W iting - Tennessee Education Association

Regional Legislative,Evaluation MeetingsScheduled page 12Published by the TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION • January 2011 • Vol. 42, No. 5www.teateachers.orgaiting forHaslam.New Governor, New Legislature,Same Old Story With the Economypage 3

teach (USPS 742-450) is published monthly (exceptfor June, July and December) by the TennesseeEducation Association, 801 Second Avenue North,Nashville TN 37201-1099. Periodical postagepaid at Nashville, TN. The subscription price of $3.65 isallocated from annual membership dues of $254.00 foractive members; $127.00 for associate, educationsupport and staff members; $16.00 for retired members;and $10.00 for student members. Member ofState Education Editors Conference (SEE).Postmaster: Send address changes to teach,801 Second Avenue North,Nashville, TN 37201-1099.MANAGING EDITOR: Alexei Smirnovasmirnov@tea.nea.orgPUBLISHER: Alphonso C. ManceMANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS: A.L. HayesTennessee Education Association801 Second Avenue NorthNashville, TN 37201-1099Telephone: (615)242-8392,Toll Free: (800)342-8367, (800)342-8262Fax: (615)242-7397Web site: www.teateachers.orgBOARD OF DIRECTORSPRESIDENT: Gera Summerford* (800)342-8367VICE PRESIDENT: Barbara Gray* (901)353-8590SECRETARY-TREASURER: Alphonso C. Mance (615)242-8392DISTRICT 1 Karen Anderson* (423)610-6030DISTRICT 2 Melinda Reese (423)587-2120DISTRICT 3 Patsye Thurmon (865)457-1636DISTRICT 4 Jessica Holman (865)591-4981DISTRICT 5 Sandy Smith (423)991-8856DISTRICT 6 Beth Brown (931)779-8016DISTRICT 7 Patrick Britt (615)668-6042DISTRICT 8 Cindy Young (931)205-0399DISTRICT 9 Erick Huth (615)973-5851DISTRICT 10 Guy Stanley (615)384-2983DISTRICT 11 Melanie Buchanan (615)305-2214DISTRICT 12 Debbie D’Angelo (731)247-3152DISTRICT 13 LoMay Richmond* (901)867-1541DISTRICT 14 Sarah Kennedy-Harper (901)416-4582DISTRICT 15 Stephanie Fitzgerald (901)872-4878ADMINISTRATOR EAST Carmelita Perry (865)594-4471ADMINISTRATOR MIDDLE Margaret Thompson(615)643-7823ADMINISTRATOR WEST Charles Green (901)624-6186HIGHER EDUCATION Donald Sneed (931) 221-0633BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER EAST Tanya T. Coats(865)594-1330BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER MIDDLE Alzenia Walls(615)230-8144BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER WEST LaVerne Dickerson(901)416-7122STATE SPECIAL SCHOOLS Joe Gregory (615)896-6927ESP Christine Denton (931)647-8962TN NEA DIRECTOR Stephen Henry (615)519-5691TN NEA DIRECTOR Diccie Smith (901)482-0627TN NEA DIRECTOR Diane Lillard* (423)478-8827STEA MEMBER Delvin Woodard (901)596-5706TN RETIRED Gerald Lillard (423)478-8827NEW TEACHER Larry Proffitt* (423)608-7855* Executive CommitteeTEA HEADQUARTERS STAFFEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Alphonso C. Mance; ASST. EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR, AFFILIATE SERVICES: Mitchell Johnson; ASST.EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PROGRAM SERVICES: Carol K. Schmoock;ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & TEA GENERAL COUNSEL; BryanMcCarty; MANAGER OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS: Stephanie Faulkner;INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & SYSTEMS MANAGER, GalenRiggs; MANAGER OF UNISERV: Ronny Clemmons; MANAGER OFUNISERV & BARGAINING COORDINATOR: Donna Cotner; STAFFATTORNEYS: Tina Rose Camba, Katherine Curlee, Virginia A.McCoy; MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: Jerry Winters;GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ASSISTANT: Antoinette Lee; MANAGEROF COMMUNICATIONS & GRAPHICS: A.L. Hayes; WEB MASTER &COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT: Tanya Ruder; MANAGING EDITOR& COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT: Alexei Smirnov; MANAGEROF RESEARCH & INFORMATION: Melissa Brown; RESEARCH & IN-FORMATION ASSISTANTS: Susan Ogg, Amanda Staggs; MANAGERFOR INSTRUCTION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Terrance Gibson;INSTRUCTION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINA-TORS: Susan Dalton, Nicki Fields; COORDINATOR OF MEMBERSHIP& AFFILIATE RELATIONS: Duran Williams; PLT—UNISERV FIELD OR-GANIZERS: Jeff Garrett, Cheryl Richardson, Rhonda Thompson.UniServ Staff Contact Informationcan be found on page 12.Speaking Out for YouGera Summerford, PresidentNew Year Brings New OpportunitiesWelcome, 2011!As we begin a new year, we face many changes in publiceducation and in state government. The work to develop anew evaluation model for teachers and principals continues.Educators have a new chance to share their views of theteaching and learning conditions in their schools. And thechallenge of higher curriculum standardsmoves us into new territory. In Nashville,a new governor and state legislature willtake office and begin the work of governingour state while grappling with a strainedeconomy. Many of them will be entering thiswork for the first time.A time of change can be a time ofopportunity. The reforms of First to theTop will provide opportunities to improvestudent performance. Local school systems will have newopportunities to provide quality professional developmentfor educators. New relationships with policymakers will giveus the opportunity to communicate the needs of studentsand teachers. As newly-elected legislators prepare to governand make critical decisions for the future of our state,it’s important they understand the challenges involved inimproving education. It’s our job to help them