September - Tennessee Education Association
September - Tennessee Education Association
September - Tennessee Education Association
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Published by the TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION<br />
May 2012 Vol. 44, No. 2 www.teateachers.org<br />
Special Insert:<br />
Choose How You’d Like to Receive<br />
Your Next Issue of teach<br />
Dynamic Duo<br />
Bob & Karen<br />
Holder<br />
Lead the<br />
Asssociation<br />
In Campbell<br />
County<br />
page 4
Speaking out with you<br />
Gera Summerford, President<br />
Remember in November: Vote for <strong>Education</strong><br />
In the November elections this year, a unique opportunity<br />
is at hand for <strong>Tennessee</strong> educators. Many of you across the<br />
state will be able to vote for a fellow TEA member for the 108th<br />
General Assembly. Eleven TEA members — your fellow teachers<br />
— declared themselves candidates for the state legislature this<br />
year. From House district 8 in East <strong>Tennessee</strong> to House district<br />
91 in Shelby County, these teachers chose to<br />
step up and seek election to help govern our<br />
state. It’s an exciting time in <strong>Tennessee</strong> and<br />
I’m very proud they’ve taken this bold step!<br />
TEA members have not forgotten that the<br />
107th legislature repealed the professional<br />
negotiations law, dramatically changed<br />
teacher tenure and removed all job security<br />
for non-certified school staff. Educators<br />
who have devoted their professional lives to<br />
preparing children for a successful future are now committed<br />
to making a difference in state government as well. Throughout<br />
2011 and this past school year, TEA members worked hard to<br />
convince legislators to represent their interests. We came to<br />
the capitol in record numbers, we called and emailed and met<br />
our state representatives in their home districts. Now, in 2012,<br />
some TEA members are making the ultimate commitment to run<br />
for office themselves.<br />
Nine of the eleven have been successful in the state primary<br />
races and they need our support in November. These proud<br />
teachers from Knox County, Hamilton County, Coffee County,<br />
Murfreesboro, Weakley County, Tipton County, and Shelby<br />
County are working hard to raise money and raise awareness<br />
for their campaigns. The support of their education colleagues<br />
will be invaluable in the fight to win election this fall, and I<br />
know TEA members will not let them down. If you live in these<br />
counties you can get further information through your local<br />
president, UniServ Coordinator or the TEA website.<br />
As a <strong>Tennessee</strong> teacher or education support staff, you give<br />
your energy and best effort to help children learn and grow.<br />
You know better than anyone what’s needed in our schools<br />
to provide a quality public education for every student. You<br />
advocate for children and public education in the work you<br />
do each day. Your advocacy is needed at the ballot box this<br />
year — and every election year — to make sure our schools<br />
and our students get what they need. Across the state, those<br />
candidates who will listen to teachers and support public<br />
education will need your support and your vote. They will also<br />
need the support of your relatives, friends and colleagues,<br />
so ask everyone you know to vote for pro-public education<br />
candidates. It is the responsibility of every Tennessean.<br />
TEA has always been the chief advocate for quality<br />
public schools in <strong>Tennessee</strong>. We’ve always worked to support<br />
education-friendly candidates. This year we must remain united<br />
and focus our efforts like never before.<br />
Remember in November: Vote for education! And, where<br />
possible, vote for an educator!<br />
Al Mance, Executive Director<br />
Student Achievement Gives <strong>Tennessee</strong> Teachers<br />
Reason to Stand Up and Cheer<br />
Anytime there are indications that classroom results have<br />
improved, it is good news. The recent release of the 2011-2012<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> student test scores brought good news about <strong>Tennessee</strong>’s<br />
students and teachers.<br />
According to <strong>Tennessee</strong> Department of <strong>Education</strong> data, students<br />
in grades three through eight made the following<br />
statistically significant improvements since<br />
2010. The percentage of students scoring<br />
proficient/advanced in reading/language arts<br />
rose from 44.8 to 49.9; the percentage in math<br />
rose from 34.6 to 47.3; the science percentage<br />
rose from 51.9 to 60.5, and social studies<br />
increased from 79.9 to 82.9. Students completing<br />
courses with end-of-course tests (English I,<br />
English II, algebra I, algebra II and biology)<br />
also showed improved test scores. These are all<br />
statewide improvements. Bravo! Thank you, <strong>Tennessee</strong>’s teachers!<br />
Historically, when the educational achievement of a typical<br />
sixth-grade class is measured, researchers find a range of<br />
approximately eight years in reading comprehension, vocabulary,<br />
arithmetic reasoning, arithmetic computation, mechanics of English<br />
composition, and other forms of achievement. In almost any sixthgrade<br />
class, researchers found a pupil with first- or second-grade<br />
reading ability and another with eleventh- or twelfth-grade reading<br />
ability. In any grade above the primary level, we find the complete<br />
range of elementary school achievement.<br />
Imagine how remarkable it is then that teachers and students have<br />
realized an average six percentage-point improvement over a twoyear<br />
period. Despite the distractions of a new evaluation system and<br />
other “education reform” initiatives, professional teachers continued<br />
to teach to the outer limits of their talent and skills. In the end, the<br />
improvements in student achievement came as the result of commonsense<br />
changes in curriculum standards and teachers’ dedication to<br />
helping all students achieve these new standards.<br />
