January 2014 teach

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Tennessee Published by the TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION January 2014 Vol. 45, No. 5 www.teateachers.org

TEA General Counsel:

State Must Bring Back Traditional Salary Schedule For Teachers

Education Commissioner’s

Performance

Rates

page 8

page 11

Time to Bring Joy to Capitol TEA Legislative Priorities Include

Fair & Clear Evaluation, Licensure; page 4 Restoring State Salary Schedule & Much More page 3

Speaking out with you Gera Summerford, President

Carolyn Crowder, Executive Director

Happy New Year! Challenges Bring Opportunities I May Have to Move to Finland Opportunity: TEA welcomes our new Executive Director, Carolyn Crowder!

Carolyn brings her experience, expertise and vision for the future of our organization. Her leadership will guide us to create new partnerships, empower our members and focus on our goals.

Challenge: New standards and more assessments loom on the horizon.

While TEA supports rigorous standards and increased student achievement, we insist that more testing is not the answer. To raise expectations for our students, teachers need appropriate resources and adequate time to teach.

Opportunity: Many state offices are up for election in 2014.

All members of the Tennessee House of Representatives, half of the state senators and the governor will be up for election this year. It’s a great opportunity for TEA members to get acquainted with the candidates, invite them into our classrooms and support those who will make the right decisions for Tennessee public schools.

Challenge: Private school vouchers will again be introduced in the legislature.

TEA will continue to oppose a system that pulls public funding away from public schools. Tennessee’s teachers know that innovative instruction and equal opportunities for all children are the critical components for great public schools.

Opportunity: A clear and fair evaluation system for educators.

Now in the third year of the state evaluation model, TEA educators are acutely aware of its strengths and weaknesses. We need an evaluation system that sets clear expectations and provides support for improving instruction. One-size-fits-all assessments have failed our students and educators.

Challenge: Our students deserve sufficient funding for public education.

Though the state has maintained its BEP funding formula, Tennessee still spends less on its public schools than most neighboring states. TEA will continue to push for increased investment in our most valuable assets: our students and our schools.

Opportunity: Students in all of our schools deserve our best efforts.

As devoted educators committed to providing the best possible outcomes for kids, TEA members embrace a unique opportunity each and every year. We choose this profession because we have a passion for our students and their future, and our dedication is obvious.

Another constant that endures from year to year: TEA is committed to students, educators and public schools in Tennessee. We are the strongest collective voice of Tennessee’s teachers, and we stand united to advocate for great public schools for every child. Together we can move forward in 2014 to address the challenges and embrace the opportunities before us.

teach (USPS 742-450, ISSN 15382907) is published in August, September (online only), October, Nov/Dec (online only), Jan/Feb, March/April, and May (online only) 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: Carol K. Schmoock EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER: Carolyn Crowder

2 January 2014

Tennessee Education Association 801 Second Avenue North Nashville, TN 37201-1099 Telephone: (615)242-8392, Toll Free: (800)342-8367, (800)342-8262 Fax: (615)259-4581 Website: www.teateachers.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Gera Summerford* (800)342-8367 VICE PRESIDENT: Barbara Gray* (901)867-6015 SECRETARY-TREASURER: Carolyn Crowder (615)242-8392 DISTRICT 1 Leisa Lusk (423)794-6247 DISTRICT 2 Lauren McCarty* (865)385-5220 DISTRICT 3 Michael Carvella (865)212-9774 DISTRICT 4 Anthony Hancock (865)293-9232 DISTRICT 5 Shawanda Perkins (423)385-9569 DISTRICT 6 Scott Price (931)455-7198

I am thrilled at the opportunity of serving as the executive director of the Tennessee Education Association. But I must admit — I hate moving. I especially dislike the process and the uncertainty of packing and the inevitable loss and damage of treasured possessions. It is better now that I am getting to know how great TEA folks are and the fact that my husband Terry and my dog Fred have joined me. Terry and Fred came to Nashville about a month after I started working at TEA. They traveled for 22 hours in a moving truck through a snow storm from Denver, Colo., to Nashville. I was totally stressed out as I waited for them to get here, but once they arrived it was a great celebration.

In spite of my aversion to moving, I wonder if we should just keep everything packed so it would be easier to move it all to Finland. The reason for my dilemma is that since I’ve been in Tennessee, I have become aware of a “reform on steroids” environment.

I firmly believe that reform itself is not bad. Until the 1960s, the level of education in Finland remained low. Finland lagged far behind its neighboring countries. But then they decided as a country to reform their education system by investing in their teachers, students and schools. By 2000, Finland emerged as the top-scoring nation in the world on the PISA (Program for International Student Assessments), an international test for 15-year-olds in language, math and science literacy. They have also made significant progress in closing previous achievement gaps between socio-economic groups and native and immigrant students.

Many believe there is not much diversity in Finland. Actually, in many urban schools the number of immigrant children approaches 50 percent. The most rapidly growing newcomer groups since 1990 have been from Afghanistan, Bosnia, India, Iran, Iraq, Serbia, Somalia, Turkey, Thailand and Vietnam. How did they make these achievement gains with a growing student population speaking more than 60 languages?

By investing in: • Lower class sizes (around 20 students per classroom) • Resources • High standards • Teacher education programs (all teachers have Masters Degrees) • Reasonable and equitable teacher salaries In addition, Finland does not have a high-stakes, standardized testing system.

Instead, their teachers have considerable authority and autonomy, including the responsibility for curriculum design and student assessment.

This is the opposite of the kind of reform that is going on in Tennessee and the rest of the United States.

After weighing my options, I believe I’ll stay in Tennessee. And it’s not just because I hate to move. I’m looking forward to the challenge of working with TEA members and staff to show the world that Tennessee educators are ready to prove the Finns aren’t the only ones who can get reform right.

DISTRICT 7 Ashley Evett (847)338-0580 DISTRICT 8 Kawanda Braxton* (615)554-6286 DISTRICT 9 Theresa L. Wagner (270)776-1467 DISTRICT 10 Larry Proffitt (423)608-7855 DISTRICT 11 Wendy R. Bowers (731)645-8595 DISTRICT 12 Suzie May (731)779-9329 DISTRICT 13 Ernestine King (901)590-8188 DISTRICT 14 Tiffany Reed (901)412-2759 DISTRICT 15 Tom Emens (901)277-0578 ADMINISTRATOR EAST Johnny Henry (865)712-3199 ADMINISTRATOR MIDDLE Julie Hopkins (615)822-5742 ADMINISTRATOR WEST Charles Green (901) 826-6256 HIGHER EDUCATION Clinton Smith* (901)230-4914 BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER EAST Paula Hancock (865)694-1691 BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER MIDDLE Kenneth Martin (615)876-1948

BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER WEST Sarah Kennedy-Harper (901)416-4582 STATE SPECIAL SCHOOLS Vacancy NEW TEACHER CandraClariette (615)298-8053 ESP Stephanie Bea (901)265-4540 TN NEA DIRECTOR Melanie Buchanan* (615)305-2214 TN NEA DIRECTOR Diccie Smith (901)482-0627 TN NEA DIRECTOR Diane Lillard (423)715-0568 STEA MEMBER Parris Malone (901)406-9188 TN RETIRED Gerald Lillard (423)473-9400 * Executive Committee

TEA HEADQUARTERS STAFF EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR:CarolynCrowder;ASST.EXECUTIVEDIRECTORS, TerranceGibson;CarolK.Schmoock;DuranWilliams; MANAGEROF BUSINESS AFFAIRS:StephanieFaulkner;INFORMATIONTECHNOLOGY &SYSTEMSMANAGER,Galen Riggs;MANAGEROFLEGALSERVICES: Steve McCloud;STAFFATTORNEYS:JohnAllen,VirginiaA. McCoy,

MaryCampbell;MANAGEROFGOVERNMENTRELATIONS:JimWrye; GOVERNMENTRELATIONSCOORDINATOR:AntoinetteLee;WEBMASTER &COMMUNICATIONSCOORDINATOR:AmandaChaney;MANAGING EDITOR&COMMUNICATIONSCOORDINATOR:AlexeiSmirnov; INSTRUCTION&PROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENTCOORDINATORS:Susan Dalton;COORDINATOROFMEMBERSHIP&AFFILIATERELATIONS: ShannonBain.

UniServ Staff contact information can be found on page 16 or by scannig the Quick Response code below.

