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Busy weekend for KNEA RA delegates

Electing school friendly legislators, teacher working conditions and student achievement were hot topics for the 500 locally elected delegates to the Kansas NEA Representative Assembly (RA) April 18-20 in Topeka.

The annual RA sets policy and guidelines for the KNEA throughout the year. The delegates addressed new business items, including reading first strategies, the Kansas Performance Assessment (KPA) and support for new teachers. Delegates passed resolutions, which are statements of belief, that stated school environments should be free of bullying, extended learning opportunities are needed to support student learning and that weakening academic requirements for teaching endorsements is an inappropriate response to the teacher shortage.

The delegates broke up into small groups to talk about KNEA activities in the area of quality public schools, strengthening the teaching profession and improving the well-being of members. In "World Café" conversations, delegates discussed alternative compensation and grassroots action and activism.

KNEA Executive Director Bruce Goeden, a 34-year KNEA veteran, who is retiring in December 2008 was honored. Delegates showed their appreciation to Diana Goeden, assistant to the executive director, and Judy Brunton, assistant to the president, both of whom are retiring this year.  Mike McGugin, editorial assistant, was honored for 25 years of service.

In an articulate and entertaining speech, NEA Secretary-Treasurer Lily Eskelsen congratulated KNEA members on their good work on behalf of students and public schools. She encouraged delegates to hold legislators accountable and work for tests where the measure of success is fair and accurate and will not hurt children like the current high stakes tests. To listen to Eskelsen's speech click here .

Eskelsen will become the NEA Vice President this summer.  Eskelsen’s more than 20 years of service to children include working as a lunch lady in a school kitchen, a kindergarten aide, and as a teacher at Orchard Elementary School in the suburbs of Salt Lake City.  She also taught at the Family Homeless Shelter School and at the K-6 one-room school at the Christmas Box House, which is the county children’s shelter for hard-to-place foster kids. 

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