May 16, 2008 - Vol. 3, Issue 34

Professional Development

Sharpen your skills with MSTA! It's FREE!
If you've ever thought about honing your training skills, MSTA's School Quality team invites you to take advantage of the exciting spring and summer professional development schedule.

Adult Learning Styles/Presentation Skills/C.A.R.E.
Session 1 May 30&31, Greenbelt Marriott
Session I is the perfect introduction to the training techniques you'll master later this summer in Session II, July 22-24 (at MSTA's Summer Training Series, Rocky Gap), and Session III, August 6-7. In C.A.R.E., you'll learn to use the individual strengths and cultural differences of your students to improve their achievement.

I Can Do It! Refresher course for trainers
May 31, Greenbelt Marriott
Are you an I Can Do It! trainer ready to brush up your skills? Get a fresh take on the nationally recognized classroom management system for early-career teachers and paraprofessionals. 

MSTA's KEYS Forum
June 3, Martin's Crosswinds, Greenbelt
Learn how KEYS ( Keys to Excellence for Your School), a research-based, data-driven school improvement tool, can help school teams increase student achievement and meet the challenges of NCLB.

Interested? Contact Pat Alexander, MSTA School Quality, 800/448-MSTA, x3610.

Members awarded NEA grants!
Congrats to members Martha Ellen Milli and Themis Johnson!
MSTA members Martha Ellen Milli, Baltimore County, and Themis Johnson, Montgomery County received $2,000 and $5,000 grants from the NEA Foundation to expand the reach of their teaching practices. Milli will use her grant to study childhood trauma and loss. Johnson (and partner Sherion Cosby) will facilitate a student-produced television show for their school, plus local elementary schools and a local cable network. Sounds like fun! Learn more >>

Upcoming application deadlines: June 6 & October 15, 2008.

More about NEA Foundation Grants >>

Legislative

Prince George's members visit Washington, D.C.
The Prince George 's County Educators' Association Government Relations Committee recently visited U.S. House and Senate leaders from Maryland, including Sen. Ben Cardin, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, House Leader Steny Hoyer and Rep. Chris Van Hollen.

Pictured, left to right: First row: Larry Reid, Yvonne Baicich, Sen. Cardin, Laura Downey, Christian Rhodes; Second row: Charles Burt, Sylvia Boswell; Third row: Bryan Bucklin, Ken Haines

Membership

Casting call
Let us make you a star!
Do you work in theatre or creative arts at school or as a part-time job or hobby? MSTA needs members with acting chops (and experience!) to appear in future MSTA ads, videos and other communications. If you or someone else you know might fit the bill, email Dan Kaufman, dkaufman@mstanea.org.

Is this your year?
MSTA/NEA-Retired membership is ready for you!
Remember! MSTA-Retired and the Maryland Retired School Personnel Association (formerly MRTA) are not the same. Only with MSTA/NEA-Retired membership do you continue to receive NEA and MSTA benefits.

If you're ready to retire, you need to know this: NEA member benefits are available only to members. If you retire without continuing your membership in the retired ranks, you will lose your benefits.

Membership is the ultimate way to stay active in public education, says Roz Yee, chair of the MSTA-Retired Advisory Council. “During the past year, we've worked to protect retiree healthcare and school employees' pensions in Maryland.” Learn more >>

More about MSTA/NEA-Retired >>
MSTA/NEA-Retired application >>