understandthese challenges.Though many things will change, many will remainconstant. Tennessee educators will continue to make everyeffort to help students in our classrooms. We will continueto consult with our colleagues, make use of all availableresources, and develop our best practices. Children will stillcome to school each day with a variety of talents and abilities,and will still need our guidance to develop and grow intoproductive citizens. Teachers, principals and support staffwill still need the support of families and communities toeffectively improve student learning. Though budgets aretight, appropriate supplies and materials are still necessaryfor children to receive a quality educational experience. Thesethings don’t change when a new state government is elected ora new reform effort is legislated.While teachers continue to work hard in their classrooms,TEA members and staff will continue to work hard to representyour interests. In local associations across the state, ourmembers will persist in bargaining local contracts. With thehelp of our UniServ coordinators, meetings will again be heldwith legislators to share our concerns and communicate ourpositions. When school employees are treated unfairly, localassociation leaders and TEA staff will consistently stand by youand stand for you.And in Nashville, every time the legislature convenes, TEAis there. Every time the State Board of Education meets, TEA isthere. Every time decisions are made that affect what goes onin our schools, TEA fights for Tennessee’s teachers and theirbest interests. We are the voice of educators speaking on yourbehalf to state government—in 2011 and beyond.Al Mance, Executive DirectorCommitment to Professional TeachingRequires Determination in Tough TimesPervasive public discussions about failing schools have been at thecore of education change since 1983. While the 1980’s discussions wereprecipitated by publication of A Nation at Risk, the current nationaleducation discussions are stimulated by the near collapse of America’seconomic system.During times of economic recession Americans tend to look forsomeone to blame. The public looks for somethingoutside of themselves to hold accountable for theprevailing conditions. When all else fails they blamepublic school teachers, thus avoiding individualresponsibility. George Bernard Shaw said, “Libertymeans responsibility. That is why most men dreadit.”The public has assigned to public school teachersthe moral obligation to successfully teach allstudents. Career professional teachers have alwaysaccepted this obligation. They will not shrink from it now.The public has never understood professional teaching but thinks itdoes. To everyone who has attended school, teaching looks deceptivelyeasy. Exploiting this perception of teachers gave No Child Left Behind itspolitical traction.The parent who feels good about teaching her infant may be perplexedwhen the child becomes a toddler and begins to speak. That sameconfident parent who becomes a public school teacher quickly learns howwoefully inadequate his or her parenting skills are for teaching 20 firstgraders. Of course, anyone who has not studied education should not beexpected to understand the complexities of teaching.Teachers do not teach only those students they have known andwatched develop from birth to their classroom. Public school studentscome from diverse backgrounds. It is the professional’s job to teach all ofthem. The contextual factors of socioeconomics, class size, interruptions,number of absentees, racial makeup of the class, and day of the week willall influence the teachers’ “instructional behaviors.”The gap between the status and value of the teaching profession isborn, in part, of the distorted image the public has of its complexity. Theprofession has not yet developed the rhetoric necessary to explain thiscomplexity to the public and policy makers and to develop their trust. Itmust fight for a place in the education policy-making arena that allows itsvoice to be heard in decision making about the conditions and contextualinfluences under which professional teaching is practiced. This is the fightwe are facing.The use of student growth data, as measured by standardized tests,in teacher evaluation; incentive compensation schemes based on studentgrowth data; calls for increases in the length of probationary periods; andthe definition of effective teaching based on standardized test data aredirect results of the public’s misperception of professional teaching.The recent shift of power in the Tennessee General Assembly maygenerate new state education “reform” initiatives. Any probability thatthey will produce improvements in teaching and learning conditions forTennessee’s teachers and students is exceedingly small. It is the job ofprofessional teachers to give ideas a fair hearing and prevent destructiveproposals from being adopted or implemented. Our moral obligationto educate Tennessee’s boys and girls demand it. Your commitment andwillingness to help is needed now more than ever.You count.Governor-electon EducationBill HaslamOn January 15, Governor-electBill Haslam will be sworn in to leadTennessee for the next four years.As TEA looks forward to constructivedialog with our 49th governor,we compiled a few statements oneducation that candidate Haslammade during his election campaign.As I’ve traveled the state visitingschools, meeting with teachers andprincipals, and talking with localeducation officials, I’ve seen examplesof innovative programs that arepopping up all across Tennessee.