This is huge! Please take a moment to stand up and cheer for the<br />
success of teachers and public education. Hurray!<br />
Several teachers with whom I have spoken said that previous<br />
lower performance was due, in part, to redundancy in the curriculum.<br />
Students were spending up to six months each school year studying<br />
the same material they had completed the year before. Some of that<br />
wasted instructional time has been recouped and also helped increase<br />
student scores.<br />
More curriculum changes are in progress. The new state standards<br />
are being melded with National Common Core Standards. The result<br />
should be a curriculum that more closely parallels the learnings<br />
measured by national standardized achievement tests. The Common<br />
Core Standards are not a silver bullet for improving teaching and<br />
learning. A rigorous course of study taught by well-educated teachers<br />
who are given the freedom and resources needed to teach just might<br />
become that silver bullet.<br />
One thing is clear. It is the combined efforts of teachers and<br />
students in classrooms that have resulted in improved test scores.<br />
Nothing else comes close. Let’s hope the scores also reflect a higherquality<br />
education.<br />
Congratulations to you.<br />
You count.<br />
teach (USPS 742-450, ISSN 15382907) is published<br />
monthly (except June, July and December) by the<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> <strong>Education</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, 801 Second Avenue<br />
North, Nashville TN 37201-1099. Periodical postage<br />
paid at Nashville, TN. The subscription price of $3.65 is<br />
allocated from annual membership dues of $258.00 for<br />
active members; $129.00 for associate, education<br />
support and staff members; $16.00 for retired members;<br />
and $10.00 for student members. Member of<br />
State <strong>Education</strong> Editors (SEE).<br />
Postmaster: Send address changes to teach,<br />
801 Second Avenue North,<br />
Nashville, TN 37201-1099.<br />
MANAGING EDITOR: Alexei Smirnov<br />
asmirnov@tea.nea.org<br />
ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Carol K. Schmoock<br />
PUBLISHER: Alphonso C. Mance<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> <strong>Education</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
801 Second Avenue North<br />
Nashville, TN 37201-1099<br />
Telephone: (615)242-8392,<br />
Toll Free: (800)342-8367, (800)342-8262<br />
Fax: (615)259-4581<br />
Website: www.teateachers.org<br />
BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br />
PRESIDENT: Gera Summerford* (800)342-8367<br />
VICE PRESIDENT: Barbara Gray* (901)353-8590<br />
SECRETARY-TREASURER: Alphonso C. Mance (615)242-8392<br />
DISTRICT 1 Leisa Lusk* (423)928-6819<br />
DISTRICT 2 Lauren McCarty (865)385-5220<br />
DISTRICT 3 Karen Starr (423)628-2701<br />
DISTRICT 4 Tanya Coats* (865)637-7494<br />
DISTRICT 5 Michael Plumley (423)749-8228<br />
DISTRICT 6 Scott Price (931)455-7198<br />
DISTRICT 7 Allen Nichols* (615)653-6501<br />
DISTRICT 8 Kawanda Braxton (615)554-6286<br />
DISTRICT 9 Theresa L. Wagner (270)776-1467<br />
DISTRICT 10 Guy Stanley (615)384-2983<br />
DISTRICT 11 Wendy R. Bowers (731)645-8595<br />
DISTRICT 12 Suzie May (731)779-9329<br />
DISTRICT 13 Ernestine King (901)590-8188<br />
DISTRICT 14 Sarah Kennedy-Harper (901)416-4582<br />
DISTRICT 15 Tom Emens (901)277-0578<br />
ADMINISTRATOR EAST Johnny Henry (865)509-4829<br />
ADMINISTRATOR MIDDLE Julie Hopkins<br />
(615)569-5742<br />
ADMINISTRATOR WEST Charles Green (901)624-6186<br />
HIGHER EDUCATION Clinton Smith (731)881-7167<br />
BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER EAST Paula Hancock<br />
(865)694-1691<br />
BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER MIDDLE Kenneth Martin<br />
(615)876-1948<br />
BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER WEST LaVerne Dickerson<br />
(901)416-7122<br />
STATE SPECIAL SCHOOLS Vacancy<br />
ESP Christine Denton (931)647-8962<br />
TN NEA DIRECTOR Melanie Buchanan (615)305-2214<br />
TN NEA DIRECTOR Diccie Smith (901)482-0627<br />
TN NEA DIRECTOR Diane Lillard* (423)478-8827<br />
STEA MEMBER Marilauren Anderson (731)478-5106<br />
TN RETIRED Gerald Lillard (423)478-8827<br />
NEW TEACHER Candra Clariette (615)506-3493<br />
* Executive Committee<br />
TEA HEADQUARTERS STAFF<br />
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Alphonso C. Mance; ASST. EXECUTIVE<br />
DIRECTOR, Terrance Gibson ; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:<br />
Mitchell Johnson; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Carol K.<br />
Schmoock; TEA GENERAL COUNSEL; Rick Colbert; MANAGER<br />
OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS: Stephanie Faulkner; INFORMATION<br />
TECHNOLOGY & SYSTEMS MANAGER, Galen Riggs; STAFF<br />
ATTORNEYS: Katherine Curlee, Virginia A. McCoy; MANAGER<br />
OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: Jerry Winters; GOVERNMENT<br />
RELATIONS COORDINATOR: Antoinette Lee; WEB MASTER &<br />
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Amanda Chaney; MANAGING<br />
EDITOR & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Alexei Smirnov;<br />
RESEARCH & INFORMATION: Melissa Brown; INSTRUCTION &<br />
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS: Susan Dalton,<br />
Vacancy; COORDINATOR OF MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATE RELATIONS:<br />
Duran Williams.<br />
UniServ Staff contact information<br />
can be found on page 12 or by scannig<br />
the Quick Response code below.<br />
Tennesee’s Teachers Impact Evaluation<br />
Constant feedback, surveys and lobbying push for improvement<br />
Ever since <strong>Tennessee</strong>’s teachers opted to remain<br />
at the table as the <strong>Tennessee</strong> teacher and principal<br />
evaluation system was being developed, TEA pushed<br />
for a fair evaluation process and guided its members<br />
through the pitfalls of the system’s implementation.<br />
TEA insisted on—and succeeded in—including<br />
the option to grieve evaluation results, circulated<br />
30 Tuesday Reports, highlighting ongoing tweaks in<br />
the evaluation system, conducted multiple surveys<br />
