News and Events

Council of Presidents Meetings
Visit the DSEA Store
All licenses to be electronic from now on!
DSEA Events and deadlines 2012-2013
List of state-approved 403(b) investment vendors
Specialists: Don't let your license expire
All DSEA Events and Meetings

Council of Presidents Meetings set for 2012-13

The remaining Council of Presidents meeting is set for:

May 15

These meetings are held at the DSEA Dover office at 136 E. Water St.
They give all of DSEA's local association presidents a chance to come together to network and share, including asking "How do you handle this?" types of questions.
The agendas are their own, put together by a group of presidents from each county, not by the DSEA leadership team or staff.

The local presidents are also working on getting together by county.

Questions? Contact Sandy Dearman by email or by phone at 1-866-734-5834.

 Check out the DSEA store at Lands End

We now have a place where you can purchase quality merchandise with the DSEA logo embroidered - yes, really embroidered - on it. It's the DSEA Lands End Store.

Blouses, shirts, polo shirts, skirts, sweaters, jackets, hats, bags, totes, chefs' aprons, beach bags, beach towels, business attaches, messenger bags, duffel bags - even coolers and lunch bags.
Ordering is easy. Just use your credit card. There's no need to "register." Click here for Lands End's two-page guide on getting the right fit.

No more paper licenses: Make sure your e-mail adddress on DEEDS is correct!

For all teachers, specialists and paraeducators, it is now more important than ever to make sure that your e-mail address on DEEDS is accurate.

Since 2009 the Department of Education (DoE) has issued educator licenses electronically. Previously, the paper licenses were sent through the mail to the educator and a copy provided to their school district or charter school. 
Not only will teachers, specialists and paras receive their licenses or certificatesimmediately, but this change will save the state more than $12,000 annually in paper, postage and handling fees. DoE issues approximately 6,000 paper requests each year. These requests include licenses, certificates, paraeducator permits and evaluation letters.  Educators can know log on and print their own credentials. Credentials can also be verified on the DEEDS website.

So, if you are an educator, please make sure your e-mail address on DEEDS is correct so that you receive all information that is sent through that system including e-mails and professional development updates from the department.  

Here's the current list of state-approved 403(b) investment companies

Approved Vendor List (The five companies in bold are endorsed by NEA/DSEA):
The Valic Annuity Life Insurance Company
AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company
Fidelity Investments Corporation
First Investors
Great American Financial Resources, Inc.
The Hartford, through Edward Jones
Horace Mann Life Insurance Company
ING Life Insurance & Annuity Company
Kades-Margolis Corporation
Lincoln Financial Group
Lincoln Investment Planning, Inc.
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
Security Benefit Corporation

 Attention specialists: Don't let your professional license expire

  Many specialists are licensed by both the Dept. of Education and their professional boards (such as school nurses), but some are not licensed by DoE. They are only licensed by their professional organizations. These include speech language pathologists, audiologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and ROTC instructors.
   DSEA recently learned of several situations in which members employed as these types of specialists mistakenly believed that they did not have to keep their license/certification current with their professional board if their practice is limited to school settings.
This is not the case! You must maintain your license/certificate in these areas in Delaware in order to practice in a public school district.
   DSEA has assisted several members who found themselves in front of their professional licensing board through the process to secure or maintain their license but they still face investigation and possibly criminal charges for the unauthorized practice of their profession.
"Hopefully the investigators will reach the same conclusion as the licensure board that the individuals did not intentionally ignore the licensure requirements" states then-DSEA General Counsel Jeff Taschner. (Taschner is now executive director.) "The clear lesson that needs to be taken from these situations," he adds, "is that every individual is charged with the responsibility of knowing and complying with the state licensure requirements."

   Please spread the word so that this does not happen again.

Upcoming DSEA Events and Meetings

Tuesday, May 14, 2013, Human and Civil Rights Awards Banquet, Dover Sheraton, featuring HCR Winner Fred Duffy, as well as student winners of DSEA's writing and art contests. Sponsored by the DSEA Human and Civil Rights Task Force. If you'd like to attend,
Registration is closed. Questions? Please contact Carol Zeisler by email, or by phone at 302-366-8440.

Saturday, May 18, DSEA Night at the Delmarva Shorebirds
Click here for more information. Questions? Contact Pam Nichols by email or by phone toll-free at 1-866-734-5834.

Christopher K. Smith Future Teacher Golf Tournament, June 21, 2013, Maple Dale Country Club. Click here for information and registration brochure.
Contact Tammy Wagner by email or toll-free at 1-866-734-5834 for information including sponsorship opportunities.

NEA Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly, Atlanta, Georgia,
July 1-6, 2013
Questions? Contact Sandy Dearman by email or toll-free at 1-866-734-5834.
To see the members who have been elected to be DSEA state delegates to this Representative Assembly, click here.