We Celebrate, Communicate, Educate, Support, and Take Action

Welcome to our WEA Website!! If you have any questions, please email - wlooedassociation@gmail.com

JOIN NOW!!

Click on the link below to get signed up to join the ISEA and WEA!

https://join.nea.org/iowa/

January 14 Opening Board Meeting One High School Listening Session

Attend in person - hear from the horse's mouth!
View on Youtube - public meetings are usually broadcast
Not a Q&A session - informational, listening session

Member Social April 16 4:00 Kingpin Social Club (Maple Lanes 2608 University Avenue)

Join us for a fun afternoon as we celebrate you - our amazing members!

Enjoy good company, refreshments, and a chance to relax and connect with fellow members. We will meet at KingPin Social Club (Maple Lanes 2608 University Ave) on Thursday, April 16th from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Pizza will be available starting at 4:30.

We appreciate all that you do and can’t wait to celebrate together!

Love Boxes Packing Party February 12th

4:30 p.m. at the ISEA office

(203 E. Tower Park Drive Waterloo - in the strip mall infront of Sam's Club with the clock). Watch for a Google Form to RSVP your attendance.

Let Stephanie Giachino know if your building's box is missing anything by JANUARY 29 so missing items can be bought with grant monies
Also notify her of any extras you have that won't need to be bought

- Bring collected materials from your building to put a little LOVE in a box!

Thank You!

As we begin 2026, thank you, educators.

You teach content.

But you teach kids first.

Every one of them walks in wanting to belong.

To be accepted.

To know they matter.

You decide, every day, what kind of room they walk into.

A room where it's safe to try.

A room where effort is valued.

A room where students feel seen.

That doesn't show up in a lesson plan.

But it shows up in kids.

Years later.

They will remember the support.

The encouragement.

And how you made them feel.

They will remember that forever.

That's the work.

That's the impact.

Thank you for carrying it into 2026.

Dr. Brad Johnson

ISEA EDUCATOR

BILL OF RIGHTS

Advocating for the rights of educators. Wednesday, December 10, 2025 ISEA President Joshua Brown proudly launches our campaign championing the ISEA Educator Bill of Rights, because Iowa educators deserve unwavering support, essential resources, and the professional autonomy to empower every student’s success.

#ISEAEdBillofRights

The ISEA Educator Bill of Rights is a non-negotiable set of requirements that uphold the dignity and respect our public education professionals deserve and the essential conditions our students need to grow and thrive.

We demand the rights that restore dignity and financial security, the right to combat burnout and ensure safe learning, and the rights that empower us to lead and connect.

NEA EdAction in Congress

Thanksgiving weekend was the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), first passed as the Education for All Handicapped Children on Nov. 29, 1975 (the law was renamed IDEA in 1990).

“Fifty years ago, with the passage of IDEA, America made a promise to students with disabilities and their families—that they would be able to participate fully in learning and reach their potential,” said NEA President Becky Pringle.

Before IDEA, students with disabilities were routinely institutionalized, isolated from their peers, and denied access to public education. Today, 95 percent of students with disabilities attend regular schools and more than two-thirds of them are in regular classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Funding has remained an issue, however. From the start, IDEA said the federal government would pay up to 40% of the average per pupil cost for special education students. The federal contribution has never come close—it’s currently just 12%.

Now, the Trump administration is moving selected Department of Education functions to other agencies—a threat not just to IDEA, but public education as a whole. If we allow one part of the system to be dismantled in silence, the rest won’t be far behind. As pastor Martin Niemoller said, “Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

This week, the Senate is expected to vote on renewing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies that have made health insurance affordable for over 20 million Americans. Congress must act immediately or significantly higher premiums—double what they are now, on average—will take effect Jan. 1, the same day massive tax breaks for the ultra-rich become permanent under the GOP’s reconciliation bill.

The impact would reverberate nationwide. One-quarter of those who get health coverage through ACA marketplaces are “very likely” to go without insurance altogether if Congress allows the subsidies to expire, according to a new KFF survey.

Tell Congress what you think!

In Solidarity,

Kimberly Johnson Trinca
National Education Association

Message from ISEA President Josh Brown

Member Social November 13 4:30 Kingpin Social Club (Maple Lanes 2608 University Avenue)

Join us for a fun afternoon as we celebrate you - our amazing members!