[The] announcement that Tennessee[is] one of the first winners of the federalRace to the Top competition is a recognitionof the outstanding efforts of many peopleand institutions across the state. . . Tennesseehas been building towards an opportunityto transform our schools and accomplishmeaningful, lasting reforms that will benefitgenerations to come. The challenge that comeswith [this] announcement will be effectiveimplementation of nonrecurring funding tomake sure our state secures the maximumbenefits from the award without imposingfuture obligations on our state and localdistricts.From my years in business, I know thatevery location needs a well-trained leader workingon-site with enough autonomy to make gooddecisionsa leader who can be held accountablefor the operation under his or her supervision.Successful organizations haveeffective leaders. In business and as mayor,it’s been obvious to me that leadershipmatters. Our schools need good leadershipas well. The right principal will bring inhigh quality teachers, support, develop andretain those teachers, and create the rightenvironment for students to learn.The bottom lineis that no one knowsbetter than parentswhat is best for theirindividual child. Wehave to get parentsinvolved in theirchild’s education, andwe have to put them inthe driver’s seat.The next governor must have a strategy forbringing more high quality teachers into the profession.We have many outstanding teachers across the state andwe’re making strides in the area of teacher evaluationand development. However, the state is facing a seriouschallenge on the teaching front: At the same time we’reworking to improve the quality of teaching we’ve gotto increase the quantity of teachers we’re successfullyrecruiting.With major recent outside investments inTennessee, including the Gates Foundation andMemphis City Schools’ Teacher EffectivenessInitiative and the announcement of Tennessee’swin in the Race to the Top competition, it’s clearthat the rest of the country is beginning to noticethe momentum that is building around educationin Tennessee. As governor, I will capitalize on theopportunity that exists, and a big part of that will bedoing whatever it takes to bring the best and brightestinto teaching in our great state.Education is our best long-termeconomic development strategy. If we wantour children to grow up and obtain goodjobsand for our state to be able to attractthose jobswe need a world class educationsystem. With Tennessee students ranking 41stout of 50 states on national tests and nearly28,000 students dropping out of high schoolin a given year, we’ve got to do better. The nextgovernor of Tennessee must work tirelessly toimprove our schools.It’s essential that every classroomin Tennessee is led by a highly effectiveteacher. My strategy will not be to simplywait and hope they come to us. I willlead an aggressive effort to widen andstrengthen the pipeline into teaching andactively recruit the best talent.I want to improve education inTennessee school by school. To me, it startswith good principals. Let’s recruit the rightpeople, give them the best training, and thengive them the freedom to lead.2 January 2011www.teateachers.org3

TEA Members Report Progress,Challenges With Evaluation WorkWould like to see more feedback from colleaguesTEA members on the Teacher Evaluation AdvisoryCommittee would like to see and hear more feedbackfrom Tennessee’s teachers as TEAC helps craft theevaluation model required by the Tennessee First tothe Top Act.Formed shortly after our state received its$501 million Race to the Top grant from the U.S.Department of Education in April 2010, TEAC’s 15-member panel has been meeting every two weeks(sometimes via conference call) to devise the newteacher and principal evaluation system expected forrollout during the 2011-12 school year.Since he began his work on the TEAC panel lastyear, Jackson-Madison Co. EA member Jimmy Baileysaid only three people have contacted him by e-mail(jabailey@jmcss.org). While he knows that everyoneis pressed for time these days, he encourages morefeedback from his colleagues. “TEA members needto contact TEAC members and voice their concerns,”said Bailey, principal at Bemis Elementary School inJackson. “If somebodydoesn’t tell us how theyfeel about it, we’re notgoing to know whichdirection we should go.”Throughout theprocess, TEA membersand staff have workedto ensure that the newevaluation system isfair to all those who willbe evaluated by it, iseasily understood and implemented, and will leadto the identification and development of effectiveteachers and principals in every Tennessee schooland classroom.“Please send e-mails, make sure you voiceyour opinion, go to the Web site (http://www.tn.gov/education/TEAC.shtml) and sign up forthe newsletters and breaking news,” Bailey said.“Any time we meet, you’ll be able to look at theagenda and be sure to let us know what you don’tunderstand. Let one of the TEAC members know.”Among the most recent developments, principalevaluation guidelines have been recommended andthe evaluation is currently being field-tested basedon the TILS platform. Just as teachers are beingobserved by principals, the principal evaluation nowrequires observations from the director of schools.The development of online worksite portals forthe new evaluation system is still in progress. Thefield test of those portals, which resembles a virtualmeeting room where participants will be able toTEA President Gera Summerford:“We’re interested in hearing fromteachers in field-test schools tosee how well it’s working.” E-mailGera: gsummerford@tea.nea.orgshare documents and suggestions, will demonstratehow receptive teachers are to sharing ideas online.TEA President Gera Summerford said more than100 TEA members have volunteered to participate indeveloping alternate growth measures for teachersof non-TVAAS subjects.Summerford also welcomed feedback fromteachers at schools which are currently field-testingthe Teacher Advancement Program observationrubric, as well as other models.