JCAA Board of Directors' Meeting Minutes

Click here to read the JCAA Board minutes from September 3, 2004. Each year, the JCAA Board conducts a training and orientation meeting to help orient new Board members to their responsibilities. As a JCAA member, you are represented by a member of the Board of Directors. Be sure to contact him/her with concerns, suggestions, comments.

JCAA Fall Major Event - Dr. Pedro Noguera:

SAVE THIS DATE! JCAA Fall Major Event- Monday, October 25, 2004.

JCAA is bringing in Pedro Antonio Noguera, Ph.D. Principals are encouraged to bring a team of teachers from their building to hear Dr. Noguera. The topic is "Creating Conditions that Promote Student Achievement." Click here for more information. Flyers will be sent to you in a few weeks.

Administrator Staff Development Fund

Though the budget has been drastically reduced, 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.

Building Leadership Capacity Programs

Click here for a listing of the current programs offered by JCAA and local associations in the state of Colorado, which are designed to help support aspiring and new administrators. This list was compiled by JCAA and given to the participants at the JCAA Spring Issues Forums.

IMPORTANT Cell Phone Plan Information:

If you are signed up under any of the JCAA cell phone plans, please read this whole section carefully!

AT&T has taken the initiative to move all cell phone accounts set up under the liability of JCAA to separate accounts for each individual member. This was not the decision of JCAA. Because JCAA is no longer financially liable for our members’ cell phone accounts, you no longer need to be a member to keep your government cell phone service. This includes those members who are on the zero access plan.

Click here for an important letter from AT&T about how the changes will affect you or has already affected you. If you need assistance with your cell phone or cell phone service, please call AT&T Customer Service at 1-800-888-7600 or stop by any AT&T retail store. Be sure to tell them that you are with Jefferson County Public Schools, so that you can receive the government discounts, and give them your new FAN # 23917.

FOR NEW SERVICE: If you are considering adding new service with a new phone and new phone number, you can now go directly to an AT&T web site for government employees which is updated daily. Government discounts are available on this site as well as other special web promotions. The web site is: www.attws.com/wsca You can also go into any AT&T Wireless retail store to start new service. Be sure to tell them that you are with Jeffco Public Schools and give them the FAN # 23917, so that you can receive the government discounts.

TO UPGRADE YOUR CURRENT PHONE OR SERVICE: You can go into any retail AT&T Wireless store or call the Customer Care number at 1-800-888-7600. Be sure to tell them that you are with Jeffco Public Schools and give them the FAN # 23917, so that you can receive the government discounts. You cannot make government plan upgrades on the web site.

ZERO ACCESS PLAN INFORMATION: If you are currently on the old Zero Access government plan, where you only pay for the time you use, you can still keep that plan. However, if you cancel the plan at any time you will not be able to reinstate the plan, because it has not been available as of 2 years ago. In addition, AT&T has developed a new and improved network called GSM. The Zero Access plans are only active on the old network, TDMA. Though this network will continue existing, within the next year, this network will not be supported by AT&T, i.e. you will not be able to buy a new phone that works on this old network. However, as long as your current phone works, you should be able to continuing using this old network and stay on the Zero Access plan. If you need to replace your phone, do it soon, because there are only 2 phones that AT&T sells for this network and they will probably discontinue selling these phones by December. You can upgrade your phone by calling the Customer Care number 1-800-888-7600 or stopping by any AT&T Wireless retail store. Be sure to tell them that you are with Jeffco Public Schools and give them the FAN # 23917, so that you can receive the government discounts.

Emeritus Member Event: Clam Bake

Our first Annual Clam Bake, which was held the evening of the first day of school for our retired members, was a real success! A special thank you goes out to Kristi and Gerry Difford for hosting the event!

Retired members, stay tuned for information about up-coming events!

Serving Kids Clothing Program

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, and The Jefferson Foundation. If you know a child in need of clothing, please click here to learn how you can help -- or Serving Kids now has our own web site. Check us out! http://jeffcoweb.jeffco.k12.co.us/partners/servingkids/

The Jefferson Foundation News:

Spellbinders: The Jeffco Chapter of Spellbinders will have a fundraiser at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore in the Denver West Village, 14347 W. Colfax Ave. on September 16th. A percentage of the proceeds, depending on total store sales, will benefit the program. In addition, Spellbinder storytellers will be on hand in the children’s department from 4pm until 8pm for a free demonstrate of their abilities

Spellbinders is a national nonprofit organization, that encourages intergenerational, volunteer storytelling programs in schools and community facilities. There are 81 trained Spellbinders’ in 58 Jeffco Public Elementary Schools.

“Spellbinders creates connections between generations through the art of storytelling, passing on values, humor, wisdom, and a sense of community embodied in stories of all cultures and time” said Spellbinders’ volunteer coordinator Beverly Brayden. “In a world filled with high tech imagery, storytelling allows the student to use their imaginations to create images.”

“Spellbinders’ volunteers come the ranks of the retired educators and employees of Jeffco Public Schools” said Brayden. “The volunteers benefit as much as the students.”

“Spellbinders is an important community program and has received funding from The Jefferson Foundation,” said Mona Sandoval, executive director of the Foundation. “I urge people to support Spellbinders by attending the Barnes & Noble event on September 16th.”

For more information about Spellbinders contact: Beverly Brayden: 303 233-0766.

Colorado Principals' Center 2004 Institute:

Click here for a flyer on the Colorado Principals' Center 2004 Annual CPC Leadership Institute to be held on November 18 and 19, 2004. The institute features Ronald A. Heifetz, founding director of the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University. Dr. Heifetz is renowned worldwide for his seminal work on the practice and teaching of leadership.

His presentation and facilitated workshop at the CPC Institute will show how to both reduce the risks of leadership and increase tolerance for it. The program will identify strategies such as thinking politically, orchestrating conflict, placing responsibility, and being deliberate in distinguishing your role from yourself in your professional life. In addition, participants will be exposed to ideas about critical, often neglected aspects of exercising leadership: how to manage your personal vulnerabilities, care for yourself, and sustain your spirit.