HELP WANTED:
Local Association:
Aiken -- President: John Ross, johnross2383@gmail.com
Allendale -- In need of leadership, contact me
Bamberg -- In need of leadership, contact me
Barnwell -- In need of leadership, contact me
Beaufort -- President Dr. Valerie Jackson, valerie.jacksonthescea@yahoo.com
Berkeley -- President: Kat Low, kat@thebcea.net
Charleston -- President: Adrian King, aking.ccea@gmail.com, (843) 800-0379
Clarendon -- In need of leadership, contact me
Colleton -- President Tyeesha Pruitt, tpruittccea@gmail.com
Dorchester -- In need of leadership, contact me
Georgetown -- President: Urica Brown, Urica.brown@gmail.com, 843-318-0217
Hampton -- In need of leadership, contact me
Jasper -- In need of leadership, contact me
Orangeburg -- President Elizabeth Humphrey, ehump13@gmail.com
Summerville -- President MaryRita Watson, mwatson@thescea.org, 943-729-0550
Williamsburg -- President Jacqueline Simmons, homey2u@hotmail.com, (843) 319-1981
Alana J. Ward, UniServ Director
843-810-6278
LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF
Let me introduce myself! I am Alana Ward and I am, now, the new UniServ Director for the Lowerstate region, District 3. Before joining the staff at The SCEA, I was an NEA Organizing Fellow and taught English at Ashley Ridge High School in Dorchester District 2. I have been an educator since 1996 and started my career as a middle school teacher in Tallahassee, Florida at Griffin Middle School. I am a graduate of Florida A&M University and a proud South Carolina native from Orangeburg! Did I mention that I am also a graduate of Orangeburg - Wilkinson High School? Go Bruins!
I am the wife of Jason and the mother of Janae and Jayla. Both of my daughters matriculated through Dorchester District 2 schools and graduated from Ashley Ridge. I live in North Charleston, SC and my family has called the Lowcountry home for the past 20 years.
As an educator, I pride myself in being a life-long learner and a champion for public education. It is an honor to support and advocate for fellow educators as we endeavor to make public education better for educators and the students we serve.
I look forward to meeting and getting to know each of you!
Yours in solidarity,
Alana J. Ward
Alana Ward
Email: award@thescea.org
Website: www.thescea.org
Location: 2999 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC, USA
Phone: 8438106278
Facebook: facebook.com/alanarobinsonward
Jerry Zucker Middle School
Dorchester District II Board Meeting
NEA Member Benefits Highlights
November 2022
Hot Deals and Discounts from NEA Member Benefits
NEA Discount Marketplace—Exclusive Offers for Members
The NEA Discount Marketplace, powered by Rakuten, enables members to earn Cash Back when they shop and save on brand-name merchandise from over 3,500 top retailers and online stores.* Check out the following member-exclusive deals in November 2022 at neamb.com/marketplace:
Dell Shop the latest Dell computers and technology solutions including laptops, desktops, all-in-one PCs and gaming equipment and accessories. Deals in the Dell Outlet offer “same as new” warranties.
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*If you don’t find what you’re looking for in the exclusive member deals above, simply search for your favorite retailer by entering the store name in the search box on the NEA Discount Marketplace page!
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Get $2,000 in Additional Benefits* When You Purchase Your Car with the NEA Auto Buying Program
This fall, shop new and used vehicles online and access exclusive member perks like $2,000 in post-sale benefits* when you report your new or used car purchase. The NEA Auto Buying Program is here with the tools you need to make a great decision on your next vehicle. You can also:
· Access an extensive selection of more than 800,000 pre-owned vehicles for sale nationwide
· See your car’s market value and get a cash offer in minutes
· Find educator incentives and the best car deals near you, read reviews, compare features and explore payment options
*Some benefits not available in NY and NH. Terms and conditions apply. Auto Deductible Reimbursement is provided by Voyager Indemnity Insurance Company, an Assurant company.
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Fresh Deals for Fall: Up to 40% Off Entertainment with the NEA Discount Tickets Program
Fall is officially here, and we’ve got an exciting lineup of attractions and entertainment discounts to help you make the most of the ‘cozy’ season. As an NEA member, save up to 40% on tickets to autumn festivities, theme park adventures, favorite sporting events and so many other ticket offers from coast-to-coast. Get inspired—and then get going so you don’t miss out. Visit https://www.neamb.com/products/nea-discount-tickets-program today!
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Enroll in NEA Easy Pay and Make Purchases Interest-Free
Take advantage of buying now and paying later with a convenient installment plan and no credit check, interest, or fees. Shop from among more than 27,000 discounted products, and enjoy even more savings during special flash sales. Enroll now at www.neamb.com/easypay.
