January 10, 2010

Dear SEA members,

As we begin semester two of our current school year, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for being an educator in our district. You really do make a difference in the lives of the students we serve. Speaking asboth a parent and community member, I will never be able to thank you enough.

As individuals, and collectively as a union, we will continue to deal with a difficult economy and mandates that we may not believe in. Our work is rewarding but also stressful. I have often encouraged our district to continue celebrating our successes in these tough times.

While our district seeks to improve test scores, we must insist that we are involved in the decision making process. For example, the SEA Bilingual Task Force is a group of individuals that has made a commitment to protect the students we serve. In December, the Bilingual Task Force attended the School Board meeting en masse to share their concerns with the Board regarding the direction that our District is headed in the area of the education of our English Language Learners. Statements made to the Board by the Chair of the Task Force, Maria Thompson, and another Task Force member, are posted on our website, www.seacta.org. I hope that you can find the time to read theses statements. Our task force is composed of teachers who are leaders, who have a passion to help students, and who are committed. I am hopeful that the District will take the concerns that were raised seriously.