Gamma Zeta Officers 2010-2012

President: Joan Glasser

First Vice-President: Amanda Pritchett Second Vice-President: Cyndi O’Daniel

Recording Secretary: Missy Posey

Corresponding Secretary: Laura Jennings

Treasurer: Janna Cable Parliamentarian: Rebecca Burnette

Xi State Officers 2011-2012

President: Dr. Kathie Harned

First Vice-President: Dr. Dorrie Powell Second Vice-President: Dr. Elaine Alexander

Treasurer: Nancy Davis

Parliamentary Advisor: Becky Sakowski Executive Secretary: Elaine Warwick Corresponding Secretary: Lynn Carothers

Recording Secretary: Sherrie Collins

“Xi State News” Editor: Orlean Bauman Webmaster: Dr. Dianne Anderson

Purposes The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International has seven basic purposes that govern its program of work

and study. The activities of each level of the Society implement the purposes of the Society. The seven

purposes include.

1. To unite women educators of the world in a genuine spiritual fellowship

2. To honor women who have given or who evidence a potential for distinctive service in any field of

education.

3. To advance the professional interest and position of women in education

4. To initiate, endorse and support desirable legislation or other suitable endeavors in the interests of

education and of women educators.

5. To endow scholarships to aid outstanding women educators in pursuing graduate study

and to grant fellowships to non-member women educators

6. To stimulate the personal and professional growth of members and to encourage their

participation in appropriate programs of action.

7.To inform the members of current economic, social, political and educational issues so

that they may participate effectively in a world society.

GAMMA ZETA CHAT Volume 12, Issue 4 January/February 2012

Leading Women Educators Impacting Education Worldwide

President’s Message

February is Heart/Health Month for Women.

Sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves with so

many responsibilities and obligations. Remember, stress

is also a major cause of heart attacks. So, ladies take

time to relax and treat yourself special every now and

then. “Everyone” needs “you” to be here for them.

I thought this was cute and summed up one way to

handle stress. Please make note of upcoming activities

and training.

Society Business Committee Rules: *Betty Mason, Joyce Woods, Billie Sue

McKenzie

Finance: *Janice Jolley, Nancy Mercer, Carolyn

Arndts, Anna Jean Roberts

Membership: *Missy Posey, Patty Harris, Edna

Howard, Cyndi O’Daniel

Nomination: *Chris Ziegler, Amanda Pritchett,

Sandra Ariks

Historian/Scrapbook: *Brenda Harmon, Robin

Dodd, Sharmin Baker, Leigh Clark

Leadership Development: Mary Evelyn

Perkinson, Betty Mason, Jane Roberts

Program: *Amanda Pritchett, Jane Roberts,

Cheryl Roberts

Communications: *Lee Ann Cross, Connie

Vincent, Iva Shields, Monica Key, Kristy Ward

Society Mission and Purposes

Personal/Professional Growth: * Amanda

Pritchett, Robin Dodd, Marla Porter Stephanie

Smith

Legislation: *Rebecca Burnette, Patty Harris,

Vickie Million, Cheryl Hill

Music: Cindy Mills, Marla Porter, Kara Lane

Awards/Scholarships: *Cheryl Roberts, Trudy

Templeton, Connie Vincent, Janna Cable

Newsletter/Technology: *Joan Glasser, Mary

Evelyn Perkinson, Sheila Yarborough, Monica

Key, Amy Woods

High School Essay/Literacy: * Sue Parsons,

Cindy Mills,

Visual and Performing Arts: * Betty Lynn

Thompson, Laura Jennings, Jennier McHone

World Fellowship/Special Projects: * Judy

Leamon, Jane Roberts, Shelly Ellison, Susan

Barnett

Arts: *Cyndi O’Daniels, Anna Jean Roberts,

Jennier McHone

Mission

The Delta Kappa Gamma Society

International promotes professional and

personal growth of women educators and

excellence in education.

Vision

Leading women educators

impacting education worldwide.

Happy Birthday!

