For more than 40 years TEA and NEA have provided sound and proven liability coverage to members for all professional duties in and out of the classroom.

A portion of dues purchases an actual insurance policy held by the member (right), a reliable and time-tested safeguard in the event a civil suit is filed, or criminal charges are initiated against a member.

A member’s insurance coverage covers not only any judgments against a member, but also pays the costs of hiring attorneys to defend against claims.

Published by theTENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

October 2015 � Vol. 47, No. 2 � www.teateachers.org

Are we TNReady?

ARE WE TNREADY? go to page 4

An Islamic controversy and passing the buck

1 5ye

ars !

years !15

Political tempest over seventh grade social studies standards has a key lawmaker scapegoating teachers

MEMBER INSURANCE AND LEGAL SERVICES go to page 3

Know the facts about your TEA liability coverage and legal representation

Over the past months, middle school teachers have watched with concern as a controversy erupted about how Islam’s role in history is taught in schools. Fanned by a variety of groups with anti-public school motives, the controversy hit the airwaves and spilled into school board meetings, claiming an overemphasis on Islam, and even charges of indoctrination.

PASSING THE BUCK go to page 6

As the state begins a secondary insurance program, it’s important for members to know what it covers and what it doesn’t

This year, Tennessee transitions to a new form of assessment, TNReady. The new tests replace most TCAP and End-of-Course tests and include new, constructed-response questions instead of being entirely multiple choice. In most districts, the tests will be administered online.

On October 1, approximately 110,000 users in systems across the state logged on to the Tennessee Department of Education’s new online testing software and uncovered vulnerabilities and glitches.

The department wanted to test the system to see if it could handle high levels of traffic before it starts administering

As we gear up for the first year of the new test, the state task force on assessments publishes encouraging

recommendations

A printed Certificate of Insurance is available to all TEA members upon request. A printed policy is not needed to claim benefits.

18652015

GRESHAM

3 2 October 2015

Barbara Gray, President

When a charter school operator pleaded to the Tennessee Board of Education to allow the International Academy of Excellence to operate after its application was denied several times at the local level, he admitted what charter critics have always known.

“A lot of charters treat the kids like dollar signs and don’t have the kids’ best interest in mind,” said Kori Floyd, according to The Tennessean.

Floyd, who criticized the appeal process enacted last year and talked about his passion for the kids, is a symbol of everything that’s wrong with the charter industry. Even when they are told no – several times – charters refuse to deal with reality and use the deep pockets of their investors to try to remain relevant. Floyd’s school was one of three charters which appealed to the state following failed bids to establish or expand their reach in Nashville. Charter schools whose applications were denied in Shelby and Jackson-Madison counties also filed appeals.

So why are the charters so desperately trying to appeal their failed applications? Because they see that more education stakeholders and communities have seen behind the veil of “school reform” speak and

realized that school reform apologists are, in fact, all about the dollar signs.

John Thompson, education historian and teacher, recently pointed out that corporate reformers are in a bad mood because nothing is going as they had planned.

“It has been quite a year for school reform anniversaries,” Thompson writes. “This is the fifth year of the $500 million Tennessee Race to the Top, the prime funder of the $44 million Memphis Achievement School District, and the $200 million One Newark; the tenth anniversary of Katrina and the mass charterization of New Orleans; and the 15-year anniversary of the man-made Katrina launched by the Gates Foundation.”

“The anniversaries began with excuses over the disappointing outcomes in Memphis, as well as the Tennessee Race to the Top. True believer Chris Barbic worked himself into a heart attack and resigned as superintendent of the ASD. The money was spent, and instead of a series of victorious public relations events, reformers found themselves explaining away the outcomes.”

Tennessee’s teachers have been at the forefront of the “school reform” and charter battles for years, educating our lawmakers and policy wonks about the dangers of giving charters free rein. The failures in New Orleans, the departure of Chris Barbic in the wake of failing test scores in the ASD, followed by impassioned charter appeals and fake grassroots drives to keep charter applications afloat are all proof that we have been right all along.

After the millions of dollars poured into Memphis by Bill Gates and other foundations, the city is now first in the nation in young persons out of school and without a job.

Can we trust charter schools and their proponents who keep trying to “turn around” neighborhood schools? Of course, not. Remember the words of Kori Floyd – all they see are dollar signs.

Carolyn Crowder, Executive Director

When I was in high school, I worked as a nurse’s aide in the city hospital. One of the things I liked most about the job was when I got to work in the maternity ward. I will never forget the first time I was assigned to stay with a young mother about to deliver her first child. I made the mistake of offering to let her hold my hand when a contraction was coming on. Before it was over, it felt like she had broken every bone in that hand. After she had given birth, neither she nor I thought about the pain that led up to it. We were too busy admiring her beautiful baby.

Over the past two years, I have had the pleasure of watching new birth in the TEA family. Last summer, we had quadruplets. When new municipal school districts in Shelby County were formed, TEA members in those school districts decided to form brand new locals. They worked hard throughout the spring and summer of 2014, until the Bartlett Education Association (BEA); Millington Municipal Education Association (MMEA); Collierville Education Association (CEA) and the combined local called the Germantown, Arlington and Lakeland Education Association (GALEA) were formed. I don’t think any of the founding leaders would tell you it was easy – but these hard working “parents” are demonstrating that it was worth it as their locals continue to strengthen and grow.

