JCAA Represents You

Welcome back to a new school year! The JCAA Board of Directors and staff having already been working to represent the interests of Jeffco Schools' administrators:

• Board of Education: The JCAA officers met in a workshop session with the Board of Education on August 17. Among the discussion topics, JCAA thanked the Board for granting our request to increase the 190 day assistant principal position to 200 days. We also discussed how assistant principals are viable instructional leaders in addition to helping manage the schools, including athletic directors. Other topics included the new JCAA LEO program, BFR process feedback, and how critical the central support managers and departments are to the organization. JCAA officers also posed these questions to the Board: Where do you want Jeffco Schools to be 3 years down the road? What do you see is the role of administrators in helping you achieve your vision? Most Board members not only see administrators as the instructional leader of the building, but strong community leaders as well.
• District Cabinet: The JCAA president serves as an official member of Cabinet. Our president this year, Phyllis Emrich, has been meeting through the summer with Cabinet as they develop their action plans for this coming year.
• Administrative Compensation System: JCAA representatives serve on the Administrative Compensation Committee and our task this year is to revamp the system. Committee reps will be working with HR and a consultant to develop a compensation philosophy and new system.
• Administrative Compensation BFR Proposal Accepted: We were very pleased that our joint BFR proposal was accepted, increasing variable pay from 2% to 4% in the last year and another 1% for the coming year. The proposal also raises salary ranged by 3%, allows for some market adjustments, and increased the 190 day ap position to 200 days. Click here for an explanation of the agreement.
• Classified Employees' Evaluation: Selected JCAA Board members have been meeting with Employee Relations and CSEA over the last 6 months to discuss the possibility of changing the frequency of classified employee evaluations to a biennial process. The discussions are still occurring.
• Supplemental Retirement and Sick Leave Payout: JCAA representatives have been studying these issues and advising HR during their task to make significant changes to these plans. JCAA reps have also advised the district in developing a communication plan. Letters to the appropriate employees who qualify for the plan will be going out next week.
• Budgeting for Results Process: District Cabinet and the Board of Education have reviewed the JCAA report from the JCAA Spring Issues Forums on suggested changes to the BFR process for this coming year. Cabinet and the Board have listened to your advice and have made changes to the process. JCAA officers have also met with Cindy to discuss our suggestions.
• JCAA Board Training and Orientation: To ensure that the JCAA Board reps meet their fiduciary responsibilities, JCAA holds an annual training and orientation meeting. This year's training will occur on September 1.
• JCAA Committee Representatives: JCAA has representatives serving on over 80 different JCAA and district committees and task force teams. Your membership dues help provide the structure to select the representatives and ensure that we have a united voice.

JCAA General Membership Survey Results

If you didn't get a chance in May, click here to read the executive summary of the JCAA General Membership Survey results. The JCAA Associate Membership Survey is still being analyzed. The Emeritus members will receive their survey this summer.

50% of the general membership responded to the survey. The results were very positive overall. The majority of the questions had a very high mean, over 4. Compared to the trending from the last major survey in 2002, the results have remained stable. The biggest issues for members seem to be around time and workload. The most important factors for attending professional development events are topic and speaker.

JCAA Leadership Experience Opportunity Program (LEO)
- Developing Tomorrow's Leaders

The JCAA Associate Member Program Steering Committee has been working over the last year to design an intentional program to develop leadership potential by offering meaningful leadership experience opportunities and venues for aspiring administrators. This program is being supported by the Jeffco Schools community superintendents.

If you are an aspiring administrator, please click here to download information about this program and the application form. Applications are now being accepted.

JCAA Winter 2007 Major Event - Margaret Wheatley

JCAA Winter 2007 Professional Development Event
Featuring: Margaret Wheatley, Ed.D.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Morning Workshop

We are very pleased to bring in Dr. Margaret Wheatley for our winter professional development event. Margaret has been a consultant and speaker since 1973. Her master's degree from New York University is in systems thinking, and she holds a doctorate of education from Harvard. She is the President Emeritus of the Berkana Institute, a global charitable foundation dedicated to serving life-affirming leaders. http://www.berkana.org/index.html

Margaret has published many articles and books, including Leadership and the New Science; A Simpler Way; Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future; and her newest book, Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time. You can download and read her articles from her web site at no expense: http://www.margaretwheatley.com

Principals and managers are welcome to bring a team from their school or department. Registration materials will be sent out this fall.

