17 minute read
Your ATPE
Which Membership Category Should You Join for 2020-21? If your employment status is changing for the upcoming 2020-21 school year, you need to make sure to renew your ATPE membership in the correct category.
Are you a 2019-20 college student member?
If you will be student teaching or doing classroom observations in 2020-21, renew in the student teacher category so you have access to legal resources.*
or
If your 2020-21 coursework will not include classroom observations, renew in the college student category. (This is not an insured category.)
Are you a 2019-20 student teacher member?
If you will be teaching in your own classroom in 2020-21, renew as a first-time professional member so you have access to legal resources.* If you will be substitute teaching, renew in the associate category to have access to legal resources.*
or
Are you moving into an administrator role in 2020-21?
If you will be employed as a principal, assistant superintendent, or superintendent for 2020-21, renew in the administrator member category so that you have access to legal resources.*
If you will be a director or vice principal, renew in the professional member category to have access to legal resources.*
or
Are you retiring at the end of 2019-20? Are you planning not to work in education in 2020-21?
If you are retiring at the end of 2019-20, continue your ATPE membership in 2020-21 by renewing in the retired category for only $10.
or
The retired category is not an insured category, so if you will be substituting, you need to renew in the associate category to have access to legal resources.* If you will not be working in education in 2020-21, remain a part of the ATPE community by renewing in the public category for only $35. Public members receive ATPE publications and save using our services and discounts. The public category is not an insured category, so if you will be substituting, you need to renew in the associate category to have access to legal resources.*
or
Please contact ATPE Membership at members@atpe.org or (800) 777-2873 if you have questions about which membership category you should join.
REGIONAL MEMBERSHIP SPECIALISTS
ATPE’s eight dedicated regional membership specialists support ATPE's recruitment and retention efforts in their communities across the state. Not sure what region you're in? Enter your ISD in the map at atpe.org to find out.
ROGER GUTIERREZ
Regions 1 & 2 rgutierrez@atpe.org
CYNTHIA VILLALOVOS
Regions 3 & 4 cvillalovos@atpe.org
GINGER FRANKS
Regions 5–7 gfranks@atpe.org
CHARLES GLOVER
Regions 8 & 10 cglover@atpe.org
DIANE POKLUDA
Regions 9 & 11 dpokluda@atpe.org
MARY JANE WAITS
Regions 12, 14, & 15 mjwaits@atpe.org
JEFF VEGA
Regions 16–19 jvega@atpe.org
VACANT
Regions 13 & 20 Please email kgreer@atpe.org in the interim.
EDUCATORS MAKE GREAT STUDENTS
Stephen F. Austin State University offers myriad graduate educator preparation programs through online, hybrid and face-to-face formats.
ONLINE
Master of Education early childhood elementary education (with or without reading specialist certification) secondary education special education (with or without educational diagnostician) educational leadership (principal preparation) Certificates
ESL/bilingual supplemental certificate principal or superintendent preparation supplemental certificates
HYBRID
Master of Education special education with visual impairment or orientation and mobility Master of Arts professional counseling (school counseling) school psychology
FACE-TO-FACE
Doctor of Education educational leadership (approx. every other Friday evening/all day Saturday) Doctor of Philosophy school psychology
Take classes to further your education when it’s convenient for you! For more information about these programs, contact Belinda Davis, James I. Perkins College of Education graduate studies coordinator, at (936) 468-1587 or coegrad@sfasu.edu.
superintendent/school board and the education commissioner/governor. For example, when the question of closing schools arose, the initial message was that this was usually a local decision and the commissioner of education had no authority to order a district to close its schools. But then Gov. Greg Abbott used his general authority to ensure health and well-being and ordered districts that had not already done so to close.
Later, a question arose regarding whether teacher appraisals could be completed as T-TESS procedures required an observation of classroom teaching, which was often not possible due to the pandemic. The commissioner determined that districts could forgo teacher appraisals but only if they submitted a request for an appraisal waiver. So, whether a teacher’s appraisal was completed depended first on the commissioner’s determination that appraisals could be waived and second on a local decision to request a waiver—a prime example that decision-making is often complicated and may involve both local and state authorities. (On the advocacy front, ATPE sent a letter to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath April 2 urging the agency to take further action by directing districts not to administer T-TESS. As of this writing, the decision to request an appraisal waiver was still left up to districts.)