This fall, one of TEA’s long standing locals left the TEA/NEA family. The Memphis Shelby County Education Association disaffiliated on September 2, 2015. Some brave and courageous leaders did not want to leave the TEA and NEA. In order to keep within the family, they are forming a new unified local amid controversy and confusion. These founders are having to create a new organization while their former local is competing against them. However, they are proving up to the challenge. It has been one of the most inspiring moments of my career to watch the birth of the United Education Association of Shelby County (UEA).

UEA leaders had been leaders within the MSCEA, but were not consulted in the decision to disaffiliate from TEA and NEA. In fact, when they spoke up against some of the decisions that led up to the disaffiliation, they were censured and ultimately banned from meetings. So, while the situation has not been easy, they will tell you it has been exciting and worth it to form an organization that is dedicated to allowing all voices to be heard in order to advocate for the issues important to the educators, students and public schools of Shelby County.

A bright spot in all of this is that the UEA is gathering wisdom and strength from respected members of their extended family. A growing group of past Memphis Education Association (MEA) and Shelby County Education Association (SCEA) presidents, as well as other Shelby County retired members are supporting UEA and working hard to help make it successful.

I am proud to have witnessed some of the hard work that went into the formation of the municipal locals and the current brave struggle that UEA is going through. As you run into the leaders from any of these new locals throughout this school year, make sure you take the opportunity to welcome them to the TEA family. By standing together, we can turn pain and struggle into a celebration.

Giving birth isn’t easyCharter operators say the darndest things

Speaking out with you

teach (USPS 742-450, ISSN 15382907) is published in August, October, Jan/Feb, and March/April by the Ten-nessee 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 sup-port 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: Jim WryeEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER:

Carolyn Crowder

Tennessee Education Association801 Second Avenue NorthNashville, TN 37201-1099

Telephone: (615)242-8392, Toll Free: (800)342-8367, (800)342-8262

Fax: (615)259-4581Website: www.teateachers.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Barbara Gray* (800)342-8367VICE PRESIDENT: Beth Brown* (931)779-8016SECRETARY-TREASURER: Carolyn Crowder (615)242-8392DISTRICT 1 Joe Crabtree* (423)794-9357DISTRICT 2 Michele Bowman (865)679-6523DISTRICT 3 Michael Carvella (865)212-9774DISTRICT 4 Anthony Hancock* (865)293-9232DISTRICT 5 VacancyDISTRICT 6 Jennifer Eilender (931)704-2487

DISTRICT 7 Emily Mitchell (615)904-2314DISTRICT 8 Kevin King (615)504-0425DISTRICT 9 Stephen Henry (615)519-5691DISTRICT 10 Becky Jackman* (931)551-8949DISTRICT 11 Brandi Adams (731)439-3476DISTRICT 12 Janis Carroll (731)431-2387 DISTRICT 13 Trish Stephenson (901)757-9080DISTRICT 14 Tiffany Reed (901)412-2759 DISTRICT 15 VacancyADMINISTRATOR EAST Jessica Holman (865)689-1450ADMINISTRATOR MIDDLE Margaret Thompson (615)643-7837ADMINISTRATOR WEST Dennis Kimbrough (901)494.0105HIGHER EDUCATION Josephine McQuail (931)520-0449BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER EAST Pam Thompson (615)948.7378BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER MIDDLE Kawanda Braxton

(615)554-6286BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER WEST Sarah Kennedy-Harper (901)416-4582STATE SPECIAL SCHOOLS Debi Ponder (615)969-4362NEW TEACHER Carrie Allison (812)205-7689ESP Stephanie Bea (901)265-4540TN NEA DIRECTOR Tanya Coats (865)308-2787TN NEA DIRECTOR Diccie Smith* (901)482-0627STEA MEMBER Raymond Boyd (615)750-2355TN RETIRED Linda McCrary (615)888-7026 * Executive Committee AT LARGE RETIRED DIRECTOR ON NEA BOARD JoAnn Smith (423)283-9037

TEA HEADQUARTERS STAFFEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Carolyn Crowder; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS: Terrance Gibson; Steve McCloud; Jim Wrye; TECHNOLOGY & BUILDING OPERATIONS MANAGER:

Galen Riggs; COMPTROLLER: David Shipley; UNISERV FIELD MANAGERS: Karla Carpenter; Leigh Phillips; STAFF ATTORNEYS: John Allen, Virginia A. McCoy; GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COORDINATOR: Drew Sutton; WEB MASTER & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Amanda Chaney; MANAGING EDITOR & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Alexei Smirnov; INSTRUCTIONAL ADVOCACY & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS: Rhonda Thompson; William O’Donnell; COORDINATOR OF ORGANIZING SUPPORT & AFFILIATE RELATIONS: Shannon Bain; ADVOCACY HOTLINE COORDINATORS: Forestine Cole, Gera Summerford & Cynthia Wood.

UniServ Staff contact informationcan be found on page 11.

Registration open for National Board training Teachers are constantly looking for new ways to expand their professional skill set. One of the ways to grow as a professional is through the National Board Certification process. TEA is pleased to announce a two-day Jump Start training November 13-14 in Nashville for National Board Certification candidates. Led by national Jump Start experts, this training offers 10 PDPs. The training will be held at the Metropolitan Nashville Education Association building, 531 Fairground Court, Nashville. Registration is $25. The registration form is available at www.teateachers.org.

SBE seeking comments on science standardsThe State Board of Education has launched a standards review website to collect public feedback on Tennessee’s third through 12th grade science standards. The science standards review can be accessed at https://apps.tn.gov/tcas/. The state is inviting any Tennessee resident to go online and comment on the standards. The standards will be implemented during the 2018-19 school year.

