The North Dakota Education Association truly is a full-service organization! My job is to deliver those services to all of the members in the Central East Unit. The CE Unit extends from Highway 2 down to I 94, and from the Red River Valley to Highway 52 north to New Rockford and Warwick. As Uniserv Director, I work with members, both certified and support, in member rights, government relations, bargaining, and professional development. Before I became a Uniserv Director, I spent thirty years (twenty-eight in Velva ND ) teaching high school English… I really miss students, but I have to admit I don't miss taking bags of papers home to grade…

During my teaching career, I was very involved in NDEA. I was a local officer and negotiator, member of the NDEA Board of Directors, NDEA Vice President, and I served on a number of commissions. Through my Association involvement I was able to receive training and resources that would have been unavailable to me if I had been a nonmember. The quality of experience my students received in my classroom was global.

I have always believed that the most important reason to be an Association activist is KIDS. Individually, we as educators and support personnel have very little influence on the decisions, local, state,and national, that impact the quality of experience of our students. However, as a unified NDEA/NEA, we can become a force for effective teaching and learning. We truly are the experts.

Every one of us needs to participate in Association decision-making--our issues impact students and public education employees everywhere!

Membership Mythology:

Homeowner's Insurance Rider for Professional Liability

Jane Rupprecht, Central East UniServ Director

Recently several of our members were told by nonmembers that they didn't need to join NDEA because they could get much cheaper liability insurance by attaching a rider to their homeowner's policy. While it is difficult to make general statements about what is covered in homeowner's insurance riders for professional liability, there are some questions that nonmembers need to ask their insurance agents about their coverage.

1. What type of service will your homeowner's policy provide before you are served with a summons or complaint? Will they provide you with in-state staff to advise and represent you as soon as an accusation is made? 

NDEA has the UniServ staff and an attorney to help you avoid the lawsuit and provide representation immediately before a situation spirals out of control.

2. If an actual court case develops, will your insurance company hire an experienced education law attorney to represent you?  Will you have to pay the legal bills up front and then submit a claim? Are attorney fees even covered?

NDEA has an attorney on retainer who is recognized across the state as a leading education and labor law attorney. You won't have legal bills or attorney fees, and you won't have to file a claim.

3. Even if the court case does not develop, it is possible that you could be threatened with the loss of your job or other disciplinary sanctions. Will your homeowner's insurance help you save your job?

Again, members have access to staff and an attorney to address job actions. Your homeowners insurance provides nothing in the event you are threatened with the loss of your job. 

It is true that many people join the Association because they want the liability coverage, and it is certainly a valuable benefit. However, the truth is that it is only one of many valuable benefits available to members. The best reason to join is to become a part of the collective voice that advocates for quality teaching and learning and job protection for all public education employees.