The
Advocate The official publication of the Knox County Education Association March, 2011 Volume XXIV Issue 6
KCEA Officers President Jessica Holman Vice-President Sherry Morgan Secretary Jennifer Owen Treasurer Tanya T. Coats
Executive Board Representatives Support Personnel Open Seat High Schools Emily Dalton Lisa Thomas Middle Schools Karen Peterman Kim Waller Elementary Schools Judy Barnes Kelly Keen Heather Wallace Alternative Schools Amy Arnold Administration Dr. Rodney Russell Minority Member at Large Benny Perry Parliamentarian Paula Brown
TEA / NEA TEA East TN Minority Tanya T. Coats TEA East TN Administrator Carmelita Perry TEA Board, District 4 Jessica Holman TEA-FCPE, District 4 Bill Bell NEA Resolutions Committee Anthony Hancock
Dedication This edition of The Advocate is dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague, Monty Howell. Mr. Howell, 61, of Corryton, passed away Sunday, January 23, leaving a great void. He began his career in education in 1971, as a teacher at Gibbs Elementary. While serving Knox County Schools for nearly 40 years, Mr. Howell wore many hats and touched many lives. He was a third grade teacher, KCEA president, traveling science teacher, science supervisor, chief negotiator for the KCS Board, Human Resources supervisor, and professor to aspiring teachers at South College. He also served as pastor of Harvest Community Church. Mr. Howell was instrumental in im‐ plementing the TAP program, which is in place at four schools and is be‐ ing expanded to 14 others. Former students, friends, and col‐ leagues have described him as “in‐ spiring, gracious, influential, an amazing man, intelligent, poised, humble, positive and uplifting, en‐ couraging, dearly loved, a role model, a passionate educator, car‐ ing, concerned, a wonderful teacher, the person who brought a sense of calm, a leader, supportive, kind, patient, friendly, a man of integ‐ rity, a cherished friend, a true man of God, one who took joy in making the classroom fun, thoughtful, knowledgeable, profes‐ sional, a favorite teacher, honest, loyal, trustworthy, and a gift to all.” According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Monty Howell was pre‐ ceded in death by his mother, Wanda Reed Howell. He was sur‐ vived by: wife of 40 years, Becky Howell of Corryton; daughters and sons‐in‐law, Jeni and Joe Hassell, Mandi and Aaron Taylor, Courtney and Joe Lancaster all of Knoxville; father, Jack Howell of Corryton; brother, John Howell of Houston, Texas; grandchildren, Noah, Zoe, Ellie, and Ainsley Hassell, Reed and Owen Taylor, and Carter Lan‐ caster.
TEA Staff Uniserv Director Jim Petrie Administrative Assistant Abbie Hoover
“The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well.” ‐‐‐ Elisabeth Kubler‐Ross
A Personal Reflection on the Death of Monty Howell Karen Peterman, KCEA Chief Negotiator I attended a funeral the other evening. For a person of my advanced age, that isn’t an unusual happening. But this one was different. I was saying goodbye to a colleague, a men‐ tor, and a friend. Did you ever know someone who you believed was always truthful, fair, and genuinely intent on doing the right thing? Monty Howell was just such a person. We sat on different sides of the negotiations table and we approached most is‐ sues from a different perspective. That could have made us enemies. Instead, his sense of what was right and what was fair always allowed us to leave the table with a feeling of mutual respect. I could list all of his multiple accomplishments spanning 39.5 years in public education ‐ 3rd grade teacher, science supervisor, chief negotia‐ tor for both the KCEA and the School Board’s teams, founding force in the TAP program, col‐ lege professor, and on, and on and on ‐ but his most important accomplishment was that he always maintained his integrity. He cared about students, teachers and support personnel. He made a difference! If the measure of a man’s worth is gauged by how people react to his death, then Monty How‐ ell was a man among men. The number of peo‐ ple who braved the cold and stood in line for an hour or more just to say a few words of comfort to his family attest to the love and respect that Monty commanded. The Knox County School System has lost a valu‐ able employee. The students and educators of Knox County have lost a champion. Many of us have lost a true friend.