Enjoy good company, refreshments, and a chance to relax and connect with fellow members. We will meet at KingPin Social Club (Maple Lanes 2608 University Ave) on Thursday, November 13th starting at 4:00 p.m.

Pizza will be available starting at 4:30.

We appreciate all that you do and can’t wait to celebrate together!

Recertification Success!

Thank you to all who participated in the recertification process. Waterloo Education Association recertified with 82%.

NEA Ed Action in Congress

Last week, the Senate failed for the 12th time to extend government funding and end the shutdown. The standoff continues between extremist politicians and Democrats demanding an extension of expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies.

The shutdown directly impacts educators who work for the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). These educators teach and support students on military bases stateside and around the world. They are among the federal employees who have either been furloughed, or are working without pay.

The already hollowed-out Department of Education was hit with a reduction-in-force (RIF) this month—aside from the shutdown—that cost over 400 employees their jobs. The RIFs decimated the office that oversees special education. Coupled with the Trump administration’s plan to shift management of special education to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), this will severely curtail opportunities for students with disabilities.

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) also lost more employees with the RIF. Without the Department of Education’s expertise and enforcement, parents must be their own watchdogs. This will increase inequities between families with the means to advocate for their children, and those without.

We’re marking the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) next month, but these actions push us further away from the law’s goal: that each student with a disability has the opportunity for a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.

As we told you last week, the shutdown means the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will run out of money November 1. Follow this link to see the impact in your state, including how many students will lose access to free school meals as a consequence of SNAP cuts. No child should go hungry because of political gridlock.

These are dark days for many of NEA’s priorities, but we take heart that lawmakers such as Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) are forcefully speaking out. Senator Merkley held the Senate floor for more than 22 hours last week to protest the Trump administration policies and the extremist-fueled federal shutdown. With that same passion, we must continue advocating for what we believe in.

Tell Congress what you think!

In Solidarity,

Kimberly Johnson Trinca
National Education Association

Protect Educational Opportunities for Students with Disabilities

The Trump administration’s plan to move special education out of the Department of Education threatens our progress in meeting the needs of vulnerable students.

"Performance-based pay" Response from ISEA

Governor Reynolds' "performance-based pay" DOGE proposal is a tired, recycled scheme that has proven ineffective and harmful to students and educators. Iowa doesn't need failed experiments; we need real support for our public schools and the professionals who make them strong.

We need real investment in Iowa's public schools, not failed experiments. Reject "performance-based pay" for teachers.

CANCELED: School Board Candidate Forum

Join us for the opportunity to speak with current board members and candidates:

Astor Williams
Janelle Ewing
Krystal Madlock

IPERS: Did You Know?

IPERS CEO Greg Samorajski answers frequently asked questions and shares information to help Iowans understand the state’s largest public retirement system on the new “Did You Know with the CEO” page on IPERS’ website.

The page also links to an opinion piece published in several Iowa newspapers in early September. It highlights how IPERS supports Iowa’s public workforce.

Pizza Puzzles Pints.pdf

Pizza, Puzzles, Pints 2.0

Thursday October 23rd

Who: 4-person teams

What: 1 pizza from Chad's pizza, 1 puzzle, 8 pints

When: Thursday October 23

Doors open @ 5:30 p.m.

Event starts @ 6:30 p.m.

Where: Pheasant Ridge Clubhouse at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course

3205 West 12th Street

Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613

Message from ISEA President Joshua Brown

Thank you for your membership in your union. Together, we are stronger. Together, we can stand up for what we know is right and just for our profession, students, and communities.

In the current hyper-politicized environment, I want to remind you to choose words with caution and thoughtful deliberation on and off duty. An aggressive effort is underway nationwide and in Iowa to target individual educators based on their speech. This targeting has included calls for discipline or termination and even violent threats to educators and school campuses. Given how news cycles work, we expect this concerted effort to continue.

Let me be clear: The Iowa State Education Association stands firmly behind your First Amendment right to free speech. We are all guaranteed this right and share the goal of inspiring students and providing them with the best education possible. We can all agree that everyone deserves to feel safe, regardless of personal opinions. Threats of violence against educators or their schools have no place in our society. Rest assured, we are in contact and are working with ISEA members who have already been targeted for their opinions.

