 KUDOS
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ISSUE 6
VOLUME 22
2014
MEMBER BENEFITS
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
DA HIGHLIGHTS
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
PSUU
issues
A PUBLICATION OF THE POLK SUBURBAN UNISE RV UNIT
Responding to Adverse Documentation
You should respond in writing
to each and every adverse
document that is placed in
your personnel file—including,
but not limited to, evaluations,
reprimands, and parental
complaints.
 Attempt to place the
behaviors and/or practices
that were disparaged in a
better light. Explain what
happened and why.
The best response is simple,
dispassionate and straightforward. Include facts and
relevant information. Exclude
emotion. Edit and type your
response so that it has a
professional appearance.
Do not hesitate to ask an
association leader to assist
you in drafting your response
and/or to provide feedback
on it prior to submitting it for
inclusion in your personnel
file. Additional tips for drafting
responses—especially to
adverse evaluations—include:
 If caught red-handed,
don’t lie! Acknowledge your
behavior and promise to stop
or modify it.
 Uncategorically deny unfair,
inaccurate, or unjust (untrue)
allegations. State the correct
details explicitly. Include dates,
times, witnesses, etc.
 Deal with the evaluation
criteria that are specifically
related to your job assignment. If the evaluation is
unclear, ask for a specific
written explanation. If parents
and/or students are involved,
ask for names and details.
 Request specific remediation. Ask your supervisor to
model the proper behaviors/
practices. Ask that the specific
things the supervisor wants
done be provided in writing.
 Refer to prior observations/
evaluations wherein the
behavior/practices in
question were acceptable
and to any evidence that
contradicts the current
evaluation.
Review your personnel file on
a regular basis. If you find any
adverse documents of which
you were unaware, contact
your association president or
rights chairperson and
promptly submit a written
response.
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!
s
o
d
u
K
Chicago Speakeasy
TO MEMBERS!
PSUU
would like to recognize the following members
TO MEMBERS!
for recent accomplishments:
PSUU would like to recognize the following members
for recent accomplishments:
Matthew Eddy, Southeast Polk EA, was named one of six outstanding agriculture
teachers nationwide. He received a new car from Toyota of Des Moines for this honor.
Denise Dieter (Johnston EA) had the December Classroom of Character. The
award is sponsored by KCCI (Channel 8) and Smart Honda of Des Moines. Denise
Kathy
Paul, Johnston
EA, a
is classroom
one of 36 teachers
received
an iPad and
check forselected
$1500. as a Behring Teacher
Ambassador to promote National History Day. Kathy, one of two history teachers from
Iowa, will receive a $1000 stipend for her participation and service as an ambassador.
Jan Keese’s (Ankeny EA) third grade class had a visit from Iowa’s world-famous
These six PSUU districts received a TLC grant in the first round: Johnston, North
opera singer Simon Estes this month. The class presented Estes with a check for
Polk, Norwalk, Saydel, Southeast Polk, and West Des Moines. Thanks to the
$2100, money raised for his Foundation’s “Iowa Students Care” program. The
association members in these districts who helped create a winning application.
money will buy 420 malaria nets - bed nets treated with insecticide to protect African
families from malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Jan is also a former Iowa Teacher of the
Year.
Congratulations for these recognitions!
Please send information about members’ achievements to Peri Van Tassel at pvantassel@isea.org.
Please send information about other members’ achievements to Peri Van Tassel at pvantassel@isea.org.
Contract Tidbits
Chapter 279, Code of Iowa,
governs the individual contracts
of Iowa teachers. Contained
within its provisions are the
following important points:
 Contracts shall be in writing
and shall state the number of
contract days, the annual
compensation to be paid, and
any other matters mutually
agreed upon.
 The president of the board
teacher, or as terminated in
accordance with the provisions
specified in Chapter 279.
 A contract shall not be
offered to a teacher prior to
March 15 of any year.
 A teacher shall not be
required to return a contract to
the board or to resign less than
twenty-one (21) calendar days
after the contract has been
offered.
must sign a contract before it is
tendered.
 A contract is invalid if the
teacher is under contract with
another board of directors to
teach during the same time
period until a release from the
first contract is obtained.
