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The Connection
1136 N. Military Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54303
920-496-2440
800-472-5582
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Hello friends,
Region 3 is hosting two important conversations in November. On Tuesday, November 2nd at 6pm, we're hosting How to Say No: Creating Work Life Balance. A lot of districts are trying to make up for what people are calling "Learning Loss" by adding a ton of new initiatives. We always try to add something but in order to do things well, we should focus less on these initiatives and go back to the basics of building relationships and being emotionally available for students. Our workshop will talk about how we can fight burnout by working together to create better boundaries for ourselves and have more input about what our workloads look like. Register for How to Say No HERE.
Then on Wednesday, November 10th, Region 3 is hosting a Roundtable discussion on everything you need to know about upcoming school board elections. We'll discuss who to recruit, how to support their campaigns and why this is so important. Register for the Region 3 Roundtable HERE.
Kristin Lytie
Regional Director
WEAC Region 3
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Region 3 Member Receives National Teaching Award
Seymour EA Industrial Technology Education teacher Staci Sievert was surprised with a $50,000 national teaching award.
The 2021 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence drew more than 700 applications from 49 states and included three rounds of judging. Each round was conducted by independent panels of experts from industry, education, trades, philanthropy, and civic leadership.
The application process, which included responses to questions and a series of learning modules, was designed to hear each teacher’s experience, insights, and creative ideas about their approach to teaching and success in helping their students achieve excellence in the skilled trades.
The prize money is broken into two chunks: $35,000 for the skill trades program at the school and $15,000 for the teacher. Staci plans to use her winnings to take her family white water rafting through the Grand Canyon.
Staci spent the first 22 years of her career teaching social studies but was retrained to teach technical education after the high school searched for a teacher to fill the role for four years. She took early morning and evening classes — while still teaching during the day — to learn wood manufacturing, welding and machining. “I am invigorated by the challenge of teaching teenagers how to use and respect equipment while being hands-on, minds-on,” she said in a news release from Harbor Freight Tools.
Since Staci started teaching the trades, there has been a 52% increase in enrollment in technical classes. Her classes complete projects that serve the school and community such as building a camera stand for the school board’s virtual meetings and making 16 cornhole boards for the physical education department.
To better understand what skills are most needed in the local community, Sievert visited local manufacturers and arranged field trips for her class. Congratulations Staci!
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Voting begins at noon on Tuesday, November 2
and ends at noon on Monday, November 22
The locals listed to the right have petitioned to recertify.
(There is an option to vote by phone, but given past issues with that system, Region 3 recommends using the online voting process.)
As a reminder, recertification with the WERC requires 51% or more of ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS to vote “YES” in favor of being represented by the Local Association & WEAC Region 3. All those who don't vote are counted as “NO” votes. Therefore, encourage ALL of your co-workers to vote "YES."
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Recertification Voting Begins November 2!!!
- Appleton EA
- Appleton Paras
- Bonduel
- Cedar Grove-Belgium EA
- Chilton EA
- Coleman EA
- Crandon EA
- De Pere EA
- Florence EA
- Gillett EA
- Howards Grove EA
- Kiel EA
- Laona EA
- Little Chute EA
- Luxemburg-Casco EA
- Manitowoc EA
- Marinette EA
- New Holstein EA
- Niagara EA
- Niagara ESP
- Oconto EA
- Oostburg EA
- Pembine EA
- Peshtigo EA
- Plymouth EA
- Port Washington-Saukville EA
- Port Washington-Saukville ESP
- Random Lake EA
- Sevastopol EA
- Sheboygan EA
- Stockbridge EA
- Wausaukee EA
- White Lake EA
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Here's How to Get Started!
1) How Locals can be involved in school board elections will be the topic of the next Region 3 Roundtable on Wednesday, November 10, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Register here..
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No group has more impact on your daily work as public educators than your elected school board. The role school board members have in our schools is gaining widespread attention as political rhetoric ramps up around masks, vaccinations and school curriculum.
Despite Region 3 and the Region 3 PAC encouraging locals to be active in their district's elections, only a handful of locals routinely recruit, screen, and recommend candidates for school board.
There will be a lot at stake for our students and our profession, so make your plans for your local to be involved in the April 2022 school board elections.
