East Windsor Association members volunteered their time on Saturday morning to give out toys, books and candy to needy kids in the community. They joined the RISE holiday party and gave out almost 700 items purchased with an NJEA PRIDE grant. What a wonderful way to connect with our community! Thank you, PRIDE/FAST chairs Esmeralda Garcia and Angela Castaneda for organizing and thanks to our volunteers, Yvonne and Marisa Santiago, Dorothea Cohen, Rita Sacca and her son, Alexis O’Rane, Rita Perez, George Wolkiewicz, and Max Castaneda. Well done, folks

It’s always great to get together with colleagues just to talk like “real people”. And that is what we did last month at our Fall Social at Charlie Brown’s. There was plenty of food, laughter and cool prizes from local restaurants to keep everyone pumped. Senator Linda Greenstein stopped by to thank us for our support and to remind us WHY we have always supported her.
Thanks you, Barbara Beckett, Social Chairperson, for arranging this event.

On August 30, 2017, almost 40 new East Windsor Regional School District educators came to Scotto’s restaurant for the annual EWEA New Member Luncheon. They were greeted by 21 members of the EWEA Executive Board ready to say “hello” and introduce them to the fantastic Association they were going to be members of.
President Ellen Ogintz spoke passionately about her experiences and goals for the new members. She made the new members laugh and smile as she assured them that they would be in good hands under the care of EWEA. She spoke about every member being a “marigold”…a “companion” plant to new plants to encourage health and growth. No “walnut trees” here.
There were other guests who spoke as well…all giving the same message…you will never be alone. There was Susan Nardi, our UNISERV Rep, Christine Sampson-Clark, president of MCEA and Grace Rarich, Vice president of MCEA, and the entire new team of leaders from NJEA…Marie Blistan, Sean Spiller and Steve Beatty. Their passion for both the profession and our union was clear.
The new members left the luncheon with smiles, gift cards, tote bags, knapsacks, pens, t-shirts, other treats and tons of information.
This was a fabulous event…as you can see below!
Welcome to EWEA!

March 10th was our annual EWEA Day! This is a wonderful day each year when we celebrate our Association and it’s accomplishments. We also wear our union shirts with pride (and these are fabulous shirts, Jerry Simonelli…so thank you). Finally, we collect donations for the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education that we will present at the NEA/RA this summer.
Thanks to all of the shirt wearers, donators, donation collectors, picture takers, breakfast makers and supporters for another successful EWEA Day! Please tag yourself and your friends!
And if we get anymore pictures, we will happily post them

On December 9, 2016, East Windsor Education Association members joined their Mercer County Education Association colleagues to honor individuals who dedicate themselves to making life better for the children of Mercer County at the first annual “Mercer County Friends of Education Awards Gala”. There was dinner, dancing, and comradery as we honored people of Mercer County.
Recipients included Ms. Tricia Baker who created the non-profit organization called A.I.R. (Attitudes in Reverse, Mary Ann Raccosta who has been an advocate for not only her own children but for other children with special needs as well. In 2012, Mary Ann wrote a book called The Survivor, The Hero & The Angel: A Mother’s Story – One Decade. This book has helped many parents come to terms with their children’s disabilities. The final recipient was our own Wendell Steinhauer, for his tireless work on behalf of NJEA members and students.
If YOU would like to nominate someone for the 2017 award, please let EWEA President Ellen Ogintz know and she will get you the information you need to make that nomination.

Our annual “Flu Shot Social” was a big success! Almost 120 of us braved the needle and received a flu shot. Our EWRSSA colleagues, Dr. Katz and our Assistant Superintendent, Erin Servillo, took part in the festivities as well.
Our friends at Rite-Aid, led by the “ever popular” Katie Van Why and her staff, tried their best to keep us all smiling through the “tears”.
This year, we welcomed vendors from the approved vendor list of NJEA. They set up their tables and answered our questions eagerly. They gave out brochures, highlighters and good information.
Thank you, Bonnie Harber from California Casualty, Carol Walker from Buyer’s Edge, Cindy Cooper from Prudential, Eric Lorenz & George Kelly from Security Benefits, provider of NEA Retirement Benefits services, and EWRSD alumni Lauren Birish from Ascendancy Wealth Management. If you would like to contact ANY of these vendors, please let me (Ellen Ogintz) know.
A big thank you to our workshop chairperson, Merion Wells, for setting up the “party”. She made sure there were treats aplenty for all of the “good boys and girls” who got their shot without a fuss.
Without a fuss? Well, pictures don’t lie!