“The schools currently testing other modelsmay seek approval from the state to use them inthe future,” said Summerford. “We’re interested inhearing from teachers in field-test schools to seehow well it’s working.” Summerford may be reachedvia e-mail at gsummerford@tea.nea.org.Carter Co. Teachers Association member KennyLou Heaton, also a member of TEAC, has highhopes for the TEAC recommendations. “I expectrecommendations made by TEAC, thus far, forthe formation andimplementationof a new teacherevaluation modelto work very well,”Heaton said. “I havealways been of thepersonal belief thatteachers, just likethe students we faceeach day, will riseto the occasion andreach for the ‘bar’ when it is raised by enthusiastic,supportive, intelligent, and strong instructionalschool leaders.” Heaton observed that not aword coming from TEAC has been written withoutresearch, discussion, and consensus—“always withwhat is best for the children forefront in our minds.”Still, there are a few challenges. As workcontinues on the development of the alternategrowth measure for non-TVAAS teachers,Summerford said Tennessee’s teachers are concernedwith the timeline for the development of thesemeasures.“The policy says that teachers without TVAASdata will use school-wide data until the appropriategrowth measures are developed,” she said. “We knowthat many of our members have concerns about theuse of school-wide data.”Also on the radar are questions about a schoolboard’s ability to impartially resolve a teacher’sgrievance when there is a question about the datause in the new evaluation procedure.School Visit—Memphis EA members visited Westwood HighSchool in November. Pictured, from left to right: SusanHarris, school librarian and MEA member; Derrick Bell, MEAorganizer; Victoria Norris, a first-year teacher and new MEAmember, and Mariangela Galbon, MEA Organizer. MEA—working together for all members!Holiday Discounts—Cheatham County EA members met atAshland City Elementary School in December to participatein a “Click and Save” Party to find holiday discountson the TEA Web site. CCEA also purchased lanyards for eachmember with the association logo emblazoned on the side.Pictured, left to right: Melissa Durard, Susan Milburn andJenny Lockerman with their school’s lanyards.National History Teacher of theYear Award Nominations SoughtDo you know an outstanding K-6 teacher passionateabout American history? All social studies and elementaryeducators who teach American History are welcome.The National History Teacher of the Year Award offers$10,000 to the best American history teacher. The nationalwinner is chosen from outstanding teachers in each state,district and U.S. territory. State winners receive $1,000in addition to an archive of books and other resources fortheir school.Sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute, PreserveAmerica and The History Channel, the award program willaccept nominations made by a student, parent, colleague,supervisor or other education professional familiar withthe teacher’s work. Visit http://www.gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy to nominate a teacher and learn more aboutthe award.National Board Meeting—Ten districts in the Upper Cumberland area of Middle Tennessee will be participating in aNational Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Take One! initiative. The Take One! participants will besupported by TEA members and other key educators who have gone through the NBPTS Candidate Support Providertraining which was held at the Sumner County Teacher Center on November 19-20. Trained Candidate Support Providerspictured here (left to right) include Cheryl Griggs, NBCT (Sumner EA); Betsy Taylor, NBCT (Williamson EA); JoanCelestino, NBCT (NBPTS Faculty member kneeling); Shannon Bain (UniServ for District 12); Lori Sapp, NBCT (PutnamEA), Rita Wilburn (Macon EA); Becky Hackett (Smith EA); Sharon Anderson (Putnam EA); Mary Pappas (Sumner EA);Sandra Smith (Sumner EA); Mary Truka (Sumner EA); Kathy Butler (Sumner EA); and Linda Cash (Sumner EA).TEA Salutes New NationalBoard Certified TeachersTEA salutes 35 members who became new NationalBoard Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in 2010. A total of69 Tennessee teachers earned NBCT status this year,bringing the total of NBCTs in Tennessee to 483.Congratulations to the 2010 class of NationalBoard Certified Teachers and thank you for yourTEA membership: Lisa Bailey (Memphis City), LeahBishop (Franklin Special School District), KarenBoles (Metro Nashville Public Schools), KatrinaBrown (Memphis City), Kimberly Buford (MemphisCity), Terrence Cain (Memphis City), PatriceCampbell (Memphis City), Carol Cortez (WilliamsonCounty), Allison Dudney (Putnam County), JeffreyFreiden (Memphis City), Kim Halyak (Memphis City),Michelle Hatfield (Memphis City), Jennifer Havens(Williamson County), Melissa Heim (MemphisCity), Allison King-Vester (Memphis City), StacyKlein (Metro Nashville), Cynthia May (FranklinSpecial), Tiffany McCall (Memphis City), KatherineMcCormack (Hamilton County), Krystal