Montly Newsletter..check it out!

In essence, the court agreed with NEA that the federal government cannot require states and local school districts to expend their own funds to comply with the mandates of NCLB. The court specifically held that the Department of Education’s contrary reading of NCLB “violate[s] the Spending Clause” of the constitution. The case was remanded to the district court “for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.”

The government has 45 days within which to file a petition for rehearing or rehearing en banc , and 90 days to file a cert .. petition with the Supreme Court.

OEA REGIONAL NEWS- OEA is now offering members two new opportunities to participate in Association programs and activities. The first of these is OEA Podcasts. These Podcasts will feature OEA officers and members’ updates on new programs, OEA positions on issues and also issues that members may help with. In addition OEA is now offering an online forum for members to discuss issues or just chat online. It can also be accessed at the OEA webpage, www.okea.org/forum . To sign up for the forum click on Register and you will be placed in the forum by OEA forum manager Russell Cole. There will be a delay before you are able to participate in the forum so that the forum manager can authenticate your OEA membership. We want to make the forum a safe and wholesome discussion avenue so we are limiting it to OEA members. We hope OEA members will take advantage of these new methods of learning and communicating with their OEA colleagues.

OEA’s Southeast B Zone will be meeting on January 17 at 6:00 pm at Charlie’s Chicken in Checotah with OEA director

Read Across America is beginning to shape up for this year. Appearances by the OEA’s Cat in the Hat are already scheduled at Western Heights (Winds West ), Varnum, Tulsa , and Moore’s Sky Ranch Elementary .. The RAA Honorary Chair poster will be coming out shortly featuring Courtney and Ashley Paris , OU women’s basketball players. All locals that are planning RAA events should go to the NEA website, www.nea.org , and list their activities. Contact OEA regional offices and/or professional staff for assistance in coordinating RAA events at locals.

The Shawnee Mall is planning a Read Across America activity for March 1 .. Mall administrators have conducted the RAA activity the last two years, and this year are asking Shawnee area locals to once again be involved. Shawnee area OEA locals who are interested in working with the Shawnee Mall on March 1 should contact Angie Nichols at 405-275-7253.

OEA Committee Saturday is scheduled for February 2, 2008. Following are the committees scheduled to meet and room assignments:

January is “Member Recognition Month. ” Here are a couple of ideas which might be helpful for OEA locals:

Have a “thank you” page on your website. Find as many reasons as possible to put members’ names on it. (i.e.” Thanks for sponsoring a new member,” “Thanks for coming to our Legislative Day at the state capitol,” etc.).

Send an email to members listed on your “Thank you” page. Tell them “if you haven’t visited our website lately, click here.” The link should go directly to the “Thank You” pa ge.

NEA AWARD FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE- The OEA, the NEA, and the NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education (NFIE) all believe that every student deserves a quality education and that teaching is the single most important component of a quality education. In an effort “to recognize, reward, and promote excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession,” the NEA and NFIE annually present the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence to one of its members. By selecting and celebrating a national winner of this award, teaching excellence is honored, along with public education and dedicated members. Complete, original nominations with all supporting material must be delivered to OEA headquarters by 5 p.m. January 31, 2008. Faxed or emailed forms will not be accepted. For more information on the NFIE Award or how to complete the packet, contact Dr. Dottie Hager at 800-522-8091 or at dcaldwell@okea.org.

The OEA Human and Civil Rights Committee is seeking nominees for the following awards. Please consider nominating one or more individuals from your area. To review the criteria for all the OEA awards click on the following link. http://www.okea.org/Awards/0708AwardBook.pdf

The KATE FRANK AWARD is p resented to the OEA member and/or local Association rendering outstanding and significant service to advancing the cause of member welfare, rights and professionalism.

The TUSKAHOMA BROWN MILLER AWARD is presented to a business or group which has contributed significantly to the improvement of education.

The F. D. MOON EDUCATIONAL AWARD is p resented to the person who has contributed significantly to the advancement of education for students.

The GLENN SNIDER HUMAN RELATIONS AWARD is p resented to the school district, individual or organization best exemplifying the practice of effective human relations and concerns for human rights. (May be accompanied by a monetary award to be funded by the interest from the Glenn Snider Fund.)

Also, the Forces on Education Committee would like to remind locals to consider applying for the Academic Freedom Award. Details may be found at the above listed site.

Heads up that many educators find January a time to replenish their classroom supplies for Winter-Spring. Staples stores want to help .. For a limited time Staples is offering 20% back in rewards on all products from their best brands. OEA members can realize increased savings on more than 1,000 products through January 31, 2008 ..

GIVE BLOOD! WIN A SATURN !- Donate blood with Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) and you could drive off in style! Donors can enter to win one of two new 2008 Saturn cars from Bob Moore Saturn! This popular promotional partnership is the dealership’s way to give back to community members who faithfully donate in the winter to help ensure OBI has enough blood to take care of every patient’s need. From December 10, 2007 through February 8, 2008 donors can enter to win a sporty new 2008 SKY roadster by giving blood at any OBI blood center or mobile blood drive. On February 9 only, donors can enter to win a sleek VUE sports utility vehicle by donating exclusively at either the Bob Moore dealership in Oklahoma City or Edmond .. On February 16, ten finalists for the SKY roadster and 5 finalists for the VUE vehicle will gather at Bob Moore Saturn to find out which two lucky blood donor finalists hold the keys that will allow them to drive away with new cars. Every donor will receive a FREE t-shirt as well as FREE health checks on body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate and cholesterol and iron levels. Y our blood donation may be your key to a new car! For details go online to www.obi.org ..

