NCAE
NEWS BULLETIN September
2013
NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS
Volume 44, No. 2
NCAE Tells Lawmakers… “Get Your Facts Straight!” CHARLOTTE “Let me remind you: You [legislators] don’t have career status either. Teachers vote. They don’t forget.” Charles Smith, CMAE president.
GREENVILLE “Copy paper? Come on. That’s a typical need. The next thing they’re going to be asking for is toilet paper.” NCAE member Melissa Coxe
ASHEVILLE
NCAE President Rodney Ellis addresses the crowd.
“Get Your Facts Straight” was the rallying cry of NCAE members who participated in a series of statewide demonstrations sponsored by NCAE, Progress NC and Public Schools First NC. Hundreds showed up wearing red to debunk the General Assembly’s assertion that the budget they passed invests more in public education than ever before. “We can’t let lawmakers get away with deliberately misleading talking points designed to fool the public,” said NCAE President Rodney Ellis. “We need to set the record straight and hold them accountable for setting public schools on a path to destruction!” Rallies were held in Charlotte, Wilmington, Greensboro, WinstonSalem, Asheville, Greenville and Raleigh.
RALEIGH Sandi Shover, a seventh-grade teacher at West Lee Middle School, attended the rally with her four children. “I brought my children because they need to have a sense of empowerment. They need to know how things should work and know it’s important to fight for what you believe in.”
WINSTON-SALEM “If we felt like we were respected and got a little bit of compensation to not be on food stamps, we’d be ok, but we feel like we don’t have the respect of the Legislature and that is a disturbing thing.” Ann Petitjean, FCAE president.
GREENSBORO
WILMINGTON “It’s not about money. Nobody went into it [teaching] to be rich, but they can’t afford to keep working at this level of income.” Donna Sloan, member at Holly Shelter Middle School
Chris Tuft, a member at Archdale Elementary, said he’s had to consider other options for his career.
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News Bulletin
September 2013
NCAE Uses Courts to Speak Out for Public Education
NCAE’s Legal Team
As NCAE has been standing up for educators and public school students against harmful legislation by the General Assembly, it has also been advocating for public education, children and educators in the state’s appellate courts by recently filing amicus curiae briefs in several cases. While not a party to the lawsuit, filing an amicus brief provides the opportunity for NCAE to share with the court its unique position as the voice of educators on issues of critical concern to this state. The NCAE legal team will provide updates on the court decisions in these cases as they are announced. Hoke County Board of Education v. State of North Carolina (“Leandro III”) -- In the latest Leandro case pending before the North Carolina Supreme Court, NCAE filed a brief supporting the State Board of Education and arguing against the state establishing artificial barriers to at-risk children enrolling in pre-kindergarten. NCAE cited data that the number of children living in poverty in North Carolina has increased significantly, with even higher rates for children under age 5. NCAE argued that prekindergarten is most effectively taught in public schools, by licensed teachers, and with standards set by the State Board of Education. Providing prekindergarten to at-risk young children has become even more critical with K-3 public classrooms now having even less funding, including fewer resources and losing teachers and teacher assistants. NCAE argued that pre-kindergarten education for at riskchildren is part of the fundamental right to an education provided by the
North Carolina Constitution and that there September 10, 2013, before the Court of should be equal opportunities across the Appeals. state, as part of a general and uniform Tobe-Williams v. New Hanover system. County Board of Education -- Pending North Carolina State Board of before North Carolina Court of Appeals, Education v. North Carolina Learns, Inc. this case highlights the importance of due -- NCAE joined a coalition of social process requirement when a justice organizations to file a brief whistleblower has advocated for supporting the State Board of Education students but then faces adverse and its authority to review and approve employment actions. In this case, an charter school applications. Because of administrator spoke out with concerns the novel and complex issues relating to about the school to help advocate for the virtual charter school education, NCAE health and well-being of students. She and the other organizations argued that the was subsequently not given a new State Board of Education’s charter contract. In a brief to the NC Court of approval process is critical and should not Appeals due in September, NCAE have been interfered with by an intends to argue that a fair process in administrative law judge. A thorough front of the local board of education is review process was needed to consider the especially critical when important complex issues raised by virtual charter whistleblower issues are at stake. schools, including the quality of education, In addition to these four cases, the the effectiveness of the online program, NCAE legal team is investigating court the quality and delivery of instruction, and challenges to actions taken this year by the ability of an online school to serve all the General Assembly, including the needs of students. The North Carolina stripping career status from teachers and Court of Appeals held an oral argument in school administrators who already have this case on August 14, 2013. obtained the status. We also are deeply Joyner v. Perquimans County Board of concerned about the retreat by the state Education -- NCAE filed a brief in the of its obligations to meet constitutional