McReynolds(Kingsport City), Rena Neal (Memphis City),Brenda Pollock (Metro Nashville), Raquel Ratchford(Memphis City), Elizabeth Renneisen (HamiltonCounty), Sherri Revord (Memphis City), AngelaRobertson (Memphis City), Molly Sehring (MetroNashville), Elaine Shearin (Memphis City), KarrahSingletary (Hamilton County), Davida Smith-Keita(Memphis City), Ann Taylor (Shelby County), EmilyUnderwood (Memphis City), Mary Walton (MemphisCity), Sandra Watley (Memphis City), and VernolaWilliams (Memphis City).Team Work—Shaun Lawson, HickmanCo. EA treasurer and buildingrepresentative, and Retika Pattersontalk with members at the SeptemberHCEA meeting (left). Shaun’s wifeJamie (above) also serves as an HCEAbuilding representative.TEA Scholarships Can HelpWith Rising Tuition CostsAre you or someone you know wonderinghow to afford the rising cost of college tuition inthese challenging economic times?TEA offers up to eight Don Sahli-KathyWoodall scholarships of $500 or $1,000 eachyear for students attending or planning toattend a Tennessee college and major ineducation. The application process is simpleand straightforward, requiring little more thana short essay on why the applicant wants to bea teacher. Scholarship winners are selected onthe basis of academic excellence, demonstratedleadership abilities, economic need and—for allbut the graduate scholarship—demonstratedinterest in becoming a teacher.Scholarships are offered each year in thefollowing categories: Student TennesseeEducation Association, Sons and Daughtersof a TEA Member, Future Teachers of America,Minority Student, Graduate Student. Theapplication deadline for all scholarships but theGraduate Student scholarship is March 1. Thedeadline for the Graduate scholarship is June 1.More information about the availablescholarships, the legacy of Don Sahli andKathy Woodall, and application forms for thescholarships are available on the TEA Web site atwww.teateachers.org. From the home page, clickon Scholarships and Awards.Contributions to the Don Sahli-Kathy WoodallScholarship Fund of the Tennessee EducationAssociation are invited from TEA members,friends and local affiliates. Every contributionto the fund helps to grow a Tennessee teacher.Speaker Named for 2011TEA Spring SymposiumA former Green Beret will give the keynoteaddress at the 15th Annual SpringSymposium to be held on April 1-2, 2011,at the newly renovated Park Vista hotel inGatlinburg.Eddie Williams, an Atlanta area speaker andconsultant, will talk about leadership, stressmanagement and other topics at the teachingand learning symposium in the Great SmokyMountains.More details are available on the TEA Website: www.teateachers.org.4 January 2011 5www.teateachers.org

fyi‘Show Me the Money’ MapAs we flip the calendar, it’s good to take stock of whatwe have and what’s ahead of us in the new year.Tennessee School Systems Cumberland Co. 2005-06Henderson Co. 2010-11Maryville City 2008-09Rutherford Co. 2008-09Tennessee’s teachers have not had a state salaryDavidson Co. 2004-05Henry Co. 2009-10Maury Co. 2008-09Scott Co. 2007-08With Year of Last LocalHONOR ROLLincrease since 2007-08, but many associationsDayton City 2008-09Hickman Co. Pre 2004-05McKenzie SSD 2008-09Sequatchie Co. 2008-09School Systems Withbargained or received salary increases at the local Salary IncreaseDecatur Co. 2009-10Houston Co. 2007-08McMinn Co. 2008-09Sevier Co. 2008-09Local Salary Increaseslevel. As best seen on the map, associations with the most recent Alamo City 2008-09DeKalb Co. 2007-08H-Rock-BrucetonMcNairy Co. 2007-08Shelby Co. 2008-09salary increases tend to cluster together, as do those with noEach of the Last ThreeAlcoa City 2006-07Dickson Co. 2008-09SSD 2004-05Meigs Co. 2007-08Smith Co. Pre 2004-05salary increase since 2004-05. Often, the incentive for a payAnderson Co. 2008-09Dyer Co. 2008-09Humboldt City 2008-09Memphis City 2009-10South CarrollYears (2007 thru 10)increase in one school system is inspired by the bargaining efforts Athens City 2008-09Dyersburg City 2008-09Humphreys Co. 2009-10Milan SSD 2007-08SSD 2009-10of a local association in a neighboring system.Bedford Co. 2008-09ElizabethtonHuntingdon SSD 2008-09Monroe Co. Pre 2004-05Stewart Co. 2008-09Bradley Co.The TEA research staff has listed school systems with the most Bells City 2008-09City 2007-08Jackson Co. Pre 2004-05Montgomery Co. 2009-10Sullivan Co. 2008-09Etowah Cityrecent local salary increase as well as those that bargained orBenton Co. 2008-09Etowah City 2009-10Jefferson Co. 2008-09Moore Co. 2009-10Sumner Co. 2008-09Fayetteville Cityreceived local increases for three consecutive years — our honor Bledsoe Co. Pre 2004-05Fayette Co. 2008-09Johnson City 2008-09Morgan Co. 2007-08Sweetwater City 2006-07roll.Blount Co. 2008-09Fayetteville City 2009-10Johnson Co. Pre 2004-05MurfreesboroTipton Co. 2007-08Hardin Co.For members in 22 out of 136 Tennessee school systems (or Bradford SSD Pre 2004-05Fentress Co. Pre 2004-05Kingsport City 2008-09City 2008-09Trenton SSD 2008-09Henry Co.16.18 percent), the last local salary increase was prior to 2004- Bradley Co. 2009-10Franklin Co. 2008-09Knox Co. 2008-09Newport City 2007-08Trousdale Co. 2009-10Lebanon SSD05. Only 14 out of 136 school systems (or 10.29 percent) haveBristol City 2008-09Franklin SSD 2008-09Lake Co. 2008-09Oak Ridge 2009-10Tullahoma City 2008-09Lenoir Cityreceived local increases each of the last three years. The average Campbell Co. 2008-09Gibson SSD 2008-09Lauderdale Co. 2008-09Obion Co. 2009-10Unicoi Co. 2008-09Marion Co.increase for those systems was 1.31 percent in 2009-10, 