FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Membership FAQs

How do I update my address/phone/email?
A: You can send an email to MCEA’s Membership Coordinator, Jackie Thompson, at jthompson@mcea.nea.org.

How do I join MCEA?
A: You can download an MCEA Membership Form at here. Complete and sign the form and forward it through the pony to MCEA’s Membership Coordinator, Jackie Thompson, at MCEA.

How much are dues and are they tax deductible?
A: Total dues (for MCEA, MSTA, and NEA)for calendar year 2008 were $622.35 for fulltime members. For part-time members (.5 or less) total dues were $343.78. Dues may be tax deductible as a professional expense if you itemize. If you were on unpaid leave during the year, or were not a member for the full calendar year, contact MCEA’s Membership Coordinator, Jackie Thompson, at jthompson@mcea.nea.org, to find out your specific dues payments.

How do I join the Sick Leave Bank?
A: Contact MCEA’s Sick Leave Bank Coordinator, Mary Neal, for an enrollment form at 301-294-6232 or mneal@mcea.nea.org. These forms are not available online.

How do I apply for Sick Leave Bank benefits?
A: Contact MCEA’s Sick Leave Bank Coordinator, Mary Neal, for a sick leave bank request form and physician’s statement form, at 301-294-6232 or mneal@mcea.nea.org. Applications are not available online.

How do I sign up for Long Term Disability insurance?
A: Contact MCEA’s Director of Operations, Diana White-Pettis, at for information on the different types of coverage available. 301-294-6232 or dwhitep@mcea.nea.org

How do I run an ad in Tradewinds?
A: If you are an MCEA Member, you submit your ad to : Tradewinds@mcea.nea.org. We require your full name, school, and contact phone number. PLEASE NOTE: If you send us an ad from any non-paid subscriber such as YAHOO, HOTMAIL, etc., it goes directly to SPAM. SPAM is automatically deleted before it gets to Tradewinds, so to be on the safe side, please use your MCPS e-mail. Please note the Tradewinds is online every payday Monday. For instance the next pay day is February 6th, the Tradewinds will be on line, Monday, February 9th

How do I reserve classroom or meeting space at the MCEA Conference Center?
A: To make a reservation contact MCEA Conference Center Coordinator, Paulette Jackson, at pjackson@mcea.nea.org, 301-294-6232. Click here for information.

Member involvement

How do I run to be a delegate to the annual convention of the Maryland State Teachers Association (MSTA)?
A: The statewide MSTA Convention is traditionally held in October in Ocean City. If you would like to represent MCEA at the Convention please complete the Nomination Form and return it to Kiwana Williams-Hall at the MCEA office, via pony. First-time delegates are especially encouraged to run. It is also MCEA’s policy to strongly encourage the participation of minorities. MCEA provides a stipend which covers most travel, room, and food.

How do I run to be a delegate to the annual convention of the National Education Association (NEA)?
A: The National Education Association Representative Assembly establishes the NEA’s general objectives and legislative agenda, adopts a budget, sets annual dues, elects national officers an at-large NEA directors, and directs the national association’s activities through new business items. Delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly will be elected by the MCEA membership in an all-member
vote during February 2009. MCEA is entitled to approximately 75 delegates (based upon membership estimates). If you would like to represent MCEA at the National Education Association’s
Representative Assembly July 1-6, 2009, please complete the form and return to Kiwana Williams-Hall at the MCEA office, via pony, no later than February 4, 2009. MCEA provides a stipend which will over most travel, room, and reasonable food expenses.

How do I get discount movie tickets?
A: Members may purchase these tickets at the MCEA Conference Center in person. Tickets are available for AMC (tickets are $6.00 and there is a 10 day waiting period for new releases) and Regal ($7.00 and there is no waiting period) theaters. Tickets may be purchased between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Members may purchase tickets in person or they may send a family or colleague to pick up tickets at the MCEA office. Members may purchase 20 tickets per day. We accept members checks or cash. If you pay in cash we ask that you bring correct change.