Educators are amazing
Probably the biggest takeaway was just further proof of how adaptable and resilient public school educators are. If someone had said a year ago that all school districts in the state would have to develop a way over the summer to provide distance learning to their students and be prepared to do it at the start of school, most people would have said it could not be done. But educators achieved this feat in a couple short weeks.
The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided for general purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.
continued from page 12—Your Voice
Like all Americans, we are hopeful the social distancing measures we have undertaken, along with the development of treatments and a vaccine, will allow our country to reopen and return to a new normal in the coming months. At that point, ATPE will turn our federal advocacy efforts back to opposing policy proposals coming from the executive branch that aim to reduce overall federal education funding, reduce program funds by consolidating them into block grants, reduce early childhood funding, and establish vouchers for private schools.
In the meantime, stay home, stay safe, and stay involved. Use ATPE’s online resources, including TeachtheVote.org, to receive the latest updates on our advocacy efforts in Texas and in the nation’s capital. Meanwhile, we will continue to let elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels know how their actions affect your ability to be a professional educator who makes a positive difference in the lives of your students.
David Pore is a partner in the Hance Scarborough law firm and manages the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. With over 20 years of public policy experience, David has been a federal lobbyist for ATPE for over 15 years. Before that, he held senior staff positions in the Texas Legislature and the U.S. Congress and was part of the ATPE Governmental Relations team from 2002–2004 before going into private practice.
continued from page 17—Members Speak
I couldn’t believe their sense of peace as they left the meeting. Little did I know it was the last time I would get to hug them this school year.
When I was ATPE state president during 2012-13, I often stated, “All our yesterdays bring us to today, and all our todays will take us to tomorrow.” The entirety of my previous leadership experiences, including those with ATPE, prepared me for the weeks following March 13. In a matter of hours, public education was reinvented, with over 1,000 food distribution centers established across Texas, remote counseling services set up, and educators accepting the call to invite students into their homes in a way we never could have imagined. Parents across the world instantly realized “Those who CAN, teach.”
Only hours before writing these words April 17, our governor showed true leadership in announcing the closure of Texas’ schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. Although I respect his decision for the long-term health of our great state, I mourn. My arms ache for my littles. My ears long for the sound of children’s laughter and teenagers’ bantering. My tears fall for the memories seniors will forever be deprived. And, yet, my heart swells with pride at the endless displays of love I witness from staff every day. They, like you, are determined no unseen thief will steal our opportunity to show each child they are not forgotten, they will not be left hungry, and their minds will continue to grow. We are the glue that holds our democracy together.
I have taken every opportunity possible to thank my Millsap Bulldog nation—students, staff, parents, the board, and the community—for coming together to support each other during this crisis. I thank you, ATPE family, for selflessly showing the world that even without STAAR or a predictable future, we exist for the 5.4 million children in Texas who rely on us for constancy, assurance, and care. This superintendent applauds you.
We’re proud to support the state’s largest community of educators
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Texas educators leapt into action. You put together homework packets. You served meals curbside. You distributed laptops. You mastered Zoom.
And you did it out of love.
ATPE is honored to support you and 100,000 of your colleagues as you make the lives of Texas children better each day. We look forward to serving you again in 2020-21.
ATPE’s Membership Dues, Explained
In fall 2019, ATPE introduced discounted membership rates for professional and associate members who pay their dues via credit card, bank draft, or check. We’re excited to announce these rates have been further reduced for the 2020-21 membership year!
How much does a full year of ATPE membership cost?
First-time professional membership
Professional membership
Pay dues by payroll deduction
$110
$175
SAVE when you pay dues by credit card, bank draft, or check Installment payments and auto-renew available for credit card/bank draft at atpe.org/join
$110
$175 Only $139!
Associate membership (including para-educators)
$90 $90 Only $80!
Administrator membership (principals, assistant superintendents, superintendents)
$225 $225
ATPE is now accepting applications for 2020-21. First-time professional memberships will be available until October 31, 2020. Professional, associate, and administrator memberships will be available until January 31, 2021.
Eligibility dates for legal resources* Eligible 2020-21 ATPE members who join before August 1, 2020, may access legal resources* beginning August 1, 2020. Access to all other membership benefits, including services and discounts, begins as soon as your membership application is processed. Eligible members must join by September 30, 2020, to avoid a 30-day wait for legal resources.*
Join today at atpe.org/join or text ATPE to 38470 to receive a link to join online! Questions? Call (800) 777-2873 or email members@atpe.org.