Grundy County Reaches MOU with local boardAfter three years at the conferencing table with the Grundy County Board of Education, local teachers have reached a long-awaited memorandum of understanding, aimed at improving their working conditions under PECCA. “We’ve been working hard to accomplish this and are happy to share with our colleagues across the state that even when something takes that long, that there is always light at the end of the tunnel,” said Beth Brown, teacher at Grundy Co. High School and TEA vice president.

TEA committee sees women empowerment criticalDecades of lip service to improving teacher compensation, vanishing pay raises and increasing health costs all point to the need for changing the status quo in the education profession. Teachers, and especially women in education, are still vastly underpaid, faced with myriad reforms and conflicting edicts from school boards, while grassroots improvement efforts are stifled by male-dominated legislatures. Those were the issues discussed at the TEA Status of Women Committee in early October. Guest speaker Michael Franklin called on more women to become active in their local associations and to influence local, state and national elections in order to advance the cause of women in education.

A member’s policy also provides for reimbursement of attorney fees for defense of criminal proceedings, provides bail bond coverage, and provides coverage for assault-related personal property damage for members.

Yet insurance is not the only liability safeguard offered to members. Immediate out-of-pocket legal costs can easily skyrocket well beyond what an average educator can afford. TEA provides legal services as part of membership, with a staff of experienced and knowledgeable lawyers members can rely on.

Every school system in Tennessee offers some liability insurance

for its employees, with no assurance of legal representation. Under employer-based coverage, the insurer is responsible first to the system, not the employee. There are instances where employer liability coverage did not extend to assigned work outside of the classroom.

The General Assembly recently passed a secondary tax-funded liability insurance pool for educators, the Educator Protection Act.

It is a “fund of last resort,” accessed only when local liability coverage is exhausted. The state does “not guarantee that a claim will be paid from the fund.” A state panel decides whether a claim against a teacher merits coverage. No legal representation is offered by the act.

For TEA members none of this matters. Having a liability policy held by the member means the insurer’s first duty is to protect the member, not anything or anyone else. And having a legal team ready to serve is also a critical safeguard of membership.

Teaching is getting tougher and unfortunately more litigious. Having TEA in your corner is having peace of mind.

A printed Certificate of Insurance (left) is available to all TEA members upon request by sending an email to information@tnea.org. Please give the member number printed on the cover of this issue to Teach.

Members of TEA legal team and Hotline staff (below).

MEMBER INSURANCE AND LEGAL SERVICES from page 1

The facts about your TEA liability coverage and legal representation

www.teateachers.org 5 4 October 2015

from page 1

real statewide testing later in the year.

The morning of the test Mike Looney, superintendent of Williamson County Schools, tweeted that his district had broken the system. About 15,000 students across the district logged on, he says. For many, the software froze up and students couldn’t enter answers.

“We were on the system for about 20 minutes this morning and it crashed,” he said. “I think that it’s a blessing that we know it now, so that we can all work together to make adjustments to make sure that when the actual assessment comes — with accountability attached to it — the product will work as needed across the state.”

Nakia Towns, assistant commissioner of data and research for the state’s education department, says the department isn’t aware of whether the site fully crashed, but users probably experienced a slowdown in performance. The department is analyzing user data this week and will try to fix the glitches before testing begins early next year.

“There are certainly states who have gone down this road with online assessment who probably wish that they had done this type of proactive testing,” she said.

TNReady is not part of the two primary Common Core tests: PARCC or Smarter Balanced, but they will share questions from tests administered in Utah as part of a contract Tennessee’s testing vendor, Measurement, Inc. has with that state’s test provider.

All this talk of testing begs the question: Why do we test so much and what can we do about it?

Teachers have said for years now that the regimen of standardized tests and the required test prep take away valuable instructional time. TEA asked that tests be

transparent – that the questions and answers should be available after administration in order to truly aid teaching and learning. And, our elementary teachers have been saying that some standardized tests used in early grades are simply developmentally inappropriate.

Well, now there’s some good news on all of those fronts. The Tennessee Task Force on Student Testing and Assessment, formed last year in response to legislative efforts to curb testing, recently came back with some encouraging recommendations:

The task force made 16 recommendations with specific emphasis in four areas: (1) culture of transparency, (2) test reduction, (3) postsecondary alignment and readiness, and

(4) test scheduling and logistics.

Specific highlights of these recommendations include releasing test items for students, parents, and educators, eliminating the kindergarten and first grade

standardized test option, eliminating the 8th and 10th grade EXPLORE and PLAN tests, providing expectations to districts regarding formative assessment usage and communication, creating additional input opportunities for parents, and ensuring higher education guidance, validation, and

Are we TNReady?

Call TodayFor A Quote!

East TN to Nashville: 877-634-2649West TN to Nashville: 877-203-7512

usage of TNReady.

The task force concluded the report with additional areas for further analysis, including more work on district grading practices and policies, and the usage of screening tools in early grades.

The task force also recommended its continued involvement in reviewing new information about the state of assessment during this time of transition.

These recommendations reflect what many educators have been saying for years: There’s too much testing and the process is not

transparent.

In 2015, TEA backed legislation that would have required testing transparency – the release of test questions and answers after standardized tests have been administered. With the task force recommendations, TEA looks forward to the support of Commissioner McQueen in this endeavor.

Last year also saw legislation introduced that would eliminate standardized tests for students in the earliest grades. Now that the task force has called for eliminating such tests in kindergarten and first grade, TEA looks forward to advancing an agenda that returns to a developmentally appropriate assessment model for our youngest students.