TEA STANDS FOR THE PROFESSION TEA WORKS FOR BETTER

Licenses must not be based on TVAAS and evaluation The state would never pull the license of a dentist whose patients had many cavities. Nor would it pull the license of a lawyer who lost in court. In fact, of the dozens of professions the state regulates, teaching is the only one tied to outcomes.

In August of 2013, the State Board of Education, at the prompting of Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman, changed Tennessee teacher licensure from credentials to outcomes. It is now possible to lose a teaching license on low TVAAS or evaluation scores.

TVAAS has fundamental flaws that make it wholly unsuitable to destroying teaching careers.

It is a statistical estimate with a standard error that can fluctuate wildly, especially in upper grades.

TVAAS scores can change years after a teacher has taught a group of students. The evaluation system itself is becoming more and more reliant on TVAAS by pressure from the state.

DON’T BURN OUR PROFESSION! Basing teacher licensure on TVAAS, evaluation or test scores torches careers. No other profession in Tennessee bases licensure on outcomes and statistical estimates.

Treating teachers very differently from all other professions is unacceptable.

The General Assembly can fix what the SBE enacted.

COMPENSATION

Restore the state salary schedule THE STATE NO LONGER VALUES TEACHING EXPERIENCE OR ADVANCED DEGREES. THAT IS WRONG! A vote of the State Board of Education gutted the schedule from 20 steps to three, and eliminated all degree categories above a master’s.

TEA is ready to fight to make sure education and experience are valued.

Fastest improving salaries in the nation

GOV. HASLAM RECENTLY COMMITTED TO MAKE TENNESSEE ONE OF THE LEADING STATES IN THE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHER SALARIES. TEA is dedicated to seeing this commitment reached.

Address the spiraling cost of insurance MANY EDUCATORS DIDN’T GET A RAISE THIS YEAR BECAUSE HEALTH CARE COSTS GOBBLED UP LOCAL AVAILABLE FUNDING. Many Education Support Professionals have their entire paycheck going to health insurance. The state should do more to offset health care costs through the BEP.

Reduce out-of-pocket teaching costs HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU PAY FOR SUPPLIES FOR YOUR CLASSROOM? With more required by the state, it is time the state provides adequate classroom supply funds.

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TEA OPPOSES CORPORATE TAKEOVER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS

TEA FIGHTS FOR ADEQUATE FUNDING

Tennessee invests less in children than most neighboring states

$1,407

UNLIKE ALMOST ALL SOUTHERN STATES, TENNESSEE SCHOOLS GET LESS THAN HALF OF ALL FUNDING FROM THE STATE. It is one reason Tennessee is behind in student investments.

$1,218

MORE

46th

$389

MORE

PER STUDENT

$107

IN THE NATION FOR INVESTMENT IN CHILDREN

LESS

$345

$737 $139 $864 MORE MORE

PER STUDENT

LESS

$3,003

MORE

MORE PER STUDENT

PER STUDENT

PER STUDENT

“Thank God for Mississippi!”

That’s been the thought for most Southern states because it prevented them from being last in some very PER troubling categories.

STUDENT When it comes to investment in children, Tennessee can no longer use that PER STUDENT phrase.

PER STUDENT

Source: NEA Ranking and Estimates, U.S. Census

Mississippi now provides $737 more funding per student than PER STUDENT Tennessee. In order to simply meet the Magnolia state’s investment Tennessee would need an additional $700 million! To match Kentucky, the state needs $1.1 billion! TEA will always fight for better education investment!

MORE

Fighting vouchers and radical charter expansion

TEA is the largest statewide organization that fights vouchers and a statewide charter school authorizer.

Privatization efforts are going to be front and center in the legislative session this spring. Private school vouchers drain needed resources from public schools. We should focus on improving public schools rather than sending taxpayer money to private schools and out-of-state charter companies.

Get ready to ask your legislator to vote NO!

46th

in funding

8th

n o i t a u d a r g in rate

BUILD ON WHAT WORKS! Instead of trying unproven theories and bad policy developed in Washington, it is time the General Assembly built on the proven success of Tennessee schools!

Spring Symposium to Inspire, Inform Teachers Dubbed ‘Teaching, Achieving, Succeeding,’ TEA’s 18th annual spring symposium will provide members with an unparalleled opportunity to hone their teaching skills while enjoying time in the Great Smoky Mountains.

To be held April 4-5, 2014, at the Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburg, the symposium will offer up to eight hours of professional development credit during the weekend depending on the number of 4 January 2014

events and sessions attended.

Attendees will explore: new test administration policies; supporting students with dyslexia; information about response to intervention, whole brain teaching and Common Core; using technology in classrooms; practical tips for improving your evaluation; positioning as an instructional teacherleader; as well as activities that engage students to improve learning.

This year’s keynote speaker, Lori Nazareno, is a dually certified National Board-certified teacher who has taught for 25 years. She designed the Mathematics and Science Leadership Academy, a teacher-led school in Denver, and served on numerous boards. She currently works with teachers on redesigning schools.

Please visit www.teateachers.org for more details and to register for the Symposium.

TEA ADVOCATES FOR COMMON SENSE IN EDUCATION

Common Core changes must not hurt students, teachers or schools Adequate training and resources TEA estimates the computer resources needed to implement Common Core in Tennessee will cost more than $200 million. So far the state has come up with only a quarter of that funding. Compensated teacher training, new learning materials, additional personnel and other necessary investments need to be funded if Common Core is to succeed.

Do no harm during the change As student test scores fluctuate because of Common Core, teachers’ careers must not be destroyed, especially in light of the push to base licensure, pay and other critical decisions on test scores.

Make sure new assessments work and are fair TEA knows as stakes go up on testing, those tests must be fair and accurate. Count on your association to constantly review and demand accountability for the new Common Core assessments.

It’s common sense that when you change the format of a test, scores drop. It is logical when you change what is being tested, scores also drop. That happened when Tennessee changed its TCAP standards.

It has happened in other states that have shifted to Common Core assessments.

There is little recognition by state officials of the coming problems—or opportunities— posed by the change.

Will the public be properly prepared for the more than 30 percent drop in test scores, as was seen in Kentucky and New York when Common Core assessments were implemented?

Will teachers be supported during this time of change?

TEA is the only organization asking the tough questions, standing with students and teachers during this time of massive change.

TEA CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR POLICYMAKERS

Making the State Board of Education more accountable During the summer of 2013 the State Board of Education ignored a petition of thousands of citizens and gutted the minimum salary schedule.

Later it changed licensure for the worse, all with very little deliberation or public comment.

TEA is interested in making the board more accountable by having members either go before voters in elections or changing how members are appointed. Accountability cannot flow just one way in education!

TEA DEMANDS BETTER ASSESSMENT FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Making evaluation fair and clear

High stakes testing has altered how we teach and what students learn. Yet there are growing questions about high stakes testing itself. Why should so much weight be placed on these annual assessments? TEA will continue to push for more accurate and less high stakes assessments, such as a pre-test/ post-test system.

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Since her arrival in Nashville last November as TEA’s new Executive Director, Carolyn Crowder has kept a busy schedule of meetings, school visits and more meetings. We caught up with Crowder between appointments to talk about the TEA Road Trip, robust legislative agenda and why she’s optimistic about the future of public education in Tennessee.

What is the most important role our association can play to empower Tennessee’s teachers in their work?

We must establish ourselves among non-educators as the people leading the profession. We can do it by being the facilitator to empower our members to lead the profession in their buildings, districts and together as a state.

During your tenure as president of the Oklahoma Education Association, you achieved the highest salary increases in state history. Could it be done here in Tennessee?

Certainly, compensation is a goal that we have in our legislative agenda. Anything we can do to make teaching and other education roles the kind of profession that is honored and rewarded the way it should be — the way other countries treat it — we’ll do that. Other countries are out-scoring us in tests and accountability measures.

Many of these countries are also out-investing us on what they spend on students.

They reward their educators differently and we need to convince our policymakers to change their practices.

How does your background in music education influence your work?

Since I started out as a music educator, I have a passion for teaching the whole child, making sure that students are able to have instruction and opportunities in the arts as well as academic subjects. Students need to be involved in electives. What really upsets me is a trend across the nation towards the emphasis on standardized tests, particularly the emphasis on math and reading. These are important subjects, but the approach of only caring about the scores is wrong. Taking kids out of music, PE and other

TEA Executive Director Carolyn Crowder

Carolyn Crowder: “We Don’t Give Up When Students Don’t Get Fractions. We Find a Way” Do you believe the leadership in our state does not recognize this?

The political leadership has not recognized it, or we would not be where we are, 46th in the nation for investment in children. Because we care about leading the profession and creating great schools for students, we need to lead the charge in increasing that investment. That’s one thing we’re doing this year with our legislative agenda.