among teachers and principals across the state, and<br />
promoted a comprehensive seven-point plan to fix<br />
the evaluation system in January 2012.<br />
The July 26-27 meeting of the State Board of<br />
<strong>Education</strong> showed that TEA’s concerns are being<br />
heard. As <strong>Tennessee</strong> <strong>Education</strong> Commissioner Kevin<br />
Huffman congratulated teachers across the state for<br />
“exceeding expectations against a very high bar,” he<br />
said that more work remains ahead, such as reducing<br />
the number of options for the 15% evaluation<br />
component and reducing the impact of school-wide<br />
teacher effect scores on individual scores.<br />
“Our goal is to get more and more teachers into<br />
an individual teacher effect category,” Huffman<br />
said, hoping that three-quarters of teachers will be<br />
evaluated that way “over the next couple of years.”<br />
Why the half-baked evaluation system was put<br />
in motion without a full trial run is still lost on most<br />
teachers in the state, but Huffman defended the<br />
For new and nearly new teachers<br />
TEA President Gera Summerford (right) shares teachers’ evaluation concerns with State Board of <strong>Education</strong><br />
Chairman Fielding Rolston and Executive Director Gary Nixon.<br />
move by saying that the department learned far<br />
more from implementing the evaluation system as<br />
opposed to continuously studying it.<br />
Also during the July meeting, the state board<br />
approved the application by an out-of-state charter<br />
school entity, Great Hearts Academies, to build a<br />
charter school in West Nashville, overturning the<br />
decree of the Metro Nashville school board, which<br />
voted twice earlier this year to reject the Great<br />
Hearts application.<br />
In one of the more contentious meetings in<br />
recent history, state board members chose to ignore<br />
the board staff’s recommendation. Even so, in mid-<br />
August the Metro Nashville school board voted 7-2 to<br />
defer the Great Hearts application in defiance of the<br />
state board’s order.<br />
Sharpen Your Teaching Skills at TEA’s New Teacher Conferences<br />
Novice teachers will have two opportunities<br />
again this year to sharpen their teaching skills and<br />
improve their success in the classroom at TEA’s New<br />
Teacher Conferences.<br />
TEA’s New Teacher Conference is offered on two<br />
Saturdays during the 2012-2013 school year, once<br />
each semester: November 3, 2012, and February 23,<br />
2013.<br />
Power Teaching introduces best practices for<br />
delivering powerful instruction to increase student<br />
learning. This session promises to strengthen<br />
teaching in ways that matter when it comes time for<br />
observations under the state’s evaluation process<br />
no matter the evaluation model used.<br />
I Can Do It! is the highly acclaimed classroommanagement<br />
training program that addresses one<br />
of the most pressing issues identified by beginning<br />
teachers and their principals. The program covers<br />
classroom transitions, reinforcements, rules and<br />
routines, and dealing with difficult behavior.<br />
Both tracks offer valuable insights and<br />
practical tips for teachers of all subjects at all<br />
grade levels.<br />
Each track runs all day, from 8:30 a.m. until<br />
3:30 p.m., on both dates.<br />
Teachers in their first three years of<br />
classroom teaching are invited to attend either<br />
or both conferences. Teachers earn six hours of<br />
professional development credit for each day they<br />
attend, a total of 12 hours for those who attend<br />
both conferences during the year.<br />
Registration for the new teacher conferences<br />
can be done by mail or online. A $40 registration<br />
fee, payable in advance, secures a spot in the<br />
training. A discounted rate is available for those<br />
who register for both sessions at the same time,<br />
and an additional early bird registration discount<br />
applies for those who register by October 6 for both<br />
dates. The fee will be refunded to TEA members<br />
who attend if their registration fees were paid by<br />
personal or <strong>Association</strong> check.<br />
More details and registration information have<br />
been mailed to local presidents, and can be found<br />
online at www.teateachers.org/new-teacherconference.<br />
New teachers participate in TEA’s ‘I Can Do It!’ training.<br />
Conference fees will be refunded to TEA members.<br />
2 <strong>September</strong> 2012 3<br />
www.teateachers.org
Masters of the Game<br />
Bob and Karen Holder boost morale and expertise among<br />
colleagues, garner a statewide membership award<br />
Virginia McCoy, TEA Attorney:<br />
“Don’t Wait to Ask Questions”<br />
In other areas of specialization, attorneys<br />
often change firms and clients. What<br />
motivates you to remain in your position as a<br />
“I spy, I see. I see Delaney<br />
looking at me. Can you line up<br />
for me so we can go outside?”<br />
Sitting on the floor in<br />
Karen Holder’s classroom<br />
at LaFollette Elementary<br />
School in Campbell County<br />
makes us wish we were five<br />
years old, singing about Mr.<br />
Alligator and the apple tree,<br />
climbing a wooden ship and<br />
learning about new animals,<br />
pronouncing new words and<br />
busting out new dance moves,<br />
excited about playtime<br />
outdoors.<br />
told me it wasn’t necessary, that they were members of TEA and<br />
they were fine.”<br />
And so it went on, with a handful of dedicated TEA members<br />
keeping the tradition alive in the county where collective<br />
bargaining and payroll deduction were the exclusive rights of a<br />
competing organization.<br />
“There was a small group of us who saw TEA as a teachers’<br />
group. TEA is what we believe in, so we just hung together and<br />
tried to keep going,” Karen says. “Last year we started moving<br />
up because of the legislative changes. People saw that we had<br />
a lot more to offer. We were on top of things. We have a UniServ<br />
coordinator we can call on, while other organizations don’t have<br />
a person who can connect them with the state. It’s always great<br />
