Teaching and Learning
Teaching and learning are what teachers and our Association are all about. JCEA actively supports the school district's strategic plan, which has as a goal: "All students will reach high standards through quality instruction, curriculum, and assessment.."

JCEA seeks to maximize student learning through:

  • Negotiating contract provisions that positively impact teaching/learning conditions that are necessary to attract and retain quality teachers.
  • Providing teacher training and development through the negotiated JCEA's Professional Growth Funds, the JCEA Excellence Fund, and sponsorship of the annual Sustain Success ( see below) instructional conferences.
  • Working through JCEA's Instructional Advocacy Committee (IAC) to support the teaching/learning process.
  • Supporting teachers who seek to improve their performance through the Teacher to the Power of Two (T2) confidential peer assistance program.
  • Providing licensed, professional tutors through JCEA's Professional Tutor Referral Service to help Jeffco students improve their learning and/or to provide enrichment.
  • Rewarding student success in meeting school achievement and conduct standards by providing teachers "You Set the Standard" cards.
  • Working with individual schools, articulation areas, and the school district to "close the achievement gap" by using NEA's KEYS ("Keys to Excellence in Your School) survey process for gathering data about effective schools, and by implementing the concepts included in NEA's Priority Schools initiative.
  • Strengthening our Association and enriching the teaching and learning process by valuing and embracing our diverse membership through our Ethnic-Minority Advisory Committee (EMAC).
Find out more about JCEA support for Teaching and Learning:
  • CEA Teaching and Learning: Includes information on education policies and trends, resources and tips for good teaching, state licensure requirements, National Board Certification.
  • NEA Teaching: Includes information on educator resources, national certification, NEA's National Foundation for the Improvement of Instruction (NFIE), NEA Resolutions, professional development, teacher quality, Works4Me and tips library.
  • NEA's KEYS program: Includes everything you need to know about the (KEYS) program.
  • NEA's Priority Schools Initiative: NEA and its state and local affiliates, including JCEA, are making low-performing schools "priority schools" by urging fundamental changes-changes that will create a safe, orderly environment that focuses on high standards of teaching and learning for a students.
  • Find out more about JCEA's Professional Tutor Referral Service by clicking here. You can download the tutor registration form; click here!
  • Association Representatives can place orders for "You Set the Standard" cards; download the form by clicking here!
  • Serving Kids from the inside out program provides new and near-new clothing to Jeffco school children who are in need. This important charitable program is sponsored by all three JPS employee associations (JCEA, JCAA and CSEA).
NEA provides helpful classroom resources just for you:

  • NEA's Read Across America! is now a year-round literacy program. Find out more, click here!

    "A tool for assessing school-based professional [staff] development:" Through the work of the JCEA Instructional Coach Oversight Committee, a contract committee, JCEA/JPS have developed a planing tool to help schools identify a school-wide focus for meaningful staff development. The rhubric-based plan was field tested in 2005. You can download this 18-page document in a .pdf format by clicking here.
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    JCEA/JPS offers three classroom management classes: Specifically designed for "new teachers" and those needing assistance in classroom management, this innovative class is taught by our members, classroom teachers. It includes elements necessary for successful classroom management, communication or learning styles, intervention for difficult behaviors, hints to create a smoothly flowing classroom, tools to begin building positive parent/teacher relationships, and an opportunity to link with a colleague for future support. Classes will be offered on Saturdays:

    • September 13, 2008: JCEA's Council Hall; 8:00 am-3:30 pm
    • November 15, 2008: JCEA's Council Hall; 8:00 am-3:30 pm
    • January 31, 2009: JCEA's Council Hall; 8:00 am-3:30 pm

  • This class is free for JCEA members, $50 for not-yet-members. Breakfast, lunch, as well as all materials are included. Space is limited to 20 participants per workshop. For more information contact Tina Christensen at 303-982-6984 or email: kchriste@jeffco.k12.co.us. To make your reservation:

    • Members must send a check for $20 made payable to JCEA to reserve your spot. Your check will be returned when you attend the training.
    • Not-yet members must send a check for the full amount ($50) made payable to JCEA.
    U.S. mail all checks to Sue Dowdy c/o
    JCEA
    1050 Wadsworth Blvd.
    Lakewood, CO 80214
    (please do not send checks on the pony)
    Graduate level credit! You can now take this class for graduate level credit. Adams State College will provide one hour of credit for $45. Registration forms will be available at the training.
    JPS Employee Recognition Program: Each spring the JPS Anchor Group recognizes employees who exemplify district values. Find out more about this program by clicking here!
    NEA provides national and regional trainings:

    Members wishing to apply for JCEA funding to attend these national conferences may download an application buy clicking here!