Administrator Staff Development Fund

Though the budget has been drastically reduced, a limited amount of money is still available for administrators to attend a professional development workshop or pay for college tuition. To apply, click here to download the form and send in your application by the next deadline date. The deadline dates for accepting applications are the last working day of every month while funds are still available.

To apply and reserve funds, you only need to know the name, date, and location of the event. Once you've been approved, you turn in your receipts for reimbursement within 30 days following the event. These funds are not available for non-administrators, because they are district funds designated for administrator staff development. Similar funds for teachers and coaches are managed by the JCEA office.

If you were approved for funding this year and no longer plan to attend the conference, please let us know so we can pass those funds on.

Did Your Contact Information Changed?

You should have received a memo from Mary Wagner asking you to confirm your contact information for the JCAA Pictorial Directory. This information is critical, Please be sure to respond if you have any changes. You can click here to send an email to Mary Wagner. Thank you!

Advertise Your Business in the Directory - Free

If you are a JCAA member, you may advertise your business in the JCAA Pictorial Directory at no charge to you. Click here to send an email to Mary Wagner with the following information:

• Name of the Business or Service
• Your Name
• Business Address, Phone, Email
• Max 50 Word Description

JCAA Directory Picture Make-up Day - Monday, August 28

If you are an administrator, prof/tech, or JCAA associate member and you did not have your picture taken on July 25 or 28 for the JCAA PIctorial Directory and received your complimentary ID badge, please be sure to stop by the ESC in room 3F from 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM. You must tell them that you are an administrator or professional/technical or JCAA associate member to receive the complimentary ID badge and you must take your picture 2 times--1 for the ID badge, and 1 for the directory. Please bring another form of photo ID.

New JCAA Web Site Address

Please change your bookmark to our new web site address. By switching our provider, we will be able to add new services, such as online registration - coming soon!

http://www.jcaajeffco.org/

JCAA Care, Concern, and Celebration Messages

As a service to our members, JCAA sends out Care, Concern, and Celebration messages to keep our colleagues connected and supported. We've had many positive comments about how much the membership appreciates hearing about their colleagues. If you have a concern or celebration or you know a colleague in need of support, please let Mary McNeil or Mary Wagner know. Please note that we always check with the person to make sure it's OK to send out the message, so that we honor his/her wishes. Thank you.

Serving Kids Clothing Program

Do you know a child in need of clothing or shoes? We can help!

JCAA and The Jefferson Foundation manage this charitable program, which provides near new clothing to Jeffco School Children in need and is cosponsored by JCAA, CSEA, JCEA, Jeffco PTA, JCU, and The Jefferson Foundation. If you know a child in need of clothing, please click here to learn how you can request clothing -- Serving Kids has our own web site. Check us out! Here is our new web site address:

http://www.jcaajeffco.org/servingkids/

JCAA Motivational Event - Cornerstones of Wellness - A Success!

Thank you to the 260+ members who attending our opening event at the Arvada Center on July 28. The comments were overwhelmingly positive. Dr. James Rouse's message was very powerful and motivational. We are looking forward to supporting our "Cornerstones of Wellness" theme for this year.

JCAA Retired Members Gathering - A Success!

A number of our retired members enjoyed the "First Day of School" gathering on Tuesday, August 22 at the Difford's home. Great food, drinks, and company!

Retired Members Please Save: Wednesday, October 4, 2006 for the fall retired members' breakfast. More information will be coming out to retired members soon.

Employee Assistance Program

JCAA supports the EAP Program and JCAA representatives serve on the EAP Advisory Committee.

Mental Health Tip: Welcome back to the new school year! The beginning school each year brings challenges and changes for most Jeffco Schools employees. This is an incredibly busy time with classrooms to organize, meetings to attend, decisions to make, and new projects. You will be welcoming new students and staff. You may be teaching new classes or working in a different classroom or at a new site.

Most of us are fairly resilient but sometimes we encounter problems that seem overwhelming.  Even healthy people can have trouble coping with life’s challenges. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides a positive, constructive way to help employees resolve personal and work related problems. EAP services are offered at no cost to employees. A simple phone call can start you on the road to getting help.

What services does the EAP provide?

• Assessment and short term counseling
• Referral to community resources
• Consultations for supervisors about troubled employees or work teams
• Training
• Conflict resolution/mediation

What can the EAP help with?

