Spring 2014 ATPE News by Association of Texas Professional Educators

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Democratic Republican EDUCATION

Vote Education

Forget D’s and R’s and think public education. Your profession is relying on you to make informed decisions at the polls. It’s time to Teach the Vote. PAGE 16

S U P P O R T I N G YO U R F R E E D O M TO T E AC H

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The ATPE Mobile App is available for iPhones, iPads and Android devices. Download the ATPE Mobile App for free through iTunes or Google Play.

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special sections

On the cover: Vote education

he ATPE lobby team is asking educators to take a different approach to the 2014 primaries: Forget D’s. Forget R’s. Instead, vote your profession. Your ballot is filled with decisions that will impact your life as a public school employee. It’s time to ensure that every candidate voted to office will support Texas public schools. As always, TeachtheVote.org will be your go-to resource for researching political candidates and staying on top of the latest advocacy news. page 16

The Next Level at the ATPE Summit Take your leadership, your membership and your career to the next level: It’s game on at ATPE’s annual conference, July 9–11 in Austin. This year’s event, open to all members, will focus on preparing for the future of education and of ATPE—including the unveiling of a recharged brand and new recruitment and retention strategies.

Your Association

departments features 20 Fueled for success

F or happier, healthier students, start with happier, healthier educators. The Healthy Teachers Program, led by the Whole Kids Foundation, is bringing nutrition 101—and cooking lessons—to educators. The best part? Many of the sessions are happening during professional development days.

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spring 2014

lternative certification programs are changing A the public education landscape, reaching different populations and making the educator workforce more diverse. ATPE News reached out to several alt cert educators to learn more about their pathways to the profession and their unique needs.

Calendar News Briefs In the Classroom Para-educator’s Place Tech Support Extra Credit

columns

24 The alt cert path

President’s Message

13 Legal Opinions

Your teacher appraisal rights

Capitol Comment Reflections after 20 years of ATPE advocacy

atpe.org | 3

president’s message

The official publication of the Association of Texas Professional Educators

STATE OFFICERS

Our next chance to “Teach the Vote” is only days away in the March 4 primary election. (If all goes as planned, you’re receiving this magazine with just a few days left to take advantage of early voting, which ends Feb. 28.) As a voting bloc, Texas public educators—nearly 637,000 potential voters strong, according to Texas Education Agency stats—are in the perfect position to make a difference for our students. We must seize this opportunity by being as informed as possible and voting for the candidates we think will do the best job for public education. I know that when deciding how to cast your vote, you consider many issues in addition to education. I agree with you: We need to take those other issues into account. But to me, nearly every issue is rooted in education. We depend on educated people every day of our lives: the doctor writing our prescription, the electrician wiring our home, the crew building a safe bridge for us to drive across. This list could go on and on. Without proper education in grades K–12, none of these people could go on to get the education and training they need to complete their jobs each day. It is our responsibility to make the best choices at the polls in order to make schools the best for all students. Who knows better what is best for students than those of us working in schools each day? It is our responsibility to look at each candidate to examine his or her views on public education and, if they have already served in office, to review their voting records. ATPE’s TeachtheVote.org is an excellent place to begin your research; on the site, you can search for the candidates on your ballot and read their responses to ATPE’s candidate survey, which is entirely based on education issues. And, if you have an opportunity to hear candidates speak, please go and listen. Ask them questions about what they will do to help public education. Encourage your family and friends to become informed about the issues, too. Tell them how important it is to vote. Working together, we can make a difference for our students, the future of education and the future of our state. I truly believe that making a wise vote for education is one of the best things we can do for our present and future students in Texas. See you at the polls! Let’s Teach the Vote.

Ginger Franks Richard Wiggins Cory Colby Julleen Bottoms Deann Lee

Roger Gutierrez Jackie Hannebaum Andy Erdelt Ron Fitzwater Bill Moye Judi Thomas Janie Leath Rita Long Kristi Daws Jackie Davis David Williams Jason Forbis Jayne Serna Tonja Gray Darlene Kelly Shane Whitten Lynette Ginn Teresa Griffin Socorro Lopez Tina Briones

President, Pineywoods (7) Vice President, Boerne (20) Secretary, Willis (6) Treasurer, Corsicana (12) Past President, Paris (8)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Weslaco (1) Corpus Christi (2) Palacios (3) Alvin (4) Warren (5) Willis (6) Nacogdoches (7) Mount Vernon (8) Jacksboro (9) Garland (10) Keller (11) Midway (12) Leander (13) Abilene (14) Ballinger (15) Amarillo (16) Hale Center (17) Stanton (18) San Elizario (19) San Antonio (20)

ATPE STAFF

Gary G. Godsey Executive Director Alan Bookman Deputy Executive Director Glenda Beasley Senior Marketing Director

ATPE NEWS STAFF

Gary G. Godsey Executive Editor Kate Johanns Communications Director/Editor John Kilpper Senior Graphic Designer Mandy Curtis Senior Copy Editor/Writer Erica Fos Graphic Designer Alexandria Johnson Copy Editor/Writer Jennifer Tuten Communications Specialist/ Advertising Coordinator ATPE News contains legislative advertising contracted for by Gary G. Godsey, Executive Director, Association of Texas Professional Educators, 305 E. Huntland Dr., Ste. 300, Austin, TX 78752-3792, representing ATPE.

ATPE News (ISSN 0279-6260) is published quarterly in fall, winter, spring and summer. Subscription rates: for members of the association, $3.32 per year (included in membership dues); non-members, $10 per year. Extra copies $1.25 each. Published by the Association of Texas Professional Educators, 305 E. Huntland Drive, Suite 300, Austin, TX, 78752-3792. Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, Texas and at additional mailing ofﬁces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ATPE News, 305 E. Huntland Dr., #300, Austin, TX, 78752-3792. Advertising rates may be obtained by sending a written request to the above address. Opinions expressed in this publication represent the attitude of the contributor whose name appears with the article and are not necessarily the ofﬁcial policy of ATPE. ATPE reserves the right to refuse advertising contrary to its purpose. Copyright 2014 in USA by the Association of Texas Professional Educators ISSN © ATPE 2014 0279-6260 USPS 578-050

Ginger Franks ATPE State President

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atpe news

calendar

March Texas History Month

3 Entry deadline for the Ben Shilcutt Plus Club; Educator of the Year, Local Unit of the Year and Doug Rogers Campus Representative of the Year awards; and the Sam Houston Award for Political Involvement

Hear ATPE President Ginger Franks discuss the rewards of serving as a state officer.

3–7 Texas Public Schools Week

www.bit.ly/atpeofficer

19 TCEA webinar: Google’s Got You Covered (free for ATPE members)

8 Region 17 meeting (Lubbock)

15 State officer nominations and proposed bylaws amendments and resolutions due in state office

17 Integrating Technology Into the Classroom webinar 22 Region 1 convention (McAllen); Region 6 meeting (Huntsville)

April

3 Working with Children from Varying Socioeconomic Backgrounds webinar

5 Region 10 meeting (Garland); Region 11 convention (Grapevine); Region 13 convention (Austin)

10 Region 5 meeting (Beaumont) 12 Region 3 convention (Victoria); Region 4 spring assembly (Houston); Region 7 convention (Longview); Region 8 spring meeting (Mt. Pleasant); Region 14 meeting (TBD); Region 19 meeting (El Paso)

Get involved: Visit your region’s Web page for more information about meetings or conventions. www.atpe.org/ AboutUs/ atpeInYourArea.asp

13–19 National Library Week 16 TCEA webinar: Tech Trends (free for ATPE members) 26 ATPE Bylaws, Legislative, Public Information and Resolutions committees

meet (Austin); Region 18 meeting (Big Spring) Learn more about this year’s theme “Lives change @ your library.” www.ala.org/nlw

May

1 ATPE-PAC donation deadline for William B. Travis and Stephen F. Austin honors and the Davy Crockett Fundraising Challenge

3 Region 2 convention (Corpus Christi); Region 16 convention (TBD) 5 Region 9 meeting (Wichita Falls) 5–9 Teacher Appreciation Week

7 National School Nurse Day TCEA webinar: End of Year Resources and Ideas (free for ATPE members)

10 Region 20 meeting (San Antonio) 14 Texas Public School Paraprofessional Day 16–17 ATPE Board of Directors meeting

Find educator appreciation ideas on Pinterest. www.pinterest.com/ atpe/educatorappreciation-gifts

21 TCEA webinar: iOS Apps for Tots (free for ATPE members) call (800) 777-2873 to be put in touch with your region officers red dates indicate atpe deadlines

spring 2014

atpe.org | 5

news briefs

by Alexandria A. Johnson, copy editor/writer

Learn by color Like many educators, Douglas County, Colo., teachers often knew very little about their students, other than their test scores, before the first day of school. But last August, educators started the year knowing if each of their students was “red,”“blue,”“yellow” or “green.” These color codes were assigned based on an 84-question survey given to students. Each color represented a different type of learning style/work personality: • Blue=Analytical: The student prefers logic, reason and data. • Yellow=Conceptual: The student prefers imagination and experimentation. • Green=Structural: The student prefers practicality, guidelines and learning by doing. • Red=Social: The student is empathetic, socially aware and learns from others. The school district is piloting this personality test to give educators a starting point for understanding their students. The profiles, which the district says aren’t meant to box students in, can also serve as a way to pair students with complementary thinkers during group work. Source: The Denver Post

Real men read Five times a year, 300 male volunteers—MENtors—flock to Houston ISD schools equipped with books such as Face to Face with Sharks and Tia Isa Wants a Car to spend an hour reading aloud to students. The Houston ISD Library Services program Real Men Read serves second-, fifth- and seventhgrade students at 44 HISD campuses. The volunteers champion an appreciation for reading and learning while also giving students increased exposure to male role models. Source: Houston Chronicle

Your brain on music

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<© image description/Collection/Thinkstock>

Scientists have long since debunked the myth of a direct correlation between listening to Mozart and becoming more intelligent. (Remember the hype around “Mozart for babies” CDs?) Yet, researchers do acknowledge that music training aids in cognitive development, and they continue to study the relationship between music and brain development, the ability to multitask, and executive functions (processes such as paying attention, planning, curbing behavior, etc.). For example, neuroscientists with the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute are following a group of 6- and 7-year-olds over the course of five years as they participate in Youth Orchestra Los Angeles at Heart of Los Angeles, a free music education program for underserved children. The researchers are in the second year of this five-year joint research project to learn how intensive music training—the students practice with the program 15 hours a week— affects a child’s brain development. The positive effects of practicing music for as few as four years seem to remain with an individual for life: An unrelated 2013 study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that adults who played an instrument as a child are faster at processing and responding to speech and sound— even decades after they last picked up an instrument. Source: http://pressroom.usc.edu; www.bit.ly/brainresponse

atpe news

© pencils-serrnovik, father & son reading/istock/Thinkstock; french horn player-nick newetson/dorling kindersley RF/thinkstock; watercolor bubble/sunnysideup, excited kids-igorsmichkov/istock/thinkstock

An emotional opportunity If your students are anxious before a test, a choir performance or a basketball game, don’t tell them to “try and relax”—instead, tell them to “get excited!” Alison Wood Brooks, a psychologist and Harvard Business School assistant professor, had a hunch that it’s much easier to transition from anxiety to excitement, a similar, yet positive emotion, than it is to transition from nervousness to calm, a near-polar opposite emotion. So, in a series of studies, she asked participants either to “try to feel excited” or “try to feel calm” before they sang karaoke, gave a public speech or took a math exam. In every test, those who were asked to feel excited performed better than those asked to stay calm. She also found that participants who were simply asked to say “I am excited” preperformance had greater success than those who said “I am calm” or “I am anxious.” Brooks believes with positive emotions, one can view their situation as an opportunity, rather than a threat. As evidenced in other education research, an opportunity mindset is also crucial to an ideal state of learning. Source: www.bit.ly/excitedperformance

EpiPen access in schools “The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.”

