About e-source
VEA is proud to send you this e-source newsletter, a tip-filled resource to help you on the job and in your profession. These monthly dispatches will keep you informed about the latest news affecting your job and will help you take advantage of all the resources offered by your Association. If you'd rather not receive the e-source again, click the "Unsubscribe" button at bottom right.
For the latest information and resources for Virginia educators, go to www.veanea.org.
Share this e-source! Click at bottom left to forward this message to your colleagues. |  |
 |
Orange County Rocks Richmond at Feb 27 Rally |
|
 In a show of grassroots power, the Orange County Education Association (OCEA) drew at least 500 teachers and ESPs, PTA members, kids, and public education supporters from around the state to Richmond Feb. 27 for a dynamite rally. Waving signs and chanting "We’re not gonna take it," rally-goers made sure that lawmakers considering huge state budget cuts got the message. OCEA member Lori Gues, a bus driver, conceived of the idea for the rally, and OCEA spread the word statewide through personal networking and Facebook posts. Read a rally recap, view photos, or watch several videos from the event. Then take one more step: Show your support for the OCEA by going to their Facebook page and leaving a comment. They're true leaders!
|
|
Budget Showdown Requires Your Action |
|
Virginia schools are now facing an unprecedented budget crisis, and selected members of the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates are poised to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in state support for public schools. These cuts will harm school programs and cost thousands of school employees their jobs. Every dollar saved at the state level will improve the situation where you live, so please take a stand. We ask every reader of the e-Source to contact budget conferees right away and tell them to spare education to the greatest extent possible. Use the prepared templates accessible via the links below, inserting your own experiences into the message as appropriate. Because of the number of budget conferees, you'll need to send separate message to representatives on the House side and the Senate side. Total time required: only about 2 minutes.
Keep up with the very latest on the budget and other school legislation at the Daily Reports from the General Assembly blog. |
|
Big Savings from Home Depot, JC Penney |
|
Your Association membership entitles you to substantial discounts from a wide range of shops and service providers carefully chosen by NEA Member Benefits. Highlighting this month's big discounts, you qualify for up to 70 percent off selected products at Home Depot and JC Penney. Other "Click & Save" discounts available during March are 10 percent off Target and many more. More than 100,000 NEA members have already registered for the Click & Save program. To join them, or to do a little online shopping, head over to www.neamb.com/clickandsave.
|
|
Love of Reading on Display on Dr. Seuss' Birthday |
|
 Association members across Virginia—and the country—shared their love of reading with students during the annual Read Across America events culminating on Dr. Seuss' birthday, March 2. VEA President Kitty Boitnott joined Virginia Education Secretary Gerard Robinson at Elizabeth Redd Elementary School in Richmond, where they read to a spirited group of preschoolers. Read our account here and view photos here. Do you have photos or a great story about how Read Across played out where you live? Send them to Editor John O'Neil (joneil@veanea.org), and we'll try to use on the web and, possibly, in print.
|
|
If Accused, Would You Know What to Do? |
|
A false accusation out of the blue would distress any public educator. Unfortunately, we hear frequently that educators are so shocked when facing an unfounded allegation that they don't know what their first step should be. We hope you won't ever face an unfounded charge, but please read the VEA's advice—and follow it! And for the full description of VEA's legal services, click here.
|
|
How to Respond to the Pink Slip |
|
In many school divisions, budgets being prepared include cuts to teaching and support positions. VEA and local Associations are working very hard to save jobs, but there's little doubt that some current employees will need to look for new employment before next fall. Here are three resources to consider checking out:
|
|