3 Betty Mason

3 Cyndi O’Daniels

6 Billie Sue McKenzie

7 Barbara Millaway

10 Patty Harris

26 Shelia Yarborough

February

3 Betty Lynn Thompson

15 Judy Leamon

23 Jane Lillard Bower

25 Trudy Templeton

Meigs North Teachers celebrate Literacy and Read Across America

Xi State Legislative symposium - Joan Glasser and Mary Evelyn Perkinson are planning to attend the Xi

State Legislative Symposium in Nashville, February 21-22. Commissioner Kevin Huffman from

Tennessee Department of Education will be the keynote speaker for breakfast. It should be very exciting

and interesting to hear teachers across the state ask questions and air feelings concerning the many changes

that are taking place in our profession.

Xi State Vision Foundation – Mary Evelyn Perkinson presented a new chapter project with proceeds

directed toward making Gamma Zeta a Visionary chapter. Watch for updates on our progress!

Legistative Update

There is a very important piece of legislation coming up in Nashville that will impact all of our teachers.

HB 2348 and SB2210 (reference theses number in your correspondence)

Two of the items are:

The increase of class size to: K-3 to 25, 4-6 to 30, 7-12 to 35 and CTE to 25

With no more averages.

(governor has dropped the bill about class size and will re- introduce next year)

The elimination of state step pay raises.

Please contact you state senator and state house member individually. If this legislature passes, systems

may be forced to eliminate a large number of teacher positions.

Link : http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/HB2348.pdf

Please contact your representative ASAP.

Rep. Eric Watson Sen. Mike Bell

301 6th Avenue North 301 6

th Avenue North

Suite 102 War Memorial Bldg. Suite 6A Legislative Plaza

Nashville, TN 37243 Nashville, TN 37243

(615) 741-7799 (615) 741-1946

rep.eric.watson@capitol.tn.gov sen.mike.bell@capitol.tn.gov

Chapter Activities

February Meeting - Meigs North hosted the February Gamma Zeta Meeting. Amy Woods did a

wonderful job presenting a power point with information related to Women’s Heart/Health Month. It

was a great reminder of how things in our life effect our heart health.

Xi State Legislative symposium - Joan Glasser and Mary Evelyn Perkinson are planning to attend the Xi

State Legislative Symposium in Nashville, February 21-22. Commissioner Kevin Huffman from

Tennessee Department of Education will be the keynote speaker for breakfast. It should be very exciting

and interesting to hear teachers across the state ask questions and air feelings concerning the many

changes that are taking place in our profession.

Xi State Vision Foundation – Mary Evelyn Perkinson presented a new chapter project with proceeds

directed toward making Gamma Zeta a Visionary chapter. Watch for updates on our progress!

Officer Training Dates for new biennium

will be offered at these sites on the following

Saturdays:

Middle Tennessee – Murfreesboro,

Whitworth Middle School - March10th

West Tennessee – Memphis, Bolivar Central

High School - March 24th

East Tennessee - Knoxville, Trinity United

Methodist Church - March 31st

New officers may attend training at any of the

above locations.

Make plans now to attend the

2012 Xi State Legislative Symposium

Dates: March 1-2, 2011

Location: Millennium Maxwell House

2025 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.

Nashville, Tennessee 37228

Times: March 1, 2011 , 7:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. (CST)

(Legislative Symposium)

March 2, 2011, 6:30 A.M. -7:30 A.M. (CST)

(Legislative Breakfast)

Registration form & payment for breakfast due:

January 30.

Our panelists/speakers for Tuesday evening include:

Dr. Gary Nixon, Executive Director,

TN State Board of Education

Dr. Connie Smith, Assistant Education

Commissioner

Jerry Winters, TEA Manager of

Government Relations

Dr. Kay Awalt Musgrove, Moderator

Legislators will be announced after the

fall elections

The 2012 International Convention scheduled in

New York City, offers sophisticated style, engaging

workshops, and opportunities only found in New York

City. Start planning to be part of an exciting

convention. Face to face events connect members

together through fellowship, learning and professional

offerings.

Gamma Zeta has a World Fellowship

Recipient

I did make contact through Facebook to

welcome, identify Gamma Zeta, and wish

Zilahatou and her family happy holidays.

Please share any other ideas you may have.

