The Informer

March 2012 Volume 37, Issue 7

Find us in “Local Affiliates” at www.teateachers.org

MTSU Poll: REA Officers

Public Very Skeptical Over Education Reform President Brenda Ball [email protected] In last year’s legislative session, educators across the state were Blackman High School, science dealt numerous blows. From the end of professional bargaining to an attack on dues collection, the General Assembly shredded President Elect decades of effective education policy. Now we are beginning to Torian HodgesHodges----FinchFinch [email protected] see how Tennesseans feel about “The Great Education Overreach Smyrna Middle School, social studies of 2011.” Secretary Beverly Calder Last month, the College of Mass Communication at Middle [email protected] State University conducted a statewide poll, asking Stewartsboro Elementary School, state residents how they felt about the presidential election, new special education voter ID laws, and several other hot-button issues. The most Treasurer interesting aspect of the poll, however, was about education and Michelle Pheneger specifically, the new teacher evaluation system implemented for [email protected] Blackman High School, mathematics the 2011-2012 school year. In This Issue: Less than one-fifth (18%) of Tennesseans think the state’s new Page 1 public school teacher evaluation system is increasing the quality of MTSU Poll = Teacher Support education. Nineteen percent think it is making no difference and Page 2 16% think it is decreasing the quality. Those in the largest group Womick Eval Bill Pulled say they simply do not know (48%). On another education issue, Proposed Education half of poll respondents think current class size averages are Legislation about right in Tennessee while 38% think public school Page 3 NEA and TEA RA Election classrooms in Tennessee should have fewer students on average. REA Officer Election Info Only about 4% think the state’s public school classrooms should REA Spring Banquet have more students on average. The rest are unsure. Member Benefits Page 4 Dates to Remember REA Celebrates Read Across America Legislator Contact Info Teacher Tips The 25th Seusscelebration, in honor of Dr. Seuss, was held at the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro, on March 10 th . Follow us on Facebook Seusscelebration offered the community a great opportunity to www.facebook.com/RutherfordEd come together and celebrate reading. REA members helped out ucationAssociation as readers and also helped with cutting and distributing cake to the children. REA would like to extend a big thank you to those Or who volunteered, as well as Sandra Muggu (Thurman Francis) on Twitter who chaired this event. We look forward to another great @RutherfordEA celebration in 2013. The Informer March 2012

Page 2

Womick’s Teacher Evaluation Bill Pulled

State Rep.articles Rick in The Womick, Tennessean a first-term Rockvale Proposed Education Legislation Republican,made it said clear how earlier poor the this month he has public opinion is concerning dropped public a teacher educators evaluation in the bill as part of an While not as disastrous as last year, the current agreementVolunteer with theState. governor’s administration to legislative session continues to offer a mixed bag of study Tennessee’s new process and put changes teacher “goodies” or “lemons.” The following are a into effectThe by first, August. an opinion column few of the proposed pieces of legislation that will be by lawyer Alex Little, “New up for discussion this year: evaluations will foster Womick, teacherwho is respect” drafting (Oct. a 18), letter to teachers and House Senate Bill Summary Gov. Bill criticizesHaslam’s Tennessee administration spelling out the agreement,educators said for that not welcoming the 1-5 grading scale for Bill teachers the as new, well highly as detailed the and number of annual 2447 2524 As introduced, would allow time-consuming teacher Naifeh Naifeh “rock solid” teachers to be evaluationsevaluation will be system. looked at by the Department tenure eligible in a major of Education and SCORE (Tennessee State improvement to a flawed law CollaborativeAccording on to Mr. Reforming Little, the Education) using 2999 As introduced, would feedbacknew from system teachersis a “substantial and administrators Brooks drastically change the role of school assistant principals. across theimprovement” state. over the old one. In addition, the new one Instead of providing a key role would have the added in school leader, assistants Womick, benefit speaking of raising recentlythe public’s at a community would now fulfill the role of a respect for teachers. “building manager,” a position function, said he took legislation off notice calling undefined in state law. for an overhaul of the first-year evaluation system 3059 2298 As introduced, both of these I will point out some flaws in that was adopted by the state as part of its First blatantly attack the the assumptions Mr. Little professionalism of teachers. to the Topmakes application in his editorial for to federal funds. State 3098 2302 Both bills would require the Sen. Jimillustrate Tracy, why R-Shelbyville,the new sponsored the Hensley Summerville licensure requirement for teacher evaluationevaluations are bill not in likelythe Senate.to teachers, opening the door for increase respect for anyone (trained or untrained) teachers. to teach. Instead, a joint resolution is being prepared that requests The the new Department evaluation system of Education to reform A complete list of proposed legislation is posted on the evaluationwas not, system,as Little claims, said Womick. He called the REA website. It is critical that all educators the statewide“developed response by experts to here this year’s evaluation in Tennessee.” The continue to contact their legislators and demand process evaluation “an all-out system revolt”is called by teachers and that they vote “No” to these detrimental bills. Two principalsTAP and (Teacher “rightly Achievement so.” The governor major victories this year demonstrate the power of previouslyProgram) said and teacher was evaluations would be our voices: 1) The TSBE postponed a ruling on the studied anddeveloped changes by a conservative likely recommended this public reprimand and 2) Gov. Haslam pulled his think tank that is funded by class size/“merit pay” bill. Remember, Our silence summer.the Milkin.Family Foundation is our permission! based in Santa Monica,