Important School Board Election Dates:
- Candidates Can Begin Circulating Papers: December 1
- Deadline for Candidates to File Papers: January 4
- Primary Election: Tuesday, February 15
- General Election: Tuesday, April 5
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Winter Gala: Sunday, December 5th, 4:30-8pm
The Brown County Dems are planning a winter gala! This is their first major fundraising event in almost two years. They have combined their annual Steak Fry and Holiday Party into one grand event during the Packer bye week, and they're inviting Wisconsin Democratic leaders to share their vision for 2022 and beyond. The event will take place in-person at the Radisson in Green Bay, please come with all your vaccinations up to date.
The WEAC Region 3 Board of Directors has approved the purchase of a table at this event. Please let the Region 3 office know if you'd like to attend. We have 6 seats left!
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The WEAC Region 3 Board of Directors has also approved the purchase of a table at this event. Please let the Region 3 office know if you'd like to attend.
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To encourage outreach to potential members across Region 3, we are launching the Count Me In Program! The goal of this program is three-pronged: to get out the vote for recertification elections (if applicable), recruit more members into our Union, and educate potential members on the benefits of joining their Local Education Association.
Step 1: Sign-up as a participant here.
Step 2: Review the conversation report form here.
Step 3: Begin scheduling 1-on-1 conversations with potential members. You will need to ask potential members for their contact info, encourage them to vote in a recertification election (if applicable), and ask them to join your Local Education Association! If you are unsure of where to start, Region 3 can provide any needed training and help you identify potential members.
Step 4: Record your 1-on-1 conversations using the report form. Be sure to complete the form in its entirety.
Once you complete and report 5 conversations with potential members, you will be entered to win a trip to the March 25-27 Labor Notes Conference in Chicago. Lodging, meals, and travel will be covered.
The winner can choose 1 additional WEAC Region 3 member to bring along for the trip.
Learn more about Labor Notes here!
The winner will be chosen at the end of the Program on December 1st. Participants can earn additional entries by having additional conversations. Each reported conversation beyond the required 5 will result in 1 additional entry!
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Over the last year we've seen record resignations, and educators who stay are feeling burnout like never before.
This workshop is dedicated to exploring how we can create better work life balance because we know things need to change.
Whether you're brand new to education or a veteran educator, please join us for this important discussion.
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Rural school educators and our local unions have unique experiences and needs. WEAC brings us together to keep our rural schools strong and be sure all students have the best teachers and resources. You can register for any or all of the monthly meetings. REGISTER NOW
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Region 3/GBEA National Board Support Sessions
WEAC, Region 3 and GBEA have organized ongoing monthly National Board Support for the 2021-2022 cycle. Sessions will be held in person at the WEAC Region 3 office but with a virtual option and facilitated by Sarah Johnston (Marinette) and Ellie Hinz-Radue (Green Bay).
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PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
On Wednesday, November 3, be sure to register for Empowering Families at Parent Teacher Conferences. This session examines promising practices for partnering with families during parent teacher conferences, helps educators move past one-way communication and discusses strategies for sharing academic data with families in a way that allows parents and caregivers to support your instructional goals and student learning.
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Modern Strategies for Family Engagement. Family engagement is proven to increase student learning and decrease discipline issues. In a true blended model, educators will connect virtually four times and in person two times with options in Green Bay, Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee and LaCrosse. For more details click here. A light lunch and door prizes are included during the in-person sessions.
Restorative Practices. Restorative Practices is centered on creating a sustainable community of engaged learners through the implementation of classroom circles. This 6-week course held Wednesdays, October 13 through November 17 from 5:30-7 p.m. is interactive and reflective as evidenced in powerful group chats, didactic discussion, and reflective personal writing. Here’s the registration link.
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A bill to allow teachers and school staff to negotiate with our employers in areas such as school conditions and what happens in the classroom continues to circulate for co-sponsorship. Hundreds of educators have already contacted legislators in support of the bill and WEAC encourages you to take action.
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Change of email, mailing address, phone number, or banking info?
If you have recently moved, gotten a new phone number or email address, changed schools or banking information, please contact Region 3 staff assistant Debbie Armitage or Sue Clauss. They will be able to make any changes to your records. This information helps us ensure that we are able to stay connected with you.
They can both be reached by phone at 920-496-2440.
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This is an 11.0101(10)(b)(1) communication with WEAC members |
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WEAC Region 3
1136 N. Military Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54303.
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