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Education Support Professionals

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My Turn: Meet Janice McRae — An Activist on Many Fronts

Janice McRae is a special education paraeducator at Sussex Elementary School in Baltimore County. She is a member of the Educational Support Professionals of Baltimore County (ESPBC). First and foremost, I’m passionate about working with special needs children. It’s a joy, a privilege, and my pleasure to work and interact with these amazing learners. It’s my […]
Testing

Latest Updates

Big Win #1: The Protect Our Schools Act

This session — thanks to the work of legislators and the advocacy of educators — Maryland became a national leader in standing up to the Betsy DeVos school privatization agenda and in turning the page on the damaging test-and-punish culture in favor of one that truly invests in and improves our schools. The Protect Our Schools Act […]
Union Updates

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Newly-Elected MSEA Leaders to Focus on the 2017–2018 Educators’ Agenda

When MSEA’s Board of Directors meets in September to discuss the 2017–2018 Educators’ Agenda, five new faces will be seated at the table, the largest turnover in many years. Newcomers Erika Strauss Chavarria, Howard, and Brian Donoughe, Howard, were elected to the NEA and MSEA boards of directors. They will join Russell Leone, Anne Arundel, […]
Testing

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Educators Lead and Win on Testing and Privatization

It’s a giant win for students, parents, educators, schools, and communities. The General Assembly’s passage of the Protect Our Schools and the More Learning, Less Testing acts point once again to Maryland and educators leading the way for improving schools and helping all students. No other state can claim similar success in fighting the Betsy […]
Teacher Toolkit

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Toolkit: Teaching Academic Life Skills and Loving It

Kara Brooks-Odom teaches at Mt. Hebron High School in Howard County. Students in Kara Brooks-Odom’s academic life skills classes typically have an IQ below 80 and may or may not be social, or even verbal. Kara says many are able to find gainful employment with some minor modifications to the task or workplace and that brings […]
Racial and Social Justice

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Update: Supporting Our LGBTQ Students

When President Obama issued a directive last May protecting the right of transgender students to use the restrooms and lockers that match their gender identities, many students and their allies felt some sense of relief and acknowledgement. MSDE followed that up with guidelines that allow students to use the facilities they choose and that policy […]
Pedagogy

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Assessment Literacy Is a Necessary Skill for Today’s Educator

Dawn Pipkin is an instructional resource teacher and National Board Certified Teacher at Leonardtown Middle School in St. Mary’s County. She represents MSEA on MSDE’s Professional Standards in Teacher Education Board and serves as its vice-chair. Educators are harnessing the power of technology each day in order to facilitate quality instruction and assess student learning. […]
Testing

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Betty Weller: We Should All Be Proud

Betty Weller, MSEA President What a great General Assembly session! First, we passed the Protect Our Schools Act that gives Maryland a school accountability system that truly invests in and improves our schools by placing less emphasis on standardized testing and broadening the focus of what’s needed to create a great school — closing opportunity gaps, increasing […]
Legal Questions

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Educators and Immigration Advocacy

All students have the right to a free public education in this country regardless of their immigration status. With new emphasis on immigration policy enforcement, students are understandably and justifiably anxious. It is essential that all schools provide a welcoming and supportive environment. If you choose to be an educator-advocate for immigrant student rights, you […]
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