North Carolina Court of Appeals obligations to our children and the supporting a teacher who was denied diversion of limited taxpayer resources career status by a local board of education from under-resourced schools to without due process. NCAE focused on vouchers for private schools. While we the board failing to provide the teacher hope to gain some relief in the proper notice, not providing a fair and courthouse, the best gains can be made at unbiased hearing, and making its decision the ballot box. Please make sure you, based on improper and biased reasons. your family, and your colleagues are all NCAE argued it is important to ensure that registered to vote and exercise your right local boards of education meet their to vote! Click here to read excerpts from obligations to protect qualified educators the briefs. from being dismissed for reasons that are arbitrary, capricious, discriminatory, personal, or political. Further, Message From the President NCAE argued that a local board must maintain is proper adjudicatory role The public education arena is suffering right now, but NCAE President Rodney Ellis wants in the hearing process to you to know that NCAE is here to support avoid a biased process and you and help guide you in advocating for depriving educators of yourselves and your students. The voice of the their right to a fair Association is strong and remains strong, hearing. An oral despite what lawmakers are trying to do. Click here to read more of his message. argument will be held on
News Bulletin
September 2013
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Warning … Education Demonstration in Progress! After hearing about the devastating budget cuts to public education handed down by the General Assembly, Angie Scioli decided to stop grading papers in the wee hours of the morning, to stop meeting with students during her lunch break, and to end the cycle of taking work home after school. For two days she thought about going cold turkey with all of the extra duties she does as an educator, and then, she had an epiphany. A teacher at Leesville Road High School in NCAE members Scioli, second from left, Matthew Caggia, Cassie Blackwelder Raleigh, Scioli decided to take a different stance by and Heather Dinkenor spearhead Red 4 Ed NC. becoming a “professional protester.” She and a group of her colleagues formed “Red 4 Ed NC” to education, I felt sick. Cuts to the pre-K program, cuts to teacher keep the momentum to save public education going while assistants, elimination of the Teaching Fellows program, keeping the public informed. Launched a few weeks ago, the another year without a raise, cuts to supplies, textbooks…the non-profit group sells specialty red t-shirts in support of the more I learned the sicker I became. And then I wept. And finally, profession; orders have been brisk and are coming in from across the state and the country. The group also has a Web site, an anger began to grow inside of me. I felt foolish. What kind of idiot works tirelessly for 20 years, stressing out each day to and a following on Facebook and Twitter. make every lesson the best it can be, worrying about scores of Housed on the Web site’s landing page is a powerful letter kids, when what I do is not valued by the people in power?” penned by Scioli about the challenges faced by public school Scioli said she and Red 4 Ed NC members are asking parents, educators in which she wrote: “The last six years have been a students and members of the community to wear red each challenge, largely because, while curriculum and standards Wednesday to show support for public education and to increase and assessments have been changing, salaries have been the awareness of and interest in issues facing the profession. To stagnant and class sizes have risen. It felt like we were failing read her letter in its entirety or to learn more about Red 4 Ed to build on the promising foundation that had led many teachers from other states to transfer here to teach. But, when I NC, click here. learned what laws had been passed this summer related to
Questions and Answers About the 5 Bonus Days As part of the 2013 budget passed by the General Assembly, educators were granted five (5) bonus leave days. These days apply to any K-12 full-time, permanent staff employed or under contract as of July 1, 2013, who is eligible to earn annual leave. Part-time permanent employees will receive a pro-rata amount of the five days. The leave shall be accounted for separately from previously earned bonus annual leave and must be used by June 30, 2014. Any of the five days not used will expire on this date. The Department of Public Instruction has created a fact sheet that answers questions on various issues relating to the usage, eligibility, payout, etc. of the five days. Below are a few of those questions. Click here to see all of the questions related to the special annual leave bonus days. 1. Who is eligible? • Any person who is eligible to earn annual leave, AND • Who was a permanent employee of the LEA on July 1, 2013, OR • Who was under contract to be employed for the 2013-14 school year on July 1, 2013 2. Our non-certified personnel do not have contracts. How do we determine if they are eligible? If a written job offer has been made
to an employee and the employee has accepted prior to July 1, 2013, the employee is eligible for the leave. 3. I have employees that are in two part-time positions. How much do they receive? They receive the same percentage as they receive for annual leave. 5. If a teacher works in LEA #1 for the entire 2012-13 school year (ending June 12), then becomes an employee with LEA #2 for
the entire 2013-14 school year (beginning August 17), does he/she earn the leave? If the teacher terminated from LEA #1 and received a payout for his/her leave, etc. and was not under contract on July 1 for LEA #2, the employee is not eligible for the bonus leave.
