Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! I hope you all have a restful holiday--see you in January!

Peace,

Roni

Happy Thanksgiving - Communal Sustenance

What does it mean to give thanks? It means to acknowledge all those in one's community who provide sustenance, both spiritually and materially. I am thankful for my children, my family, the loving support of my friends, my church, and all the other people I come in contact with on a personal as well as professional level.

As I reflect on the past year as a Vice-President of the PEA, I want to give thanks to all those members who supported me during my ordeal--read it here and here and here. We were triumphant, and due process has been confirmed as "the law of the land," so to speak. As someone who grew up in Plainfield, attended Plainfield public schools, and who teaches in the district, I am forever grateful for the community support I received and especially for the warm wishes from those who value dedication, openness, and ethical leadership. I want to reiterate something I wrote earlier this year as I pledge to continue to support my fellow Plainfield teachers, our support staff, and our security personnel:

I am proud to be a member and an elected officer (2nd Vice President) of an organization that speaks up for the interests of these employees of the public school system with reference to working conditions, pay and the protection of our rights of free association and speech in pursuit of the community's common goal of educating and nurturing our youth and preparing them to be informed, skilled and active participants in society at large.

Have a safe and relaxing holiday!

Peace,

Roni

NJEA Support for Buono; Update on My "Situation"

First, an update on my stand for 'fair treatment and due process' by the Plainfield Education Association (PEA). I want to thank both PEA members and those from the community who offered me words of encouragement during my stand. I remain a vice president of the Plainfield Education Association. I am not suspended. The Association’s failure to follow its own bylaws and provisions for due process under the Affiliate Agreement with the NJ Education Association have rendered the charges against me null and void.

So, on with the work of the Association!

Second, at Wednesday's Union County Education Association's annual Fall Focus meeting, the NJEA endorsed gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono and her running mate for Lieutenant Governor, Millie Silva. Sen. Buono was present and shared her vision for public education. What can you do to help? Watch, take action, and volunteer! Take a minute or two to watch the latest video, 'Public Education: Our Fight, Our Time' below:

Public Education. Our Fight. Our Time.

You can easily easily join the campaign. Go to the Garden State Forward website and click on the 'Join the Fight' or 'Join the Campaign' links for suggestions as to how you can help.

Third, come on out this Saturday, September 28, and join other NJEA members, family and friends to phone bank and canvass for the Buono/Silva team. As part of the statewide Day of Action, we will be gathering at the Plainfield Democratic Headquarters on West Front Street (next door to Dunkin' Donuts) from Noon to 6:00 PM to help I'll be there, and look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

Together, we can make a difference in November!

Peace,

 

Roni

 

 

First the verdict, then the trial. This is Justice?

The Plainfield Education Association's Executive Committee has the ability to suspend any of its officers for cause and recommend to the general membership that the  person be removed from office.

Due process would mean that the officer in question would have a complaint made against them by a member of the union (it could be an officer). That complaint would be heard by the Executive Committee, with the person against whom the complaint is made present and able to answer the complaint point-by-point in defending him or herself.

You would think.

But that is not the way this incident went down. The email below was sent to me by President Cardona on Tuesday, June 4 -- two weeks after the Executive Committee action was supposedly taken.

Here is the email sent by President Cardona on June 4. (Click to enlarge or print.)

I received an email from President Cardona on May 16, 2013 advising there would be an Association Representative meeting. It seems my name and a few others  were omitted, and we did not receive the original announcement. Later that day, I received a text message from President Cardona advising there was to be an 'emergency' meeting of the Executive Committee. When I replied, asking what was the agenda, Ms. Cardona never answered.

Because I had a conflict, I was unable to attend.

It appears that I was the topic of discussion at this meeting and that the suspension notice was the outcome. I do not know exactly who was in attendance. Though all the Executive Committee members' names (except mine) are listed on the email--implying all have agreed to the matter--I have been approached by some who said either they were not present and did not vote or they were present and did not support the suspension vote.

It is a cherished American constitutional right to face one's accuser. I have not been afforded that basic right of due process, and so I responded, as we shall see tomorrow. 

Peace,

Roni

Justice for one is justice for all.

Why I Am Fighting Charges of "Conduct Unbecoming': It's About Justice For All

As a teacher in the Plainfield Public Schools, I am a member of the district's bargaining

entity for teachers, support staff and security personnel, the Plainfield Education Association (PEA).

I am proud to be a member and an elected officer (2nd Vice President) of an organization that speaks up for the interests of these employees of the public school system with reference to working conditions, pay and the protection of our rights of free association and speech in pursuit of the community's common goal of educating and nurturing our youth and preparing them to be informed, skilled and active participants in society at large.

All this being said, I am disappointed that some leadership members of the PEA have chosen to bring charges of "conduct unbecoming" against me. Without any details about the exact nature of the complaint(s) or who is making them, I am being faced with a hearing before a Review Committee which has the power to recommend my removal from this elected office by the general membership.

Alternatively, I can resign and everything will go away.

I am ready to defend my conduct as a member and an elected officer of this union. I am going to insist on due process, decency and fair treatment. Too many members have suffered embarrassment and harassment in violation of their rights as PEA members and American citizens.

So, why am I fighting charges of "conduct unbecoming'? It's about Justice For All!

Peace,

Roni

NJEA Elections Results Announced!

Congratulations to Wendell Steinhauer, President, Marie Blistan, Vice President and Sean Spiller, Secretary/Treasurer. The leadership team elected for a two year term will take office in September.  A warm thanks to Barbara Keshisian, who has lead the NJEA through   the   recent challenges of charter schools, privatization, and teacher evaluation and tenure. Read the bios of the NJEA leadership  team here:

New Leadership Elected for NJEA

Sean Spiller, newly elected as treasurer, has the distinction of also serving as a Councilman in Montclair N.J. 

