The ISEA Executive Board has named Mary Jane Cobb as the Association's  next executive director.

A familiar face to many members in Iowa, Cobb has been an NEA Campaigns and Elections field representative for the past eight years. Prior to joining the NEA staff, Cobb served as a UniServ Director with the Alabama Education Association. She will assume her new position on September 1 when Jan Reinicke retires after 28 years of service -- the past 10 as executive director.

"I am very excited to have the opportunity to come to work with the ISEA," Cobb said. "The organization has such a proud history and tradition, and I am honored to be a part of its future. Jan Reinicke has served the ISEA with such distinction and commitment for many years. I am proud to have the opportunity to build on the strong foundation she helped build," Cobb added.

Cobb brings to Iowa a deep understanding of the issues facing educators and public education as well as extensive experience in membership organizing and political action.

She began her career as director of Patient and Community Relations at Mizell Memorial Hospital in Opp, Alabama, and later went on to become the director of cooperative education at the Douglas MacArthur State Technical College, also in Opp. In addition, she was a small business owner and community activist.

Cobb received her bachelor's degree in government from Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, and her master's degree in public administration from Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama. She also attended the Women's Campaign School at Yale University, and she received a Certificate of Organizational Development from the National Training Lab in Bethel, Maine.

Together, we can make a difference

for students and public education!

ISEA members played a key role in kicking off the 2008 Presidential race and now you are uniquely poised to play a key role in determining who is elected on Nov. 4.

Public school educators have been near the top of the list of America's most admired spokespersons for decades; and according to the Harris polling firm, teachers' grades among the nation's "most admired professions" have improved by an average of 23 percentage points over the past 15 years. Our Association's 3.2 million members (more than 33,000 right here in Iowa) live in every state, in every Congressional district, and in every precinct. In fact, there is one Association member among every 100 Americans.

You can truly make a difference. That's why it's time once again for ISEA members to take the lead and do their homework to find out how the candidates stand on education issues. Click on the links below to get started.

How the presidential candidates measure up on public education
Watch brief online videos of the candidate's addressing key issues
NEA President Reg Weaver on Sen. McCain's economic plan
Iowa Secretary of State voter information
Visit NEA's Education Votes Web site
2008 Iowa House Vote Record
2008 Iowa Senate Vote Record
2008 Iowa Vote Record Key

Links to candidate Web sites
Barack Obama
John McCain

Nearly 400 association activists and guests converged on Hilton Coliseum in Ames to set policy, tackle issues, and chart the ISEA's course for the coming year at the annual ISEA Delegate Assembly. Among the highlights of the April 3-4 event, was the election of a new ISEA president and vice president. With three candidates vying for each position, it was one of the most hotly contested elections in recent history. In the end, current ISEA Vice President Chris Bern, a high school math teacher in Knoxville was elected ISEA president; and Tammy Wawro , a Cedar Rapids teacher who is now serving as a student teaching/mentor coordinator, was elected to the vice president's post. The new top leaders will assume their positions on June 15.

Another highlight of the annual meeting were farewell speeches by current ISEA President Linda Nelson, whose second two-year term expires in June; and ISEA Executive Director Jan Reinicke who will retire this summer after serving on the staff for 28 years, including more than ten in her current position.

Click here to watch excerpts from Jan Reinicke's speech
Click here to watch excerpts from Linda Nelson's speech
Charles F. Martin Award Award presentation (Jean Swenson)
Paul Mann Memorial Human Relations Award presentation (Floyd Winter)
Teacher of the Year speech  (Andy Mogle)
Friend of Education Award presentation (Sen. Mike Gronstal)
ESP of the Year Award presentation  (Sheryl Traetow)

On Monday, November 19, New York Senator Hillary Clinton visited students and school staff at the Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence in Waterloo. With the stop, the Democratic presidential hopeful became the third candidate to participate in NEA's "School House to the White House" initiative, designed to help candidates understand the realities of teaching and learning in America's public schools.
 
NEA's "School House to the White House" initiative provides presidential candidates with a firsthand, on-the-ground perspective of the challenges -- and triumphs -- the nation's public schools experience every day. Every viable presidential candidate from both parties has been invited to participate. Sen. John Edwards and participated in NEA "School House to the White House" events in October in New Hampshire.

The Cunningham School for Excellence is a trailblazing elementary school with students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Ninety percent of the school's 400 students receive free or reduced-price lunch. But thanks to innovative programs like the school's limited use of same-gender classes, the school continues to reach federally mandated academic goals.

Clinton helped deliver a reading lesson to 5th graders in the class of Shayla Stevenson and then spent   time with 2nd and 3rd grade girls from the classes of Amy Schmidt and Kathy Vogel.

The Senator then held a private, non-press conversation with NEA members from throughout the Waterloo Community School District as well as local school board members and school district administrators.

To view footage from NEA "School House to the White House" events, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtafJIPeLTY

Blake Hammond, sixth-grade science teacher at Merrill Middle School in Des Moines, is the 2007 Excellence in Education Award winner. The award is sponsored by the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), Iowa Farm Bureau, WHO Radio, and KDSM Fox 17. Hammond was among an elite field of nearly 100 teachers -- all nominated by co-workers, students, and community members because of the difference they make every day in the lives of Iowa's school children.