to have somebody you can turn to, and to know that somebody is<br />
going to be here for you.”<br />
Following the 2011 legislative changes, exclusive collective<br />
Karen Holder, CCEA member Chris Honeycutt, who teaches math and<br />
coaches football, and Bob Holder attend the system-wide in-service<br />
day. CCEA set up a “welcome back” table filled with information and<br />
giveaway opportunities.<br />
where education policy is often set in impenetrable school board<br />
workshops. Most of the school board members know him as the keeper<br />
of the scoreboard for high school football and basketball games, and<br />
they usually get an earful whenever Bob gets their attention.<br />
“We’ve been ignored, and we think we’ve had enough,” he says.<br />
“I’ve called the director several times to address our issues. I made<br />
TEA staff attorney for 23 years?<br />
I believe in public education as an essential<br />
democratic institution and in teaching as a<br />
valued profession. To my mind, TEA is the only<br />
organization in <strong>Tennessee</strong> that is committed<br />
both to preserving public education for all of<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong>’s children and to uplifting teachers<br />
as respected professionals.<br />
What caused you to become an advocate for<br />
Virginia McCoy in her office<br />
the rights of public education employees?<br />
by the poster of her favorite film.<br />
Fortuitous circumstances. I was working<br />
as an attorney at the <strong>Tennessee</strong> Department<br />
of Revenue, and a colleague suggested that I apply for an opening at TEA. My father<br />
worked for Knoxville City and Knox County Schools. My mother’s family is full of<br />
educators, including my great-grandmother, who was the first woman to sit on<br />
Before we enter the bargaining rights were taken away from AFT, and teachers in the<br />
eight to ten phone calls. I left voicemails. On Friday at lunchtime,<br />
the Monroe County Board of <strong>Education</strong> and my aunt, Jean Black, who is a retired<br />
playground, Karen checks area became more interested in joining TEA.<br />
I told him, ‘Please don’t ignore me. I’m not going away.’ Still, no<br />
teacher and principal from Monroe County who once served as president of her local<br />
under every object in sight to With Bob serving as president and Karen as co-president and<br />
answer. I think I’m going to have to go there one morning and just sit association. When I enrolled in college, I had initially intended to pursue a career as<br />
make sure there are no bees secretary-treasurer, CCEA has stepped up its local communications<br />
on the doorstep.”<br />
a teacher, but was side-tracked by the law. When I was offered a position with TEA,<br />
or other undesirable insects efforts, positioning themselves as experts in teacher and principal<br />
The CTE issue is not the only one being ignored by the local school it seemed like my professional life was coming full circle with the opportunity to<br />
that could upset her crew of<br />
pre-K students. As the kids<br />
frolic, Holder and her teaching<br />
aide make sure that every<br />
child is courteous during play,<br />
managing to keep almost<br />
everyone happy. Then we line<br />
up, go back inside to wash<br />
hands, sing a couple more<br />
songs and, all of a sudden, it’s<br />
Karen Holder (left), Campbell Co. EA secretary-treasurer and<br />
lunchtime.<br />
teacher at LaFollette Elementary School, and Assistant Principal<br />
A few miles up the<br />
Heather Smith, also a CCEA member, talk with Holder’s pre-K<br />
road, Karen’s husband Bob<br />
students in late August. On the cover: Karen Holder shows her<br />
holds court in his wellness<br />
youthful spirit on the playground; Bob Holder teaches health and<br />
health class at LaFollette<br />
wellness at LaFollette Comprehensive High School.<br />
Comprehensive High School.<br />
His students have just received<br />
the folders with an assignment to be completed by Friday.<br />
“If you don’t do it, you get a zero,” says Bob in a no-nonsense<br />
tone he has perfected over decades of teaching, coaching and<br />
stints in management at Frito Lay and Burger King.<br />
Witnessing Bob and Karen in their teaching roles, it’s no<br />
evaluation, grievance process and collaborative conferencing<br />
efforts.<br />
As of this writing, Bob is the only teacher in the county who<br />
has grieved his evaluation results. He tells his colleagues that he’s<br />
not afraid of being a turtle without a shell, with his neck sticking<br />
out.<br />
“In our school we haven’t had any training in evaluation. I filed<br />
the grievance because I knew what to do, and that’s what I share<br />
with our members.”<br />
Bob is also doing battle with central office on behalf of area<br />
career and technical education teachers, who have been recognized<br />
as such at the state level but have not received classroom supplies<br />
or compensation for their CTE workload.<br />
“There’s been some harassment and denial of representation,”<br />
Bob says. “We have CTE teachers who have retired and have not<br />
been compensated for teaching CTE.”<br />
One of CCEA’s new members who joined last spring has taught<br />
CTE for 18 years, but was never paid as a CTE teacher. According to<br />
CCEA’s estimate, these teachers are due between $1,000 and $1,500<br />
a year in additional salary.<br />
“When you take into account their retirement, Social Security<br />
wages, that makes a big difference. We know 15 former teachers<br />
authorities. Bob says the grievance he had filed on July 15, 2012, was<br />
accepted and signed by his evaluator, yet he has received no response<br />
from central office. With a few days left to file with the school board,<br />
Bob is considering<br />
submitting a copy to the<br />
“We’ve been ignored, and we state board of education.<br />
think we’ve had enough... I’m<br />
Having raised three<br />
children and innumerable<br />
going to go there one morning students who learned in<br />
and just sit on the doorstep.”<br />
their classrooms, Bob and<br />
Karen say they have their<br />
work cut out for them to<br />
further solidify CCEA.<br />