*Eligibility, terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Visit atpe.org/protection to view important disclosures and complete details of the insurance policy. Staff attorney services are provided separate from the Educators Professional Liability Insurance Program.
Use this side to join by CHECK
2020–21 ATPE Membership Application
STEP 1 Personal Information
Name (first, middle, last)
ATPE member ID (optional)
ISD
Cell phone (required)
Personal email (required)
Campus email (optional)
Mailing address State ZIP Birthdate (MM/DD/YY)
Last 4 digits of SSN Male Female
Campus
Home phone (optional)
Employee ID number
Recruited by City
Print: First Name Last Name
STEP 2 Membership Category (select one) & Invest in Education
DESIGNATED ATPE REPS
Student Teacher, College Student, and Public members may join online at
atpe.org. 2020-21 Professional, Associate, and Administrator memberships will not be accepted after Jan. 31, 2021. First
Time Professional memberships will not be accepted after Oct. 31, 2020.
Professional (teacher, counselor, etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . $139 $175 First-Time Professional (never been a professional member) . $110 Associate (para-educator, aide, support staff, etc.) . . . . . . $80 $90 Administrator (principal, superintendent, etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . $225 Retired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10
See below for category descriptions.
ATPE Local Unit Dues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Support ATPE in your local school district. ATPE-PAC Suggested Donation . . . . . . . . . . . . Make a voluntary donation to our political action committee. $ $ 12
OPTIONAL: Invest in Education
$
Yes, contact me about becoming a volunteer! $ TOTAL
Received Date
Print Name
Signature
ATPE membership year begins 8/1/20 & ends 7/31/21. Some benefits’ effective dates may not match effective membership dates. Visit atpe.org for disclosure details/limitations. I understand that ATPE may contact me via information provided on this application, including email and text, to communicate about my benefits/account. ATPE dues are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes but may be deductible as misc. itemized deductions, subject to IRS restrictions. Approx. 94% of your dues dollar is considered deductible; 5.6% is used for lobbying activities and is therefore not deductible.
How to Submit Your Application
ATPE | 305 E. Huntland Dr., Ste. 300 | Austin, TX 78752 Mail your completed application and check to:
Or hand-deliver it to an authorized ATPE representative. Faxed or scanned applications are not accepted.
ATPE MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
You must join in the appropriate insured category in order to qualify for the Educators Professional Liability Insurance Policy. ATPE reserves the right to determine eligibility for the appropriate membership category. Commissioned peace officers are eligible for public membership only. Professional, First-Time Professional, Associate, and Administrator membership is open to persons employed in Texas by a public school district, institution of higher education, Regional Education Service Center, State Board for Educator Certification, or the Texas Education Agency. If you have a question about the eligibility of job descriptions not listed below, call (800) 777-2873.
Professional Member First-Time Professional Member
(Rate available only through 10/31/20) Athletic Director/Coordinator Athletic Trainer At-Risk Coordinator Audiologist Band/Choral Director Business Manager Coach Counselor Curriculum Director Dean of Instruction Department Head/Chair Diagnostician Instructional Officer Intern Teacher IT Director/Coordinator Librarian Nurse (RN) Parent/Community Coordinator Assistant Principal Regional Service Center Staff School Psychologist/Associate
INSURED CATEGORIES
Social Worker Teacher Therapist/Pathologist University Professor Visiting Teacher
Administrator Member
Educators who are employed in Texas by a public school district as a principal, assistant/deputy/ area superintendent, or superintendent, and whose position requires certification by the State Board for Educator Certification
Associate Member
Aide to position in Professional category Alternative Center Aide Bus Driver Cafeteria Worker Clerk–General Computer Programmer/Entry Custodial Worker Deaf Interpreter Educational Aide/Technician Maintenance Worker Nurse (LVN) Regional Service Center Aide Secretary Security Guard (Unarmed) Substitute Teacher
Join online at atpe.org UNINSURED CATEGORIES
College Student Member
Non-teaching college student
Retired Member
Retired former school employee
Use this side to join by
STEP 1 Personal Information
Name (first, middle, last)
ATPE member ID (optional)
ISD
Cell phone (required)
Personal email (required)
Campus email (optional)
Mailing address
State ZIP Birthdate (MM/DD/YY)
Last 4 digits of SSN Male Female
Campus
Home phone (optional)
Employee ID number
Recruited by City
Print: First Name Last Name
STEP 2 Membership Category (select one) & Invest in Education
Student Teacher, College Student, and Public members may join online at atpe.org.