Contact information :

Zilahatou Tohon

1988 Sanderville Road

Lexington, KY 40511

Email: zilahatou.tohon@gmail.com

Birthday 2/19

Home country: Niger

Field of Study: Public Health & Epidemiology

Degree: PhD

Attending: University of KY

The World Fellowships Program began in 1946

as a project to aid women in war-torn countries.

Through the years the program grew and to date

more than 555 women from over 100 countries

have received fellowships to enable them to

pursue advanced study in the United States and

Canada.

Support Early-Career Educators

To embrace our vision, ―Leading Women Educators Impacting Education Worldwide the Educational Excellence Committee, established the initiative to Support Early-Career Educators.

Why is our support needed? Education is a challenging career, and retaining quality teachers is an issue worldwide. Currently the U.S. rate of teachers leaving the profession in the first year is 10%; 50% leave by Year 3 and 70% by Year 5. In New York

City Public Schools alone, the first year loss rate is 18%! In 1987-88 the typical teacher had 15 years of

experience, but by 2008 the typical teacher had just 1 to 2 years experience. Schools that have depended on a core of veteran teachers are seeing those teachers retire. As much is expected of a new teacher on the first day of school as is expected of a 30-year veteran. Teachers supporting teachers is crucial. John F. Kennedy said, ―”In each one of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated

into benefits for everyone and a greater strength for our nations.”

DKG’s first

official

international

project

“educating

children in

the global

village”

“BIG GAME” Safari

LEARNER KITS

$10 (117.14 MXN) provides one

student a learning kit which contains

a book bag, stationery, mini atlas,

and math tables.

“There are not

enough schools for

children in Africa. In sub Saharan Africa

alone 45 million

children do not go to

school. Support Schools For Africa.

Together we can build

more schools and

equip them and

educate the next generation of African

leaders.

… Education is a

child’s right.”

Nelson Mandela

What Our Members Are Doing

Betty L Thompson - I am working with other members of Concord United Methodist Church to provide

tutoring for children K-5thgrade each Monday from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. Classroom teachers have been most

helpful in providing assignments the students need to complete.

Cheryl Hill - All three of my boys have been playing basketball and I have enjoyed going to their games

and cheering them on! We stay very busy with school and basketball games, but I enjoy every minute of it!

Joan Glasser – I’m looking forward to attending Xi State Legislative Symposium in Nashville. Also, I will

be serving as a committee member at the Spring Leadership Development Training in Memphis over Spring

Break. It’s always fun to visit and spend time with our Xi State sisters across the state. They really are a

very special group of women.

Amanda Pritchett – Doug and I are trying to decide what to do over spring break. It is coming soon!!

Cheryl Hill and Edna Howard - We enjoyed an “elegant tea party” with our classes. The students studied

the letter “E” and concluded a unit on manners by having an “elegant tea party.” The students dressed in

their “elegant attire” and used their best manners. The tea parties were a success with the adorable guests!

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." -- Benjamin Franklin

Preview of Meetings

February Meeting

Meigs North Elementary

February 2, 2012

4:15 National Women's Heart Week

April Meeting

Meigs Middle School

April 5, 2011

4:00

Little Greenbrier School

May Meeting

May 3, 2011

4:00 Founder Day Celebration

*Believe…*

*Believe…*

*

*Remember to Celebrate DKG*

Embracing Our Vision

Designing Our Future

Dates to Remember

February 15, 2012: Deadline to submit application for Spring Leadership Development training

February 1, 2012: Deadline to submit application for Xi State Scholarships and DKG International Scholarships

February 1, 2012: Application Deadline for Cornetet Award for Professional Development

May 1, 2012: Application Deadline for Cornetet Award for Professional Development

June 7-9, 2012: Xi State Convention The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee

July 19-21, 2012: Seminar in Purposeful Living Hyatt Regency, Arlington, VA

July 24-28, 2012: Delta Kappa Gamma International Convention Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers (7th Ave) New York, New York

July 10-13, 2013: Southeast Regional Conference Gaylord Palms Orlando, Florida

July 28-August 1, 2014: Delta Kappa Gamma International Convention: J. W. Marriott, Indianapolis, IN

July, 2015: Southeast Regional Conference: Georgia