Did you know representatives of the NEA and the American Legion met in 1919 to seek ways to generate public support for education? Make plans to celebrate American Education Week, November 13-19. PWEA members will receive a gift during that week.
 Go to NEA’s online toolkit for more information.

GET ACTIVE...ATTEND THE VEA OR NEA CONVENTIONS!

Have you thought about becoming a delegate to the
VEA or NEA Conventions?   
Nominating forms are due Friday, January 20 by 4:30 pm.


VEA SPARKS WILL LIGHT YOUR FIRE FOR YOUR PROFESSION!

Are you can educator in your first five years of experience? If so, register now for the next VEA SPARKS weekend! It will be held at Wintergreen Ski Resort, February 24-26, 2012. Registration deadline is December 9. For more information, visit the VEA website.

CONSIDER RUNNING FOR PWEA OR VEA OFFICE

Have you thought about becoming more involved in the PWEA? Would you like to serve on the PWEA Board of Directors?


See a list of positions and campaign information.

EDUCATION 411 SYMPOSIUM A SUCCESS!

PRINCE WILLIAM EDUCATION ASSOCIATION HOSTS EDUCATION 411 SYMPOSIUM
Riley O'Casey, Lily Eskelsen, Amanda McCulla
Riley O'Casey, Bull Run MS, Lily Eskelsen, NEA 
Vice President, and Amanda McCulla, Triangle ES

On Saturday October 1st, while most people were sleeping in or heading out for a fun day with family or friends, a group of 90 educators went to the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center to attend Prince William Education Association's (PWEA) first ever Education Symposium. The event was coordinated by PWEA's Instructional and Professional Development Committee co-chairs Riley O'Casey and Amanda McCulla. The symposium offered a variety of sessions participants could choose from to attend; workshops like De-stressing, Employee Rights, strategies for teaching students in Special Education and Limited English Proficiency (LEP), and Prince William County School specific programs like Professional Performance Process (PPP) and the new Employee Assistance Program.
The day began with a speech from key note speaker National Education Association Vice President Lily Eskelsen. Riley O'Casey said she wanted Lily Eskelsen to speak because "she can inspire and motivate those who listen to her. Right now, educators across the country are being attacked, new initiatives are bombarding us and even the beginning of the year has been overwhelming. I knew that Lily would inspire and motivate those who attended. She encourages them to keep doing what they do best." David Kinsella, PWEA Vice President, agreed saying he found Ms. Eskelsen very inspiring.
PWEA Education 411 Symposium
At the end of the day, all the participants walked away with helpful work life tips. Dale Marie Walton, teacher at Bel Air Elementary School, said "The sessions were well planned and good. I liked that we could also network with other educators." Carl Mainwaring, a special education teacher at Woodbridge High School, stated he found the sessions "very relevant to my job. I am captivated by every word." He attended one of the legislative workshops and found he wasn't aware of the issues in the Virginia Legislature and now feels the need to talk with other teachers about the possibility of losing a continuing contract or VRS. Sonia Garcia, who works with Head Start, also enjoyed the workshops. "I've been to classes before on these topics, but I always learn something new each time I attend a class."
PWEA hopes this is the first of many Education 411 Symposiums to come.

NEW TO PWEA?

Are you a new association member? Look here for ways to save especially designed for you....