News & Information

Please click the link below to view the letter from commissioner Kevin Brown

Commissioner's letter

Kentucky Education Association

Job Description

Professional Staff Position

POSITION TITLE:                            UniServ Director

DEPARTMENT:                               Affiliate Relations

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR:          Assistant Executive Director Richard Mullins

EMPLOYEE GROUP:                      KEASO Bargaining Unit

LOCATION:                                     Eastern Kentucky (Prestonsburg/Hazard)

HOURS/STATUS:                            Full Time / Permanent

The Kentucky Education Association is seeking applicants for a full-time UniServ Director to support all categories of KEA’s membership out of its Prestonsburg and Hazard Field offices.

General Description of the Job:

The UniServ Director assists local affiliates and individual KEA members in organizational and program development designed to: increase and maintain association membership; implement the mission, vision and strategic goals of the Association by supporting the articulated programmatic priorities; strengthen and improve the welfare of members; and enhance the public education climate for members and for their students.

KEA Mission and Vision:

KEA is the preeminent voice for quality public education.  We unite, organize and empower our members to advocate for themselves and to ensure a quality public education for every Kentucky student.

Association Values:

• Advocacy: uses effective, meaningful communication and action to promote the interests of school employees and public education
• Collective Action: works together to achieve common goals
• Integrity: demonstrates sincerity, trustworthiness and reliability
• Professionalism: directs sound judgment, empathy, and high standards
• Respect: consistently values individuals and their contributions
• Unity: lays the foundation for a strong association through shared vision

Essential Position Responsibilities:

Membership Recruitment and Retention: Develop and/or implement programs and activities to increase and maintain KEA membership.

Support Organizational and Local District Goals: Coordinate and advocate for KEA/NEA programs and priorities with locals and the members in those locals. Develop and/or implement political action, community/public relations, legislative support, and professional development activities and programs. Improve and maintain the organizational health of KEA locals through leadership training and development, internal communications, business management, and conflict resolution. Work with locals in development and implementation of their political action plans. Support and assist the elected leaders and representatives in carrying out the full range of their activities.  Assist local associations in developing and implementing programs of member advocacy with particular emphasis on leadership development, negotiations, contract administration/grievance processing, organizing, public relations, human relations, legislative and political action, instruction and professional development and member rights activity.

Advocate for Member Rights: Advocate for the rights of KEA members through collective bargaining, grievance processing, and other means. Develop and/or implement programs in member’s rights and human relations. Assist and represent members in dispute resolution and other employment related concerns.

Operations Management:  Maintain regular office hours at assigned work location.  Attend meetings of locals, districts, and the state Association, as appropriate.  Provide for regular two-way communications between the state, national, and local association membership.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree desired
• Demonstrated experience in member and issue organizing, membership promotion and development, and political action required

Technical Competencies:

Coaching/Mentorship: Helps members to acquire the awareness, confidence, and resources necessary to fulfill their potential within the association.

• Acts as a role model and example to others
• Assists, supports, and encourages others in identifying difficulties, prioritizing tasks, defining goals (i.e., developing a local organizing plan) and producing positive results
• Employs and encourages a feedback process
• Identifies and demonstrates supportive coaching behavior
• Identifies effective strategies for modifying behaviors and attitudes
• Recognizes and encourages performance excellence
• Shares expertise and provides informal advice

Ethics Knowledge: Possesses a clear understanding of the boundaries of acceptable activity within one’s role and acts to ensure that the organization’s interactions with members and others remain above reproach.

• Integrates federal and state statutes, regulations, policies and procedures with the purpose of recognizing ethical issues for which advice should be sought and knows what action to take including contacting ethics advisors and proper parties
• Maintains a comprehensive working knowledge of related statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures affecting assigned areas

• Understands and applies knowledge of, and promotes compliance with, appropriate statues, regulations, policies, and procedures

Facilitation: Impartially guides individuals or a group with an overall goal of reaching consensus, solving problems or accomplishing tasks.

• Effectively distinguishes process from content
• Encourages divergent viewpoints to ensure final solutions are varied
• Establishes clear goals and purpose that outline the objectives
• Evokes participation and creativity from others
• Exhibits behaviors and techniques that enhance the quality of group processes
• Guides a group with an overall goal of reaching consensus, solving problems or accomplishing tasks
• Interjects and diverts group to the goals of the session

Labor Relations: Understands and demonstrates knowledge of laws, rules, regulations, case law, principles, and practices related to school employees in Kentucky.

