Our Mission

The Washoe Education Association works to protect rights and due process for education professionals serving the Washoe County School District. We believe that the best possible working conditions are the best possible learning conditions for the children of Washoe County. It is our goal as an association to advocate for the members in the classroom, at the school site, and with the District, as well as at state and national levels.

Our Committment To You:

  • WEA is the only professional organization advocating for your rights.
  • WEA represents you during the development of the Negotiated Agreement
  • WEA gives you an avenue for receiving quick, confidential, impartial advice on professional matters
  • WEA keeps you up-to-date with effective and efficient communication
  • WEA offers programs, workshops and trainings to keep you current
  • WEA generates public and legislative support for your profession
  • WEA provides you with liability insurance
  • WEA provides you with discounts to community businesses

WEA Today Featured Articles and Current Events

Below are some articles featured in our February 2010 WEA Today. You can always click on the "WEA Today Issue Archives" button on the left-hand menu bar of this web page and read or print full issues from your personal computer. Click on an article to jump to it:

WEA Adds a New Scholarship for Educators

We are pleased to announce a new scholarship for members already in the field. The WEA/United Federal Credit Union $1000 scholarship is designed to assist educators who are furthering their education either at an accredited institution or through professional development. All of the forms may be found on our website (see the WEA Scholarships tab on the left of this page). You may also request a form by contacting Chelsea Wesnousky at the WEA Office.

We will still be awarding the $1,000 Ernie Johnson Scholarship to a student pursuing a degree from a two-year vocational institution, the $1,000 Marilyn Owen Schoalrship to a student entering a 4-year program, the $1,000 Kathy Powell/Thelma Davlia Scholarship to a student of Hispanic descent entering the field of education, and the $2,000 Lancaster Family Scholarship to a student entering the field of elementary education. All application forms are available on the Scholarships page of this website.

THE CAT IS BACK!!!

In celebration of Read Across America Day and Nevada Reading Month, "The Cat" will be available to read to your class, grade level or grade assemblies. Call Elaine Lancaster at 828-3025, or e-mail her on Groupwise, to schedule a day and time!

WEA Bookmark Contest

The WEA Bookmark Contest was announced on January 13th. THe theme this year is "Pick a Book From The Reading Garden." Educators are encouraged to participate by having their students design bookmarks (dimensions 2.5" by 8.5") for a classroom competition, and then submitting the winning bookmark to the WEA Office by Friday, February 12th. The WEA will select a winner from each grade level, as well as a Grand Prize Winner. Winners receive Barnes and Noble gift certificates as well as goodies for the class. The WEA produces the Grand Prize Winning bookmark to be distributed to students at the beginning of Nevada Reading Month: March 2010. Your building rep has more details, but you can also feel free to contact us at 828-9282 to find out more about how your class can particpate!

GPO-WEP 2009 Summary and 2010 Update

At the December NEA Board of Directors meeting in Washington, D.C., the GPO-WEP Task Force made a presentation to all state NEA Directors. The objective of the presentation was to update all directors on the background and current fight to repeal the unfair Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision (GPO/WEP) currently in law.

GPO and WEP have impacted public employees since 1979 and 1982, respectively – taking away benefits they or their spouses have EARNED over their years of employment. This was an early attempt to “reform” the Social Security System. NEA has been fighting a long time to get these offsets repealed, but our efforts really “kicked into high gear” in 2001 when, in response to a New Business Item (NBI) passed by the NEA Representative Assembly, then-President Bob Chase appointed the first Social Security Offsets Task Force. Under the direction of that group, NEA piloted a training program, developed educational materials, and conducted a National Lobby Day. The following year, in response to another NBI, NEA created a grassroots cadre – two people in each state who would work to engage grassroots efforts on behalf of these issues.

The GPO/WEP Task Force continues to meet every “Super Week” of the NEA Board of Directors meeting to help guide NEA staff on legislative strategy, grassroots activities, media work, and anything else that might help reach the goal of “repeal.” This summer, the NEA RA passed several New Business Items, one of which called for NEA to increase our “coalition work.” NEA will hold a meeting later this spring for partner organizations in DC to increase the engagement of our coalition partners. Another NBI also asked NEA to ensure that all 50 state affiliates are engaged in the effort to repeal GPO/WEP.

NEA hired a consultant to help collect, analyze, and distribute data about who among our members are impacted. This will include breakdown by gender, employment category, and financial impacts by retirement monies, spousal survival benefits, and other useful categories. A survey is in the field already in many of the 15 most directly impacted states. The results of the survey should be available by mid-year to share with you.

But as you can tell, much more needs to be done! The simple fact is that many of our members suffer under these harsh penalties and count on NEA and all of us to do everything within our power to help repeal these unfair laws. Our profession is also suffering! We cannot recruit talented, dedicated people into public education from other fields if their retirement security is jeopardized.

Year after year we get more and more supporters in Congress. As of now, the House bill has over 300 cosponsors and the Senate bill has over 30. We have had hearings in the House and Senate, but the bill has yet to move out of committee. As a Task Force, we look for new and innovative ways to make our case for repeal. That is where you, our members, come into the picture. Letters and phone calls to your representatives in Washington, D.C. do make a difference. Talk to family and friends that live outside of the state to also make calls and write letters to their representatives in Congress. I, as your representative on the GPO/WEP National Task Force, will continue to lobby in person with each of our Senators and Representatives each time I am in Washington, D.C. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by e-mail or phone. If you have any suggestions on how to “make our case” to Congress, please pass them along to me, and I will take them to my next NEA Task Force meeting in D.C. in February.

WEA Very Involved in District Committees

It is important that you as members of WEA know how involved the association is on WCSD committees. These committees will shape the future of education here in the district. We currently have 6 educators on the Growth Model committee. This group will determine how we assess and are held accountable for our students learning. We have 2 educators on the Standards Based Report Card committee, which is determining when to replace our current report cards with a standards based template.

Dr. Morrison has directed Pedro Martinez, Deputy Superintendent, to formulate a new strategic plan. Eleven committees have been formed with educators, principals, parents and community members. Your WEA Reps have the committees, their charge, and when they are meeting. Dr. Morrison also included information about the plan in his January 8th “Friday Minute.” A draft of the plan will be ready by the end of March and finalized by the end of May. The intention of the plan is to align all curriculum, professional development, assessment and accountability throughout the district. There will be much information and an online survey will be available for your input. Also, the district will be holding forums in the evenings in February open to all interested folks. Please take the opportunity to have your voice heard with important input.