You must join in the appropriate insured category to qualify for the Educators Professional Liability Insurance Policy. See reverse for category descriptions. Professional (teacher, counselor, etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $175 First-Time Professional (never been a professional member) . $110 Associate (para-educator, aide, support staff, etc.) . . . . . . . . . . $90 Administrator (principal, superintendent, etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . $225 Retired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10 ATPE Local Unit Dues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Support ATPE in your local school district. ATPE-PAC Suggested Donation . . . . . . . . . . . . Make a voluntary donation to our political action committee. $ $ 12 $
OPTIONAL: Invest in Education TOTAL
Yes, contact me about becoming a volunteer! $
STEP 3 Payroll Deduction Authorization
DESIGNATED ATPE REPS
Received Date
Print Name
Signature
ATPE membership year begins 8/1/20 & ends 7/31/21. Some benefits’ effective dates may not match effective membership dates. Visit atpe.org for disclosure details/limitations. I understand that ATPE may contact me via information provided on this application, including email and text, to communicate about my benefits/account. ATPE dues are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes but may be deductible as misc. itemized deductions, subject to IRS restrictions. Approx. 94% of your dues dollar is considered deductible; 5.6% is used for lobbying activities and is therefore not deductible.
2020–21 Professional, Associate, and Administrator memberships will not be accepted after Jan. 31, 2021.* First-Time Professional memberships will not be accepted after Oct. 31, 2020.
I authorize ISD to deduct membership dues and donations. I further authorize ATPE to notify the ISD of changes in the amount of my annual dues and the ISD to deduct the new amounts. If my employment with the ISD ends, I authorize any unpaid balance to be deducted from my final check. This authorization for deductions is effective until I give notice to the ISD that I want to revoke it.
Total Amount Total # of Deductions $ I get paid Monthly Bi-weekly
I wish to cancel deduction of membership dues for:
TX AFT TCTA TSTA UEA Other *ISD payroll offices may stop accepting payroll authorizations before Jan. 31, 2021.
Printed Name
Signature
Date Employee ID Last 4 digits of SSN
Practicing Good Sleep Hygiene Practicing Good Sleep Hygiene By Michael Spurlin
Everyone knows the importance of getting enough sleep. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average adult needs at least seven hours of sleep each night. Lack of adequate sleep not only leaves you feeling drowsy the next day but also increases your risk for serious health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, and obesity. Unfortunately, many people fail to get the healthy sleep they need. Between work, family obligations, other responsibilities, and now a pandemic, it is all too easy to sacrifice sleep to get more time out of the day. Even more frustrating, when you do try to go to bed early, it can be difficult to fall asleep quickly.
However, practicing good sleep hygiene can help. “Sleep hygiene” is the term used to describe a variety of practices and behaviors that can help you fall asleep and get quality rest. Following these tips below with consistency could help you get restful sleep.
Be Consistent
Keep the same sleep schedule each day. Pick a time to go to bed that allows you to get seven hours of sleep, then get up and go to bed at the same time, even on weekends.
Avoid Large Meals, Caffeine, and Alcohol Before Bedtime
Some food and drinks can be disruptive right before sleep, including heavy or rich foods that trigger indigestion. Caffeinated beverages and alcohol contain chemicals that can keep you awake or disturb the quality of your sleep.
Establish a Routine
Create a regular, relaxing bedtime routine. A consistent routine right before bedtime helps the body recognize it is time for sleep. This can include taking a warm shower or bath, reading a book, or performing some light stretches.
Exercise
Being physically active during the day will help you fall asleep in the evening. However, avoid strenuous workouts close to bedtime.
Ditch the Electronics
Remove electronics such as TVs, computers, and smart phones from the bedroom. Try not to use them starting 30 minutes before you go to bed.
Keep It Comfortable
Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and at a cool temperature.
Avoid Late Naps
Napping in the late afternoon or evening can decrease your sleep drive. Take naps before 5 p.m. and keep them short.
Expert and engaging with clear, vivid descriptions of the principles used in real classrooms.” —Rick Wormeli, author and education consultant
Reach every learner with brain-friendly instruction
A joint publication of ASCD and Solution Tree
Create truly effective, brain-friendly classrooms with the guidance of Differentiation and the Brain. The second edition of this best-selling book includes an array of updated examples, scenarios, and exercises, as well as the latest research from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and pedagogy.