• Applies knowledge of consensus building, negotiation, coalition building, mediation, and other non-adversarial problem solving approaches to resolve problems between members and school management
• Provides support and assistance on school employee employment matters such as work schedules, time and leave, performance evaluations, etc.
• Identifies, evaluates, and recommends options to school employees and management, when possible, to solve complex problems and issues.
• Assesses member circumstances, offers appropriate advice and assists in preparation of grievances, evaluation appeals, written responses to disciplinary action and requests legal assistance as appropriate
• When working with a bargaining local, reviews, translates, and negotiates union proposals, counter proposals, and settlement agreements

Project Management: Completes procedures, documents, forms, reports and/or budgets that are essential to the day-to-day operations of a group, project, or program.

• Adheres to policies and procedures, including timeframes, for all milestones and requirements
• Answers and/or researches project-related questions
• Completes project documents and tasks
• Keeps managers aware of the status of projects being managed, including timeframes and document requirements, and key operational issues through formal and informal communications (e.g., status reports, e-mails, updates at meetings)
• Ensures that individual projects are progressing on time, on budget, and on target

• Develops a plan to ensure quality and manages project activities in a way that allows for an appropriate level of control based on role within a project
• Evaluates performance by reviewing progress toward goals and operational plans and makes adjustments as needed
• Identifies and analyzes environmental influences impacting a project
• Identifies key stakeholders in a project
• Maintains an awareness of potential high-risk practices and situations, and appropriately identifies, responds and alerts others to risks and issues as they develop

Training Program Administration: Promotes individual and organizational development through planning, designing, and managing employee development and training programs/services.

• Continuously improves training programs
• Disseminates program information
• Evaluates effectiveness of training programs
• Identifies and deploys program delivery strategies and methodologies
• Manage equipment and materials
• Manage facilities/training spaces
• Schedule programs, staff, and participants

Other Requirements:

• Demonstrated understanding of the patterns, trends and best practices regarding education policy
• Demonstrated understanding of issue organizing and relational organizing
• Demonstrated ability to efficiently use technology including working knowledge of basic office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), internet, email 
• Willingness and ability to access and properly use NEA/KEA online member database and information systems
• Willingness and ability to learn new technology
• Willingness and ability to work nights and weekends and the ability to travel are essential
• Valid Kentucky driver’s license
• Ability to stoop, bend, reach, and carry light materials

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this job.  They are not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated with it.

Salary:  Salary and benefits are determined by the contract negotiated between the KEA Board of Directors and KEA Staff Organization. 

How to apply:  Qualified candidates should submit a letter of interest describing their experience in the areas listed in the job description, resume, reference letters along with names and contact information of three references, not KEA staff or leaders. 

POSTING DEADLINE: This job posting is for one open position and posted externally.  If you are interested in applying for this position, submit a letter of application, your resume and three references by Friday August 7^th, 2020. Complete materials should be sent to Richard Mullins, Assistant Executive Director of Affiliate Relations at Rich.Mullins@kea.org

Are you a new educator that is interested in finding out more about joining KEA? 

Please complete one of the forms listed below and someone will contact you:

Teachers and other certified staff click here

Classified education support professionals click here

Or download a paper copy of the form here:

Teachers and other certified staff - Paper Form

Classified education support professionals - Paper Form

“KEA strongly supports the constitutional right of all citizens to peacefully protest against injustice. Educators see and feel the effects of childhood trauma in their classrooms every day; for children of color, that trauma is often rooted in the ever-present and unrelenting impact of institutional racism. No person should be devalued or marginalized because of the color of their skin. We stand with those fighting for transparency, equality, and systemic change.” #BlackLivesMatter #BreonnaTaylor #GeorgeFloyd #Solidarity

The following is a list of Webinars that have been assembled from various educational agencies throughout the country.  Each webinar is FREE for our members.  Simply click on the link below to find out more about each session and to register.  If you have any questions feel free to contact KEA’s Director of Professional Excellence, Michelle Grimes Jones, mjones@kea.org

Click here for the webinar listing

NEA Member Benefits has expedited the launch of a new discount program for NEA members with Office Depot/OfficeMax, one of the leading purveyors of school and office supplies. This is in response to NEA members’ expressed needs for computer equipment, peripherals, and associated supplies as many educators are required to set up remote teaching and communication capabilities while schools are closed due to COVID-19.

With over 1,300 retail locations nationwide and an online store, Office Depot/OfficeMax offers convenience, an exhaustive array of products and services, and best pricing for NEA members.

