Member Matters for September 4, 2015

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21. The theme of this year’s commemoration is “Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All” which aims to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace.  On this day, the HSTA Youth, Human, and Civil Rights Committee encourages all members to do one thing to support Peace Day. Find out about events in Hawaii and classroom resourceshere>>>

Professional Development Member surveys show that professional development is important to teachers.  Take advantage of offerings available on HSTA's NEWProfessional Development website created for teachers by teachers. Sign up for these popular classes now: Singapore Math Foundations of Number Sense—3 PD Credits http://pd.hsta.org/courses/singapore-math-foundations-of-number-sense/ Class Start Dates: Hilo—10/5 (Hawaii Convention Center) Oahu—10/17 & 2/13 (Red Hill Elementary) Maui—2/13 (TBD) Kauai—3/21 (TBD) Family School Partnerships—3-PD Credits http://pd.hsta.org/courses/test-course-02/ Class Start Dates: Oahu—9/12 (University of Hawaii, Manoa—Free Parking Passes) “I Can Do It!” Effective Classroom Management Systems for Teachers—3-PD Credits http://pd.hsta.org/courses/course-3/ Class Start Dates: Oahu—9/12 (Farrington HS) Oahu—9/26 (Waikiki Elementary) Oahu—10/17 (Waikiki Elementary) Maui—10/17 (Paia & Pomaikai Elementary) Oahu—1/16 (HSTA) ___________________________ Are You Eligible for Student Loan Forgiveness? The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is intended to encourage individuals to enter and continue in the teaching profession. For information on whether you can get your federal student loans forgiven or canceled for your service as a teacher, go to the Federal Student Aid website. Reclassification Resource - August 20, 2015 Member Matters http://eepurl.com/bwGGfT YHCR Youth, Human, and Civil Rights Committee September 2015 Peace Day Deadline to nominate: January 11, 2016 Friend of Youth Award Pono Award January 18, 2016 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade

From Our President Statewide Listening Tour  Thank you for coming out to share the issues impacting teachers and students. Temperature is just one issue that impacts teaching and learning environments. HSTA has been meeting with the Department of Education and Legislators. Heat abatement was on the Board of Education's September 1 agenda and HSTA President Corey Rosenlee was at the meeting to share HSTA's plan. Every education decision is a political decision. Each year the members from every chapter on the Government Relations Committee (GRC) strive to promote and advance the cause of public education through political and legislative activities. The Government Relations Committee encourages our members to help identify the legislative priorities they would like the Association, HSTA, to focus on during the legislative session via a survey open to all members.  Thank you to those who participated in this year’s survey.  See survey results here>>> Member responses helped the teachers on the Government Relations Committee formulate legislative priorities that were recommended to the Board of Directors for approval on August 29, 2015.   Read 2016 Legislative Priorities here>>> 2016 HSTA LOBBYING TEAM Mitzie Higa Teacher Lobbyist Kendra Ito-Mizota Government Relations Specialist Corey Rosenlee President Wilbert Holck Executive Director What are your chances of becoming disabled? The following statistics come from Council for Disability Awareness’ Personal Disability Quotient disability risk calculator: 1 A typical female, age 35, 5’4”, 125 pounds, non-smoker, who works mostly an office job, with some outdoor physical responsibilities, and who leads a healthy lifestyle has the following risks: A 24% chance of becoming disabled for 3 months or longer during her working career;                  -With a 38% chance that the disability would last                    5 years or longer                  -And with the average disability for someone like                   her lasting 82 months. If that same person used tobacco and weighed 160 pounds, the risk would increase to a 41% chance of becoming disabled for 3 months or longer. Learn more about long or short term disability income protection at our website,www.hstaveba.org or call our office at 808-440-6940 or 1-800-637-4926 (toll free from neighbor islands). 1.http://www.disabilitycanhappen.org/chances_disability/pdq.asp