Volume 43, No. 5NCAEN E W S B U L L E T I NN O R T H C A R O L I N A A S S O C I A T I O N O F E D U C A T O R SDecember 2012 Get ready, NCAE members, for a more user-friendly experience when visiting the Web site. A new, more simplistic homepage is in the works and will be unveiled January 1, 2013. The changes stem from a New Business Item passed at the NCAE Convention last March, where the Representative Assembly directed an overhaul and redesign of the Web site to provide members with better usability and accessibility. Many new changes are being incorporated as a result of ideas from staff, the NCAE Communications Committee and leadership, said Christi Broadway, Web site/technology communications specialist. Their feedback was helpful and the Web site is being designed based on the suggestions they shared. The redesign, which began in September, will feature a major change to the way members access the Members Only site. Members will register using their full name, member number, e-mail address and will create their own unique password. Each time members sign in, they will use their e-mail address and the password created when they registered. There will also be a main location for members to access Member Benefits and member-specific content, unlike the previous site that had two separate locations for these menu items. On the former homepage, there were two areas dedicated to Members Only items; the new site will have only one that members will access by clicking the membership card icon at the top of the page. Here, members will find member-specific information and will be able to change their demographic information, such as an address or phone number.

The site will have a more simplistic feel and will offer a more streamlined drop-down menu of five tabs instead of 15. The menu tabs are: Who We Are -- the Associations mission and vision, a directory of staff and the Board of Directors, and a regional map can be found here; Advocacy members can access the Daily Political Briefing and Legislative Alerts; News here, information such as the News Bulletin archives, the State Board Review, and an easy-to-use calendar will be housed; Learning Opportunities will include the Professional Development catalog, and information about National Board Certification support and the Summer Leaders Conference; and Get Involved information on NCAE awards/scholarships, grants and the NCAE Divisions will be available.In addition, Twitter feeds will appear directly on the homepage and all of the social media links such as Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, etc. will be more prominent. The NCAE Resource Corner, which offers helpful information and tips for members (updated weekly), will also have a prominent place on the site. Another change will be a specific Whats New area where members can visit to see new content. Broadway said the overall design of the main page [homepage] will be very sleek and clean with a rotating photo banner that will allow for more flexibility in updating photos throughout the school year. Some things, she added, will remain the same. The Members Only site will have the

same feel and videos will still appear on the site, she said. The Join Us button will still be available for non-members interested in joining, and the Search and Quick Reference tabs will be easily accessible. The thought process behind this redesign was if a user visits our site, where would they look for specific information? Our goal is to make what they are searching for obvious. The easier a Web site is to navigate, the more users will return to that site. We want members experiences and that of the general public to be effortless, but effective.

NCAE Web site Undergoing a Redesign

NCAE

President

Message From the President

News Bulletin December 20122

Education Reform in NC...Know That Your Input Will Be Critical!

Expanded Republican majorities in the NC House and Senate, combined with an incoming governor who campaigned to make change to public education, will require educators, all educators, to engage their legislators both in the General Assembly and in their legislative districts during the 2013 legislative session, set to begin in January. Not only do we need to educate lawmakers on problems with legislation, but we need to remind them when educators agree with the approach they are taking. As I talk to legislators and reporters about the various legislative initiatives of Governor-elect Pat McCrory and the newly elected General Assembly, early indications point to education reform as a major issue in North Carolina politics. With a veto-proof super majority in both chambers, its pretty safe to bet the General Assembly can do anything it wants within the confines of the United States and North Carolina constitutions. However most political observers, including this writer, expect a few amendments will be made to the latter constitution when current provisions get in the way of proposed policies. Senator Pete Brunstetter (R-Forsyth) described a more measured agenda to the media. The Senate appropriations chairman predicted regulatory reform, tax reform, and education reform, as the three major issues the General Assembly will focus on in 2013. NCAEs battles with the General Assembly over its reform package last year dominated the 2012 legislative session. Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) proposed one-year contracts for all teachers and merit pay, as House Majority Leader Paul Stam (R-Apex) proposed a voucher plan that would be paid for by corporate tax credits. Educators were able to keep all three of these proposals from becoming law with the help of moderate Republicans working with NCAE. A review of Governor-elect McCrorys campaign promise on education contains ideas that NCAE embraces. However, his plan will also create negative consequences for the teaching profession and student learning environments. Read Governor-elect McCrorys plans to reform education, but know that NCAE will work to show him whats beneficial and what will require further study.

