RCEA Hosts School Board Candidate Forum 

On October 30, 2017 the Rockingham County Education Association in conjunction with Broadway High School's Youth in Government Club hosted a School Board Candidates Forum at Broadway High School. The questions for the forum were gathered together with the help of the high school government classes and Supervisor Beau Dickenson. 

RCEA President Stephen O'Baugh was the host for the evening of questions and answers from the two candidates vying for LaDonna Shifflett's spot on the School Board. Ms. Shifflett decided not to run again for the position. The two candidates who answered questions at the Forum are Katie Hoover Almquist and Jackie Lohr. You can find a write up about the Forum in the Harrisonburg Daily News Record on October 31, 2017. Below are some photos taken at the Forum from RCEA Vice President Kishia Tutt.

School Board Candidate Forum

RCEA Officers to Host School Board Candidates Forum

     The RCEA Officers are once again hosting a School Board Candidates Forum at Broadway High School on October 30, 2017 (date and place still pending as of this posting). The forum is for area residents to hear from those seeking the seat being vacated by Ladonna Shifflett.  

     The RCEA Officers met with Dr. Oskar Schiekl, our new Rockingham County Superintendent, on August 31, and received his approval for holding the forum at a county high school. Steve O'Baugh, RCEA President, has reached out to Mr. Beau Dickinson, Social Studies Supervisor, to help communicate with the county Government teachers to gather questions from their students for the forum. Mr. Dickinson is already working on it! Keep checking the blog for more information on the Forum and any changes in date or place! 

Virginia Supreme Court Ruling

This message was sent to the VEA Board of Directors, Local Presidents, VEA Headquarters Staff and VEA UniServ Directors. Please share.

Today is one of those days that makes being an Association member so gratifying!

After over two years of hard work by the VEA legal team, the Supreme Court of Virginia has ruled in our favor on the issue of protecting the privacy of educators.

In Virginia Education Association et. al. v. Davison the Court overturned an earlier lower-court decision that would have allowed "teacher growth indicators," such as student test scores, to be made public by teacher name.

Specifically, the Court ruled Virginia Code section 22.1-295.1 makes "teacher performance indicators" CONFIDENTIAL. Therefore, the previous order directing the Virginia Department of Education to release Student Growth Percentiles by teacher name and license number was ruled in ERROR and the decision reversed.

This is a huge win for our members, and just another reason that: Membership Matters!

Congratulations and thank you, Dena Rosenkrantz and Kathy Lee.

James (Jim) Livingston

President, Virginia Education Association

116 South 3rd Street

Richmond, VA 23219

VEA IPD Conference

RCEA Updates and Information

Greetings!

I hope everyone is ready to greet students on Tuesday! Is everyone planning to try and catch the eclipse on Monday? What a great opportunity to see a fascinating natural phenomenon! 

The RCEA Leadership Team attended the RCPS New Teacher Orientation on August 10 and introduced ourselves to the newest hires, presented information about the association, and answered questions. We enjoyed meeting everyone and wish the newest hires the best for the school year! For current members, if you have new hires in your building, take some time to introduce yourselves and point out this blog to them. Here you and those who are interested in becoming a member can find information about the RCEA Leadership Team, the UniServ Office, becoming a member, and much more! Remember: membership is open to everyone associated with education including, school secretaries, school nurses, bus drivers, custodians, even administrators. 

If you have any questions about membership or where to send forms, contact Amy Harris, RCEA Treasurer, at aharris@rockingham.k12.va.us.

Hope you have a great start to the year!

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to a new school year! The Rockingham County Education Association Leadership team looks forward to working with you and for you as we start back! The RCEA Leadership will be at the Rockingham County New Teacher Orientation on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at Turner Ashby High School to speak with the newest hires. Our presentation will be at 3:30pm and we look forward to talking with the new teachers, bus drivers, school nurses, etc.