TEA will continue to work with policymakers to move legislation that reduces our reliance on standardized tests. We believe teachers best understand what their students need,

and too much testing can detract from valuable instructional time.

In addition to the concern of teachers about how students will fare with the new test formats and technology, is how scores will factor into evaluation.

After a TEA push to stop or reduce TVAAS during the testing transition, the General Assembly passed a reduction in how TNReady will be used for this school year (see pie charts below left).

Ultimately, testing is about finding the right balance between gaining useful information on student achievement and ensuring adequate time and resources for student learning.

As Tennessee transitions to TNReady, TEA will also be pushing for a transition to a more balanced, student-centered testing plan.

Teachers With Prior Data 2015-16

Teachers Without Prior Data 2015-16

Non-Tested Teachers2015-16

Non-Tested Teachers Using a Portfolio Growth Model 2015-16

TNReady

10% TNReady

10%

Achievementmeasure

15%

TNReady

10%

Prior two years

TCAP 25%

Achievementmeasure

15% Observation

50%

Observation

50%

Observation

75%

Observation

70%

Achievementmeasure

20%

In 2015, TEA pushed legislation that would have required testing transparency – the release of test questions and answers after standardized tests have been administered. The state testing task force is now recommending the same.

How TNReady factors in evaluations for 2015-16

Portfolio score

35%

Technology, formats, and evaluations are continuing questions for TNReady

Achievementmeasure

15%

www.teateachers.org 7 6 October 2015

OPTION

Training(Academy/Institute/Seminar/Conference)

PDPs awarded TEA/NEAmember benefits

1 clock hour = 1 PDP1 continuing education unit = 5 PDPs

Attend Spring Symposium = 8-12 PDPs

Attend I Can Do It = 6 PDPs

Other TEA Professional Development (face-to-face & online) = 1-3 PDPs per session

Go to www.neaacademy.org for over 500 online professional development opportunities.

College/University Coursework

1 semester hour credit = 10 PDPs Visit www.neaacademy.org to review the course catalogue and other extended learning opportunities to earn PDPs.

Check higher education institutions in your area for additional opportunities to earn PDPs.

Overall Evaluation Score

National Board Certification

Overall Score of:5 = 20 PDPs4 = 15 PDPs3 = 10 PDPs

30 PDPs

Contact your TEA UniServ Coordinator to schedule professional development opportunities for members of your local association.

Contact TEA’s Instructional Advocacy Department for information on how to become a National Board Certified Teacher.

Toll free: 800-342-8367

TEA guide to obtaining 60 Professional Development Points (PDPs) now required for teaching license renewal

years15 !

PASSING THE BUCKfrom page 1

Educators and state education officials say it’s a misconception that Islam is emphasized more than other religions in social studies classrooms. The topic of Islam has been part of seventh grade social studies for years. And teachers are adamant that they are not proselytizing for any religion. We teach history, not faith. That is a job only for parents.

But the controversy will continue because politicians have found political gain in keeping it alive. And when Tennessee teachers come under attack from out-of-state special interest groups, we see some politicians join in. That is

unacceptable and TEA members will not forget.

A prime example is Senate Education Committee Chair Dolores Gresham. She sent a letter to Education Commissioner Candice McQueen to make sure teachers aren’t indoctrinating students and encourage teachers to exercise “prudence” when teaching world history as it relates to Islam. She sent out excerpts of the letter to the state press in a news release.

The underlying assumption, of course, is that some Tennessee’s teachers have been indoctrinating students instead of teaching them history. It is an insinuation that hurts the reputation of schools and teachers.

“I was disappointed in the senator’s response to the controversy. It did nothing to dispel rumors or stand up for teachers,” said Jim Wrye, chief lobbyist for TEA. “In fact, the reporters I talked to clearly get the wrong idea of who sets social studies standards and what goes on the state tests. Lawmakers who oversee education have a special responsibility to let their constituents know it is a state decision on standards, and the state makes the approved textbook list.“

Gresham’s omission of the process by which standards are developed and textbooks chosen is notable. The staunchest supporter of Common Core and the use of the nationally aligned PARCC test that the General Assembly discarded in 2014, Gresham only tamped down her support when it became politically problematic to other Senators.

Gresham’s reaction is in response to a large, multi-million dollar, out-of-state outfit with a political operation and headquarters in DC. Instead of

talking to her local teachers, she sends a letter to Commissioner McQueen which essentially calls on the state’s top education official to keep teachers in line and pushes the special interest fiction that public schools are not to be trusted.

“Tennessee communities love their public schools and support them strongly. The privatization industry has two weapons to try and weaken that support, saying our schools are failing and that schools are somehow different than the communities they serve,” said Wrye. “Pushing the storyline that schools are promoting Islam and indoctrinating students is meant to sow distrust of schools. After the tragedy in Chattanooga, the special interests see an opportunity.”

On July 16, 2015, five servicemen were killed in Chattanooga by Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, who migrated to the city with his family in 1996.

The subject of seventh grade social studies is not going away anytime soon. A bill has been filed by Rep. Sheila Butt, R-Columbia, that would prohibit any public school course from including anything deemed “religious doctrine” unless the course is taught in 10th, 11th or 12th grades.

“I think that probably the teaching that is going on right now in seventh, eighth grade is not age appropriate,” Butt said. “They are not able to discern a lot of times whether its indoctrination or whether they’re learning about what a religion teaches.”

