Two T‘s in a Pod

There's been a lot going on in recent weeks, from CEA Lobby Day and May Day to town budget battles and Teacher Appreciation Week. In this episode, CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey discuss recent events and reminisce about teachers who were instrumental in their own lives. This week is the perfect week to remind Connecticut lawmakers that appreciation isn't enough, teachers need action. Remind them of the importance of ensuring fairness in the workplace, addressing the special education crisis, investing in educators, and supporting retired teachers before the legislative session ends on June 4.

With six weeks left in the legislative session there is still time for legislators to pass bills to improve teaching and learning. In the latest episode of CEA's podcast, CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey talk with State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest and Hamden teacher Cinzia Letieri about education issues the legislature has been considering and discuss why an investment in the teaching profession is long overdue. 

To ensure our elected officials understand why properly supported staff and well resourced schools are vital to students' futures, teachers need to speak up and share all they do for their students. As part of CEA's public awareness campaign, Teachers Go the Extra Mile for Their Students Every Day, teachers who speak at board of education and other town meetings this spring are receiving a Teachers Go the Extra Mile T-shirt. Manchester is one local association that has already had a number of members attend board of education meetings to share what goes on in their classrooms. On the latest episode of CEA's podcast, Manchester president James Tierinni and CEA Training and Organizational Development Specialist Katie Grant talk about the new campaign with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey. Click here to find out more about participating in the campaign.

"This attack on the Department of Education—let's be clear about what it is—it's an attempt to dismantle public education as we know it here in America," Connecticut Attorney General William Tong says. Tong and CEA Political Engagement Coordinator Gus Melita are guests on this episode and discuss the impact of cuts to the U.S. Department of Education and what people in Connecticut can do to stand up for our public schools.

CEA Racial & Ethnic Diversity Affairs Commission members Faith Sweeney and Luanelly Iglesias join CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey in this episode to discuss CEA's upcoming Summit on Diversity taking place Saturday, March 29, 2025, in New Haven. Find out why you should consider attending to hear from keynote speaker Dr. Miguel Cardona and learn about leadership opportunities, advocacy, and equity. 

Teacher certification in Connecticut hasn't seen major changes since the 1990s, but that's going to change soon. Jennifer Rodriguez and Elsa Batista are two of the four teachers who are sitting on the Connecticut Educator Preparation and Certification Board. In this episode they talk with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey about the work of the Board and the importance of educators' voice in updating the certification standards. 

In this episode of CEA's podcast, Senator Bob Duff and school library media specialist Jenny Lussier, strong supporters of Senate Bill 1271 An Act Concerning School and Public Libraries, spoke with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey about why this bill is needed and is receiving strong endorsements from educators, parents, and legislators alike.

Listen to an exclusive conversation with Education Committee Co-chair Rep. Jennifer Leeper and Co-vice Chair Rep. Kevin Brown. They discuss this year's top priorities for the Education Committee—and why your voice is key to getting good bills passed. 

For decades, many thought repealing federal Social Securities penalties was a lost cause—yet in late 2024 both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed WEP/GPO repeal, and President Biden signed it into law on January 5. Doing away with the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset is a huge win for teachers and other public servants. In episode 50, CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn Delancey talk with Bette Marafino, president of the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans, and Mary-Beth Lang, vice-president of CEA Retired, about celebrating the win, how we got here, and what's next.

Do you have a health savings account? Do you know how to make full use of the account to save money and even invest? In this episode, Tom Lally, CEA's insurance specialist, talks with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey about what teachers need to know to take full advantage of their HSAs. To learn more about HSAs, CEA members can register for a free webinar at 4 p.m. January 14 with Lally. 

In the last Two T's in a Pod episode of 2024, CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey take a lighthearted tone as they discuss their favorite holiday songs and food before moving on to a discussion of what they're looking forward to in the year ahead. Some of the events they're anticipating include January webinars on teachers' free speech rights and maximizing your HSA, the CEA Legislative Breakfast in February, and Read Across Connecticut in March.

When Kristen Record was confirmed as a member of the State Board of Education last spring she became the first active teacher the Board had had among its members in many years. In this episode, the Stratford physics teacher talks with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey about what her first six months on the Board have been like and what she hopes to accomplish as a member of the Board going forward.

In the latest episode of CEA's podcast, Newington teacher Jennifer Rodriguez talks about CEA's new ad campaign, Teachers Go the Extra Mile, with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn Delancey.  Learn more about the campaign: https://cea.org/go-the-extra-mile/  

NEA Member Benefits Affiliate Relations Specialist Mike Reilly and CEA Communications and Member Benefits Director Nancy Andrews discuss some of the many savings opportunities available to CEA members. Listen to find out how you can save when you shop online as well as on pet insurance, auto insurance, theater tickets, travel, skiing, sporting events, and more.

In this episode, parent Christine Rosati Randall shares how Killingly community members came together as Champions for Public Education to successfully advocate for the mental health center students desperately needed. Become a Champion for Public Education at https://ctedchamps.org.

