Read Across America DayMarch 2nd and 4th , 2004

Dr. Seuss hats bobbed up and down on Thursday, March 4th as a parade of students filed into the cafeteria of Battle Ground Elementary school.This procession was part of a birthday bash in honor of Dr. Seuss, complete with cake and a personal appearance by the Cat in the Hat!

As part of NEA’s nation-wide Read Across America Day, birthday party guests joined others across the United States in a celebration of reading.To open the party, PSEA members visited 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms and read a Dr. Seuss book. Then, equipped with all the provisions needed to make a really sophisticated Dr. Seuss

in the Hat” style hat. All the students involved then made their way to the school cafeteria, each student wearing his/her hat.After singing “Happy Birthday” to Dr. Seuss, students shared a birthday cake with the most special of guests, the Cat in the Hat.

PSEA members wishing to participate in Read Across America who could not attend the

AWESOME OUTREACH!

Purdue Student Education Association

“Touching Tomorrow Today!”

Spring 2004 Newsletter

Valentine’s Day OutreachFebruary 12, 2004

PSEA members decorated Valentine’s Day cards for patients in Lafayette’s Home Hospital. The cards were delivered in person.

Chicago Kindergarten Email PalsSpring semester 2004

PSEA volunteers emailed kindergarten students at Healy Elementary in Chicago. Their emails were read aloud with the help of 8th graders in the building, who also helped generate responses. Ms. Grenz, the cooperating teacher, was excited to see that the email interactions helped her

Honduras Book Drive

PSEA sponsored a book drive to collect children’s books for schools in Honduras. A group of Purdue Education students who will be studying in Honduras next semester will hand deliver the books to the schools.

PSEA is part of the Indiana State Teaching Association (ISTA), an association that provides valuable services to teachers; but many members are not aware of that affiliation or of the services available once they start teaching.ISTA’s Lafayette Unified Service Director, Don Thompson, discussed services provided to members on the local level. Mr. Thompson spoke specifically about the areas with which he is directly involved: collective bargaining, teachers’ rights, legal services and political action.Collective bargaining

days, performance evaluation procedures, etc. Mr. Thompson suggested that future teachers ask to see a school’s collective bargaining agreement when interviewing.As public employees, teachers have U.S. Constitutional rights, as well as Indiana Constitutional and statutory rights. ISTA aids its members in claiming these rights in order to ensure fair treatment.

Should legal services be needed, ISTA also provides its members with $1 million in liability insurance as well as $5,000 in legal assistance if accused of child abuse. Private attorney referral services are also available, allowing teachers the maximum opportunity to receive just legal treatment.Finally, Thompson stressed the importance of teacher involvement in political action, stating that ISTA is heavily involved in lobbying on both the state and national levels. ISTA also provides its members

Four PSEA members composed a panel of student teachers who volunteered to answer questions about their student teaching experiences. The panel consisted of former PSEA president Jackie Bixler, who spent time with both 4th grade and kindergarten classes in Crawfordsville; former PSEA vice-president Lauren Krulik, who taught in a Title 1 2nd grade class at Lafayette’s Durgan Elementary; Alysha Stroup, who taught 7th and 8th grade English classes at Tri-County; and Kyle Sprague, who taught 9th and 11th grade English in Rossville.The members shared differing experiences, but they all stressed the importance of organization as the key to success.

If organization is not a natural strong point, as Kyle admitted, that’s ok. He suggested maintaining a sense of humility by being open about weaknesses and asking for help.Alysha included that the relationship with the supervising teacher makes a world of difference; she also advised networking with other teachers in the building.