What are your personal goals and plans for moving TEA forward in advancing the teaching profession?

My vision is that teachers are in on the design as well as the implementation of any kind of change that affects their classrooms. The fact that teachers have not been clearly involved as much as they should have been on the design and implementation of recent changes is why they are not proving to be successful in actual implementation. Our role as an organization is to create the atmosphere politically to allow educators to be more involved. It’s collective action. It’s what we can do together. One teacher can’t change the fact that TVAAS is not a good measure to use for evaluation and licensure. But together we can move our state in a direction that is more appropriate. One teacher can’t change her class size or successfully argue whether the investment in education needs to change, but together we can do that. That’s why we at TEA have this role of bringing people together and empowering them as a group and as individuals to take over their profession.

So many passionate teachers and education employees feel beaten down and are at the point where they don’t have time to do anything but try to get along, adapt to the constantly changing demands and take care of their families. What do we say to them?

Join us! But don’t just join us. Become actively involved so we can provide the safeguards people need to weigh in on important conversations. Because of our clout and collective action, we can create the academic freedom that will allow teachers to teach what they need to teach and to weigh in on why certain methods need to be the way they are — without fear of punishment over a score that isn’t appropriate.

6 January 2014

electives because their scores aren’t high enough, forcing them to spend more time drilling certain items so they can become better test-takers is not the way to teach kids. They need to learn how to be creative and how to think critically. We don’t want to just create test-takers. We want to educate citizens who grow up to be adults who can think and solve problems. Technology is advancing so much; the world we live in changes every two years. A lot of our knowledge base is outdated every two years.

We can’t teach kids everything they need to know. It’s going to happen to them after they leave high school or college. We’ve got to teach them how to think and how to solve problems when they come across them. You can’t do that by just teaching them how to score well on most of the standardized tests.

How do the peculiarities of Tennessee’s political and educational systems compare to other states where you have worked?

I’ve been other places that have a spotlight on reform that affects educators.

Even though the reformers aren’t educators themselves, they may have been in a school once or twice. I heard about TVAAS 10 years ago in another state. Tennessee is implementing reform on steroids. We’re doing more than everyone else, and all reforms are happening at the same time.

There appears to be a fundamental gap between the advocates of a pullyourself-up-by-the-bootstraps mentality, those who believe that the market decides everything, and those who are in the teaching profession because it’s their passion and who believe in creating equal opportunity for everyone. Can you speak to that?

The core value of TEA and NEA that I share is equal opportunity. In looking at the conflict between equal opportunity and individual achievement, one must realize that before you can start inspiring people, you have to give them equal opportunity.

Too many times those in charge are putting the cart before the horse.

When times are tough, what do you rely on to move forward and succeed?

I rely a lot on my immediate family, my husband Terry who is an educator, my

closest advisor and friend, and my dog Fred who makes me forget about any kind of stress the minute I get home. These are the two people (because Fred is really a person) who keep me centered.

In your work in Oklahoma, you were successful in building a coalition to advance the teaching profession. Do you think this can be done here and now?

I know TEA has been successful in building coalitions. We must be able to do it all the time and not just when we need a campaign. We must form coalitions in every district and every school neighborhood. We can’t do this alone. We need to work to involve people at the grassroots level more than we have in the past. We can do that.

What do you say to teachers who admit that they cry every night and say they can’t do it anymore?

The minute we start pulling together more — at all levels of our organization — we’re going to start seeing successes. We’re going to succeed in a lot of our efforts during this legislative session.

Success breeds success. We don’t give up when our students don’t get fractions. We find another way to teach them. That’s what we’re going to do as an organization.

Can you cite your most profound experiences since you’ve arrived in Tennessee?

In talking with folks and learning the history of TEA and what led us to this point over the last three or four years, it was learning how the loss of collective bargaining was not just a failure in the legislature.

It was a loss comparable to when something dies because it was part of you. Learning how much it was a part of our members’ DNA was important to me.

What has given me hope at our TEA staff meeting in December and the TEA board meeting in January was learning how people are ready to get beyond the loss of collective bargaining and get busy defining ourselves differently. We are leading the profession; we’re ready to work together. As long as you have a joint goal, we’re moving forward while still honoring the past.

As an excellent example of this work, the TEA Road Trip so far has been very successful. We’ve had great turnout at meetings held in the first couple weeks this year.

The concept behind the road trip is to go to the grassroots. We can’t accomplish all of our goals by just lobbying our legislative agenda at the state level.

We have to discuss, lobby and weigh in on issues across the state. I compliment our local leadership and field staff on putting together some wonderful events. We have to keep this momentum going until the end of the legislative session. There’s a road trip coming, and people need to be part of it. This is an example of grassroots activism — pulling together, forming those coalitions, making a difference.

Why We Belong It’s Not About an ‘R’ or a ‘D,’ It’s About Education Teacher-Legislators Speak Up for Public Schools I’m reformed out. There’s too much going on.

We need to take a long look at what’s been put in place and see how effective it has been. We’ve had too much reform and I don’t think it helps classroom teachers if it keeps up its pace.

As a teacher with more than 20 years of experience, I think the intensity of reforms has been enormous. It’s created needless anxiety among teachers. Morale has suffered. Teachers are made to feel responsible for student failures in schools.

During this legislative session, I think the pushback on Common Core will cross party Rep. Jim Coley (R-Bartlett) lines. I’m sure you’ve been aware of the letters and emails on both the Democratic and the Republican side. While I expect vouchers to be pretty partisan, right now I’m opposed to expanding the voucher program in Tennessee.

I want to look at what we’ve done so far and not introduce any new reforms.

I want to see the evidence over a period of time.

I belong to TEA because I believe there should be checks and balances in schools as there are in the legislature. TEA fulfills this role in its desire to help students, teachers, principals and parents. I don’t think all the power should be vested in the principal, teacher or the commissioner of education. The commissioner needs to be assessed. I don’t look at my role as an adversarial one. TEA serves as a check on public education policies.

Another thing that concerns me is that teachers haven’t been adequately informed about the reforms.

I think the number of retirements among teachers has doubled during the last two years. It concerns me because I believe the profession needs to be stable. Especially at inner-city schools, we need form, structure and stability, not just reform.

As a result of the top-down management style of this administration, morale among Tennessee’s teachers is lower than it’s ever been in my 27 years of teaching. It’s because teachers’ input is not considered and our best practices are not used.

I’m a Tennessee teacher and I’ve never met the kids I’m evaluated on. These unfair practices are demoralizing teachers and taking teachers input from the picture.

The idea that after a few years teachers don’t improve is offensive.

Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman said that at a State Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) Board of Education meeting. Only someone who has taught only a couple of years would make a statement like that.

Even if we’re making gains in test scores, we’re not addressing the struggling schools and students. Vouchers and a state charter authorizer are not going to do that. I don’t understand how a commissioner of public education could support vouchers. It’s unfathomable to me.

Huffman can get away with these initiatives by bypassing the legislature.

What the state board adopted this summer was essentially a pay cut for teachers. Adopting licensure changes during a conference call — I have faith that the Rupublicans and Democrats wouldn’t touch that with a 10-foot pole.

That vote was heinous. While dogs are howling in the background, you’re determining a major policy shift. Unbelievable! If you’re not at the level where you can mute those who are not speaking, you shouldn’t adopt education policy over a conference call.

I think it’s time to revisit the power of the state board over the state salary schedule and licensure.

TEA member Jim Coley represents District 97 in the Tennessee General Assembly.

TEA member Gloria Johnson represents District 13 in the Tennessee General Assembly.

7 www.teateachers.org

Tennessee’s Teachers

Commissioner of Education Performanc

Domain 2: Planning & Resources

Domain 1: Initiatives

By Shannon Bain After extensive observation Rate Commissioner of Education Kevin Huffman and his leadership of the Tennessee over the past 2.5 years and careful consideration of all the relevant Use the following rating scale: evidence, Tennessee’s teachers 1=significantly below expectations 2=below expectation 3=at expec rate Commissioner of Education Kevin Huffman a “1” (significantly Descriptors Rating below expectations) on a five-point Commissioner sets expectations for teachers that are consistent statewide. rating scale that mirrors the teacher 1 evaluation rating scale.

Commissioner regularly reinforces and rewards effort.

1 Teachers created an evaluation Commissioner uses concise, transparent communication.

1 tool to rate the performance of Tennessee’s commissioner of Commissioner uses examples, illustrations, concepts, and labels for new initiatives.

