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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,
Workload is a huge concern. It's fueling burnout at an alarming rate and contributing to the teacher shortage. So what can we do?
The first step is to collect the data. Your local union could do a survey to ask things like:
- Do people regularly work through their duty-free lunch?
- Do people regularly take work home?
- Do people regularly arrive early to complete work?
- Have people thought about leaving the district?
- Have people thought about leaving education?
The beauty is you can tailor your survey questions to be highly specific to your district and collect information by building to see trends within the district. Five local unions I work with are currently in the process of launching this survey. Remember though, data is a tool and doesn't solve a problem by itself. We have to use the data to inform a larger campaign to make structural change.
Another piece of this puzzle is learning to create work life balance for ourselves. It's no surprise to me that How to Say No: Creating Work Life Balance won our PD poll. We'll be presenting this workshop on Tuesday, November 2nd at 6pm via zoom.
Kristin Lytie
Regional Director
WEAC Region 3
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2 Ways 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.
2) The Wisconsin Public Education Network (WPEN) has a School Board Matters workshop on October 20, 6:30-8 p.m. Learn from experienced organizers and current board members on how to launch and run a winning campaign. 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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Friends of Wisconsin public schools,
Thinking about running for school board? Want to recruit a diverse pool of candidates to run for office? Want to elect public education champions and educate voters on the importance of spring elections?
Join us Wed., Oct. 20 from 6:30-8:00 pm for a FREE virtual workshop: School Board Matters. Frank talk with experienced organizers and current board members on how to launch and run a winning campaign, plus answers to all your questions.
Going into the rest of the school year and the spring 2022 election cycle, let's come together to make sure public education champions are involved in school board operations so we can model a healthy democracy and lead with courage to do what's best for local students.
[This workshop is open to all public education champions and supporters of strong public schools. Registration is limited to those who share our mission, values and goals to ensure safe, excellent and equitable public schools for ALL Wisconsin students.]
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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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Upcoming Early Career Network Events |
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These events are hosted by the Region 3’s Early Career Network -- if you are not an Early Career Educator (within your first 10 years of teaching), you are more than welcome to join us; however, we ask that you bring along a new hire or an early career educator from your district. Paraprofessionals and support staff new to their careers are also welcome to attend.
If you are interested in joining the Early Career Network, please email Erin Karsten at karstene@weac.org.
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Region 3’s Early Career Network will be hiking the Hemlock Trail at Potawatomi State Park for a total of 2.6 miles. Following the hike, we will drive about 10 minutes to Scaturo's Baking Co. & Cafe in Sturgeon Bay for coffee, tea and/or a bite to eat. RSVP Here!
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Region 3’s Early Career Network will be participating in two haunted events at the Burial Chamber for a total of $30 per person. Please do NOT purchase your tickets in advance as we are trying to get a $5/ticket group discount. Afterwards, we will head to Greene's Pour House in Neenah for drinks!
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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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October is Higher Ed Month!
Join us in celebrating #HigherEdMonth and the faculty and staff who overcame unprecedented challenges on their campuses this past year.
Click on the flyers below for more info:
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As part of the WEAC Professional Development Institute offerings November 5-7 in Oshkosh, there will be special track options offered with the WEAC Equity Ambassadors Program. Sign up to participate in two days dedicated to advancing equity in your school. REGISTER HERE
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PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Take note of the wide selection of professional development opportunities available to members through WEAC and the WEA Academy. All offerings are grounded in best practice research and relevant to the day-to-day work of educators. In the spirit of craft unionism, all classes and workshops are practical and meant to compliment the professional learning designed at the local or regional level. Here is a list of some offerings:
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Professional Development Institute. The annual WEAC Professional Development Institute will be held at the Oshkosh Convention Center November 5-7. Our keynote speaker is author and educator Matthew Kay. Mr. Kay has written, Not Light, but Fire, inspired by Frederick Douglass's abolitionist call to action. REGISTER TODAY
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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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Sign up NOW for WLHS Conference;
Due to pandemic, space is limited
To assure everyone's safety, seating will be limited to adhere to CDC standards at the 40th Conference of the Wisconsin Labor History Society.
To assure a seat, please register now.
The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6 at the American Postal Workers Union Local #3 Hall, 417 N. 3rd St., Milwaukee.
IMPORTANT: Those attending will be required to follow CDC guidelines in effect at the time. Masks will be required and attendees are expected to be vaccinated.
Pandemic developments may require cancelling the in-person conference; if that occurs, all conference fees will be fully refunded and the conference will be held virtually and live-streamed without charge.
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Hundreds of Wisconsin educators have already emailed our elected officials in support of a new law that would restore our right to negotiate with our employers.
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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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