AEW Celebration
page 4
Published by the TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION November 2013 Vol. 45, No. 4 www.teateachers.org
Don’t Let a TVAAS “Confidence Interval” Burn Your Profession
TEA Fights to Protect Teachers’ Professional Licenses page 3
Speaking out with you Gera Summerford, President
Giving Thanks Daily posts by Facebook friends listing what they’re thankful for. Plans for sharing holidays with family and friends. Guiding students’ awareness of the special gifts in their lives. It’s the time of year when we think about all the things for which we’re grateful. I’m thankful every day for relationships with unique individuals who have enriched my life. In addition to being raised by two very wise and caring people, my husband and children are gifts who ‘keep on giving’ and I treasure the ongoing friendships I have from childhood, from college days and throughout my adult life. Here I take some space to express gratitude for my professional family. As President of TEA, I’m grateful for our vice president, Barbara Gray, and the other incredible educators who serve on our Board of Directors representing members across Tennessee. Their ability to focus on the challenges before us and consistently serve as the voice of our diverse membership provides direction for the Association’s work. The TEA staff – about fifty very talented individuals – is committed to the educators for whom they work and the opportunities our public schools provide. I’m so thankful for the expertise, the experience, and the commitment they each bring to their jobs every day. I was very fortunate to work alongside Al Mance, who offered his wisdom and guidance as TEA’s Executive Director for more than a decade. Our organizational strength through the years is a credit to his remarkable leadership, and he never forgot the important day-to-day work of educators. Upon Al’s retirement, Mitchell Johnson agreed to extend his service to our members as Interim Executive Director for almost eleven months. I’ll always be indebted to Mitchell for delaying his own retirement to provide strength and stability for TEA during this time, in addition to the many years he had already given to this organization. New beginnings are always exciting and it’s my good fortune to welcome our new Executive Director, Carolyn Crowder, to the TEA family. She brings a fresh perspective and a depth of Association experience to lead our excellent management team. No one could ask for a more talented and devoted group of individuals to carry us forward, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with them. The most valued members of the TEA family are, of course, our members – the dedicated educators in all their varied roles who strive to meet the needs of students in Tennessee public schools. A community’s children are served every day by the amazing individuals who provide a variety of support services and learning opportunities. Every citizen benefits when every child is educated and all should be thankful. I appreciate the tremendous effort and devotion I see in all the members of my TEA family. I’m thankful every day, even when I don’t say so.
Mitchell Johnson, Interim Executive Director I am Proud, Honored to Have Served You “There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few that we can solve by ourselves.” Lyndon Johnson My employment as a TEA staffer began in January of 1982 and will end next month. On December 13, I will bid farewell to my staff colleagues to begin the next phase of my life – retirement. With a great deal of pride, I have served the greatest asset of this state, the public school educators of Tennessee. It has been an exhilarating experience. My career allowed me to work beside the best minds in the state. Dr. Cavit Cheshier, Fred Crosson, Harper Johnson, Hugh Tiller, Wanda Copley, Jack Smallwood and Al Mance were more than mentors for me. They were icons in the work of state education associations and duly respected across the nation. I gained so much from each of them and owe them a deep debt of gratitude. Shortly after I came on board at TEA, the association became embroiled in then-Gov. Lamar Alexander’s Master Teacher proposal. After a yearlong battle, TEA was successful in converting the proposal into the much improved Career Ladder Program. I participated in the Associations’ successful efforts to establish the teacher’s state health insurance plan; mandate duty-free lunch for teachers; mandate planning time of K-8 teachers; authorize tuition reduction for the children of public school teachers; reduce class size with the passage of the Education Improvement Act; mandate public school kindergarten; protect teachers from being required to perform medical procedures; reduce special education class-size; and a multitude of other advancements that improved public education for the children and educators of Tennessee. During my career, our Association protected teachers and other education employees from unfavorable and negative job actions in innumerable ways. None of these accomplishments were easy to obtain, but the collective mindset and actions of educators working within the Association led to these successes. The positive impact of TEA on public education has been tremendous and I am proud to have been involved. The issues we currently face will require the same mindset, energy and collective action. Educators can’t afford to be idle. Everyone has a role to play in fighting back after destruction of the state minimum salary schedule; the repeal of the EPNA; lengthening the period to obtain tenure; tying licensure, salary bonuses and promotions to TVAAS outcomes; and the state’s attempt to privatize public education. I have seen it before and know that at times like these, our Association is at its best. The pro-public education will family come together to fight for real reform. Time and again, we have come together to fight for higher and more rigorous – but fewer and clearer – standards. We’ll fight for requiring collaboration by policymakers with the talented educators who occupy the classrooms across Tennessee. We’ll fight for the recognition that closing achievement gaps includes addressing child poverty. I am looking forward to observing TEA’s continued success, which will include overturning the recent State Board’s decision to base teacher licensure on TVAAS scores; helping develop a fair, sensible and clear evaluation system to replace the use of TVAAS; opposing privatization of public education through the growth of charter schools and vouchers; and working with the governor to adequately fund public education to benefit all of Tennessee’s children. Thank you for the experiences I have enjoyed. Your work and loyalty make me proud.
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
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: Mitchell Johnson (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 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 INTERIMEXECUTIVEDIRECTOR:MitchellJohnson;ASST.EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS,TerranceGibson;CarolK.Schmoock;Duran Williams; MANAGEROFBUSINESS AFFAIRS:StephanieFaulkner; INFORMATIONTECHNOLOGY&SYSTEMSMANAGER,Galen Riggs; MANAGEROFLEGALSERVICES:Steve McCloud;STAFFATTORNEYS: JohnAllen,VirginiaA. McCoy;MANAGEROFGOVERNMENT RELATIONS:JimWrye;GOVERNMENTRELATIONSCOORDINATOR: AntoinetteLee;WEBMASTER&COMMUNICATIONSCOORDINATOR: AmandaChaney;MANAGINGEDITOR&COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR:AlexeiSmirnov; INSTRUCTION&PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTCOORDINATORS:SusanDalton,ChelseaMcKissack; COORDINATOROFMEMBERSHIP&AFFILIATERELATIONS:Shannon Bain.
UniServ Staff contact information can be found on page 16 or by scannig the Quick Response code below.
2 November 2013
Teachers Urged to Renew Licenses by Spring It’s easy to understand why there’s so much confusion in school districts across Tennessee about renewal of teachers’ professional licenses when even the State Department of Education is giving conflicting information. In August, the State Board of Education voted 6-3 to approve its controversial plan to tie licensure advancement and renewal to teacher evaluations and TVAAS data, but delayed implementation by one year, until August 2015. As some Tennessee lawmakers are mulling the reversal of the board’s decision legislatively, TEA encourages teachers whose 10-year professional licenses will be in the sixth year of validity by March 2014 to renew their licenses by spring of next year. “If one has a professional license, renewal of this 10-year license can happen anytime the teacher has the requisite 90 renewal points,” said TEA Assistant Executive Director Terrance Gibson. “You’re also eligible to renew if you have a Master’s degree or better and you’re five years into the life of your existing license.” The current license renewal and advancement
policy, which will remain in place until August 2015, states that “for all educators holding a Professional License based on a Master’s degree or higher with at least five years of acceptable experience during the 10-year validity period of the license (ex: 2003 to 2013), no renewal points are required – only verification of that experience is needed. If all experience has been in Tennessee public school systems, no verification by the applicant is required.” TEA encourages eligible teachers to renew their licenses because of the intricacies of the state’s rulemaking process. As part of its controversial August vote, the board gave life to a new rule that would prevent the majority of current licenses from renewing under the old rules. That rule is still expected to go into effect next spring. Typically, the State Board of Education votes on rules and policy at the same time and they align with each other. When the board voted to tie professional licenses to student test scores, delaying implementation of the policy, they also voted on a rule that makes teacher licenses which don’t expire by August 2015 ineligible for renewal under the old rules.
TEA encourages eligible teachers to renew their licenses because of the intricacies of the state’s rulemaking process.
“That wasn’t brought up in the conferencecall meeting and it’s certainly not the way public business should be done,” said Jim Wrye, TEA head of government relations after the vote. If the rule is deemed valid, it will go into effect after spring 2014, which leaves teachers with eligible licenses a relatively short window to apply for renewal. It takes about a month to renew a professional license. Until the new changes are implemented, the board stated publicly that it will work with all stakeholders and amend the current plan to come up with a more appropriate method for issuing and renewing teacher licenses. Teachers can be confident that TEA will be there every step of the way in the coming year to make sure the interests of educators continue to be represented. TEA’s biggest concerns with the new licensure policy remain the use of TVAAS estimates for license advancement and renewal, the dual standards for tested and non-tested teachers, and the complete removal of continuing education requirements. Watch “The Trouble With TVAAS”, the second video in a four-part series by TEA General Counsel Rick Colbert. Join the conversation on Facebook.
3 www.teateachers.org
TEA Members Help Legislators Become Educators for a Day
Tennessee legislators served as Educators for a Day during the to witness this real-life, everyday environment during AEW,” 92nd annual American Education Week (AEW) celebration taking Mitchell said. “During these visits, REA believes we gave our place across Tennessee November 18–22, 2013. members an opportunity to demonstrate to legislators the Sponsored by the Rutherford Education Association (REA), Sen. successes and challenges our schools experience in reaching Bill Ketron, Sen. Jim Tracy, Rep. Mike Sparks, Rep. Dawn White, students of various ability and skill levels.” and Rep. Rick Womick spent an entire Sen. Ketron was enthusiastic about his day at three Rutherford County schools visit to McFadden School of Excellence. to experience and participate in the “I thought it was a great opportunity school activities under the guidance of a to come out and see what the teachers professional educator. are actually doing, to spend a day in the REA’s Educator for a Day event was part classroom to see how the interaction is of a statewide effort by TEA to celebrate between what I remember of teachers, American Education Week. This year’s growing up in Murfreesboro City Schools theme, “Great Public Schools: A Basic and then Rutherford County Schools, and to Right and Our Responsibility,” represented see what teachers in our schools experience Tennessee Teachers’ vision of calling upon today,” Ketron said. “Before I can go back Rep. Jimmy Eldridge all citizens to do their part in making public and pass effective legislation [for public schools great for every child so that they education], I felt I needed to see what is can grow and achieve success in the 21st century. happening in today’s schools.” REA President Emily Mitchell said she believes lawmakers’ visits Ketron also praised the element of teamwork in our schools, and to their local schools had a positive effect. how teachers, ESPs, guidance counselors, and administration work “Rutherford County legislators graciously accepted invitations as a team with parents to best meet the needs of their students
“We can come back in the next legislative session and amend the bill. Or we can repeal it.”
Sen. Bill Ketron visits the classroom of REA member Elena Burgess at McFadden School of Excellence in Rutherford County. 4 November 2013
Sen. Jim Tracy (left) and REA President Emily Mitchell during a school visit.
Rep. Jimmy Eldridge talks with South Elementary students in Pinson near Jackson.
Sen. Lowe Finney helps Arlington Elementary students with assignments during Jackson-Madison Co. EA Educator for a Day event.
Arlington Elementary students learn new math skills during PE.
and establish a foundation for their future. REA Executive Board member and McFadden kindergarten teacher Elena Burgess thanked participating legislators, and Ketron in particular, for participating in the Educator for a Day events. “Senator Ketron seems passionate about making positive, effective changes in public education,” she said. “He talked about again sponsoring the Fair and Clear Teacher Evaluation Act when the legislature reconvenes in January. His presence for the entire day in kindergarten is definitely a step in the right direction for effective change.” In Jackson-Madison County, Sen. Lowe Finney and Rep. Jimmy Eldridge spent the morning of November 21 at South Elementary and Arlington Elementary schools. “What if a law is passed and you want to cancel it?” a South Elementary School student in Pinson, Tenn., asked Rep. Eldridge (R-Jackson) in Margaret Campbell’s classroom. “We can come back in the next legislative session and amend a bill,” Eldridge said. “Or we can repeal it.” Eldridge said he could not thank Tennessee’s teachers enough for doing their job in spite of all the difficulties they are facing. As he discussed Tennessee history and heritage with Campbell’s students, he faced tough questions about being a legislator and
shared his take on the assassinations of Rev. Martin Luther King and President John F. Kennedy. Eldridge encouraged South Elementary students to stay on top of current events. “Read the paper, get different views, see what else is out there,” he said. Sen. Lowe Finney (D-Jackson) read to elementary students at Arlington International Leadership School in Jackson and helped them work on projects. “The students were great and so well-behaved,” Finney said. “This makes me really appreciate our public school system.” Finney, whose mother was a school teacher for 30 years, said stepping in Jeff Davis’ classroom was a good challenge. “Trying to keep up with you makes me tired,” Finney told Davis. After an hour and a half of helping students with assignments and receiving a couple of drawings to take home, Finney followed Davis to the school gymnasium where students learned math during physical education. Davis told Finney he truly appreciated that he came “to see how hard the students and teachers work.” Among legislators participating in Educator for a Day events across the state were Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby), Sen. Mike Bell (R-Riceville) and others. 5 www.teateachers.org
ACCOUNTABLE TALK
Forum Sounds Alarm On Standardized Testing
Margaret Campbell taught 23 students last year, 13 of whom suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. “This wasn’t measured anywhere on the tests,” said Campbell, who teaches at South Elementary School in Pinson, during a Forum on Standardized Testing at Liberty Technology Magnet School in Jackson November 21. Campbell and other panelists agreed that stress, fear and low morale are the result of excessive testing in Tennessee public schools, and questioned the unchecked expansion of the multi-billion dollar testing industry in our state. According to information pulled from state procurement offices, Tennessee is spending $40 million on standardized tests this year and is on track to pay $186 million in federal Race to the Top grant money to implement the PARCC assessment in 2014-15. While teachers say the enormous expense of excessive testing doesn’t measure up, parents are concerned with increasing stress levels of their kids and teachers.
TEA Vice President Barbara Gray, President Gera Summerford and JacksonMadison Co. EA President Jeff Davis talk after the Forum on Standardized Testing.
6 November 2013
$186 million federal grant through Race to the Top will be used to fund PARCC The PARCC assessment will be given to students in the 2014‐2015 school year
Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury’s Offices of Research & Education Accountability
“We’re shaming our kids into doing better on a test, but some people just don’t do well on tests,” said Dave Lillard, a concerned parent of four Tipton County students. Lillard, who works in security with the U.S. Department of State, said his wife is a gifted and passionate teacher, but he supported her decision to quit the teaching profession because she “cries almost every night.” Other parents are joining the growing opposition to excessive testing. “As a parent, I didn’t know all this testing was going on,” said Jennifer Proseus, a Shelby County mother whose daughter was diagnosed with anxiety after complaining of severe stomach pains before the TCAP test. “We don’t know what’s being asked on those tests.” Proseus started a popular Momma Bears blog in a bid to raise awareness among parents about the issues facing public education. She said became increasingly concerned about the types of questions asked on standardized tests,“What is your parents’ education level? Do you have a TV in your home? Does your teacher push you to learn? How can a five-year-old respond to that?” Evan Holt, an eighth-grade student at Rose Hill Middle School in Jackson, said when he doesn’t understand what his teacher is saying, there’s no time to go back to review the material because of the testing pressure. “When we have too many tests, students stop trying,” Holt said. Stacey Volner, an elementary school teacher in McNairy County, said her scores were lost somewhere in the system and she was told they could not be recovered. “I’d like to know what else they’re losing,” Volner added. Margaret Campbell voiced the sentiment of many education employees in the audience when she said the current situation is an emergency. “It takes a village to teach our children, but now it feels like the village is on fire and I’m choking on the smoke,” Campbell said.
TEA Members Advocate, Raise Breast Cancer Awareness Advocacy conference draws hundreds to Murfreesboro TEA members form a pink ribbon during TEA Pink Out, a breast cancer awareness event.
It’s never too soon to start advocating.
Members work on local plans during one of the breakout sessions.
7 www.teateachers.org
Bio and Photo Deadline for Candidates: January 2, 2014
TEA Announces NEA RA State Delegate Nomination Procedures It’s time to consider nominating a colleague or throwing your own hat in the ring for the 2014 National Education Association Representative Assembly in Denver, Colo., June 28-July 6, 2014. Nominees may submit pictures and biographical material for publication in the February issue of teach. (See Biographical Information in the third column.) TEA urges minority educators to apply for delegate positions. TEA seeks at least 17 percent minority representation in its delegation, a goal we regularly exceed. Nomination/election procedures Category 1 Two delegates are elected from each of the 15 TEA Board districts. The delegates in each district must be classroom teachers, education support professionals or persons who serve in other non-supervisory positions. The state nominating committee has submitted the following names: District 1: Leisa Lusk; District 2: Gera Summerford, Lauren McCarty; District 3: Michael Carvella; District 4: Anthony Hancock, Paula Hancock; District 5: Diane Lillard, Shawanda Perkins; District 6: Scott Price; District 7: Ashley Evett; District 8: Kawanda Braxton; District 9: Candra Clariette, Kenneth Martin, Theresa Wagner, Earl Wiman; District 10: Larry Proffitt; District 11: Wendy Bowers, Melanie Buchanan; District 12: Suzie May, Clinton Smith; District 13: District 14/15: Stephanie Bea, Tom Emens, Sarah Kennedy-Harper, Ernestine King, Tiffany Reed, Diccie Smith. Additional nominations shall be by an affiliated local association or upon petition of 50 NEA members from the respective board district. Voting for delegates from each board district shall be restricted to the NEA members employed in that district. Category 2 Three supervisor/administrator/ retired NEA life member delegates are elected in a statewide vote. The state nominating committee has submitted the names of Barbara Gray, Charles Green, Johnny Henry and Julie Hopkins. Additional nominations shall be by an affiliated local association or upon petition of 50 NEA members. Definitions An NEA member is one who on Jan. 15 is an active, education support professional or retired NEA life member. An active member is any person who is engaged in, or on a limited leave of absence from, professional education work or who is serving as an executive 8 November 2013
officer of the association. Active members shall hold or shall be eligible to hold a baccalaureate or higher degree or the regular teaching, vocational or technical certificates required by their employment. Active membership is limited to persons who support the principles and goals of the association and maintain membership in the local and state affiliates where eligible. An education support professional member is any employee of a school district, college or university or other institution devoted primarily to educational work who is not eligible for active membership. A classroom teacher is any person who is certified, where required, and a major part of whose time is spent in direct contact with students or who performs allied work which results in placement of the person on a local salary schedule for teachers. A supervisor and administrator is any person who has continuing authority to hire, evaluate, transfer, discipline, dismiss or otherwise direct employees or to officially recommend any of these actions. A retired NEA life member is a retired NEA life member who holds membership in the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association (TRTA). General Information Nominations Nominations shall be made by a letter signed by a local association president and secretary reflecting the name of their association’s nominee or by a separate petition for each nominee containing 50 legible signatures of NEA members and the local association to which they belong. It is suggested that each petition include a few extra signatures in the event a signature is challenged or is illegible. Each petition shall carry the name, address, Social Security number and phone numbers (school and home) of the nominee, along with the name of the local association of which he/she is a member and the category for which he/she is being nominated. Nominees shall be added to the proper category in the order in which nominations are received at the TEA headquarters. For retired NEA life members to be eligible to be a state delegate, they must be a member of the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association. In lieu of submitting nominations, the Board of Directors may function as a nominating committee for the purpose of nominating board members.
Elections The appropriate number of nominees receiving the largest number of votes in their respective categories shall be declared delegates. If the number of nominees for delegate positions is equal to or less than the number of positions to be filled, elections shall be waived, and the nominees declared elected to the delegate positions.
of delegates nominated. Any additional adjustments will be made in the board districts whose turn it is according to the following rotation plan.
Successor delegates Successor delegates shall be chosen in the order of the number of votes received by those nominees within the appropriate category and district who were not elected delegates. Successor delegates outside districts in which fewer district delegates are elected than called for in this plan shall be assigned as delegates in those districts in the order of the number of votes received.
Order Board District number 1........................................District 15 2........................................District 14 3........................................District 13 4........................................District 12 5........................................District 11 6........................................District 10 7..........................................District 9 8.........................................District 8 9.........................................District 7 10........................................District 6 11........................................District 5 12........................................District 4 13........................................District 3 14........................................District 2 15........................................District 1
Deadline for nominations All nominations must be received at TEA Headquarters, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201-1099 by Jan. 2, 2014.
The TEA Executive Director is responsible for maintaining the rotation records for use in determining which board district is in line for delegate adjustment when necessary.
Biographical information All nominees are eligible to have condensed biographical data printed in the Feb. teach. The deadline for receiving biographical materials is Jan. 2, 2014. Biographical information should contain no more than 75 words. A photograph may also be submitted. Information should be typed double-spaced with verbs, articles, prepositions, and conjunctions omitted. No abbreviations are acceptable except TEA, NEA and the abbreviation of the nominee’s local association. (Upon request, TEA will provide a form for listing biographical information.)
Expenses TEA provides expenses for delegates according to policies adopted by the TEA Board of Directors and TEA Representative Assembly.
Total number of delegates This plan is based on a state allocation of 46 delegates; three nonteacher (supervisor/administrator/retired NEA life member) and 43 non-supervisory (classroom teacher/education support professionals or persons who serve in other non-supervisory positions). If membership reports indicate that the number of non-teacher delegates must be revised, the number will be adjusted up or down, as appropriate. If either membership figures or nonteacher delegate allocation requires that the number of non-supervisory delegates be revised, an adjustment will be made by adding or deleting a delegate position for as many board districts as necessary to achieve the proper allocation of delegates. Such adjustments will be made first in any board district not having its full allocation
Ballots Ballots are mailed to each local association president prior to March 1. Each association distributes the ballots to the NEA members of that association. Marked ballots are collected and either counted by the local association or sent to TEA for tabulation. The local association’s tabulation of the votes cast by its NEA members or the untabulated ballots must be received at TEA headquarters no later than April 10. Modification of procedure The TEA President and Executive Director are authorized to temporarily modify this procedure in order to comply with NEA requirements if time does not permit the suggested changes to be considered at the next regular board meeting. Clustering of delegates The TEA Board of Directors has established the following cluster procedures for the election of nonteacher delegates, NEA-Retired delegates and delegates from small associations (fewer than 75 members) to the NEA Representative Assembly.
Tennessee delegates vote during the 2013 NEA RA in Atlanta in July.
TEA delegates deliberate during a 2013 NEA RA caucus meeting.
NEA-Retired delegates Non-teacher delegates Timeline for Electing Delegates A non-teacher is any person who has continuing Allocation of NEA-Retired delegates is based The timeline for the allocation and election of authority to hire, transfer, discipline, dismiss or on NEA-R membership as of January 15. Only NEA-R delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly in otherwise direct employees or to officially recommend members are eligible to nominate or serve as delegates. Denver, Colo., June 28-July 6, 2014: any of these actions. A statewide cluster of non-teacher A letter shall be mailed to all NEA-R members no later January 2 — Deadline for receiving state delegate members shall be established. The cluster shall be than December 15 inviting them to submit a nomination nominations (except student members), candidates’ achieved by combining the number of non-teacher for the allocated position(s). The nomination shall photographs and biographical information for members of each eligible local association (those with contain the name, address, phone number, and Social publication in teach. fewer than 10 local delegates), according to the following Security number of the nominee as well as the name and January 15 — Date on which the number of NEA guidelines: address of the NEA-R member making the nomination. delegates is established based on the number of The number of non-teacher members shall be Nominations must be postmarked no later than members on file with NEA. subtracted from the total local association membership January 2. February 15 — NEA sends report forms containing for purposes of local delegate allocation determination. delegate allocations based on membership figures as Nominees are placed on the ballot in the order in The number of non-teacher members will not be of January 15 (March 15 for student members) to all which nominations are received at the Tennessee Retired subtracted from local association membership totals affiliates. Teachers Association office, 801 2nd Avenue North, March 1 — Date by which state ballots are mailed if it is determined, based on membership as of Jan. 15, Nashville, TN 37201-1099. to presidents for distribution to members. (Ballots will that the subtraction would cause the allocation of local Ballots are mailed to each NEA-R member prior to be mailed earlier if possible.) Instructions for voting delegates to decrease. This provision may be waived if March 1. Marked ballots must be received by the TRTA procedures are also mailed. said local association does not send its full allocation of no later than April 10. If the number of nominees for April 10 — Local affiliates send local delegate and delegates. delegate positions is equal to or less than the number of successor delegate report forms to TEA office. Non-teacher members included in the cluster will positions to be filled, elections shall be waived and the May 15 — Deadline for TEA to certify state election not be allowed to vote in the election of their local nominees declared elected to the delegate positions. results to NEA and deadline for forwarding to NEA association delegates; however, they will be eligible The appropriate number of nominees receiving the the delegate report forms for all elected local and to vote in the election for state delegates to the NEA state delegates and successor delegates to the NEA largest number of votes shall be declared delegates. Representative Assembly. Representative Assembly. Successor delegates are chosen in the order of the A letter shall be sent to local association presidents May 15 — Deadline for TEA to file with NEA number of votes received by those nominees who were informing them of the statewide cluster. A form will be report forms for delegates and successor delegates not elected delegates. included with the letter which is to be returned if a local representing student, higher education, retired, and The TRTA is responsible for compiling election association does not desire to participate. The deadline educational support members. results and notifying NEA-R delegates of their election. June 1 — Based on review of delegate report forms for returning the form is January 2. The TRTA and TEA are not responsible for any submitted by May 15, NEA Credentials Committee The TEA Board of Directors serves as a nominating expenses of NEA-R delegates. issues credentials or notifies affiliates of reason for committee for the statewide cluster of non-teacher withholding credentials. Small association delegates NEA delegates in the same manner that it does for NEA June 5 — NEA sends credentials and registration A letter will be sent to each local education state delegates. Subsequent to the completion of the packets to delegates. association whose membership on January 15 (according above process, nomination shall be by an affiliated local to NEA membership records) contains fewer than 76 association or upon petition of 50 NEA members. members. This letter will list the names, addresses and Nominations shall be received at the TEA office after phone numbers of the presidents of these local associations as well as the number of Dec. 1, but no later than January 2. Nominees are placed on the ballot in the order in which nominations are received at members in each association. the TEA headquarters. The number of non-teacher delegates to be elected shall be based A local education association desiring to send a delegate initiates the cluster upon one delegate for each 150 non-teachers in the cluster. process by contacting the president of one or more local associations listed whose Ballots are mailed to each non-teacher member in the cluster prior to March membership, when added to that of the local association initiating the cluster, totals at 1. Marked ballots must be received at TEA headquarters no later than April 10. If least 76. the number of nominees for delegate positions is equal to or less than the number of Local associations desiring to cluster will be responsible for making their own positions to be filled, elections shall be waived and the nominees declared elected as arrangements regarding nominations, elections and finances. NEA’s requirements for delegates. election of delegates, which is mailed to local association presidents in October of each The appropriate number of nominees receiving the largest number of votes shall year, applies to clustered delegates. be declared delegates. The TEA Executive Director is responsible for compiling election TEA shall be provided the names of the delegates and the local associations involved results and notifying non-teacher delegates of their election. in the cluster when the selection is made and will in turn file the appropriate form with Successor non-teacher delegates are chosen in the order of the number of votes NEA. Such form must be submitted to TEA no later than April 10. received by those nominees who were not elected delegates. The TEA is not responsible Expenses of delegates elected through this cluster procedure are borne by the local for any expenses of the clustered non-teacher NEA delegates, unless the person is a associations involved in the cluster or by the clustered delegate. member of the TEA Board of Directors when elected. 9 www.teateachers.org
10  November 2013
TEA Instructional Gurus Receive Awards Members of TEA’s Instruction and Professional Development (IPD) team received top awards at the annual National Staff Association for the Improvement of Instruction (NSAII) Conference in Savannah, Ga., in November. NSAII is an organization promoting national, state and local programs aimed at improving instruction. NSAII serves as a vehicle for advocating instructional issues for the NEA and state associations and is an agent for transforming the Association through collaboration, issue organizing, community building and networking. As part of the 2013 NSAII Conference, the NEA National Board Consortium
awarded TEA IPD Coordinator Susan Dalton the 2013 Susan B. Carmon Award. This national award is given to a state affiliate staff member who demonstrates outstanding effort in promoting, protecting and supporting the pursuit of National Board Certification and the development of teacher leaders. Dalton’s initiatives focusing on National Board Certification across Tennessee have been effective in supporting teachers as they seek ways to improve their instructional strategies and credentials. TEA Assistant Executive Director Terrance Gibson and Susan Dalton were awarded the 2013 First Prize in the NSAII Conventions and Conferences category.
“We appreciate the recognition gained from our past programs and initiatives.”
The award recognized their regional professional development conferences entitled, “Find Your Focus: Balanced Assessment for Student Learning.” The award was based on outstanding materials development in the promotion of association-sponsored conventions and conferences. The work of IPD on balanced assessment gave teachers access to quality professional development in an effort to improve teaching and learning strategies. “Our IPD team continues to strive to bring TEA members professional growth opportunities,” Gibson said. “We appreciate the recognition gained from our past programs and initiatives and look forward to developing more trainings that teachers, administrators and education support professionals can use in their daily work. “ Dalton said she is always humbled and inspired by the dedication of teachers she meets during trainings. 11 www.teateachers.org
New Executive Director Joins TEA
Look for a Q&A with Carolyn Crowder in the January 2014 print edition of teach.
2013-14 teach publishing schedule
At its October meeting, the TEA Board of Directors voted to employ Carolyn Crowder as TEA’s new executive director. Crowder was selected for the position through a national search and a deliberative process by a special Executive Director Search Committee convened earlier this year by TEA President Gera Summerford. “We extend our congratulations to Ms. Crowder and look forward to her leadership at TEA,” Summerford said in announcing the board’s decision. Crowder comes to TEA from Denver, Colo., where she has been executive director of the combined Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA), Denver Association of Education Office Carolyn Crowder Professionals (DAEOP), and DCTA-Retired for Award in 1996, Crowder is a former officer of Delta the past four years. She previously served as Kappa Gamma and a 1999 graduate of Leadership president of the Oklahoma Education Association Oklahoma. In 2003, she won the OEA Claude Dyer and as a member of the NEA Executive Committee. Award for leadership in education legislation. Crowder began her career in education as a Crowder grew up in the Oklahoma Panhandle, teacher in Oklahoma City and Mustang, Okla. graduating from Guymon High School. She During Crowder’s six-year presidency at the graduated cum laude from Southern Nazarene OEA, the association fought for and won the University (formerly Bethany Nazarene College) largest compensation increases in state history and received a master’s degree in elementary for teachers and support professionals, including education from the University of Central state-paid health benefits for all education Oklahoma (then Central State University). employees. Crowder has helped create the Crowder relocated to Nashville in early Oklahoma Education Coalition, which includes November to assume her new role as TEA every major player in the state’s education executive director. She succeeds Alphonso Mance community. who retired in January. The recipient of the OEA Political Activist Month
Delivery/ Publication Date
August print & online
July 30
September online only
September 17
October print & online
October 25
November/December online only
November 22
January/February Legislative Issue print & online
January 31
March/April TEA RA Issue print & online
April 11
May/June online only
June 13
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
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 — Vacancy, 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, Vacancy, 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 — Assns: Memphis Education Association — Ken Foster, Executive Director; MEA UniServ Directors: Susanne Jackson, Terri Jones, Tom Marchand, 126 South Flicker Street, Memphis, TN 38104; (901)4540966, fax: (901)454-9979; Assn: Memphis.
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Scan this Quick Response code for UniServ contact information and photos. 12 November 2013