1 education after three years of Commissioner effectively distributes evaluation materials and resources and clearly communicates enduring the ever-changing state 1 changes to evaluation procedures, documents, etc. evaluation model. Each of the 28 Commissioner supports and sustains teacher morale.

1 descriptors on the evaluation rubric Commissioner calls on all stakeholders and educator feedback is regularly used to monitor and represents the ideal qualities, 1 adjust education initiatives. expertise and skills educators believe are necessary to successfully Commissioner regularly promotes the democratic and social justice principles of public education 1 perform the state’s top education job. and actively promotes the profession.

Mirroring the continuously changing Commissioner provides opportunities where educators and stakeholders generate a variety of ideas 1 teacher and administrator evaluation and alternatives and analyzes problems from multiple perspectives and viewpoints. model, the commissioner’s evaluation Commissioner has a variety of mechanisms for solving known problems with educational initiatives, 1 is based on observation data. applying appropriate solutions and evaluating the effectiveness of applied solutions.

“Unfortunately, out of 28 Commissioner allows for differentiation of policy implementation and trusts local school system 2 descriptors on the commissioner leaders and educators to implement initiatives. evaluation rubric, there is little Descriptors Rating evidence of a high rating for our Commissioner provides evidence that his educational initiatives are appropriate for Tennessee’s current commissioner,” said TEA 1 teachers, citizens, and public schools.

President Gera Summerford, a Commissioner uses qualitative and quantitative measures appropriately (i.e value-added, student Sevier County math teacher. “The 1 surveys, teacher evaluation, SAT 10, etc.). initial observation indicates the Commissioner uses state assessments as diagnostic instruments and not as measures of educator commissioner believes standardized 1 effectiveness. test data tells us all we need to know

about student learning and teacher success. Furthermore, factors like his observed performance. promotion of quick routes to temporary teaching credentials and his rush According to information pulled from state procurement offices, to attribute test score improvements to recent education reforms lead to a Tennessee spent $40 million on standardized tests last year and is on track lackluster rating on initiatives.” to pay $186 million in federal Race to the Top grant money to implement In the “Planning and Resources” domain of the commissioner evaluation Common Core assessments in 2014-15. Thus the already high cost of testing model, it appears Huffman has little understanding of public education is growing exponentially higher. Already, teachers, concerned citizens and in Tennessee. Specifically, he lacks knowledge of differences and issues politicians are asking whether spending so much on testing is a good use of facing rural, suburban and urban districts. Moreover, he insists on forcing taxpayer funds. Huffman has worked with the State Board of Education to tie an alignment between qualitative and quantitative data that does not student test scores to teacher licensure, evaluation, compensation and other exist. This approach has forced observers on the teacher evaluation model high-stakes human capital decisions. to assign scores during teacher observations to ensure alignment with “An improvement plan to improve the commissioner’s rating would need projected student growth scores, notwithstanding a teacher’s actual 8 January 2014

s Rate Commissioner

ce Rating

Domain 4: Professionalism

Domain 3: Environment

education profession with respect and esteem have led to low teacher morale e Department of Education (TDE) on the criteria below. and high turnover in the state’s public schools.

Parents are concerned about overctations 4=above expectations 5=significantly above expectations testing of their children and many complain that their children are anxious Descriptors Rating and stressed over performing well on so Commissioner encourages educators to improve by providing time and structure to improve, encouraging many tests.

1 mentoring, and promoting quality professional development.

Throughout the recent years of Commissioner follows clear established rules for public input, policy and rule-making, and other “education reform,” the biggest—and 1 administrative procedures. growing—concern of Tennessee’s Commissioner fosters an environment for a welcoming, inviting education profession, encourages more teachers is that their feedback has not 1 people to become teachers in TN, and retains current teachers. been heard.

Commissioner’s interactions with teachers demonstrate caring and respect and create positive relationships On the “Professionalism” domain, 1 within the profession.

Huffman again scores “significantly Commissioner regularly incorporates educator expertise and understands the impact of student diversity on below expectations” in all areas 1 student achievement. except one. He received a “3” for Commissioner has clear channels in place for addressing implementation problems and for answering “…oversee[ing] a state education 1 stakeholder questions. system that continues to demonstrate Commissioner has knowledge and understanding of TN history, culture, and heritage and values its influence improvement in graduation rates 1 on TN education. among all students regardless of Commissioner uses feedback from stakeholders to significantly improve public education in Tennessee.

1 gender, ethnicity, ability or socioCommissioner uses long-term data trends to predict public education strengths and weakness. economic background.” In all other 1 areas, Huffman’s performance as Commissioner consistently adheres to procedures related to state board of education, advisory councils, and 1 education commissioner is deficient. He TN General Assembly. manipulates data to fit his agenda and Commissioner consistently contributes to public education by supporting and promoting healthy initiatives.

1 fails to define TVAAS as an estimate of student growth with a large standard Commissioner’s experience as an educator demonstrates awareness of the day-to-day challenges educators 1 error. He ignores parent and educator face. concerns about over-testing and Commissioner is an experienced educator who understands the value of ongoing professional development 1 circumvents the public input process on and positive school culture on the success of educators and academic progress of students. policymaking. His lack of understanding Commissioner oversees a state education system that continues to demonstrate improvement in graduation 3 rates among all students regardless of gender, ethnicity, ability, or socioeconomic background. of the burden of test scheduling and its Overall Observation Score (total all scores and divide by 28) 1.11 impact on the school environment also is problematic.

As in the teacher evaluation model, to focus on Commissioner Huffman’s over-reliance on standardized testing Tennessee’s teachers have identified one area of refinement (weakness) and vs. teaching. His current mandates force teachers and school administrators one area of reinforcement (strength) for Commissioner Huffman. Tennessee’s AREA OF REINFORCEMENT:_Graduation ratede-emphasize oversight_____ teaching AREA to OFstudents’ REFINEMENT: Educators as partners and professionals in improving public education to emphasize teaching to the test and teachers believe Huffman does a good job overseeing Tennessee’s improving needs in critical thinking and creativity,” said Carolyn Crowder, TEA executive graduation rate. For an area of refinement, teachers believe Huffman must director and former mentor to struggling educators. partner with teachers to improve public education instead of dictating Huffman also scores “significantly below expectations” on all indicators unproven policy while ignoring professional input. in the “Environment” domain. Under his leadership, the current teacher If you haven’t already done so, how would you rate Commissioner evaluation model timeline gives teachers little time to improve in areas of Huffman on the 28 descriptors in the commissioner’s rubric, and what refinement. When teachers report problems with evaluation data errors, the evidence would you cite for those ratings? Since teachers have experienced Department of Education has no system in place for resolving these issues. firsthand many of the commissioner of education’s initiatives, you are Huffman’s failure to protect public education in Tennessee and to treat the invited to visit TEA social media to weigh in on these questions.

9 www.teateachers.org

Overton Co. Teachers Convince Local

School Board to Improve Working Conditions During the last several months, Overton Co. teachers have been succeeding every step of the way in their interaction with the local school board.

In a major win for local teachers, the board agreed to enforce three major policy changes: defining sick leave and doctor-note policies in a clear and public way for all teachers, more accurately interpreting state-provided personal and professional days and giving back to teachers two personal and professional days provided by the county. They also agreed to provide teachers an ex-officio representative on the school board.

“As a young teacher, I never lived through the days when teachers had no benefits, no planning time, no duty-free lunch, and many other working conditions that we now take for granted,” OCEA President Josh Trent said during his address to the school board last November. “The reason I’m here

“As a young teacher, I never lived through the days when teachers had no benefits, no planning time, no duty-free lunch...”

Josh Trent is to let you know the concerns of the teachers of Overton County related to our sick leave and personal and professional leave policies, and how they are affecting teachers and our job effectiveness.”

In his speech, Trent laid out the issues and presented clear-cut and commonsense solutions to the school board. He recommends this approach to other local associations as they address the needs of teachers and school employees during collaborative conferencing.

“I try to look at things from both the administration and the teacher side,” Trent said.

“When I was asking for things I tried to come up with a way that would help the administration as well as the teachers. I wanted to come up with clearcut points they could not refute or deny that they existed.”

While the policies on sick leave days are yet to be adopted, OCEA members and community supporters are attending every meeting to demonstrate their passion and resolve in addressing their demands.

“I heard some board members say their vote was influenced by the number of teachers and community members who came to the meeting in such large numbers,” Trent said.

10 January 2014

OCEA President Josh Trent speaks to the Overton Co. school board in a room full of supporters last fall.