In this episode, CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey discuss their own reactions to election outcomes and how other educators and labor union members might think about the election results.

LEARN Education Association President Kristin Gemaly discusses what teachers need to know when it comes to investing for retirement and planning for the future. The episode covers the power of compound interest, pre-tax vs. post-tax retirement investing, dependent care flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, the importance of knowing whether a financial advisor is a fiduciary, and more. Resources mentioned in the episode are below. Nerdwallet.com compound interest calculator A tool from 403bwise.org for evaluating district 403(b) plans Questions to ask before working with a financial professional

In this episode, CEA Political Action Committee Chair and Glastonbury teacher Scott Minnick talks with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey about the upcoming election, early voting, and how teachers can make sure they are informed on all the candidates before heading to the polls.

In this episode Dalio Education Co-CEO Andrew Ferguson discusses the importance of coming together to invest in the state's youth. Ferguson is the co-chair of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities' 119K Commission on At-Risk and Disconnected Youth, which recently released a plan to confront a crisis of disconnected youth by investing in education, social services, and job training.

Chris DiPentima, the president and CEO of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, talks with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey about CBIA's new economic action plan and how education and economic growth intersect.

It's election season, and that can lead to challenging conversations in the classroom. Whether it's questions from students or handling sensitive subject matter, teachers need to be prepared. In this episode, 2012 Connecticut Teacher of the Year and Berlin social studies teacher David Bosso talks about how to handle political or controversial topics that may arise in the classroom. From presenting students with multiple perspectives to focusing on critical thinking to ensuring support from administration, Bosso has many suggestions to make sure classroom discussions are productive learning opportunities. 

To start the school year off on the right foot, West Hartford Spanish teacher Dana Martin talks with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey about a number of time management strategies, classroom routines, and technology tips especially useful for early-career educators. Check out her list of keyboard shortcuts.

The 2024-25 school year is here, and that means new teacher evaluation guidelines are now in effect that focus on growth rather than compliance. In this episode CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey talk with Connecticut Association for Public School Superintendents Executive Director Fran Rabinowitz and CEA Teacher Development Specialist Kate Field about the shift that's taken place in teacher evaluation. 

The Connecticut Education Foundation supports children and teachers in need—and there are lots of fun ways for teachers to get involved. Register to attend the CEA Celebrates Gala on September 27—you can purchase individual tickets or get your local association to sponsor a full or half table—and it's also now time to nominate children to receive gifts through the Holiday Bear project. In this episode CEA President Kate Dias and CEA Vice President and CEF President Joslyn DeLancey talk with long-time CEF supporters CEA Treasurer Stephanie Wanzer and CEA production technician Chip Karkos about nominating and sponsoring children through the Holiday Bear project. Find out how you can get involved: https://cea.org/holiday-bear-project/ 

What's new for Connecticut teachers this school year? Educators will see changes to teacher evaluation, play-based learning, kindergarten start age, DCF reporting, and more. Listen to CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey discuss the changes and how you can get involved to improve teaching and learning. 

Tolland Education Association President Kristen Deliman Grabowski and East Hartford Education Association President Paul Apostalon are among seven members who took part in CEA's new Because of Our Union campaign, and they talked about their own whys of union membership with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey.

CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey talk with Fairfield Education Association President Mick McGarry about scams that target teachers and then launch into a discussion of the many benefits they've personally gotten out of union membership.

CEA members Chris Poulos and Kevin Brown are in the second year of their first term as state legislators. Listen to their discussion with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey about education issues the legislature is taking up this session and how you can get involved in the legislative process. 

The Holiday Season is upon us, and teachers, students, and community supporters have turned out once again to sponsor brighter holidays for hundreds of students around Connecticut through the Holiday Bear Project. On this episode, Avon Education Association President Jon Moss shares how his district is coming together to sponsor a record 110 students this year and talks with Kate and Joslyn about how CEA members across the state can help make Holiday Bear a success.

The State Board of Education has adopted new teacher evaluation guidelines that allow districts to move away from ratings, SLOs, and standardized indicators. To ensure districts move to an evaluation plan that really helps educators grow, teacher representatives to professional development and evaluation committees (PDECs) need to speak up and advocate for themselves and their colleagues. In this episode CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey talk with CEA Teacher Development Specialist Kate Field about changes to teacher evaluation and what local association members need to do to ensure their district gets evaluation right. Check out the new evaluation guidelines, CEA's implementation guide, and CEA's model teacher evaluation plan: https://cea.org/certification  

Teachers' advocacy and activism resulted in many important legislative wins this year—but as important as those wins are, how they're ultimately implemented is what impacts students and teachers. Hear the latest on teacher evaluation changes, classroom safety and school climate legislation, funding to improve indoor air quality, and more.

How do you welcome new teachers to your local association? In the latest episode of CEA's podcast, Darien Middle School English teacher Abby Shiner shares how her local association makes new teachers feel welcomed and supported as they begin their careers in the district. Listen to the great tips she shares in her conversation with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey. 

