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President's Page

June 6, 2010

Dear SMETA Colleagues,

It was a bright and sunny afternoon on Friday, May 21, when almost 100 people came together to honor our retirees, leaders, and each other. This year’s SMETA Social, “SMETA Goes to the Oscars,” was definitely a time of recognition and celebration. When I was asked to share a few opening remarks, these words came to mind…

When you think about it, there are many similarities between the film industry and the classroom. After all, the magic of the movies is that they transport the mind and often transform the spirit. And, so does teaching.

Somewhere, each day, students are transported by our words and our visions to places only otherwise seen on the big screen. We leave the confines of the classroom and visit the deserts of Egypt, the streets of New York, or the Austrian Alps. We take our students inside a human cell, explore the craters of the moon, or travel back to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. We transform our classrooms into Renaissance castles, our playgrounds into Olympic stadiums, and our LGIs into concert halls.

Through our encouragement and enthusiasm, our students are transformed into writers, mathematicians, composers, and scientists. Even James Cameron would have difficulty directing so many storylines, set locations, and performers. People talk about the “Magic of the Movies,” but it is quite clear to me that the real magic is in teaching.

As SMETA President, it was my honor to speak before our colleagues at the Social, and now to share these remarks with all of you, as a final communication for the year. Before we go, however, it is important to reflect on our accomplishments. This definitely has been a “Year to Remember.”

I asked you early on to “Be Informed, Get Involved, and Make a Difference.” And you did…over and over and over again. Thank you. We have much to be proud of. After three years in the development, our Organizing Team put the final touches on the SMETA Core Values and Volunteer Opportunities brochure, which allowed us to share our message with our members and the community. We established the Political Action Committee, through which our members participated in the School Board election and had an active role in the passage of Measure A. Members of SMETA and District Leadership and Bargaining Teams embarked on a problem-solving approach to contract negotiations based on “interests” rather than “positions.” SMETA representatives have had active roles in District work, such as RtI, Middle School Report Card, Catastrophic Leave, Professional Development, Facility Advisory, and Peer Assistance and Review committees.

In addition, we have been able to support our members through on-site trainings, updates via the SMETA Website, and Grievance advisement. We have continued to build positive relationships with our District leadership and administrative staff through open communication and collaboration. We have accomplished much this year, thanks to the hard work and commitment of team leaders, committee members, Governing Council Representatives, Executive Board Members, and Officers. The credit goes to each one of you, as well, for doing your part to keep our Association and our Profession strong.

I wish all of you a well-deserved break…may your time be spent doing something you love. Congratulations, Retirees. We will miss you. Your commitment to our schools and students has been remarkable. May you enjoy many new adventures.

Thank you all for the magic you make every day in the lives of our children and the lives of each other.

Stay Informed, Get Involved, Make a Difference

Phyllis Harris, President, SMETA

Your association leadership is committed to working hard to advocate for our members. This web site is one of many vehicles for communication. Visit it often to stay informed.