 As a member of GEA, you have an opportunity to be actively involved and be a voice for teachers and our Association. The Granite Education Association announces elections and encourages all interested members to run for office. You may run for only one (1) Board position. Board members and officers elected by the general membership qualify as voting delegates at the NEA Representative Assembly* and the UEA House of Delegates. If you are interested in being involved, but not on the Board of Directors, you can run for the Representative Assembly (RA) Delegate position. Members elected by the general member-ship to attend the RA qualify as voting delegates to the RA, the governing body of NEA. Elected delegates travel to the RA during the summer to make policy for the NEA.* We will email your statement and picture (see below) to building reps with the elections materials. Please plan to attend the AR meeting on Weds., November 11th (virtually), prepared to make a short campaign speech. *GEA board members’ travel to the RA is funded in the middle year of their term of office. Among members elected as delegates to the NEA RA, the top three vote-getters will have their travel funded.
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FREE HELP for COVID-19 related stressIf you or someone you know is experiencing stress, anxiety or depression because of COVID-19, talk to a crisis counselor seven days a week, 7a-7p. All information is confidential and free of charge. Services include:
Call/Text: 385-386-2289 Email (first name and phone number only): UtahStrong@utah.gov For immediate response after hours: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Counseling in Spanish and other languages available. Operated by the Utah Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health through a FEMA grant, facilitated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  "Cyprus will fund up to $250 per teacher/educator. The grants can be combined for use toward a larger grant amount if specified. For example, four teachers can combine and apply for a $1,000 grant for a group project with each teacher submitting a separate application for their $250 allotment. Applications are limited to one $250 grant per teacher for the school year, either individually or with a team."
Find out more >>  Be Your Own Best Advocate
This is the time in an educator’s contract year when principals begin notifying them about observation scheduling. The question GEA is now receiving from members is “Why?! On top of everything else – why go through the observation/evaluation process?” Educators are doing the very best they can just to keep their heads above water. Some days, it’s all you can do to get out of bed and off to work. Stress, anxiety, frustration, and exhaustion rule the day. Principals are not exempt from these same feelings and concerns, and they, by law and school policy, are required to observe and evaluate educators each year. GEA has had ongoing conversations with the Granite School District Assistant Superintendents regarding observations and evaluations and expectations of teachers during the time of Covid-19. Teaching strategies and lesson plans have changed to social distance for safety. Administrators have been counseled to not expect to see what they would in a “normal” school year. We have been assured that this fact has been discussed with principals and leniency in instructional strategies such as proximity, small group instruction, changes in lesson design, hands on activities, etc. will be considered. If you are a provisional teacher or are in the ‘summative’ year of your evaluation cycle, your observation will become part of an evaluation score. The time for you to make an appeal on an observation and/or evaluation score is BEFORE you sign and finalize the document. You are your own best advocate when it comes to a fair observation, and timing is everything. Your principal should email you a draft of your observation and schedule a debrief meeting with you to review the scores, sign, and finalize. When you receive this draft, review carefully with objectivity. If you note scores on some standards that are lower than normal due to the impact Covid-19 realities have on your classroom, now is the time to gather evidence to the fact that you have had to limit your teaching strategies and why. Once you have gathered the evidence you need, schedule to meet with your principal, present the evidence and work together to modify the scores appropriately. If you need help with this process, call GEA and we will review the observation report with you and advocate on your behalf. Opinion posted in today’s Salt Lake Tribune written be GEA leader, Tayler Khater. Tayler teaches Social Studies to students enrolled at Skyline High School. He has been a GEA building representative for several years and volunteers time to teach and live a life that is politically active and socially conscientious. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the “Next Greatest Generation”.
 The Utah Department of Health, Salt Lake County Health Department, and the Granite School District have created an option for employees of the Granite School District to get free COVID-19 testing. Please follow the instructions on the letter attached below:  Granite District COVID Testing Letter
Download File The Granite Education Association |
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Increased COVID-19 infection rates are not a surprise to many of us who work with, or in, public schools. This was the concern Utah educators had going into the 2020-21 school year and, sadly, we are seeing our worst fears begin to materialize.
While districts surrounding Granite are facing decisions on whether to close schools, despite the Utah health department’s caution of closing with 15 or more positive Covid-19 cases in a school, many are asking, “What if this were a Granite District school?” From the very beginning, the Granite school board and superintendent have repeatedly said that they are making decisions for the 2020-21 school year based on the state health department’s recommendations. The planning and implementation of health and safety guidelines by district administration and staff have created the safest environment possible for students and employees.
GEA has been re-assured today that this emphasis on health department recommendations is still the standard-bearer for decision making for Granite District’s school board and administration.
Today, the Utah Education Association (UEA) sent a letter to Governor Gary Herbert calling for him to increase the state’s “oversight and compliance” of the health and safety guidelines recommended by the Utah State Department of Health. Public opinion should not change protocols already in place and depended upon by the general public, specifically quarantining schools for a minimum of 14 days when there are 15 or more positive COVID-19 cases in any one location. The state’s commission on public health and the Utah State Board of Education created the COVID-19 School Manual in order to establish guidelines to be followed in the event of mass exposure and in turn should be enforced for the health and safety of all public education employees and the students we serve.
