2016-SCRIBE-SCEA Elections - Somerset County Education

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016 SCRIBE
Election Issue
Vol. XXXXVIII, Issue 1 Somerset
County
Education
Association This year there will be three uncontested and three contested positions for you to cast your ballots. Elections will be conducted by direct mail or online at njea.org between April 1 and April 16. Paper ballots must be received at the address indicated in the mailing. This issue contains candidate information and job descriptions for each office so that you may better familiarize yourselves with the positions and the candidates vying for each. All candidates are listed alphabetically. Please remember to vote!! County Officers (elect 1 each for 2 year term) SCEA 1st Vice President Daynon Blevins­Hillsborough Township Andrew Coslit­Somerset County Vocational Technical School Dan Epstein­Franklin Township SCEA Treasurer ​
(uncontested) Dave Yastremski­Bernards Township Delegate Assembly The Delegate Assembly determines the policies of the Association, approves the Association budget, acts upon reports from the NJEA officers, the Executive Committee, and all standing committees, and elects New Jersey representatives to the NEA Board of Directors. DA members are elected by members of their counties and units of representation. Delegate Assembly (uncontested, elect 2 for 2 year term) Fran Blabolil Rhonda Sherbin Delegate Assembly Alternate (uncontested, elect 2 for 2 year term) Kristina Fallon Tomaino Patrick Frain NEA Representative Assembly Responsibilities: The RA is convened every July during the Annual Meeting. At this meeting, representatives to highest deliberative body debate issues that impact American public education, elect top officers, and set policy for the Association. NEA RA Representatives (elect 6 for 1 year term) Laura S. Bochner Andrew Coslit Gwendoline Duralek Kim Edwards Karen Ellis Kristina Fallon Tomaino Virginia Hawkins Eugenia Kalacheva Elaine Thurmond Lagina Womack Dave Yastremski NEA RA Ethnic Minority Representative (elect 1 for 1 year term) Kim Edwards Karen Ellis Virginia Hawkins Elaine Thurmond Lagina Womack SCEA Officers Steve Beatty President Daynon Blevins 1st Vice President Dan Epstein 2nd Vice President Laura Bochner Recording Secretary Dave Yastremski Treasurer Patti Robbins Office Manager office@sceanj.org VOTING BEGINS ON APRIL 1. REGISTER TO VOTE ONLINE AT NJEA.ORG OR VOTE BY MAIL. PAPER BALLOTS WILL BE MAILED TO YOUR HOME ADDRESS BY NJEA. Register to vote online at njea.org!!!!! Somerset County Education Association
1140 Route 22 East, Suite 100, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Candidates for 1st Vice President
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15 years of Service to SCEA Team Player ­ have worked well with past and present leadership teams Member of NJEA Delegate Assembly Member of NJEA Public Relations Committee Former Member of NJEA Government Relations Committee Former Member of NJEA Congressional Contact Committee SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP FOR THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE Vote by mail or online
beginning April 1st.
Andrew Coslit for st​
SCEA 1​
Vice President I am currently the President of Somerset County Vocational­Technical Education Association in Bridgewater, NJ. I am currently involved in advocacy and training at the local, county, state and national level. I’m looking forward to increasing involvement at the county level by recruiting more county level involvement from our locals, helping to incorporate more technology into our advocacy and training activities, and representing our county as a delegate to the County Presidents Council for NJEA. My union activities include: ● SCVTEA ­Somerset County Vocational­Technical Education Association President ● SCVTEA representative to SCEA Representative Council ● SCEA Budget committee member ● SCEA Constitution/By Laws committee member ● SCEA Executive Committee representative to the NJEA Leadership Committee – responsible for advocacy trainings at Winter and Summer Leadership Conferences ● Somerset County delegate to the NJEA Delegate Assembly – responsible for NJEA policies. ● NJEA Ethics committee member Register to vote online at njea.org!!!!! Candidates for 1st Vice President
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DAN EPSTEIN for 1st VP: Best combination of ​
RESULTS​
and ​
EXPERIENCE Getting Results ­Led pension rally in Somerville ­Spearheaded NJEA’s campaign for Assemblyman Zwicker, successfully electing a pro­education legislator ­Organized the fight against privatization in Bound Brook ­Spoke at rep meetings in Hillsborough, Bernards, and other locals about pension ­Testified to state BOE against PARCC ­Educated PTO/PTA leaders about PARCC and teacher evaluation Experience in Leadership ­SCEA 2nd VP ­NJEA Government Relations Committee ­Franklin Township EA Elementary Coordinator Praise from Local Presidents ● “Dan Epstein's tireless dedication to unionism and public education has ensured that SCEA members remain informed and empowered. I've had the pleasure of collaborating with Dan on the Somerville Pension Rally and LD 16 Zwicker campaign and look forward to future SCEA successes.” ­​
Henry Goodhue, Hillsborough ● "Dan Epstein is an asset to the SCEA. He went out of his way to help my local plan and organize strategies to fight a privatization effort by our BOE. He is a high energy person who believes in helping out whenever he can." ­​
Loren Paxson, Bound Brook ● “Dan Epstein works tirelessly for the benefit of all members. His energy and leadership are invaluable to our association.” ­​
Lorri Mountainland, Franklin Township Vote by mail or online
beginning April 1st.