We need well informed advocates of Public Education in appointed and elected positions.   We must be at the table when legislation and policy affecting Public Education is developed.  The NJEA shares this belief. The NJEA Political Leadership Academy provides training for members interested in running for political office.   You can find information about the Academy here:

 

http://www.njea.org/issues-and-political-action/elections 

Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics offers Ready to Run, training for women.  See below link for next training opportunity.  NJEA has supported this program by offering scholarships to interested members. Call NJEA Governmental services 609-599-4561 for more information.
 

Rutgers - Center for Women and Politics - Ready to Run

Want to get involved?  A great place to start is your local school board. Petitions for districts that moved their elections to November are due June 4th. Petitions can be picked at the business office of your local board of education. 

In closing, I want to remind you that the Plainfield Education Association ballots for the run- off election between Katherine Cardona and Eric Jones  must be posted marked by Thursday, May 23, 2013.

Peace,

Roni

Eric E. Jones for PEA President!

Speaking of Elections…I would like to congratulate and extend a warm welcome to Joanne Barrett, Charisse Parker and Barry Young for their respective wins as Executive Officers. Further, I would like to thank all the people who supported me during my recent campaign for the Presidency of the Plainfield Education Association. You will soon receive official information regarding the run-off between candidates Eric Jones and Katherine Cardona from the Association.

I am urging everyone who supported me to now support Eric Jones’s Candidacy for President during the run off.  Eric is running on a platform of member engagement.  Eric understands the importance of regular substantive communication to members and all stakeholders.

I ask you to join me in supporting Eric Jones 
for President of the Plainfield Education Association.

NJEA Endorses Barbara Buono for Governor!

The New Jersey Education Association has endorsed Senator Barbara Buono for Governor of New Jersey. But she can not win without our help!  Visit the below sites…get involved…don’t let this opportunity pass you by…. 

NJEA - Campaign 2013

Buono for Governor 
Here's an extra treat--watch this great video of Senator Buono’s visit to Plainfield!

Still Waiting: Fair Elections Can Be Ensured with Voting Machines

 

PEA candidates were notified early this week by a phone message that the counting of the ballots for this year's elections would not take place as scheduled. Ballots were supposed to be counted on Wednesday, April 10.

The use of voting machines, as I had suggested, would have alleviated this problem and provided a immediate tally of the votes.This method would have also curtailed some of the suspicion around the fair and accurate counting by open partisans on the election committee.

 

Another troubling aspect of this year's election is that I have heard from some members that they did not receive ballots--the Elections Committee owes it to the members to ensure that all have received ballots. I will find out if the NJEA has established practices that election committees are supposed to follow, and to investigate these lapses in procedure.

 

Membership needs leaders it can trust, and the process needs to be transparent. You deserve honesty, fairness, and an untainted process. Secretiveness about where ballots are to be counted, partisanship, and lack of transparency contribute to an atmosphere of mistrust. As it stands now, members have expressed serious concerns about the integrity of the voting/counting process. Transparency? Still waiting....

 

Roni

 

 

 

 

Democracy in Action! Vote for New Leadership!

It’s Election Time for the Plainfield Education Association Members. The association is at a crossroads. Stagnant leadership has resulted in no forward movement. Evaluate the record of leadership and choose REAL leadership that understands every member has a unique voice that deserves to be heard. I am running to serve as YOUR UNION PRESIDENT. I offer a fresh, positive voice for YOUR interests. I started this blog out of a need to ensure that YOUR needs as a member of the Plainfield Education Association were met, and that YOU could know where to turn for information. Your words of encouragement mean a lot to me. You deserve leadership that LISTENS to your concerns and responds with ACTION, not silence. I hope I have earned your confidence and your vote! Election Calendar and Candidate profiles can be found at the Plainfield Education Association Website (see link on navigation bar at right). Click on the image above to enlarge it--don't forget to vote!

Vote for Veronica “Roni” Taylor for PEA President!

Ballots will be distributed Thurs & Fri, March 21-22 

Ballots must be postmarked by midnight Sat, March 30

 

Annual Herbert Green Forum on Education

This is being posted by invitation from the League of Women Voters of Plainfield, where I served as president after Herb. I also served on the Board of Education with Herb. He is deeply missed. I invite all my colleagues to come out to this important event.

On Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 6:30 pm, the League of Women Voters of Plainfield will present its First Annual Herbert Green Forum on Education, with guest speaker Dr. Arnold L. Glass, Professor of Cognitive Psychology at Rutgers University. The talk will take place in the Anne Louise Davis Room at the Plainfield Public Library, located at 800 Park Avenue in Plainfield.

Dr. Glass, whose research focuses on cognitive learning, heads the Learning and Memory Laboratory of the Department of Psychology at Rutgers, and he has published widely in the American Journal of Psychology, The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, Memory and Cognition, and other professional journals.

Dr. Glass writes, "When we see something or recall something or plan a sentence, a representation of what we see or recall or wish to say forms in our brain. What are these representations like? If we knew exactly what they were like then we could replicate them in databases that would be used by computers to see and speak the way we do."

Click here to be taken to Dr. Glass's webpage to read a full description of his research.

This event is free and open to the public, and we especially encourage educators to attend to hear Dr. Glass's presentation. Refreshments will be served after the talk.

The Herbert Green Forum on Education is named in memory of our beloved colleague, who died recently at the age of 87 after a brave battle with cancer.