For theCalif. full TAP story is presently on used Womick’s bill, visit by 200 See the last page of the newsletter for names, email http://www.tennessean.com/article/D4/20120310/ addresses and phone numbers of legislators. NEWS05/303100039/Bill-touting-overhaul- teacher-evals-pulled-governor-seeks-reform Be informed! Make a list of bills to follow on the TN General Assembly website. Sign up for “My Bills” and receive updates on any action taken on bills in your list. Visit http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislation/ billtracker.html The Informer Page 3 March 2012

Your Voice at the National Level

Congratulations to eight of your colleagues who have recently been elected to serve as delegates to the National Education Association Representative REA Spring Banquet Assembly in Washington, D.C. June 30-July 5. They are Erin Alvarado (Central Magnet), Darrick The 37 th annual R.E.A. Spring Banquet to honor Bowman (Siegel High), Ryan Denton (Blackman retiring teachers and celebrate another year in the High), Ashley Evett (Christiana Middle), Carol education profession will be held on Tuesday, May 1, Hawkins (Christiana Middle), Torian Hodges-Finch 2012 at 6:00 P.M. at the James Union Building on the (Smyrna Middle), Emily Mitchell (David Youree MTSU campus. Elementary), and Allen Nichols (Central Magnet).

The alternate delegate is Ali Clark (Christiana An evening of good food and fun, fellowship,

Middle). If you have any concerns, comments, or entertainment and excitement is being planned. The suggestions regarding N.E.A. policies, please do not Blackman High School Choir will be providing the hesitate to contact any of the delegates. They will entertainment for the evening. This is a great time to represent you well. honor your fellow colleagues who have dedicated their lives to public education. Officers for the 2012- You Can Help! 2013 school year will also be installed.

Become a leader in your local association ! Mark your calendars NOW to attend. Your AR’s will have tickets available as the banquet time draws Your REA will be electing a PRESIDENT- nearer. We look forward to seeing you there! ELECT, SECRETARY, TREASURER, and EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS in April. If you would like to run for one of these Your N ew Member Benefit: positions, please submit your name to The NEA® Cash Rewards Card President Brenda Ball ([email protected] ) or call the REA Office (893-0322) with your Are you looking for a way to put more cash back in your pocket? We want to help. We are pleased to announce the all nomi nations. WE NEED YOU!! new NEA® Cash Rewards Visa Signature® credit card, now with enhanced benefits. NEA members have already earned over $710,000 cash back and that number is still growing! Speaking for You at the State Level Keep reading for more details and decide for yourself if you want to join them. The annual T.E.A. Representative Assembly will be held May 11-12 at the Nashville Convention Center. Rewards: • 1% cash back on purchases everywhere, every time This is our chance to have a continued voice in the • 2% cash back on groceries decision making policies of our state association! • 3% cash back on gas This year is especially crucial with all of the negative • Automatic cash back. attacks on public education. Rest assured that the • Cash rewards will not expire following delegates will represent you well: Erin • Special member bonus—$25 in cash rewards

