Shakopee Education Association is a union and professional association of over 600 teaching and learning professionals working together to bring a world-class education to the students in the Shakopee Public Schools (MN ISD 720 - http://www.shakopee.k12.mn.us/).
In 2009, the SEA celebrated its 50th year as a member of the American Federation of Teachers and took that opportunity to articulate the values our organization espouses:
PROFESSIONALISM
We believe effective teaching requires talented and committed professionals.
We believe education is the most fundamentally important and complex task in upholding and maintaining our democracy. Together, in concert, our diverse and talented members serve the unique needs of our students, individually and collectively. These professionals combine experience in the classroom, extensive content knowledge, deep understanding of pedagogy, and the ability to build relationships with students to engage them in relevant and meaningful learning each and every day. These talents and skills are the foundation from which our educators innovate and differentiate as they seek to meet the needs of these unique individuals, enabling them to develop and maximize their potential and passions.
We believe that the most important work in public education occurs between educator and student, and this central relationship must be valued and nurtured by all. As such, we believe the most effective decision-making in education begins in the classroom and is built on critical partnerships between educators, students, families, and administrators.
ADVOCACY
We believe in working together to address the needs of our students and educators.
We believe a high quality education is at the heart of a just and equitable society, and so we seek to initiate polices and develop values that improve public education. We seek to work with our district to help recruit, support, and retain a diverse cadre of trained and skilled professionals. Believing that all students can learn and be successful in school and life, we advocate for students and work diligently to ensure that all students receive an excellent education,
We believe individuals are strengthened when they work together for the common good. As education professionals, we improve both our profession and the quality of public education when we unite and advocate collectively for students and our profession.
PROBLEM-SOLVING
We believe in being proactive, thinking long-term, and seeking renewal.
Educators face a myriad of challenges, some known, some unknown — how we respond to and prepare for these challenges has a major impact on our continued success. We believe acting proactively and positively improves teacher morale and provides for a better environment. We believe thinking long-term helps us to make better, sustainable decisions on behalf of students and teachers. We believe in self-reflection and supporting teachers’ and students’ efforts to learn and seek renewal of their passions.
We believe teachers have strong and important voices that need to be heard on the issues facing our schools, students, families, community, and nation. Educators are a rich source of innovation and problem-solving as we seek to improve education and student outcomes.
UNITY
We believe in standing together; even when we don’t agree, we stand together for the good of all.
We believe that solidarity and unity improve teacher morale and enable teachers to make a difference for students. We believe that teachers are best able to maximize student learning when they have a stable, supportive, and encouraging environment in which to hone their craft, and that to create this kind of environment requires collaboration and dedicated commitment to teacher support from all levels of school administration.
We believe partnerships with parents, families, communities, and other stakeholders are essential to quality public education, improved student success, and healthy educator morale.
EQUALITY
We believe in the essential uniqueness and equality of all people, and individuals need different supports to achieve it.
We believe public education is vital to building respect for the worth, dignity, and equality of every individual in our diverse society. If the true purpose of public education is to shape the future of our society by building educated citizens who are caring, healthy, and productive, and who are fully prepared for the world ahead of them, then we believe public education is the gateway to that opportunity: all students have the human and civil right to a quality public education that develops their potential, independence, and character, and all teachers have the same right to a constructive and supportive working environment.
OUR COMMUNITY
Shakopee Public Schools is located in the city of Shakopee (pronounced shock-oh-pee). It was once a stand-alone town located about 23 miles southwest of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis & St. Paul) on the Minnesota river. However, today Shakopee has morphed into rapidly growing suburb with a population of about 40,000 as of the census of 2010, and the school district serves approxiamately 8000 students.The city of Shakopee is known for...
Entertainment services:
- ValleyFair Amusement Park
- Canterbury Park Racetrack and Card Casino
- Renaissance Festival
- Murphy's Landing Historical Park
- etc.
Business
- Valley Green Industrial Park (2nd largest in the MN)
- Rahr Malting
- Target Distribution
- FedEx
- RR Donnelly
- Seagate
- Bayer
- Amazon
- Shutterfly
- etc.
and Agriculture
- Family farming
The members of the SEA are proud to serve this proud and historic community.