1.32Cannon Co. 2007-08Giles Co. 2006-07Lawrence Co. 2007-08Oneida SSD Pre 2004-05Union City 2007-08percent in 2008-09 and 4.13 percent in 2007-08 (year of theCarroll Co. Pre 2004-05Grainger Co. 2009-10Lebanon SSD 2009-10Overton Co. Pre 2004-05Union Co. Pre 2004-05 Memphis CityCarter Co. 2007-08Greene Co. 2007-08Lenoir City 2009-10Paris SSD 2009-10Van Buren Co. Pre 2004-053-percent state increase).Obion Co.Cheatham Co. 2007-08Greeneville City 2007-08Lewis Co. Pre 2004-05Perry Co. Pre 2004-05Warren Co. 2009-10Also worthy of note, Overton Co. made progress in paymentParis SSDChester Co. 2006-07Grundy Co. Pre 2004-05Lexington City 2007-08Pickett Co. Pre 2004-05Washington Co. 2007-08toward health insurance over the five-year period since 2004-05Claiborne Co. 2004-05Hamblen Co. 2009-10Lincoln Co. 2009-10Polk Co. 2007-08Wayne Co. 2009-10Roane Co.in lieu of providing salary increases.Clay Co. Pre 2004-05Hamilton Co. 2008-09Loudon Co. 2010-11Putnam Co. 2008-09Weakley Co. 2007-08Trousdale Co.As helpful as the local salary increases may seem, it’sCleveland City 2008-09Hancock Co. Pre 2004-05Macon Co. 2008-09Rhea Co. 2009-10West CarrollWarren Co.important to remember that state insurance premiums have risenClinton City 2008-09Hardeman Co. Pre 2004-05Madison Co. 2008-09Richard City Pre 2004-05SSD Pre 2004-05more than 30 percent between 2004 and 2010.Cocke Co. 2008-09Hardin Co. 2009-10Manchester City 2009-10Roane Co. 2009-10White Co. 2007-08Indeed, as we emerge from the holiday season thankful forCoffee Co. 2007-08Hawkins Co. 2007-08Marion Co. 2009-10Robertson Co. 2008-09Williamson Co. 2008-09what we have, it’s easy to realize that there is plenty for which to Crockett Co. 2008-09Haywood Co. 2007-08Marshall Co. 2008-09Rogersville City 2008-09Wilson Co. 2006-07bargain in the coming year.667January 2011 7www.teateachers.orgwww.teateachers.org

Her face is alive with enthusiasm and excitement. “Nihao! Hello – how are you, boys and girls?” Chineseteacher Hui Li welcomes another eager class ofelementary school students into her classroom atDiscovery School at Reeves Rogers in Murfreesboro.The students scan the colorful room and smile back at Li.Another fast-paced Chinese class is about to begin.Li arrived at Discovery School in August 2010 for a oneyearterm as part of the Teachers of Critical LanguagesProgram, a partnership between the U.S. Department of Stateand other foreign governments. The purpose of TCLP is tofoster understanding between the United States and the worldand to expose Americans to the languages strategic to ournational welfare—the“critical languages.”Hailing fromChangchun, where sheis a junior high schoolteacher, Li teachesMurfreesboro studentsthe intricacies of theChinese language,culture, tai chi and allmanner of things relatedto China. “This is afantastic opportunity,”said Dr. Linda Clark,Discovery Schoolprincipal. “Our schoolis for high achievingchildren, so this is alogical place for such aprogram. Our faculty isMurfreesboro EA member Cynthia Jones and Chinese teacher Hui Li set upopen to innovation anda live video conference between Discovery School at Reeves Rogers and acreativity, and havingschool in Beijing. Li came to Discovery School for one year as part of a U.S.Mrs. Li is a natural fitDepartment of State grant.for us.”LongtimeMurfreesboro EA member Cynthia Jones is Li’s mentorteacher and the main author of the grant which brought Lito Tennessee. Jones, who teaches fifth grade, and colleagueKristy Mall began the grant process a couple of years ago,armed with support of their principal. Together they outlinedthe grant application, formed an advisory board, took Asianstudies classes and immersed themselves in Chinese culture.Parent Susan Lyons volunteered to be the cultural mentor forLi, helping her navigate and get accustomed to the Americanway of life. Li currently stays with the Lyons family, muchto the delight of their young adopted Chinese daughter, LilyGrace.Li underwent an extensive screening before she wasaccepted into the program. She then went through rigoroustraining in China and Washington, where she learned aboutAmerican public education, culture, language and values.Jones and Clark also traveled to Washington for a weekendtraining, followed by additional instruction in Philadelphia forJones.Li said the first couple of weeks in America were a bitdifficult for her. Homesickness was part of the problem, butshe said she managed to conquer it and began to exploreAmerican daily life. It helps that teachers and parentscontinue to invite her to various events, which range fromdinners in Murfreesboro to traveling to Florida on a familyvacation. By accepting as many invitations as possible, Li saidshe gets to see different sides of American culture.Li begins her typical day by teaching K-6 classes atDiscovery School. Both students and parents report that herclasses are always upbeat and exciting. “I marvel at how the‘Ni Hao to Hui Li!’Murfreesboro EA Member Helps Bring a Teacher from China to Tennesseechildren learn so quickly,” Li said. “They are so smart! Andeveryone has been wonderful to me, so nice and welcoming.”At Discovery School, Li employs small group instruction,technology, lots of hands-on activities and other strategiesnot regularly used in China. “In China, I only teach a fewclasses of about 40-60 children,” she said in perfect English.