What are the responsibilities of being an Elected Faculty Representative (EFR)?
A: The EFR position was established by the 2004 contract negotiations between MCEA and the Board of Education. It is an outgrowth of many years of work by MCEA and the Board to improve labor-management relations within local schools and provide for faculty involvement in school-level decision-making. “As a full member of the school’s leadership team (the core leadership group involved in local school decision-making), the Faculty Representative works with other leadership team members collaborating with school administrators. In this role, the Faculty Representative, along with other leadership team members, serves as a communicator and liaison with the school’s faculty. The Faculty Representative helps to facilitate and solve problems through the leadership team”.
In addition, the Faculty Representative shares responsibility for ensuring effective communication between the administration and the faculty and for increasing faculty involvement in, and ownership of, local school improvement. Faculty Representatives are selected annually by the faculty, and receive a salary supplement and summer planning day(s), in accordance with the Agreement between the Montgomery County Education Association and the Board of Education.

What are the responsibilities of being a MCEA Building Representative?
A: MCEA Building Reps are the heart and soul of the Association. They are grassroots leaders, selected by colleagues, to represent them in the creation of an effective organization that advances the interests of educators and public education. MCEA Reps are leaders, organizers, and problem-solvers. Each school/worksite is entitled to at least one MCEA Rep, and additional Reps on the basis of 1 for every 15 MCEA members (or major fraction thereof).
The primary responsibility as a Rep is to provide union leadership for MCEA members at the school or worksite by

helping them solve problems arising from their work as educators in their school/worksite
advocating for and representing their collective interests and needs as education employees
mobilizing collective action when necessary, and
getting other members involved in the work of the union

The most effective Reps develop a core of colleagues to share in the many tasks involved. The ability to recruit volunteers can be the most valuable skill for a Rep to develop. There are many tasks involved in developing an effective building level organization. No one person can do it all. That’s why developing a core of volunteers is essential. A well functioning team of Union Reps shares the responsibility for:

Ensuring that their school/worksite is represented at every Rep Assembly
Promoting communication about issues
Helping members solve individual and school-wide problems
Organizing MCEA membership meetings in your building as needed
Promoting involvement in decision-making at your school
Distributing MCEA materials
Conducting MCEA elections
Involving members in Association activities
Recruiting new members to the Association
Promoting involvement in political action

How do I make a political contribution to the Fund for Children and Public Education?
A: The Fund for Children and Public Education is MCEA’s political action fund. Contributions are used to educate the public about pro-education candidates who have been recommended by the MCEA Representative Assembly after a detailed screening process. Contributions may be made through payroll deduction . One time donations by check may also be made. Send the form, or contribution, to MCEA, 12 Taft Ct. Rockville MD 20850.

What exactly is the Union Community Fund and how can I donate to it?
A: The Union Community Fund, like the United Way, pools individual contributions and then makes grants to charities. However, it is different in that representatives from SEIU Local 500, MCAASP and MCEA participate, along with the representatives of other Washington area unions, community, and religious organizations on the UCF Board in grant-making decisions, thereby increasing the representative voice we have in those decisions. As educators, we see how poverty affects our students. While we work to mitigate its impact in the classroom and level the playing field, we must strive to change the conditions that create the poverty our students’ experience. MCEA proudly joins with others in the labor movement to fight for the right to organize, for a safe workplace, for health care, childcare, and self sufficiency. The Union Community Fund disburses funds to organizations that provide direct service and advocacy. If you would like to donate to the UCF, you may print and send the form back to Jen Nguherimo at MCEA. You may donate through payroll deduction or by check made payable to the Union Community Fund.

Contract FAQ’s

How do I determine my hours and planning time as a part-time employee?
A: See the attached chart which delineating the duty hours and minimum planning time guaranteed for Part-time employees.

Do I have to sign an observation report that I don’t think is accurate?
A: You should sign the report and submit a response to the document. Call MCEA if you would like assistance writing your response.

How do I know what’s in my file?
A: You have a right to view your school or Human Resource file. Make an appointment with the principal’s secretary in order to view your school file. Call the file room in MCPS at301-279-3344 in order to make an appointment to view your HR file. You may have a representative present.