CEA is celebrating 175 years of advocating for teachers this year. In this episode, CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey talk with former CEA President Daria Plummer about her years governing in the late 90s and about CEA's past, present, and future. Also learn about an upcoming fundraising gala to celebrate CEA's 175 years.

Teachers had many important wins this legislative session, including play-based learning, an older kindergarten start age, and additional funding for education. On this episode, CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn Delancey talk with Education Committee members Rep. Jeff Currey, the House chair, and Rep. Kathleen McCarty, ranking member, about legislative successes for students and teachers and what more needs to be done. 

Kate Cummings is the chair of CEA's Aspiring Educator Program, and in this episode she talks with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey about what the state can do to attract more young people to the teaching profession.

CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey are back with author Alexandra Robbins to hear more about the teachers' stories she shares in her new book, The Teachers.

CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey talk with author Alexandra Robbins about her new book 'The Teachers' that follows the stories of three teachers as they navigate a year in the classroom. Tune in next week for part two of the conversation. 

Glastonbury Education Association President Kristen Basiaga talks about CEA's legislative priorities with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey, and shares how she and her members have been and will continue to be advocating to get them signed into law. Join her and attend CEA's Lobby Day on 4.27.23 to get teacher priorities over the finish line. Find out more: https://cea.org/ceas-lobby-day-is-now-april-27 

With two months left in the legislative session it's a vital time for teachers to be having conversations with their lawmakers. In this episode, CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslynn DeLancey talk with the co-chairs of CEA's Legislative Commission, Milford teacher Kellie Choquette and East Hartford teacher Kim Knapp, about CEA's legislative priorities and how members can best share their stories with legislators.

Danielle Fragoso, a Madison special education teacher, and Pam Penn, an East Hampton speech-language pathologist, join CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey to talk about the many challenges facing special educators and forcing many from the classroom, including CT-SEDS, the new special education data system.  

Requiring a minimum starting salary for Connecticut teachers, ensuring more play-based learning, lessening the role of standardized tests, improving teacher evaluation—these are just some of the legislative initiatives that CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey discuss with State Rep. Jeff Currey, the new co-chair of the legislature's Education Committee.

GPO and WEP—they sound like alphabet soup, but the federal Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision spell disaster for teachers. These federal acts, enacted 40 years ago, reduce or entirely eliminate the Social Security benefits teachers and their spouses receive upon retirement. Congressman John Larson has a bill before Congress that would repeal GPO and WEP, as well as expand and strengthen Social Security benefits, and ensure that wealthier Americans pay their fair share. He and Education Association of Preston President Susan Strader join CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey for this episode to discuss how GPO and WEP hurt teachers and how Larson's bill will help.

Westport educator Faith Sweeney is taking a year away from her school to serve as an NEA Teaching Fellow to support CEA and local union's diversity, equity, and inclusion agendas. Listen to her discuss her plans for the year ahead with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey. 

CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey discuss attracting and keeping teachers in the classroom with Bloomfield Local President and elementary interventionist Gail Jorden. In this episode, recorded at the beginning of the school year, the three talk financial incentives the state and districts can offer teachers, such as pandemic pension credits, housing credits, tax credits, and addressing low salaries caused by step freezes. They also discuss teaching conditions and workplace culture considerations that are essential to recruiting and retaining educators.

CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey chat with Sara Azukas, the former chair of CEA's Aspiring Educator Program, who recently started her first year as an elementary school teacher in Region 15. In this August conversation, they talk back-to-school, discuss the many advantages of CEA's Aspiring Educator Program, and talk about how the union supports young teachers as they begin their careers.

This year's legislative session resulted in a number of important wins for Connecticut students, teachers, and schools. CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey discussed many of those wins with co-chair of the legislature's Education Committee, Senator Doug McCrory, while also looking ahead to legislation they hope lawmakers will pass in the 2023 session.

Remote learning, improved mental health supports for students and teachers, and recruiting and retaining more teachers of color are just some of the topics Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker discusses with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey as a guest on Two T's in a Pod.

From providing more mental health supports for children to additional assistance with special education costs to improving air quality in schools Senate President Martin Looney discusses many of the State Senate's education priorities with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey in the latest episode of CEA's Podcast. 

Danbury schools are facing a number of challenges including a ballooning student population and a lack of investment from the city and state in the district's public schools, but on CEA's latest podcast episode Senator Kushner said there's also reason for hope due to the fantastic school community and a proposal for a new career academy. 

What's the right verses the wrong way to go about remote teaching and learning? CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey discuss that with CT 2020 Teacher of the Year Meghan Hatch-Geary and share why a thoughtful, intentional, and practical approach is so critical.

Connecticut teaches have been advocating for more mental health supports in our schools for years but it's taken a pandemic to awaken the general public to students' struggles. State Representative Robin Comey is one of the lawmakers supporting legislation to improve children's mental health, and she spoke to CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey for the latest episode of CEA's podcast.