“The rest of the day is for planning and grading papers.American teachers work very, very hard, much harder thanChinese teachers.”Shea Payne, a fourth grade teacher, said she has a hardtime imagining how Li is coping with being so far away fromhome. “I cannot imagine leaving my country and my familyfor a new job, using a second language, at a new school, ina new country, for a whole year. I admire her courage andindependence. We are learning so much and our kids are beingexposed to a world outside Tennessee. They are becomingglobal learners.”Said Jones: “Hui is a master teacher; my mentoring job iseasy.”Jones added that TCLP would be a great fit for otherschools in Tennessee. The program offers grants to schoolsfor one year, covering all expenses, including the visitingteacher’s salary. TCLP even provides money for setting up aclassroom. “When talking to the Board of Education and ournew director, Dr. Linda Gilbert, about the TCLP grant, a strongpoint was that the teacher would be provided totally free ofcharge,” Jones said. “In a time of economic hardship, this wasa strong selling point.”Li, Jones and Mall also host an after-school Chinese Cluband are actively speaking to the Murfreesboro communitythrough television interviews and other outreach activities.“I am so impressed with Hui,” Jones said. “She has adaptedand worked hard, as have we, to make this arrangement work.Hui is an intelligent and beautiful person.”The trio has started a series of live video conferences withan elementary school in Beijing, China. Their first conferencein November had Discovery School students and children inBeijing sharing information about their fall activities. “Thisis American education at its best,” said one of many parentswho attended the evening Skype session. “I am amazed andpleased that my child could profit from the hard work of somany people.”Bird, written by Zetta Elliottand illustrated by ShadraStrickland, offers a poignantlook inside the mind of ayoung artist as he strugglesto understand his life’s upsand downs.Published in 2002 by Lee and Low. www.leeandlowbooks.com. Artwork used withpermission.BLACK HISTORY MONTHTip of the MonthUse reader’s theater to bring your books tolife. Ask students to stage their own dramaticreadings of their favorite stories.Link of the MonthReady to look inside the mind of your favoriteauthors? Check out the author interviewscompiled by Reading Rockets. You’ll find many ofyour favorites. Go to www.readingrockets.org. rg.Activity of the MonthIf your class is ready for its 15 minutes of fame,why not create a video for the Read AcrossAmerica Channel on Schooltube? Go towww.schooltube.com to view past videos orcreate your own.FEBRUARY DATES February 3 Chinese New Year February 6–7 African American Read-In February 14 Valentine’s Day February 21 Presidents Daywww.nea.org/readacrossSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayAfrican American Read-In61320Valentine’s DayPresidents DayFebruary 2011714211815Washington’s Birthday22Groundhog Day291623Chinese New Year31017244111825Lincoln’s Birthday512192610 January 2011 272811NEA’S READ ACROSS AMERICA|Building a Nation of Readers|www.nea.org/readacrosswww.teateachers.org

TEA to Host Legislative, Evaluation UpdatesEight Regional Sessions Planned Across the StateTEA will againconduct a series ofregional informationsessions across thestate in January andFebruary, 2011, tokeep you informedabout importantissues and potentialchallenges facingpublic educationin Tennessee. Twoimportant topics thatwill be discussed at each regional meeting are:• Potential 2011 legislative issues;• An update on the changes in the evaluation process.All TEA members are invited to attend the 2011 RegionalLegislative Information and Evaluation Update Sessions.General Legislative Overview and Evaluation Updateswill be presented between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.A question and answer session will follow between 6:00p.m. and 6:30 p.m.The sessions will include a Legislative Contact Teaminformation update and talking points for LCT members.The Tennessee Education Association is the voiceof Tennessee’s teachers. As we prepare to address thechallenges of 2011, we invite you to make plans now to hearthe facts and allow your voice to be heard.Each TEA member is invited to attend the regionalinformation session nearest you.The mission of the Tennessee Education Association(TEA) is to promote, advance and protect public education,the education profession, and the rights and interests ofour members.Regional Meeting Dates, Locations and TimesJanuary 18, Tuesday * Nashville5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – 2011 Legislative Kick-OffInformation Session, TEA Building Auditorium A, 801 2ndAve. North, Nashville, TN 37201.January 20, Thursday * Jackson5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – 2011 Legislative Kick-OffInformation Session Jackson, Liberty High School Cafeteria,3470 Ridgecrest Road Ext. Jackson, TN.January 25, Tuesday * Shelbyville5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – 2011 Legislative Kick-OffInformation Session, Harris Middle School Library inShelbyville, 400 Elm Street Shelbyville, TN.January 27, Thursday * Knoxville5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – 2011 Legislative Kick-OffInformation Session at an area school in Knoxville (Locationto be announced on TEA Web site).February 3, Thursday * Memphis5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - 2011 Legislative Kick-OffInformation Session, MEA Office, 126 South Flicker Street,Memphis, TN.February 8 Tuesday * Blountville5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – 2011 Legislative Kick-OffInformation Session, Sullivan Central High School LittleTheater, 131 Shipley Ferry