 Experienced teachers who
 A contract is automatically
continued for equivalent
periods except as modified or
terminated by mutual agreement
of the board of directors and the
probation. Licensure probation
is two (2) years in length
and culminates with a
Comprehensive Summative
Evaluation and application for
a standard teaching license.
(Note: If an evaluator
determines that a beginning
teacher has not yet met all eight
Iowa Teaching Standards, the
teacher can be recommended
for a third year of licensure
probation.) Employment
probation consists of the first
three (3) consecutive years of
employment in the same Iowa
school district.
 Beginning teachers
must complete two distinct
probationary periods: licensure
probation and employment
have successfully completed a
probationary period for a district
located in Iowa and change
employers are required to serve
a one-year probationary period
in their new district. This
probationary period can be
waived by the board of directors
of the new district.
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5 Things Your Students Need to Hear You Say
What you say—and how you
say it—is as important as what
you teach each day. These
communication tips can
encourage your students to
succeed.
“Good morning, Tyler!”
Taking the time to greet every
child helps put a positive note on
their day before it begins and
gets your students in a learning
frame of mind.
“How are you doing?”
Teenagers in particular are
attuned to whether adults care
about them as a whole person.
Communicate a real interest in
how students are doing in their
school and personal lives.
Instead, give them time to work
through their feelings. Once they
calm down, tell them that you
know they’ll do better next time.
Make sure your students know
that you separate the way you
feel about their behavior or work
from the way you feel about
them.
“Thank you for trying something new.” Success isn’t
necessarily measured by whether
a child knows the right answer.
Sometimes, success comes in
the form of risk-taking—even if
the end result is failure.
Encourage students to take risks
and embrace mistakes.
“Let’s focus on the positive.”
When students get in trouble,
don’t dwell on the negative.
“I know you have it in you.”
Let your students know that you’ll
be honest about their work and
their abilities in the classroom.
It’s important to encourage and
hold students to their highest
standard—not to berate but to be
honest.
Excerpted from an article published
in the March 2014 issue of
NEAchieve, NEA MB’s monthly
e-newsletter.
Member Benefits
NEA Member Benefits has announced a new Dental and Vision Insurance Program, provided through a
new partnership with Renaissance Dental, effective April 1, 2014.
The new NEA Dental and Vision Insurance Program will provide NEA members the following key
features:
 Great Coverage: Including preventive care like routine exams and
cleanings, plus dental procedures such as crowns and implants.
 Freedom of Choice: The ability to visit any licensed dental
professional or save the most money by visiting one of the more
than 200,000 credentialed PPO dentist locations nationwide.
 Hassle-free Benefits: PPO participating dental offices complete
and file claims for members, so they don't deal with paperwork or
wait for reimbursement.
 Generous Annual Maximum: Options for a maximum that
increases over a three-year span.
 Special Retiree Plan Option: For members 55+ with a
generous $1,200 annual maximum.
 Vision Coverage: Plan Options to add vision coverage for one
affordably- bundled price.
Information about the new NEA Dental and Vision Insurance Program is available on the NEA Member
Benefits Website (www.neamb.com ) under the Insurance tab and heading “Health-Related Insurance.”
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Early Enroll &
Save Moooolah!
Enroll now--pay later!
Support the Classified School Employee
of the Year Legislation
Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in both the
House and Senate to institute a yearly award for the
Classified School Employee of the year. Show your
support for the National Classified School Employee
of the Year Award Act by signing our petition! Visit
edvotes.org/espaward.php and take action!
The NEA ESP Quality Department
Education Support Professionals are the fastest
growing constituency group within the membership
of the National Educational Association. The NEA
Education Support Professional Quality (ESPQ)
department exists to improve the work lives of NEA’s
nearly half-million ESP members. We advocate for
national policies that benefit ESPs, assist state
affiliates with ESP organizing and retention, and
provide professional development resources and
leadership training for ESP members. Contact the
ESP Quality department at esp.program@nea.org.
Who's eligible?
First-time Active
Members
When can you join?
You can join for free
anytime between April 1
and August 31, 2014
What are the benefits?
You will already be signed up for the 2014-15
membership year, and between now and
September 1, you will have access to liability
insurance benefits, select NEA Member
Benefits discount programs, and an Access
to Savings membership card.
How do you sign up?
