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Published by the TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION August 2015 Vol. 47, No. 1 www.teateachers.org
State passes 4%, yet average raise may be less than 2%
Less pressure from state generates less local dollars, conferencing locals fairing better
to local flexibility with regard to state education funding is once again proving that what is said in Nashville rarely becomes reality back home, especially when it comes to a teacher’s paycheck.
After months of hearing from the governor, legislators, and the media about how they can expect an extra 4 percent raise in their pay, countless teachers across the state are bracing for another letdown. It seems that the administration’s commitment
SALARIES go to page 3
Insurance costs remain stable, TEA fights increases to educators For most teachers operating within constrained family budgets, there wasn’t really a decision to make. A look at the state’s open enrollment figures bears this out. There was more than a 20 percent drop from 2014 to 2015 in enrollments in the plan with the lowest out-ofpocket
costs, while at the same time seeing a 450 percent increase in enrollment in the Limited plan with much higher out-of-pocket costs. So why would school boards change their contributions so dramatically, causing
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Last fall, thousands of teachers across the state were faced with an unexpected and difficult decision: stay on the insurance plan they had selected as best meeting their needs and pay huge increases in their share of the premium, or enroll in a less expensive plan with higher out-ofpocket costs.
Unneeded cuts! With costs remaining flat, there is no reason to cut employer contribution to insurance.
INSURANCE go to page 12
TEA leads fight against TVAAS Discrediting – and ultimately eliminating – any use of TVAAS estimates continues to be one of TEA’s top priorities. Together, we got legislation passed to prohibit the use of TVAAS in teacher licensure decisions; we put enough pressure on the administration to get the weight of TVAAS in teacher evaluations reduced significantly for teachers in non-tested subjects; a TEA-backed proposal made it illegal for observation scores be correlated to a teacher’s TVAAS estimate; and TEA filed TVAAS UPDATE go to page 4
Rules protecting students with special ed vouchers being developed Back in February when it was first proposed in the General Assembly, the Individualized Education Act could have wreaked havoc on special education across the state. It would have provided cash money to families of students with IEP, so long as they withdrew their child from public school. It was a recipe for funding homeschooling. It was a path to rampant fraud as seen in Florida. It incentivized bad behavior and would put thousands of special needs students in academic and SPECIAL ED go to page 10
Speakingout outwith withyou you Speaking Barbara Gray, President Barbara Gray, President
Carolyn Crowder, Executive Director Carolyn Crowder, Executive Director
Everyonemust mustask, ask,engage, engage,and andlead lead Everyone
Weare areTEA! TEA!Here’s Here’stotothe thenext next150 150years! years! We
If you have attended a TEA event in the year, have undoubtedly heard If you have attended a TEA event in the pastpast year, youyou have undoubtedly heard about the association’s shift to “a culture of organizing.” Change is never easy, about the association’s shift to “a culture of organizing.” Change is never easy, period of change at TEA been inspiring to be a part I have butbut thisthis period of change at TEA hashas been inspiring to be a part of. Iof. have thethe privilege of being on the front lines to witness the transition from “What is TEA privilege of being on the front lines to witness the transition from “What is TEA going to do about this?” to “What can we do TOGETHER?” going to do about this?” to “What can we do TOGETHER?” is no longer a building in Nashville. is the collective body voice TEATEA is no longer justjust a building in Nashville. TEATEA is the collective body andand voice of tens of thousands of like-minded educators all across of tens of thousands of like-minded educators all across state – the largest strongest voice public thethe state – the largest andand strongest voice for for public education in Tennessee. education in Tennessee. In the spirit of this culture at TEA, I issued a challenge In the spirit of this newnew culture at TEA, I issued a challenge to all delegates at the TEA Representative Assembly to all delegates at the TEA Representative Assembly in in I want to extend same challenge to you now. MayMay andand I want to extend thethe same challenge to you now. lifeblood of this association. YouYou areare thethe lifeblood of this association. YouYou areare its its voice, its strength and its power. You are the protectors voice, its strength and its power. You are the protectors of Tennessee children. reason been of Tennessee children. YouYou areare thethe reason TEATEA hashas been around for 150 years. You are the reason TEA will be around for 150 years. You are the reason TEA will be around another years – and then another after that. around for for another 150150 years – and then another 150150 after that.
2015-2016 marks 150th anniversary of the Tennessee Education Association! 2015-2016 marks thethe 150th anniversary of the Tennessee Education Association! a century-and-a-half, been at the forefront of every major advancement ForFor a century-and-a-half, TEATEA hashas been at the forefront of every major advancement for for Tennessee public schools because members know what’s best students, schools, Tennessee public schools because members know what’s best for for students, schools, andand profession. ourour profession.
So much of what value as educators today came being because generations So much of what we we value as educators today came intointo being because generations of of educators joined together in the association. educators joined together in the association. Now is our time to step ready to take back Now it isitour time to step up.up. AreAre youyou ready to take back ourour profession from those who want to turn our schools into testing profession from those who want to turn our schools into testing factories? Are you ready to take the fight to the privatizers who factories? Are you ready to take the fight to the privatizers who want to take funding away from schools? want to take funding away from schools? Together to of allthe of the special interests attack public Together we we cancan saysay to all special interests thatthat attack public education, “We’re coming for you and we won’t stop until we education, “We’re coming for you and we won’t stop until we putput of business!” ready to become next group youyou outout of business!” AreAre youyou ready to become thethe next group of of TEA leaders to change our world? TEA leaders to change our world? Together defeated vouchers, stopped teaching licenses Together we we defeated vouchers, stopped ourour teaching licenses from being based on TVAAS scores, protected retiree insurance, from being based on TVAAS scores, protected retiree insurance, and pushed for more state money salaries insurance. and pushed for more state money for for salaries andand insurance. No No oneone elseelse cancan do do thisthis —— Those have come before us have fought a good fight. Now is up to to us to Those thatthat have come before us have fought a good fight. Now it isitup to us no one else will do this. To keep the victories flowing, every one of us needs to be active no one else will do this. To keep the victories flowing, every one of us needs to be active carry it forward. must continue fight great grandchildren carry it forward. WeWe must continue thethe fight andand givegive ourour great grandchildren in our association! in our association! a reason to stand stage in 150 years “Wow. Look at what they a reason to stand on on thisthis stage in 150 years andand say,say, “Wow. Look at what they reason there a Tennessee Education Association today is because founders accomplished.” TheThe reason there is aisTennessee Education Association today is because ourour founders accomplished.” decided the conditions faced by educators 150 years ago were not the best, decided the conditions faced by educators 150 years ago were not the best, andand it it So what is my challenge to you us another years? So what is my challenge to you thatthat willwill getget us another 150150 years? would take a collective group to make the necessary changes. Back then, teaching would take a collective group to make the necessary changes. Back then, teaching must – ENGAGE – LEAD! contracts required teachers to wear a corset often stated being married WeWe must ASKASK – ENGAGE – LEAD! contracts required teachers to wear a corset andand often stated thatthat being married or or being shaved in a barber shop were considered “unseemly conduct”. must all educators to join Association. must parents being shaved in a barber shop were considered “unseemly conduct”. WeWe must askask all educators to join thethe Association. WeWe must askask thethe parents and community to join in our fight. We must ask legislators to fully fund public Working conditions educators quality of education students have come and community to join in our fight. We must ask legislators to fully fund public Working conditions for for educators andand thethe quality