    The JCEA Instructional Advocacy Committee (IAC) presents instructional conferences: Since 1999 JCEA has joined Phi Delta Kappa, the Jefferson County International Reading Association (JCIRA), and Jeffco Public Schools to improve instructional practices and student learning. In the 2006 school year JCEA will sponsor one regional conferences focusing on closing the achievement gap. All JCEA instructional conferences are presented by the JCEA Instructional Advocacy Committee (IAC) and underwritten by: the Dave Sander Quality Teaching Foundation, a program of the JCEA Excellence Fund. Watch for more information in the spring
    Serving Kids counts on teacher support: Serving Kids Inside Out is a joint charity of the three Jeffco employee associations (JCEA, CSEA, and JCAA), the Jeffco PTA and The Jefferson Foundation. Its purpose is to provide clean, appropriate clothing for children in need to wear to school. Its success depends on school personnel to recognize children in need and to help coordinate donations of new or near new clothing. This could be a terrific class/school-wide project. Volunteers and monetary donation are always welcome. For more information click here

    W.E. are the 'Welcoming Environment': Supported by the JPS Strategic Plan (A-6), the W.E. program is designed to increase parental involvement in the teaching/learning process by working within each community to make schools more inviting places for all. To access resource information, click here! JCEA has developed W.E. promotional posters for schools. You can download the:
    1. Black & white poster (letter size), or
    2. Color poster 

    School & Community—Linking for Learning: The goal of the Linking for Learning project is simple and straight forward – to create for the total community, “inviting” schools in which students want to learn, school employees want to work, and all citizens feel welcome. The project is aligned with the school district’s strategic plan and the Welcoming Environment program. It is a critical element in our mutual efforts to increase meaningful parental involvement. It's primary focused is on enabling schools to create volunteer programs to improve student learning. It's secondary focus is about how best to involve our business and senior communities. For materials and resources, click here

    Mannermals are here! For years teachers have expressed concerns about a growing lack of civility and respect among students. The JCEA Mannermals program is designed to be used by primary grade teachers. It's purpose is to reinforce the need for students to be polite and respectful to one another. The kit includes a color poster, and reproducibles: activities guide, introductory story, award buttons, Mannermal of the month award forms, "reward" tickets, paperbag puppets,and coloring book.

    "No Child Left Behind" fails to live up to its name: When Congress reauthorized of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in 2001, it was dubbed "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB). Unfortunately, this mammoth intrusion into traditionally state controlled public education is more rhetoric than reform. When passed the law promised increased funding to meet the law's many mandates. However, the 2004 proposed appropriation is $11 billion below established targets. Find out more by investigating these sites:

    Is your school safe? NEA provides a check list: School safety is everybody's business! NEA offers a checklist to help you evaluated your school's crisis repsonse plan. Click here!

    JCEA offers advice regarding the First Amendment: What are a teacher's rights under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution? The U.S. Supreme Court has stated that teachers do not leave their constitutional rights at the school house door, but subsequent courts have muddied the water of interpretation. Complicating the issue is that teachers have professional and ethical responsibilities when it comes to interacting with their students, as well as district policies and state laws they are directed to follow. Find out JCEA's advice by clicking here.

    NEA urges U.S. Supreme Court to reverse 'Falvo.' It does!: In Falvo v. Owasso Independent School District, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court prohibited teachers from asking students to grade each others homework, test, and quizzes. Find out about NEA's important role in this reversal by clicking here!

    National Board Certification information: JCEA and JPS will be providing support for National Board candidates through the JCEA Professional Growth Fund. For more information about the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the Certification process click here. NEA also provides information about National Board Certification, click here.

    NEA's Code of Ethics & JPS' Code of Conduct: The teaching profession is governed by a Code of Ethics of the Education Profession adopted by the NEA Representative Assembly and by a Code of Conduct adopted by the JPS Board of Education. You can download them as a .pdf file. Click here!

    Trauma from war, terrorism, and natural disasters: How to talk to kids: Students in our classrooms are bombarded by disturbing news and reports of violence in many forms. As adults, we understand the events occurring in real time in the media, but our children may react on a very different level? The Colorado Education Association offers advice for both parents and teachers; click here

    JCEA offers guides for Bang Bang You're Dead (BBYD): BBYD is a Showtime Original Movie that deals powerfully with the issue of school violence. Showtime is a premium movie channel that is broadcast over satellite and cable channels. It is available in the metro-Denver area. This movie is not endorsed by the Association. However, we have been working successfully with Showtime in an attempt to mitigate the possible negative impact the movie, and it's graphic content, may have on our own traumatized community. (Also, please note that neither the Jeffco PTA nor Jeffco Public Schools has endorsed this film.) JCEA has developed a special conversational guide for parents (on our "parenting" page) and a discussion guide for teachers.

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