CREDITORS Let’s face it—we live in a credit-dominated society. Most of us can pay cash for our daily living expenses, but when it comes time to make a major purchase such as a house or a car, we need a thick credit file with a long... Read more

September 11: National Day of Service Remembrance

Educators observe September 11 as National Day of Service and Remembrance WASHINGTON-September 11, 2001, will always be considered a turning point in U.S. history. In observance of the newly established September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, educators across the country... Read more

Pres. Obama to Address Students

President Barack Obama to Make Historic Speech to America’s Students C-SPAN and White House Web Site to Broadcast Speech Live Speech Scheduled One Hour Earlier to Noon Eastern Time On September 8, 2009, history will be made. Will you be a part of... Read more

New High School Grading Formula

New High School Grades The FCAT plus new measures such as participation and other performance measuerments will be added The State Board of Education (SBE) has approved changes to Florida’s high school grading formula. Beginning this school year (2009-10), 50 percent of a high... Read more

Inclusiveness and Universal Design for Learning

Educators and Policymakers Discuss Inclusiveness and Universal Design for Learning WASHINGTON—Students learn differently and require different tools and strategies to succeed. One way to eliminate learning barriers and roadblocks is to incorporate the principles of... Read more

New Drug Testing Rules

Direct observation rules on drug testing The direct observation rules for drug testing went into effect August 31, despite the best efforts of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFLCIO and other unions and organizations. This rule is mandatory and applies to bus... Read more

Lead Poisoning: A Problem for Adults

LEAD POISONING: NOT JUST A PROBLEM FOR CHILDREN Lead exposure is not the problem it used to be. Physicians and researchers believed that low-level lead exposures only posed a health hazard for children who had blood lead concentrations of 10 μg/dl (micrograms per deciliter of... Read more

Preparing For the Worst, Hoping For the Best

National School Lunch Week

“All-Star School Lunch” is a slam-dunk to help students learn about the importance of eating healthy and being active. Join us during National School Lunch Week, October 12-16 School lunch plays a critical role in the education of children. Hungry children do not learn. The... Read more

Children of Poverty Report: Teacher Quality

Children of Poverty Report Addresses The Importance of Teacher Quality Throughout Florida, hundreds of thousands of dedicated, hardworking teachers spend each day proving their committment to students by providing the best possible education to students from some of our most... Read more

The Rewards of Refinancing

The Rewards of Refinancing More and more homeowners are finding that their home’s equity can be a powerful financial tool. You can leverage your home’s equity to help you get onto solid financial footing. Refinancing your current mortgage may be a step that can help... Read more

Buying or Selling a Home

Getting Ready to Buying/Selling a Home If you’re considering making a home purchase, there are important steps you can take to “get ready” and enhance your buying (and selling) position: Down Payment Strategies To maximize the cash you can put toward your home purchase, make... Read more

Too Many Mixed Signals-What to Do with Your Money!

What to Do With Your Money When There Are So Many Mixed Signals We all know that 2008 was the worst year in recent memory for savers, investors, homeowners, borrowers and lenders. Whether you were saving and investing or borrowing and spending, everyone got burned. Educators,... Read more

Alex Sink Wants Florida Under New Management

New Gateway to 21st Century Site Launch Complete

New Gateway to 21st Century site launch complete! The Gateway has introduced a brand new look and feel, new technologies to keep you up to date and new features based on the things our members have told us are important to them. We have focused on the things educators... Read more

President Andy Ford 2009 FEA Delegate Assembly Remarks

Remarks by FEA President Andy Ford at the FEA Delegate Assembly in Orlando, October 16, 2009. Thank you, and again, welcome to the 2009 Florida Education Association Delegate Assembly. Every year, when I stand before this assembly, I’m humbled by you and... Read more

Florida Attorneys Help Floridians Facing Foreclosure

In a massive effort to assist Floridians fight back against the foreclosure crisis that has the state ranked No. 2 in the nation, The Florida Bar, The Florida Bar Foundation, Florida Legal Services Inc. and the Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar are ready to... Read more

FL-DOE Chief Offers Praise, Challenges to FEA Leaders

Florida Department of Education Chief Offers Praise, Challenges to FEA Leaders Florida education commissioner Eric Smith brought a mixture of effusive praise for Florida’s teachers and education professionals with a dose of reality at the challenges ahead for public... Read more

MSP COURSE HELPS PARAS MEET STANDARDS

Training and standards for paraprofessionals has been spotty over the years. In 2004, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) established standards for paras who worked in Title I schools to become highly qualified. In response, the AFT developed the Meeting Standards for Paraprofessionals (MSP)... Read more

U.S. House Passes Landmark Education Bill

You may have heard that Florida U.S. Reps. Suzanne Kosmas (D-New Smyrna Beach) and Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Orlando) and the U.S. House of Representatives recently approved the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA). You may also have heard that this landmark bill would make the single... Read more

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