of education for for students have come a a schools and give teachers the raise they deserve. long way since TEA was founded. Our predecessors changed their — and our — world, schools and give teachers the raise they deserve. long way since TEA was founded. Our predecessors changed their — and our — world, these changes didn’t come easily. even more important, at critical times during After we ASK, we must ENGAGE! butbut these changes didn’t come easily. AndAnd even more important, at critical times during After we ASK, we must ENGAGE! our history, TEA leaders looked internally at our organization to determine if we needed our history, TEA leaders looked internally at our organization to determine if we needed must engage veteran members to be a visible, vocal advocate WeWe must engage newnew andand veteran members to be a visible, vocal advocate for for to change in order to be at our best to meet challenges before to change in order to be at our best to meet thethe challenges before us. us. students, schools profession. must engage nay-sayers ourour students, ourour schools andand ourour profession. WeWe must engage thethe nay-sayers such example when merged with Tennessee Education Congress, to join in the fight public education. must engage in politics policy OneOne such example waswas when TEATEA merged with thethe Tennessee Education Congress, thethe to join in the fight for for public education. WeWe must engage in politics andand policy black teachers’ association, in 1967. We couldn’t fight against so-called separate but making by voting for public education. We are the experts when it comes to black teachers’ association, in 1967. We couldn’t fight against so-called separate but making by voting for public education. We are the experts when it comes to equal education environments until organized to work together as one. public education in Tennessee. As the experts, is our responsibility to engage equal education environments until we we organized to work together as one. public education in Tennessee. As the experts, it isitour responsibility to engage with policy makers. With so many challenges before us today, must once again look internally to realize with policy makers. With so many challenges before us today, we we must once again look internally to realize that educators will join us only if we ask them to. Members become powerful when After we ASK and ENGAGE, we must LEAD! that educators will join us only if we ask them to. Members become powerful when After we ASK and ENGAGE, we must LEAD! we engage them. We defeat the powerful special interests when we take the lead we engage them. We defeat the powerful special interests when we take the lead in in must by example as we prepare newer members leadership WeWe must leadlead by example as we prepare newer members for for leadership education at the state and local level. education at the state and local level. roles. must fight to protect public education from private school roles. WeWe must leadlead thethe fight to protect public education from private school Engage! Lead! These three things all need to do a strong association. vouchers, charter schools, and so-called reformers. We must be the leaders Ask!Ask! Engage! Lead! These areare thethe three things we we all need to do for for a strong association. vouchers, charter schools, and so-called reformers. We must be the leaders in in the classroom that our students deserve! the classroom that our students deserve! There is much to be proud ofmore in more than years of standing schools. Now There is much to be proud of in than 150150 years of standing up up for for schools. Now it isit is our turn to keep the promise of Tennessee’s great public schools. So TEA, what are we going to do? ASK – ENGAGE LEAD! our turn to keep the promise of Tennessee’s great public schools. So TEA, what are we going to do? ASK – ENGAGE - LEAD!
teach (USPS 742-450, ISSN 15382907) is published in August, October, Jan/Feb, and March/April by the Tennessee Education Association, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville TN 37201-1099. Periodical postage paid at Nashville, TN. The subscription price of $3.65 is allocated from annual membership dues of $258.00 for active members; $129.00 for associate, education support and staff members; $16.00 for retired members; and $10.00 for student members. Member of State Education Editors (SEE). Postmaster: Send address changes to teach, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201-1099. MANAGING EDITOR: Alexei Smirnov asmirnov@tea.nea.org ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Jim Wrye EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER: Carolyn Crowder
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Barbara Gray* (800)342-8367 VICE PRESIDENT: Beth Brown* (931)779-8016 SECRETARY-TREASURER: Carolyn Crowder (615)242-8392 DISTRICT 1 Joe Crabtree (423)794-9357 DISTRICT 2 Michele Bowman (865)679-6523 DISTRICT 3 Michael Carvella (865)212-9774 DISTRICT 4 Anthony Hancock (865)293-9232 DISTRICT 5 Shawanda Perkins (423)385-9569 DISTRICT 6 Jennifer Eilender (931)704-2487
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DISTRICT 7 Emily Mitchell (615)904-2314 DISTRICT 8 Kevin King (615)504-0425 DISTRICT 9 Stephen Henry (615)519-5691 DISTRICT 10 Becky Jackman (931)551-8949 DISTRICT 11 Brandi Adams (731)439-3476 DISTRICT 12 Janis Carroll (731)431-2387 DISTRICT 13 Trish Stephenson (901)757-9080 DISTRICT 14 Tiffany Reed (901)412-2759 DISTRICT 15 Rosemary Winters (901)846-0389 ADMINISTRATOR EAST Jessica Holman (865)689-1450 ADMINISTRATOR MIDDLE Margaret Thompson (615)643-7837 ADMINISTRATOR WEST Dennis Kimbrough (901)494.0105 HIGHER EDUCATION Josephine McQuail (931)520-0449 BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER EAST Pam Thompson (615)948.7378 BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER MIDDLE Kawanda Braxton
(615)554-6286 BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER WEST Sarah Kennedy-Harper (901)416-4582 STATE SPECIAL SCHOOLS Debi Ponder (615)969-4362 NEW TEACHER Carrie Allison (812)205-7689 ESP Stephanie Bea (901)265-4540 TN NEA DIRECTOR Melanie Buchanan (615)305-2214 TN NEA DIRECTOR Diccie Smith (901)482-0627 STEA MEMBER Raymond Boyd (615)750-2355 TN RETIRED Linda McCrary (615)888-7026 * Executive Committee AT LARGE RETIRED DIRECTOR ON NEA BOARD JoAnn Smith (423)283-9037
TEA HEADQUARTERS STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Carolyn Crowder; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS: Terrance Gibson; Steve McCloud; Jim Wrye; TECHNOLOGY & BUILDING OPERATIONS MANAGER:
Galen Riggs; COMPTROLLER: David Shipley; UNISERV FIELD MANAGER: Karla Carpenter, Leigh Phillips; STAFF ATTORNEYS: John Allen, Virginia A. McCoy; GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COORDINATOR: Drew Sutton; WEB MASTER & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Amanda Chaney; MANAGING EDITOR & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Alexei Smirnov; INSTRUCTIONAL ADVOCACY & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS: Rhonda Thompson; William O’Donnell; COORDINATOR OF ORGANIZING SUPPORT & AFFILIATE RELATIONS: Shannon Bain; ADVOCACY HOTLINE COORDINATORS: Forestine Cole, Gera Summerford & Cynthia Wood.
How much of the 4% raise will teachers see? from page 1
Teachers across the state were elated when the governor announced during his State of the State speech that he was committing nearly $100 million for teacher pay raises into his budget. TEA had spent the previous several months calling on the governor to make good on his pledge to make Tennessee teacher pay the fastest growing in the nation, and it appeared the move was paying off. Observers of state politics had mocked the request for a 6 percent raise as unrealistic, that teachers would be lucky to get 2 percent. But TEA persisted, knowing that teachers were suffering after two consecutive years of stagnant pay, and that a bold stance was necessary to fulfill the pledge made to the educators of the state. After the speech, lawmakers across the political spectrum spent the legislative session beaming about passing the largest raise for Tennessee teachers in a decade. But there were some legislators who were asking tough questions to the Department of Education: how will we know the money goes to the paychecks of the teachers? What
guarantees do legislators have that the money will be spent as intended? The answer they received was somewhat vague. Department officials assured legislators that every penny of the raise money had to be spent on teacher compensation, but demurred when asked to specify what that may look like. The department’s legislative liaison made clear that the goal was to maximize local control over how the money was spent. Compensation was loosely defined as anything related to teacher pay, including employer contribution toward insurance premiums, differentiated pay, one-time bonuses, and even hiring additional staff. The only stipulation was that it all had to be spent on teacher compensation in the way districts saw fit. The same statements were made to the State Board of Education, who last month voted to increase the state minimum salary schedule (SMSS) by 2 percent, or half the amount provided for in the budget. This would have the effect of giving a 2 percent raise to any teachers in any county whose salary schedule is at the state minimum. This increase is projected to create mandatory raises for some teachers in only 27 school systems.