—Gaylord Nelson, American politician

spring 2014

A new federal law aims to help schools secure access to epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens) in order to protect students who experience anaphylaxis—a deadly reaction brought on by a food or drug allergy or insect bite/sting. People with asthma are at a greater risk for anaphylaxis, so the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Law gives preferences for asthmatreatment funding to states that: 1 Require schools to stock emergency EpiPens; and 2 Allow trained school staff members to administer the emergency medication. Texas allows students with known allergies to carry EpiPens and even inject themselves if they have a prescription and parental permission. And, in 2011, Texas introduced a law that requires districts to have an emergency plan in place for students with food allergies. However, the state is likely ineligible for preferential funding. This is because, according to the Texas Education Code, the state cannot require districts to stock epinephrine or a similar drug. Schools also cannot be required to administer the drug to students who don’t have prescriptions. Currently, Texas districts can opt to stock an emergency supply and administer the drug without a prescription, but liability is not waived in the case of an accident. Source: www.keyetv.com

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in the classroom

by special contributor Susan Delaney, Texas Southern University

Book review: Reclaiming School in the Aftermath of Trauma Beyond psychological first aid, how educators can help their students—and themselves—adjust to life after disaster

fter a traumatic event such as the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School and Columbine High School shootings, or a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina and the 2012 Oklahoma tornadoes, counselors, psychologists and social workers visit schools to provide support and guidance. These professionals are trained in the basics of trauma recovery—and some even specialize in trauma/crisis response—but all of them go in, provide psychological first aid and then depart. For the students and faculty involved in these tragedies, the consequences of the trauma far outlast the emergency services. It then becomes the role of educators to manage their own trauma reactions, as well as to find homeostasis and move their students, schools and communities forward. However, educators generally do not receive training in trauma response, let alone trauma recovery. After the fact, many are left wondering how to face the trials of a school-based traumatic event. Reclaiming School in the Aftermath of

Trauma: Advice Based on Experience, edited by Dr. Carolyn Lunsford Mears, attempts to address the challenges faced by school administrators and teachers following crisis situations. Mears has created an excellent resource for educators to use to: ▸ Understand that crisis management planning is essential. ▸ Discover weak areas in current crisis plans. ▸ Receive practical ideas to move beyond traumatic events. The text is focused on the needs of educators, rather than the needs of academics or scholars, and is composed of an anthology of essays by campus-based trauma survivors. The essays provide advice on how to adjust to life after a trauma from those who know: educators who have lived through horrific conditions with their students and communities and have somehow emerged to effectively share their pain and experiences. The stories of campus tragedies vary in nature from violence to natural disaster to accident. Each composition offers practical

advice on how to work with students living with the effects of trauma, schools affected by infrastructure failure or communities in mourning. Adding to her credibility, Mears, also the author of several chapters, suffered trauma herself after her son survived the mass shooting at Columbine High School. She draws on it, though she doesn’t let it narrow the focus of the book. Mears notes that her family’s experience ignited a desire to become knowledgeable of both manners in which people cope

Susan Delaney, LPC-I, is a doctoral student in counseling education at Texas Southern University in Houston. Her research and counseling interests include adolescents, crisis counseling and school violence.

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atpe news

Sound bites

with trauma and ways in which educators can overcome the challenges they face on devastated campuses. The book begins with a thorough explanation of what happens in the human brain after a trauma. This chapter is critical in understanding that the lives of trauma survivors can never be the same—their neural pathways have been altered. The authors go on to illustrate that communities and school officials must understand that because life is different after a tragedy, leadership must be different as well. Reclaiming School in the Aftermath of Trauma: Advice Based on Experience is an excellent text for educators who wish to learn about and take preventative measures against traumatic events and random violence. The compilation, through the inclusion of varied real-life accounts, is also beneficial to those currently facing the aftermath of an unexpected trauma. The book is organized into three sections—Understanding Trauma, Learning from Trauma and Putting Pain to Work— making it relevant to readers in any stage of trauma. The most beneficial aspect of the text might actually be the final chapter, which is a list of resources for those looking to learn more about this issue. A

“Listen in” on recent advice from ATPE webinars Whether you’re new to teaching, looking to renew your teaching certificate or simply wanting to connect with your fellow educators across the state, ATPE’s free webinars can help you reach your goals in both professional and personal development and earn continuing professional education (CPE) credit. Don’t forget: You can participate in the live or archived versions of the webinars. Find out how you’d like to grow:

Communicate to get the results you want “Not everybody wants to be treated like you, so I say follow the platinum rule: Treat people the way they need to be treated. ... Understand how they communicate, why they communicate that way and how they process information.” —Anne Grady, organizational communication expert and founder of Acclivity Performance

Fight for your retirement “We helped negotiate Senate Bill 1458—the primary purpose of which was to strengthen TRS’ defined benefit plan by making it actuarially sound. With a defined benefit plan, you know exactly what you’re going to get upon retirement, every month.” —ATPE Lobbyist Josh Sanderson

Prioritize your well-being “Educators who excel over the course of a lifetime in education ... do not find satisfaction in the calling ... Instead, you find satisfaction in the totality of your life, and you take that satisfaction to your calling.” —Dr. Adam Saenz, psychologist and author of The Power of a Teacher

Connect with your students “In getting to know your kids, a couple of key questions you can ask yourself are, ‘What do your kids care about?’ and ‘How can you use what they care about in your classroom?’” —2013 Texas Teacher of the Year Jeremy Wagner

Reinvigorate your instruction ATPE is on Goodreads! See what we’re reading and get book recommendations for you and your students. Visit www.goodreads.com/officialatpe to follow ATPE’s reviews!

spring 2014

“We focus on integrating [creativity] into all content areas instead of adding it on top, and that’s how you can maintain your schedule.” —Patti Garrett Shade, 30-year education veteran and co-author of Curiosita Teaching: Integrating Creative Thinking Into Your 21st Century Classroom Find ATPE’s webinars at www.eventcallregistration.com/reg/ atpeportal.html.

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para-educators’ place

by Paul Tapp, ATPE Member Legal Services managing attorney

Your guide to comp time Know your rights when you have to work more than 40 hours Comp time, overtime, exempt, nonexempt—that’s a lot to keep track of when you’ve been working hard and putting in more than 40 hours per week. Use this guide to understand what your rights are as an employee and what requirements your district must follow.

What is comp time? Compensatory time, or “comp time” as it’s normally termed, is time off to make up for extra time worked. Comp time can be formal—an alternative to paying overtime when overtime is earned by a “nonexempt” worker under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)—or informal: a supervisor simply giving an “exempt” employee some time off to make up for hard work. In general, paraprofessionals are considered nonexempt under the FLSA and are thus eligible to earn overtime.

Yes. The FLSA provides that certain governmental employers, including public school districts, can—by prior agreement with an employee—“compensate” employees who are eligible for and who have earned overtime with comp time instead of actually paying monetary overtime compensation. Under federal regulations, an employer’s comp time policy and an employee’s agreement to work for that employer can constitute such a prior agreement.

What is required of my district? As mentioned above, if a school district decides to provide comp time in lieu of overtime, it must have a policy outlining how nonexempt workers may request and use comp time. The policy may allow the administration to choose whether a particular employee will receive either overtime or comp time for a particular situation.

Once I earn comp time, when can I take it? And who gets to choose when I’ll take it? Your employer can require that you take earned comp time at a time of the employer’s choosing, even if you would rather save it to use later. But what if it is you who wants to use it? Can your employer refuse to allow this because the employer would like you to use it later? The answer is yes, but only if the employer can show that it would be an actual and legitimate undue hardship for you to be absent at the time requested. This is a high burden. It is understood that it will always be a problem when someone is out, and that is not enough. The employer has to be

able to show that the requested time is particularly and especially difficult. If it is not an undue hardship, the employer must allow the employee to use the comp time when the employee wants to use it. Thus, the rules for taking earned comp time are more employee-friendly than the rules for an employee who is requesting regular leave, which allow the employer to place more restrictions on the request.

What is “time and a half”? A little known legal requirement is that comp time awarded in lieu of overtime must be provided at “time and a half” just like overtime. In other words, a worker receives one-and-a-half hours of comp time for each hour of overtime worked. Again, it must be remembered, however, that comp time only comes into play if overtime has been worked, and overtime is determined on a weekly, not daily basis. For example, say someone with an eight-hour-a-day, five-day-a-week job works nine hours one day and, in the same week, is given an extra hour off. By the work week’s end, that employee has still worked only a total of 40 hours, so the “makeup time” for the extra hour worked does not have to be “time and a half” because it is not being used instead of overtime pay.

What about exempt employees, such as teachers and principals? As noted above, a principal may give a teacher, an assistant principal or any other employee who is exempt from the FLSA (and thus not eligible for overtime) informal “comp time” to make up for extra hours worked, such as for a special event, like

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atpe news

So I can be given time off instead of overtime pay?

tech support

by Mandy Curtis, senior copy editor/writer

Unclutter your inbox

Although 45 percent of Americans make resolutions at the start of each year, only 8 percent achieve their goals, according to online investment company Betterment. Even drearier: 25 percent of resolution-makers don’t even carry on with their goals past the first week of the new year. (See the entire infographic at www.bit.ly/resolutioninfo.) Even if you belong to the overachieving 8 percent, chances are you’re currently struggling to keep up with your resolutions. You might have deemed them too lofty to tackle. But if one of your resolutions was to become more organized, we can help! Read on for ways to tackle a daunting email inbox—often one of life’s most chaotic zones.

Take no prisoners The fact that emails aren’t physical objects makes it easy for people to ignore organizing them. Can you imagine having a stack of more than 100 messages towering on your desk? But quite a few of us have 100 unanswered emails. To cut the clutter, PCMag.com contributor Jill Duffy suggests starting with “sweeping.” “Forget about processing every message in your inbox,” she writes. “It isn’t going to happen, and there won’t be any big payoff. Doing a sweep is better.” Duffy suggests creating new folders in your inbox, named by year, month, etc. Start with years—i.e., 2013, 2012. (Don’t bother with a 2014 folder; that’s your inbox.) Move all emails from 2013 into the 2013 folder, all emails from 2012 into the

Tech Term

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Inbox Zero:

2012 folder, and so on. Once that’s done, you can concentrate on taking care of the emails left in your inbox. “All of your old messages are still present—they’re just out of the way,” Duffy writes. “Maybe you will one day deal with them, but I bet you won’t.”

Prioritize In an article on www.businessinsider.com, “11 Essential Tricks to Keep Your Inbox Neat And Tidy,” writer Ellis Hamburger suggests creating a folder for emails that don’t need immediate attention. “Create a ‘read later’ folder for emails from friends, such as joke chain letters, funny cat videos and links you want to visit,” he writes. “Immediately move these emails to your new folder when they come in. Review the items in this folder only once you get home at the end of the day.” Another suggestion: Turn off social media notifications. “These emails clutter your inbox and make it hard to scan through emails—and with Facebook, you’ll get the notifications when you log in anyway,” Hamburger writes. (Read the rest of Hamburger’s tips at www.bit.ly/emailtips_Hamburger. Please note: The article is from 2011, so some of the tips might be outdated, but the general advice is sound.)

Looking ahead After you’ve cleaned up your inbox, you need to create a system that will keep you organized for the rest of 2014 and beyond. Duffy has a set of rules that you can use for

processing future email: • Delete quickly. If an email doesn’t require action or you won’t need to reference it, delete it immediately. • Respond to critical messages immediately. If an email requires action, take care of it ASAP, or leave it in your inbox until you’re able to give it attention. • File informational items. Emails that contain information but do not necessitate action or a reply should be filed into folders by the end of the day. • Clean your inbox every week. Take 10–20 minutes on Friday afternoons to check your inbox for anything you might have missed filing or deleting and to deal with any emails that will only take a minute or two to reply to. • Make sure you can see the bottom. Rather than striving for “Inbox Zero” (see Tech Term below), make an attempt to always be able to see the bottom of your inbox (i.e., you don’t have to scroll down to view any emails). “It’s simple. It’s forgiving. It’s flexible,” Duffy writes. “It’s a reasonable and attainable goal.” (Read the rest of Duffy’s advice at www.bit.ly/emailtips_Duffy.) Find an infographic of additional software/online services that can help you stay organized at www.pinterest.com/atpe/ infographics.A

An approach to email organization that is aimed at keeping an inbox empty or nearly empty at all times. (Writer Merlin Mann coined the term in a 2007 Google Tech Talk, which you can view at www.inboxzero.com/video.)

atpe news

Illustration by erica Fos

Did you resolve to “get organized” in 2014? Tackle email with these tips

By Paul Tapp, ATPE Member Legal Services managing attorney

legal opinions

The state of the evaluation What to expect from your 2013-14 teacher appraisal

Second appraisals by a different appraiser often only “confirm” the first appraisal, because there are few rules to guarantee that the second appraisal will actually be objective.