Recently, they worked on the <strong>Association</strong>’s constitution, and<br />
sought members who will work on the local’s Facebook and newsletter<br />
outlets to help push information about the coming evaluation<br />
changes and collaborative conferencing updates.<br />
TEA District 5 UniServ Coordinator Jason White says the lack of<br />
information about evaluation and grievance is partially due to the<br />
fact that the state made last-minute changes in July, when many<br />
school officials were on vacation.<br />
“It’s hard to fault the local school system because the state is<br />
represent public school teachers and employees.<br />
Why should one join TEA today?<br />
TEA supports public education, public school teachers and employees, and is one of<br />
the few education organizations in <strong>Tennessee</strong> that is willing to speak truth to power on<br />
Capitol Hill.<br />
Why should one not be afraid or ashamed of joining TEA?<br />
If you aren’t afraid or ashamed to be part of your profession, you shouldn’t be afraid<br />
or ashamed to be part of the pre-eminent organization in the state that represents and<br />
supports the members of your profession.<br />
What are the flaws in comparing public schools in the United States to schools in<br />
China, Finland or other countries?<br />
I would be very happy if <strong>Tennessee</strong> was comparable to Finland and what the Finns<br />
have accomplished in public education. But <strong>Tennessee</strong> and Finland aren’t comparable,<br />
because the characteristics of the populations, the public support for a social safety<br />
net, and the approach to producing a trained teaching force are very dissimilar. Plus,<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong>’s current leadership simply isn’t committed to providing <strong>Tennessee</strong> with the<br />
kind of education system to which the Finns have committed for their children.<br />
What’s wrong with trying to run public schools like a business?<br />
You can’t send a bad batch of blueberries back to the supplier. You have to make<br />
blueberry ice cream with whatever blueberries you happen to have on hand.<br />
Among the many things you wish your clients did differently, what are the most<br />
wonder that the Campbell County <strong>Education</strong> <strong>Association</strong> had a who will be involved. Last spring we brought it all to the director.<br />
fixing the plane in mid-air,” he says.<br />
common mistakes or oversights?<br />
stellar year, garnering a 30-percent increase in membership, the He promised that something would be done, but it hasn’t. The<br />
With a new, three-step grievance process in place, Bob and Karen<br />
1. Not keeping good documentation.<br />
highest in the state, in spite of the fact that their county is the paychecks still don’t reflect any changes.”<br />
are hard at work helping members realize that they have options that<br />
2. Not seeking assistance early enough in the process.<br />
only one in <strong>Tennessee</strong> dominated by the American Federation of<br />
At one point last year, Bob says he and a fellow teacher<br />
could positively impact their evaluation results.<br />
3. Not observing professional boundaries with students and colleagues.<br />
Teachers.<br />
accidentally witnessed grades being changed live on a school<br />
“I’d say 50 percent of teachers in our system have never even<br />
What is your advice to TEA members for this school year?<br />
Karen, who has been a TEA member for 38 years, recalls<br />
arriving in Campbell County two decades ago and being asked to<br />
join AFT.<br />
“I’d been told it would be a good thing to do because they were<br />
the main bargaining unit,” says Karen. “I was encouraged to join<br />
system’s website. The officials denied it, yet at the end of the last<br />
school year one teacher’s paycheck was withheld for 15 minutes,<br />
presumably due to grade discrepancies. “It was an embarrassing<br />
situation,” Bob says.<br />
A 13-year member of TEA who began his teaching career in<br />
looked at their scores,” says Bob. “Because it was sent out in an email,<br />
there are two passwords. Some teachers don’t understand the impact<br />
that evaluations can have.”<br />
In a county where many teachers and students don’t carry cell<br />
phones or have Internet access at home, one-on-one communication<br />
Don’t wait to ask questions if you are having issues or concerns. Knowledge is<br />
power, and TEA members have access to incredible amounts of information, resources<br />
and guidance, particularly through the TEA website, the UniServ coordinators, and<br />
legal services.<br />
AFT, but a couple of friends of mine with whom I’d gone to school 1976 in Coffee County, Bob sets an example of bravery in a county<br />
is king, and Karen and Bob Holder appear to be the masters of it.<br />
4 <strong>September</strong> 2012 5<br />
www.teateachers.org
Teachers Overwhelmingly Choose TEA in<br />
Collaborative Conferencing Votes Across the State<br />
Rutherford County teachers didn’t have a<br />
difficult time deciding who would represent them at<br />
the collaborative conferencing table with the local<br />
school board.<br />
“Rutherford <strong>Education</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, of course.<br />
Who else?” said Darrick Bowman, who teaches<br />
history and social sciences at Siegel High School in<br />
Murfreesboro.<br />
Across <strong>Tennessee</strong>, teachers overwhelmingly<br />
chose TEA members to represent them in<br />
collaborative conferencing, which replaced<br />
professional negotiations under the Professional<br />
Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act (PECCA).<br />
Critics say this mouthful of an acronym and<br />
the accompanying legislation were designed to<br />
weaken TEA’s influence in fighting on behalf of<br />
school employees and to strip teachers of collective<br />
bargaining rights. While the 107th General<br />
Assembly succeeded in taking away teachers’ ability<br />
to negotiate their contracts with local school<br />
systems, some locals still have contracts in place,<br />
and others are receiving votes of confidence from<br />
teachers in their districts.<br />
To secure 100 percent of the seats at the<br />