For OEA members living in the Putnam City , Bethany , and Northwest Oklahoma City area , there’s a great place for haircuts. It’s called David’s Old School Barber Shop , and it’s located at 5121 North Portland, Northwest corner of 50^th and Portland .. David’s is open from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm, except on Saturday when it’s open from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm. Haircuts there are $10.00, but if you show your OEA card, you’ll get $2.00 off .. Check it out, and tell David that the OEA Insider sent you.

The OCEA (Oklahoma Commission on Educational Administration) is conducting a scientific survey regarding public attitudes about public schools. The OEA encourages members to respond to the survey. The address to the survey form is:
http://accessemployerresources.com/ocea_webform_vers2008b.htm

The Diabetes Management Training that is being offered by the State Department of Health and State Department of Education in partnership with the Department of Career and Technology Education is the state approved training to fulfill the requirements of HB 1051, Diabetes Management in Schools Act which became effective July 1, 2007.

This is the training required for either a school nurse or a volunteer diabetes care assistant. It is strongly recommended that each site where there is a student needing services send two volunteers to assist with the care and management of the diabetic student.

Any school nurses that attended the School Nurse Organization of Oklahoma HANDS training in October have received the certification necessary to be in compliance with this law and do not need to attend any additional training.

OKLAHOMA FEDERATION OF THE COUNCIL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN STATE CONFERENCE- The theme for this year’s Oklahoma Federation of the Council for Exceptional Children State Conference is Jazz It Up: Celebrate the Journey! Information about the conference and registration are available at http://oklahomacec.com/conference.htm .. Currently the conference is accepting proposals for presenters at http://oklahomacec.com/documents/Callforpapers111707.pdf .. The keynote speaker at the opening session on February 5, 2008 will be Rachel Coleman from Signing Time! She will also do two breakout sessions about the benefits of using American Sign Language in the classroom. More information about Rachel and Signing Time! can be found at www.signingtime.com .. If you have any questions, please e-mail Vicki Wood at teechrmom7@hotmail.com or call 405-426-2965.

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES SUMMER SEMINARS AND INSTITUTES- The 2008 Summer Seminars and Institutes for School Teachers are now listed on the National Endowment for the Humanities website.
http://www.neh.gov/projects/si-school.html

Application deadline is March 3, 2008. The application process requires a two-page résumé, a four-page essay explaining why the educator is a perfect match for the seminar or institute he/she has chosen, and two letters of reference. Inquiries may be made about all 15 seminars and 12 institutes, but application may only be made to one.

OEA MEMBER TESTIMONIAL ON JAMI SMITH CHRISTMAS CONCERT - My husband and I attended the Jami Smith concert in December. I heard about it on K-Love radio and thought it sounded like a great concert but didn't think we would be able to go because we were too late to get tickets and it was already a busy month. On Monday evening, before the concert, my principal called me at home to tell me he had received the tickets that day. He ordered them to surprise me at my Teacher of the Year celebration at my school, Washington Irving Elementary in Edmond , on Friday, December 14, but they didn't arrive on time. We were thrilled to be able to go. The reception for teachers before the concert was very nice. The supporters gave away many gifts to the teachers in attendance. I won a year membership to the YMCA! It was nice to relax for a few minutes and meet other educators, have refreshments and receive a "teacher bag". Also a photographer came by and took party pics of the event. We were delighted when the concert began. Jami Smith has a wonderful, sweet voice and we loved her music and the recognition she gave special teachers in her life and in her band members' lives. It was great to hear from several guests who told their story about a teacher who made a difference in their lives and then reveal who they were. It was a very honoring concert for all educators.

Jane Williams

OEA member

Following a reverse trend in publishing, Latinitas magazine (www.latinitasmagazine.org), the first digital magazine made for and by Latina youth, is augmenting its successful online publications with the launch of a print magazine for "teens" and older in 2008. To gather “voices authenticas” (authentic voices) from all over the United States, the magazine is launching the Latinitas Magazine National Writing Contest seeking feedback from Latina youth ages 14 to 21 on “What it is to be Latina.” Winning writers will see their articles published in the print and online issues of Latinitas magazine.

Contest Criteria: Contestants should be between the ages of 14 and 21. Submissions should be 800-1,000 words in first person or Associated Press style on one of the following subjects: What is it like to be a Hispanic/Latina female in your hometown? What does it mean to be a Hispanic/Latina female to you? As a Hispanic/Latina female are you doing something in your community to make a difference, if so what? Describe the biggest challenge facing the young Hispanic/Latinas today? Applicants should submit articles to latinitasawards@yahoo.com by midnight February 10, 2008 or mail a copy to Latinitas,