Gov. Haslam worked to include an additional $97.6 million in the state budget for teacher pay. Yet it may be the policies of his administration on minimum salary that will lessen the impact of that pay increase.
To make matters worse, local school systems are receiving a different message: spend the money on whatever you like. According to training provided to district officials in a local fiscal workshop in the spring, the money doesn’t even have to be spent on teachers, but can be used for compensation for any employees. What’s more, only a “majority” of the money
must be spent on teacher compensation, implying the rest could be used for any other purpose. This information is completely contrary to what was reported to the legislature and the state board, and gives some sort of explanation why teachers throughout the state are being told they will be receiving far less than 4 percent, if anything at all. The information provided in the local fiscal workshop stood in stark contrast to what was told to legislators and to the state board. It is also contradicted by documents produced by the state each year for the Basic Education Program, the state’s school funding formula. The net effect of this obsession with maximizing local control is being felt in Tennessee teachers’ paychecks and, ultimately, in her retirement. This infusion of nearly $100 million in recurring money will certainly result in far less than a 4 percent raise for the average teacher in the state. While some systems will do the right thing, many will use this money for other purposes, and will only grow the gap between high and low paying districts. Some locals associations have challenged their school boards over their proposed use of the teacher raise money. Members from all over the state are arming themselves with the facts, packing their school board meetings, and even lobbying their county commissions for matching funds to attract and retain the best teachers. Two things are clear: the money must be spent on teachers, and it must be used for compensation. Will you stand with your fellow members and make sure that when the state says a raise is coming, it gets to your paycheck?
Why many raises are less than 4% Local dollars did not materialize
State schedule went up only 2%
The state provides approximately 60% of the funds to pay teacher salaries. That means if there are not matching dollars from a county or city budget, then it is impossible to get a 4% raise. Most places where local dollars did not materialize will see a 2% raise. Some school systems that saw state funds drop used state raise monies to save teaching positions. Other school systems that needed to hire additional teachers used raise money. Both are allowed by law.
In June, the State Board of Education only raised the State Minimum Salary Schedule by 2 percent. This reduced the state leverage on gaining more local dollars from systems at or near the minimum.
Misinterpretation of state law A few school systems believe they can use BEP “instructional component” (i.e. teacher salary) for “other purposes.” This is wrong and TEA is working to correct this.
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Fight against TVAAS in evaluation continues, lawsuits pending from page 1
three TVAAS lawsuits – so far. TEA filed its first TVAAS lawsuit in early 2014 on behalf of Knox County teacher Lisa Trout who was unfairly denied the district’s APEX bonus after being misled about how her TVAAS estimate would be calculated. The lawsuit also contests the arbitrariness of TVAAS estimates that use test results of only a small segment of a teacher’s students to estimate her overall effectiveness. “After being told she would receive the systemwide TVAAS estimate because of her position in an alternative school, a guidance counselor incorrectly claimed 10 of Ms. Trout’s students for her TVAAS score without her knowledge,” said Richard Colbert, TEA general counsel. “As a result, Ms. Trout ultimately received a lower TVAAS estimate than she should have and was denied the APEX bonus she had earned. Ms. Trout’s situation illustrates the fundamental problem with using statistical estimates for high-stakes decisions that affect teacher pay,” Colbert said. TEA’s second lawsuit was filed on behalf of Knox County teacher Mark Taylor, an eighth grade science teacher at Farragut Middle School. Taylor was unfairly denied an APEX bonus after his TVAAS estimate was based on the standardized test scores of only 22 of his 142 students. “Mr. Taylor teaches four upper-level physical science courses and one regular eighth grade science class,” said Colbert. “The students in the upper-level course take a locally developed end-of-course test in place of the state’s TCAP assessment. As a result, those highperforming students were not included in Mr. Taylor’s TVAAS estimate.” Unfortunately, these situations are not uncommon
Stop the testing madness! By Marlowe Brant In late January 2015, I received an email from an administrator that read, “We are about to embark on a month long testing excursion!” Yes, complete with a smiley face. As many of you know, we have a state-mandated standardized writing assessment called the MIST that students must take online. We do not have enough technology resources in the building for all students to take this test on the same day, so each grade level is assigned a separate week to administer the test. All students take this test unless they are English language learners who have been in the country for less than a calendar year.
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ones. Many teachers across the state – particularly at the high school level – are being unfairly evaluated based on inaccurate TVAAS estimates. TEA expects additional lawsuits to be filed so long as the state continues to tie more and more high-stakes decisions to TVAAS estimates. The third lawsuit filed by TEA challenges the constitutionality of the state’s use of TVAAS estimates in teacher evaluations. More than half of the public school teachers in Tennessee receive evaluations that are based substantially on standardized test scores of students in subjects they do not teach. The lawsuit seeks relief for those teachers from the arbitrary and irrational practice of measuring their effectiveness with statistical estimates based on standardized test scores from students they do not teach and may have never met.
purposes.” The fight against TVAAS and the over-use of standardized testing is a long way from over. It is important for all educators to talk with parents, community members and elected officials about the damage the state’s over-reliance on test scores is doing to our students and our teachers.
These lawsuits are just one part of TEA’s fight against the use of TVAAS in any high-stakes decisions for Tennessee educators. The association’s other two lawsuits are still currently pending on behalf of individual educators harmed by the state’s improper use of TVAAS estimates. “TEA has been pushing back against the inappropriate use of standardized test scores in teacher evaluation since the new system was first implemented in 2011,” said Barbara Gray, TEA president. “We must stand together now more than ever to ensure that teacher evaluation systems function effectively to identify both teachers who are performing well and those who need assistance to improve. The imprecise and volatile statistical estimates in TVAAS do not serve these
While some students only have to take one test in February, others are not so fortunate. English language learners are assessed on their knowledge of English language this month as well, and the test they must be given, which is called the ACCESS, cannot be completed in a single session. These students are assessed on listening, writing, and reading abilities on one day and their speaking abilities are tested on another day. So English language learners take a total of five standardized assessments (I am considering each section of the ACCESS its own standardized assessment because those sections assess different skills) in February. Let’s break these tests down into the amount of time they take up in an instructional day. Students taking the MIST are typically given two hours to complete it. ELLs are given time and a half as an accommodation, so they are given three hours
August 2015 Special Membership Edition * THE ORGANIZING ISSUE
(with a 15-minute break between sections one and two of the test). The listening, reading, and writing sections of the ACCESS are all given in a single morning. The listening and reading portions take roughly an hour and a half. The students are allowed a 10-minute stretch break before being assessed on writing for another hour and a half. The speaking part of the ACCESS depends on each individual student, but
Without relief, it’s time for our own solutions to test-and-punish The end of a school year always brings a sense of déjà vu for educators. There are all of the end-of-year activities, saying good-bye to another group of students and closing down your classroom for the summer. Unfortunately, dealing with confusion and unanswered questions about TCAP scores has become a part of that list of familiar end-of-year occurrences. For the second straight year, educators, parents and students started summer break with a sense of chaos and uncertainty surrounding student performance on the state TCAP assessment. The state changed the method it uses to calculate the TCAP scores used in students’ final report cards without any communication to educators or parents about the change. The new formula resulted in what appears to be grade inflation. At a time when anti-testing sentiment and distrust of the state department of education is at an all-time high,
the state couldn’t afford any mistakes this year. This latest debacle serves to further erode the trust of parents and educators in the department. It also highlights the need for full transparency in the entire state standardized testing system. TEA expands fight for test transparency Test transparency was a big issue for TEA during this past legislative session and we will be continuing that fight when the General Assembly reconvenes. Our legislative efforts in 2015 focused on parents and teachers being able to see the test questions after the student had completed the assessment. The events of recent months, however, have demonstrated the need for full transparency in the entire process – from how test questions are selected and graded, to how scores are generated for student report cards and teacher evaluations. As we begin a new state assessment next year, the timing has never been more critical for the state to rebuild the confidence of parents, students and educators. Serious questions about the new TN Ready assessment have already arisen following the news that Tennessee will essentially be repurposing other states’ tests and of the hiring practices used by Measurement Inc. to find graders for the test. “The motivation behind issuing an RFP to find a new test vendor was to have a test created
specifically for Tennessee students,” said Rep. David Byrd, a co-sponsor of TEA’s original testing transparency bill. “Instead, the state agreed to licensing questions from a test bank owned by other states. How does this format take into account the needs of Tennessee students and the feedback received from parents and educators?” More questions about how Measurement Inc. is using taxpayer money were raised after the Tennessee Education Report reported the company was soliciting test graders on Craigslist for $11 an hour pay. “There is too much uncertainty as the state transitions to this new assessment. It is important for parents and educators to see exactly what is being asked of students and how they are being graded to build any confidence at all in this new assessment,” said President Gray. “You cannot regain the trust of parents and educators when they know the people who will grade these assessments were found by placing an ad among the lists of couches for sale on Craigslist.” Time to ask “What if?” With the ever-growing list of problems and concerns with state standardized testing and TVAAS estimates, it is time to stop tweaking here and there, and instead start asking “What if the state stopped using TVAAS estimates in high-stakes decisions?” What if the state evaluated teachers, administrators and schools based on a comprehensive portfolio of student’s work, instead of a one-time snapshot of a
During the last school year, I administered the standardized test on the 4th, 5th, 9th, and 12th of February. Because I teach multiple grade levels, I spent a minimum of 12 hours administering tests that month for an average of three hours per week.
