January 2008
Dear NAFEPA Members:
The
ending of a year and the beginning of
another is a perfect time to stop and
reflect. As an organization, we have had a
very productive and rewarding year. We now
have over 3,000 members nationwide. Our
membership not only grows in numbers but
also in the diversity of job titles. We have
many more members who deal with the fiscal
aspects of federal education programs as
well as many who are on the front lines
implementing NCLB on a daily basis. This
includes many building principals including
some from my own school district in Alabama.
Welcome all of you and I know you will find
membership in NAFEPA to be very beneficial
to you.
While on the reflective theme, I recently
received a letter from Vanessa Moran (Sobeck).
Vanessa was the first recipient of the
Stanley J. McFarland Scholarship in 2002,
which was the only scholarship at that time.
Now we award three scholarships each year.
The additional two are in honor of John A.
Pfaff and Iva McCants. Vanessa graduated
Summa Cum Laude from the University of
Wisconsin-Green Bay and is currently
teaching first grade in the Tigerton School
District. You can read her letter on page 3.
I appreciate Vanessa’s update and thank you
all for the support you provide for
deserving students.
As our membership numbers increase we are
adding members to our Board of Directors.
Affiliate states with 100 or more members
are eligible for two members on the Board,
and we are pleased to announce that
Minnesota and Mississippi have both exceeded
that mark. Barbara Kearn will join Dale
Zellmer in representing Minnesota and Benny
Montgomery will join Peggy Rogers in
representing Mississippi. We welcome Barbara
and Benny to the Board of Directors, and we
look forward to working with them.
As we look to 2008 and the reauthorization
of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act, the only prediction I have to make is
that we are closer to reauthorization than
we were a year ago. In this issue you will
find comments concerning reauthorization
from several of our Board members. We will
be asking all of you to provide us with your
reflections of NCLB and your suggestions for
reauthorization. I appreciate those who
contributed and look forward to hearing from
others as we approach legislative changes.
Terry Larson and the Legislative Committee
are working to make sure we are ready when
Congress settles down to work on the task.
With the Presidential elections taking a
front row, it may be 2009 before Congress is
ready to really focus on NCLB.
The registration for our Spring Conference
is in full swing and I want to encourage you
to go ahead and get registered. Registration
information is included in this newsletter
and even more information can be found on
our website at
www.nafepa.org. The conference will be
held April 13-16, 2008 at the beautiful Omni
Shoreham in Washington, DC. I look forward
to seeing you there. Happy New Year!!!
Bobby Burns, President, NAFEPA
Click here
for previous Messages from NAFEPA President.
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