Jackie also recognized the importance of solid relationships with other teachers and suggested student teachers meet with supervising teachers before

GRADUATE SCHOOL March 25, 2004

ISTA Services February 23, 2004

Student teaching April 21, 2004

Page 2

While many PSEA members will begin teaching shortly after they graduate, others may wish to consider attending graduate school.PSEA’s own advisors, Jill May and Jeanne Muzzillo, discussed the educational benefits of attending graduate school and offered some

stressed the importance of being familiar with the requirements for the graduate school program. It is also important to make professor contacts, as graduate students usually need a faculty sponsor. Ms. Muzzillo emphasized the importance of being pro-active in order to be successful in the challenging, competitive

Graduate school offers many benefits that can directly impact teaching. For instance, learning about new methods of teaching can enhance a teacher’s classroom performance. Those who obtain a PhD in education will also be able to further research educational methods and

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Revision of PSEA ConstitutionPSEA president Allison Lawrence chaired a committee to revise the PSEA constitution.

To see the revised Constitution, visit our website, http://expert.cc.purdue.edu/~psea/index.htm.

Regional Fall ConferenceOctober 9, 2004

PSEA is expanding the Fall Conference to include the entire Region One area of ISEA! We’re looking forward to phenomenal speakers and great networking between schools. Mark it on your calendar today!

ISEA Fall ConferenceOctober 15-16, 2004

This conference has a reputation of offering amazing speakers on relevant topics. Attendees will stay in the Sheraton Hotel on Keystone in Indianapolis. This is a great way to get to know your fellow PSEA members! Don’t miss it!

Membership Awards

General PSEA News

Upcoming Events

Thanks, members, for making this semester a

huge success!

ISEA Representative AssemblyFebruary 27-28, 2004The officers of PSEA, accompanied by co-advisor Jeanna Muzzillo, attended the ISEA (Indiana Student Education Association) Representative Assembly. Business included voting on revisions to the ISEA constitution and electing the 2004 executive board. PSEA received the “Outstanding Newsletter” award and the “Outstanding Sponsor” award honoring Prof. Jill May. Past president and vice-president Jackie Bixler and Lauren Krulik received awards for outstanding leadership. Active Members

Congratulations to the many members who received

Letters and Certificates! There were 23 this

semester! Great Job!

Congratulations as well to the 4 most active

members: Amanda Ullmer, Megan Murray, Paula Spencer,

and Michael Hart.

Committee Members

Thanks to those who served

on subcommittees! Constitution Committee:

Amanda Dean, Allison Goodwin,

Michael Hart, Lacey Stoner

Read Across America Committee:

Megan Murray, Paula Spencer,

Amanda Ullmer, Micki Watkins

ISEA ScholarshipsCongratulations to Lauren Krulik and

Want Chyi for receiving

scholarships from the Indiana Student

Education Association!

PSEA members are going national! June 27-July 8, 2004PSEA officers Rachel Gibson and Amber Coleman, along with ISEA president Lindsey Hewitt from ISU and Andrew Bigelow from Manchester College, will represent Indiana at the NEA Student Program Summer Leadership Conference. They will also have the opportunity to attend the National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly in Washington, D.C.

*Thanks to all our members for voting!

Office

Name

Email

Office Name Email Phone

President Alison Lawrence lawrenae@purdue.edu 497-8908

Vice President Sherman Moody smoody@purdue.edu 496-5111

Treasurer Amber Coleman accolema@purdue.edu 746-1746

Secretary Rachel Gibson rgibson@purdue.edu 219-628-0378

Publicity Katie Muehlhausen kmuehlha@purdue.edu 589-8552

Outreach Kim Morrison morriso2@purdue.edu 495-3915

Advisor Prof. Jill May jillmay@purdue.edu 494-2355

Co- Advisor

 Grad. Student Jeanne Muzzillo muzzillo@purdue.edu 494-4169

MEMEBERSHIP BENEFITS: ATTENTION MEMBERS! Members attending six (6) or more meetings will receive a “Certificate of Active Participation” at the end of the school year. Members participating in one (1) or more outreach programs, in addition to attending six (6) or more meetings may schedule an appointment with Professor Jill May. Following the meeting, Professor May will write a personal “Letter of Commendation.” You, the member, are responsible for becoming involved and signing in at each event with the

Purdue Student Education Association