The DEA Election is approaching in March. Read all about the candidates running for Executive Board Members-At-Large or NEA Delegates. Be on the lookout for how to vote in March.
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS-AT-LARGE: (THREE to be elected for 2-year terms)
The Executive Board is the administrative authority of the Association. They, with policies adopted by the Representative Council, will be responsible for the managing the affairs of the Association. The Executive Board meets once a month. Board members are also non-voting members of the Representative Council that meets once a month.
Nathaniel DeFoe (Williams)
Leadership Experience: I have been on the DEA executive board for 1 year. I was the building representative for JB Young for 1 year. I have worked closely with other executive board members in the consolidation and alignment of DEA by-laws with GRUU by-laws.
Statement: I have worked in the Davenport Community School district for 7 years. I began my career at North High School as a Special Education Teacher and Swim Coach. I have worked at West High, JB Young and am now at Williams Intermediate. I believe in a strong and active union executive board that develops and implements actions that serve the needs of union members. I hope to continue working with members and on the executive board to create and implement actions that will make our union stronger, bigger and responsive to the changes in our professional climate.
Todd Huss (McKinley)
Leadership Experience: I am currently at McKinley and have taught in the Davenport for 18 years. I have been with DEA for 12 years and have been a Head Building Rep. for the last 5 years. I was voted onto the Executive Board in September of 2017. I have a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership through Drake University and a Master’s Degree in Administration through Western Illinois. I was the Math Curriculum Coordinator my last 5 years at Jefferson Edison.
Statement: I was voted onto Executive Board in September and want to continue to serve in that capacity to learn how to better help our members and protect their rights according to the contract. I want to be a better member of DEA and I want to protect and strengthen our contract. I ask you to vote for me to continue to serve you on Executive Board.
Arafel Swords (West)
Leadership Experience: Over the past 10 years I have participated in Destination Imagination, a creative problem solving program. With this I work as a head appraiser which involves being a team lead for those who are evaluating student’s problem solving skills. I have co-managed a sleep away camp for adults with severe and profound disabilities where I oversaw 30 different campers and buddies, developed and ran activities and programming while addressing different crises that arose. The past 4 years I have helped chaperone West High Schools Medieval group’s Minnesota renaissance fair field trip.
Statement: I hope to be a part of Executive Board so that I may play a more active role in the union. I will bring enthusiasm and a fresh perspective; being new to the teaching profession. I would be able to better advocate for younger DEA members as well as special educators throughout the district.
NEA DELEGATES & ALTERNATES: (SIX to be elected for 1-year term)
Selected delegates are elected to attend NEA Representative Assembly in Minneapolis, MN June 30–July 5, 2018 and vote and advocate for the members of Davenport Education Association. *One of the elected delegates must be a first-time delegate.
Nathaniel DeFoe (Williams)
*First time delegate for NEA Delegate Assembly
Leadership Experience: I have been on the DEA executive board for 1 year. I was the building representative for JB Young for 1 year. I have worked closely with other executive board members in the consolidation and alignment of DEA by-laws with GRUU by-laws.
Statement: I have worked in the Davenport Community School district for 7 years. I began my career at North High School as a Special Education Teacher and Swim Coach. I have worked at West High, JB Young and am now at Williams Intermediate. I believe in a strong and active union executive board that develops and implements actions that serve the needs of union members. I hope to continue working with members and on the executive board to create and implement actions that will make our union stronger, bigger and responsive to the changes in our professional climate.
John Kealey (West)
Leadership Experience: Former President, Vice President, and Governmental Committee Chair for DEA. Current President of GRUU (Great River Unit UniServ).
Statement: It would be an honor to represent the DEA at this year’s RA. As GRUU President, this experience will greatly help me orchestrate the pro-educational campaigns in 2018.
Monike Hill (Adams)
*First time delegate for NEA Delegate Assembly
Leadership Experience: I have extensive leadership experience that started during high school and continues today due to my many professional and volunteer musical ensembles, coaching, social and professional organizations as well as managing my own family’s very busy schedule. I have taught K-5th music, 6-8th bands/jazz/steel bands, 9-12th competitive bands, WGI indoor drum lines and color guard, guitar class, musicals/plays, variety/talent shows and private lessons for seventeen years within Illinois, Michigan and Iowa. I hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education and a Masters Degree in Instrumental Pedagogy and Conducting.
Statement: I have been a school representative for Adams for two years. Through these professional and my own personal experiences, I have come to appreciate the challenges confronting education from within and outside the profession. I will work diligently to help our students, our district, our profession and all of you, my amazing colleagues. I thank you for your vote.
Sarah Nelson (Adams)
*First time delegate for NEA Delegate Assembly
Leadership Experience: I am in my 13th year teaching and am currently a lead teacher at Adams. Prior to that, I was a model teacher and a member of our building’s BSAT. In February of 2017 I attended the NEA Summit and this summer I attended the ISEA Summer Leadership Conference. I have experience working as a Board of Education member at my sons’ school for the past two years. Finally, this summer I was trained to be a Site Visitor for CAEP; the program that accredits college education programs.
Statement: I believe that our students in Davenport deserve the best and most qualified teachers. This means that we need to have strong, committed voices speak up for what is best for students at the district, state and national level. I am committed to asking tough questions to ensure this happens for all children.
Lori Palmgren (Central)
*First time delegate for NEA Delegate Assembly
Leadership Experience: I am currently a TLCS Navigator and a Drama Club Sponsor.
Statement: My heart and passion is protecting public education. I want to become more involved in the DEA and in turn increase teacher involvement. I want to bring back the passion of teaching. I want to encourage students to go to college and become teachers to help the teacher shortage. I want to watch out for IPERS and fight to keep our contracts intact.
Maggie Rietz (West)
Leadership Experience: I have been a building rep at West for 5 years, and head rep for 3 of those years. I am the chair for the Communications and Public Relations committee. I am a model teacher for DCSD, and am a committee member for the East Iowa speech and debate district.
Statement: As I’ve continued to increase my involvement in the association, I see how much work has been done up to this point, and understand how much work we still have to do in a challenging time for the association and in education, both in Iowa and nationally. I know that I want to be involved in that work so I can be a voice for all of the teachers in the district up to the national level, and your vote will help me continue learn and grow to work on behalf of all of us, because we are stronger together.
Ann Marie Tessier (Buchanan)
*First time delegate for NEA Delegate Assembly
Leadership Experience: I developed the first ESL elementary summer school in Davenport School district at Buchanan. The following summer I helped to organize planning for ESL summer school at additional elementary schools. I was the ESL district support for 3 years. I provided resources for colleagues. Responsibilities also included creating and providing professional development to staff. I have been an instructor at two different universities in the teacher education program. In addition to post-secondary teaching, I helped develop course work for the ESL certification program at St. Ambrose.
Statement: I want to continue to improve education by advocating for our students and supporting our staff.
Jamie Walker-Sallis (Buchanan)
*First time delegate for NEA Delegate Assembly
Leadership Experience: Multi-Cultural Committee Chair for DEA, Multi-Cultural Committee Chair for GRUU, and Multi-Cultural Committee ISEA Member, Davenport Schools Equity Committee, Davenport Schools Minority Recruitment Committee
Statement: I was recently selected as one of six ISEA state members to attend the NEA’s Minority and Women’s Leadership Training Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. During the conference I had an opportunity to work on my leadership development. I would like to continue to grow as a leader in NEA through attending additional training and development opportunities.
Davenport Education Association 
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