Unfortunately, social media feeds are often filled with violent content, vicious discourse, and reports of threats against our fellow members. I encourage you to consider taking a week off from social media in these challenging times. Your mental well-being is essential; we want to ensure you have the space to protect your peace.

ISEA’s legal team has created a resource on essential steps to protect yourself against threats. It can be found by going to https://www.isea.org/members/members-workplace-support/members-know-your-rights. Also included is a link to NEA’s Advocacy Rights information: https://www.nea.org/advocacy-rights, a guide to educator rights both at and out of work.

If you have already been targeted or fear you might be, please know you are not alone. Contact your UniServ Director immediately to identify the best ways to protect yourself. We are here for you, ready to provide legal assistance if needed.

Your safety is our priority.

In solidarity,

Joshua Brown

ISEA President

West Des Moines State Lawmaker Claire Celsi Passes Away After Entering Hospice Care

Celsi had served in the senate since 2019. She was a founding member of the Iowans for Public Education Discussion Group on Facebook and had been a fierce advocate for public education. For more information, see the KCCI article linked here or the KWWL article. WEA expresses its condolences to the loved ones of Claire Celsi.

Joshua Brown, ISEA President, on Governor Reynolds' DOGE Committee Recommendations on IPERS and Teacher Pay-for-Performance

"Iowa DOGE Task Force members held their final meeting today (September 15, 2025) and sought to "clarify" their comments about IPERS and merit pay for educators.' The Task Force continues to recommend weakening IPERS by reducing future contributions. IPERS is a proven drver cal economies, with one in 10 Iowans benefiting from their contributions to the system. It is a fair and equitable system that has proven to be a powerful tool for attracting new employees. Don't touch our IPERS!

The Task Force's message on merit pay did not change either. Their recommendation is to move forward with a scheme that ties a student's performance on a standardized test to teacher pay has proven to be unsuccessful. Students come to school with factors beyond their control, which can negatively impact testing while some metrics are biased in favor of high-performing students and proficient test takers. Students are worth more than a test score!

We all heard correctly the first time the Task Force announced it would interfere with IPERS and propose yet another disastrous system for public educators."

TAKE ACTION: NO to IPERS changes or Pay-for-Performance!

Call Governor Reynolds: 515-281-5211.

Email your state legislators: www.isea.org/advocacy-center/lobbying-resources

Happy Labor Day to all the hard working educators out there!

Strong unions. Strong communities. Strong future.

WEA President Jamie Oberheu, her husband, WEA member Donavan, and their family in Des Moines with ISEA representing WEA in the Labor Day Parade.

NEA President Becky Pringle

Speaking at the Labor Day event in Des Moines.

Working Lunch

Discussing the challenges Iowa public schools are facing and the great things they are accomplishing.

WHO Channel 13 Interview with ISEA President Joshua Brown

ISEA President Joshua Brown speaks about standing up against the DOGE Task Force recommendations and protecting educators' hard-earned pay and benefits.

Take Action!

Contact your legislators!

Call and email: they have impact. In addition to your district legislators, call Gov. Reynolds’s office specifically: (515) 281 - 5211.

Link to find your legislator.

Put your address in and it will give you the contact information for your specific legislators.

URL: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find?address=

Here is a potential outline of a script if needed.

Adapt for who you are talking to or what you're comfortable with.

Key components:

Introduction
Reason for contacting
Personal Impact
Key Ask/Action Desired
Conclusion

Need Help With What to Say?

Potential Script – Iowa Legislators

Introduction - Give your name, years of experience, position, and reinforce you are in their district by giving your town, district, etc.

Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am a [23-year veteran high school English teacher] here in Iowa. I live in [Your Town or District], and I am one of your constituents.

Reason for Contacting - Give the reason you are reaching out - merit pay/pay for performance for educators, proposed IPERS changes, vouchers, etc.

I’m calling today because I am deeply concerned about two proposals currently being discussed:

1. The idea of pay for performance in education.

2. Proposed changes to IPERS.

Personal Impact - Give the personal ripple effects you see in your world from the ideas proposed that you're contacting them about.

After [your experience i.e. more than two decades in the classroom], I’ve seen firsthand how Iowa’s strong public education system is built on collaboration—not competition—among teachers. Pay for performance undermines that by reducing education to test scores and forcing teachers to compete against one another, instead of working together for our students’ success.