The Texas Education Agency’s (TEA’s) approved evaluation system, the Professional Development and Appraisal System (PDAS), has been the standard for evaluating Texas teachers for more than 10 years. TEA feels it’s time to review the current system—and feeling pressure from the U.S. Department of Education to increase the use of student performance indicators in evaluations—so the agency is working to develop a new teacher evaluation system. ATPE is actively working with TEA staff members to advocate for a system that is fair, accurate and educationally sound. However, this school year, all Texas school districts will continue to appraise classroom teachers’ performance using the PDAS or their own locally developed system. Feel calm and prepared for your annual review by brushing up on your rights and your district’s responsibilities regarding teacher appraisals.

A district’s appraisal responsibilities Most school districts in Texas use the PDAS for teacher appraisals, but regardless of the system used, all districts must follow a few requirements: •T eachers must be appraised at least once each year, unless a teacher was rated as proficient (or the equivalent) with no areas of deficiency on her most recent appraisal. Districts providing less frequent appraisals may specify additional local requirements and procedures and may include a process for placing a teacher back on a traditional appraisal cycle. •D istricts can, but are not legally required to, give teachers advance notice of the date and/or time of appraisal. •A ppraisal performance criteria must be based on observable, job-related behavior, including teachers’ implementation of discipline management procedures and the performance of the teachers’ students. •E xtracurricular activities cannot be evaluated on the teacher appraisal; those duties can be evaluated on a separate document. •T he appraisal process must include a teacher/

appraiser conference that is diagnostic as well as prescriptive regarding teacher professional development and improvement. • Teachers must have access to a written copy of their appraisal, and the document must also be maintained in their personnel files.

PDAS-specific requirements In addition to the general requirements mentioned above, districts using the PDAS must: • Require at least one 45-minute observation. If the teacher and appraiser both agree, that time may instead be divided into shorter segments, as long as the time totals to at least 45 minutes. • Permit additional walk-throughs and observations and the inclusion of other written performance-related documentation. • Allow third-party information to affect an appraisal, as long as the appraiser verifies and documents that information. • Provide teachers with any documentation that could affect their appraisal within 10 working days of when the appraiser becomes aware of it. • Establish a teacher appraisal calendar. The appraisal period includes all contractual days— although certain days, such as the last day of instruction before a holiday, are blacked out.

What if I disagree with my appraisal? Teachers have the right to disagree with and respond to appraisal documentation through: • Written response—Teachers can “tell their side of the story” by detailing why they disagree with the documentation. Teachers must submit written responses within 10 working days of receiving the document. • A second appraisal by a different appraiser— While a good idea in theory, in practice, second appraisals often only “confirm” the first appraisal, because there are few rules to guarantee that the second appraisal will actually be objective. Local policy governs how the first and second appraisals are then combined. • A grievance—Filing a formal complaint is continued on page 44

spring 2014

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capitol comment

by Brock Gregg, ATPE Governmental Relations director

Hands-on learning Five truths distilled from 20 years of ATPE advocacy This February marks my 20th year at ATPE. It is an honor and a privilege to work for the finest people on earth—the public educators of Texas—so I thought I would reflect a bit and then prognosticate.

Lessons learned

Tremendous, complicated, positive change can happen in short order when you have the right leadership and a collaborative spirit.

I arrived at ATPE as a wide-eyed, idealistic country boy who just wanted to do the right thing for kids and teachers such as my parents. I wanted to get educators the respect they deserve and make sure that all students, regardless of their starts in life, had an equal opportunity and the finest resources. It couldn’t be that hard, right? After all, all we had to do was explain what educators wanted for students and why students needed it. Plus, everyone loves teachers and children, right? Well, 20 years later, I am still a country boy, but my eyes have seen a lot, so I’m a little bit wiser. I’ve lived through times of positive change (the late 1990s and early 2000s, when we secured a $3,000 across-the-board pay raise for teachers and a statewide healthcare plan for educators), the push for privatization (starting with the Grusendorf era in 2003) and a shift back toward restoring some public education funding in 2013. (However, this was done under the pressure of a school finance lawsuit that plainly shows we are not equitably funding schools and are not close to the funding we need to meet our own standards.) Through it all, I’ve identified what I consider to be five truths: 1. Tremendous, complicated, positive change can happen in short order when you have the right leadership and a collaborative spirit. My first legislative session was in 1995, the session in which Sen. Bill Ratliff and Rep. Paul Sadler—a Republican and a Democrat—led us through a complete rewrite of the Texas Education Code. Every law and policy affecting public education got a makeover. Ratliff and Sadler were true leaders, and with some guiding principles in place—namely, put students first—we all worked together, the critics and the champions of public education alike.

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At each step of the process, we had thoughtful deliberations for hours, until everyone who cared had had their say. In the end, no stakeholder was completely happy with the final product, but everyone appreciated and accepted the new goals and objectives for public education. 2. If you put a group of educators in a locked room with a direction and a timeline, then nine times out of 10, they’ll come up with a commonsense answer benefiting the most people in the most equitable way possible. I’ve seen this time and again on policy issues (see No. 1), political issues and association issues, most recently when the ATPE Board of Directors selected former Executive Director Doug Rogers’ successor. This leadership decision holds the key to ATPE’s future. When they opened the door after making the necessary, hard decisions, they had chosen Gary Godsey as our executive director. We trusted they had it right, and they did. 3. Money controls the message. Partisan politics is a tool for the very wealthy and for those whose business it is to destablize public institutions, such as our schools, so they can be privatized and turn a profit. It takes at least $250,000 to run for the Texas House of Representatives. A candidate has to own the message through advertising, which makes campaigns ugly and personal. Voters react in one of two ways: They either tune in emotionally, disregarding their own economic interests, or they get disgusted and don’t vote. Want my advice? Quit listening to that mess. Be careful where you get your news (nonprofit and local sources are your best bet), and only look at campaign materials or advertisements when you want a good laugh. Every word has been focus-grouped, think-tanked, strategized and then localized to appeal to your baser instincts. Such ads represent the ultimate example of style over substance, a historical warning sign of the demise of democracy. continued on page 44

atpe news

Our children don’t care about political endorsements, media bias or mudslinging. But, for them, our choices at the polls become realities in the classroom. TeachtheVote.org, ATPE’s nonpartisan advocacy website, makes it easy for Texas voters, educators and parents to: H Decide which candidates will make public education a top priority. H Read the education news that matters most. H Research the education platforms of political candidates and elected officials. H Receive email updates; sign up at www.TeachtheVote.org/news.

No endorsements, no media bias—just education. TeachtheVote.org Contains Pol. Ad. Paid For By the Association of Texas Professional Educators.

Democratic Republican EDUCATION

Vote Education

Forget D’s and R’s and think public education. Your profession is relying on you to make informed decisions at the polls. It’s time to Teach the Vote. by ATPE Lobbyist Josh Sanderson

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atpe news

It might sound alarmist

or even sensational to say that educators’ jobs are on the line because another round of elections is upon us. But it’s not overly dramatic; think Josh Sanderson back to 2010. In 2010, a wave of anti-public education candidates crept into office, and, as a result, more than $5.4 billion was cut from public education in 2011, resulting in more than 21,000 school district employees across the state losing their jobs, salaries stagnating and benefits being reduced. This will happen again if we—the supporters and employees of Texas’ public schools—do not do our part to first identify the candidates who support our schools and then go to work for them, spread the word about their pro-education philosophies to friends and family, and make sure to cast a vote for them at the polls. In 2014, public education is once again at the forefront of state policy discussions. The 2014 elections will determine what our schools and your profession will look like in the future. The results of the March primaries and November general election will affect a variety of job-related issues, from how much of your health insurance premium is your financial responsibility to whether your district has to once again reduce staff due to a lack of funding. It is time for Texas educators and public school employees to start treating every election for what it is: a ballot filled with decisions that will determine the state of your income, health insurance, contract rights and overall profession. Every election—be it gubernatorial, legislative or school board—is

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a vote that will impact your life as a public school employee. It is time for educators to vote your profession. Take charge of your fate, and create the education system we know that our children deserve. Let’s elect people who value and support our public schools.

The issues What’s at stake during every election is—to put it simply—the public education system as we know it. All it would take to eliminate everything that educators value is enough anti-public education candidates being voted into office. This might sound hyperbolic, but we know it to be true. Members of the current Legislature tried to drastically change education during the 82nd legislative session with attempts to erode teacher contract rights, abolish class-size restrictions, eliminate current pension guarantees and more—and they certainly will again if given the opportunity. Everything can change overnight if supporters of public education are not vigilant about defending our beliefs. On the table in the 2015 legislative session will be discussions of: • Whether to maintain a system of free, public schools or move to a completely privatized voucher system. • Educator salaries, health insurance and contract rights. • Academic requirements. • How educators are evaluated. • Whether educators will continue to have a defined benefit pension available upon retirement. All of these issues are determined by the people whom we elect to represent us. These representatives are critically important to your profession, and our opponents are well-funded.

Cast your ballot Early voting for the March primaries begins Feb. 18 and ends Feb. 28. During this time, you are allowed to vote at any early voting location in your county. Visit www.VoteTexas.gov/ voting/where to find more information on early voting locations near you. Primary election day is March 4; on this day, you will be required to vote in your designated precinct. The deadline to register to vote in the primary elections was Feb. 3, but registering for future elections is simple. There are several ways to register, once of which is visiting www.VoteTexas.gov and either printing a registration form or requesting that one be mailed to you. On the site, you can also check to see if you are already registered and if your voter registration information is correct. Another way to register: Visit your county voter registrar’s office. (Locations can be found at www.sos. state.tx.us/elections/voter/ cclerks.shtml.) Most post offices have registration forms available as well.

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Corporations could easily make billions of dollars through the privatization of public education, and those who stand to profit at your expense are spending more money now than ever before. The ATPE Political Action Committee (ATPE-PAC) is small in comparison to the corporate money that is funding the efforts to privatize schools and eliminate your benefits. The only way we are going to be effective is by using our numbers and by voting as a group with public education as the top priority. Two organizations have recently been developed with one goal in mind: completely changing the way our education system functions. Texans for Education Reform and Texans Deserve Great Schools both advocate for increased educator evaluation, online education programs and the expansion of charter schools—reforms that boil down to a move toward a more privatized version of delivering education. You might have seen their commercials on TV, and they might seem very pro-public education, but do not be fooled.

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During the 83rd legislative session, Texans for Education Reform spent nearly $750,000 on lobbyist salaries alone. It has also been reported that their newly formed political action committee has already raised more than $1 million to spend on helping candidates who support their causes get elected. As a comparison, ATPEPAC raised approximately $100,000 in 2013. The point is: There are a number of extremely well-funded special interest groups already working against our interests and against the interests of all public school educators. If we do not take a stand, we will lose.

making it nearly impossible to have a truly competitive general election.

The importance of primary elections

How we win

Texas’ Republican and Democratic primary elections will take place March 4. Voting in these elections is especially important because in many legislative districts, the partisan makeup is such that the victor of the primary is almost guaranteed to win the general election. Many districts have estimated voting constituencies where more than 60 percent of voters identify with one party,

It is estimated that out of the 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives that are up for re-election in 2014, only 15 will have competitive general elections; in every other contested race, the primary will almost certainly be the only real race. We’ve said it before, but we’ll continue saying it: It is imperative that you inform yourself about which candidates support public education and vote in the primaries, alongside your co-workers, friends and family, to elect them.

There are more than 637,000 educators employed in Texas’ public schools. If every one of these educators voted in support of education, public school employees could change the outcome of nearly any election in the state. Add in the votes of the parents of the 5 million children who attend Texas public schools and other community members who support education, and you’ve got a force to be reckoned with.

atpe news

To be effective, however, we must focus on education issues, not party affiliation. Crossover voting is crucial in some races. For instance, if your House of Representatives district is primarily Republican, but you intend to vote for Democratic candidates in the general election, you can vote for the propublic education Republican candidate in the primary, and then vote for Democratic candidates in the general election.

which candidates support education priorities.

