Every Vote Counts - Just Vote

11/8/2016

Each and every one of the following have been driven by politics and politicians: NCLB, ESSA, school choice, public versus private, school funding, testing mandates, Title I, II, III, IV and more… Yet, teachers take the “I’m not political” stance. Can you seriously afford not to be political? Can you just be silent given the current political choices facing us in our state?

Phone calls have been made; postcards sent; doors knocked and rallies attended. We have one week left to cast our votes for the candidates of our choice. Year after year, I have heard that a fairly large percentage of teachers did not exercise their right to vote. Didn’t vote…. let that sink in for a minute. Curriculum is political. Standards are political. Testing is political. Education is political. Please take time to fill in your ballot and vote. I’d be very pleased if I saw 100 percent of our teachers vote, but even 80 percent would be remarkable to see.

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UPCOMING
EVENTS

The corona virus has definitely created a novel reality. If you check our our website, you will find links to resources for remote learning, and, of course, there is a plethora of information on the website FaceBook has great interest groups, too.

Updates by Topic:

Youth Art Month
The MAEA Annual Youth Art Month (YAM) Exhibit at the state capital is sort of on semi-permanent display. With stay at home orders, it may be there awhile. Victor Daniels, the YAM chair, will keep us posted, but in the interim, please visit our YAM webpage to virtually enjoy the works on display. Thanks, Victor, for posting the works for us to enjoy from home.

MAEA Spring Retreat
As you have probably guessed by now, the annual spring retreat has been cancelled/postponed. We will see what the future holds.
   If member interest and Nicholas Danielson's availability align, MAEA will try to reschedule when the situation becomes safe for gathering again. The worst case scenario-we will seek out a Bray experience in spring 2021.

MFPE-MAEA 2020
Teacher Conference   Needs YOU!
Please submit your proposal to present no later than April 30. The conference committee will convene digitally on MAY 15 to schedule submissions. The next conference is in Great Falls on October 15th & 16, 2020. It will be hosted at CM Russell High School.

2020 Census Invitations Arrive March 12-20
Ninety-five percent or about 143 million households in the country will receive an initial invitation to respond to the 2020 Census in their mailboxes between March 12 and 20. The U.S. Census Bureau released informational copies today of the invitations, the enclosed materials, and the subsequent reminders households will receive. These materials can help the public know what to expect and avoid potential scams.
Read More [lnks.gd]

Montana
No Kid Hungry

The February winner of the Montana Teachers for Breakfast giveaway has been drawn – check out THIS VIDEO of the live drawing to find out which Montana teacher won the prize! And congratulations again to Randi White from Lockwood for being drawn the January winner!
The March round is now open, so don’t forget to put your name in the hat on the giveaway website for your chance to win $100 for your classroom: https://mtteachers4breakfast.shortstack.com/XD9Xdd
Remember that you can enter every month if you’re not drawn a winner, so even if you entered last month be sure to go back and fill out the form again for your name to be counted in the March drawing. The giveaway is open to all Montana teachers who somehow incorporate breakfast into their students’ school day.

2020
Montana
Educators' Conference

Where: GREAT FALLS
C.M.RUSSELL HIGH SCHOOL
When: OCT. 15-16, 2020 Helping our members succeed in their careers is a top priority for MFPE. That’s why, each year, we sponsor the Educator Conference -- the best professional development of its kind anywhere.
MFPE teams up with 18 Montana curriculum groups to bring you the best in teacher-led professional learning. More than 500 workshops, keynotes, & institutes are available. No matter what or where you teach. You’ll find a wealth of events perfect for you. And you can earn renewal units!
To find more information and to submit a proposal to present, please visit the following:
https://www.mfpe.org/edconference/

Fourteenth Indian Education for All Conference

A May conference will be held for Best Practices in Indian Education for All.
Date:  May 3-5, 2020
Location:  Montana State University, Billings
The theme for the 14th Annual Indian Education for All Best Practices Conference is "Indigenizing Education in Montana".
We are seeking exciting and well written proposals that emphasize the Montana American Indian perspective across the curriculum. Though a wide variety of proposals in all subject areas will be accepted, special attention will be given to elementary, mathematics, early literacy.
Presentation times will be 60-75 minutes in length.
Presenters will receive free conference registration.
Be creative! Come share your knowledge with us!
If you are interested in being a presenter, please fill out the following call for proposals: <https://forms.gle/G3t3MEe3GdqWKDos8>.

PRELIMINARY AGENDA
<http://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/Page%20Files/Indian%20Education/Conference_Info/Agenda_Preliminary_BP2020.pdf?ver=2020-01-16-151648-263>

REGISTER
for Best Practices Conference
<https://forms.gle/2vstQs8RVUy1WJ2p9>

ADVOCACY AWARD NOMINATIONS
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefOls5BsFqwYdVRV-9hawmFQLHSe9Jdj9RGsIR-VGbx5B4vg/viewform>

Please contact
for more information:
Mike Jetty
Indian Education Specialist
Montana Office of Public Instruction
1300 11th Ave
Helena, MT 59620-2501
http://opi.mt.gov/Educators/Teaching-Learning/Indian-Education