Brian Lewispolitical director & chief lobbyist

Tavis Smiley Dr. Cornel West

Smiley, West to Headline MLK Gala

NCAE members are invited to attend the 2013 Martin Luther King Scholarship Gala on Friday, January 11, at the Jane S. McKimmon Center on the campus of North Carolina State University (1101 Gorman St., Raleigh, NC 27606). Living the Dream in a Whole New World, is the theme of the event, which will feature nationally renowned guest speakers Tavis Smiley, host of the Tavis Smiley Show on PBS, and Dr. Cornel West, a professor at Princeton University and the Union Theological Seminary in New York. This annual fundraiser is being sponsored by the NCAE Human and Civil Rights Commission. Funds raised will be used to award scholarships to graduating seniors who plan to further their education beyond high school. Winners of the Minority Arts Contest will also be recognized at the gala. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and semi-formal attire is requested. Tickets are $50 for NCAE members and $75 for the general public. To purchase tickets, or for more information, click here.

Dates to RememberDecember 2012 10th IPD Awards Nominations Due 15th Education Hall of Fame Nominations 21st NCAE Offices Close for Winter Holiday 31st New Years Eve!

January 2013 1st New Years Day 2nd NCAE Offices Re-open 11th MLK Gala, Raleigh, NC 14th State Officers, NEA State Delegates List Due in Raleigh 21st Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Far too many educators are exiting the profession, disappointed by a system that is leaving them overwhelmed and frustrated. As your professional organization, NCAE is working to resolve these issues, such as lack of planning time and no duty-free lunch. Our first step in making this happen is through critical conversations. Your concerns matter. Let us hear from you!

News Bulletin December 2012 NCAE 3NCAE is Like Having a Best Friend by Your Side Candace Rohm, a teacher assistant at McGees Crossroads Elementary School in Johnston County, reflects on the day she almost didnt join the Association. But one day, a few years later while sitting in the principals office facing the possibility of having to resign or be terminated, a little voice popped in her head that said NCAE! When asked to sign the paperwork, my response was, I love what I do and I love the students. Im going to fight for my job and Im going to talk with my NCAE rep first, Rohm said. I had almost forgotten that I was a member, but the issue I was having quickly refreshed my memory. Rohms situation stemmed from the dual roles in which she serves. In addition to her job as a TA, she is also responsible for either driving a bus or serving as a bus monitor. Three months after being hired, she was placed in the role of a bus monitor because she was on medication for a seizure

disorder, which she clearly indicated on her job application. Everyone knew of my condition and I never said no to the possibility of driving a bus, said Rohm, who had passed the test for a CDL -- commercial drivers license. But nearly three years ago, it was decided that because I wasnt physically driving a bus, I wasnt performing my dual roles. After consulting with her Association Rep, Rohm met with her UniServ director. She was there every time I needed her; her guidance was exceptional. Having her there was like having someone stand behind me with their hand on my back, patting it, and reassuring me that everything was going to be okay. Her case turned into a victory thanks to assistance she received from NCAE. Several of her TA colleagues later asked what she did to keep her job. I told them that I didnt have to do anything. I just turned to NCAE for help when I needed it and kept an accurate file of

everything from payroll stubs to notes from meetings with the principal. Rohm likened the experience to having a best friend by her side. And its the way, she said, she feels about NCAE. Being a part of the Association is a way we as members can work together to achieve a better outcome. Although NCAE is not technically a union, it works much the same way. Im very familiar with unions and belonged to one while working in Florida as a theater technician. Unions do a lot of good things for its members and so does NCAE. Sometimes when people hear the word union, they associate it with negative connotations like protecting bad employees or collecting dues money without doing anything for the members, Rohm added. But unions, or Associations such as NCAE, are extremely beneficial. Without NCAE, we would not have benefits such as improved working conditions, vacation or sick days, and pay increases. The dues she pays each month to be a member is well worth the sacrifice, Rohm said. Its money thats already being deducted from my account and I dont miss it. Im still able to pay my rent and take care of the other expenses that I have. I think of it this wayits money being used to ensure that I have a voice and Im not throwing it away on something that is meaningless!