Further, instead of voting straight ticket in the general election for either party, identify the pro-public education candidates, and, if necessary, cross over party lines to vote for those candidates. The goal here is to elect as many pro-public education candidates as possible, and in many cases voting for a candidate from a party you typically do not support is the only way to be successful. ATPE is nonpartisan, focusing only on who supports the education issues that you tell us are important through the ATPE House of Delegates. If we are going to create an education system developed by educators for the good of our colleagues and students, then you’re going to need to vote for your profession, regardless of your party affiliation.

The fight to improve Texas public schools will never be over. There will always be someone who wants to take away your rights, hand over our public schools to a corporation or turn your defined benefit pension into a 401(k), making it subject to the whims of Wall Street. They are waiting for those of us who value our public, community schools to become complacent and stop voting and speaking up. We have had successes in the past, but our greatest victories always come when the sleeping giant of public education employees and supporters awakens and joins together for a common cause.

Pro-public education candidates ATPE was founded on the belief that our members should not be told for whom they should vote. To that end, we do not endorse candidates. Instead, we provide—on TeachtheVote.org— our members and the general public with voting records, survey answers, candidate statements and any other public education-relevant information that will help you, the voter, determine

spring 2014

Additionally, as an ATPE member, you have access to the ATPE Governmental Relations staff. Contact the state office at (800) 777-2873 or government@atpe.org if you have questions about certain candidates or races.

OUR BATTLE CRY: Vote education

Sometimes this will require going against the grain, voting for a member of a party you generally would not support. But there are no D’s or R’s in public schools. ATPE has a unique perspective to bring to the table in policy discussions with elected officials because our messages come directly from you, the practitioner. What we need are elected officials who will listen, who will support you and who are willing to fight for what we believe our children and schools deserve. The only way this will happen is if each of you does what is necessary to elect propublic education candidates. In 2014, make sure to vote your profession.A

Public education employees— a group of 637,000 Texans—are arguably the largest voting bloc in the state. It is unreasonable to expect that all of these individuals, in a state that is as large and diverse as Texas, will have the same political leanings. It is not unreasonable, however, for public education employees and supporters to mobilize and vote for candidates who support our local schools and the children who attend them. There is often a clear distinction between candidates when it comes to education issues, and it is crucial that as a voter you are aware of who supports our issues and who does not. The good news: Figuring out where candidates stand on education issues is simple thanks to ATPE’s nonpartisan advocacy website, TeachtheVote.org. This website makes it easy to stay informed on the issues that matter, know which candidates support public education and actively support those candidates. We’ve done the legwork for you by researching and surveying candidates and making all relevant voter information available to educators and public education supporters.

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for success As schools and programs work to make kids healthier and more active, the Whole Kids Foundation gives back to a key player: educators. by Alexandria A. Johnson

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atpe news

ately, some educators around the country have spent a portion of their school’s professional development day learning how to make hummus for less than 90 cents and the fastest way to chop a bell pepper. As the nation takes on initiatives to reduce childhood obesity and increase kids’ access to healthy foods, one key influencer is often left out of the conversation: educators. The Whole Kids Foundation’s Healthy Teachers Program is working to change that by helping educators to become happier and healthier and, ultimately, even better role models for their students. The organization has found a way for the community to better support school staff with a program that’s not only a win for educators, but also a win for students. “We’re trying to give back to the teachers,” says Dan Marek, school programs leader for the foundation. “Teachers are with our kids seven to eight hours a day. They can be some of the biggest role models for our kids. We want to give them the proper tools so they can be an influence to kids.” The Whole Kids Foundation, a nonprofit arm of natural/organic grocery store chain Whole Foods Market, has already seen success with two of its initial programs; they’ve donated around 3,200 salad bars and around 2,000 garden grants to schools. Through this work, the foundation built relationships with communities and schools, and they

Whole Kids Foundation School Programs Leader Dan Marek leads a Healthy Teachers session.

sought to understand schools’ goals. Teacher happiness was on the decline and healthcare costs were on the rise. “We saw a great way to use our experience at Whole Foods Market to suit those needs,” Marek says. So, the foundation partnered with the organization FoodFight to pilot programs that share nutrition, food marketing and cooking information with educators. Founded by two former New York City public school educators, FoodFight is dedicated to helping students and educators become food literate: knowledgeable of their food’s origins, nutritional benefits and impact on the community. This spring, Whole Kids Foundation plans to officially launch its two-hour

program—an intro to nutrition class— to teachers across the country, offering classes taught by Whole Foods Market healthy eating specialists or trainers either in stores or at schools. In Texas, educators in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Del Valle and Dallas have had the opportunity to participate in pilot sessions. Austin ISD Wellness Specialist Ian Kahn says that the district will continue to work with Whole Kids Foundation to offer the program during professional development days or even after school. When educators can prioritize wellness, “they are more productive, miss fewer days of work and spend less money on healthcare,” Kahn says. “This translates to better educators and lower healthcare costs. Because AISD is self-insured, this can lead directly to more money toward education, instead of healthcare.” It’s about whole foods— not Whole Foods market The program’s nutrition information centers around three main philosophies: • Eat a rainbow of colors. • Eat leafy greens first. • Eat as close to nature as possible. “This is not an advertisement for Whole Foods Market. This program can work anywhere,” says Marek. “In fact, I just did a class in Bentonville, Ark., which is the home of Wal-Mart—we do not have a Whole Foods Market [there]. I shopped at the local farmers market and the local natural grocers to get the same things, on a cost-effective basis, too.”

three easy principles for happy, healthy Eating

Eat a rainbow of colors.

spring 2014

Eat leafy greens first.

Eat as close to nature as possible.

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The class highlights the importance of whole foods—minimally processed nutrient-rich foods—and knowing as much as you possibly can about the ingredients in your food. So if, as Marek says, you can’t pronounce half of the items on an ingredients label “because there are so many Y’s and Z’s,” then you know it’s probably not good for you. “We’re trying to get back to things you can pronounce and things that you can grow,” Marek says. So that educators can use the healthy eating principles right away, Marek says the second half of the class is based around cooking: “We saw that teachers were starting to click with [the nutrition] information quickly and were already asking for more.”

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This combination equips educators with the tools to start exploring what nutrition looks like for them. Marek has also worked with the foundation’s school garden program. He has seen that, when students are exposed to gardens—when they put a seed in the ground and nurture it until it becomes a plant and then food—“they are mystified that they can pick a green bean off the vine and put it right in their mouth,” he says. “It’s amazing that you can talk to somebody as young as 4 years old about big concepts, like sustainability and organics, because they’ve seen where the food is coming from.” Just as a garden can open a student’s mind to how food should be, Marek says his class serves as a “lifting of the veil”

for teachers. “Giving that freedom to teachers, to be able to start exploring what their own health is for them, is eye-opening,” Marek says. “Our diets are like a fingerprint— they’re completely different from each other. A lot of teachers will do more research to find out what’s best for them.” The program also works to open educators’ eyes to a lesser-known factor in eating habits and lifestyle: media and advertising. Marek gives the example of basketball player Shaquille O’Neal eating a Big Mac, courtside. “It’s great for an advertisement, but it’s not realistic; there’s no way he’d be eating a huge hamburger courtside right before a game—they’re trying to sell a product.”

atpe news

photos courtesy of the whole kids foundation

Marek estimates that his two-hour class covers around 86 very simple principles to help educators think a little bit differently about nutrition. The sessions combine nutrition information with a cooking class—a power duo, Marek says.

It’s about choices The Whole Kids Foundation learned from their school salad bar program that children eat three times the amount of fruits and vegetables when they get to pick them from a salad bar, Marek says. “Because they chose it, they’re attached to what that salad has to offer,” says the foundation’s communications program leader, Jane Johnson. “It’s about choices. If you give kids good choices, they’ll make good choices.” In the same way, the Healthy Teachers Program doesn’t ask educators to change their lifestyle, to switch their grocery store, or to budget more money and more time to food—it simply gives educators the choice of healthy eating by breaking down any barriers. “We want to make it accessible for everyone and eliminate the idea that it requires massive amounts of effort, money, energy and time to make these small changes,” Johnson says. “There’s something for everybody.” Marek uses his chef’s background to give educators tips for faster and more cost-effective cooking. During the class, he demonstrates eight to nine recipes from scratch—prep work and all. Most recipes take only five to 15 minutes. He also teaches knife skills: how to hold a chef’s knife, how to cut an onion, how to cut a bell pepper—a lesson that could cost around $50 at your local cooking store. “You don’t learn knife skills as a life skill, which is interesting,” he says. “[It] can make life a lot easier if you know the

correct way [to use a knife].” These small changes add up and will make a larger impact on an educator’s health later in life. The class provides educators with the knowledge base so that they can choose “when to be the angel” and “when to have that piece of cake.” “We never say no to a teacher as far as dietary lifestyle,” Marek says. “We don’t expect teachers to be angels every single day. Life can happen and steer you off a healthy path. You can always get back on the next day or the next meal, even.” A natural difference Marek has seen educators who have gone from microwave-only cooking to cooking seven days a week, as well as educators who have lost significant amounts of weight by altering what they eat, but still eating the same amount. “The survey responses we’ve been getting are phenomenal,” he says. “We’ve seen some really impacted lives.” And this means that students will be naturally impacted in turn. When educators carry water bottles instead of Diet Cokes, grab lunch from the salad bar instead of a fast food restaurant, and peel an orange instead of opening a candy bar during class, “students will notice,” Kahn says. “If [educators] make that difference in their own lives, they’re going to be a better example and a better role model for the kids in the classroom,” says Marek. “That we can have teachers be better role models, simply by being who they are, is wonderful.”A

The next

steps Integrating healthy living into schools

n cafeterias and classrooms around the country, educators are thinking creatively to make healthy living a part of their school’s culture. •M any elementary cafeterias hold “Rainbow Days.” Students are encouraged to make a salad from the salad bar with at least three colors of vegetables. Those who eat their rainbow receive a sticker that says “I ate a rainbow today” or “I made a rainbow at the salad bar today.” •A marillo ISD opened a bakery in January to provide the district’s cafeterias with their bread needs. Having the bakery “in-house” will allow the district to experiment with different recipes and adapt to student preference, while meeting the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new whole grain and nutrition requirements. •A Boulder, Colo., family and consumer science teacher has created a curriculum that combines nutrition with hands-on cooking lessons. She couldn’t find a nutrition curriculum with a cooking component, so she has spent the last three years creating her own plan.

Chef’s tip: Eat healthy, fast “When you get home from the grocery store, put everything away, but keep your produce on the countertops. Cut it into small pieces and then put it in your refrigerator— your prep work has been done for the week. When you get home after a long day at school, and you have some papers to grade, you can grab the prepped ingredients and make a meal in less than five minutes. It’s very nutritious, healthy and simple. It helps feed your mind at the same time.” —Dan Marek, Whole Kids Foundation

Find more healthy living tips—and ideas for integrating wellness into your classroom— on ATPE’s Pinterest board: www.pinterest.com/atpe/educator-well-being.

