The Programs of the NDEA

NDEA members in more than 250 affiliated local associations across the state can take advantage of a variety of programs and services designed to help them provide the best possible educational opportunities for North Dakota's public school students. Here is a brief overview.

Ambassadors carry out policy

There are a number of NDEA Ambassadors, commissions and committees that carry out approved policy and recommend action to the NDEA Board of Directors. These groups deal with long-range planning, resolutions, negotiations, government relations, teacher rights, public relations, instruction and professional development and minority affairs. In addition there is the Political Action Committee for Education (PACE), a separate arm of NDEA which deals with the financing and election of political candidates who are deemed "friends of education."

Professional Development

The NDEA conducts a statewide instructional conference each year in October for the professional development of its members. The instructional conference involves two days of "section meetings" in about 25 areas of teaching discipline, all designed to improve teacher classroom skills and give them the latest teaching ideas and methods. It also includes top speakers and approximately 150 exhibits. The NDEA Instructional Conference is the largest professional conference conducted in North Dakota.

The NDEA provides a number of opportunities to help educators deal with current issues and concerns and to help them sharpen their teaching skills. Information to topics ranging from how to maintain classroom discipline and increase parental involvement to the latest developments in special education is offered through Association-sponsored activities.

Public Relations and community support

The Association knows how important it is to bring public education's message before the community, business, and political leaders. We regularly launch major public relations campaigns and form coalitions with other education and community organizations.

Lobbying and political action

Every decision that affects education is a political decision. That's why the NDEA has developed a comprehensive program to help make public education issues an important part of the campaigns of candidates at all levels. Through our political action arm, NDEA-PACE, Association members interview candidates about their views on education related issues, issue recommendations on which candidates are most supportive of public education, and work to help get pro-education candidates elected. Once the elections are over, however, the NDEA goes to work as one of the most influential lobbying groups at the state Capitol.

Contract bargaining and maintenance

Local association bargaining teams have made significant strides toward making teaching salaries competitive and in improving working conditions for education. Armed with the latest facts and figures from NDEA Research and with training and support they get from the NDEA headquarters and UniServ staff, Association members are able to clearly define the procedures and policies that govern job transfers, leaves, schedules, supplemental pay, and staff reduction.

Rights protection

The NDEA Advocacy division retrains an attorney, who is an expert in school law and employment-related issues. The attorney, along with the five UniServ directors, protect members' rights in cases ranging from threatened contract termination. Association members are also entitled to a $1 million liability insurance policy to protect them against job-related legal action.