Connect, Learn & Grow at TEA Conferences For new teachers February 22 New Teacher Conference, TEA building, Nashville For ESP members April 26 ESP Conference TEA building, Nashville For administrators February 28 Quality Schools Summit TASL credit approved For student members

March 28

Future Teachers of America

March 28-29 Student TEA Convention Embassy Suites Airport Nashville For all members March 28-29 Minority Affairs Conference Embassy Suites, Cool Springs April 4-5 Spring Symposium Park Vista Hotel, Gatlinburg Visit www.teateachers.org/conferences or scan this code for registration details.

TEA General Counsel: Legislature, Education Commissioner Must Reverse What Essentially is a Pay Cut for Teachers

By Rick Colbert From 1977 until recently, the State of Tennessee recognized what we all know – that teachers, like other professionals, improve with more experience and relevant education.

Our state insured that teachers, like other professionals, would be rewarded for that experience and education by requiring in Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) § 49-3-306(a) (1) that there be a state minimum salary schedule under which teachers with more training and experience would be paid more. With twenty annual “steps” after the first year of teaching, a prospective educator could be assured that wherever she or he taught, she would be assured of receiving incremental annual pay increases over the first 20 years of her career.

Last year, Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman and the State Board of Education increased the “base” salary of a beginning teacher by $456, from $30,420 to $30,876.

However, they collapsed the 20 steps that existed in the state minimum salary schedule to only three steps. A teacher starting her career now is assured of only three salary increases – after years one, six and 11.

Even with the increase in the “base,” a teacher beginning under the new state minimum salary schedule can expect to earn $19,009 less, over the 21 years covered by the schedule, than she would have earned in the same period under last year’s schedule. In fact, by the end of his sixth year in the teaching profession, a teacher will have fallen behind where he would have been under last year’s schedule, and he will never catch up.

The notion that these differences may be made up locally ignores reality. The state minimum salary schedule combines with the local education entity’s share of basic education program (BEP) funding to ensure a base level of compensation for teachers. In counties where education in general is not highly valued, where county commissioners do not have the political will to increase local taxes (even if

local school boards request it), and where the tax base struggles to support any increased local spending, the idea that the newly reduced state minimum salary schedule will be met with increased local spending on salaries is pure folly.

This new compensation scheme will make teaching in our public schools a less attractive career option for prospective teachers. It will make it more difficult for our public schools to retain experienced teachers whose salaries have flattened and do not keep pace with inflation.

It will make it more difficult for school districts in poorer counties to attract and retain quality educators.

It is not only experience that Huffman and the State Board of Education have decided not to value. They have also eliminated salary enhancements for all advanced education beyond a master’s degree. Existing teachers who took on additional student loans and spent substantial amounts of their time pursuing advanced degrees that would help them deliver a better service to their students, with the promise of some modest added compensation for their efforts, will now see that promise broken.

Huffman’s justification for this new salary scheme that he proposed and the State Board of Education approved was that “the distribution of TVAAS scores does not differ substantially by years of experience,” according to the commissioner’s presentation to the Senate Education Committee on January 22, 2013.

Ignoring standard error in statistics, treating statistical estimates as mathematically precise “scores,” and assuming that the result on a particular standardized test measures all that we value in what a teacher does, the Commissioner

“It is time for Tennessee lawmakers to tell Commissioner Huffman and the State Board of Education that enough is enough.”

Rick Colbert

convinced an ill-informed State Board of Education to burden our public school teachers with yet another major policy shift that will only harm the statewide public education system that they are charged with overseeing.

Now we have a less attractive retirement system for teachers, in which actuarial problems caused by non-contributory state employees have been repaired on the backs of teachers who have contributed five percent of their modest pay all along. We have tenure that takes longer to achieve, is harder to attain and easier to lose. The state is making highstakes employment decisions based on TVAAS statistical estimates – some from test scores of students the teacher has never met in courses the teacher has never taught. Teachers have no say in working conditions. Their stagnant salaries don’t even keep up with inflation and rising insurance costs, imposing a net cost on career teaching. These are just some of the things that have been done to teachers recently in the name of education “reform.”

What are these “reforms” supposed to fix?

Does anyone really believe “reforms” on the backs of teachers will enable us to attract a quality workforce of educators for our public schools? Or are these simply politically expedient “reforms” that can be undertaken without addressing the fact that Tennessee remains near the bottom nationally in what we are willing to spend to educate our children?

It is time for Tennessee lawmakers to tell the commissioner and the State Board of Education that enough is enough. If Gov. Bill Haslam really wants Tennessee to be the fastest-growing state in the nation in teacher compensation, as he said in November, it is time for him to show that he means what he says. Instead of a salary schedule that sets teachers back and leaves salaries stagnant, our governor and legislature should require restoration of the traditional 21-step salary schedule and give the modest BEP salary increase to teachers at each of those steps and not just at the entry level.

Rick Colbert is TEA general counsel.

11 www.teateachers.org

NEA Representative A TEA Members Run for NEA RA State Delegate Positions Biographical information and photographs submitted by candidates for state delegate positions to the National Education Association’s Representative Assembly in Denver, Colo., July 3-6, 2014, are published in this three-page section. All candidates will be listed on ballots which local association presidents will receive by March 1.

Members are encouraged to vote in the locally conducted election to determine who will represent them at the NEA RA. For Category 1, NEA members will vote for two district delegates based on the district in which they teach. Category 1 includes candidates who are classroom teachers, education support professionals or persons who serve in other non-supervisory positions.

In Category 2, NEA members may vote for any three of the candidates. This category includes members who are supervisors, administrators or retired NEA life members.

Information about clustering for supervisors/administrators and small local associations was published in the November 2013 issue of teach.

Any NEA-retired life, education support or active member not affiliated with a local

association who wishes to vote in the election may receive a ballot by writing or calling TEA, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201-1099, (615) 242-8392 or (800) 3428367.

The National Education Association Representative Assembly (RA) is NEA’s highest decision-making body. With over 9,000 delegates, it is also the world’s largest democratic, deliberative body.

The RA convenes every July during the Annual Meeting. While the first two days are devoted to discussions, conferences, and exhibits, the highlight is the Representative Assembly itself. During this important event, delegates debate issues that impact American public education, elect NEA officers, and set policy for the 3.2 million-member Association.

In conjunction with the Annual Meeting, NEA also hosts several pre-RA events, including the Joint Conference on the Concerns of Minorities and Women. Participants explore societal trends, the latest education research, current reform, best practices, and other critical issues affecting students and employees. We invite you to come and lend your voice to the conversation.

CATEGORY I

al Development Commission, member of the TEA Fund for Children Executive Council, and member of the JCEA Collaborative Conference Teacher Team. TEA and NEA RA delegate since 2008. “I love being a voice for the teachers of Johnson City and Tennessee. I am honored to serve as a delegate for our wonderful state!”

B.A. in Mathematics and German from Baylor University; she has since earned a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Tennessee and an EdS degree from Lincoln Memorial University.

Gera has long been an advocate for teachers and chief negotiator for Sevier County EA. TEA President since June 2010.

Jenee Hewlett-Peters - Math teacher for Washington Co. school system with 21 years of experience. Active member of WCEA since the very beginning of career and has attended many TEA conferences- most recently the 2013 Advocacy Conference. Has served as a delegate to the TEA RA a number of years. Has served as building representative for most of my career. Currently serving on the Collaborative Conferencing Team.

“I take the honor of being a teacher/student advocate very serious and would appreciate your vote for the 2014 NEA RA.”

Lauren McCarty *

District 1

Leisa Lusk — Special Education teacher at David Crockett High School in Washington Co., building rep. for Washington Co. EA. Former WCEA vice president and president. Member of WCEA bargaining team.

Chief spokesperson for WCEA bargaining team, grievance team committee chair, representative at TEA and NEA assemblies, current and past member of the TEA board of directors, legislative contact team member. Previously taught in Sevier Co. Karen Anderson — Elementary teacher at Lake Ridge School in Johnson City.

Currently serving on NEA Women’s Issues Comm., NEA Resolutions Comm., and TEA NEA Concerns Committee.

Previously served on TEA board and several state and local committees. Membership Chair and PACE Comm. member for JCEA. Taught early childhood education courses at East Tennessee State University and Middle Tennessee State University; directed 3 early childhood programs in middle Tennessee and served on several boards and committees for early childhood.

LaDawn Hudgins — School speech/language pathologist for 27 years. Member of Washington County Education Association for 19 years.

Building rep. for eight years.