the hours and days spent on standardized tests that I am required to administer all year. This year is worse than it has ever been because of the state-mandated RTII. Instead of boring you with explanations of each test, I am simply going to list all the tests I can think of that I am required to give this year: • Benchmark Assessments (6 tests total) • Focus Standard Benchmarks (5 total) • RTII Tests (15 tests total) • RTII Progress Monitoring (every two weeks): • MIST (2) • iReady Diagnostic (3) • TCAP/MAAS/ELSA (5) • Additional Tests for ELLs (4) • 8th Grade EXPLORE Test (1)
And that’s just in February! Thinking about this testing madness prompted me to break down
So, the minimum number of standardized tests a student at my school takes during the school year
the teachers certified to administer the speaking portion of the test will spend three hours in the library assessing children or managing children who are waiting to be assessed (which means we are not in our classrooms actually teaching children). Conclusion: if you’re an ELL student, you will spend more than six hours in February taking standardized tests. If you’re an ELL teacher, you will spend more than nine hours collecting materials, administering standardized tests, and returning test materials that month.
student’s ability to take a test? What if students had more time to learn because teachers no longer had to devote so much time to test prep? What if the state couldn’t arbitrarily decide to come in and blow up a local public school because its students aren’t the best at taking standardized tests? “These are all important questions we need to be seriously talking about,” said President Gray. “The state has placed an unnecessary burden on the backs of our students and educators with its blind devotion to flawed TVAAS estimates. It is time to end the test-and-punish routine and let our students and teachers get back to the joy of learning.” The association will continue its legislative attacks on TVAAS, but will also be launching a new effort to collect feedback from members and parents about supporting an opt-out initiative. “Opt-out movements are spreading quickly nationwide and if our survey shows that our members support it, I believe it is time for the movement to come to Tennessee. The state continues to insist on over-testing our students and arbitrarily punishing our educators, so we must find other ways to relieve these burdens,” said Gray. Watch for an email from TEA in the coming days with a survey link. Results will be anonymous, but you will need to enter your membership number to participate. Your membership number can be found on your membership card or on the mailing label of Teach.
is 43. ELLs take 47. Eighth grade students take 44. Think about those numbers. When we give these tests, they take most, if not all, of our class time, which means about 40 classes are spent on testing instead of instruction and learning. That’s the time it would take for an 8-week unit. The most frustrating thing about these tests is that no teachers use them for their actual classes; we do not record what they make on these tests as students’ grades because we know they are inaccurate reflections of what our students are capable of. I get even more upset when I think about what we could be teaching, and what students could be learning, if we were given time to teach instead of time to test. Marlowe Brant teaches English as a second language at Apollo Middle School in Nashville and blogs at thebrantrant.blogspot.com. www.teateachers.org
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We have great member benefits. With the purchasing power of 3,000,000 educators across the country, TEA members get great deals on everything from movie tickets to insurance and mortgages.
Education Support Professional
All educators should join because TEA supported teachers before collective bargaining and will continue to have our back. I joined because I wanted to make sure I had security. As a special education assistant at Lucy Elementary School in Shelby Co., I do my job with pride and I want somebody to have my back in any situation. More education support professionals should join and I encourage them to get in touch with me. I make sure I have information available to all of my colleagues. It helps to see what wealth of resources and benefits TEA offers. I really love my job and I take my job seriously. Every day I walk into the school, it becomes easier and easier. I wanted to make a difference, a change. I chose to be a member, a part of something bigger that represents the best in the teaching profession, so I got involved in my local and state Associations. I bring my vivaciousness. I want everyone to know how much positive change we can bring if we put our hands and minds together. Everyone should attend the professional development conferences, the state and national representative assembly. I always ask people, would you like to attend the RA? Once you see it, it consumes you. People often ask, what would TEA do for them? Sometimes it helps to reach out and see what they can do for their colleagues in every part of Tennessee. Kim Lynch
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Anderson Co. EA English Teacher
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August 2015 Special Membership Edition * THE ORGANIZING ISSUE
The TEA MyDeals app is the best resource. It shows the deals around
me, no matter where I am. I make a point of going to the store that has the discounts and shop there instead of the other stores. Casey Bass Anderson Co. EA Physical Sciences Teacher
I’ve just started to uncover my member benefits. There are thousands of them. It’s absolutely amazing! I use my discounts to get Avon products. The latest discount was 20 percent off my $60 purchase, plus free shipping. That saved a quarter of my monthly membership dues, and that’s just one discount. If you used similar discounts four times a month — and you’re already buying those products anyway — that pays for your member dues. Jane Ligon Robertson Co. EA Bookkeeper/ Administrative Assistant When the Tennessee General Assembly gave the power to the directors of schools to dismiss education support professionals without cause or due process, it was the best time to organize and to show people that TEA is the only organization school employees can rely on for help and support. To those who say they can’t afford to share their time and money, I suggest tightening the belt in one way in order to protect yourself on the job. There’s no way I would walk into a school building without my TEA membership. Unfortunately, there are too many people out there looking to file lawsuits without a reason. The world is changing and the challenge for us is not to think how bad things
nts and perks await! are, but to think how good they can be. Together, we can do so much more. Emily Mitchell Rutherford EA Classroom Teacher I agree with Jane - I wouldn’t walk into a school without my TEA membership! Not only does it protect us from frivolous lawsuits, it offers amazing discounts which more than offset the annual cost of membership. Think auto and homeowners insurance through one of TEA insurance partners, California Casualty. Not long ago, a colleague of mine had two unfortunate events happen in the same week. He was in a car wreck and then his house was flooded while he was out of town. The hot water heater in his house exploded and rained all over the place. He called California Casualty about the car accident on Monday, his insurance check arrived two days later and he had his car back the following week. The insurance company was working on his house even before he returned home from his trip. When I was president of Rutherford Education Association, I often relied on the expertise of TEA staff for anything from communications to legal advice. Our members love local, regional and national trainings, and the discounts offered by TEA Member Benefits and MyDeals app are second to none. There are just so many reasons to belong to TEA! Rhonda “Joy” Cole Metro Nashville EA Literacy Coach Being a part of TEA is the only way we can change the status quo. We are spending so much time testing and assessing, in all different ways. We have too many types of assessments. By the time we finish one, it seems we get another one going. I’d like to see that pressure relieved. We don’t need
so much stress over numbers and data and just need time to teach. There’s no time left for instruction, no time for simple things — to be with a child, read with a child, explore their big ideas, open their curiosity. It seems this past year teaching was especially difficult because of the huge amount of testing. Because I do all the planning and scheduling for all of our assessments, I can see that it’s just too much. Being a part of TEA is the only way we can change the testing madness.