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The

alt

cert path How are alternative certification programs changing the education profession? By Kate Johanns with additional reporting by Doug Eckart

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atpe news

Quick: Name the biggest game-changer in public education in the past 25 years. The Internet and associated technology? Solid selection. The rise of standardized testing? Hard to argue with that. An increasing number of educators entering the profession through alternative certification routes? Now that’s an interesting choice.

lthough not as widely publicized as technology and testing, there is no doubt that the advent and growth of alternative certification programs since the 1980s has changed the public education landscape. According to a 2011 report from the National Center for Education Information (NCEI), one-third of first-time public school teachers hired nationally since 2005 have entered the profession through alternative certification. In Texas, that number is even higher: 45 percent of the initial educator certification licenses issued between September 2012 and August 2013 went to alt cert program participants. Alternative certification programs are reaching different populations, making the educator population more diverse. According to the NCEI report, 16 percent of traditionally certified teachers are men, compared with 22 percent of alternatively certified educators. And although only 13 percent of traditionally certified teachers are minorities, 30 percent of alternatively certified teachers are. One goal of ATPE’s new strategic plan is developing better outreach and support for educators who enter the profession through alternative certification. As a starting point, ATPE News reached out to several alt cert educators—including State Vice President Richard Wiggins— to learn more about their pathways to the profession and their unique needs. Look for more coverage of alternative certification issues in future issues.

spring 2014

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The voices of alternative certification After teaching, receiving my master’s in educational administration and talking to colleagues who’ve taken both routes, I’ve come to realize that neither a traditional nor alternative program can truly prepare you for the obstacles you face in the classroom. The reality is that we all want to impact students positively, and, in the beginning, we all jump into ‘unknown waters’ learning how to ‘swim’ our students to success. We are all apprehensive, but our goals and vision must align—helping our students grow.” —Javetta J. Roberson Fort Worth ISD gifted-and-talented campus liaison and second-grade dual English teacher; four-year education veteran

I was a counselor for MHMR [a community-based provider of mental health and developmental disability services]. Many of my clients were labeled ‘special education,’ and I wanted to know more about it. After a couple of classes, I caught the ‘bug.’ After hearing about alt cert from a friend, I looked into it. It was a demanding undertaking—going to alt cert classes, working on my master’s in special education and working at MHMR—but I was excited. I loved what I was learning and couldn’t wait to get into a classroom.” —Jennifer Lindsey Corpus Christi ISD second-grade teacher and six-year education veteran

I was finishing my college degree in psychology and still asking myself what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to work with people. During a math class, I realized I was able to help my classmates understand concepts and that I could help them know how to perform the required calculations. I started looking into alternative certifcation. My students ask me all the time why I teach. My answer is, ‘I like people, and I like math. So I found the best job that put the two together!’” —Benjamin Butterbaugh Birdville ISD geometry teacher and four-year education veteran

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atpe news

I studied broadcast journalism and religion while an undergrad at TCU. After doing an internship, I decided I didn’t want to potentially have to move to a smaller market to work my way up to a larger market like DFW, and I didn’t want to have to work two jobs—one in broadcast and another in a different industry—in order to make ends meet. However, I did want to remain in a field that allowed me to write. A friend (who’s now an administrator in Fort Worth ISD) ‘heard my cry’ and suggested teaching. The idea was never foreign to me: My dad was still teaching AP Calculus, and my uncle had enjoyed a celebrated career as a speech/debate teacher. Therefore I knew I’d have two personal mentors.” —Yonina Robinson Fort Worth ISD assessment/data analyst and 12-year education veteran

My first four years, I taught in a charter school, where about 75 percent of us came from alt cert programs. I had been subbing for two years while completing my certification at the Region 11 service center. Some of my co-workers my first year could have benefited from webinars or classes on making the change to teaching from the business world or even surviving on a teacher’s salary.” —Kristy Hixon Keller ISD fourth-grade teacher and 10-year education veteran

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Meet Richard Wiggins: ATPE state officer, alt cert educator

nother alt cert stat: Three of ATPE’s five 2013-14 state officers entered the education profession through an alternative certification program. “I was a financial planner for 21 years,” ATPE State Vice President Richard Wiggins says. “The work was rewarding, and I had a great career, but in the back of my mind, I always wanted to teach. My neighbor recommended substituting to see if I liked the classroom and had an aptitude for it. After one semester, I was hired as a teaching assistant in a behavior unit, and at the same time I started Region 20’s alternative certification program. “It was an outstanding way to transition into teaching. Now, I have been in education 12 years, 11 as a teacher. I am currently the special education department chair at Boerne [ISD] Middle School South, and I’m also co-teaching seventh- and eighth-grade science and eighth-grade math.” As an ATPE state officer, Wiggins is in a unique position to help Texas’ largest educator association reach out to alternatively certified teachers and develop programs that help new teachers—no matter how they’ve entered the profession—survive their first years on the job. “I felt like my alt cert program really prepared me, along with my experiences in dealing with people throughout my career,” Wiggins says. “But seriously, it was still a shock being in the classroom that first year. So many educators leave the classroom in the first five years of teaching because they are not prepared for classroom management issues.” Wiggins sees a critical need for all new educators—no matter their certification route—to receive increased support from their professional associations, districts and campus peers. “I believe the system of support a teacher has after he or she enters the classroom is equal to or greater than the system that got them there,” he says. “We are losing so many teaching in the first five years. Why is that? Because they do not feel supported or appreciated while they are in the classroom. More importantly, they don’t see a change coming in the future. “That is why it is so important that we have a voice like ATPE representing us to promote positive change in education.” A

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Plug in and power up through ATPE leadership training, the House of Dele-

July 9â&#x20AC;&#x201C;11 â&#x20AC;˘ Austin Convention Center

The Next

Level

gates and professional learning

the 2014 atpe summit + atpesummit.org

it’s time for the Next Level We’re powering up for the ATPE Summit, and we want you to join us! + Learn more about ATPE’s new look and plans for the future. + Team up with your fellow local unit members to develop a strategy for the 2014-15 membership year. + Hear from the candidates for governor and lieutenant governor (we’re inviting them to speak Thursday, July 10). + Network with your fellow educators, and build lasting friendships. + Gain practical tools you can implement in the classroom and your daily life during our day of professional learning.

Shape ATPE’s vision. Share your goals for education legislation. Find out about ATPE’s recharged brand. Grow as an educator. Become a leader.

Join us at the 2014 ATPE Summit.

accept the quest

hit your bonus levels

Registration and housing for the summit will open in April; the delegate certification deadline is June 9. Visit atpesummit.org for registration and hotel information.

Find more information about summit awards and deadlines at atpesummit.org. + Propose bylaws amendments and resolutions and submit state officer nominations by March 15. + Apply for Doug Rogers Campus Representative of the Year, Local Unit of the Year, Ben Shilcutt Plus Club and the Sam Houston Award for Political Involvement by March 3. + To qualify for 2013-14 ATPE-PAC honors, submit your last 2013-14 donations by May 1. + Submit your local unit’s Newsletter Award entry by June 2.

Interested in serving as an ATPE volunteer? Get your start at the summit! Contact ATPE Volunteer Program Coordinator Kelli Johnson at kjohnson@atpe.org to learn more.

registration fees New this year: Register for the full summit, or attend only the events that work best with your needs and your schedule. Registration for HOD only is free. You may also choose to register for an HOD box lunch ($15) and/or the July 10 Awards Banquet ($35).

Date

Event of the day

July 9

ATPE Leader Training and House of Delegates

July 10

House of Delegates (HOD)

July 11

A day of Professional Learning and Networking (PLAN)

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Price $85 (Leader Training & HOD)

$125

(Full event)

$50

(PLAN only)

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your association

atpe news

ATPE welcomes three new teachers with $500 classroom makeovers

Greetings, New Educators!

Ashley James Southwest ISD

Allison Barkman Arlington ISD

Amber Rotan Ector County ISD

Alma mater:

Texas State University

University of Texas at Arlington

University of Texas of the Permian Basin

What she teaches:

Dance and drill team

Seventh-grade science

First grade

What she bought:

A science clock, posters and ancillary materials.

Storage containers, manipulatives, books, learning games and books on CD.

Her inspiration to teach:

What she likes most about ATPE:

What has surprised her about

Her fifth-grade teacher. She’s had the bug to educate since then.

Email communication, free webinars and the value of membership compared with other organizations.

teaching: All of the logistics— “working out all of the endless details.”

photos by doug eckart and kathy lanfer

What she bought:

A portable sound system, a video camera and storage bins for dance costumes.

ATPE’s eighth annual Classroom Makeover promotion helped three new educators stock their first classrooms with educational materials. Eligible for this year’s three $500 drawings were those 2012-13 teacher-trainee members who renewed as 2013-14 first-time professional members.

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atpe news

your association

Kudos to Mr. Comer

Stretch your travel dollar this spring break How? With your ATPE membership! Don’t forget: As an ATPE member, you are eligible for great discounts on travel needs such as rental cars, hotels and theme park admission. Log in to the Services and Discounts page at atpe.org for more information, including necessary ID numbers, reservation links and telephone numbers. Enjoy savings on: Auto rental at Avis®, Alamo®, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental.

Hotel stays at Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality®, Sleep Inn®, Cambria Suites®, Clarion®, MainStay Suites®, Econo Lodge®, Suburban Extended Stay®, Rodeway Inn® brands and Ascend Collection® properties, La Quinta Inns and Suites, Baymont Inns and Suites®, Days Inn®, Hawthorne Suites by Wyndham®, Howard Johnson®, Knights Inn®, Microtel Inns and Suites®, Ramada®, Super 8®, Travelodge®, Wingate® by Wyndham and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®. Theme park tickets. ATPE members can purchase discount tickets to SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Antonio, SeaWorld San Diego, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Adventure Island, Aquatica, Water Country USA and Sesame Place through the Worlds of Discovery Parks online ticket order program. Members can also purchase discount tickets to Schlitterbahn Waterparks through Schlitterbahn’s online ticket program.

spring 2014

TPE is proud to announce that the Austin Independent School District has recognized ATPE Public Relations Director Larry Comer with its 2014 Volunteer Service Award. Comer, a 23-year ATPE employee, coordinates the ATPE staff’s partner-ineducation relationship with Austin ISD’s Harris Elementary School. “While I am honored to accept this, it is not about me but about what we as a team have accomplished at Harris Elementary in the past nine years,” Comer says. “The fact that we have 20 staff members who at some point have served as a mentor or tutor speaks volumes.” In addition to coordinating the program, Comer has organized teacher appreciation events, career days, landscaping and reading programs at the school. He is also one of the staff members visiting the school weekly as a mentor. ATPE thanks Comer for his dedication and for bringing this program to the ATPE staff; the work with Harris helps all ATPE employees develop a greater understanding of the issues facing our members across the state.

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atpe news

Mortgage matters

Looking to buy, sell or refinance a home?

Exciting changes for ATPE’s guaranteed-issue life insurance program

Dial up savings through the ATPE Wireless Center Through the ATPE Wireless Center, members can shop for the latest phones from top wireless carriers, including Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile! Free phones and discounted accessories are available; plus, you’ll enjoy free shipping and free return shipping on all orders. You can get the latest smartphones at a discount while signing up for the plans you need, including new accounts, upgrades, add-a-lines and family plans. Log in to the Services and Discounts page at atpe.org for more information.

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ATPE is pleased to announce that our guaranteed-issue life insurance program has been transitioned to and is now being underwritten by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. This change was effective Feb. 1. MetLife has been insuring people for more than 140 years, and its financial strength ratings are among the highest in the industry. Current policyholders will retain the same level of coverage, and the plan’s monthly premiums for each age band will not change. If you are not a current policyholder, we encourage you to check out this great insurance benefit and its complementary features, which include will preparation service, MetLife Estate Resolution Services and MetLife Life Advice. Please log in to the Services and Discounts page at atpe.org for more information.

atpe news

The ATPE Home Savings Program can save you money! You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars each time you buy, sell or refinance a home. Save on realtor commissions, closing costs, title insurance and moving companies. Log in to the Services and Discounts page at atpe.org for more information.

atpe news

your association

March 15: ATPE state officer nomination deadline Could you be ATPE’s next state officer?

he ATPE Nomination/Election Committee is seeking qualified state officer candidates with excellent leadership ability. As the elected leaders of the organization, state officers speak and act on behalf of ATPE’s more than 100,000 members and Texas students. State officers participate in all ATPE Board of Directors meetings and represent ATPE at region meetings and other functions. The vice president, secretary and treasurer

travel 15 to 20 days per year on ATPE business; the president devotes considerably more time to representing ATPE. Per the ATPE State Bylaws (available at www. atpe.org/AboutUs/stateBylaws.aspx), professional, associate and retired members are eligible to run for office. Call (800) 777-2873 or email dhamad@atpe.org to request a nomination form. Nominations must be received in the state office by March 15. The election will be held during the ATPE Summit.

T-Mobile:

Don’t miss the next ATPE Book Circle

ATPE has partnered with T-Mobile to offer members a 10 percent discount on wireless voice, messaging and data services. With the T-Mobile Advantage Program, an incredible wireless deal gets even better. Here are more details on program benefits: ▸1 0 percent discount off service plans (includes voice, text and email services). ▸ Discount applies to all lines on the account. ▸P ay a small down payment on the latest 4G devices, including the iPhone, or bring your own phone. ▸ Waived activation fees (savings of $35 per line). ▸ Free shipping. ▸ A risk-free, 30-day return policy. ▸ No annual contract. ▸ E xisting customers can apply the discount to their service! For more information, log in to the Services and Discounts page at atpe.org.