Members of your local EWEA LAT and others came to the Mercer County Fall Focus. While there, we did our traditional “meet and greet” and discussed issues that are the focus of our legislative work this year…ESSA (Every Child Succeeds Act), Pensions, Chapter 78, and Privatization.
We all agreed that we are ready to fight the fight, and need NJEA to lead the charge.
We also committed ourselves, once again, to the election of Marie Blistan for NJEA President, Sean Spiller for NJEA Vice-President, and Steve Beatty for NJEA Sec/Treasurer.
You can meet Steve Beatty yourself at our EWEA Social on December 6th at Charlie Brown’s.
Stay tuned for information on writing and calling your State Senator in order to pass legislation to take PARCC scores OUT of your evaluation.

Some very brave members of the East Windsor Education Association braved the cloudy, then rainy day to volunteer at the Hightstown Harvest Fair on October 8th. We were out there to meet/greet our community member and friends. Thanks to the work of our PRIDE chairs Angela Yvonne and Esmeralda Leon we had very cool cell phone thingies that stick to the back of a cell phone and have a slot to store stuff in! We also suggested putting it in the inside cover of an assignment book as a place for special numbers…or words to know!
We schmoozed with our Freeholders, Andrew Koontz, Lucy Walter, and EW Mayor Janice Mironov. We saw our best buddy, Assemblyman Dan Benson, with his lovely wife Hande and GORGEOUS baby boy. We were also rooting for Denise Daniels who is running for EW Town Council.
And yes…our booth was RIGHT NEXT to a local vineyard selling…uh…grape juice?
We met lots of former students, currents students and many more people. The event….even in the rain…was a success!
Thank you Jolly Becerra, Esmeralda Leon, Vince Colucci, Frances Lavelle, Audrey Neveling, Sarah Vandervort, Kathy Dziuba, Jill Grois, Chris Carpenter, and Kathleen Carvalho for joining me, Ellen Steinman Ogintz on a day that could have been spent doing other things…

Kenneth Cole’s “The Courageous Class” is made up of determined individuals who confidently overcome life’s challenges to become inspiring role models. This month, in honor of heading back to school, they highlighted three people fighting to improve education…and one was our own Kreps Middle School teacher Robt Seda-Schreiber!
This is from the website https://www.kennethcole.com/blog-courageous-class-spotlight-back-to-school-edidtion.html
Robt Seda-Schreiber
Teacher of the Year and Champion of Equality
Robt Seda-Schreiber has been an art and theatre teacher at Melvin H. Kreps Middle School in East Windsor, NJ for nearly twenty-five years.
What do you want to share with the world regarding youth and education?

Education is the cornerstone of any great civilization and the very fabric of our culture, no doubt, no diggity. Each and every one of us, should learn, grow and expand our horizons each and every day, and teachers are a small but integral part of that process. We all need to teach each other to learn from each other and be open to new ideas. A good teacher is a great learner and a great learner is a good teacher.

What people and/or events inspired you to do the work that you do today?

My wonderful folks showed me the path, my lovely bride holds my hand as I walk it, and my talented son shows me the horizon. My parents taught me love and respect for all, my wife helps me put it into practice, and my boy carries it upward and onward. I have always been inspired by those who speak out and allow others to rise up within their own communities. When one group overcomes injustice and inequality, it is a victory for us all. Whether it be MLK, Gandhi, Harvey Milk, Dolores Huerta, Muhammad Ali, Keith Haring, Kurt Vonnegut, or David Letterman, these men and women were true to themselves and true to their communities. They inspire all of us to be the best that we can be. Finally, much respect and love to my administration, my colleagues, my students and the community at large in which I work. This oh-so-supportive crew have been nothing but encouraging throughout the years and I truly couldn’t do what I do without them.

What is some advice you have for people trying courageously to change the world?

Don’t ever, ever make someone feel wrong or shamed for who they are or who they love; for the color of their skin or the texture of their hair; for the language they speak or the religion they practice (or indeed the lack thereof); for the ideas they hold dear or the lives they choose to lead. And don’t ever, ever stand idly by and let anyone else do so. Remember light will always dispel the darkness and love does indeed trump hate. The world can and will change—it’s entirely up to you whether you want to watch it happen or be the one who makes it happen. Last but not least, as my man Chuck D would say, “Fight the Power. Fight the powers that be!”