Without NCAE, we would not have benefits such as improved working conditions, vacation days or pay increases.--Candace Rohm

It has been a long hard fall for many of you. You have been implementing new curriculum, getting adjusted to incorporating Common Core Standards and just beginning to understand how standards VI or VIII will impact your overall effectiveness rating in the next three years. We hope the following tips help you slow down during this holiday break to make sure that you do something for yourself. Take time after the packages are wrapped and all the goodies have been made to make time for yourself so you can sharpen your saw. To sharpen the saw means renewing ones self in the following four aspects of our nature according to Steven Covey:

Physical: exercise, nutrition, stress managementMental: reading, thinking, planning, writing

Social/Emotional: service, empathy, securitySpiritual: reading, study, meditation or prayer

This time of year as we run out of steam we also run out of patience. In the book, Why is Everyone so Cranky, are numerous strategies on how to make sure you dont become a crank case. Here are a few strategies that during this time of year may help you refocus and recharge your battery.

1. Live with purpose. Have a sense of who you are and what life stands for.2. Quit judging others. Take the energy you put into criticizing others and channel it toward your own behavior.3. Capitalize on your innate wisdom. Trust what you know and start practicing healthy behaviors.4. Make conscious choices. Accept that you are really not a victim of circumstances; you are the victim of poor choice letting someone else ruin your mood.

5. Think of yourself as a winner in the game of life. Celebrate the positives and learn from the negatives. 6. Surround yourself with support. Avoid the naysayers.7. Replace negative emotions with positive ones. Quit worrying about trivial matters.8. Stay connected. Invest in your relationships; enrich them daily.9. Choose compassion over crankiness. Your heart cannot hold contempt and kindness at the same time, so choose one that best serves you! May your winter break be one that is filled with time for reflection, rest and rejuvenation. Please know that NCAE has resources to assist you and your school community surrounding stress tips.

Angela Farthing, Center for Instructional Advocacy

Take Time to De-stress Over the Holiday Break!

4 News Bulletin December 2012NCAEATTENTION!2013 Election Information for Members Running for NCAE Offices

March 23 April 11, 2013, are the days members will vote on candidates for the NEA director, NEA alternate director, district/cluster officers and state-allotted NEA delegates. The NEA director one of whom shall be a classroom teacher and one of whom must be African American (Article V, Section 2-c of the NCAE Constitution) shall be nominated and elected by the membership in the same manner as the president and vice president. The term served will be three years. Members will elect representatives of the NCAE Board of Directors in districts/clusters 1B (one-year term), Cluster 2, Cluster 6 (one three-year term position and one two-year term position), 4B, 5B, 7B and 8B. Each will serve a three-year term. District/cluster presidents, vice presidents and secretaries will also be elected and will serve a two-year term. The membership will also vote on ESP officers. Open positions of secretary and treasurer will carry two-year terms. ESP Board of Directors positions are available in districts/clusters 1B, Cluster 2, Cluster 6, 4B, 5B, 7B and 8B. All are

three-year terms. In addition, members will vote on the positions of vice president and treasurer within the Student Services Division, as well as board of directors positions in districts/clusters 1B, Cluster 2, Cluster 6, 4B, 5B, 7B and 8B. All are three-year terms. The Principals/Administrators Division is seeking to fill the positions of president, vice president and positions on the Principals/Administrators Board of Directors in districts/clusters 1B, 3A, 4A, 5B, 8A, Cluster 2 and Cluster 6, and assistant principal. All terms are for two years. The filing date for all offices is January 14, 2013. Nominations must be mailed to the NCAE Center by certified mail and must be postmarked no later than January 14. Contact Derevana Leach at 1-800-662-7924, ext. 205 with questions. January 14 is also the filing date for submitting new resolutions to be considered at the 2013 Representative Assembly. Regular mail is acceptable for new resolutions, which should be sent to Linda Powell-Jones, P.O. Box 27347, Raleigh, NC 27611. Proposed amendments to the NCAE Constitution should be submitted in

writing to the Presidents Office, (same address), on or before noon of the first business day March 22, 2013 of the annual convention. Nomination forms for candidates for NEA director, NEA alternate director or district/cluster director, MUST be accompanied by an official NCAE biographical form, statement and a professional-quality photograph (either print or a high-resolution digital image that is 300 dpi or higher). Digital images can be e-mailed to Linda.Powell@ncae.org. Print photographs and all other materials should be forwarded via CERTIFIED MAIL to Derevana Leach, P.O. Box 27347, Raleigh, NC 27611. Information submitted after the January 14 deadline, or without ALL of the proper documentation, WILL NOT be published in the NCAE News Bulletin. Locals will have an opportunity to place nominations for NEA local delegates on the NCAE-NEA ballot. The deadline for submitting local NEA delegate nominations is February 12, 2013.