JOIN Tennessee the Education Association Together we stand for our members. We’ve assembled the state’s largest, most experienced legal and field team for educators. You want these staff members on your side if your career or good name is on the line or you are being treated unfairly.
Deloria Moore Memphis-Shelby Co. EA Third Grade Teacher One of the biggest benefits of being a part of TEA is collective action. I strongly disagree with high-stakes testing because it takes away from creativity. Testing doesn’t show the caliber of students. It doesn’t show that they’ve grown to a higher reading level. It just shows what they did on that particular day on that particular test. It does not display what the teacher has taught for 180 days and how magical a-ha moments affect student growth. Standardized tests are created by nonteachers, pushed by non-teachers, and the pressure has become worse. Teacher evaluations are very subjective. With no correlation between tests, it seems they are comparing apples to air. I hear these complaints from other educators and tell them that only when we are together, we can do something about this. We don’t agree with a lot of things right now, but we have power in collective action. We can return fairness and common sense to teaching and learning if we stand together.
Images (left and right) are the new membership promotion card for the 2015 school year. It is developed in coordination with a new membership video on our website: teateachers.org.
Together we work at the state level. Big decisions on assessments, RTI, funding, class sizes, health benefits, evaluations, and many other important issues are made at the state level, where TEA members are the voice for educators and common sense.
Together we can stand up for what is right for students and schools.
15
years !
For 150 years, TEA has been the voice for public education in Tennessee. Now, more than ever, we need to stand together for our students, our schools and ourselves.
Join now: www.teateachers.org
www.teateachers.org
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AFFORDABLE INSURANCE PREMIUMS STRONG INSURANCE COVERAGE
CLASSROOM SUPPLY FUNDS
VALUING ADVANCED DEGREES AND EXPERIENCE
FAIR EVALUATION
RADICAL CHARTER EXPANSION
VOUCHERS
PRIVATIZATION STATE MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE
STOP INCREASED CLASS SIZES REDUCING PAPERWORK HALTING
for Tennessee students, schools, and educators!
TEA FIGHTS FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
teateachers.org
You can become a member online at:
There are big fights ahead on the future of Tennessee education. Only the membership of TEA can make sure educators win those fights — for our students and us!
REDUCE THE IMPACT OF TESTING INCREASE STATE EDUCATION FUNDING 15 years ! PROTECT RETIREMENT
ERROR, THY NAME IS
NO SALARY BASED ON
NO LICENSE BASED ON
TVAAS SICK LEAVE PRE-KINDERGARTEN
TEACHER CONTROL OF CLASSROOM
SPECIAL ED RULES from page 1
personal jeopardy. Demands for IEPs would explode as word got out about cash and could taint the often difficult work involved in setting up learning plans. There was no guarantee that hard won gains for students would remain. What barely passed the General Assembly in April was a smaller, tighter bill that delays implementation so that the special education community can help develop rules and regulations to protect children, require informed decisions by parents, and cut down on the possibility of fraud. “We fought this bill, and quite frankly we worked to limit the damage too. Now that it passed, we need to organize every special education teacher and teacher’s aide to make sure there is a strong set of rules in place for this program,” said Jim Wrye, TEA’s chief lobbyist. “The rule-making process is where we can protect the special needs children we love and care for every day in our schools.”
In order for parents of a qualifying IEP student to gain access to the approximately $6,600 in annual reimbursements from the state, they will have to sign a waiver giving up all of their federal rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Currently the federal government provides $252 million to Tennessee for the education of special needs children. These funds pay for specialists, full-time teacher aides, teachers, and other services that cost up to 10 times more than the possible reimbursement account from the state. Last month, TEA members from across the state involved in special education came together in an ad-hoc committee to review the law and develop common sense rules and principles. A marathon session of special education teachers, university professors, system coordinators, and other practitioners created a draft set of proposed rules. “Our guiding
principles are to protect children, inform parents, and limit fraud,” said Wrye. “We want what is best for children, and that means making sure parents understand what happens when they take their children out of school.” TEA believes the best system to protect children and limit fraud is not to provide cash to families, but create a reimbursement structure or a direct payment to provider system run by the State Department of Education. Providers would have to be pre-approved by the department so the state could maintain standards and quality of services. State officials have indicated they are also focusing on a reimbursement strategy. A key concept for the committee was the waiver the law requires parents to sign when withdrawing their child from school in order to qualify for state money. Some ideas for waiver content are having a good faith estimate from the system about the dollar-value of services the qualifying child receives along with a short description of services, the dollar
value of the state money, a calendar of quarterly payments and a statement of rules informing parents that the return of a child to a public school prior to the end of a quarter precludes payment of services in that quarter, and an outline of how the goals of the IEP would be maintained after withdrawal of the child. “There is a lot of work to be done on these rules to protect children and limit fraud. Now it is up to us in special education to engage on the rules process,” says Wrye. Months of rule-making—with possible public hearings—on a whole set of issues will take place. “This is where every special education teacher and teacher’s aide will need to be involved.” Another meeting of the ad-hoc committee is set for August 1, where the association’s proposal on rules for the IEA will be finalized. It will then be shared with association members, state officials, constituency groups, and others concerned with making sure children are protected. If you would like to participate, please look for the information below.
Steps for the special education community The Indiviualized Education Act is now law The bill covers seven diagnoses of IEP: Autism, deaf-blindness, hearing impairments, intellectual disability, orthopedic impairments, traumatic brain injury, visual impairments. State data shows approximately 18,000 students in public schools with these conditions, with the vast majority autistic or with intellectual disabilities.
A parent who wants to qualify for an Individual Education Account must: • Withdraw their child from school; • Waive all federal rights and resources under IDEA; • Spend approximately $6,600 on services. The State Board of Education, the State Dept. of Education and the Health Department are charged with making rules and regulations for this program.
Rules now need to be created for this program
If we are going to defend our students and make sure parents are not preyed upon by hucksters and quacks, special education teachers across the state will need to weigh in on the rulemaking process for this program.
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The bill as passed is broad, and there is a year for rulemaking by the state. Where we can work to protect kids is to make sure the rules and regulations are in place to stop the abuse of children, ensure informed parental decisions, and make certain that vendors are qualified and accountable.
Rules need to be created such as: • • • •
Waiver documents showing services and dollar amounts parents are giving up under IDEA; Parents showing how the IEP will continue; Strong vendor qualifications and accountability; Prevent children from bouncing in and out of school.
Every special education teacher can and rulemaking process can be open to the should weigh in on the rules! The public and there is opportunity to weigh
specialed@tnea.org
August 2015 Special Membership Edition * THE ORGANIZING ISSUE
in, but only if special education teachers speak with a loud voice. If you want to get involved, send an email to the address at left.