6. If an employee is out on short-term disability on July 1, 2013, are they eligible for the five days of bonus leave? The employee is eligible for the five days of bonus leave when they return to work. However, the annual leave bonus cannot be received or used after June 30, 2014.
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NCAE
News Bulletin
September 2013
Meet the Newest Members of the NCAE Board Nine new board members began their terms effective July 1. Let’s welcome:
Carla Fassbender, Cluster 2 director, Iredell County – An instructional facilitator at Lakeshore Middle School, Fassbender began her career in education in 2004, although she says she has been an educator for as long as she can remember. “As a child, I wanted to play ‘school’ rather than ‘house,’ and I cannot recall a time in my life that I did not value education and helping others learn.” Fassbender has been a member of NCAE for seven years and is excited to be able to serve on the Board. In coming years, she hopes to see a shift in members taking a more active role in advocacy for the profession, and also hopes to see membership numbers increase in every local across the state.
Ronda Gordon, president of the Student Services Division, Forsyth County – When asked what her vision for the Association is, Gordon said “I want us to be the leaders in the area of education and be recognized as experts in the field when it comes to the needs and expectations of our students and ourselves.” She also added that she wants to see NCAE grow in numbers and members become more involved and engaged. A school social worker who serves various schools throughout the county, Gordon has been an educator for 13 years and a member for nine. “I became an educator in order to help make a difference with students and their families. My goal is to help them empower themselves and overcome obstacles that hinder student success.” Monica Graham, District 5-B director, Robeson County – Teaching, Graham said, is in her blood. She never thought of doing anything else. Both her mother and grandmother were teachers, and when she was a little girl, she played school with her stuffed animals, and of course, she played the role of teacher. An educator for 20 years, Graham is the assistant principal of Red Springs Middle School. Although she enjoys being an administrator, she misses the joys of the classroom. “It’s the best job in the world. Being an educator is better than anything you can get for Christmas!” Graham has been a member of NCAE for 19 years and her vision for the Association moving forward is that “NCAE continues to be ‘our’ organization and that we do what’s right for public education in both rural and urban areas.” Amy Harrison, District 4-B director, Guilford County – A special education teacher at Reedy Fork Elementary School in Greensboro, Harrison teaches third-, fourth- and fifth-graders with special needs. She chose the area of special education because she worked at a day camp for intellectually disabled children while in high school and college and loved it! “I became an educator because I felt like I could make a difference for children. I had many wonderful educators during my school career and wanted to be just like them.” Harrison, now in her 13th year of teaching, joined NCAE as a student. She says her vision for NCAE is that it becomes a stronger voice for the public school students and employees in North Carolina. Jaalil Hart, SNCAE president – “I decided to become an educator because of the difference and impact that I have the potential to make on a daily basis,” says Hart, a senior at NC A&T State University in Greensboro. “Both my mother and grandmother are teachers. They love what they do and the way their students respond to them is mind blowing! It’s amazing to touch so many lives while doing something that you love.” A member of SNCAE since his freshman year, Hart wants to teach English/Language Arts. “Reading is the most fundamental skill that one needs to be successful in life and I want to make certain that students are given that opportunity.” As president, Hart’s goals are to increase membership, restore inactive chapters, and enhance networking opportunities for student members.
