Why join? Membership Benefits and Services - an overview

Empowerment
By adding to the strength of the Association, you will find multiple ways to have a voice, defend yourself, promote great schools, advocate for your profession, grow and improve - a voice and a powerbase you would not have alone.

Representation
From the local to the national level, the Association represents your interests before local school boards, with state and federal agencies, and in coalitions with other education groups and private industry. See the Who's Who of DSEA for a list of your elected Association Representatives at both the state and local level and how to contact them.

On the job tips for members : here are two important ones
Your Employment File
Sexual Harassment

Personal Assistance
Association staff called UniServ Directors are located throughout Delaware to work directly with you and your local Association leaders on all job-related matters.
See the Who's Who of DSEA for the Uniserv Director assigned to your local and how to contact him or her.

Liability Insurance Coverage
You have a $1 million liability insurance policy that protects you in job-related incidents, including civil and criminal actions as well as property damage.
ESP Liability Questions
School Bus Drivers at Work

Legal Services
When your employment rights are threatened, the Association will provide you with staff assistance, the help of DSEA attorneys when necessary, and legal fees.

Financial Member Benefits/Discounts for Members Only
You save money on your Association dues investment by participating in DSEA Member Benefits and NEA Member Benefits for significant discounts to various types of investment, financial and travel services.

Lobbying
Your interests as an education employee are represented in the Delaware General Assembly and Congress through Association-wide lobbying efforts that support pro-education legislation and work to defeat measures that are harmful to schools, students and staff. Part of this effort is aimed at protecting your retirement rights; other lobbying is for increased school funding, better certification standards, higher salaries and fringe benefits, and protection of your rights as an employee. For more information, see our Political Action Center. .

Bargaining Assistance
Your local Association works to improve your salary, fringe benefits, and working conditions. In doing so, your local gets direct help from the state-national Association in research, budget analysis, and on-the-scene assistance at the negotiations table.

Public Relations
We promote the good work and image of schools and education employees through our Great Schools media campaign.

Professional development/training
You have many opportunities to attend Association workshops and training sessions as a member. DSEA training includes: Assertive Discipline, Stress Management, Team Building, Child Abuse Prevention, Grievance, Bargaining, Association Rep, Communications... These events, along with national programs like the NEA Regional Conferences, Professional Library and the NEA Online, help support you in your professional practice. See our Training Notebook for more information.

Political Action
Through the separate political arms of your local, DSEA and NEA, members recommend and help elect pro-education candidates to public office at the local, state and national levels.

Attorney Referral Program
Members receive two free half-hour consultations per year with participating attorneys and a 30 percent discount on legal fees through this program for non-job-related matters in five core areas: wills and estates, traffic violations, real estate, domestic relations, and consumer protection. For more information contact Tammy Wagner at 1-866-734-5834.

Communications
Members are kept well informed about education and your Association through this web page, local affiliate newsletters, the award-winning DSEA ACTION! and NEA Today newspapers.

Would you like to join DSEA?
If you are an actively employed or retired school employee or public health nurse and would like more information about joining DSEA, please contact Judy Bickling at our Dover Office.

Five good reasons to join DSEA-Retired