Washington County member gets $22,000 for salary discrepancy Important settlement for salary discrepancies gives guidance for other systems A lawsuit filed by a Washington County teacher claiming discrepancies in his salary led to a $22,000 settlement and opened the school district up to more litigation after administrators realized the approved pay scale did not meet some of the state’s mandated pay minimums. On July 2, after a 45-minute closed door
meeting with TEA and system attorneys during their regular meeting, the Washington County Board of Education unanimously voted to approve to pay TEA member and David Crockett High School government and economics teacher Jamie Freeman $22,655, plus 5-percent interest, in exchange for Freeman’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed against the school board in Washington County Chancery Court. Freeman’s lawsuit filed by TEA outlined that the district made several errors in paying him in accordance with the
Rebate program for first time members renewed for 2015 After two back-to-back successful legislative sessions that included huge victories for public education and an increased fight against overtesting, TEA is signing up more and more new members every week. The association is the largest and strongest voice for educators in Tennessee and right now is the perfect time to ask a colleague to join you in being a TEA member. The association is once again offering a rebate incentive for first-time TEA members who join prior to October 31, 2015. “Back-to-school time can really put a strain on educators’ budgets as they restock supplies for a new school year. This rebate provides a little financial cushion for those who choose to join TEA,” said TEA President Barbara Gray. TEA’s strength is rooted in the tens of thousands of educators who are members. “When we stand together as one collective voice for public education in Tennessee, we can accomplish incredible things for our students and our profession,” said Gray. “While public education in our state is under attack from so many different directions, it is our responsibility to be the protectors and vocal advocates for strong public schools in Tennessee.” For more information about the rebate incentive, please contact your association representative of TEA UniServ coordinator.
district’s approved step raise schedule, which increases pay above a base salary based on years of experience and level of academic degree held. The district put him on the wrong track and underpaid him for years. “This was an issue under the previous bargained contract, but the same principle can be applied to MOUs for collaborative conferencing and state salary minimum’s going forward,” said Steve McCloud, TEA assistant executive director for legal services. “Agreements for pay and state laws must be
respected and followed through upon. This agreement in Washington County provides a good example of why educators need to be part of the association.” System officials say other teachers might have also been paid lower than state minimums when the district’s pay scale did not match up. TEA is working with the local association to make sure that all compensation due members is provided. It is another example of the power of membership.
Brand New to TEA? You Qualif y for a $50 Rebate! The Tennessee Education Association is offering a membership dues rebate to all new-to-TEA teachers ($50) and education support professionals ($25). Join TEA by October 31, 2015 to earn your dues rebate. Ask your Association Representa tive or UniServ Coordinator for more de tails!
15
years !
801 Second Avenue North | Nashv ille, Tennessee 37201-1099 | 615.24 2.8392 | 800.342.8367 | Fax: 615.259.4581 www.teateachers.org
www.teateachers.org
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Insurance costs remain stable, TEA fights increases to educators
from page 1
such a huge enrollment shift from one year to the next? TEA members asked their boards why these decisions were being made and were surprised by the answer they received. In most cases, they were told that the federal government was forcing them to do so. Citing the Affordable Care Act and other federal guidelines, decision makers declared they had to slash benefits to teachers to avoid harsh penalties imposed by the IRS. TEA set about to investigate these assertions upon learning of the harm done to teachers and their families. TEA staff met with district officials in numerous school systems, and discussed their concerns. They then consulted with colleagues at the national level, attorneys specializing in health care law, and, ultimately, directly with regulators in the federal government. Through research and discussion with experts, it quickly became clear that the decisions made were unnecessary, and the fear of dire consequences unfounded. Even worse, it became apparent that some systems cuts were so severe they actually violated state law mandating minimum contributions toward teacher insurance premiums. In addition to speaking with regulators from the federal government, TEA also asked officials from the state to respond directly to claims made by district officials. State officials issued a legal
opinion rebutting many of the claims made to justify the increases.
going to create much higher costs with the cheaper insurance, but had no choice but to try to delay the financial trouble the board’s decision had created.
Armed with the facts, many teachers set about HCEA President Jennifer Seal knew she and her getting their insurance back. Members of the members had to do something Hancock County to help Sherry and others like Education Association, her who needed to keep their who were already among What happened in old plans. She invited TEA staff the lowest paid teachers Hancock County was more to come and speak with central in the state, were hit with an especially severe than just being right on the office to get the facts straight increase. The cost shift facts. It was also a decision about why they made such painful cuts to benefits. HCEA imposed by the Hancock made by members to stand members packed school board County School Board was meetings to inform them what so dramatic, it actually together and to have they had done was illegal, and violated state law, which difficult conversations with the reasons they offered for mandates minimum their school board and the cuts were untrue, based on contributions to health inaccurate understanding of insurance. county commission. federal law. Sherry Hunt, a career educator in Hancock County, was asked to pay almost a thousand dollars a month for insurance for herself and her disabled spouse. This was hundreds of dollars more than she was previously paying. Unable to shoulder such an enormous cost shift, she had no choice but to take the plan with the lower premium. She did so knowing that the medical bills for her husband’s care were
They made a plan to reach out to their county commissioners, to ask for their assistance in fixing the incredible problem. Ultimately, HCEA created so much public outrage over the cuts, it may have led to the director of schools resigning. When the new director took over, HCEA again met to discuss insurance, and made it clear they wanted to partner with the administration to do what was best for their employees. By combining their relationships with research TEA staff was able to provide, HCEA was able to get a commitment from administration to unwind the damage done the previous year. Now employee contributions have been restored to the thresholds required by law, and in some cases greatly exceed them. Their outreach campaign was so effective, that they were able to receive $80,000 from their county commission to help fix the problem. What happened in Hancock was more than just being right on the facts. It was also a decision made by members to stand together and to have difficult conversations with their school board and their county commission. Hancock teachers were clear and consistent in their request, making sure everyone understood how the decision to devalue teachers would hurt the learning environment and the students of Hancock County.
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TEA is continuing to work with systems across Tennessee and with state government to ensure that every school system has access to accurate information concerning their legal obligations. August 2015 Special Membership Edition * THE ORGANIZING ISSUE
Basic facts about educator insurance
Need information, services? Tennessee Education Association 801 Second Avenue N., Nashville, TN 37201-1099 (615) 242-8392, (800) 342-8367, FAX (615) 259-4581
UniServ Coordinators
The The majority majority of of educators educators get get their their insurance insurance from from the the State State Group Group Insurance Insurance Plan Plan (SGIP) (SGIP)
The The Affordable Affordable Care Care Act Act and and other other federal federal laws laws do do not not automatically automatically cause cause increases increases
ItIt is is aa self-insured self-insured plan plan run run by by an an office office of of the state Finance department. the state Finance department.
Confusion Confusion and and misinformation misinformation about about what is a full-time employee and what is a full-time employee and IRS IRS rules rules has has caused caused some some systems systems to to raise raise premiums premiums on on employees. employees.
The The SGIP SGIP did did not not raise raise rates rates this this year, year, and and will will not not raise raise rates rates Thousand Thousand of of educators educators have have next next year year been been driven driven to to the the Limited Limited Plan Plan There There is is aa substantial substantial surplus surplus in in the the SGIP SGIP that that needs needs to to be be spent spent down down before before premium premium costs costs are are increased increased for for systems. systems.
Once Once proper proper information information and and choices choices are are made, made, teachers teachers should should gain gain previous previous coverage. coverage.