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September 2013
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New NCAE Board Members (Continued from page 4)
Julio Morales, District 7-B director, Hyde County – Morales said he joined NCAE in 2004 when he began teaching in North Carolina. He credits his mother for his drive to become an educator. “She was a high school science teacher and later became a principal, a capacity in which she still serves. I loved watching her teach and the positive effect she has had on her students.” A World Languages-Spanish teacher at Mattamuskeet Early College High School, who also serves pre-K through 12th grade English Language Learners, Morales is excited for the opportunity to serve the Association. “We [NCAE] have proven time and time again that we always rise to the challenge despite the obstacles. I am very honored to be part of this organization in these trying times!” Lashaundon Perkins, District 8-B director, Wayne County – “Do the best that you can in whatever you are trying to do and never give up. Success is not by chance, it’s by choice,” is the motto that Perkins says she lives by and tries to instill in her students. She is a program specialist at Edgewood Community Development School and has been an educator for 10 years. “I became an educator because I wanted to give back to the community by making a difference in the lives of others. I wanted my students to know that ALL things are possible no matter their circumstances.” Perkins has been a member of NCAE for nine years. She says her vision for the Association is “for us to plan the work and work the plan, UNITED!” Michael Putney, Ed.D., president of the Principals/Administrators Division, Vance County – For 15 years, Putney has been the principal of Dabney Elementary School, and his membership in the Association spans more than 30 years. Education, he says, is the great equalizer because it affords everyone a chance at being successful in life. He considers himself a life-long learner and is proud to be a member of an organization that supports effective and learning. “As president of the Principals/ Administrators Division, I feel it is essential that we present one inclusive front, representing all members, as we strive to make public education the best value afforded to our students. We must make public schools a place where all educators can teach and students can learn.” Rhonda Riggins, Cluster 6 director, Wake County – A pre-K Title 1 teacher at Turner Creek Elementary, Riggins said she became a teacher because she wanted to make a difference in the world. “I enjoy teaching pre-K because I get to make a difference every day. My students are eager to learn and are always ready for new adventures.” Riggins, who has been a member for 22 years, is a building rep at her school and currently serves on the Wake NCAE Executive Board. Being on the Board has given her the opportunity to serve on numerous committees and gain insight and knowledge about education issues and trends across the state. “Our world is changing and so must NCAE. I believe that the work we do is crucial to the continued success of public education in North Carolina.”
Winning Communications Produce Awards for NCAE NCAE is once again a winner, garnering three first-place awards and one award of distinction at the 2013 State Education Editors Conference (SEE) in Atlanta, GA. The SEE Conference is held annually for state affiliate communications staff. There are several categories in which members can submit their work for the SEE Awards Program. States are divided into four groups, which is based on membership enrollment. North Carolina belongs to group 3 (membership of 32,001 – 75,000) and competes with states such as Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, Wisconsin and Texas. The Association received first-place awards for Best Use of Social Media, Best Web site/Blog, and Best Newsletter (NCAE News Bulletin). An Award of Distinction was also presented for Best Editorial, for the article “Critical Conversations: A First Step in Education Success,” published in the December 2012 News Bulletin.
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NCAE
News Bulletin
September 2013
Gleanings From a Master Organizer Over the summer, state and local NCAE leaders, along with staff, traveled to Kentucky to participate in the Mid-Atlantic Organizing Institute. During our six days there, we learned a few strategies that I believe if followed would make us a stronger Association. There are four habits to organizing that every organization needs: • Relating or Relationships are keys to success. Real conversations must take place among members and potential members. Respect each other’s differences and find common ground if the cause is public education. When one really listens to a person, they are engaged in the conversation and learn much from that individual. • Action is something you ask of others as well as yourself. Create a plan that will help your group remain focused on the issue at hand. Remember when you are talking with others, end with an action request.You might experience tension with the other person, but the more you ask the more you will receive. • Organization(s) are more than buildings, the staff who work inside the building, and the members who are aligned to the cause. Organizations are changing and there is tension among those who are making changes to keep up with the times. Organizations need more than letterhead; they now need Web sites or Facebook pages to help draw folks into the organization. For most any organization to survive today there is going to have to be disorganization of the past or the status quo and a reorganization to meet the needs of its members. NCAE has been undergoing reorganization over the past few years. The focus has been to move beyond solely a culture of service to one of mobilizing members and empowering members via organizing around issues relevant to them. We learned from the 2012 EFT Campaign that we need to listen and empower members more. Locals too, can learn by
Online Learning for Your Life Looking for the best in online professional development, continuing education and degree programs? Turn to the NEA Academy for programs that fit your budget, schedule and lifestyle. Click here to learn more.