TEA has a long standing policy opposing legislative action on curriculum and standards. It certainly will be a key topic in the next legislative session.

While most educators were on summer break in July, the Tennessee State Board of Education approved a new policy regarding teacher licensure, which went into effect September 1. License renewal has already generated a flurry of questions across the state, and to answer them we’ve put together a chart explaining the basic requirements (see the chart below).

“Under the new rules, in some instances a teacher with an initial license (transitional or apprentice) may qualify to advance to the professional license,” said TEA Assistant Executive Director Terrance Gibson. “In other instances, a teacher holding an initial license may be issued a practitioner license, the new form of initial licensure.”

Practitioner License

The Practitioner License is valid for three years. To advance from the practitioner to professional license, the teacher must have three years of experience and document the completion of 30 professional development points (PDPs) or receive a signed recommendation from the director of schools. If a teacher does not meet expectations for advancement to the Professional License, the Practitioner License may be renewed once.

Professional License

The Professional License is valid for six years. In order to renew the Professional License, teachers must earn 60 PDPs.

Advancement and Renewal

Advancement and renewal of a license must take place during the final year of the validity period of the license. For example, if a license will expire on August 31, 2020, the educator may not apply for renewal until September 1, 2019. However, an educator who qualifies for advancement prior to the final year of the validity period of the license may advance as soon as criteria are met.

Teachers who met all requirements for renewal or advancement on August 31, 2015 (under the former licensure policy) have until December 1, 2015, to submit renewal or advancement applications. The applications

must be received by the Office of Educator Licensing on or before that date.

TDOE will begin accepting applications for the conversion or advancement of licenses that expire in 2016 on March 1, 2016. Licenses will be converted to the practitioner license or advanced to the six-year professional license.

What you need to know now about license renewal as new rules go into effect. TEA is here to help! Preparations continue for the launch of a brand-

new online platform that will bring cutting edge technology to our association. Coming in spring 2016, NEA360 will change the way members interact with one another and will provide for more in-depth engagement than ever before.

TEA has a unique role as one of only five states in the country that are acting as early deployment states, and will be the first to have access to the tool. This also gives TEA the opportunity to provide meaningful input into the design of NEA360.

Through the NEA360 Member Portal, members can network and collaborate with others around the country about issues affecting teaching and learning. Both members and others in the community will be able to create profiles, reinforcing vital connections to the communities we serve and providing more opportunities for meaningful dialogue.

Member portal launches this spring

GRESHAM

This year’s theme for the TEA Organizing Summit is “Together We Win.” The conference provides the tools, resources, and skills association members need to become advocates on issues important to educators. To attend, email Marianne Staley at: mstaley@tnea.org

The conference is at the Cool Springs Embassy Suites, Franklin. Registration on Friday, Nov. 6, at 5:00 p.m. and continues Saturday morning. Hotel check-in available at 4:00 p.m. Friday, with the

conference at 6:00 p.m. There are three advocacy tracks.

Track 1 –We’re in It to Win It! — An overview of legal services, as well as best practices, tools and resources for PECCA collaborative conferencing.

Track 2 -Winning Strategies for Beginner Activists and Veteran Politicos — A political overview on how to win elections and bend the ear of elected officials.

Track 3 -Excellence in Instruction…By Any Means Necessary — This session provides updated information about hot topics such as evaluation, licensure, and mentoring.

TOGETHER WE

WIN!

2015 Organizing Summit

Nov. 6-7 Embassy Suites Hotel Cool Springs, Franklin

www.teateachers.org 9 8 October 2015

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After that, the base 1% earn rate applies to those purchases.** You will qualify for $100 bonus cash rewards if you use your new credit card account to make any combination of Purchase transactions totaling at least $500 (exclusive

of any fees, returns and adjustments) that post within 90 days of the account open date. Limit one (1) bonus cash rewards offer per new account. This one-timepromotion is limited to new customers opening an account in response to this offer. Other advertised promotional bonus cash rewards offers can vary from thispromotion and may not be substituted. Allow 8-12 weeks from qualifying for the bonus cash rewards to post to your rewards balance. The value of this reward mayconstitute taxable income to you. You may be issued an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 (or other appropriate form) that reflects the value of such reward. Pleaseconsult your tax advisor, as neither we nor our affiliates, provide tax advice.

The credit card program has been developed for members and their families only. Eligible family members include parents, spouse (or domestic partner) and children. If amember decides not to renew membership, that person and his/her family will no longer be eligible to receive the preferential rates, fees and special promotions offeredthrough this credit card program. If eligible, a replacement card will be offered.

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Knox Co. EA president gets prestigious awardKCEA President Lauren Hopson was named the 2015 Outstanding Community Advocate at the annual ceremony hosted by the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Education held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Knoxville October 6. A long-time public education advocate, Hopson stepped to the forefront of the fight for protecting public education in Tennessee when the video of her address to the Knox County Board of Education went viral on YouTube in October 2013. Hopson told the county school board she was “tired” of never-ending testing, new school standards and other attacks on public schools, students and teachers. Hopson’s video was shared among teachers nationwide, reaching 107,000 views.