collaborative conferencing table, REA members<br />
reached out to at least 15 percent of teachers in<br />
the district who said they would like for the school<br />
board to participate in collaborative conferencing.<br />
The <strong>Association</strong> then placed a flier in every<br />
teacher’s hand, informing them of the upcoming<br />
polling date and a track record of REA’s past wins on<br />
behalf of local teachers and school employees.<br />
“REA did an excellent job of organizing<br />
teachers,” said Susan Young, District 11 UniServ<br />
coordinator. “They contacted every teacher in the<br />
Know Your PECCA Rights<br />
The Professional Educators Collaborative<br />
Conferencing Act (PECCA) provides<br />
professional employees with the right to<br />
self-organization and to form, join or be<br />
assisted by organizations, to participate in<br />
collaborative conferencing and to engage in<br />
other concerted activities for the purpose of<br />
other mutual aid and benefit.<br />
TEA will continue to protect and defend<br />
the numerous rights that still exist.<br />
Under PECCA, professional employees<br />
have the right to:<br />
* Self-organization and to form, join or be<br />
county and explained to them their expertise in the<br />
field.”<br />
In Clarksville-Montgomery County, Becky<br />
Jackman, librarian and media specialist at<br />
New Providence Middle School, is preparing to<br />
send three alternates as part of the upcoming<br />
collaborative conferencing training in <strong>September</strong><br />
to make sure that CMCEA always has their side of the<br />
conferencing process covered.<br />
“CMCEA also plans to survey their members<br />
and to hold a training session on etiquette and<br />
strategy,” said Rhonda Thompson, District 14<br />
UniServ coordinator.<br />
After 81 percent of Knox County teachers voted<br />
last November for Knox Co. EA to represent them in<br />
talks with the local school board, KCEA determined<br />
that their ultimate goal is to reach a memorandum<br />
of understanding and to be able to work for the<br />
Percent of teacher representatives<br />
100<br />
90<br />
80<br />
70<br />
60<br />
50<br />
40<br />
30<br />
20<br />
10<br />
0<br />
assisted by organizations<br />
* Be free of interference, restraint or<br />
coercion in the exercise of guaranteed rights<br />
* Be free of reprisals or threats of reprisal<br />
for exercising their rights<br />
* Be free of domination of interference in<br />
their chosen organization<br />
Local <strong>Association</strong>s have the specific<br />
right to:<br />
* Have access at reasonable times before<br />
or after the instructional day to areas in which<br />
employees work<br />
* Use institutional bulletin boards, mail<br />
benefits and rights of the employees of Knox<br />
County schools.<br />
“Even though the legislature took away<br />
our bargaining rights, KCEA is still here for its<br />
members,” said KCEA President Sherry Morgan. To<br />
those locals that are yet to start the collaborative<br />
conferencing process, her advice is to create a plan<br />
and stick to it.<br />
“The focus should be on getting a calendar and<br />
a plan of action going,” she said. “It’s important to<br />
meet the deadlines imposed by the process. Being<br />
on the front lines of collaborative conferencing<br />
really helps people see the benefits of being a<br />
member of our <strong>Association</strong>. Many non-members<br />
signed cards and voted for us. They told us, ‘We<br />
know you are going to do something, not the other<br />
organizations.’”<br />
TEAMembers<br />
Other<br />
boxes and communication media<br />
* Use school facilities, as permitted by<br />
policy for community use, for the purpose of<br />
holding meetings<br />
* Determine organizational rules for<br />
acquiring and retaining members<br />
* Enter onto school grounds to contact<br />
professional employees at times that will not<br />
interfere with normal school operations<br />
PECCA, in a statement of policy and<br />
purpose, ensures the right of professional<br />
employees to participate in collaborative<br />
conferencing through representatives of their<br />
own choosing.<br />
<br />
New TEA Member Benefits Partners<br />
Offer Superior Service, Ways to Save Money<br />
After a long day at school, you deserve the very<br />
best, which is why the TEA Member Benefits program<br />
is committed to meeting your needs and those of your<br />
family.<br />
TEA is proud to announce the member benefits<br />
partners listed below and welcome your feedback,<br />
comments and suggestions of potential future<br />
member benefits partners. Remember, no TEA or NEA<br />
dues are used to provide these services.<br />
1. TEA-WOWbudget.com invites you on a<br />
secure and confidential journey to financial freedom.<br />
Specializing in offering a financial planning system<br />
to help teachers retire debt-free, WowBudget offers<br />
TEA members up to a 20% savings on monthly<br />
services if you utilize this debt reduction plan.<br />
2. K-12 Benefits Advisors (Transamerican)<br />
specializes in offering flexible spending accounts<br />
to teachers. TEA members will receive up to a 25%<br />
savings on the monthly cost of this program and the<br />
$5.00 setup fee will be waived.<br />
3. HERO - Healthcare <strong>Education</strong> Research<br />
& Outreach provides a diabetes education and<br />
screening program to adult members of the Blue<br />
Cross Blue Shield insurance plan. In six classes, this<br />
plan offers participants the information needed to<br />
learn how to make daily decisions about self-care<br />
and diabetes. HERO also works in cooperation with<br />
PromiseCare, a company that provides discounted<br />
pharmaceuticals in this area of healthcare.<br />
4. TEA Night with the Nashville Predators<br />
Would you like to see The Nashville Predators play<br />
Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m.?<br />
Order tickets today at www.nashvillepredators.<br />
com/TEANight with Special Offer Code “TEANight”<br />
Discounted rates for TEA Members:<br />
• $26 Goal Zone (yellow seats in Sec 301-306,<br />
329-333; regularly $35+)<br />
• $44 Mezzanine Level includes all-you-caneat<br />
hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn, soft pretzels<br />
Voter registration deadline for the November<br />
general election: October 8.<br />
Early voting period for the November election:<br />
October 17-November 1.<br />
Election Day: Tuesday, November 6.<br />
Now is the time to support candidates who<br />
support teachers and public education.<br />
Scan this QR code to view<br />
testimonials from your friends<br />
and colleagues featured in the<br />
TEA web video or visit<br />
vote.teateachers.org.<br />
& Pepsi products (blue seats in Sec 313-322; regularly<br />
$58+)<br />
• $51 Endzone Club (tan seats in Sec 201-206,<br />
212-213, and 219-224; regularly $66+)<br />
• $65 Lower Bowl (green seats in Sec 101-108,<br />
112-120; regularly $84+)<br />
5. Discounted tickets to the University of<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> football games<br />
As a TEA member, you have an exclusive<br />
opportunity to purchase discounted football tickets<br />
to select home games this year in honor of UT’s<br />
<strong>Education</strong> Appreciation Games. Simply visit<br />
www.UTTix.com, enter the promotional code and<br />
purchase as many tickets as you need for each game.<br />
Please call (865) 974-9585 for a three-game mini plan<br />
that includes the Florida home game or the Alabama<br />
home game, plus two additional home games of your<br />
choice for just $162.<br />
Visit www.teateachers.org for detailed log-in<br />
instructions.<br />
TEA President Gera Summerford (middle) visited Jefferson County schools<br />
with District 3 UniServ Coordinator Tina Parlier (left). Summerford spoke<br />
with JCEA member Karen Bible (right) during the visit. Karen teaches AP art<br />
at Jefferson County High School.<br />
Below, Summerford welcomes Holston Middle School reading teacher Kelsey<br />
Bull at the recent Knox Co. EA new teacher luncheon. Kelsey will serve as the<br />
new association representative (AR) at her school.<br />
6 <strong>September</strong> 2012 7<br />
www.teateachers.org
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National Assembly Inspires, Energizes <strong>Tennessee</strong>’s Teachers<br />
Rosemary Winters of Memphis EA<br />
performs with the NEA choir in a<br />
Fourth of July celebration at the NEA<br />
Representative Assembly<br />
in Washington, D.C.<br />
By Amanda Chaney<br />
More than 9,000 educators descended upon Washington,<br />
D.C., this summer for the National <strong>Education</strong> <strong>Association</strong>’s<br />
Annual Representative Assembly. <strong>Tennessee</strong>’s delegates,<br />
a group of more than 200 teachers, administrators and<br />
education support professionals, took an active role in<br />
the week-long event by participating in floor discussions,<br />
important votes and even performing with the NEA choir.<br />
The week was filled with many inspiring speeches and<br />
nearly 100 new business items. NEA President Dennis Van<br />
Roekel kicked things off with the keynote address.<br />
“This has been a challenging year for our country. I know<br />
it has also challenged you, as well as our members back<br />
home. Not just in some states, but in EVERY state,” said Van<br />
Roekel. “I know how hard you worked – to stand up for our<br />
members and to serve our students, from pre-K to graduate.<br />
And you do it each and every day – it’s who you are – it’s what<br />
we do.”<br />
Van Roekel went on to challenge members to stand up<br />
for their profession and work together to “raise the level<br />
of preparation for those coming into our profession and<br />
improve the practice of those who are already here.”<br />
The highlight for many attendees was a phone call from<br />
President Barack Obama. The president called in while on the<br />
road for his 2012 campaign bus tour across the country.<br />
“I want you to know that I am proud of all the great work<br />
you have done,” said President Obama. “You can’t help the<br />
American people without helping educators. I’m proud to<br />
stand with you, I’m proud of your support.”<br />
Hamilton Co. EA President Sandy Hughes addresses the<br />
national assembly.<br />
The <strong>Tennessee</strong> delegation included eight<br />
husband-and-wife pairs pictured below.<br />
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8 <strong>September</strong> 2012 9<br />
®<br />
“We know what will work,” he continued. “What will work<br />
is if we are making an investment in a strong and growing<br />
middle class. That starts in the classroom, the places where<br />
you and your colleagues are teaching, and leading and<br />
inspiring. I’m running for a second term as president to make<br />
sure every American has a chance to get a great education<br />
and the skills and training that today’s jobs require.”<br />
In addition to the president’s call, attendees also<br />
received a visit from Vice President Joe Biden and his wife<br />
and former NEA member, Dr. Jill Biden.<br />
The vice president immediately won the crowd over by<br />
confessing, “I’m in love with a teacher.” He went on to say,<br />
“You make dreams a reality. My mother and father never<br />
doubted that I could become vice president or president of<br />
the United States. No group of professionals can make that<br />
possible other than the educators of this great country. You<br />
, CONTEST<br />
know better than anyone that our success in the 21st century<br />
depends on our ability to educate all children. And that<br />
starts with the women and men in our nation’s schools.”<br />
The week’s activities also included several recognitions.<br />
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is this year’s recipient<br />
of the NEA America’s Greatest <strong>Education</strong> Governor Award.<br />
Judy Near, a Colorado education support professional, won<br />
STEA members attend the 2012 NEA RA. Clockwise from left: Chris Martin, Amy Orick, Kelly Stapleton, Brittany<br />
the National <strong>Education</strong> <strong>Association</strong>’s <strong>Education</strong> Support<br />
Professional of the Year. The 2012 National Teacher of the<br />