Known for his boundless energy and enthusiasm, Hammond's work on behalf of his students extends well beyond the typical classroom and school day. He cares not only about his students but also the community in which they live.

Last year, for example, he spearheaded an effort to create a new computer lab in the Merrill library. He not only helped raise funds, but he set up the entire computer lab himself, then worked with community businesses to secure the donation of library furniture.

Among other projects he's championed:

• A sixth-grade orientation process which gives both students and parents a smooth transition into middle school.
• A youth Ambassador program, which helps students plan school pride activities. 
• "School Store," which helps students and parents purchase discounted school supplies.
• A new state-of-the-art fitness center at the school, to combat childhood obesity.

Hammond will receive a cash prize of $1,000 and his school will receive another $1,000 from the Iowa Farm Bureau during a gala awards ceremony and banquet on Monday, Oct. 29, at the Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines, also courtesy of the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Runners up will also be honored at the Excellence in Education banquet. They are: Rhonda Baker, an elementary special education teacher at Jefferson-Scranton who has done wonders with autistic children; Laura Craft, a second-grade teacher at Central Decatur who literally saved the life of one of her students; Duane Hahn, a science teacher at South Hardin High School in Eldora, who has changed the lives of countless students during his 35-year career; and David Lillie, a fifth-grade teacher at Irving Elementary School in Sioux City who makes a special effort to reach out to students in need. They will each receive a gift card courtesy of Staples.

Click here to listen to the surprise announcement on WHO Radio
Click here to listen to our ISEA In Focus podcast interview with Blake
Click here to read our news releases.  

Iowa's
First-in-the-nation Precinct Caucuses

Five easy steps
to making
your voice heard

1. Know what's at stake
Iowa's first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses offer a tremendous opportunity for education professionals to make their voices heard. The stakes in this year's caucuses are especially high because the No Child Left Behind law is being re-authorized. The person elected to serve as the next U.S. President will play a big role in whether that law works for our kids or against them. Click here for information on the NEA's positive agenda for reauthorization.

2. Download our Caucus Kit. Everything you need to know about the caucuses is included in this handy guide -- from an overview of what to expect on caucus night to suggested resolutions that you can submit. Click here.

3. Attend candidate events, ask questions, and dig for details about their positions. Education is too important to accept campaign rhetoric! Click here for candidate schedules  or check your local newspaper.

4. Stay informed. Even if you can't attend a campaign event, you can still keep on top of where the candidates stand by visiting their Web sites and checking out some of the resources listed on our Web site. Iowa Politics.com  is a great place to start.

5. Attend your caucus and submit pro-public education resolutions. Go to the Iowa Republican Party and Iowa Democratic Party  for a listing of locations. 

They can't hear you if you're not there!

ISEA's guide to becoming an effective caucus-goer

ISEA members can help shape the future of America's public schools by getting involved and attending their precinct caucuses in January -- both Republicans and Democrats have now scheduled their caucuses for Thursday, January 3. 

Whether you're a Democrat, Republican, or No Party, you can help bring your neighbors together around the issues that really matter: Students and public education. Here are links to the tips, tools, resources, and information you'll need to make a difference:

• ISEA Suggested Caucus Resolutions
• Iowa Republican Caucus locater
• Iowa Democratic Caucus locater
• Download the ISEA Caucus Kit
• About the caucuses
• ISEA Caucus Classroom
• ISEA-sponsored Caucus Countdown on Radio Iowa
• Watch our video
• Listen to Linda Nelson's podcast
• See where the candidates stand on education
• Hear clips of the candidates speaking at the NEA Annual Meeting
• Radio Iowa's blog
• Republican Party of Iowa state platform
• Iowa Democratic Party state platform
• Iowa Politics political news service
• 2008 Iowa Student Caucus
• Iowa Votes 2008 (WHO TV)
• Commitment 2008 (KCCI TV)
• Des Moines Register Caucus Guide
• Cedar Rapids Gazette Caucus Guide

SF 277, the landmark bill approved by the 2007 Iowa Legislature, made significant changes in the Teacher Quality and Student Achievement Law, also known as the teacher compensation law. The ISEA is working closely with the Iowa Department of Education on how to implement the complex provisions of this legislation. Click on the links below for the latest information and watch this site for additional advice and guidance as it becomes available. 

• AEA Teacher Quality Orientation Session info
• AEA TQ Orientation Session registration
• Teacher Quality Law overview (pdf) 
• DE Guidance on SF 277 
• Listen to ISEA's In Focus podcast (Episode 11) on teacher compensation law changes
• Listen to ISEA's In Focus podcast (Episode 11) on teacher quality committees
• Download the ISEA's PowerPoint presentation
• Read the Department of Education's May School Leader Update (Legislative edition) for official guidance on SF 277
• About Teacher Quality committees and sample letter to superintendents.
• Teacher Quality Committee orientation sessions
• Q&A about Teacher Quality Committee orientation sessions
• Materials from Orientation Sessions
• Career Path Electronic Worksheet (Excel)
• To order a DVD of the Orientation Sessions, contact KBosovich@isea and include your name and mailing address.