Clay County closes schools due to funding shortfallA small school district in northern Tennessee faces an uncertain future after their school board voted to close its doors citing budget woes, only to see a temporary injunction reverse that decision prior to the school systems closing its doors. The problem underscores the vast disparity in school funding. Clay County Director of Schools Jerry Strong states the decision to close the schools, which was upheld on a 6-4 vote, comes after three years of budget struggles in the county. He also stated in several media reports that the shutdown was due to unfunded state and federal mandates, specifically the Affordable Care Act (ACA). TEA has strong concerns that the school system made changes to its insurance plan last year in reliance on inaccurate information regarding federal health insurance laws and regulations that was received by numerous school systems. It is possible these changes led to additional, unnecessary cost to the system and only further inflamed their budget problems. The information provided to this school system has been thoroughly debunked by officials with the state, and TEA has worked closely with state and federal regulators to ensure accurate information is available to school systems. It is unclear now what will happen to the more than 1,100 students after Fall Break, currently scheduled to end on October 19. In addition, employees of the school system are uncertain if they will be able to go to work.

Vanderbilt University to study teacher collaborationVanderbilt University’s Peabody College and the Tennessee Department of Education have launched a joint effort to study how teacher evaluations can help support teacher growth and build stronger school cultures. As part of a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute for Education Sciences, local researchers will be joined by faculty from Brown University and Harvard Graduate School of Education.

more than 75 future teachers from across Tennessee at the Cool Springs Embassy Suites Hotel. The conference included professional development sessions on Saturday.

“I’m very grateful for TEA and STEA’s efforts in building our outdoor classroom space,” said Rise Pope, the school’s executive principal. “Any way we can increase levels of serotonin to make our students happy and engaged is awesome. We look forward to using this space.”

John Early Middle was the first school within the Metropolitan Nashville school district to champion project-based learning, which led STEA to contribute to helping expand the initiative.

As construction was underway in late September, students and teachers stopped by to thank the STEA and TEA building crew and shared their ideas about expanding the school’s future learning expeditions.

“We understand that learning doesn’t take place within the confines of four walls,” said Lynndell Edmondson, instructional designer at John Early Middle School. “Learning is everywhere, and this outdoor classroom gives our students an

opportunity to experience the learning process so much more.”

As schools across the state are now mandated by the state to provide unstructured recess for 5th and 6th graders – a new development for the 2015-16 school year – John Early staff said the STEA service project arrived at the perfect time.

“We are a school with limited resources, but we embrace partnership and opportunities to improve our teaching and learning environment,” Pope said.

There’s no word on what kind of project STEA members will tackle next. Please send your ideas to information@tnea.org.

and apply to be reimbursed after the fact. For someone with family coverage, this can expose them to increases of nearly $10,000 in out-of-pocket caps. The reimbursement is also restricted to eligible expenses, meaning not all expenses are covered.

The move is also not as good a deal for school systems as it appears to be. For systems participating in the State Group Insurance Program, the cost of “gap” insurance must be paid for exclusively out of local dollars. State support must be used for the primary insurance offered through the state, and if a school system is interested in purchasing optional policies,

they must pay for it with their own funds. Also, larger numbers of enrollees in cheaper insurance also mean less money coming from the state in support. State funding for insurance is based on “average weighted premium,” which is a sort of median cost based on enrollment patterns. From 2014 to 2015, enrollment in the lowest cost insurance more than quadrupled, and state insurance funding reflected this change. School systems are receiving more than $200 less per employee than they would have had the enrollment change not occurred. Couple this with having to use local dollars for supplemental insurance, and the savings realized by systems pushing employees into cheaper insurance are less than it may seem.

STEA MEMBERS MEET, BUILD STUDY AREAfrom page 12

INSURANCE ASSAULTfrom page 12

TEA continues to educate school systems, protecting teacher insurance

Student leaders take school improvement into their own hands

www.teateachers.org 11 10 October 2015

There is a now a vibrant new local association.

A group of members, a mix of next generation teachers and veteran educators, formed the United Education Association of Shelby County (UEA). They adopted provisional bylaws and elected interim officers. One of their first acts was to extend UEA membership to all current TEA members, and because most members are still paying dues through payroll deduction the UEA is now the largest local in Tennessee. The NEA executive committee and the TEA Board of Directors approved UEA affiliation.

The provisional officers voted to assess no local dues this school year.

“We are excited to move our association forward,” said provisional UEA president Tikeila Rucker. “Now is the time we need to focus on the important issues facing our schools and our profession, instead of the chaos of disaffiliation. There is a lot of work to be done and we are ready to do what it takes.”

In a show of solidarity and to provide guidance to members, many past MEA and SCEA presidents have recognized UEA as the proud legacy of the Memphis

“Effective immediately my client has elected not to be affiliated with either the NEA or the TEA.”

- MSCEA legal counsel, Sept. 2

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 CoordinatorsDistrict 1 — Harry Farthing, P.O. Box 298, Elizabethton,

TN 37644; phone: (423)262-8035, fax: (866)379-0949;

Assns: Carter, Hancock, Hawkins, Rogersville, Johnson,

Northwest Comm. College, Sullivan, Bristol, Elizabethton,

Kingsport. District 2 — Jennifer Gaby, P.O. Box 70, Afton,

TN 37616; (423)234-0700, fax: (855)299-0723; Assns: Cocke,

East TN State Uni., Newport, Greene, Greeneville, Unicoi,

Washington, Hamblen, Johnson City. District 3 — Tina Parlier, P.O. Box 70288, Knoxville, TN 37938-0288, (865)688-1175,

fax: (866)518-3104; Assns: Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson,

Sevier, Union, Scott, Campbell, Oneida (in Scott Co.), Walters

State Comm. College. District 4 — Duran Williams, KCEA,

2411 Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917; (865)522-9793,

fax: (865)522-9866; Assns: Knox, Pellisippi State Comm.