IPERS, meanwhile, is financially sound. It is solvent, stable, and responsibly managed. It’s not just a promise to educators; it’s a significant economic engine for Iowa, pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into local communities each year through retiree spending. Many small towns especially depend on that steady, reliable income. Changing IPERS now would not only break trust with long-serving public employees but also harm Iowa’s economy.

Key Ask - Give a specific action you would like to see as the result of your contact.

I respectfully ask you to oppose pay-for-performance measures and protect IPERS in its current form. These proposals will not improve education—they will drive experienced teachers away, weaken retirement security, and damage local economies across the state.

I thank you for your support of public education and respectfully ask that you continue to support legislation that supports public education.

Closing - Give a final thought to reinforce the ask you just made, thank them for their time and/or attention to this matter, and conclude your contact.

Thank you for your time and for listening to someone who has committed her life to Iowa’s students. I hope you’ll stand with educators and protect both our profession and the retirement system we have earned.

2025 Local Elections

Iowa's School Board and Community College Board of Trustee elections are Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The indivudals elected to these boards have a tremendous influence on the quality of education we provide our students and a direct say in our working conditions, pay, and benefits. This is our opportunity to make a direct impact on our students and our profession!

Complete the ISEA Activist form (available on the ISEA site) to sign up to write postcards, make phone calls, and door knock for recommended candidates. Interested in running for office? Get involved today!

HELP! Save Our Scholars!

Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming demand, our scholarship funds have been significantly depleted. As a result, we are forced to reduce the number of scholarships awarded moving forward: the college option will no longer be awarded.

We want to continue investing in future educators, but after the 2025-2026 school year, the student teaching stipend will have to be discontinued if we are unable to fund the scholarship account.

These scholarships have made a life-changing impact on so many students, but we don’t have enough funds to continue awarding this many scholarships! We don’t want to be in the position of picking one member’s child over another’s, so the amount of the scholarship will be decreasing to $250 for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond until the account can sustain more. This decision was not made lightly, but the available resources are currently insufficient to maintain the previous award levels.

Without immediate financial support, we may not be able to offer them at all. To ensure that we can continue supporting deserving students, we urgently need your help.

We ask for your generous donations to help us replenish the scholarship fund and give the gift of education to more students in need. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference.

Please consider updating your dues via the Membership portal (ISEA.org) today and help us continue making education more accessible.

Please consider other options to increase scholarship funds! Suggestions? Email the scholarship committee chair, Sara Kavalier (kavaliers@waterlooschools.org).

Thank you for your ongoing support.

WEA Scholarship Committee

Thank you to Jamie Oberheu for stepping into the role of WEA president for a two year term beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

Thanks to former president Jodi Bauler for her leadership and dedication over the past four years. She was committed to advocating for our members, fostering unity, and navigating challenges with integrity and strength -- that will have a lasting impact. We've achieved meaningful progress and built a stronger, more resilient community.

Wishing you the best in your next chapter -- and hoping you get some well-earned rest! With much appreciation, thanks former president Jodi Bauler!

"The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice." -- Brian Herbert

WEA 2024-25 Innovative Teacher Grant Winners

And the Winners Are...

Semester Two

Secondary: Jordan Barkley, Expo

Middle School: Hugh Brown, Bunger

Elementary: Cassandra Wheeler, Cunningham

And the Winners Are...

Semester One

Secondary: Kyle Kuhlers, WCC

Middle School: Megain Leary, Central

Elementary: Corey Levendusky, Highland

WEA 2023-24 Innovative Teacher Grant Winners

And the Winners Are...

Quarter Three

Secondary: Lanelle Schumacher, Expo

Middle School: Ryan Ocenna, Central

Elementary: Madison Belcher, Becker

And the Winners Are...

Quarter Two

Secondary: Shyla Thomas, East

Middle School: Savanna Stein, Central

Elementary: Stephanie Grund, Highland

And the Winners Are...

Quarter One

Secondary: Charnell Breightback, Expo

Middle School: Robert Wiersma, Bunger

Elementary: Elizabeth Frohwein, Becker

WEA 2022-23 Innovative Teacher Grant Winners

And the Winners Are...

May Winners!