Register to vote online at njea.org!!!!! Delegate Assembly Alternate
Support Kristina Fallon Tomaino for
Delegate Assembly Alternate! Published advocate for public education and educators. ∙ Active association member: Local Secretary, Association Rep, Local Negotiations,
LAT, County Rep, Working Conditions and Higher Education Committee, NJEA
Apprentice Graduate. ∙ D. A. Alternate ∙ A proven committed informed candidate ready to represent all members in these
challenging times. Vote For Kristina Fallon Tomaino And Our Concerns For Public Education Will Be Heard!
Vote by mail or online
beginning April 1st.
Patrick Frain Born in NYC, 1963 Worked as a mover and in construction (both union jobs) for 24 years before going back to school full time while working full time to finish my degree. Graduated in the top 10 of my class at Dominican College with a degree in the Social Sciences and Special Education. I am certified to teach History 7­12 and Special Education, K­12. I am presently employed as a high school History/Special Ed. Teacher at Somerville High School. I work both Resource Rooms and In Class Support. Several years ago I started as the Membership Chair with the SEA, then on to Grievance Chair. After that I became First Vice President, then President. "Those who produce should have, but we know that those who produce the most­that is those that work the hardest and at the most difficult tasks have the least" Eugene Debs The issues we are facing today are the same issues that people before us fought for and won. To have decent health care, retire at a decent age, with a pension we worked for and paid into shouldn't be a pipe dream. It shouldn't be considered charity as some people would have others think. Register to vote online at njea.org!!!!! NEA
Representative Assembly
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Lagina S. Womack I have been the Accounts Payable Bookkeeper with North Plainfield Board of Education for almost 14 years. I graduated from Plainfield High School, Union County College, and the University of Phoenix. I have held the position of treasurer, an association representative, social chair, and legislative chair over the past ten years. I understand how important it is to contact legislators regarding relevant issues, such as pensions, health benefits, and cost of living adjustment for retirees. ​
LAURA S. BOCHNER
To the NEA/RA – Your True Representative ●
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Somerset County Delegate to the NEA/RA for past six consecutive years
I serve as your SCEA Secretary
NEA/RA Somerset County PAC Captain and NJEA State Contact for
Alabama
Chairperson of the NJEA Member Benefits Committee
Member of the NJEA Constitution Review Committee
SCEA Executive Committee and Representative Council
Recently served as local Grievance Chair
Please send Laura back ​
as your Delegate to the NEA/RA
Andrew Coslit for State Delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly I have attended the NEA/RA for the last 3 years and look forward to continuing representation of our county and state at the national level. My activities include: President of my local, Member of Representative Council, Budget, By­Laws/Constitution and Exec committees for SCEA. Member of Delegate Assembly, Leadership and Ethics committees for NJEA.
Register to vote online at njea.org!!!!! NEA
Representative Assembly
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Support Kristina Fallon Tomaino for
NEA RA State Delegate! Published advocate for public education and educators. ∙ Active association member: Local Secretary, Association Rep, Local Negotiations,
LAT, County Rep, Working Conditions and Higher Education Committee, NJEA
Apprentice Graduate. ∙ D. A. Alternate ∙ A proven committed informed candidate ready to represent all members in these
challenging times. Vote For Kristina Fallon Tomaino And Our Concerns For Public Education Will Be Heard! Eugenia (aka Zhenya) Kalacheva has been teaching ESL K­8 in South Bound Brook since 2006, and was the district's Teacher of the Year in 2015. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Rutgers University, and continued her education at Montclair State University. She is an advocate for collective bargaining, fair labor practices, as well as unbiased teacher evaluation. Her current involvement is in negotiations, the Action Team, supporting new membership in the district, and examining evaluation practices.
Vote for Dave Yastremski for SCEA Representative to the 2016 NEA/RA. After serving as your county treasurer and as an NEA delegate for eleven years, I hope to continue bringing the voice and mission of the SCEA to the national arena. So many issues affecting New Jersey Public Education are brought to the RA floor. As your representative, I pledge my goal to you, all SCEA members, that your voice and mission will be heard. We all share the same goal, our passionate support and investment in New Jersey Public Education. Vote for Dave Yastremski. Register to vote online at njea.org!!!!!