College, UT-Knoxville, TSD, District 5— Jason White, P.O. Box

5502, Oak Ridge, TN 37831; (615)521-1333, fax: (855)301-

8366; Assns: Anderson, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Blount, Alcoa,

Maryville, Lenoir City, Loudon. District 6 — Chris Brooks,

P.O. Box 3629, Chattanooga, TN 37404, (615)332-2636, fax:

(866)483-2514; Assns: Bradley, Cleveland, Cleveland State

Comm. College, 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: Chattanooga

State Comm. College, Hamilton, UT-Chattanooga. District 8 — Josh Trent, P.O. Box 451, Livingston, TN 38570, (931)279-

9530; 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)320-8755; Assns: Rutherford, Murfreesboro, Sumner,

MTSU, Macon, Smith, Trousdale. District 11 — Antoinette Lee, P.O. Box 1412, Antioch, TN 37011; (615)308-5293; Assns:

FSSD, Williamson, TN Dept. of Ed. District 12 — Sue Ogg; P.O.

Box 210486, Nashville, TN 37211-0486; (615)856-0503, fax:

(855)427-6660 — Assns: Giles, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln,

Fayetteville, Maury, Marshall, Motlow State Comm. College,

Perry, Wayne. District 13 — Mary Campbell, Susan Dalton,

Metro Nashville, 531 Fairground Court, Nashville, TN 37211;

(615)347-6578 (Campbell), (615)476-3161 (Dalton), fax:

(855)299-4968 (Campbell); Assns: Cumberland Uni., Dept.

of Higher Ed., Metro Nashville, TN School For The Blind,

Lebanon, Wilson. District 14 — Maria Uffelman, P.O. Box

99, Cumberland City, TN 37050; phone: (931)827-3333, fax:

(855)299-4925; Assns: Austin Peay State Uni., Clarksville-

Montgomery, Robertson. District 15 — Cheryl Richardson,

P.O. Box 354, Goodlettsville, TN 37070; phone: (615)630-

2601, fax: (888)519-4879; 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, Jackson State Comm. College, McNairy, Decatur,

Hardin. District 17 — Terri Jones, P.O. Box 2140, Bruswick, TN

38014; (901)258-3902, fax: (844)270-8083; Assns: Crockett,

Dyer, Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Comm. College, Gibson,

Humboldt, Milan, Trenton, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale,

Obion, Union City, UT-Martin, Tipton, Weakley. District 18 — Zandra Foster, 3897 Homewood Cove, Memphis, TN

38128; (901)377-9472, fax: (855)320-8737;—Assns: Bartlett,

Collierville, Fayette, Germantown-Arlington-Lakeland,

Millington, Southwest State Comm. College, Uni. of Memphis.

District 19 — Assns: TEA West — Karla Carpenter, UniServ Field Manager; UniServ Directors: Glenda Jones, Tom Marchand, Terri Jones, 6520 Stage Road, Bartlett, TN 38124;

(901)379-6939, fax: (901)379-6939; www.unitedshelby.org.

www.teateachers.orgwww.nea.org

MSCEA said no.

TEA undergoes financial review by NEA on a consistent basis, as do many large associations across the country. TEA was notified MSCEA’s own auditing firm had found material weaknesses in their financial controls in 2014.

Again, an audit request was made. MSCEA leadership disaffiliated.

On September 2, TEA and NEA received notice of disaffiliation by legal counsel for MSCEA. Interim executive director Keith Williams gave school officials the same message. TEA had no choice but to recognize MSCEA had disaffiliated, even though it was a decision of local leadership without a vote of the membership.

The reality of the situation was confirmed at the September 16 MSCEA representative assembly. Ignoring the rules, leadership kept some dues-paying association representatives out of the meeting. Members and past presidents who were there said it was one of the most unprofessional and chaotic meetings they’ve ever seen. Many leaders in attendance knew it was no longer the organization they helped build and knew something had to be done.

Amid the turmoil of MSCEA leadership, TEA moved Memphis UniServ staff to a new office known as TEA West, so they could continue to serve Shelby County members without interference (see page 11).

Dues for TEA and NEA paid by payroll deduction are sent to the state office, ensuring state and national membership is protected, and rights and benefits continue.

And MSCEA is no longer an association.

On September 30, NEA General Counsel Alice O’Brien sent a letter to MSCEA informing the organization to cease and desist using the name Memphis-Shelby County Education Association or any use of “education association,” as only affiliates of NEA may use the term. It is unclear what the former MSCEA is currently.

Past MEA presidents Carrie Harris, Stephanie Fitzgerald, Lucy Stansbury, and Margaret Box recognize and support UEA.

Letter sent to TEA and NEA by MSCEA legal counsel stating MSCEA had disaffiliated.

TOM MARCHAND901-569-8063

GLENDA JONES901-569-8297

KARLA CARPENTER901-379-6939

TERRI JONES901-258-3902

and Shelby County education associations and are ready to help organize the new local.

Many retired members have stepped up to talk with active and support professional members about the new local and how current TEA and NEA benefits are protected.

Gray has recounted many conversations with members as they try and come to grips with what MSCEA leadership has done. She has

enjoyed watching members form the United association to rebuild a proud tradition of organizing.

“Now is the hard work of getting the word out to members and have them understand what has happened,” said Gray. “They are still TEA members, and we need to build the connection that UEA is the rightful continuation of the Memphis and Shelby County associations. It will take a lot of organizing, and we are committed to seeing this local thrive.”