• Job related concerns
• Life transitions
• Grief and loss
• Domestic violence
• Balancing work and family
• Financial problems
• Stress management
• Couples/ family issues
• Alcohol/ drug abuse
• Conflict resolution

Will going to EAP affect my job? Participation in the EAP is voluntary and will in no way jeopardize your job security or opportunities for advancement. Your participation will neither cause nor prevent disciplinary action.

Is EAP really confidential? Information shared with an EAP counselor is confidential with the following exceptions:

• Threats of violence to others
• Danger of suicide
• Known or suspected child abuse
• Disclosure of a substance abuse problem by employees in positions covered by the District's Controlled Substance and Alcohol Testing policy 

For more information or to speak with a counselor, contact the EAP at 303-982-0377 or view our web-site at http://jeffcoweb.jeffco.k12.co.us/eap/. We are located 5260 W. Ohio Ave. in Lakewood and our hours are Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.

Helping Kids Thrive - Free Parenting Workshop

JCAA is a sponsoring member of the Helping Kids Thrive Steering Committee.

16th Annual Parenting Conference
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Alameda High School
5:30 - 9:00 PM
Parents can register online at http://www.jcmh.org/ or call 303-432-5156.

Principals: Schools will be receiving fliers for this event. Please make sure they get home to the parents.

BOCES Workshops

JCAA helps inform you about professional development offerings from local associations.

Click on the workshop title to download the flier for that particular workshop.

• Training for Results with Brenda Kaylor beginning September 6-7  
• Becoming  an Effective Instructional Coach  with Cindy Harrison and Brenda  Kaylor on September 11-12  
• Adaptive Schools with Jane Ellison and Carolee Hayes beginning November 29  
• Mentoring  Modules for District Facilitators with Erin Hunt and Charl Lee Sauer on August 30 or Sept 14
• Science  Leadership Seminar: Increase Student Learning Emphasizing Science-Literacy Connections with Michael  Klentschy on September 19  
• Professional  Learning Communities: Getting Started with Rick and Becky DuFour beginning September 28 (note: Rick and Becky have not scheduled days with us for next fall.  They will be  back on March 8th but we do not have a commitment after that. Participants may sign up for single days or the full 4 day institute.

Colorado Principals' Center Workshops

JCAA helps inform you about professional development offerings from local associations. JCAA has 4 representatives serving on the CPC Board:

Click on the workshop title to download the flier for the Institute.

• 2006-07 CPC Institute
• Note: Breakthrough Coach is full for September, but they are going to offer another 2-day class April 12-13, 2007.

For more information about the Colorado Principals' Center, please contact:
Frank A. Bingham, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Colorado Principals' Center
Ph. 303-556-2190
Fax  303-556-4479
www.ColoradoPrincipalsCenter.org

Windy Peak OELS

JCAA helps inform you about local volunteer opportunities.

Volunteers are needed for OELS: West Denver Trout Unlimited has been involved with Windy Peak OELS since 1990. The chapter's efforts were awarded the 2005 Exemplary Youth Program by the Colorado Council of Trout Unlimited.  A cooperative effort between WDTU, Jefferson County Schools, Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service culminated in the reclamation of the heavily silted fishing pond, the building of a handicap accessible fishing pier, and the creation of a well equipped fly tying studio.  Sixth grade team leaders work with the chapter's educational coordinators (Charlie Horn & Gary Blubaugh) to schedule programs in fly tying/fishing while their students are doing their week of outdoor education.  Volunteers are needed to help offer programs during the 2006-2007 school year. Your commitment for a program involves spending a day at the school tying flies in the studio and taking kids fishing.  Our carpool leaves at 6:30 AM and returns by 5:30 PM.  Programs are normally offered on Tuesdays. Breakfast and lunch are shared with the students in the dining hall.  If you are a fisherperson and still enjoy working with kids, come join us. If you would like to participate in this unique program contact:

Charlie Horn
303-278-3200
horndreams@msn.com

Listening Post - A Place to Talk

JCAA helps inform you about local programs to support our schools.

For 26 years, The Listening Post has provided a safe space for students of all ages to express feelings of joy, anger, rejection, failure and confusion. Each person is respected and accepted just as they are at the moment, with the opportunity to discuss options without judgment and without advice.

If you would like to know more about this program for your school, please go to this web site: http://www.listeningpostinc.org