Talk to your Building Representative or
email the PSUU office at aatkin@isea.org
for enrollment forms.
Proclamation in Support of
6 Percent Supplemental State Aid
Whereas citizens of the State of Iowa hold great public schools to be a cornerstone of our society,
Whereas the State of Iowa is $1,500 behind the national average per pupil expenditure for public
education,
Whereas the State of Iowa has the fiscal resources to fund a supplemental state aid of 6 percent,
Whereas Iowa law requires the legislature to take action on supplemental state aid within 30 days of
the submission of the Governor’s budget,
Whereas the 30 day period has passed and only the Iowa Senate has adhered to the law,
Whereas the Iowa Senate has amended HF 2194 to include a supplemental state aid amount of
6 percent for fiscal year 2015-16,
Whereas House Democrats have tried, by House rules, to move supplemental state aid to the debate
calendar only to be opposed by House Republicans,
Be it resolved that the delegates to the ISEA 2014 Delegate Assembly are signing this proclamation
to request that the Iowa House Republicans allow supplemental state aid for fiscal year 2015-16 be
debated so that Iowa’s children have access to a quality education with a broad curriculum,
reasonable class sizes and high quality educators in every classroom.
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Upcoming Events
APRIL:
“Launching Teacher Leadership:
An Institute for Teacher Leaders and
Administrators” is a conference for all
educators interested in learning about
teacher leadership – 2014 TLC grant
recipients and future TLC grant
applicants alike. The conference will
be Thursday, June 12 from 8 am to 4
pm at the FFA Enrichment Center on
the DMACC Campus in Ankeny.
Space is limited to the first 250
registrants. The cost is $125 per
person. If interested, register at
www.isea.org .
“Everyone Leads” is the theme
for this year’s ISEA Summer
Conference, July 28 and 29 at the
Prairie Meadows. Register early at
www.isea.org .
12 - PAC Central Committee/Support for Public
Education meeting
15 - Deadline for Design-a-Decal contest
entries
18 - Good Friday - office closed
21 - PSUU Recognition Dinner at Smokey D’s
23 - Big 12 Conference Call
P OLK
S UBURBAN
U NI S ERV
U NIT
MAY:
05 - NEA Teacher Appreciation Week begins
06 - National Teacher Appreciation Day
ISEA Retired Standing Committee meeting
PSUU Membership Planning meeting
07 - National School Nurse Day
PSUU Treasurers’ Training
10 - ISEA Executive Board meeting conference call
26 - Memorial Day - office closed
Delegate Assembly Highlights
ISEA’s Delegate Assembly occurred April 3 and 4 at the
Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in
Des Moines. Twenty-three delegates from nine locals
represented PSUU. The delegates discussed several
Resolutions on such topics as equitable funding, online
education, homeschooling, technology professionals, and
Affordable Care Act fees. The New Business Items
that the group passed dealt with such topics as the 2015
Legislative Program and information regarding the voting
process for state delegates to the NEA RA. The group
approved a budget of $15,040,800, an increase of $255,700
from last year. ISEA dues will increase $7 for 2014-15.
Also the NEA dues increase is a proposed $1. This would
make the total dues increase $8 - only 67 cents a month.
The delegates donated over $7800 to the NEA Fund for
Children and Public Education. Speakers included NEA
President Dennis Van Roekel, NEA Executive Director John
Stocks, and the 2014 Teacher of the Year Jane Schmidt
from Maquoketa. Dennis Linn from Pella received the
Charles F. Martin Award for Association Leadership.
Wayne Bauman
UniServ Director
wbauman@isea.org
Peri Van Tassel
UniServ Director
pvantassel@isea.org
Aubrey Atkin
Secretary
aatkin@isea.org
777 Third Street
Des Moines, IA
515-471-8050
800-378-6304
Linda Reid,
PSUU President
reidlinda@saydel.net
Vicky Rossander
ISEA Executive Board
Representative
rossanderv@wdmcs.org
Mike Beranek
ISEA Vice-President
beranekm@wdmcs.org
The PSUU delegates attended a dinner Thursday evening
at Mezzodi’s in Des Moines. They discussed the proposed
New Business Items and elected Jan Keese from Ankeny
as the PSUU Secretary/Treasurer.
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