changing how they conduct business. That is why NCAE created new AR trainings that will span the entire year and not be just a one-shot deal in late July or early August. If you have not yet participated in the new AR Academy sessions, contact your regional UniServ director. • Reflection is an obvious component, yet one that we often don’t spend enough time on in our work. We must be deliberate in what we do and how we use our time and resources. The trainer, Michael Gecan, told us that we really need to think outside the box and imagine the impossible and change what is not working. Just like a good teacher who reflects every day on what worked and what didn’t, we must reflect or evaluate our membership plans and strategies and revamp to meet the needs of current and future members. We also learned that within every organization there are three types of cultures. The most dominate is a culture of service; one where essential items are provided as needed. The most powerful cultures within organizations are those of mobilizing and organizing. NCAE continues to move toward the organizing realm and to that end, NCAE and NEA are working together to host an organizing seminar for several locals within the next two years to help build capacity and grow membership. The leaders in these locals are to share what lessons they learn with their members as well as other locals in their region. One method of sharing will be by participating in the NCAE/SNCAE Regional Professional Learning Days. The NCAE Team left the meeting exhausted but excited. Our hard work to make necessary changes to move toward a more organizing culture was validated by the planning work connected to our Long-Term Project locals and the AR Academy sessions. We know that if, Together We Take the Lead and Meet the Challenge, we will succeed. Angela Farthing, director NCAE Programs
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News Bulletin
NCAE
September 2013
Principals/Administrators Division: A Catalyst for Change As president of the NCAE Division of Principals and Administrators, I am looking forward to serving the division members as well as members at large. It is important that all Association members unite and come together in order to continue to make public education the best bargain for North Carolina’s children. NCAE must be the voice for its members. We must make sure that working conditions and benefits are attractive enough to draw the best and brightest into the schools. While we collectively Michael Putney, president, unite and fight for rights and Principals/Administrators privileges of all members, we Division cannot allow the public to believe that we are supporters of complacency or mediocrity. Upon the cusp of branding a new and improved NCAE, I am looking forward to being a catalyst for change. The North Carolina Association of Educators cannot be about business as usual because the political climate surrounding public education will never allow it to be the same. I am looking forward to working with the NCAE leadership, Board of Directors, NCAE members and non-members in making this association one that is effective, efficient and viable.
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How Will Home Base Affect Me? Home Base is specific to each school district. Once a teacher or administrator logs in, the full suite of tools becomes available. This includes the student information system (called PowerTeacher, which will replace NCWISE), the instructional improvement system (called SchoolNet), and the educator evaluation system (known as TrueNorth Logic, which replaces MxWeb). You can also connect to PowerTeacher in the App Store from Apple! This does NOT mean that you will no longer be keeping track of student data. The information once found in NCWISE will have already been migrated to PowerTeacher. Likewise, this does NOT mean that you will no longer be using the NC Educator Evaluation System, designed by McREL. (Remember, McREL is not the instrument itself, but the research entity which helped design it, and which ran the platform upon which the online system ran, called MxWeb.) TrueNorth Logic is a new (and truly improved) online platform upon which the NC Educator Evaluation System (for teachers and administrators) will be run. These new platforms are better designed for easy use by you, the educators in North Carolina’s schools. For more information about Home Base, how the different components interconnect, and additional resources, please visit www.ncpublicschools.org/homebase. Here, you can find resource samples, a full layout of the pathways in which SchoolNet can be used to be highly beneficial to your classroom, short training videos, as well as training schedules and a directory of DPI staff available to support you as you move to full implementation of Home Base in your classroom.
Dates to Remember September 2013
Did You Know... • If you get master’s degree pay during the 2013-14 school year, you will continue to get MA pay. • The School Improvement Team must follow the same rules as any public meeting. • School counselors, psychologists and social workers are now required to spend at least 80 percent of their work time providing direct services to students. • The NCAE Legal Conference is scheduled for Saturday, November 16. Special Guests – A Must-Attend Event! Reserve the date.
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N E W S
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Common Exams/Verification Process Webinar Hosted by NCAE/DPI. Register here. 21st Regional Professional Learning Day, NC A&T State University, Greensboro 22nd First Day of Autumn Tickets Go on Sale for the 2014 MLK Scholarship Gala October 2013 8th 15th 19th
Columbus Day Multicultural Diversity Day Regional Professional Learning Day, Chowan University, Murfreesboro, NC National Bullying Prevention Month
B U L L E T I N
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Positions stated in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official position of NCAE unless so identified. The NCAE News Bulletin, a journal of the Association, is published by the North Carolina Association of Educators, 700 S.Salisbury St., Post Office Box Box 27347, Raleigh, NC 27611, 1-800-662-7924. Linda Powell-Jones, Editor/Designer
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