Key features of the Office Depot/OfficeMax discount program include:

• Discounts of up to 75% off on thousands of items purchased in-store and online
• Discounts on printing and copying services
• Free shipping for online orders over $50
• Best pricing: members receive the deepest discount available on their products—whether offered in-store or online
• Family members are also eligible to participate in this discount program

General Coronavirus Information and Resources

Staying well with TRS

Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFRCA): paid leave requirements for employees impacted by COVID19

Kentucky Unemployment Benefits Information for Substitute Teachers and ESPs affected by COVID19

NEA Guidance and Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19),

Handwashing and Hand Sanitizer Use at Home, at Play, and Out and About

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Kentucky COVID-19 Relief Legislation

CARE Act Payments

Education Stabilization Fund

Student Loans

Unemployment Insurance

ESSA Waivers

School Meals   Page 1    Page 2

Resources for Teaching and Learning

ABCmouse - This is a subscription service.  There is a 1 month free trail.  Offers an online curriculum for ages 2 to 8 covering numerous core subjects including math, reading, and science. 

Adventure Academy - This is a subscription service.  There is a 1-month free trail.  From the creators of ABCmouse, this online curriculum is for ages 8 to 13 and features gamified learning for Math, Reading, and Science. 

Answer Pad - A free visual- and student-based response platform that allows educators to blend learning and flip classrooms in real-time on browser-based devices. Students can interact with teacher-developed resources from home.

BrainPop and BrainPop Jr - Free access for closed schools.  This site also has free family access.Delivers online learning opportunities in various subjects by showing animated videos and then following up with brief assessments and quizzes. 

Buncee - Subscription site with some free items. A versatile learning tool that provides a digital canvas for multiple educational needs. The Ideas Lab showcases learning resources to be used remotely. 

Classhook - Free access for teachers.  Chock full of educational videos and premade playlists that can be assigned to students to view from home.

DOGOnews - Create reading assignments for students in grades K-8 that can also be integrated into Google Classroom. Features a curated, COPPA-compliant database that provides assessment and language/speech options.

EDpuzzle - Useful for flipping a classroom or lesson. Educational videos can be viewed remotely and followed up with assessments to gauge learning.

Explania - Offers hundreds of animated explanation videos, on subjects from biology to social media, that can be embedded and shared. 

Glogster EDU - The Glogpedia features multimedia posters covering more than 80 topics across nine disciplines, such as math, social studies and science.

Home Safari – Students can join the Cincinnati Zoo for a home Safari each day.  The Cincinnati Zoo will share a Facebook Live segment each weekday at 3pm ET where they will highlight one of our amazing animals.  Includes an activity your students can do from home.  Miss the Facebook Live video or don’t have access to social media? No worries! All videos will be posted to the Cincinnati Zoom Home Safari webpage and to the zoos YouTube channel shortly after the Facebook Live ends.

iKnowIt - Interactive math practice for grades K-5 that offers an easy-to-use interface and tracks student data.

Kahoot - One of the most used game-based learning platforms that allows educators to create their own content-related quizzes and games.

Knoword - A fast-paced vocabulary game site that also allows teachers to choose from existing work packs or develop their own. You can also track student progress.

Nearpod - A mobile learning tool that supports student engagement and collaborative learning. Also recently posted how to use Nearpod at home during school closures.

NeoK12 - This is a subscription site.  A teacher-curated trove of educational videos, lessons, quizzes and games.

RoomRecess - More than 140 teacher-developed games for kids involving math, reading, literacy, typing, and more.

SuperTeacherWorksheets - Hundreds of worksheets and activities that can be printed for home use, ranging from math and science to literacy and phonics.

TeachVid - With this platform, ESL, ELL and foreign language teachers can flip a lesson and have students work at home with the help of numerous videos and activities.

Vocab Victor - A free mobile app for building vocabulary skills that assesses and adapts to a student’s vocabulary level in real-time.

Virtual Museum Tours - Get a little culture and education from home.  Tour over 2500 museums and galleries from around the world. 

WatchKnowLearn - A free site with an abundance of K-12 videos on a wide variety of subjects.

YouTube Teachers - Dozens of educational videos covering topics that range from vector quantities to plate tectonics. 

Other Resources

A comprehensive list of recommendations from NEA on digital learning. (PDF)

Resources for Online Learning During School Closures (NEA)

Interim Guidance for Administrators of US K-12 Schools and Childcare Programs (CDC)

Schools and Coronavirus: What You Should Know (from NEA)

How to Talk to Children About the Coronavirus - Resources for Parents and Educators

This can be a very stressful, confusing and uncertain time for everyone, but it can be an especially scary time for children. Here are great resources about how you can talk to kids about the virus and the response.

Kentucky Center for School Safety COVID19 Pledge for Kids

Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019: Messages for parents, school staff, and others working with children (CDC)

Talking to Children About COVID-19 (NASP)

How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus (PBS)

Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus (NRP)

Kentucky COVID-19 resources: 

Kentucky COVID-19 homepage

Kentucky COVID-19 Hotline (800) 722-5725