GEA and GSD continue to discuss and collaborate on COVID-19 and other issues each day. We encourage GEA members to reach out to us with concerns so that we may problem-solve effectively.
While districts surrounding Granite are facing decisions on whether to close schools, despite the Utah health department’s caution of closing with 15 or more positive Covid-19 cases in a school, many are asking, “What if this were a Granite District school?” From the very beginning, the Granite school board and superintendent have repeatedly said that they are making decisions for the 2020-21 school year based on the state health department’s recommendations. The planning and implementation of health and safety guidelines by district administration and staff have created the safest environment possible for students and employees.
GEA has been re-assured today that this emphasis on health department recommendations is still the standard-bearer for decision making for Granite District’s school board and administration.
Today, the Utah Education Association (UEA) sent a letter to Governor Gary Herbert calling for him to increase the state’s “oversight and compliance” of the health and safety guidelines recommended by the Utah State Department of Health. Public opinion should not change protocols already in place and depended upon by the general public, specifically quarantining schools for a minimum of 14 days when there are 15 or more positive COVID-19 cases in any one location. The state’s commission on public health and the Utah State Board of Education created the COVID-19 School Manual in order to establish guidelines to be followed in the event of mass exposure and in turn should be enforced for the health and safety of all public education employees and the students we serve.
GEA and GSD continue to discuss and collaborate on COVID-19 and other issues each day. We encourage GEA members to reach out to us with concerns so that we may problem-solve effectively.
** Submit your application by October 2nd!
Want to Host Your Own Mini Reading Marathon?
PBS Utah is excited to offer support outside of Salt Lake County
We want to continue to promote the love of reading, even though this school year looks different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, we are offering Mini-Grants to support distance learning and creative virtual events to celebrate reading achievements.
Libraries, schools, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply for support to host their own Mini Reading Marathon.
Support ranges from $100 - $500.
Click here to apply for a Reading Marathon Mini Grant
Applications accepted now through October 2nd.
Awardees will be notified by October 15th.
Want to Host Your Own Mini Reading Marathon?
PBS Utah is excited to offer support outside of Salt Lake County
We want to continue to promote the love of reading, even though this school year looks different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, we are offering Mini-Grants to support distance learning and creative virtual events to celebrate reading achievements.
Libraries, schools, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply for support to host their own Mini Reading Marathon.
Support ranges from $100 - $500.
Click here to apply for a Reading Marathon Mini Grant
Applications accepted now through October 2nd.
Awardees will be notified by October 15th.
GEA leaders met with the Granite District superintendency to share concerns teachers are experiencing now that the school year has begun. These regular meetings are collaborative and seek to problem-solve working condition issues GEA hears from members.
In our meeting this week, we discussed the issue around short weeks, similar to what we will experience during SEP and Parent/Teacher Conferences the week of September 21st, and later in the year. GEA shared that with Friday compensation days, and Thursday’s as short days, the planning time available for teachers is cut short. GEA requested that the District calendar follow the same pattern as the majority of weeks in the calendar, i.e. Monday – Thursday, dual modalities, and Friday all students are distance learning. We asked to have the last day of any short week be similar in that students are not in the buildings but are learning online from home and teachers have the day to plan for the next week.
The District superintendent agreed that this planning time is important, and the following message went out to principals 9/10/2020:
Prior to the school year starting, the board approved a distance learning day each week. We placed that day at the end of each week, or on Fridays. On weeks that we do not have school on Friday there will still be a distance learning day, but it will be held on the last day of the week. This means that during the first quarter Thursday September 24th and Tuesday October 20th will be distance learning days. The district calendar is being updated to reflect these changes and the Communications Department will be sending this information out to parents. We would ask that you communicate this information out to your faculties, patrons, and students as well.
Our collective voice matters. Thank you for your continued support and loyalty to your professional association.
In our meeting this week, we discussed the issue around short weeks, similar to what we will experience during SEP and Parent/Teacher Conferences the week of September 21st, and later in the year. GEA shared that with Friday compensation days, and Thursday’s as short days, the planning time available for teachers is cut short. GEA requested that the District calendar follow the same pattern as the majority of weeks in the calendar, i.e. Monday – Thursday, dual modalities, and Friday all students are distance learning. We asked to have the last day of any short week be similar in that students are not in the buildings but are learning online from home and teachers have the day to plan for the next week.
The District superintendent agreed that this planning time is important, and the following message went out to principals 9/10/2020:
Prior to the school year starting, the board approved a distance learning day each week. We placed that day at the end of each week, or on Fridays. On weeks that we do not have school on Friday there will still be a distance learning day, but it will be held on the last day of the week. This means that during the first quarter Thursday September 24th and Tuesday October 20th will be distance learning days. The district calendar is being updated to reflect these changes and the Communications Department will be sending this information out to parents. We would ask that you communicate this information out to your faculties, patrons, and students as well.
Our collective voice matters. Thank you for your continued support and loyalty to your professional association.