The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got that Way

Save 10 percent through ATPE’s partnership

We’ve all seen the headlines about student success in Finland, South Korea and Norway. Where does the United States stand, and how do rigor, testing, poverty and race play into the equation? Is it even possible to determine which country has the “smartest” kids—and, if so, how in the world did they get that way? Journalist Amanda Ripley seeks to answer these questions in The Smartest Kids in the World, a critically acclaimed book that examines the science of education, why instructional practices vary so much across the globe and why they produce different calibers of students. The ATPE Book Circle will begin reading and discussing The Smartest Kids in the World April 18. Participants will earn nine hours of CPE credit for participating in the discussion. Visit www.atpe.websitetoolbox.com to sign up for the discussion.

The ATPE vision ATPE is the preeminent public educator association in Texas and makes a difference in the lives of educators and schoolchildren. In partnership with all stakeholders, we are committed to providing every child an equal opportunity to receive an exemplary public education.

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your association

foundation news

Mark your calendar

May is the ATPE Foundation’s Donation Month

he ATPE Foundation will conduct its third annual donation month this May and has set a goal of raising $5,000 during that one-month period. Your tax-deductible donation will support the foundation’s literacy initiatives, technology programs, and educator recruitment and retention efforts. Since 2008, the ATPE Foundation has provided $52,500 in literacy and

technology grants to Texas public schools and $90,000 in scholarships to current and future Texas educators. None of this would be possible without the generous support of our donors. Make donations at atpefoundation. org using your Visa or MasterCard, or simply print off a donation form and mail it in with your cash or check. Donations of any size are appreciated and can be

given in honor or in memory of family members, friends or colleagues. With your help, the ATPE Foundation can make a real impact in the lives of Texas students and educators.

The ATPE Foundation is registered in Texas as a nonprofit corporation and is a public charity exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Foundation awards 2013-14 Technology Grants

▸ Jacksboro ISD’s Jacksboro Middle School ▸ Ysleta ISD’s Ramona Elementary School Look for coverage of the grant recipient’s projects in future issues of Enrich, the ATPE Foundation’s e-newsletter, which you can read at atpefoundation.org.

#GivingTuesday gets results

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On Dec. 3, the ATPE Foundation participated in #GivingTuesday, a nationwide movement to promote philanthropy during the holiday season. In 24 hours, the foundation raised more than $1,000 in support of its Beth Ann Rogers Literacy Initiative Grant Program. Thank you to everyone who donated on #GivingTuesday!

atpe news

Each year, the ATPE Foundation awards two $2,500 technology grants to help Texas public schools purchase technology resources for classroom use. The ATPE Foundation congratulates its 2013-14 recipients:

Apply for $1,500 scholarships by June 2 The ATPE Foundation supports future educators The ATPE Foundation has two scholarship programs, and the 2014 deadline for each is June 2. Find applications and more information (including the list of institutions where students qualify for Barbara Jordan scholarships) at atpefoundation.org. • The Barbara Jordan Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the late Texas congresswoman and distinguished educator. Up to six $1,500 scholarships are awarded each year to outstanding junior, senior and graduate students enrolled in educator preparation programs at predominantly ethnic-minority institutions. • The Fred Wiesner Educational Excellence Scholarship honors one of ATPE’s founding members. Four $1,500 scholarships are awarded to outstanding college students currently enrolled in educator preparation programs. If the number and quality of applicants allow, three scholarships are awarded to undergraduates and one to a graduate student.

Join us for the third annual ATPE Foundation Golf Classic What: A four-person scramble tournament benefiting the ATPE Foundation’s literacy, technology, and educator recruitment and retention programs in Texas public schools

When: Friday, Oct. 17 (1:30 p.m. shotgun start followed by 6 p.m. awards dinner)

Where: Teravista Golf Club, Round Rock More info: atpefoundation.org

ATPE

FOUNDATION

GOLF 2014 spring 2014

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your association

tenet focus

Exploring ATPE’s 10 tenets ATPE was founded in April 1980 with a distinct set of philosophies. In this ATPE News series, we take an in-depth look at each of ATPE’s 10 tenets and explain how they act as the building blocks of the association.

10 ATPE tenets

Professionalism ATPE members are committed to making positive contributions to the education profession and the lives of students by: • Maintaining personal and professional dignity by respecting and obeying the law, demonstrating personal integrity, and exemplifying honesty and ethical behavior; and • Assuming the responsibilities for professional teaching practices and performance.

Professionalism

Member-Owned/ Member-Governed

ATPE members demonstrate professionalism every day through their interactions with students, parents, colleagues and administrators. Since actions speak louder than words, we took to Facebook and asked for examples. Below are some we received.

Right to Work/ Oppose Strikes

“Teachers who are true professionals know how to deal with difficult situations and parents with tact and dignity and eventually gain the upper hand in alleviating the situation and gaining the parents as allies.”

Superior Services to Members

—Region 14 ATPE Director Tonja Gray, Abilene ISD “Collaboration among teachers striving to meet the needs of students is professionalism in action and is frequently observed at my school.” —2014 Texas Teacher of the Year Finalist Julie Woodard, Rockwall ISD

All-Inclusive

Leadership

“Adjunct professors are scheduling individual conferences with students on their own time!” —Anne Fletcher, retired Region 1 educator “While visiting with teachers today in Reading Recovery, one teacher was talking to me about something, so she asked another teacher if she would mind taking her student back to class. With the utmost sincerity, the other teacher said, ‘It would be my pleasure.’ I told them all that it was such a joy to be with educators who were so thoughtful and kind to each other.”

Collaborative

Issues-Oriented Advocacy

—2013-14 ATPE Past State President Deann Lee, Paris ISD “While honoring a teacher for being campus Teacher of the Year, she was so sincere as she told us how she does it for the love of teaching and not any form of recognition.”

Independent Association

—Jorge Garcia, Northside (20) ISD

Look to the next issue of ATPE News for information on ATPE’s independent association tenet.

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Local Control of Public Schools

atpe news

Official notice of the 34th annual meeting of the ATPE House of Delegates The ATPE House of Delegates (HOD) will meet during the 2014 ATPE Summit this July 9–11 at the Austin Convention Center. HOD proceedings, including state officer elections, will occur July 10.

The wording of proposed bylaws changes will be published in the Summer 2014 ATPE News and made available at atpesummit.org at least 45 days prior to the HOD meeting.

Please visit atpesummit.org for more information about the summit and the HOD, including delegate certification information.

This notice is published pursuant to Article IX, Section 4, of the ATPE State Bylaws.

Psst … If you follow ATPE on Pinterest, you can call “pinning” professional research.

Get inspired with classroom tips and lesson ideas by following ATPE on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.

www.pinterest.com/ atpe

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www.facebook.com/ officialatpe

www.twitter.com/ officialatpe

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kudos

Bravo, ATPE members

Congratulations to all ATPE members who go the extra mile to achieve great heights in their field. ABILENE

FRISCO

JOSHUA

Aaron Ashford, a sixth-grade social studies teacher at Craig Middle School, received a Teacher Tribute award in November. Each week, Abilene TV station KTXS presents the Teacher Tribute award to a student-nominated teacher.

Gerald Page, an informational technology instructor at the Career Technical Center, was a recipient of the 2013 Teacher Inspiration award, an honor bestowed by the University of Texas at Dallas computer science department.

Christal Bookhamer, an eighth-grade science teacher at Loflin Middle School, was awarded the 2013 Milken Educator Award. As part of the award, Bookhamer received $25,000.

CLEAR CREEK

GALVESTON

Jillian Howard, a bilingual teacher at C.D. Landolt Elementary School, was named Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA).

Four Galveston ATPE members recently received grants to implement creative ideas in their classrooms: • Becky Hernandez, a kindergarten teacher at Oppe Elementary, received a $3,000 grant to purchase classroom equipment promoting visual and hands-on learning. • Courtney Webb, a second-grade teacher at Parker Elementary School, was awarded $3,000 to use toward a balanced literacy program. • Jean Langevine, a biomedical science teacher at Ball Preparatory Academy, received a $1,000 grant for a gel electrophoresis project. •A nna Allebach, a librarian at Scott Elementary School, received $500 to use toward enhancing the library and creating a mini art gallery at the library entrance.

Sheryl Schickedanz, an eighth-grade science teacher at Timberview Middle School, won the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 2013 Wendy Owsley Garrett Science Teacher Award.

DUNCANVILLE Shannon Thornton, a first-grade teacher at Central Elementary School, was recognized in October as the 2013 Intern of the Year by the Texas Alternative Certification Association, which is part of the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education.

FORT BEND Rustin Buck, a German teacher at Clements High School, was one of four teachers recognized by the American Association of Teachers of German with the German Embassy Teacher of Excellence Award.

2013-14 KENS 5 ExCEL Award winners The ExCEL Award is an annual recognition program sponsored by the San Antonio Federal Credit Union (SACU) and TV station KENS 5. Four ATPE members received the 2013-14 KENS 5 ExCEL awards in their respective districts: · Jon Wert, a life skills teacher at Curington Elementary School in Boerne ISD. · Sandy Bermea, a third-grade teacher at Potranco Elementary School in Medina Valley ISD. · Iris Harris, a social skills teacher at Wilder Intermediate School in SchertzCibolo-Universal City ISD. · Alan Rheel, a career and technology teacher at the Southwest Academy in Southwest ISD.

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KELLER

MCKINNEY Three ATPE members received grants from the McKinney Education Foundation to fund unique projects for their classrooms: • Linda Jones, a second-grade teacher at Finch Elementary School, received a grant for her program titled “Buzzing about Bees: Habitats and Health Benefits.” • Angie McNally, a media resource specialist at Minshew Elementary School, was awarded a grant for her “Flipping in the Classroom” project. • Tena Worthy, a resource teacher at Minshew Elementary School, received a grant for her “iTech Independently” program.

OLTON Charles Tabor, a math teacher at Olton High School, was one of three Mrs. Baird’s Bread’s “Teachers on the Rise” award winners in October.

PLANO Kaitlin Eckstein, a third-grade teacher at Memorial Elementary School, was recognized as the 2013-14 Experienced Teacher of the Year.

atpe news

your association

kudos

RICHARDSON Richardson High School educators Diane Watson, a special education teacher, and George Hademenos, a physics teacher, will participate in NASA’s Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program this spring. They were the only ambassadors chosen from Texas and one of 12 pairs of educators nationwide selected for the program.

SPRING BRANCH Victoria Beard, a debate teacher at Spring Woods High School, was named her school’s Educator of the Year. In addition, she was recognized by the Texas Speech Communication Association as High School Educator of the Year.

YORKTOWN

TPE is saddened to announce the passing of former Region 5 ATPE Director Kirk Brown Dec. 24, 2013. Brown was a longtime leader in Beaumont ATPE and served in numerous region and local unit leadership roles, including region and local unit president. A second-grade teacher at Beaumont ISD’s Dishman Elementary School, Brown was the inspiration for the yearlong ATPE News series “The Thank-You Files,” which featured letters of appreciation that ATPE members had received from students. The first letter published was from one of Brown’s former students, Ryan Elliot, who Brown said had “given the old teach the best gift any student could give.” As an ATPE leader, Brown was a dedicated ATPE Political Action Committee donor and was known for his ability to bring people together. “Kirk could always put a positive light on a potentially negative topic,” says Region 17 ATPE member Patricia Verett, who served on the ATPE Board of Directors (BOD) with Brown. “He had a very keen perspective that he brought to the BOD.” In his thank-you letter to Brown, Elliot wrote that he the thankhoped that all of Brown’s students remembered him fondly. you files Now, Elliot can count countless ATPE members and staff members among those who will remember Brown fondly for his humor, his leadership and his friendship. s u p p o r t i n g

y o u r

f r e e d o m

t o

t e a c h

ATPE members share the stories, artwork and thank-you notes that inspire them each day

summ

er 2009

| ATPe.o

Cynthia Knobles, a fifth-grade teacher at Yorktown Elementary School, received the district’s Teacher of the Year Award in December.