Member of Calendar Committee for four years. Current position: WCEA presidentelect. TEA state delegate for 10 years. NEA/TEA delegate in 2012 and 2013.

Married for 32 years. Member of Calvary Church in Johnson City for 18 years. Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority - Ohio University.

Joe Crabtree — Sixth-grade science and social studies teacher at Indian Trail Intermediate School in Johnson City. Currently serving as the president of the Johnson City Education Association, chair of the TEA Instruction and Profession-

12 January 2014

Vicky Jones - Third-grade classroom teacher, 35 years at Fall Branch Elementary/Middle School.

Active in association work: 35 years membership in NEA/TEA/WCEA, WCEA president for 2 terms, WCEA vice president, WCEA W-PACE treasurer, WCEA AR, WCEA Bargaining Team (25+ years), TEA RA (numerous), TEA Advocacy Conferences, TEA Summer Leadership Academies, NEA RA (since 1992).

Danielle Mitchell — I have been teaching in Washington Co. for 11 years, and have been a member of the Washington Co. EA my entire teaching career. I was an STEA while attending East Tennessee State University. I have taught 3rd grade for 9 years, but have also taught 1st and 4th grade. I am the building representative for Grandview Elementary School (six years). I am also a member of our district’s PECCA team.

District 2

Gera Summerford — Math teacher on leave from Gatlinburg-Pittman High School and has been teaching in Sevier County since 1982. She began her teaching career in Texas after receiving a

Grady Caskey — President, Blount Co. EA. Prior: president-elect, executive board, building rep., LCT, Advocacy Conference, Collaborative Conferencing team leader, B-PACE chair, grievance committee chair, District 2 FCPE, TEA RA, NEA RA, TEA Resolutions.

Melinda Shelton Reese — Currently HCEA president; HCEA’s PECCA chief spokesperson; active member of HCEA’s Executive Board. Served on the following HCEA committees: Bargaining/ Negotiations, Membership, HCPACE, Legislative, & Newsletter. Serving as TEA state board contact.

Served on the TEA Board of Directors for District 2. Chairperson of TEA‘s 2009-2010 Professional Negotiations‘ Committee & participant of many TEA sponsored events, such as Summer Leadership School, Bargaining Conferences, Area Cluster Meetings, TUEAC, Spring Symposium, Legislation/ Lobbying days, local delegate to TEA RAs, & various workshops.

Mark Williamson — Past president, presidentelect, grievance chair, treasurer, BPACE chair, LCT, Advocacy Conference, building rep., negotiations committee chair.

District 3

Michael Carvella * Patsy Thurmon *

District 4

Anthony Hancock —Special education teacher, Comprehensive Development Classroom (CDC), Bearden Middle School. Knox Co. EA:

Minority Affairs Leadership committee, association representative. TEA: State Resolutions Committee member, Southeast Regional Minority Leadership Training Committee, Minority Affairs Leadership committee, New Teachers Training Committee, state delegate – RA; NEA Resolutions Committee.

Paula Hancock — Sixthgrade mathematics teacher, Karns Middle School; TEA Board of Directors, East Tennessee Black Classroom Teacher; TEA Legislative Editing Committee; TEA Communications Committee; TEA Resolutions Committee; TEA Representative Assembly; PAC Captain, NEA Fund for Children and Public Education; NEA Minority Leadership Training; NEA Representative Assembly; KCEA Board of Directors, Minorityat-Large; KCEA Collaborative Conference Team; KCEA Membership Committee; KCEA Association Representative; KCEA Minority Affairs Committee.

Tanya Coats — President (KCEA), Bearden Elementaryinstructional coach; KCEA Executive Board member, 2011-2013 TEA Board of Directors District 4; committee member of KCEA’s Minority Affairs, Public Relations, Elections, Human Relations, Bearden Elementary SWS Leadership Team, Knox County Schools Coaches’ Network; I serve currently as a treasurer for several organizations that include my church-Clinton Chapel AME Zion Church, Top Ladies of Distinction, Alpha Kappa Alpha–Psi Zeta Omega as well as a couple of others.

Karen Peterman — Knox County classroom teacher with 30 years of experience.

BS, BA, MS (+45 hrs). KCEA Executive Board, 2005 TEA Distinguished Classroom Teacher. Former local president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, newsletter editor, chief

Assembly 2014 Delegate Nominees negotiator and TUEAC president. Served on TEA’s IPD Commission, Resolutions, Status of Women, and NEA Concerns Committees 17 TEA & 15 NEA Representative Assemblies. “I hope that you will allow me to represent you at this important national meeting.”

Evelyn Gill — Special education teacher, South Doyle Middle School. I have been a member of the Association for 11 years.

Leadership roles: Carter High School AR; KCEA executive board member (high school); chair, KCEA minority affairs; committee member, KC-PACE, past member, Sick Bank Board; past member of IPD committee. Currently serving as elected liaison for the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (East). Professional teaching awards include 2007 Excellence in Teaching Award; 2010 Community Shares Award-Outstanding Educator.

Joan Washington — Behavior coach at Beaumont Magnet Honors Academy.

Knox County—26 years of service at the end of 2013.

Member: KCEA Executive Board, Minority Affairs, TEA, NEA. Committees: Teacher Evaluation Advisory and TUEAC. Served on Mentoring Team, Project Grad Cooperative Management Consistency Discipline coach, treasurer of Oak Ridge Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Member: Children of God Ministries. “I would like to serve as your 2014 NEA RA State Delegate.”

Amy Duncan * Charles Negendank — Knox Co. EA (KCEA).

Social studies teacher, Fulton High School, Knox County Schools; KCEA Executive Board, high schools representative; Member, KCEA committees: Membership, Legislative, Public Relations; TEA activist: rallies & events; TEA Representative Assembly delegate 2011, 2012. Longtime labor activist: participant, Union Summer 2001, Syracuse, NY, United Food and Commercial Workers. Founding member, United Campus Workers-Communications Workers of America Local 3865.

Carolyn Clemmons — Educator at Farragut Intermediate School in Knoxville. Has been a member of KCEA, TEA and NEA member for 36 years. Experience varies across multiple disciplines, including social studies PLC leader (current).

Former Roane Co. EA secretary. Served on the Human Relations Committee, Membership Committee, was school building representative for 10 years. Holds degrees from Mars Hill College (B.A.), Western Carolina University (M.A.), and University of Tennessee (Ed.S).

Shauna Foster — Knox County Schools System; 10 years; instructional coach. TEA Minority Affairs Committee - two years, KCEA delegate - TEA Representative Assembly; TEA Minority Affairs Conference; TEA Summer Leadership Academy – Emerging Leader. Presently - KCEA Finance Committee; KCEA Minority Affairs Committee treasurer. I would appreciate your support and vote as your respresentative.

District 5

Diane Lillard — Teaches second grade at Waterville Elementary. Graduate of Lee University, certified in early childhood elementary education and has 34 years experience. Currently serving as an NEA director, TEA director, and a member of the NEA UniServ Advisory Committee. Local Association experience: Bradley Co. EA president, treasurer, Executive Board, chief negotiator, membership chair, newsletter editor, communication chair, PR&R chair, AEW coordinator, research chair, and RAA coordinator.

Elected positions include District 3 and District 5 TEA director, TEA Executive Committee, TEA-RA (27 years), and NEA-RA (23 years).

Shawanda Perkins * Sandra C. Griffin — More than 35 years in education, reading teacher for sixth through eighth grades.

Personal motto: “Don’t let anyone extinguish your flame for achieving greatness.”

B.S. Clark-Atlanta University; M.Ed. Trevecca University; Doctor of Bible Ministry, Covington Theological Seminary. Member of TEA-NEA, HCEA Board of Directors, district negotiation team, H-Pace, TEALegislative Contact, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Phi Delta Kappa Sorority, Daughters of Isis, PHA, member of Warren Chapel AMEC. Married to Rev. A.C. Griffin, Jr. Mother of Tanacha L. Griffin and A.C. Griffin III. Bryan Massengale — Band director at Rhea Central Elementary School, band director in Rhea County since 1984. Rhea-Dayton EA. B.S. degree in music education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1980; M.S. degree in Administration & Supervision, UT-Knoxville, 1993; Ed. S. in Educational Leadership, Tennessee Tech University. RDEA president, past president, newsletter editor, chief negotiator; NEA: past NEA Today local editor advisory board; attended 13 previous NEA Representative Assemblies.

District 6

Tommy Scott Price — Math teacher at Coffee County Central High School since 1996. Current and past president of the Coffee Co. EA. Served as local delegate to TEA/TEA RA for several years.