NOTE: All election forms are available on the NCAE Web site, www.ncae.org.

NCAE/DPI Update on Common Core and Essential Standards Transition

NCAE and NCDPI will provide educators with an update regarding the transition to the Common Core State Standards and the North Carolina Essential Standards. Register for a session by clicking a date below:

Wed, Dec 12, 2012 4-5 PM EST https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/647240903

Tue, Jan 29, 2013 4-5 PM EST https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/947141991

Once registered you will receive an e-mail confirming your registration with information you need to join the Webinar.

Voting DatesMarch 23 - April 11, 2013

Positions stated in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official position of NCAE unless so identified. The NCAE News Bulletin, a journal of the Association, is published by the North Carolina Association of Educators, 700 S.Salisbury St., Post Office Box Box 27347, Raleigh, NC 27611, 1-800-662-7924.

Linda Powell-Jones, Editor/Designer www.ncae.org

N C A E N E W S B U L L E T I N Follow NCAE eventsand activities on:

5NCAENews Bulletin December 2012

Talents, Time and Treasures: Continuous Giving of Self The campaign season is behind us, gift-giving and the trappings of the holiday season are upon us, and we find ourselves embarking on a brand new year. What will we do in 2013 to make a difference in the lives of others? Opportunities abound to be of service to others and lift ourselves from the "winter blahs" that can hamper productivity. Remember also that gifts of service through use of volunteer time for community work involving both active and retired members of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) are a winning experience for participants as well as recipients. Collaboration with community agencies has the ability to expand the scope of events, along with enhancing the benefits of the projects that we aspire to complete. When we retired, we were used to giving as part of our daily routine with our students. We chose this profession because of our desire to be a part of something greater than ourselves.

When we choose to take on other activities, we are still in the same mode we were before our retirement. We look for things that boost us as well as our communities. When we engage with others in our retirement, we maintain a feeling of self-worth and dignity. We never give up being a part of a greater good when we partner with our active members in schools and in school-related volunteer activities. We are seeking a bridge to stay connected with our previous status by contributing to our communities through NCRSP (North Carolina Retired School Personnel) in partnership with NCAE. This allows the retired generation to connect with the upcoming pre-retired generations. Education is an ongoing process and we learn from each other. Current active members are our future and we are their future. Continuous membership provides opportunities to build a bridge that benefits individual members as well as our future membership. Continuous membership builds stronger linkage between the two organizations with mutual benefit for both NCAE and NCRSP.

Dr. Terry MitchellNCRSP vice president

The holiday shopping wars have begun, and if youre like everyone else, you are looking for the best bang for the buck when it comes to buying gifts for everyone on your list. Through the NEA Click & Save program, you can get discounts on thousands of items. Great deals on everything from travel, to electronics, to vacations are available. Click here to see how you can join. Happy shopping!

Hotel Reservations for the 2013 NCAE Convention

NCAE delegates to the NCAE Convention, scheduled for March 22-23, 2013 at the Raleigh Convention Center, will need to make their own hotel reservations. A list of hotels is available at www.visitraleigh.com. Click the Visitors tab and open the Hotels tab to view properties throughout the city.

That teachers who are working less than 100 percent in permanent jobs do not qualify for career status (tenure)? Teachers with career status who move to a position that is less than full time, forfeit their career status and must re-earn it when/if they return to a full-time position.

That you are required to sign your observations and evaluations? Signing observations, evaluations, and other such documents only indicates that you have seen and had an opportunity to discuss the document with your supervisor or principal. Not signing them does not stop the document from being filed. If you disagree, you always have the right to write a response or rebuttal. If you have a question, visit www.ASKNCAE.org.

DidYouKnow?