In Memoriam

Girls plu s math: The for Earn CPE mula for for rea succes ding ATP ATPE-in s (page E New itiated 10) s (page legisla 12) tion (pa ge 18)

SUPP

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Be recognized for your efforts! If you know an ATPE member who deserves recognition (it could even be you!), let us know. Kudos covers awards, scholarships and other education-related achievements only; promotions, retirements and non-education-related personal achievements will not be included.

Email Kudos to ATPE Communications at comm@atpe.org or send them to: ATPE News | 305 E. Huntland Dr., Ste. 300 | Austin, TX 78752-3792

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your association

family album

Aldine

Photo by Gary G. Godsey

Photo by Pam Tipton, Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education

Photo courtesy of Wanda Giles

Aldine ATPE celebrates Transportation Appreciation Week in October 2013. Aldine Vice President Wanda Giles and members Delania Harris (left) and Sherrie RilesMartin (right) present transportation worker—and newly joined member— Cayla Head with a gift of appreciation.

Texas Woman’s University Texas Woman’s University ATPE members present their research on “Collaborative Partnerships in Learning” at the annual meeting for the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education. Pictured: TWU ATPE officers Keenan Palmer and Jennifer Hall show their poster to conference attendees.

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Region 6 Before he gives a presentation, ATPE Executive Director Gary G. Godsey snaps a photo of attendees at the Region 6 ATPE meeting Sept. 14 in Navasota.

atpe news

highlights

Photo courtesy of RIO HONDO

BIRDVILLE ATPE catered a dinner to welcome Birdville ISD school board members and express appreciation for their service. REGION 11 ATPE’s fall meeting included a presentation on stress relief by a representative from Texas Health Fort Worth Hospital.

Rio Hondo Rio Hondo ATPE hosted a legal clinic in October, featuring a presentation by ATPE Member Legal Services Department Managing Attorney Paul Tapp. The local unit opened the event to all Region 1 ATPE members.

MANSFIELD ATPE hosted a hospitality event in September for the Mansfield ISD transportation department in support of National School Bus Safety Week. TERRELL ATPE, NACOGDOCHES ATPE, HOUSTON ATPE, REGION 10 ATPE and REGION 13 ATPE won the ATPE Tailgate Challenge this fall by recruiting the most new members in a given period. ATPE members in Garland, Corpus Christi, Region 4 and Region 20 had the chance to learn more about the Educators’ Code of Ethics and the grievance process during legal clinics presented by ATPE staff attorneys this fall.

Photo by Mike McLamore

Keller ATPE celebrated School Board Recognition Month by making donations in the board’s honor to the Keller ISD Education Foundation and Keller ISD’s School Walk for Diabetes.

Frisco Frisco ATPE President Diane Willoughby meets with Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Lyon in her classroom at Wakeland High School to discuss Frisco ATPE’s involvement in local and state educational issues.

spring 2014

submissions Send your stories and high-resolution photos to comm@atpe.org for possible publication. The more detail you can include with your submission, the better!

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your association

Thank you for your donation!

Alvin Ron Fitzwater Amarillo Nelson Bishop Beaumont Rhonda Schell Birdville Shari Emmons Boerne OnaBeth Day Margie Hastings Richard Wiggins Jeri Willis Boys Ranch Cindy Smith Corsicana Donna Sublett Crowley Steve Pokluda Cypress-Fairbanks Stephanie Bailey Eli Rodriguez Dallas Dianne Reed

atpe-pac honor roll

The following ATPE members donated $50 or more to ATPE’s Political Action Committee (ATPE-PAC) between Aug. 8 and Nov. 30, 2013.

Del Valle Mary Hopkins Debbie Luciew-Nelson Dickinson Ann Zamora Education Service Center (11) Marcia Williams Galena Park Lissa Shepard Garland Carol Phelps Maxine Stokinger Jane Via Harlandale Lee Amende Nancy Tom Hays Elaine Hunt Irving Deb Bellew Killeen Alice Page Eileen Walcik Melissa Walcik Ron Walcik

Lackland JoAnne Moulder Lytle Leslie Pedrotti Medina Valley Bertha Benedetti Mesquite Jerry Bonham Carol Davies Debbie Massey Midlothian Harriette Fowler Northside (20) Laura Campbell Lisa Gray Sylvia Lopez Bobbye Patton Lynda Stark Odessa Ashley Fox Olga Garza Pasadena Charlotte Anthony Darla Kelly

Plano Lindsay Beattie Mary Long Region 4 John Pyle Region 13 Amy White Retired members Bickie Coffey Deryl Elms Linda James

Tuloso-Midway Dora Cerda Tyler Betty Berndt Waco Sandra O’Connor Weslaco Roger Gutierrez West Janice Hornsby

Robinson Kimberly Cowart

Wichita Falls Belinda Wolf

San Antonio Skip Hildebrand

Willacy County Pat Brashear

Spearman Sherry Boyd Verlan Winegarner

Willis Lori Mitchell

Spring Branch Meredith Boane

Woden Malinda Holzapfel Randi McQueen Cortney Stroud

Sweeny Jeanette Hlavaty Texas A&M–Central Texas Pamela Knutson

Let’s reach PAC’s Peak: ATPE-PAC has set a goal to raise $20,000 by May 1. Help us rise to and surpass this challenge by donating to ATPE-PAC today at www.atpe.org/Advocacy/ATPEPAC/pac.asp.

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atpe news

Why I lead

Push your potential with ATPE leadership

t-risk. Low socioeconomic status. ESL. Firstgeneration Asian-American: I had many chances to choose a life very opposite than the one that I am most fortunate to have now. School provided a safe haven for me to escape the harsh realities of daily life. I believe it’s my moral responsibility to reach and teach all learners to overcome self-doubt and never underestimate the power of positivity. The experience of having helped craft a student’s pathway to success cannot be quantitatively measured. I wanted to challenge myself to take on campus- and district-level leadership roles. My ATPE local unit’s leaders knew my aspirations to become an administrator and gave me opportunities to grow personally and professionally. I’m proud to say I am in my first year of serving as an assistant principal. My ATPE leadership roles have had an invaluable impact. ATPE leadership has taught me about relationship-building, educator recruitment, trustworthiness, budgeting and communication. Both teachers and administrators can be members of ATPE—an important factor for those who want to move into administration. Now, I am pursuing a doctorate degree in educational administration so that I can continue to help as many students and teachers as possible to achieve their goals. —Robert Quach 8-year educator Assistant principal, Austin Academy for Excellence Garland ATPE campus rep, Past Garland ATPE Treasurer

Where can ATPE lead you? Contact ATPE Volunteer Program Coordinator Kelli Johnson at kjohnson@atpe.org for information about serving in a campus rep or local unit leadership position.

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continued from page 10—Para-educators Place homecoming or a UIL competition. But this is, once again, an informal arrangement at the discretion of the supervisor and district; it’s completely legal but also absolutely not required by the law. And, in this case, because there is no legal requirement, there is no “time and a half ” requirement.A

continued from page 13—Legal Opinions useful if a procedural rule has been violated: It often results in the invalidation of the appraisal. However, grievances are limited in usefulness because school boards and the commissioner cannot require a change to the actual scores in response to a grievance.

How is a local appraisal system developed? Some districts use locally approved appraisal instruments and processes. Any modification to the PDAS will create a local appraisal system. Local appraisal systems must: · Be developed by district- and campus-level planning and decision-making committees. · Contain criteria related to discipline management and student performance. · Provide for a teacher/appraiser conference. · Be adopted by the local school board. · Provide the teacher with the same options to respond or appeal to an appraisal as described above.A

continued from page 14—Capitol Comment 4. Success in the legislative session is determined in the elections, long before the session begins. You must build a winning team to win the game, and today’s process is not stacked in our favor. This has made me something I swore I would never be: a single-issue voter. I only want to know the candidates’ names and what they have said and done and will do on public education. I vote strategically: I cast my primary election vote where I can do the most good for public education and my general election vote for the candidate I want representing my ideals for public education.

The key is putting education above all else in both the primary and the general election. The public education community doesn’t have lots of money, but we do have more than 1 million votes, between active and retired educators, and even before you count their families and friends. 5. Educators do not vote their profession. After 20 years, this one saddens me. Ask a doctor, an attorney and an engineer how they make their choices at the polls. The first question they ask: How will my vote affect my business? But educators aren’t voting that way; they aren’t asking themselves how their vote will affect their business, the business of educating children. This is a touchy subject. Not only do I believe in individual liberty and the privacy of your vote, but also ATPE does not endorse candidates. In fact, our members are often hesitant to express their political opinions to other educators. However, after 20 years of riding the line, I am personally sharing with anyone who asks and some who don’t which candidates you should vote for if you want to help public education the most. This might make some people uncomfortable or even angry at me. But there is one simple reason I have to do this: We have to change in order to make change. Do your research, vote your profession, and don’t be afraid to tell other voters who you believe in and why.

Looking ahead I promised you some prognostication, and here it is: If the members of the public education community all voted and voted the same way, we could be the winning difference in any Texas election, from local school board to gubernatorial. So, please help a wide-eyed country boy realize his dreams as he begins his next 20 years as a public education advocate. Remember that with the right leaders, we can make great things happen, particularly if public educators have the seat at the table they deserve. Remember to disregard all of the money, rhetoric and advertising muck that drives our electorate today. Instead, get together with your colleagues and lock the door, scratch out the party affiliations behind candidates’ names, and become single-issue public education voters like me. If we build a winning team in March and November, our students will benefit in the legislative sessions to come.A

The legal information provided in ATPE News is for general purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for individual legal advice or the provision of legal services. Accessing this information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers should consult directly with an attorney. ATPE members should call (800) 777-2873 or access the Member Legal Services Intake System (MLSIS) at www.atpe.org/protection.

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atpe news

Questions YouATPE MightMembership Have About ATPE Membership 2013-14 Application

1 Are ATPE membership 3 Waysdues Youtax-deductible? Can Join ATPE:

When is myapplication ATPE membership effective? 1 Mail this completed to the ATPE state office. ATPE membership dues are not deductible as charitable contributions2 Give For this paper applications, your membership date is established completed application to your ATPE campus rep. for income tax purposes but may be deductible as miscellaneous when your application is received in the state office, or when your 3 Join at atpe.org (and pay by credit card). itemized deductions, subject to IRS restrictions. It is estimated that application is received, signed and dated by a designated local unit 4.6 percent of your dues dollar is used for lobbying activities and is representative. For online applications, your membership date is (MM) thereforeProvide not deductible. established at 12:01 a.m. CST on the date following successful your contact information. Select your membership category. transmission of your online application and payment at atpe.org. This information helps us maintain your unique member record, a tool that

2 How ATPE spend membership Last 4does digits of your Soc. Sec. my #: XXX-XX-__ __ __ __ dues?Female

allows us to provide member services more efficiently.

• $3.32 pays for a subscription to ATPE News (published four times per Yes, I have been an ATPE member in the past. year) and includes all state and local sales taxes.

Refer to the chart on the back of this application to find your appropriate category.

categories 5 When Insured is coverage effective? Male

*See back.