Recently appointed chairman of the PECCA Special Question Committee for Coffee County Schools. B.A. in secondary education mathematics, 1993. M.Ed., MTSU, 2007.

Taught at Hamilton Co. Schools between 1993 and 1995.

Beth Brown — English teacher, 13 years, Grundy Co. High School. GCEA: association representative, president-elect, president, chief negotiator, grievance chairperson, membership chairperson, collaborative conferencing chairperson.

TEA: TEA Board (2009-2012), board liaison to IPD Commission, Executive Committee, Budget Committee, Educator Advocacy Committee, Dues Task Force, Credentials Committee. NEA: RA delegate, 2009-2013.

District 7

Ashley Evett * Barbara Fisher — Lebanon Special School District, 33 years; B.A. education, M.A. administration/supervision, +45, TSU; Lebanon EA Executive Board advisory; TEA Executive Board; past Status of Women chair; TEA RA 24 years; NEA RA 19 years; Retired Teachers Legislative Committee; Minority Affairs advisory; Phi Delta Kappa Executive Board; Delta Sigma Theta; Kappa Omicron Phi; “I will continue to represent the vision, ideals and commitment of the NEA.”

District 8

Kawanda Braxton — Eighth-grade special education teacher, Williamson Co. Schools, Brentwood Middle School. Currently serving as District 8 representative on TEA Board of Directors, TEA Executive Committee, TEA Resolutions Committee. Locally serving as WCEA minority representative and WPACE treasurer.

Previous positions: WCEA president, presidentelect, TEA Minority Affairs Committee, ION Committee, Career and Technology Committee.

TEA RA and NEA RA since 2002.

Mark Orman — Maury Co. EA; 28 years of teaching experience, active in association work 25 yeras (AL, LA, TN). Local officer, district director, committee member: NEA Concerns, TEA membership, professional rights/responsibilities, internal relations, National Education Week.

King Magnet School, has served MNEA as treasurer, parliamentarian, association representative, negotiations team member, TEA delegate, NEA delegate, organizer for NEA Target of Opportunities Campaign, and committee chair (Constitution, Bylaws, Standing Rules; Minority Affairs; Budget; and Special Education).

Theresa L. Wagner — Gra-Mar Middle School, Nashville. Professional: adapted physical education teacher in Louisiana (1986-98); Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools physical education teacher (1998-present). MNEA: Executive Board member (2007-present); delegate to TEA Representative Assembly (2006-11); Groupsite & Facebook Social Media Administrator (2009-present). TEA: Legislative Editing Committee; Status of Women in Education Committee; Membership Committee; Communications Committee; TUEAC President (2010-present); TEA State Delegate to NEA Annual Meeting (2008-13); TEA District 9 Board Director (2012-present). NEA: Human and Civil Rights Division/GLBT Cadre trainer (2007-present); GLBT Caucus SE Regional Female Director (2010-present).

Earl Wiman — NEA Executive Committee, Teacher on special assignment, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools; past TEA president, vice president, executive committee member, TPACE Committee member and board member; holds undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate degrees; has attended numerous NEA RAs and served on the NEA Resolutions Committee; chaired state committees, involved in numerous local association activities, Metropolitan Nashville EA Executive Committee.

Jeannine Renfro — Jeannine Renfro has been a teacher in Metro Nashville Public schools for 15 years. She is currently serving as District 4 director, Metro Nashville Education Association Executive Board. She serves at MNEA as association representative, chair of the Scholarship/Communications Committees. Renfro has attended TEA Bargaining Conference, NCUEA Fall Conference, Quality Schools Summit, TEA-RA and NEA-RA. “I would consider it an honor to serve and represent TEA District 9 at the 2014 NEA Representative Assembly.”

District 9

Candra Clariette * Kenneth Martin — Currently serves as the TEA Black Classroom Teacher from Middle Tennessee on the TEA Board of Directors and as a member of the MNEA Executive Board. Martin, an exceptional education teacher at Martin Luther

Claudia Davidson — Social studies teacher, Antioch High School, association representative 8+ years, MNEA Executive Board district director 8 + years, former chair MNEA Nominations Elections

Continued on page 15

13 www.teateachers.org

14 January 2014

NEA Rep. Assembly 2014 Delegate Nominees Commission, overseeing MNEA’s various elections 3 years, MNEA Professional Rights Responsibilities Committee 5 years, MNEA NEA Annual Meeting Review Committee, TEA Educators Advocacy Committee, delegate Tennessee Education Association Representative Assembly, delegate National Education Association Annual Meeting, TEA Summer Leadership School, Advocacy Conference.

Erick Huth — MNEA vice president, Metro Retirement Plan, Metro Insurance Trust, Sick Leave Bank; TEA: Advocacy, Retirement and Insurance. Formerly: National Council of Urban Education Associations: parliamentarian, regional director, Screening, Elections; MNEA: president, chief bargaining spokesperson, parliamentarian; Tennessee Urban Education Associations Council: president, vice president; Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System: trustee, executive committee member; TEA: Board member, TEA Political Action Committee for Education Council, chair (Internal Organizational Needs, Advocacy, Retirement and Insurance), member (Vocational, Communication, Professional Negotiations).

Carrol Trusty — Career Ladder Level III English teacher, Antioch High School, credit recovery. 30 years English/Language Arts in Wilson County, Metro. Formerly, Antioch debate program two decades and numerous honors, empowering students, prestigious scholarships.

MNEA treasurer; formerly MNEA secretary, MNEA association representative; TEA Professional Negotiations Committee, TEA Advocacy Committee, MNEA Rights Responsibility Committee, MNEA NEA Annual Meeting Review Committee, MNEA Bargaining Team, MNEA delegate Tennessee Education Association Representative Assembly, MNEA delegate National Education Association Annual Meeting.

David Gould * Stephen Henry — MNEA: president, vice-president, treasurer, parliamentarian, Board-district director, Executive Committee, chief negotiator; committee chairBudget & Finance, Public Relations, Bylaws, Human Relations; PACE Council, Martin Human Relations Award, TEA: Board of Directors, TEA-FCPE Council, Committees-NEA Concerns, Executive, Negotiations, Credentials, Human Relations, Communications, Chair-ION & Human Relations; “I Can Do It” trainer, Johnson Human Relations Award, TUEAC, NEA: Board of Directors & Executive Committee-official observer, Committees-SOGI, Equity & Ethnic Harmony; NEA-FCPE Council, HCR DivisionNational Trainer, NCUEA. Sheila Garcia — Literacy teacher at Isaac Litton Middle School in Metro Nashville Public schools since August 2001. Graduate of Tennessee State University (B.A., M. Ed) in curriculum and instruction. Currently serving as District 10 director, MNEA executive board. She serves at MNEA as association representative, chair of the Minority Affairs Committee. TEA delegate;

member TEA Minority Affairs Committee; member TEA Minority Leadership Program.

Served as a delegate to the NEA Annual and TEA Representative Assembly.

District 10 Larry Proffitt *

Caryce Gilmore * Rebecca Jackman * Joyce Johnson — Reading specialist in Clarksville. I would appreciate your vote for state delegate to the 2014 NEA RA. My association involvement at the state/local level includes: vice-president, CMCEA, CMC-PACE committee, TEA/NEA RA delegate, TEA negotiations committee, TEA/CMCEA human relations committee, CMCEA constitution & bylaws committee.

Jane Ligon — Administrative assistant/bookkeeper at Bransford Elementary, Robertson County. RCEA – 1st vice president, chair of the Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee and member of the Education Support Professional Committee; TEA – TUEAC treasurer and member of Retirement Committee; NEA – secretary of National Council of Education Support Professionals, member of Advisory Committee on Membership, Ethnic Minority Affairs and Status of Women Caucus. Former member, TEA and NEA Board of Directors, delegate to the TEA and NEA Representative Assembly for numerous years.

Marilda Smith — Currently teaches computer lab at Watauga Elementary in Robertson County, previously at Greenbrier Elementary.

Active in NEA, TEA and locally with the Robertson County EA. NEA: NEA RA – five years, NEA-ESP RA – nine years, member of the NEA/TEA ESP recruitment team, and facilitator at NEA-ESP conference in Nashville in 2007. TEA: Board member TEA-ESP at-large for three years. Five years on the TEA ESP Committee (three years as chair), two years on TEA Communications Committee. One year on the TEA Legislative Editing Committee.

Benita Townsend — Adm. assistant/attendance clerk at Bransford Elementary School in Robertson County.

