September 2023

Happy FALL from the Teaching & Learning team at VEA! We hope your school year is off to a great start and will prove to be one of your best. Know that we continue to work behind the scenes to support your ongoing learning and development as a professional and as a union member. Because we want to hear from you about how we can meet your needs, we will be showing up at member meetings around the state to gather input to inform our continued development of offerings. If you facilitate a meeting in your local and would welcome us to join you, please contact Melinda Bright, Director of Teaching & Learning, mbright@veanea.org or 805-775-8331. We look forward to hearing from you!

Updates from Teaching & Learning

VEA Learning Portal

Check out the Member Created Course, Basic Concepts of Racial Justice, developed by Richmond Education Association member Charlotte Hayer.

It’s designed to provide you with a basic understanding of racial justice. You’ll look at definitions of some basic key terms, view some images, and watch a couple of videos related to racial justice. We’ll also provide you with opportunities to self-evaluate what and how you feel about the content.

To see this course and more, check out the VEA Learning Portal HERE! Feel free to bookmark this link.

If you have any trouble getting into the portal, please reach out to either Dr. Amber Brown, abrown@veanea.org, or Isabel Sullivan, isullivan@veanea.org

SVEA Aspiring Educators

HAVE YOU RENEWED MEMBERSHIP FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR?

If you want to continue your student membership for the 2023-24 school year, which began September 1, you may do so online at www.studentvea.org.

ALREADY TEACHING? WANT TO JOIN NEA AS A TEACHER?

For those of you who have graduated and secured employment as a teacher, congratulations! If you are unsure how to join VEA as a teacher member, visit www.veanea.org/join.

THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR AS A TEACHER MEMBER, IS THERE A REBATE?

Professional Membership entitles you to a special rebate of $20 for each year of membership as an Aspiring Educator (Student Member), for up to 4 years. Someone who joined the AE program for one year can apply for a $20 rebate. An AE member for 4 years is entitled to apply for an $80-rebate! More information can be found at www.nea.org/aerebate.

If you were a SVEA-AE member in Virginia, you would also qualify for an additional $5 per year of student membership (up to 4 years). Use this form to submit your VEA rebate.

Special Education

From our friends at William and Mary TTAC, check out information on Specially Designed Instruction HERE.

Upcoming Opportunities

Apply for a VEA Mini-Grant

Excellence in the Classroom

Coming to a city near you, come on the road with Teaching and Learning!

Workshops! Workshops! Workshops!

Free Special Education Conference!

The Council for Exceptional Children

Register Now Using the Link Below

Southwest VA (New College Institute, Martinsville)

Central VA (Richard Bland College, Petersburg)

Northern VA (Gayle Middle School, Stafford County)

Tidewater VA (Virginia Wesleyan University, Virginia Beach)

To learn more about National Board Certification, visit our website or go to www.nbpts.org.

From our friends at Harvard Graduate School of Education, they share the article,

Project-Based Learning is Great, But Students Still Need to Learn Something

Who's Who in Teaching and Learning

The work of the Department of Teaching and Learning extends out of headquarters and works directly with members. This month, we will be featuring one of our student member partners:

Name: Delaney Spiker

Local: Randolph-Macon College

Role(s) that you have completed with VEA:
SVEA Aspiring Educator
SVEA Aspiring Educator State President

# of years in education: Current Aspiring Educator

# of years in VEA: 3

If you could give 1 piece of advice to someone in education, what would it be?

Find your people–the ones who you can rely on, rant to, get guidance from, and even those whom you can lead yourself. Education, even early on, can feel like it is you against the world, but that is not the case with the right people surrounding you. When times get rough find a mentor and if there is no one around… become that mentor.

How has being a union member helped you?

Through SVEA on both the local and state level I have been connected with peers and mentors who share my passion for education and educational progress. Those who come to the conferences and conventions and lend their experience, stories, and support are the much-needed comfort for aspiring educators like myself who are faced with negativity on every front. Even when entering education feels like preparing for battle, I know my union brothers and sisters will support me along the way.

The Latest from VEA

Teaching & Learning Today: September 2023