$145.00 $ ______ * Coverage beginsProfessional on the later of 8/1/13 or your Membership Date and expires on 8/1/14 except for the following: COVERAGE IS EFFECTIVE Member _______________ (Optional—If you don’t know First-time • Up to $26 of ID# Professional and Associate member dues and upit,tono$6problem.) ON 8/1/13 IF YOU RENEW MEMBERSHIP ANYTIME AUGUST OR $ ______ Professional $80.00 DURING of Teacher Trainee member dues pays for the Educators Professional Name ________________________ _______________________ _________ I have never been a SEPTEMBER 2013, AND EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS DEFENSE INSURANCE IS Liability Insurance Policy.* Professional member. Last First Middle initial NOT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 30 DAYS AFTER YOUR MEMBERSHIP DATE IF YOU JOIN AFTER 9/30/13 AND WERE ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP $ ______FROM Associate ISD ___________________________ Campus __________________________ $70.00 Paraprofessional and AUGUST 2013 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2013. Eligibility for membership What does the Liability and Employment Rights classified positions Home address ____________________________________________________ benefits is contingent upon receipt of the entire membership dues Defense Insurance* for the 2013-14 membership amount for your Teacher appropriate membership category. AFREE disruption in Trainee year cover? City/State ____________________________________ ZIP _______________ Student teacher payment in Texas payments to an authorized plan may result in discontinua* Coverage your activities as a Professional or )Associate categories Homeapplies ( ____ )to _____________________ Cell ( ____ ____________________ tion of suchUninsured benefits, including cancellation of insurance coverage for member in the course of your duties of employment with an educaRetiredyear, retroactive to$10.00 ______ the entire membership Aug. 1 or$ your membership email or____________________________________________________ tionalSchool institution, to your activities as a Teacher Trainee member in former date. For further Retired information, call (800) 777-2873. school employee the course of your duties as a student in a teacher education program Home email _____________________________________________________ in an accredited college or university. Coverage is underwritten by College Student FREE Submit your email addresses to receive the latest news on member benefits. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. ALL What doesNon-teaching ATPE-PAC do? college student Yes, me information aboutTERMS volunteering ATPE! COVERAGE IS send SUBJECT TO THE EXPRESS OF THEforMASTER The ATPE Political Action Committee (ATPE-PAC) accepts voluntary INSURANCE POLICY ISSUED TO ATPE AND KEPT ON FILE AT THE STATE Public to advocate for$10.00 $ ______ donations from members ATPE’s legislative priorities. Friend of public OFFICE. View a detailed summary at atpe.org. The policy applies only ATPE-PAC does not endorse political candidates. Donations to ATPEeducation to activities that begin during the period when coverage is effective PAC are not a condition of employment or membership. A member and does not apply to activities that predate the coverage period. Invest public education. may donate more or lessinthan the suggested amount or may choose not to make a donation without it affecting his or her membership Local unit dues $ ______ status, rights or benefits with ATPE. are not deductible for Support ATPE in your school Donations district. federal income tax purposes. ATPE Political Action Committee $ ______

Support Texas candidates and officeholders who prioritize public education. Suggested donation: $12.

ATPE Membership Categories

You must join in the appropriate insured category in order to qualify for coverage. ATPE reserves the right to determine eligibility for Select a payment method. the appropriate membership category. Commissioned peace officers are eligible for public membership only. Check enclosed. Professional and Associate membership is open to persons employed in Texas by a public school district, institution of higher education, Payroll deduction Regional Education Service Center, State Board for Educator Certification or the Texas Education Agency. Complete the authorization below. Arrangements for payroll

deduction are the responsibility of the applicant. If you have a question about the eligibility of job descriptions not listed below, call (800) 777-2873.

Insured Categories*

Uninsured Categories $ ______ TOTAL

PROFESSIONAL MEMBER ($145)/FIRST-TIME PROFESSIONAL MEMBER ($80) • Regional Service • Department Head/ Payroll Deduction Authorization

• Administrator/ Supervisor

Chair

Center Staff

ASSOCIATE MEMBER ($70) • Aide to position in Professional category

COLLEGE STUDENT MEMBER (FREE) • Educational Aide/ Technician

Payroll will not be accepted afterCenter Jan.Aide 31, 2014. • School Psychologist/ • Diagnosticianfor 2013-14 • Maintenance Worker • Athletic Director/authorizations • Alternative Associate Coordinator • Instructional Officer • Nurse (LVN) • Bus Driver

• Non-teaching college student

RETIRED MEMBER ($10) • Retired former school employee

I, ______________________________________________ , authorize the _____________________ ISD to deduct the total amount of $ _______________ over • Social Worker Intern Teacher • Regional Cafeteriaaction Workerdonations. PUBLIC MEMBER ($10) ______ payments• in order to pay for ATPE state dues, local dues and •political I furtherService authorize the Association to notify the ISD of changes in • Superintendent/Asst. Center Aide • At-Risk Coordinator • IT Director/ • Clerk–General the annual dues amounts and the ISD to deduct the new amounts. If my employment with the district ends, I authorize any• unpaid to be deducted from Friend ofbalance public education Supt. Coordinator • Secretary • Audiologist • Computer my final check. This authorization for the deductions referenced above will be effective until I give notice to the ISD that I want to revoke it. • Athletic Trainer

• • •

• Teacher

• Security Guard Programmer/Entry • Therapist/ (Unarmed) • Nurse (RN) Coach • Custodial Worker Pathologist ____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _______________ • Substitute Teacher • Parent/Community Counselor • Deaf Interpreter Applicant’s signature Coordinator Applicant’s Social Security number or employee ID number Date of signature • University Professor Curriculum Director TEACHER TRAINEE MEMBER (FREE) • Visiting Teacher • Principal/Asst. Prin. Dean________ of Instruction TCTA TSTA UEA Other • Student teacher in Texas Texas AFT Initial Here 2013-14 AP8

• Band/Choral Director •

• Librarian

VOI

I wish to cancel deduction of membership dues for:

Questions You Might Have About ATPE Membership

1 Are ATPE membership dues tax-deductible?

4 When is my ATPE membership effective?

ATPE membership dues are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes but may be deductible as miscellaneous itemized deductions, subject to IRS restrictions. It is estimated that 4.6 percent of your dues dollar is used for lobbying activities and is therefore not deductible.

For paper applications, your membership date is established when your application is received in the state office, or when your application is received, signed and dated by a designated local unit representative. For online applications, your membership date is established at 12:01 a.m. CST on the date following successful transmission of your online application and payment at atpe.org.

2 How does ATPE spend my membership dues? • $3.32 pays for a subscription to ATPE News (published four times per year) and includes all state and local sales taxes. • Up to $26 of Professional and Associate member dues and up to $6 of Teacher Trainee member dues pays for the Educators Professional Liability Insurance Policy.*

3 What does the Liability and Employment Rights

Defense Insurance* for the 2013-14 membership year cover?

Coverage applies to your activities as a Professional or Associate member in the course of your duties of employment with an educational institution, or to your activities as a Teacher Trainee member in the course of your duties as a student in a teacher education program in an accredited college or university. Coverage is underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. ALL COVERAGE IS SUBJECT TO THE EXPRESS TERMS OF THE MASTER INSURANCE POLICY ISSUED TO ATPE AND KEPT ON FILE AT THE STATE OFFICE. View a detailed summary at atpe.org. The policy applies only to activities that begin during the period when coverage is effective and does not apply to activities that predate the coverage period. *

5 When is coverage effective? *

* Coverage begins on the later of 8/1/13 or your Membership Date and expires on 8/1/14 except for the following: COVERAGE IS EFFECTIVE ON 8/1/13 IF YOU RENEW MEMBERSHIP ANYTIME DURING AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER 2013, AND EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS DEFENSE INSURANCE IS NOT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 30 DAYS AFTER YOUR MEMBERSHIP DATE IF YOU JOIN AFTER 9/30/13 AND WERE ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP FROM AUGUST 2013 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2013. Eligibility for membership benefits is contingent upon receipt of the entire membership dues amount for your appropriate membership category. A disruption in payments to an authorized payment plan may result in discontinuation of such benefits, including cancellation of insurance coverage for the entire membership year, retroactive to Aug. 1 or your membership date. For further information, call (800) 777-2873.

6 What does ATPE-PAC do? The ATPE Political Action Committee (ATPE-PAC) accepts voluntary donations from members to advocate for ATPE’s legislative priorities. ATPE-PAC does not endorse political candidates. Donations to ATPEPAC are not a condition of employment or membership. A member may donate more or less than the suggested amount or may choose not to make a donation without it affecting his or her membership status, rights or benefits with ATPE. Donations are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

ATPE Membership Categories You must join in the appropriate insured category in order to qualify for coverage. ATPE reserves the right to determine eligibility for the appropriate membership category. Commissioned peace officers are eligible for public membership only. Professional and Associate 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.

Insured Categories*

Uninsured Categories

PROFESSIONAL MEMBER ($145)/FIRST-TIME PROFESSIONAL MEMBER ($80)

ASSOCIATE MEMBER ($70)

COLLEGE STUDENT MEMBER (FREE)

• Administrator/ Supervisor

• Department Head/ Chair

• Regional Service Center Staff

• Aide to position in Professional category

• Educational Aide/ Technician

• Athletic Director/ Coordinator

• Diagnostician

• Alternative Center Aide

• Maintenance Worker

RETIRED MEMBER ($10)

• Instructional Officer

• School Psychologist/ Associate

• Bus Driver

• Nurse (LVN)

• Retired former school employee

• Athletic Trainer

• Intern Teacher

• Social Worker

• Cafeteria Worker

• At-Risk Coordinator

• Superintendent/Asst. Supt.

• Clerk–General

• Regional Service Center Aide

• Audiologist

• IT Director/ Coordinator

• Band/Choral Director

• Librarian

• Teacher

• Computer Programmer/Entry

• Coach

• Nurse (RN)

• Custodial Worker

• Security Guard (Unarmed)

• Counselor

• Deaf Interpreter

• Substitute Teacher

• Curriculum Director

• Parent/Community Coordinator

• Therapist/ Pathologist

• Dean of Instruction

• Principal/Asst. Prin.

• University Professor • Visiting Teacher

• Secretary

TEACHER TRAINEE MEMBER (FREE) • Student teacher in Texas

• Non-teaching college student

PUBLIC MEMBER ($10) • Friend of public education

extra credit extra credit

You’re invited to be an ATPE campus rep There are three reasons why you should accept this challenge, according to 2012-13 Campus Representative of the Year Katherine Whitbeck

Dear fellow members of ATPE: In 1994, I accepted the honor of serving as an ATPE campus representative. As a campus rep, I’m the face and voice of our professional association on my campus. Throughout the year, I make sure that my colleagues—members and nonmembers alike—know that ATPE is working hard to make Texas schools a better place for students and educators. I distribute and collect membership applications; I share news and information about Texas public education; and I remind my fellow members who are experiencing stressful professional situations that help is only a phone call away. I encourage each and every one of you to consider volunteering as an ATPE campus rep. I know, I know—your plate is already too full. But there are many joys in being a campus rep, most of all the joy of serving your colleagues:

You will thrill someone by simply saying “yes.”

When I first became president of Nacogdoches ATPE, I quickly realized I could not do the important job of explaining ATPE’s unique philosophy and sharing information about ATPE benefits alone, so I got to work recruiting representatives for each campus. Working together, campus reps can make sure every educator in our district has been invited to join ATPE.

You will thrill someone by saying thanks.

As a campus rep, I have the chance to say thanks to my colleagues for their hard work and dedication—something we don’t hear often enough in this career. I remind my colleagues how much they’re appreciated by giving them ATPE promo items, candy and notes of encouragement throughout the year.

Does being an ATPE campus rep sound like something you can do? Of course it does! Imagine how much we will accomplish as a community of educators once we have an ATPE campus rep at every school, bus barn and admin building. Sincerely,

Katherine Whitbeck

You will thrill someone by providing expert support.

Most of us initially join ATPE “just in case.” We hope “just in case” never happens, but we all know that it does. As a campus rep, my role is to be a friend and remind my fellow members that expert support is just a phone call to (800) 777-ATPE—or, in the 21st century, a visit to atpe.org— away. That’s all I need to know.

Email ATPE Volunteer Program Coordinator Kelli Johnson at kjohnson@atpe.org to learn more about becoming a campus rep.

Nacogdoches ATPE campus rep and former local unit president

spring 2014

atpe.org | 47

Feel good

About your investment in ATPE membership

97.3 Percentage of members who—after working with a staff attorney—were satisfied with their experience, regardless of the outcome.1

and counting

Number of member service and discount programs, offering savings on everything from auto repair to zoo admission.2

23,522 Number of educators receiving news and updates on ATPE events—such as our free professional learning webinars—through ATPE’s Facebook page.3

369 Number of legislative and State Board of Education candidates asked to complete ATPE’s survey for TeachtheVote.org, where you can research candidates’ views on public education and decide who deserves your vote.4

hat do you value most about ▸W

your ATPE membership? Tell us on Twitter using the hashtag #ATPE.

1 3

ATPE Member Legal Services Department quality assurance surveys 2 www.atpe.org/Resources/ServicesAndDiscounts/ as of Jan. 23, 2014 www.facebook.com/OfficialATPE as of Jan. 23, 2014 4 TeachtheVote.org as of Jan. 23, 2014