Lake Co. member wins prestigious NEA Award KerriNewsom, Newsom,aateacher teacheratatMargaret Margaret Kerri Newton Elementary School Newton Elementary School inin Tiptonvilleand andmember memberofofLake LakeCo. Co. Tiptonville EA will receive the 2016 California EA will receive the 2016 California CasualtyAward Awardfor forTeaching Teaching Casualty Excellence, one of public education’s Excellence, one of public education’s most prestigious awards. Newsomisis most prestigious awards. Newsom among 42 public school educators among 42 public school educators whowill willbe behonored. honored. who Eachare arehighly highlyaccomplished accomplished Each professionals: they aremaster master professionals: they are teachers, mentors, certified bytheir their teachers, mentors, certified by states,and andthe therecipients recipientsofofnumerous numerous states, other awards for their professional other awards for their professional practiceand andexpertise. expertise.InInaddition, addition, practice most hold advanced degrees, many most hold advanced degrees, many arestate stateTeachers Teachersofofthe theYear, Year,and and are some are certified by the National some are certified by the National Boardfor forProfessional ProfessionalStandards. Standards. Board
plansthat thatare areshared sharedwith witheducators educators plans on open source platforms. on open source platforms. Awardeeswill willbe berecognized recognizedatatthe the Awardees NEA Foundation’s Salute to Excellence NEA Foundation’s Salute to Excellence EducationGala, Gala,totobe beheld heldinin ininEducation Washington, DC on February Washington, D.C., on February12, 12,2016. The gala attracts more than 850 the 2016. The gala attracts more thanof 850 nation’s leaders from public education, of the nation’s leaders from public philanthropy, and the private sector. education, philanthropy, and the
“We honor these outstanding private sector. educators, who deserve our “We honor these truly outstanding recognition andtruly thanks, and our we educators, who deserve empower them to transform the recognition and thanks, and we profession by driving innovation empower them to transform the that leads to positive student outcomes, profession by driving innovation that” said Harriet Sanford, President and” leads to positive student outcomes, CEO of the NEA Foundation. “As Global said Harriet Sanford, President and Learning Fellows, our awardees receive CEO of the NEA Foundation. “As high caliber professional development Global Learning Fellows, our awardees opportunities that benefit their NEA Foundation awards and grants are receive high caliber professional NEA Foundation awards and grants students, colleagues, and the field. We among thethe many benefits offered by development opportunities that are among many benefits offered are thrilled that California Casualty has TEA membership. benefit their students, colleagues, and by TEA membership. joined us again this year to pay tribute Uniqueto tothese theseawards, awards,each each the field. We are thrilled that California Unique to thesehas educators. educatorwill willbe beinvited invitedto toparticipate participate Casualty joined ”us again this year educator is so critically theGlobal GlobalLearning LearningFellowship, Fellowship, to“Educating pay tributeour to youth these educators. ” ininthe important. California Casualty is proud an extensive, year-long professional “Educating our youth is so critically an extensive, year-long professional to partner with the NEA Foundation development opportunity to cultivate development opportunity to cultivate important. California Casualty is proud pause and excellence in globalcompetence competenceskills skillseducators educators totopartner withcelebrate the NEA Foundation global teaching, ” said Beau Brown, Chairman use to improve their practice and to to pause and celebrate excellence in use to improve their practice and to and CEO of California Casualty. prepare their students to thrive in teaching,” said Beau Brown, Chairman prepare their students to thrive in rapidlychanging changingworld. world.Fellows Fellows TheCEO educators were nominated and of California Casualty. aarapidly contributeto tothe theadvancement advancementofofthe the by their National Education contribute The educators were nominated by professionby bycreating creatingglobal globallesson lesson profession
Kerri KerriNewsom Newsom Association affiliate. Each their Nationalstate Education Association educator’s will receiveschool a $650 state affiliate.school Each educator’s award. will receive a $650 award. Fromthe the42 42state stateawardees, awardees,five five From finalistswill willbe beselected selectedtotoreceive receive finalists $10,000cash cashawards. awards.AtAtthe the $10,000 conclusionofofthe theWashington, Washington,DC DC conclusion gala, one finalist will be named the gala, one finalist will be named the nation’stop topeducator educatorand andreceive receivean an nation’s additional$25,000. $25,000. additional TheNEA NEAFoundation Foundationand andthe theNational National The EducationAssociation Associationjointly jointlypresent present Education theawards. awards.Find Findmore moreinformation information the aboutthe theawards awardsand andphotos photosofofthe the about awardees. awardees at neafoundation.org.
District 1 — Harry Farthing, P.O. Box 298, Elizabethton, TN 37644; phone: (423)262-8035, fax: (866)379-0949; Assns: Carter, Hancock, Hawkins, Rogersville, Johnson, Sullivan, Bristol, Elizabethton, Kingsport. District 2 — Jennifer Gaby, P.O. Box 70, Afton, TN 37616; (423)234-0700, fax: (423)234.0708; Assns: Cocke, Newport, Greene, Greeneville, Unicoi, Washington, Hamblen, Johnson City. District 3 — Tina Parlier, P.O. Box 74, Corryton, TN 37721, (865)6881175, fax: (866)518-3104; Assns: Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson, Sevier, Union, Scott, Campbell, Oneida (in Scott Co.). District 4 — Janet Abrams, KCEA, 2411 Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917 Assns: Knox,TSD, District 5— Jason White, P.O. Box 5502, Oak Ridge, TN 37831; (615)521-1333, fax: (865)2005254; Assns: Anderson, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Blount, Alcoa, Maryville, Lenoir City, Loudon. District 6 — Chris Brooks, P.O. Box 3629, Chattanooga, TN 37404, (615)332-2636; Assns: Bradley, Cleveland, McMinn, Athens, Etowah, Meigs, Monroe, Sweetwater, Polk, Rhea-Dayton, Roane. District 7 — Theresa Turner, HCEA 4655 Shallowford Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37411; (423)485-9535, fax: (423)485-9512; Assns: Hamilton. District 8 — Josh Trent; Assns: Clay, Cumberland, Fentress, Jackson, Morgan, Pickett, Putnam, Overton, York Institute, TN Tech. Univ, Bledsoe, Sequatchie,Van Buren, White. District 9 — Jackie Pope, 2326 Valley Grove Dr., Murfreesboro, TN 37128;phone: (615)898-1060, fax: (855) 301-8214, Assns: Bedford, Moore, Cannon, DeKalb, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Manchester, Tullahoma, Marion, Warren. District 10 — Jeff Garrett, P.O. Box 1326, Lebanon, TN 37088-1326; (615)630-2605, fax (855)320-8755—; Assns: Rutherford, Murfreesboro, Sumner, MTSU, Macon, Smith, Trousdale. District 11 — Antoinette Lee; Assns: FSSD, Williamson. District 12 — Sue Ogg; phone: (615)856-0503 — Assns: Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Fayetteville, Maury, Wayne, Marshall, Perry. District 13 — Mary Campbell, Vacancy, Metro Nashville, 531 Fairground Court, Nashville, TN 37211; (615)347-6578 (Campbell), fax: (855)299-4968 (Campbell); Assns: Metro Nashville, TN School For The Blind, Lebanon, Wilson. District 14 — Maria Uffelman, P.O. Box 99, Cumberland City, TN 37050; phone: (931)827-3333, fax: (855)299-4925; Assns: Clarksville-Montgomery, Robertson. District 15 — Cheryl Richardson, P.O. Box 354, Goodlettsville, TN 37070; phone: (615)630-2601, fax: (888)519-4879; Assns: Benton, West Carroll, Central, Clarksburg, Huntingdon, McKenzie, Henry, Paris, Houston, Humphreys, Stewart, Cheatham, Dickson, Hickman. District 16 — Lorrie Butler, P.O. Box 387, Henderson, TN 38340; (731)989-4860, fax: (855)299-4591; Assns: Chester, Hardeman, West TSD, Henderson, Lexington, Jackson-Madison, McNairy, Decatur, Hardin. District 17 — Karla Carpenter, P.O. Box 177, Brunswick, TN 38014; (901)590-2543, fax: (855)299-4892; —Assns: Crockett, Dyer, Dyersburg, Gibson, Humboldt, Milan, Trenton, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion, Union City, Tipton, Weakley. District 18 — Zandra Foster, 3897 Homewood Cove, Memphis, TN 38128; (901)3779472, fax: (855)320-8737;—Assns: Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, Millington, Fayette. District 19 — Assns: MemphisShelby County Education Association — Ken Foster, Executive Director; Memphis-Shelby County EA UniServ Directors: Glenda Jones, Terri Jones, Tom Marchand, 126 South Flicker Street, Memphis, TN 38104; (901)454-0966, fax: (901)454-9979; Assn: Memphis-Shelby County.