If you are a member and you know of any new hires coming to your school, take a few minutes to introduce yourself to them and let them know you are an association member! Should they have any questions,  please direct them to this blog and have them browse through the posts and the pages and links on the side.

As a member, check out the NEA Member Benefits page for discounts, coupons and other items of interest that could help you save! And, dues will not change this year! This is the fourth year where dues have not gone up! If you have any questions, contact one of the Leadership team or Valley UniServ. To update any changes in your school, address, etc. please contact Amy Harris, RCEA Treasurer before September 10, 2017. 

Have a great school year!

RCEA Scholarship Fund 2017

RCEA Scholarship Fund 2017

Every year, the Rockingham County Education Association collects donations from our whole RCPS faculty and staff and gives scholarships to Rockingham County high school seniors who have expressed a desire to go into teaching.  This is your opportunity to help a future teacher.  By making a small contribution, you will be assisting a young person to pay for a part of his or her tuition or to buy their books.  A $5 contribution allows you to honor a retiring teacher or someone who has helped you in your career.  Please use this online link to make your donation and name the person you are honoring, whether it is in honor of or in memory of them.  All persons named will be listed in the program for our Spring Banquet in May.

We appreciate your consideration in making a donation, no matter how small, to help our local students to become teachers!

If you have any questions, contact Debra Bontz at dbontz@rockingham.k12.va.us  or Amy Harris at aharris@rockingham.k12.va.us.

Thank you!

RCEA Retirement Banquet 2017

RCEA RETIREMENT BANQUET 

SHOWKER HALL, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 

AT COURT SQUARE

MAY 17, 2017 BEGINNING AT 6:30PM

     Join us to celebrate with the Rockingham County Schools retirees for 2017! Click here to sign up to attend and get your tickets! Any questions, ask Debra Bontz at dbontz@rockingham.k12.va.us. Come join us for a meal, celebrating our retirees, and entertainment!

Coming Soon - VEA Convention
The VEA Convention will soon be here! March 30-April 1, 2017 in Roanoke, Virginia. The Rockingham County Education Association has a full slate of delegates to attend alone with three alternates. Many thanks to all who showed interest in attending this important event to all members of the Virginia Education Association! The delegates will attend a VEA Pre-Convention Dinner and Workshop on March 16 to learn more about events at the Convention and upcoming votes on changes to the VEA by-laws or resolutions. VEA members can follow the Convention on the VEA website at www.veanea.org.

READ ACROSS AMERICA
MARCH 2, 2017
On March 2, 2017 the Rockingham County Education Association held its 20th Annual Read Across America event at Barnes and Noble in Harrisonburg, Virginia. There were well over 100 in attendance at this event, which also included Spotswood High School Future Educators of America students who helped to read to young ones who came, and the JMU Student VEA who also came to help read and support this event. The RCEA Officers thank both groups for their help!
All who came enjoyed hearing Dr. Seuss books in English and Spanish, the Cat in the Hat made an appearance to the delight of the young children, and refreshments were served. Youngsters who came also got to pick out a free Dr. Seuss pencil and stickers!

January VEA Events

JANUARY VEA EVENTS
Coming on January 23, 2017 the VEA will have its Annual Lobby Day in Richmond!
If you attended the VEA Pre-Legislative Dinner and Workshop in October, you would have heard about the VEA Legislative Agenda for this year. The agenda would also have been printed in the VEA E-Source and the VEA Magazine.
If you are interested in attending VEA Lobby Day on January 23, please let me or Steve O'Baugh know so we can get you information. It is also helpful to have an appointment set up with your local Delegate or State Senator before you go. They all know about VEA Lobby Day!
For more information on the day, and about getting a hotel room on the Sunday before, go to www.veanea.org and click on the link at the very beginning of the VEA NEWS on the main page.

Also, be thinking about if you would like to be a delegate to the VEA Convention this year! The Convention will be March 30-April 1, 2017 in Roanoke. For more information and to see what else is on the VEA Calendar from January to March 2017 go to http://www.veanea.org/home/upcoming-events.htm.