Former Memphis UniServ Tom Marchand and Glenda Jones have moved to TEA West, joining TEA manager Karla Carpenter and UniServ Terri Jones to provide representation to Shelby County members.

New Shelby local formedfrom page 12

MSCEA leaders refused an audit request by NEA.

After refusing the audit, MSCEA leaders disaffiliated without a member vote.

The United Education Association of Shelby County was formed to be the local affiliate of TEA/NEA. Both TEA and NEA recognize the new local. NEA/TEA members are welcome in the UEA!

If an educator has payroll deduction, they are still dues-paying members of TEA/NEA. This membership now includes UEA. Members do not have to do anything to maintain membership in all three associations: UEA/TEA/NEA.

Once MSCEA disaffiliated, they gave up the right to be an education association. Only affiliates of NEA are education associations.

Interim executive director Keith William of the former MSCEA sent notice to the school system and association representatives that TEA staff could not represent members. This was unlawful. Members have the right to choose professional

representation, and TEA/NEA strongly recommend using TEA UniServ staff.

MSCEA’s disaffiliation puts in jeopardy the MOU with Shelby County Schools and payroll deduction. The best way to protect membership is to sign up for bank draft known as EZ Pay.

West

Shelby County UniServ working at

Member benefits only with NEA/TEA

Your employment liability insurance provided through NEA (left).Expert legal representation provided by TEA. NEA/TEA UniServ Director representation. Legislative victories and lobbying in the Tennessee General Assembly and the U.S. Congress.Member benefits on mortgages, car and life insurance, travel, rental cars and more. Professional development and opportunities to lead the teaching profession. Fighting privatization and job losses.

Quick facts on disaffiliation, NEA/TEA member benefits, and the way to unite all

educators of Shelby County schools.

It is time to be United! Get involved with the United Education

Association of Shelby County. Now more than ever we need a UNITED association to push back on privatization and state takeover, take the lead on improving teaching practices and conditions, and make sure employees are treated fairly. That’s UEA!

information@tnea.orgwww.unitedshelby.org

901-379-6939

12 October 2015 www.teateachers.org

It’s been trying times for association members in Shelby County Schools. The system is targeted by national privatization groups wanting to eliminate public education. Hundreds of teachers have lost their positions as schools are converted to charters or taken over by the state.

And at this critical time when unity and action are called for, Memphis Shelby County Education Association (MSCEA) leadership has decided to run off the rails and disaffiliate, a shocking and unfortunate act. In response, TEA has been able to protect association membership for thousands of educators, and a new, vibrant local association has been formed to take on the challenges faced by Shelby Co. schools.

“It is unfortunate there is so much turmoil in MSCEA leadership. But I think there is great opportunity to make a stronger association in Shelby County,” said TEA president Barbara Gray, who is herself a legacy Shelby County member.

Earlier in the year, NEA had requested an audit of MSCEA financial records. MSCEA leadership had been in a dispute with TEA and some of its own

board members about breaking the 2013 merger agreement between the Memphis and Shelby County associations, UniServ work assignments, and the use of dues dollars. As a precautionary measure allowed by NEA rules, a financial review of the local was requested.

MSCEA leadership disaffiliates, new local formed, TEA members protected

Former MSCEA members opposing disaffiliation with TEA and dissatisfied with the hijacking of their local have created the United Education Association of Shelby County, recognized by TEA and NEA.

MSCEA LEADERSHIP DISAFFIILIATES AFTER DENYING AUDIT go to page 10

Tennessee’s future teachers took school improvement into their own hands with the first annual service project at John Early Museum Magnet Middle School in Nashville on Friday, Sept. 25.

“Student TEA members from every part of our state gathered at John Early Middle School to make over an outdoor classroom,” said STEA President Raymond Boyd. “While some people talk about improving teaching and learning conditions at schools, we’re doing something about it.”

In five hours, 16 future teachers assembled park benches and built an elaborately landscaped study area outside of the school library.

“So many of our own teachers went above and beyond their call of duty while we were growing up,” said Boyd, a senior majoring in elementary education at the Tennessee State University. “Our group played a small part in improving learning

conditions at John Early Middle, but we learned vital skills in the process.”

STEA members who participated in the classroom makeover shared their stories during the STEA Fall Conference dinner Friday night, which was attended by

STEA members built an outdoor study area at Nashville’s John Early Museum Magnet School.

Future teachers kick off fall conference with building outdoor classroom

Last year, scores of teachers were faced with a difficult decision: keep your insurance and pay huge increases in your share of the premium, or be forced into a lower cost option with higher out-of-pocket expenses. When asked why their benefits were coming under attack, teachers were told that federal law and health care reform were to blame, and that systems had no choice but to comply.

None of this was accurate, and systems made these statements based on a flawed understanding of the law. TEA was the only organization that fought to restore employee benefits, and make sure every school system understood their legal obligations. Working with state and federal regulators, TEA was able to secure documents making clear the changes made to plans in 2014 were

unnecessary.

While it appears most school systems have stopped using the debunked legal mandates, there are still efforts to encourage teachers to move into cheaper insurance with much higher out-of-pocket costs. Several systems are incentivizing the switch by also paying for supplemental insurance to help absorb the increased costs. Many are being told this is mutually beneficial to both the school systems and the employees, but there are several problems with this assertion.

The supplemental, or “gap” insurance, being offered to school employees is a reimbursement strategy, meaning that those with the insurance must come up with increased expenses up front,

Assault on teacher insurance continues

STEA MEMBERS MEET, BUILD STUDY AREAgo to page 9

INSURANCE ASSAULTgo to page 9