Alvarado, Brenda Ball, Darrick Bowman, Patrick Other key benefits: Britt, Diana Brown, Ashley Cates, Kelly Chastain, Ali • Low Intro APR offer Clark, Ryan Denton, Ashley Evett, Melinda • No annual fee Fleischer, Barbara Floyd, Chris Harris, Carol • Receive peace of mind with $0 Liability Guarantee Hawkins, Torian Hodges-Finch, Katrina Hughes, • Access to Mobile Banking Deborah Hunt, Gloria Johnson, Ashli Lamons, To apply by phone, call 1-888-758-7946 and mention source William Mann, Sameria McClain, Kathy McMahan, code VABC8Q. (Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.) Emily Mitchell, Sandra Muggu, Allen Nichols, Molly Ostman, Allison Powell, Dara Stevens, Jenny Tidwell, Jacob Truax, Bobbine Wade, and Connie Weil.

The Informer Page 4

March 2012

232 Heritage Park DriveDrive,,,,

Suite 101

Murfreesboro, TN 37129

March 27 AR Meeting Phone: 615.893.0322 March 27 3rd Quarter Grading Period Report Cards (Pk-8) Fax: 615.893.6473 March 29 Parent-Teacher conferences (Pk-8) April 6 Good Friday th www.teateachers.org April 13 5 Grading Period Ends (9-12) th Web Master April 24 5 Grading Period Report Cards (9-12) Kelly Chastain, Oakland High May 1 Spring Banquet May 8 Executive Board The InInformerformer Editors May 11-12 TEA Representative Assembly May 22 AR Meeting Allen NicholsNichols,, CentraCentrall Magnet May 25 2011-2012 School Year Ends, Summer Begins Erin Alvarado, Central Magnet

Senate Education Committee The Professionalism Rubric

• Chairman Dolores Gresham 741‐2368 [email protected] Remember to submit your Vice Chairman Reginald Tate 741‐2509 [email protected] professionalism self-evaluation Secretary Brian K. Kelsey 741‐3036 [email protected] worksheet to your principal as Andy Berke 741‐6682 [email protected] Charlotte Burks 741‐3978 [email protected] soon as possible. Stacey Campfield 741‐1766 [email protected] • Visit http://team- Rusty Crowe 741‐2468 [email protected] tn.org/assets/misc/Professiona Jim Summerville 741‐4499 [email protected] lism_Rubric_and_Guidance.pd Jim Tracy 741‐1066 [email protected] f for more specific information. • There are ten performance House Education Committee standards for this part of Chairman Richard Montgomery 741‐5981 [email protected] Vice Chairman Joey Hensley 741‐7476 [email protected] TEAM: Secretary Joe Carr 741‐2180 [email protected] o Professional Harry Brooks 741‐6879 [email protected] Development Kevin Brooks 741‐1350 [email protected] John J.Deberry, Jr. 741‐2239 [email protected] Opportunities Lois M. DeBerry 741‐3830 [email protected] o Implementing New Bill Dunn 741‐1721 [email protected] Strategies Craig Fitzhugh 741‐2134 [email protected] 741‐1725 [email protected] o Personal Learning Plan Ron Lollar 741‐7084 [email protected] o Self-assessment Debra Young Maggart 741‐3893 [email protected] o Improve Performance Speaker Emeritus Jimmy Naifeh 741‐3774 [email protected] Joe Pitts 741‐2043 [email protected] o Using Student 741‐3335 [email protected] Achievement Data 741‐4400 [email protected] o Supporting School Ryan Williams 741‐1875 [email protected] John Mark Windle 741‐1260 [email protected] Activities and Events o Adherence to Personnel Policies Rutherford County Legislators o Safe and Orderly Rep. 741‐6829 [email protected] Rep. Joe Carr 741‐2180 [email protected] Learning Environment Rep. 741‐2804 [email protected] o Contribute to School Sen, Bill Ketron 741‐6853 [email protected] Community Sen. Jim Tracy 741‐1066 [email protected]