Christine Macaluso

Hello everyone- my name is Christine Macaluso and I am running for Public Relations Chair of the GEA. I have previously served the GEA as a building representative for Buttonball Lane for three years, taking this past year off to have my son. I am eagerly anticipating rejoining the leadership of the GEA next year.  

In addition to serving the GEA as a building representative, I am highly involved in policy making at the building level. I have been a member of the scheduling committee at Buttonball and have served on our Faculty Advisory Council for the past two years. 

Knowing that I wanted to rejoin the leadership of the GEA next year, I seriously took into account the different positions available and where my strengths would be shown. I think I would be a wonderful fit for the Public Relations Chair for many reasons. First and foremost, I am passionate about the GEA and the teachers it serves. I feel that it is time all teachers in Glastonbury unite with a sense of camaraderie. I am a huge believer in the fact that teachers are strongest when working together. I will work to create events and discussions between teachers of different levels, disciplines, and buildings. Secondly, I am very personable- a quality very important in a Public Relations Chair in charge of recruitment. I have personally recruited building representatives to join the representative council on my own in the past and look forward to continuing that trend. Finally- I am at my best when planning and organizing. 

As an elementary specials teacher, I gain special inside into the needs and wants of teachers in the different buildings through department meetings and teaching in different schools. Throughout my time in Glastonbury I have taught not only at Buttonball, but also at Nayaug and Hebron Avenue Schools. To have an elementary specials teacher on the executive board would help to diversify the leadership of the GEA and allow every teacher to have a voice. 

While I understand I may not have the most executive board experience of the candidates, I ask you to take a chance on a new face for the GEA. I promise you will not be disappointed. 

Thank you! I would very much appreciate your vote on February 18th! 

Janet McCann

I am running for the GEA position of Public Relations Chair. I have worked in the Glastonbury schools for 37 years (with no plans to retire soon!). I have been elected to various positions in the GEA for over 10 years. I have worked hard to make Glastonbury teachers' voices heard by serving as Hopewell's building representative, elementary vice president, cheer secretary and contract negotiator. 

During the summer of 2012, as one of the negotiators for our current contract, I helped to get; elementary teachers increased planning time, added a second personal-personal day for all teachers and guaranteed all teachers would continue to move steps each year and get 4 years of wage increases, among other things. Additionally, we were able to secure this contract for 4 full years, which is rarely seen in Connecticut teachers' contracts.  

As your vice president, I have been the voice for the concerns of elementary teachers at the GEA monthly meetings these past years. I have been a representative for all teachers at many local CEA functions and have attended the national NEA assemblies twice during the 5 day conventions held in the summers. I have made it my personal goal to do whatever it takes to educate the public on the role of teachers and the scope of this important job. 

I hope you will allow me to continue my mission to promote awareness of the extraordinary work that Glastonbury teachers do to foster learning, personal growth and productive lives for all students.

Please vote for me to be your GEA Public Relations Chair on February 18, 2016. Thanks so much!