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Legal Questions

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Medical Cannabis and Your Job

In 2014, Maryland decriminal- ized the possession of small amounts of marijuana and legalized medical marijuana. Since then, patients must acquire written certification from a licensed physician and register with Maryland’s medical marijuana program. Medical cannabis is only available in forms that can be vaporized (not smoked), or as extracts, lotions, ointments, and tinctures. On […]
Professional Practice

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Global Competencies

Halfway around the world, Baltimore County science teacher and department chair Anu Bajpai asked students, “How many languages do you speak?” “Seven,” they said. When school started this year, she asked her students at Windsor Mill Middle School the same question. “One,” said most of them. Language fluency is just one of the cultural differences […]
Pedagogy

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An Introduction to Literacy Design Collaborative

Heather Lacey Sampselle is an elementary school teacher and passionate, forward-thinking educator. She currently lives in Frederick, Maryland and is pursuing her master’s degree while working as an educational consultant. She has been an active member of the Brevard Federation of Teachers and Frederick County Teachers Association. My journey with LDC began years ago when […]
Education Support Professionals

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Three Jobs and a Wish to Serve Others

Mary Bordley is a building services custodian at Kent Island Elementary School in Queen Anne’s County. I want to help decision-makers understand that just like every other staff member in the building, we’re there because we care about the students and our community. I never met a person in need that I didn’t want to help. […]
Testing

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Protecting ESSA from the State Board

Winning good policy outcomes isn’t just about passing laws; we need to make sure they are implemented faithfully, too. This summer, MSEA worked with leaders in the General Assembly, the attorney general’s office, school boards, civil rights organizations, and other pro-public education advocates to push back against the State Board of Education’s ESSA draft plan. […]
School Funding

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The Kirwan Commission Meets the Public

The Kirwan Commission is holding public hearings for parents, students, educators, and other interested individuals to share their views on improving the public education system in Maryland. The commission’s recommendations are due to Governor Hogan in December and expected to be in legislation before the General Assembly in January. “Maryland’s public schools are good, but […]
Union Updates

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“We need to fight for the things we need for our students.”

MSEA’s 2017 Summer Leadership Conference at Salisbury University (July 18–21) brought together activist members from across the state to build the skills they need to fight for change and progress in public education. Eight different three-day schools focused on advocacy, conflict management, contract bargaining, leadership development, empowering leadership, grassroots organizing, union organizing, and restorative practices. […]
Union Updates

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Frederick SPARKS Connects Educators with Their Union

“Before I was a SPARKS myself, I didn’t know that I was a union member,” Casey Keenan says. “Once I knew that I could make a difference and that my voice could be heard, I was all in.” Keenan is the fire under the red hot Frederick County Teachers Associa­tion’s SPARKS program — one of sever­al in […]
Testing

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What’s Next?

“This year, educators were extremely well informed and engaged on preventing privatization and reducing testing,” said Sean Johnson, MSEA’s chief lobbyist. “Our mobilization of partners like the PTA and civil rights groups, plus con­cerned community members, led to in-person and online activism that propelled the Protect Our Schools Act (POSA) and More Learning, Less Testing […]
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