Monthly Archives: April 2019

National Average Teacher Salary Down 4.5%

By Cindy Long Amber McCoy, a fourth grade teacher at Kellogg Elementary in Huntington, West Virginia, has 16 years’ experience under her belt, but still makes just $44,000 a year. She also has about $40,000 left in student loans to pay off. McCoy has worked as a tutor, pet sitter, and Amazon customer service rep to make ends meet. In February 2018, she decided enough was enough and joined thousands of her fed-up colleagues across the state in launching a successful nine-day work stoppage. “[It] was our last resort, but it raised public awareness about persistent low pay,” McCoy says. The […]

California Casualty has Funds for Public School Music and Art Programs

There is new help for school music, art and performance programs. California Casualty has introduced the Music and Arts Grants to help pay for art materials, music and other necessities. Educators at public K-12 schools can apply for $250 at www.calcasmusicartsgrant.com. The entry deadline is June 30, 2019, with grants awarded in September. The grant is designed to foster creativity in schools for choir, band, dance, film, theater, computer arts and graphics or any K-12 curriculum that employs art for learning.  California Casualty been serving educators since 1951 and understands the importance of music and arts education for children. Numerous […]

LIVE FROM STUDIO D: Education Funding in the Granite State

The Exchange, New Hampshire Public Radio’s daily news talk show, will host a live discussion about how our state funds education, and the challenges of providing adequate aid for local school districts across the state. Host Laura Knoy will be joined by a panel of experts in NHPR’s Studio D on Tuesday evening, April 30 for a live community discussion. The broadcast is at 7 pm at our Concord studio and members of the public are invited to join to be part of the conversation. The event is free but registration is required. Read More …

For ESPs, Being the Best for Students Requires Continuous Learning

It’s common knowledge amongst educators that professional development for education support professionals (ESPs) is largely non-existent or irrelevant, if offered at all. Whether five or 20 years on the job, ESPs receive limited access to career learning opportunities unless they provide it themselves. “Everyone thinks professional development is for teachers only,” says Matthew Powell, custodial supervisor at Central Elementary School in Mayfield, Ky. “But ESPs also need the opportunity to learn and grow in their careers.” After working for 12 years as a special education paraeducator, Powell returned to college to complete a bachelor’s degree in educational studies. To meet […]

Dynamic Duo – Helping Rural NH Meet its Education Needs

Written By: Beth Fornauf | UNH Department of Education | beth.fornauf@unh.edu When Kayla Croteau earned her M.Ed. in secondary education from the University in 2015, she never imagined that she was only three short years away from another teacher education experience – this time as a teaching mentor for the University of New Hampshire’s Teacher Residency for Rural Education (UNH-TRRE) program. UNH-TRRE, a teacher preparation program designed to prepare elementary and secondary math and science teachers to work in rural, high-need New Hampshire schools, is working with its second cohort of future teachers. These UNH students, known as teaching residents, […]

Manchester Education Association Committed to Students and Members

Recent confusion regarding status of negotiations the result of a series of misunderstandings and miscommunication.  CONCORD, NH – April 10, 2019 – The Manchester Education Association remains committed to maintaining a quality public education for every student and believes that the current confusion surrounding the status of our negotiations is the result of a series of misunderstandings and miscommunication between the parties involved. No one from MEA leadership has made a deliberately false statement regarding the negotiations, and if incorrect information was conveyed or expressed it was not intentional. We understand fully that the well-being of our students and members is not […]