Secondary: Lindsey Bailey, Central

Elementary: Carrie Taylor, Highland

Nicole Ruger, Orange

Lindsey Bailey

8th Grade Literacy, Central

April Winners!

Secondary: Jill Schares, WCC

Elementary: Sarah Nordman, Orange

Akeili Hawksins, Irving

March Winners!

Secondary: Rochelle Wiersma, Bunger

Elementary: Carrie Fredricksen, Highland

Tracy Simon, Orange

February Winners!

Secondary: Amber Pippert, Expo

Elementary: Kim Abbas, Lou Henry

Donita Schmitz, Lowell

January Winners!

Secondary: John Dennis, Central

Elementary: Mindy Gordon, Becker

Kyle Peter, Orange

Kyle Peter

Fourth Grade, Orange

December Winners!

Secondary: Dulce Orozco, Central

Elementary: Patty Surma, Poyner

Danielle Kuhlmann, Lincoln

November Winners!

Secondary: Andrea Atuhairue, Carver

Elementary: Mary Otero, Becker

Kris Hammer, Becker

October Winners!

Secondary: Ingrid Carlstein-Reyes, East

Elementary: Lindsay McClung, Becker

Amanda DeWall, Lincoln

SEL Calm Down Corner

Left: Materials bought with the innovative teacher grant for her kindergarten room by member Lindsay McClung.

Below: Students putting the materials to use. SEL & STEM activities were funded by the grant.

September Winners!

Secondary: Jody Keller, Hoover

Elementary: Dana Jefferson, Becker

Tabatha Frizell, Lincoln

September winner Dana Jefferson with Becker WEA Rep Elizabeth Frowhein.

Previous winner Sally Goodenbour’s students displaying their finished products created from a previous grant.

West High Spanish Students

Left: Students pose with reading materials bought with a 2021-2022 innovative teacher grant for her World Language classroom studies by member April Bryant.

Every child deserves a champion - an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be." - Rita Pierson

STAND TOGETHER...FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS!

No doubt every WEA member, possibly every public school teacher, is well aware of the change in political climate locally, at the state level and at the federal level. While we don't know what is going to happen, we must recognize that there is much at stake. The ISEA remains steadfast and will continue to promote "quality public education by placing our students the center of everything we do while advocating for education professionals."

We must prepare for what may be on the horizon: reduction of and/or elimination of special education funding, Title I funding, and free and reduced lunch programs. We also must also acknowledge that whether or not we support the GOP, the current platform does NOT support the teaching profession and public education. You can read the full platform at https://www.iowagop.org/about/platform/ but here are just a few statements that evidence this lack of support:

Liberty: We believe that money should follow the child in education...provide for tuition for vouchers, tax deductions or tax credits to permit parents' choice.
Commerce: We call for legislation that would eliminate all public sector unions.
Government: We support the elimination of the following...the Department of Education.

The ISEA is being proactive in preparing for what is to come...and WE are the ISEA. What can members do right now?

Identify relationships you have with community leaders and legislators, and share that information with your local president.
Invite legislators to your classroom.
Recruit school board members – if you know someone who would be right on teaching/learning issues and support the union’s right to negotiate fairly, even when not required by law, reach out with their names to potentially contact them.
Engage! Attend association meetings, school board meetings, and legislative forums.

All of us together are stronger than one. We need you to commit to ENGAGE!

JOIN NOW!!

Click on the link below to get signed up to join the ISEA and WEA!

https://join.nea.org/iowa/

Community Involvement

WEA gave a $100 donation to Payne Memorial AME Church to thank them for opening their church for Waterloo staff to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Pictured: Multicultural committee chair John Barker, Past-President Rebecca Mohorne and Pastor Flint. (March 31, 2021)

Meals boxed for 280 Cedar Valley families!

WEA Past-President Becky Mohorne and five other WEA members volunteered at the Northeast Iowa Foodbank on 12/3/20.

In need of credits to renew your license?

Check out the ISEA Academy for hundreds of affordable courses!

https://isea.org/course/

ISEA members receive a reduced course fee.

203 E. Tower Park Dr. Suite A

Waterloo, IA 50701

Phone: (319) 234-2349 or 800-378-6298

Fax: (319) 234-1740

JOIN NOW!!

Click on the link below to get signed up to join the ISEA and WEA!

https://join.nea.org/iowa/

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