RCEA - 2012 ESP of the year, chair RCEA ESP committee and Minority Affairs Committee, ESP rep. on the RCEA Executive Committee.

TEA - 2013 ESP of the year, chair ESP committee, and was a 2013 MLTP graduate. Delegate to many TEA and NEA RAs, attended numerous TEA and NEA workshops. I would like to continue my commitment in representing Robertson Co. as a 2014 NEA RA delegate advocating for all public education employees.

District 11

Wendy Bowers *

Melanie Buchanan — Firstgrade teacher at Ashland City Elementary School in Cheatham County where she also serves as the treasurer and membership chair of the Cheatham County EA. She has served two terms on the TEA Board of Directors and currently represents Tennessee on the NEA Board of Directors. She was named a Distinguished Educator for Middle Tennessee for the 11-12 school year and was Tennessee’s nominee for the NEA Foundation’s Excellence in Education Award in 2012.

District 12 Suzie May *

Clinton Smith * Raeleen Burke — Classroom kindergarten teacher at Huntingdon Primary School.

District 13

Ernestine King — Currently serving on the TEA Board of Directors; Shelby County Education Association, Status of Women in Leadership Committee co-chair and TUEAC vice president. Credentials include A.S., B.S., Med, Ed.S. She has served as State Board of Education Committee chair, on State Special Education Task Committee, Minority Affairs Committee, IPD Commission, Human Relations Committee, State Contact Committee, TEA’s Special Education Ad Hoc Committee, and Legislative Editing Committee. Ernestine attends leadership conferences and TUEAC Fall and Spring Symposium.

Diccie Smith — M-SCEA, functional skills teacher, 31 years experience. I have been active in the association since I was a student and have represented you on the local, state, and national levels.

Now that SCEA and MEA have merged into M-SCEA, I would like to continue to bring the rural, suburban, and urban issues to the forefront. I ask for your vote to continue to stand up for our children, our employees, and public education.

District 14

Sarah-Kennedy Harper — Proud teacher of Memphis City Schools in West Tennessee. Currently serving on the TEA board of directors.

Having taught for 15 years, she has been a delegate to the TEA RA a number of years.

“I know now that teaching is what I was born to do and a teacher is who I am.

It’s in my blood.”

Tiffany Reed *

District 15

Stephanie Bea — Special education assistant in Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Currently serving on TEA Board of Directors-ESP at-large; member of Memphis-Shelby Co. EA; building representative; National Council for Educational Support Professionals; TEA ESP Committee chair;

Council of Exceptional Children; NEA Peace and Justice Caucus: NEA Women’s Caucus; Caucus for Educators of Exceptional Children; attended TEA Representative Assembly, NEA Representative Assembly; NEA ESP Leaders for Tomorrow 2013; won Heart Person Award 2011-2012.

Tom Emens *

CATEGORY 2

Barbara Gray — Currently serves as TEA vice-president, chairs Dues Task Force, NEA Concerns & Budget committees; member of Memphis-Shelby Co. EA; serves on Board of DirectorsM-SCEA; assistant principal at Arlington Middle; past president, vice president, and administrator-at-large - Shelby Co. EA; chaired and served on various local and state committees. has served as teacher and assistant principal with Shelby County Schools since 1972. Has represented members at numerous TEA RAs & NEA RAs. I would like to represent you at 2014 NEA RA. Charles Green — Principal and assistant principal Memphis City /Shelby County Schools and active TEA member since 1996. Currently West Tennessee Administrators representative on the TEA Board. Served on numerous TEA and local association committees. Member of the local Pace Council, Legislative Contact Team member and past chair of State Board of Education Contact Committee.

Proud to have served as your delegate in the past and would love to represent you at the 2014 NEA RA. Johnny Henry * Julie Hopkins * Margaret Thompson — I have represented administrators from Middle Tennessee on the TEA Board for the past three years. I have taught school for more than 30 years. I have been an administrator for seven years in Robertson Co., all the while being a member of Robertson Co. EA. Throughout my years of Association membership, I have worked on numerous committees, as well as recruited membership. During my tenure on the Board, I have attended four NEA RAs. Paula Brown * Jessica Holman * Melinda Pruitt — Special education supervisor, Greene Co. Schools, 32 years, 16/ teacher, 16/administrator; B.S./M.S. UT-K, doctorate ETSU; GCEA: treasurer 200406; president 2011, 2001, 1995; president-elect 2000, 1994; vice president 2013, 1999, 1993. TEA: Status of Women Committee 2006-07; Administrator Task Force 2005-06 and 2007-09. ION Committee 2003-04, 201213; Membership Committee 2001-02, Member Benefits Committee 2009-12. Honors: TEA distinguished administrator 2001-02, Who’s Who in American Education 1989-12.

15

* — no photo or bio at press time. www.teateachers.org

TEA Kicks Off Road Trip

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

Hancock Co. teachers host the TEA Road Trip in mid-January in Sneedville.

TEA has hit the road to share its exposé, “The Trouble with TVAAS,” with educators, parents and community members across the state. The road trip events also include a presentation of the association’s aggressive legislative agenda for 2014.

TEA’s Road Trip has already made several stops across the state where local educators and TEA staff met with media, visited schools and hosted after-school or evening events to present the hard facts about this year’s highstakes legislative session.

Please join us in our fight against over-testing and the many damaging legislative proposals we face this session.

Be sure to check out the website calendar for details on the time and location of each event.

Remaining Road Trip events: Feb. 6 Feb. 6 Feb. 11 Feb. 11 Feb. 13 Feb. 13 Feb. 13 Feb. 18 Feb. 20 Feb. 27

Maury Co. Nashville Claiborne Co. Memphis-Shelby County Dickson Co. Murfreesboro Scan for details of Road Trip schedule.

Williamson Co. Jackson/Madison Coffee Co. Overton Co. & more

For more information on TEA’s “The Trouble with TVAAS” series, visit http://www.youtube.com/TennesseeEA.

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: (855)299-0723; Assns: Cocke, Newport, Greene, Greeneville, Unicoi, Washington, Hamblen, Johnson City. District 3 — Tina Parlier, P.O. Box 70288, Knoxville, TN 37938-0288, (865)6881175, fax: (865)518-3104; Assns: Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson, Sevier, Union, Scott, Campbell, Oneida (in Scott Co.). District 4 — Janet Abrams, Assns: Knox,TSD, District 5— Jason White, P.O. Box 5502, Oak Ridge, TN 37831; (615)521-1333, fax: (865)301-8366; Assns: Anderson, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Blount, Alcoa, Maryville, Lenoir City, Loudon. District 6 — Jim Jordan, P.O. Box 4878, Cleveland, TN 37320; phone: (423)472-3315, fax: (855)299-5674; 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 — Chris Brooks, P.O. Box 3629, Chattanooga, TN 37404; phone: (615)332-2636, fax: (866)483-2514; 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)3208755—; Assns: Rutherford, Murfreesboro, Sumner, MTSU, Macon, Smith, Trousdale. District 11 — Cheryl Richardson-Bradley, P.O. Box 354, Goodlettsville, TN 37070; (615)630-2601, fax: (888)519-4879; Assns: Wilson, Lebanon, FSSD, Williamson. District 12 — Miley Durham, P.O. Box 10, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464; phone: (931)766-7874, fax: (913) 762-9391— Assns: Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Fayetteville, Maury, Wayne, Marshall, Perry. District 13 — Forestine Cole, Mary Campbell, Metro Nashville, 531 Fairground Court, Nashville, TN 37211; (615)726-1499, fax: (855)299-5837 (Cole), (855)299-4968 (Smith); Assns: Metro Nashville, TN School For The Blind. District 14 — Rhonda Thompson, TEA 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201; phone: (615)354-3305, fax: (888)519-7331; Assns: Clarksville-Montgomery, Robertson. District 15 — Maria Uffelman, P.O. Box 99, Cumberland City, TN 37050; phone: (931)827-3333, fax: (855)299-4925; 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)377-9472, fax: (855)320-8737;—Assns:, Shelby, Fayette. District 19 — Memphis-Shelby Co. Education Association — Ken Foster, Executive Director; UniServ Directors: Susanne Jackson, Terri Jones, Tom Marchand, 126 South Flicker Street, Memphis, TN 38104; (901)454-0966, fax: (901)454-9979; Assn: Memphis.

www.teateachers.org www.nea.org

TEA Executive Director Carolyn Crowder (left) with Hamilton Co. EA leaders during TEA Road Trip in Chattanooga.

Scan this Quick Response code for UniServ contact information and photos.

16 January 2014