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Costco Offers Savings on All Your Holiday Needs Costco’s got everything you need to make the holiday season bright: home décor and furnishings, gifts like jewelry and electronics, a vast array of fresh, frozen and prepared foods, and more! NEA members obtaining a new Costco membership will receive a $30 Costco Shop Card! It’s easy to join Costco: go online to www.neamb.com/costco, sign into your account or register, and click “Join Now” to purchase your Costco Membership Activation Certificate. You will receive an email confirmation that includes your certificate, which you can then redeem at any Costco location to start saving!
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Liability Insurance Explained
by NEA Member Benefits
Think about this scenario: You’re mowing your lawn and an unseen rock is hurled by the mower onto your neighbor’s property. Your neighbor comes over and politely informs you that not only did you damage her house, but the blood on her face from the broken window now requires a trip to the emergency room.
Consider another scenario that could happen at school: You’re accused of harassment by a student’s parent.
This article reviews different types of liability insurance every educator should investigate: personal, professional and commercial.
What is liability insurance used for?
Liability losses occur when someone becomes legally obligated to pay compensation for harm done to someone else. For a liability loss to occur, all of the following conditions must exist:
- There must be some legal principle governing the relationship of the parties.
- Some definite injury has occurred to one of the parties.
- Some wrongful conduct by the other party has led to that injury.
- Either an agreement of the parties or a court judgement has been made holding a party liable and determining the amount of that civil liability, or a court is holding a party criminally responsible.
A basic concept of civil liability (or criminal responsibility) under laws in the United States is that one party must prove that the other party was at fault in their actions and caused the loss or injury for which the law holds them liable or responsible.
Personal liability insurance
Most personal liability risks are covered as part of a comprehensive homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy and a comprehensive automobile insurance policy. If a neighbor slips on your icy walkway, then your home insurance policy will provide liability coverage and medical coverage for you and your neighbor.
Find out more about your options as an NEA member for supplemental liability coverage through the NEA Personal Umbrella Insurance program.
Professional liability insurance
What if a situation involving you causes property damage or bodily injury while you are at work, either on school grounds or at a school function? Personal liability insurance will not cover that risk—you need teacher liability insurance for this purpose.
The National Education Association (NEA) has recognized the importance of having such protection—so much so, that the Educators Employment Liability (EEL) insurance program is just one of many benefits of membership provided at no additional cost to the member. This policy protects you in most instances if a student or a student’s parents sue you. It also reimburses you if your personal property is damaged in assault-related incidents.
Coverage applies to legal charges arising out of the member’s educational work, or what under the policy is called, educational employment activities for an educational unit, such as a school or college, in most but not all instances. The basic coverage provided by the EEL policy includes:
Coverage A: Educators liability benefit (civil)
- Payment up to $3 million if 1 member, and up to $9 million if more than 1 member is involved in the situation, for the legal costs of defending civil proceedings brought against a member in the course of their educational employment activities—except in cases that include any civil rights issues or civil rights claims.
- Payment up to $1 million if 1 member, and up to $3 million if more than 1 member, is involved in the situation or instance, from their educational employment activities, that gives rise to civil liability imposed upon the member(s) by a court—except in cases that involve civil rights claims.
- Payment up to $300,000 per member involved in an event that gives rise to civil liability imposed upon the member by a court in cases alleging civil rights violation(s) in the course of their educational employment activities
- Payment up to $5,000 for legal defense in a civil lawsuit against a member where the case involves bodily injury, other than by an EEL-insured, due to fungus, mold, mildew or yeast. The EEL policy must otherwise cover the defense. Payment for that defense would be excluded without this exceptional sub-limit.
Coverage B: Reimbursement of attorney fees for defense of criminal proceedings
- Reimbursement for attorney fees and other legal costs up to $35,000 if the member is charged with violating a criminal statute in the course of their educational employment activities, and they are exonerated from charges other than corporal punishment. Defense against corporal punishment does not require exoneration to obtain legal defense coverage under the policy. (State insurance laws do not permit this coverage in New York state.)
Coverage C: Bail bond
- Reimbursement up to $1,000 of bail bond premium if the member must post a bond as the result of an occurrence arising from their educational employment activities. (State insurance laws do not permit this coverage in Kentucky or Wisconsin.)
Coverage D: Assault-related personal property damage
- Payment of up to $500 when a member’s personal property is damaged in an assault upon the member in the course of his or her educational employment activities (vehicles and school property are excluded).
Extended Coverage: Medical and related arts endorsement
- Additional coverage is offered to athletic trainers, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists or dental hygienists for their rendering, supervising or teaching at schools or other educational units. This option is purchased by the state affiliate. Members enroll with their state affiliate.
NEA’s EEL policy is an occurrence policy. This means that claims arising from covered acts (“occurrence”) during the contract period are covered no matter when the claim is made—whether during that current period or years later. Benefits protect insured NEA members as of the time of the occurrence.
The EEL policy covers criminal and civil rights cases, but not cases arising out of the discharge or layoff of a member, or involving other “job rights” issues. These types of cases are covered by the Kate Frank-DuShane Unified Legal Services Program. This policy pays its benefits when other sources of insurance (e.g., a school district professional liability policy) are exhausted.
