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MEA mourns death of Al Short, Michigan's 'most powerful voice on education policy'
Harvard labor expert to speak at ESP conference in April
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| Harvard's Elaine Bernard will share her expertise at the MEA Statewide ESP Conference in April. |
More than 400 MEA members are expected to trek to the Traverse City area for MEA’s ESP Statewide Conference April 4-5 at the Grand Traverse Resort.
Among the familiar faces they will see is that of Elaine Bernard, executive director of the Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School, who will deliver the keynote speech at the conference Friday evening, April 4.
Bernard has spoken at previous MEA conferences and workshops on Building Full Capacity Locals and how to get more members involved in leadership roles in their local associations.
Prior to Bernard’s speech, the Leon A. Brunner Award will be presented. MEA’s highest honor for ESP members, the award recognizes support staff who have made significant contributions to ESP and who have exhibited a high degree of commitment to ESP issues and concerns.
The two-day conference will be filled with professional development opportunities that will benefit ESP members in a variety of areas.
For a list of workshops and registration information, go to www.mea.org/ conferences.
MACUL technology showcase highlights how students use high-tech tools to learn
For the sixth year in a row, MEA is sponsoring the Student Technology Showcase at the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) Conference. This year’s showcase will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids.
“The showcase is a wonderful way to allow our students to share how the latest technology is helping them both in the classroom and beyond,” said Ric Wiltse, MACUL executive director. “It’s also a great opportunity for educators to find new ways to use technology in their schools.”
Teams of students from around the state will discuss their projects and the variety of technologies they used, ranging from PowerPoint to handheld computing to digital video production.
If you are interested in having a group of your students participate in the Student Technology Showcase, visit www.macul.org to sign up. Specific questions about participating in the event should be directed to Showcase coordinator Jim Wenzloff at wenzloff@gmail.com.
Also, you can still register to attend the 2008 MACUL Conference on March 5-7. Your registration must be received or postmarked by Feb. 19 to avoid paying a late fee. You may register online for preconference and hands-on workshops— descriptions and times are available along with registration forms and more at www.macul.org.
Teachers who bring a team of students to participate in the Student Technology Showcase receive a reduced conference registration rate. Two teachers from each team participating in the Showcase are eligible to register for the conference at the student rate ($105 by the Feb. 19 deadline).
Van Buren ISD’s Sue Bensinger named Michigan School Social Worker of Year
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| Van Buren ISD’s Sue Bensinger works with student Vinnie Williamson. |
At first, the recognition caught Sue Bensinger off guard.
The radio and television interviews, the Page 1 photos in the Kalamazoo Gazette and her hometown Greenville Daily News newspapers, her picture and a story on the Western Michigan University Web site, the congratulatory telephone calls and messages, the letters from parents, students and teachers lauding her work with the Van Buren ISD.
She wasn’t accustomed to the bright spotlight, but that’s what happens when you’re named the 2007 State of Michigan School Social Worker of the Year.
Bensinger called the award, presented by the 900-member Michigan Association of School Social Workers, a wonderful honor that “validates what I’ve tried to accomplish in my professional life for 32 years.”
Van Buren ISD EA President Sue Nyce said Bensinger is a deserving recipient. “She’s not just a colleague; she’s a dear friend and such a strong advocate for students. I’ve seen the amount of good she’s done for families and students across our county, helping parents meet the needs of their children.”
In their nominating letter, her school social worker colleagues at the Van Buren ISD share that “Susan has touched hundreds of lives as mentor, advocate, teacher, political activist, counselor and friend.”
Bensinger describes the job of a school social worker this way: “School social workers are problem solvers, the folks behind the scenes, who work at helping parents, teachers and, of course, students.”
She has worked with both general education and special education students.
“I try to help youngsters understand themselves and how their behavior can determine if they’re successful or unsuccessful, and I consider each individual student’s reason for a lack of success to be a mystery that must be solved.
“What has driven my career is the knowledge that kids are out there in crisis and that I have to be part of the solution, or I could not live with myself.”