Rd., Blountville, TNFebruary 10, Thursday * Chattanooga5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – 2011 Legislative Kick-OffInformation Session. HCEA Office, 4655 Shallowford Rd,Chattanooga, TN.February 17, Thursday * Cookeville5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - 2011 Legislative Kick-OffInformation Session, Cookeville High School Lecture Hall,first floor, 2335 N Washington Ave., Cookeville, TN.The Johnella Martin / TEA StatewideMinority Affairs ConferenceMarch 25 - 26, 2011DoubleTree Hotel, ChattanoogaVisit www.teateachers.org to register by March 11, 2011Preparing ForNeed information, services?Mitchell JohnsonAssistant Executive Director for Affiliate ServicesRonny Clemmons & Donna CotnerManagers of UniServTennessee Education Association, 801 Second AvenueNorth, Nashville, TN 37201-1099(615) 242-8392, (800) 342-8367, FAX (615) 259-4581UniServ CoordinatorsDistrict 1 — Harry Farthing, P.O. Box 298, Elizabethton,TN 37644; phone: (423)262-8035, fax: (423)262-8053;Assns: Carter, Johnson, Sullivan, Bristol, Kingsport, NortheastState C.C. District 2 — Jennifer Gaby, P.O. Box 70,Afton, TN 37616; (423)234-0700, fax: (423)234-0708; Assns:Greene, Greeneville, Unicoi, Washington, Elizabethton,Johnson City, ETSU. District 3 — Mike Lee, 1607 SolodDrive, Morristown, TN 37814; (423)587-8001, fax: (423)587-8550; Assns: Cocke, Newport, Hancock, Hamblen,Hawkins, Rogersville, Walter State C.C. District 4 — TinaParlier, P.O. Box 74, Corryton, TN 37721; (865)688-1175,fax: (865)688-5188; Assns: Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson,Union. District 5— Jim Petrie, Knox County EducationAssociation, 2411 Magnolia Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917-8289; (865)522-9793, fax: (865)522-9866; Assns: Knox,UT-Knoxville, Pellisippi State C.C. District 6 — RebaLuttrell, 503 Cardinal St., Maryville, TN 37803; phone/fax:(865)983-8640; Assns: Blount, Alcoa, Maryville, Monroe,Sweetwater, Loudon, Lenoir City District 7 — DonnaJerden, P.O. Box 222, Wartburg, TN 37887-0222; phone/fax: (423) 346-6165; Assns: Anderson, Clinton, Oak Ridge,Campbell, Morgan, Scott, Oneida, TSD District 8 — JimJordan, P.O. Box 4878, Cleveland, TN 37320; phone/fax:(423)472-3315; Assns: Bradley, Cleveland, McMinn, Athens,Etowah, Meigs, Polk, Rhea-Dayton, Cleveland StateC.C. District 9 — Dannise McKinney, P.O. Box 117, Kingston,TN 37763; phone/fax: (865)882-8211; Assns: Bledsoe,Cumberland, Fentress, York Institute, Roane, Sequatchie,White, Van Buren, Roane State C.C. District 10 — RhondaCatanzaro, Hamilton County Education Association, 4655Shallowford Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37411; (423)485-9535,fax: (423)485-9512; Assns: Hamilton County, ChattanoogaState C.C., UT-Chattanooga District 11 — EmilyWatson, 207 Country Estates Drive, Winchester, TN 37398;phone/fax: (931)967-0175; Assns: Coffee, Manchester,Tullahoma, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Warren District12 — Shannon Bain, 1001 Rhett Place, Lebanon, TN37087; phone: (615)547-7769, fax: (615)547-7879; Assns:Clay, DeKalb, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam,Smith, Trousdale, TTU District 13 — Arthur Patterson,101 Copperas Court, Murfreesboro, TN 37128; phone:(615)907-9912, fax: (615) 907-5490; Assns: Cannon, Wilson,Lebanon S.S.D., Volunteer State C.C. District 14 — SusanYoung, P.O. Box 422, Madison, TN 37116-0422; phone/fax:(615)865-9700; Assns: Cheatham, Murfreesboro, MTSU,Rutherford, TSB, TN Department of Education District15 — Miley Durham, P.O. Box 10, Lawrenceburg, TN38464; phone/fax: (931)766-7874; Assns: Bedford, Giles,Lawrence, Lincoln, Fayetteville, Marshall, Moore, MotlowState C.C. District 16 — Alice Spicer, 106 Stillwater Trail,Hendersonville, TN 37075; (615)826-1394, fax: (615)826-4589; Assns: Clarksville-Montgomery, Robertson, APSUDistrict 17 — Forestine Cole, Ralph Smith, TheresaTurner, Metro Nashville, 531 Fairground Court, Nashville,TN 37211; (615)726-1499, fax: (615)726-2501; Assns: MetroNashville, Nashville State C.C., TSU, Department of HigherEducation District 18 — Jackie Pope, 2326 Valley GroveDr., Murfreesboro, TN 37128; (615) 898-1060, fax: (615)898-1099; Assns: Lewis, Maury, Williamson, FranklinS.S.D., Columbia State C.C. District 19— Melinda Webb,56 Lakeview Cove, Linden, TN 37096; (931)593-3532, fax:(931)593-3543; Assns: Decatur, Dickson, Hardin, Hickman,Houston, Humphreys, Perry, Wayne District 20 — MariaUffelman, P.O. Box 99, Cumberland City, TN 37050; phone/fax: (931)827-3333; Assns: Benton, Carroll (West Carroll)Central, Clarksburg, Huntingdon, McKenzie, Gibson,Bradford, Humboldt, Milan, Henry, Paris, Stewart,Weakley, UT-Martin, FTA District 21 — Lorrie Butler,P.O. Box 387, Henderson, TN 38340; (731)989-4860, fax:(731)989-9254; Assns: Chester, Hardeman, Henderson,Lexington, Jackson-Madison, McNairy, Jackson State C.C.District 22 — 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. District23 — Zandra Foster, 3897 Homewood Cove, Memphis, TN38128; phone/fax: (901)377-9472; Assns: Fayette, Shelby,Univ. of Memphis, Southwest Tenn. C.C., University ofMemphis. Priority Local Team Field Organizers — JeffGarrett, Cheryl Richardson, Rhonda Thompson, 801Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201; (615)242-8392or (800)342-8367 Assns: Sevier, Sumner, Trenton. MEA —Ken Foster, Executive Director; Susanne Jackson, TerriJones, Tom Marchand, Herman Sawyer and MarilynWebley, MEA, 126 South Flicker Street, Memphis, TN 38104;(901)454-0966, fax: (901)454-9979; Assn: Memphis.www.teateachers.orgwww.nea.org12 January 2011