index

Welcome to the world of Gina Blue

August 2007

Dear Readers!
    S ubstitute T eacher Q uestionnaire This is my primary project. Having been a substitute teacher with the Ashtabula County Schools in Ohio for six plus years (I now teach GED classes at a local prison), I am well aware of the daily problems/issues that arise. I would like to see the College of Education include a substitute teacher course within its curricula. I have the interest of Mr. John Meehl, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio. What we need to continue the project is 1) data to support a need for this curriculum and 2) data to determine instructional guidelines. Please fill out the Questionnaire and remit! I need more data to bring this project to fruition.

      NSTA     Through mutual reciprocity with Mr. Jim Politis, president of the National Substitute Teachers Alliance (NSTA), my website promoting the Questionnaire is now posted on NSTA. Go to Professional Aides and click on Internet Links.

United Kingdom Connection Question: How is the practice of substitute teachers handled in other countries? I thought a comparative study between the practices in the U.S. and those of the U.K. might suggest some possible improvements within our own system. So far in my brief exchanges with teachers in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, I have learned that their terminology for substitute teachers is "supply teachers" or "Higher Order Teaching Assistants." My efforts to communicate with Mr. Patrick Leeson, Director of Learning and Children's Services has had zero response. I will continue to seek his help with this project.

Biography of Neva and Hope...Neva and Hope, spinster sisters, were not only my childhood friends, but were the grandmothers I never had. Telling their story and bringing to justice the person(s) who murdered Neva is my life's work. I am collaborating with two other women in order to acquire letters and memorabilia to bring their story to life.

Bootcamp Diaries...These are the letters exchanged between my daughter and me during her navy bootcamp stint at the Recruit Training Command in Orlando, FL. We're in the process of developing connective dialogue between the letters.

My Book Desperately Seeking Humor: Incredible and Satirical Tales of a Substitute Teacher is available in paper back at www.barnesandnoble.com and as an eBook at www.amazon.com and www.iuniverse.com.
Check out the Book Review!

Please take a few minutes to complete the
Substitute Teacher Questionnaire.
Your participation is greatly appreciated.

    NSTA 6th Annual Conference     If you didn't attend, you missed the boat...literally! Friday evening we mixed and mingled while enjoying the elegant sit-down dinner and the Capitol sights as we cruised along the the Potomac River aboard the Spirit of Washington. Saturday we attendees, representing the states of CA, FL, PA, NY, IL, OH and MD, gathered together at the comfortable facilities of the Montgomery Co. Education Association. President Jim Politis commanded a professional atmosphere at all times.
     The agenda included something for everyone: Enthusiastic speakers included Bonnie Cullison, President of MCEA and Clara Floyd, President of Maryland State Teachers Association. Enthusiastic Break-out Sessions included Let's Look at those Contracts! and Classroom Management.
     The 2008 slate of officers includes: President--Jim Politis; VP--RachelTudor; Secretary--Judith Keiffer; Treasurer--Ron Fletcher; and Webmaster--Elizabeth Medina. Congratulations to all!
     The conference closed with a resounding cry for committed action!!

Here is a must-join FREE website: substituteteachersunited.net. Did I mention that it's FREE?? I met the creator/administrator, Elizabeth Medina, at the conference. Elizabeth invites substitute teachers world-wide to participate in an open forum sharing their experiences and concerns. Membership in this online community gives us unity, and unity gives us the strength in numbers we need to bring professionalism to our unrecognized profession.

Other Projects: