Teach October 2011

Published by the TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION October 2011  Vol. 43, No. 3  www.teateachers.org

Library Beautiful:

Principal Takes Road Less Traveled To Engage Students, Bolster Reading page 3

Evaluating Evaluation:

What It’s Doing to Us, How We Can Change It

page 8

Forging Ahead Sumner Co. Teachers Challenge Adversity In Federal Court page 12

Speaking out with you teach (USPS 742-450, ISSN 15382907) is published monthly (except for June, July and December) 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 $254.00 for active members; $127.00 for associate, education support and staff members; $16.00 for retired members; and $10.00 for student members. Member of State Education Editors Conference (SEE).

Postmaster: Send address changes to teach, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201-1099.

MANAGING EDITOR: Alexei Smirnov asmirnov@tea.nea.org PUBLISHER: Alphonso C. Mance MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS: A.L. Hayes

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)242-7397 Web site: www.teateachers.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Gera Summerford* (800)342-8367 VICE PRESIDENT: Barbara Gray* (901)353-8590 SECRETARY-TREASURER: Alphonso C. Mance (615)242-8392 DISTRICT 1 Leisa Lusk (423)928-6819 DISTRICT 2 Melinda Reese (423)587-2120 DISTRICT 3 Karen Starr (423)628-2701 DISTRICT 4 Vacant DISTRICT 5 Sandy Smith (423)991-8856 DISTRICT 6 Beth Brown* (931)779-8016 DISTRICT 7 Bonnie T. Dixon (931)967-9949 DISTRICT 8 Kawanda Braxton (615)554-6286 DISTRICT 9 Erick Huth (615)973-5851 DISTRICT 10 Guy Stanley (615)384-2983 DISTRICT 11 Melanie Buchanan* (615)305-2214 DISTRICT 12 Debbie D’Angelo (731)247-3152 DISTRICT 13 Ernestine King (901)590-8188 DISTRICT 14 Sarah Kennedy-Harper (901)416-4582 DISTRICT 15 Stephanie Fitzgerald (901)872-4878 ADMINISTRATOR EAST Johnny Henry (865)509-4829 ADMINISTRATOR MIDDLE Margaret Thompson (615)643-7823 ADMINISTRATOR WEST Charles Green (901)624-6186 HIGHER EDUCATION Vacancy BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER EAST Paula Hancock (865)694-1691 BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER MIDDLE Alzenia Walls (615)230-8144 BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER WEST LaVerne Dickerson* (901)416-7122 STATE SPECIAL SCHOOLS Vacancy ESP Christine Denton (931)647-8962 TN NEA DIRECTOR Stephen Henry* (615)519-5691 TN NEA DIRECTOR Diccie Smith (901)482-0627 TN NEA DIRECTOR Diane Lillard (423)478-8827 STEA MEMBER Caryce Gilmore (865)640-6590 TN RETIRED Gerald Lillard (423)478-8827 NEW TEACHER CandraClariette (615)506-3493 * Executive Committee

TEA HEADQUARTERS STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Alphonso C. Mance; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AFFILIATE SERVICES: Mitchell Johnson; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PROGRAM SERVICES: Carol K. Schmoock; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & TEA GENERAL COUNSEL; Bryan McCarty; MANAGER OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS: Stephanie Faulkner; INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & SYSTEMS MANAGER, Galen Riggs; MANAGER OF UNISERV: Ronny Clemmons; MANAGER OF UNISERV & BARGAINING COORDINATOR: Donna Cotner; STAFF ATTORNEYS: Tina Rose Camba, Katherine Curlee, Virginia A. McCoy; MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: Jerry Winters; GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ASSISTANT: Antoinette Lee; MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS & GRAPHICS: A.L. Hayes; WEB MASTER & COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT: Vacancy; MANAGING EDITOR & COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT: Alexei Smirnov; MANAGER OF RESEARCH & INFORMATION: Melissa Brown; RESEARCH & INFORMATION ASSISTANTS: Susan Ogg, Vacancy; MANAGER FOR INSTRUCTION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Terrance Gibson; INSTRUCTION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS: Susan Dalton, Nicki Fields; COORDINATOR OF MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATERELATIONS:DuranWilliams.

UniServ Staff Contact Information can be found on page 12.

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October 2011

Gera Summerford, President

Al Mance, Executive Director

Together, We Can Improve Evaluation

Uncaring Legislators Must Not Get Their Way

In recent weeks, TEA held twelve regional “Let’s Talk” forums across our state and engaged in conversations with nearly 600 educators. It was a wonderful opportunity to glean information and share our stories. As I listened to our members, I was struck by the sense of urgency and responsibility they expressed. Our members are hungry for details about the evaluation system and eager to get to the truth behind the rumors. Administrators, teachers and support professionals take their work very seriously and want to do the best they can to help children learn. And they want to perform at the highest level possible in their job assignments.

During this time of change in public education, it’s important to remember what unites us and why we chose this profession.

We believe education is the key to a brighter future. We know that public schools are best equipped to provide equal opportunities for all children. And we know that it takes all of us working together to create a great place for kids to learn. The culture of teaching is collaborative, not competitive. Within our schools, we know we have to function more like a family than a business.

While we struggle to adapt to a new evaluation system, let’s not lose sight of the inherent value of our “The culture of profession—it is a noble, teaching is collaborative, heart-and-soul way of not competitive. Within life. We must continue to take pride in what we our schools, we have to do, combine our efforts function like a family...” for improvement, and unite our voices. We can’t allow the external forces of change to affect our internal core of compassion for children and joy in teaching. Regardless of how we are evaluated, we will always preserve our commitment to students, our passion to stand up for public schools and our reputation as professionals.

Thousands of our members have shared their concerns with us by email and phone calls, by attending a “Let’s Talk” forum and by responding to the online survey. As always, TEA staff and leadership are working to ensure that our members stay informed and have access to the support and guidance they need. In addition, we continue to represent educators across our state in communications with Commissioner Kevin Huffman, the State Board of Education and the General Assembly, especially with regard to evaluations. As TEA works to offset the negative effects of the recent legislative and regulatory changes, we need consistent feedback from our members to help guide the process of turning things around for our students and our schools.

Educators accept responsibility for helping children learn, and we know we can’t do it alone. The effort to create true school reform requires all of us working together for change. I’m proud of our TEA family and the work we all do to provide a quality education for every child.

Now, more than ever, you are more than a “3” to me!

The radical attacks of the 107th General Assembly on teachers and their Association defy reason. What’s worse, they defy any reasonable concept of care for the boys and girls of Tennessee and those who choose to spend their careers teaching them. At a time when America should be seeking unity, the majority of those elected to serve the citizens of Tennessee sought to divide the providers and beneficiaries of public education.

One thing was clear from the rhetoric of bill sponsors and those who ultimately voted for the attack legislation: they did not want teachers to have the right to negotiate contracts with local boards of education. Teachers were not to have the legal right to sit across the table from local boards of education as equal partners to advocate for the resources essential to effective teaching. Teachers would no longer have the right to bring their collective voices to questions of effective curriculum and policy.

This is not to say these legislators are evil. Some of them were simply voting their self-interest without regard for Tennessee’s teachers or students. They said TEA had not contributed enough money to Republican candidates. The inference was that there would have been fewer attacks on teachers if TEA had contributed more to Republicans. Of course, we don’t care to what political party a candidate belongs. Rather, we support candidates who support a high quality public education for all boys and girls and who respect teachers.

Looking beyond the rhetoric, we find a stark difference between those of us who believe universal public education is fundamental to democracy and those who seek to undermine the institution.

We believe a strong public education system provides equal opportunity and access to social status and reward without regard to family wealth or social status. Further, students should be limited only by their talents and work ethic.

Others seem to believe public education exists primarily to serve the needs of business and industry. They claim the activities of teachers should be directed by outside interests and testing is necessary to ensure outcomes for children. Public education is to serve the needs of industry, so business controls the money along with education policy and dictates the “product” schools are to deliver. Their brand of education reform ensures the school’s curriculum matches the needs of industry, while administrators find the most efficient ways to process boys and girls through the system.

Teachers are to execute the plan. Some education policy makers now refer to teachers as “human capital.”

We reject this philosophy along with the laws and policies that reflect it. While America may honor some skills and gifts more than others at different times in history, this is shortsighted and not beneficial to the preservation of our nation.

We chose this profession because we believe that all students deserve to acquire the attitudes and skills essential to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We must work harder than those who believe access should be limited to those with social status and family wealth.

We need you to join the fight for the future of Tennessee’s youths.

You count.

Principal, Librarian Build “Imagination Path”

Inspired approach to library design elevates student engagement

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oving into a new school building always brings myriad possibilities for improved instruction and enhanced student experience. The key here is to seize the moment, and Ridgeview Elementary School Principal Peggy Greene proved that the sky, or at least the ceiling, is the limit when one strives to dream big.

“When our school was built in 2008, we moved in without a library or a gym,” says Greene. Along with Lori Acord, Ridgeview Elementary librarian, Greene transformed the cinder block walls of their allotted library space into a theme park of wonder dedicated to the printed word.

“We just put our heads together to figure From left to right: Peggy Greene, principal of Ridgeview Elementary School in Gray, Tenn.; students enjoy readnig out what we wanted and presented it to the time; Lori Acord, Ridgeview librarian, welcomes students. Greene and Acord are members of Washington Co. EA. school board,” says Greene. “We wanted to tell a story and make it a learning experience.”

While the room was under construction, Greene and Acord offered The duo sought help from a local artist to create what is now called “The Ridgeview students a library on wheels.

Imagination Path,” an artfully executed space which takes students on a “Lori didn’t have a book or library space, so I found some books in the journey through storylines, designed to spark more interest in books and dumpster that she could use,” says Greene. Equipped with a cart, Acord says create a welcoming atmosphere for reading. she went from one classroom to another, inspiring children to read and learn The path starts with a little pig named Wilbur of “Charlotte’s Web,” moves first-hand the virtue of resourcefulness. through a farm scene to the “Magic Tree House,” past Percy Jackson and “The “Now if anyone wants to complain about anything, I tell them the story Chronicles of Narnia” into the Pirate Cove, the kids’ favorite place to read. about our library,” adds Greene, giving credit to central office staff for helping There’s a Tennessee wall, bedecked with the requisite and numerous state design what is probably the most inspired—and inspiring—space in the school. symbols, all clearly marked. There’s also ample room to say the Pledge of What will they think of next?

Allegiance and brush up on the Dewey Decimal Classification System.

New Teacher Conferences Offer Strategies for Success

Novice teachers participate in TEA’s new teacher training in 2010. Conference fees are refunded to TEA members.

Novice teachers will have two opportunities during this school year to enhance their success in the classroom at TEA’s New Teacher Conferences.

For the first time this year, the New Teacher Conference offers two tracks especially designed for less experienced teachers.

The always-popular “I Can Do It!” classroom management training and—new this year—a series of three sessions titled “The Road to Success.” This track offers practical advice on differentiated instruction strategies, professionalism, and teacher evaluations.

Both tracks are offered on two Saturdays this school year: November 5, 2011, and February 25, 2012.

Teachers in their first three years of classroom teaching are invited to attend either or both conferences. Each track runs all day, from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Teachers will earn six hours of professional development

credit for each conference they attend, a total of 12 hours for those who attend both conferences.

The registration fee for each event is $40, with a discounted rate available for those individuals who register for both sessions at the same time. Even better, the registration fee will be refunded for TEA members who attend the conferences if their registration fees have been paid by personal or Association check.

Conference details and registration forms are available at www.teateachers.org, and have been mailed to local association presidents and Association Representatives.

TEA’s New Teacher Conferences are sponsored and hosted by the TEA’s New Teacher Committee, chaired by Candra Clariette of Metropolitan Nashville Education Association.

The conferences will be held at the TEA building, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville.

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P.T. Miller: “My Association Is Not What’s Wrong W

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By P.T. Miller am a second-career educator, in my 13th year of teaching following retirement from the Air Force. When I joined the school system, I joined the Clarksville-Montgomery County Education Association, TEA and NEA. It’s my professional organization. I felt the need to join. I don’t necessarily agree with all that NEA is doing in the political arena, but I do believe they have the best interests of our nation’s children at heart.

My local association is important to me—it gives me peace of mind. Sometimes peace of mind costs a little bit of money. Our dues went up a little bit, but that’s ok with me. It’s important to know that someone was in my corner when the legislature began to “reform” education in Tennessee. I’m not sure what happened. When I thought about it, I felt like I was being attacked by my state legislature.

Did I do something wrong?

When I reflected long and hard about what I might have done, I realized that all I ever did was show up at work on time, ready to be From B-52 bomber to geography classroom — Former B-52 bombardier P.T. Miller doesn’t shy away from teacher evaluation fired any minute and gave a damn about my are treated fairly. Miller is looking to enlist math teachers across the state to help decipher the TVAAS formula he received fro kids. And I got attacked for doing that. I don’t I know at least I can go to CMCEA and TEA and seek help if think I’ve ever done anything against our something happens to me. I value this support and I’m willing legislators. I have noted that in Tennessee, it felt like the only to pay for it. group getting hammered was the teachers.

There is some progress with efforts to improve I can’t disagree with the concept of evaluating teachers. evaluation. At least in this school system, this year they are I was evaluated once a year. But the loss of negotiations—I finally going to count the student’s TCAP score as 15% of might have a problem with that. It depends on what my the second-semester grade. I know in my school system and local school system does. The way things are going, I feel nationally they say that education of a child is a team effort, a little paranoid. I haven’t seen a lot of changes yet, but I’m which includes the parents, the student and the teacher. waiting for another shoe to drop. If there are going to be any Even so, I feel like I’m the only one being held responsible. changes, big ones, they will come next year.

Honestly, I feel like I’m the only one they could reach out and touch. I don’t Small changes are already here. We have professional learning mind being accountable, but I’m not sure TVAAS is the best way to do it. communities at our schools. Now they take place during the after-school When I wanted to know what the TVAAS formula is, I couldn’t find out hours. Collaborative conferencing is taking the place of negotiations. The and neither could anyone else in my school system. I know it’s generally problem is collaborative conferencing is not binding on either side. I’m based on the kids’ TCAP scores, but I don’t know where the achievement sure they can cut your pay. The economy is not good and the school system part fits in. It’s been decided that TVAAS is the best measure of a teacher’s needs money. effectiveness.

But I have somebody in my corner. TEA was in my corner, debating If it’s a mathematical formula, tell me what it is. Why is it not on the those bills. Collectively, we did the best we could do. At least we were at school system’s website? How come all I get is a number and some assurance the table. I don’t know what the evaluation system and all the other laws that there’s a formula and I should trust it? I’m not even sure the school would look like if TEA wasn’t at the table. Some people complain that the system knows what it is.

Association can’t do anything for them. Maybe they haven’t asked or taken So I asked TEA through my UniServ Coordinator Rhonda Thompson, and I action themselves.

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October 2011

Share your story: asmirnov@tea.nea.org

With Public Education”

Statewide Member Benefits Webinar Held in Springfield

got it. It’s 14 pages of mathematical equations and I’m not sure I’ll be able to grasp it all, but I can try.

I understand that being evaluated is important. When I moved here and began looking for a school for my children, good TCAP scores meant good schools, and bad TCAP scores meant bad schools. Nothing else matters, it’s a perception, and perception is reality. I’m just a little gun-shy about this evaluation because I feel like I was attacked for doing my work.

I’m not the typical teacher, so I may have a better outlook on the current state of affairs than some of my colleagues. I’ve only been teaching for 12 years and I’m near the end of my career. If it gets bad enough, I’ll quit and I’ll be TEA members took part in the member benefits webinar held at eligible to collect Social Security and retire. It’s Robertson Co. central office in Springfield. The September meeting involved not bad yet, but I’m waiting for the other shoe 13 local associations, allowing members from Memphis, Johnson City, to drop.

Hamilton Co., Knox Co., Sevier Co. and others to watch and learn remotely.

When are a new TEA member from Hamilton Co. won a $100 Eighty percent of expenses in school systems As part ofyou the event, are salary and benefits, and money’s tight. If fuel card and a $50 restaurant gift card. For more information about the benefits of being a member of your local association, TEA and NEA, visit they feel like cutting my compensation, they www.neamb.com. Above, left to right: Tammy Artz, president of Robertson can do it. I might be able to accept it, but only you canEA,take theTEA lead.

Co. talks with board member Margaret Thompson. Below, Carolyn if everyone takes a pay cut, from the top down.

McClain Johnson, NEA Member Benefits specialist for the Tennessee region, But if I had kids in college thinking about being n. He wants to make sure teachers shares the stage with Duran Williams, TEA membership coordinator. a teacher, I would advise them against it in this om the state with TEA’s help. environment. Teaching is certainly not as much fun as it used to be. I don’t know what it was like in the 1970s, but I know it wasn’t this stressful.

I came out of the military after 22 years and I always thought I could be a teacher. I’ve been teaching geography to seventh-graders for the last seven years. I had forgotten how hard it was to be that age. It’s just flat hard being 12 or 13 years old, even if you have a perfect home life. But my kids show up every day. I know those parents send me the best kids they have, and I’ll work with them. Some days are better than others, but most of the time they’re pretty good.

SM ® Before I was a teacher, I was a B-52 bombardier. It’s a big airplane, but the office wasn’t very accommodating. They have a lot of room for Now you can choose an NEA retirement program that you direct yourself and save on bombs and fuel, but not much room for the six guys who flew in that thing. the cost of a financial advisor. NEA Valuebuilder® DirectInvestSM gives you a low initial My station was in the lower deck with no lights. It was always dark. In investment of $1,000 or just $25 if you sign up for direct payroll deduction, a choice of an uncomfortable seat. But Uncle Sam treated me pretty well. For the 19 top mutual funds, and cost savings so you can keep and control more of your money. first seven years, I made more money from military retirement than I did To learn more or enroll visit neamb.com/retire1 and select DirectInves teaching school.

In my heart, middle school is where I want to be. All I know after my many years in the Air Force and education, if there is anything wrong with public education, it’s not my Association.

confident

Confident investors looking to save on fees should look at NEA Valuebuilder DirectInvest

You should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the mutual funds available under the NEA Valuebuilder Program before inv

may obtain a prospectus that contains this and other information about the mutual funds by calling our National Service Center at 1-800-NEA-VALU (632-8258). You s P.T. Miller teaches geography at Rossview Middle School in Clarksville and is the prospectus carefully before investing. Investing in mutual funds involves risk and there is no guarantee of investment results. a member of Clarksville-Montgomery Co. EA. The NEA Valuebuilder Program provides investment products (the “NEA Valuebuilder products”) in connection with retirement plans sponsored by school districts and other employers of NEA m

individual retirement accounts established by NEA members. Security Distributors, Inc. and certain of its affiliates (collectively “Security Benefit”) make the NEA Valuebuilder products availab program pursuant to an agreement with NEA’s wholly owned subsidiary, NEA’s Member Benefits Corporation (“MBC”). Security Benefit has the exclusive right to offer the NEA Valuebuilder pro the program, and MBC generally may not enter into arrangements with other providers of similar investment programs or otherwise promote to NEA members or their employers5any investment p compete with the NEA Valuebuilder products. MBC promotes the program to NEA members and their employers and provides certain services in connection with the program. Security Benefit pa www.teateachers.org fee to MBC based in part on the average assets invested in the NEA Valuebuilder products under the agreement. You may wish to take into account this agreement and arrangement, including a

6 October 2011

Please post

7 www.teateachers.org

Evaluating Teacher Evaluation: It’s Not What We Wanted; It Must Be Changed Tennessee’s teachers, TEA leaders push for change in evaluation model

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hen the state education commissioner starts to rethink the new teacher evaluation system he rushed into existence a few months earlier, expect others to take notice.

It wasn’t difficult to see that Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman stretched the truth when he circulated a statement in September implying that the controversial evaluation system had the support of Tennessee’s teachers and their Association. Huffman did not mention in his communiqué that TEA repeatedly warned his department and other stakeholders that the evaluation system, as implemented by the Tennessee Department of Education, was too burdensome and too raw for a statewide rollout this school year.

As a result, calls to re-evaluate and modify the new teacher evaluation system have been heard from teachers, principals and even school board members across Tennessee. Parents are catching the wind of frustration and despair in schools as they are told that principals and teachers don’t have time for face-to-face meetings. Everyone is consumed with evaluation and lesson plans.

In an unlikely example of solidarity with teachers, the Rutherford County Board of Education voted unanimously at the beginning of September to formally submit a letter to Huffman, asking for an evaluation makeover.

“No one’s against the idea of the evaluation. It’s just not an effective use of time,” Rutherford board member Tim Tackett told The Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro. “Principals are telling me that they’re so caught up in the process that they don’t have time to do the things they feel makes their school a good place.”

Teachers speak out When TEA held 12 regional “Let’s Talk” forums across the state at the beginning of the school year, members’ concerns ranged from bewilderment and frustration to calls for an all-out repeal of the new evaluation model.

“The stories we’ve heard confirm our worst fears about the implementation of the system and the unreasonable expectations our members are facing,” says TEA Executive Director Al Mance. “We will continue to speak out on behalf of our members and work for an evaluation system that is fair, effective, and workable.”

The outcry from teachers has reached some of the politicians responsible for pushing through anti-teacher legislation during the 107th General Assembly. State Rep. Rick Womick (R-Rockvale) said in an appeal to his constituents that he heard their concerns. “It has come to my attention through your numerous emails and phone calls that the new teacher evaluation system is an apparent ‘disaster’,” he wrote.

As state legislators and Huffman appear willing to consider an overhaul of the evaluation model, it offers little consolation to teachers across the state who feel inadequate, oppressed and depressed as new regulations were rolled out in their schools.

“I have not smiled since the beginning of school. I am depressed,” said one teacher who asked not to be identified.

“This evaluation makes teaching impossible,” she said. “I don’t mind being evaluated, but this goes too far.”

It’s no surprise that some teachers worry about speaking openly about 8 October their view2011 of the evaluation system. Their career hangs in the balance. TEA has

Share your story — TEA Executive Director Al Mance listens to members’ evaluation concerns during the “Let’s Talk” forum in Kingsport. Opposite page: members share evaluation concerns at a forum in Nashville.

received reports from several school districts which use the new laws and the new evaluation to discriminate against and instill fear amongst teachers, in violation of existing collective bargaining agreements and laws currently on the books.

“Conscientious teachers are anxious and apprehensive, because they want to be successful,” says TEA President Gera Summerford. “They want to improve their instruction and will accept needed assistance. They don’t object to being held accountable for their work. And they deserve a fair, valid and reliable evaluation system that truly measures what they do to help children every day.”

TEA pushes for change Advocating for Tennessee’s teachers, TEA leaders meet regularly with Huffman to review the most recent feedback they receive from schools and TEA members.

As part of the ongoing conversation, state leaders are reminded that when TEA worked with Governor Phil Bredesen and his staff on The Race to the Top application, no specifics of the evaluation system had been developed.

A committee was formed to make recommendations for creating a new evaluation system. In the end, the State Board of Education exercised its right to design the final system, without the involvement of TEA. Throughout the process, TEA has consistently opposed major components of the evaluation system, including the rush to use the results in employment decisions and the use of school-wide data for teachers in non-tested areas, among others. TEA leaders also cautioned that too many questions were unanswered at the time of the evaluation’s rollout.

In the meantime, the only way to change the current evaluation system is to share stories with its creators.

“Throughout this school year, we must all continue to call and write our elected officials on school boards and in the legislature to let them know this system of evaluating teachers and administrators is not working and must be changed,” says Mance, encouraging Tennessee’s teachers to stay alert for TEA communications. “Share your evaluation story with us. We’ll take it to Commissioner Huffman and Governor Haslam.”

Make a difference; email your evaluation story to amance@tea.nea.org.

Opinion/Commentary

“I am a Teacher. It’s Not What I ‘Do.’ It’s Who I Am” Dreams of school become school nightmares

By Laura Key the skill that was taught and explained thoroughly in my lesson plan I don’t play tennis or golf. I don’t knit or run marathons or collect (which was taught through modeling, questioning, included a hands-on memorabilia. I teach. activity in six small groups in my room, as well as a writing assignment I am both the noun form and verb form of the word. expecting students to demonstrate their knowledge of the skill), and Teaching is not what I “do”, it is who I am. also included the scores of both of my non-reading students and the If I’m not at work between 7:30 a.m. until I am run out of the building class still obtained a 93.3% — and when I score a “2” (on a five-point at 5:00 p.m., then I am at home — grading papers, creating online scale) on student work — I am crushed. assessments and practice, emailing a parent, and deciding which four I am told that I should have asked “so-and-so” for help in making my students left names off their papers as I prepare supper for my family. lesson plan and that I should ask them next time in order to “do better.”

At the table, I tell humorous, frustrating and poignant stories from I’m going to get some help, I’m told. my day at school.

I have taught for 15 years and spent four years becoming a teacher in While cleaning up after supper, my hands may be rinsing the dishes, college. Before that, I simply longed to be a teacher. but my mind is trying to decide whether or not Hannah’s mom received It’s not what I “do”. It’s who I am. the note I sent home with her. How can I help Alex’s mom agree to the I went back to school recently to improve my teaching skills by testing and help which I know her son needs with his speech? And what obtaining a master’s degree. I expect to be making payments on my pair of shoes can I wear tomorrow because tomorrow is Friday, and every student loan when I am eligible for retirement in five years.

Friday my feet are burdened by blisters from standing on my feet all day long, all week long? At least “I am questioning who I am, I get to sit down when I use the restroom, but on most days I don’t wondering whether I had even get do that until 3:30 p.m. or wasted the majority of my life to later. It may sound comical, but it’s true. end up being ‘average’ and just I am a teacher. It’s not what I meeting expectations after “do”, it’s who I am.

When I finally collapse into bed years of hard work.” after getting my clothes ready for school, I can’t fall asleep for two hours because my mind insists on processing more school thoughts—even when I desperately want to I am a teacher. It’s not what I “do”. It’s who I am. sleep. Finally, I fall asleep. Ah, yes, sweet sleep. But wait, here come the And now, after experiencing the new evaluation model that is school dreams. designed to make me reflect on my teaching, I am doing more than that.

The scenarios vary. It may be one of those “a tornado is coming and I am questioning my aptitude and doubting my ability to teach I am trying to save my students” dreams. Or it may be a dream where I effectively. forgot to take my kids to music and I no longer have the 35 minutes of I am questioning who I am, wondering whether I had wasted planning time. Hopefully, it’s just one of the “normal” dreams in which the majority of my life to end up being ‘average’ and just meeting my students just appear because they have been on my mind for various expectations after years of hard work. reasons.

I was told to expect suggestions that will help me do better. Really?

I am a teacher. It’s not what I “do”. It’s who I am.

I am already giving every ounce of my being to be the best I can be It’s the bags of bubble gum I grab on my way to the checkout lane and I find it hard to even muster the extra energy I will need to work because “my kids” covet chewing gum more than anything else in their harder and put more into what I already do. already full treat box. Or it’s the basketball I buy because “my kids” want I am hurt. something fun to play with at recess. It’s the little league football game I am embarrassed.

I watch on an early Saturday morning because three of “my boys” play I’m not against being evaluated. I know my administrators are doing football this year. what they are required to do. But teachers and administrators across the I am a teacher. It’s not what I “do”. It’s who I am. state are frustrated with this evaluation system.

So when you evaluate me and I am considered to be “average—at I am a well-educated professional with a master’s degree, but I’m expectations”… told that I’m “average” and I should be pleased with that rating.

I am angry.

I am not.

No, I am hurt.

Because I am a teacher. It’s not what I “do”. It’s who I am.

No, most honestly, I am devastated.

Laura Key, I am a teacher. It’s not what I “do”. It’s who I am.

August 26, 2011, 2:54 a.m.

So when I have spent more than four and a half hours on creating, P.S. Guess I’m off to my school dreams now. writing and producing my lesson plan for an evaluation, and 93.3 Laura Key teaches at Sweetwater Elementary School and is a member of percent is the average score on my students’ independent work assessing Sweetwater EA. 9 www.teateachers.org

NEA Human and Civil Rights Applegate-Dorros Award Carter G. Woodson Award César Chávez Award Ellison S. Onizuka Award

United we stand — TEA members discuss teacher evaluation and legislative ideas during the Tennessee Urban Education Association Council meeting at the TEA headquarters in Nashville in mid-September.

Have a Legislative Idea? Send it to TEA Since the founding of the Tennessee Education Association, promoting legislation to advance public education—and to benefit students and educators—has been a major objective of the Association.

In keeping with that objective, TEA is seeking your recommendations of items to be included in Please send your ideas the next TEA Legislative to be included in the TEA Program. All suggestions Legislative Program by will be considered by the October 31, 2011.

TEA Legislative Editing Committee appointed by President Gera Summerford.

The Editing Committee will develop a proposed program which will be presented to the TEA Representative Assembly next spring. The Legislative Program gives guidelines to leaders and staff as they work to promote our members’ legislative concerns in the General Assembly.

The Tennessee Education Association wants to be responsive to members’ concerns. If you have issues you would like TEA to submit to the Tennessee General Assembly, please send them to us. You can also email them directly to TEA’s Government Relations division. You can be assured that all suggestions will be given serious consideration by the TEA Legislative Editing Committee.

Completed forms should be returned no later than October 31, 2011, to: Jerry Winters, Manager, TEA Government Relations, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201-1099, or email to: sstinson@tea.nea.org.

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October 2011

George I. Sánchez Award H. Councill Trenholm Award Leo Reano Award Martin Luther King, Jr. Award Mary Hatwood Futrell Award Reg Weaver Award Rosa Parks Award Rosena J. Willis Award

2012 Nominations for the

HCR Awards that Honor Human and Civil Rights Champions!

Help us keep the American Teachers Association legacy alive!

Identify and nominate exemplary individuals, organizations, and affiliates to celebrate at the 2012 NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner.

Deadline for submission: Postmarked by December 10, 2011 The nomination forms and step-by-step instructions are available online interactively at www.nea.org/hcrawards For nomination forms or questions, contact Sabrina Williams, 202-822-7709 sawilliams@nea.org

Su Anne Big Crow Award Virginia Uribe Award 08.11.10428.KC

11 www.teateachers.org

Sumner Co. Teachers Fight for Rights Federal complaint seeks relief under PECCA As a veteran social studies teacher with a Ph.D. in education, Alzenia Walls (pictured on the cover) knows a thing or two about the inalienable rights afforded to the teachers of her county and state.

As President of Sumner County Education Association, Walls is at the forefront of the fight to bring back civility and humanity into the relationship between the local school board and its employees, and hopefully turn around the hostile attitude of authorities toward teachers across the state.

After months of frustrated efforts to assert its rights with the Sumner County Board of Education, the SCEA filed a federal complaint against the board on September 7. Filed in the U.S. District Court in Nashville, the complaint alleges violations of basic First Amendment rights of SCEA and SCEA members, as well as violation of their rights under the controversial Professional Employees Collaborative Conferencing Act of 2011 (PECCA), which was pushed through the legislature earlier this year by anti-public school interests to replace the Education Professional Negotiations Act (EPNA).

“As the new school year was set to begin with new state laws in place, the SCEA attempted to work with the Sumner County Board of Education and its new Director of Schools, Dr. Del R. Phillips,” says SCEA attorney Rick Colbert. “SCEA’s good faith efforts were met with responses designed to silence SCEA and its educator members, in violation not only of their rights under state law but also their constitutional rights.”

“SCEA regrets that the school board’s hostile actions necessitate the filing of this lawsuit,” says Colbert.

For a number of years, SCEA and the Sumner County Board of Education were parties to a series of collective bargaining agreements negotiated and ratified under the EPNA, which was repealed earlier this year with the passage of PECCA. Freedom of Association The lawsuit asserts that the SCEA has been singled out for adverse treatment by the board. SCEA was told that it had no right to engage in various association activities, including use of school facilities, bulletin boards, use of the inter-school mail delivery system, transaction of association or member business, representation of teachers and participation in teacher orientations or in-service events. The plaintiffs allege that the board has intended to interfere with SCEA’s operations, communication and membership recruitment. The board imposed a complete ban on communication with the board and all administrative personnel and threatened litigation if SCEA did not comply with the ban.

Freedom of Speech In its complaint, SCEA asserts that the school board denied the right of self-organization in violation of the law. The board also denied Sumner County teachers the right to join the SCEA, the right to be assisted by the SCEA, or to engage in concerted activities for mutual aid and benefit. Any exercise of these rights carried a warning and threat of board action to impose reprisals. It is alleged that the threat of litigation had a chilling effect on employee speech. All restrictions were unreasonable, including and not limited to matters of public concern. The complaint also alleges that the restrictions were calculated and taken in a deliberate effort to stifle communication based on disagreements with the SCEA’s viewpoints.

Freedom of Petition According to the lawsuit, the SCEA had a right to pursue redress of grievances under the EPNA. The board’s retaliation and interference based on the prior litigation constituted a direct violation of the SCEA’s right to petition for redress. The threat of additional retaliatory litigation infringes freedom of speech, freedom of expressive association and freedom of petition.

Multiple Unlawful Acts Under PECCA Sumner County teachers allege in the complaint that SCEA is protected by state law from imposed reprisals or threats of reprisal.

SCEA is protected from interference, restraint and coercion. SCEA has access rights to members and potential members, and it is unlawful for the board to discourage or interfere with membership.

Broadcasting inaccurate and unconstitutional prohibitions to all employees frustrated SCEA’s communications with members and non-members. The board’s actions reflect a continuing and intentional effort to undermine membership by acts that interfere with protected rights of the SCEA and individual employees.

Irreparable Harm The lawsuit asserts that the Board’s actions inhibited the SCEA’s ability to associate with and communicate with employees.

“The prohibitions and deprivations have adversely affected the SCEA’s ability to gain new members and retain existing members,” says Walls. “The truth is on our side. We’re standing up for teachers and their rights.”

If your local association is experiencing similar problems, please contact your UniServ Coordinator or call TEA Legal Services at 800.342.8367.

TEA Calendar of Events

October 2011 October 1 October 7 October 10 October 14-15 October 21-23

TEA Committee-Commission Weekend Yom Kippur begins at sundown Columbus Day TEA Board of Directors, TEA Building NEA Southeast Regional Minority Leadership Conference, Washington, DC. October 24 United Nations day October 28-30 TEA Advocacy Conference, Murfreesboro October 31 Halloween November 2011 November 5 November 13-19 November 16 November 24

Need information, services?

Mitchell Johnson Assistant Executive Director for Affiliate Services Ronny Clemmons & Donna Cotner Managers of UniServ

Tennessee Education Association, 801 Second Avenue North, 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: (423)2628053; Assns: Carter, Hancock, Hawkins, Rogersville, Johnson, Sullivan, Bristol, Kingsport, Northeast State C.C. District 2 — Jennifer Gaby, P.O. Box 70, Afton, TN 37616; (423)234-0700, fax: (423)234-0708; Assns: Cocke, Newport, Elizabethton, Greene, Greeneville, Unicoi, Washington, Johnson City, ETSU. District 3 — Tina Parlier, P.O. Box 74, Corryton, TN 37721; (865)688-1175, fax: (865)688-5188; Assns: Claiborne, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Sevier, Union, Walter State C.C. District 4 — Jon White, Knox County Education Association, 2411 Magnolia Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917-8289; (865)522-9793, fax: (865)522-9866; Assns: Knox, UT-Knoxville, Pellisippi State C.C., TSD. District 5— Vacancy, Assns: Anderson, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Campbell, Cumberland, Fentress, Morgan, Scott, Oneida, TSD, York Institute District 6 — Reba Luttrell, 503 Cardinal St., Maryville, TN 37803; phone/ fax: (865)983-8640; Assns: Blount, Alcoa, Maryville, Monroe, Sweetwater, Loudon, Lenoir City, Roane, Roane State C.C. District 7 — Jim Jordan, P.O. Box 4878, Cleveland, TN 37320; phone/fax: (423)472-3315; Assns: Bledsoe, Bradley, Cleveland, McMinn, Athens, Etowah, Meigs, Polk, Rhea-Dayton, Cleveland State C.C. District 8 — Theresa Turner, 4655 Shallowford Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37411; (423)485-9535, fax: (423)485-9512; Assns: Hamilton County, Chattanooga State C.C., UT-Chattanooga, Department of Higher Ed. District 9 — Jeff Garrett, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201; (615)242-8392, ext. 228, or (800)342-8367; Assns: Coffee, Manchester, Tullahoma, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Sequatchie, Van Buren, White, Warren. District 10 — Shannon Bain, 1001 Rhett Place, Lebanon, TN 37087; phone: (615)547-7769, fax: (615)547-7879; Assns: Clay, DeKalb, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Trousdale, TTU. District 11 — Arthur Patterson, 101 Copperas Court, Murfreesboro, TN 37128; phone: (615)907-9912, fax: (615) 907-5490; Assns: Cannon, Sumner, Wilson, Lebanon S.S.D., Volunteer State C.C. District 12 — Susan Young, P.O. Box 422, Madison, TN 37116-0422; phone/ fax: (615)865-9700; Assns: Cheatham, Rutherford, Murfreesboro, MTSU, TSB, TN Department of Education District 13 — Forestine Cole, Ralph Smith, Metro Nashville, 531 Fairground Court, Nashville, TN 37211; (615)726-1499, fax: (615)726-2501; Assns: Metro Nashville, Nashville State C.C., TSU, Department of Higher Education District 14 — Rhonda Thompson, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201; (615)242-8392, ext. 321, or (800)342-8367; Assns: Clarksville-Montgomery, Robertson, APSU District 15 — Miley Durham, P.O. Box 10, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464; phone/fax: (931)766-7874; Assns: Bedford, Giles, Lawrence, Lincoln, Fayetteville, Marshall, Moore, Motlow State C.C. District 16 — Jackie Pope, 2326 Valley Grove Dr., Murfreesboro, TN 37128; (615) 898-1060, fax: (615) 898-1099; Assns: Lewis, Maury, Williamson, Franklin S.S.D. District 17 — Cheryl Richardson Bradley, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201; (615)242-8392, ext. 233, or (800)342-8367; Assns: Decatur, Dickson, Hardin, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Perry, Wayne District 18 — Maria Uffelman, P.O. Box 99, Cumberland City, TN 37050; phone/fax: (931)8273333; Assns: Benton, Carroll (West Carroll) Central, Clarksburg, Huntingdon, McKenzie, Gibson, Bradford, Humboldt, Milan, Trenton, Henry, Paris, Stewart, Weakley, UT-Martin, FTA District 19— Lorrie Butler, P.O. Box 387, Henderson, TN 38340; (731)9894860, fax: (731)989-9254; Assns: Chester, Hardeman, Henderson, Lexington, Jackson-Madison, McNairy, Jackson State C.C. District 20 — Karla Carpenter, P.O. Box 177, Brunswick, TN 38014; (901)590-2543, fax: (901)382-1433; Assns: Crockett, Dyer, Dyersburg, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion, Union City, Tipton, Dyersburg State C.C. District 21 — Zandra Foster, 3897 Homewood Cove, Memphis, TN 38128; phone/fax: (901)377-9472; Assns: Fayette, Shelby, Southwest Tenn.

C.C., University of Memphis. District 22/MEA — Ken Foster, Executive Director; MEA UniServ Directors: Marilyn Baker, Susanne Jackson, Terri Jones, Tom Marchand, Herman Sawyer, MEA, 126 South Flicker Street, Memphis, TN 38104; (901)454-0966, fax: (901)454-9979; Assn: Memphis.

New Teacher Conference, TEA Building American Education Week ESP Day Thanksgiving

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October 2011