On Friday, I had the privelege of presiding over the Southeast Region MSTA Spring Teachers Meeting. The marathon of meetings began at 9:00 am with the executive committee, followed by the 10:00 Assembly of Delegates and 11:30 Honorees Luncheon - complete with a visit from the Governor!

Here is my President's Report . . . .

It has been a privilege to serve as your Southeast Region MSTA President this year. As I traveled around the region and met with many of you, I found that our region has some of the best teachers and leaders in the state, eager to work together for the benefit of the students they serve. Whether you braved a blizzard to lobby at the Capitol, drove across the state to the Convention in Kansas City, or attended a region-sponsored event here in Southeast Missouri, your support for our Association has been tremendous!

Our 150th year as an Association has been a huge success! Local leaders brought professional development opportunities and member services to their CTAs throughout the year. In November, we adopted new governing documents that prepare our Association for business in the 21st century. With your help, we made it through another legislative session without the Betty Thompson Scholarship bill passing, although it came closer to becoming a reality than ever before.

As we begin to think about next year, consider some of the challenges that we face. It seems as though there’s never black and white when it comes to public education. Because we've never faced these challenges before, there's no clear path for us to take in tackling them.

Differentiated salaries: We need to start a dialogue about this topic so everyone knows what’s at stake. Kent brought it up in the spring School & Community and at LeaderU, Too! MSTA must provide direction to assure that salaries are never tied to test scores, and that teachers create the guidelines for any program that is implemented.

Accountability from the state board: The state board is a political machine. It's hard to get those in control to change its structure. MSTA has a dream to add three practicing educators and impose term limits. It’s time we accomplish that dream.

Collective bargaining: From time to time, groups try to force collective bargaining on teachers. Other education associations have been eager to see legislation passed and some have even resorted to lawsuits. We must be vigilant of attacks on our right to choose the organization to which we belong, and we must continue to protect students against teacher strikes.

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of speaking to 200 high school students at the regional FTA meeting. Many of these individuals have dreams of being teachers some day. Their generation is excited about making a difference in the world, and I can’t think of a better way to accomplish that dream than by becoming a teacher. I’d like for you to do something that I asked those students to do – close your eyes for a moment and picture a board-room table. Around this table, I want you to place the seven most important people in your life - the people who have made the greatest impact on who you are – the people you admire most. Look at their faces. Now open your eyes. How many of you had at least one teacher seated at your table? How many of you are here today because one of those teachers made an impact on your life, and you wanted to follow in their footsteps?

As we look back on the accomplishments of this year and forward on the challenges that lie ahead, let’s not forget why we exist. “Children First” is more than a slogan or book title. It’s the philosophy of our organization, and it’s the philosophy of thousands of MSTA members across Southeast Missouri who step into a classroom every day to make a difference in the life of a child. Thank you for accepting the call to be a world changer – to be a teacher.

Here are some pictures . . . .

2006-07 Executive Committee with MSTA President Valerie Moats
2007-08 Executive Committee with MSTA President Valerie Moats
The President & First Lady
The President & The Governor
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt
Receiving Past President's Plaque