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August 2015 Special Membership Edition * THE ORGANIZING ISSUE TP470515
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“Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is dangerous and must be defeated.”
Members share their Education Summer experiences Lakeva Thompson Memphis-Shelby Co. EA
My school was the first one in Memphis to be taken over by the ASD. After being very upset about it and feeling helpless, it made me feel very good to learn how to effectively fight for public schools at the Ed Summer training, helping them keep the doors open. I’m just overjoyed I have these resources to take home to help our schools. Wendy Bowers McNairy Co. EA I enjoyed practicing the story of self, us and now. We don’t think about it, but a personal story about who we are as educators applies so well to what we do for our schools and our association. We currently have an issue in McNairy County with the wheel tax vote—some people don’t want it to pass. To help pass the wheel tax, I wrote a speech as part of this training. I used my story of self, making it personal to all members of the community, and I hope it helps us pass the wheel tax, which in turn will help fund our schools. I also would recommend to all members using the story of self, us and now in membership recruitment. Casey Bass Anderson Co. EA As part of this year’s Ed Summer training, we visited parents in the neighborhood zoned for Tom Joy Elementary School in Nashville. We talked with them about the open house night and different activities targeted for parents in the upcoming school year. I’m from East Tennessee, we’re not familiar with the area, and we didn’t expect it to go well. It went amazingly well! The most important lesson to us
was that parents are waiting for us to knock on their doors and talk to them. This really hit home with me. Parents are our biggest allies when it comes to teaching and their kids becoming a success. I’m going to make sure my colleagues and I visit more parents back home in Anderson County. It’s the best way to increase parental involvement in their children’s education. Gene Hudson Rutherford EA We were asked to participate in the Bill Freeman campaign by going door to door and asking people to vote with public school teachers. Bill is the only candidate in Nashville’s mayoral race who reached out to public school teachers and promised to support us. Backing Bill Freeman is a very important part of what Metro Nashville EA is doing in education. We knew we were going to visit homes in a neighborhood in East Nashville. Every door we walked up to was a new adventure. Having an open mind helps the most with activities like this. The more you prepare, the more wordy you can become. Being emotional and being yourself is the best thing you can do. D.J. Omarkhail Hamilton Co. EA The panel on Annenberg Standards was very helpful. Annenberg Standards were recently adopted in Nashville in order to level the playing field for Nashville’s charter schools, and we learned why it was important. New Orleans no longer has any public schools, and this could happen anywhere in Tennessee. It was very enlightening to learn how this battle is being waged in Nashville, Memphis, Hamilton County and other big cities. It was great to hear how people came from different backgrounds to protect public schools – parents, teachers and school board members. We all have the same goal to protect schools and give
students the best possible education. It helps to know that we have resources available to ensure that the fight currently going in Nashville doesn’t have to happen in Chattanooga. The standards adopted in Nashville, the basic sunshine law for charter schools, was an excellent effort to level the playing field, and it worked. After these regulations passed in Nashville, only two charter school applications were approved, compared to eight applications that were approved the previous year. Telesa Echols Memphis-Shelby Co. EA When you get people together, it’s power. I made amazing new connections, built bridges I can use when I return home. This program is awesome. Everyone should participate in Education Summer training. The story of self, us and now gave me an opportunity to explore why I’m a teacher and I learned to engage members in our community. Sharing our photos on Photo Circle game me a chance to learn more about social networking and share what we are doing. Meeting real people with real problems helps us engage in the community and built more trust and support for our association. This training also gave me ideas for activities to get people moving and keep them engaged in the classroom and during after-school meetings. Team work makes dream work! It felt very empowering to be in the community, wearing our red T-shirts, meeting people. People walked up to us and were very supportive. Learning about Annenberg Standards was extremely helpful. We need a cap on charter schools! They are running all over our town acting like we have no rights or choices. We do! I’m so glad I have the resources to push for change back home. ED SUMMER from page 16
your leaders if your local was one of them. Each team left Nashville with a plan to create a campaign to increase visibility and build support of the public schools back home, find out how you can help out! And if your local did not send a team this year, encourage your colleagues to send a team next year. Applications will be accepted in the spring semester.
www.teateachers.org
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There are big decisions being made on education at the state and local level. Funding, teaching, testing, salaries, and hundreds of other issues are constantly decided upon. The only question is whether educators will control those decisions, or will others who may not have schools at heart?
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TOGETHER WE WIN poster inside this issue. That’s why every Tennessee educator must be a member of TEA. Together we stand for students, schools, and for each other! Inside this issue is a poster outlining the big issues in Tennessee education and how together we are making a difference. Please post it in your school!
TEA defeats vouchers, prevails on salaries Vouchers defeated for a third year SALARY INCREASE go to page 4
TEA member Gene Hudson canvasses for Bill Freeman’s Nashville mayoral campaign
Education Summer builds new brand of membership Do you wish your school had more parent and community involvement? Would you like to take back your school board? What about increasing instructional time by reducing the testing mandates from the state? These and more were questions considered by attendees at this year’s Education Summer. About 70 early career TEA members were welcomed to Nashville last week for Education Summer 2015. Started last year in Knoxville, Ed Summer is a weeklong training to develop organizing skills to plan and execute projects to enhance the strength of locals back home.
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Ed Summer emphasizes learning by doing, so that organizing interns can get the experience needed to go home and begin building capacity. By focusing on building relationships, defining selfinterest, and identifying shared values and interests, Ed Summer participants are learning the skills they need to initiate sustainable change in their schools and communities. They will need help to accomplish the goal of creating shared commitment to lasting change. Numerous locals participated in this year’s training, ask
August 2015 Special Membership Edition * THE ORGANIZING ISSUE
ED SUMMER go to page 15
TEA once again led a successful fight against private school vouchers during the 2015 legislative session – and prevailed in defeating vouchers for a third straight year. With strong support from educators, a bipartisan group of legislators, parents and other public education advocates statewide we were able to protect our public schools from a dangerous voucher proposal again this year. Representatives Karen Camper and David Alexander were instrumental leaders in this fight to defeat a plan that at full implementation would have served a minimum of 20,000 students – which meant an estimated cost of $130 million.
session was saving a guaranteed, defined benefit retiree health insurance option for teachers across the state. This prevented tens of thousands of current retirees and employees from losing their health insurance and being forced to try to purchase their own policies, without being able to leverage rates obtained by the state plan. “We’re glad the administration listened to our concerns and acted upon them,” said TEA President Barbara Gray. “It’s a true testament to the power of teachers.” TEA prevails in push for pay raise for teachers
Guaranteed retiree insurance protected
Calling for and getting a 4 percent state pay increase for Tennessee teachers was a major victory for TEA this year. Still, according to current law, even though the raise has been passed in state budget, it does not guarantee that local school systems will use this money to fund teacher raises.
One of the major victories TEA secured in the 2015 legislative
See the story on the front cover of Teach for more details on salaries.
Make no mistake: If this voucher bill passes in the future, teachers will lose their jobs and public schools will close.