Seal, Corbin Lester, Parris Malone, Londyn Huntley, STEA President and TEA board member Marilauren Anderson, Year was awarded to Rebecca Mieliwocki, an English teacher<br />
LI470912<br />
and Caryce Gilmore. Read the story about Caryce Gilmore on the next page.<br />
from California.<br />
www.teateachers.org
A warm welcome — Jessica Stephens (left) signs a record-breaking membership form<br />
during Williamson County EA’s new teacher event at Franklin High School on August 2.<br />
More than 75 new teachers joined WCEA during the event, exceeding last year’s count.<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> Student Leader<br />
Earns National Recognition<br />
Former Student<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> <strong>Education</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong> President<br />
Caryce Gilmore received<br />
the NEA Student<br />
Program’s Outstanding<br />
State Student Leader<br />
Award at the 2012 NEA<br />
Student Leadership<br />
Conference in<br />
Washington, D.C.<br />
The award recognizes<br />
a student member who<br />
has achieved excellence<br />
throughout the year by<br />
providing leadership<br />
to the State Student<br />
Caryce Gilmore<br />
Program to meet the<br />
three pillars of the<br />
program: community outreach, professional development and political action.<br />
Gilmore’s leadership experience includes starting a community outreach<br />
project for STEA, lobbying with state officers in Nashville, holding a voter<br />
registration drive at the STEA Fall Conference, serving on the TEA Board,<br />
attending two NEA Student Program Conferences and one NEA conference.<br />
Gilmore was also elected by her peers to serve as a student representative on<br />
the NEA Board of Directors at the leadership conference.<br />
Counting On Tuition Discount?<br />
Read the Fine Print<br />
This fall, dependents of many public school teachers will enroll in a<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> Board of Regents school or one of the schools that are part of<br />
the University of <strong>Tennessee</strong> system. Most of them will apply for a tuition<br />
discount as provided in <strong>Tennessee</strong> Code Annotated 49:7-119.<br />
This 25-percent tuition discount is available to a teacher’s dependent<br />
child under the age of 24. In order to receive the discount, a form must<br />
be completed and submitted upon enrollment. What is not on the form<br />
are the words “retired teacher.” Whether by design or simple oversight,<br />
these words were omitted when the law passed in 1993. Every year,<br />
numerous new retirees are surprised to find their student is no longer<br />
eligible for the discount because the teacher is now retired. Retiring<br />
teachers lose the benefit of discounted tuition for their dependents.<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> Retired Teachers <strong>Association</strong> (TRTA) believes there is<br />
a difference between losing a benefit and never having it. TRTA has<br />
fought hard for many years to correct this unfair treatment. The lobbyist<br />
for the <strong>Tennessee</strong> Board of Regents and the UT Board of Trustees has<br />
resisted the inclusion of retired teachers in the law providing the<br />
discount. Please keep this significant loss of tuition discounts in mind<br />
when planning for retirement.<br />
Opinion/Commentary<br />
We Are Professionals.<br />
Let’s Get Our Rights Back<br />
By Lisa Dammert<br />
T<br />
his is a plea for the restoration<br />
of collective bargaining. bargaining. Just<br />
because that right was<br />
taken away from us, it<br />
doesn’t mean that we<br />
must surrender it. Teachers have<br />
accepted lower salaries than<br />
those offered by corporate<br />
jobs under the guise that<br />
teachers have better benefits.<br />
That is no longer the case.<br />
Without collective bargaining<br />
we lose more than perks—we<br />
lose the ability to use our strength<br />
in numbers to negotiate for more<br />
affordable health care coverage, life and<br />
disability insurance. Premiums continuously<br />
creep up as do the costs of routine health maintenance.<br />
I know this first-hand as a cancer survivor, mother and spouse who wants the best<br />
for her family.<br />
Teachers and education support professionals are no longer respected as we once<br />
were. State standards, high-stakes testing and the threat of lawsuits loom over every<br />
one of us. These threats take away from the time we spend with students. We are stuck<br />
in meetings and webinars to address these demands, when instead we’d rather be, well,<br />
teaching! Our voice is no longer one of solidarity. We must unite together and let the<br />
politicians know that we will not<br />
surrender collective bargaining.<br />
“It’s time to show the politicians We can only win this fight if we<br />
work together.<br />
the power of solidarity. We can<br />
Several politicians are up for<br />
collectively bargain their jobs away by re-election who have no respect<br />
for teachers. We must show them<br />
voting new people in... We can get our<br />
that we remember. We remember<br />
right to collective bargaining back.” marching in the rain. We remember<br />
sitting outside of the legislative<br />
sessions as our profession was<br />
bashed. Some politicians painted us as glorified babysitters. To those politicians, I<br />
say this: Teachers are the ones who taught you how to read, how to follow directions<br />
and how to tie your shoes. Teachers dried your tears when you were sad and gave you<br />
hugs to celebrate your success. During that entire process teachers unfolded the<br />
world before your eyes. They showed you that the universe is vast and that cells are<br />
microscopic. Teachers taught you critical thinking skills and how to get along with<br />
other people. Babysitters just make sure the baby stays in one piece before the parents<br />
get home.<br />
It is time to show the politicians the power of solidarity. We can collectively bargain<br />
their jobs away by voting new people in. Remind fellow teachers how politicians voted<br />
on issues near and dear to your heart. Show students the legislative process in action –<br />
vote! We can only get our right to collective bargaining back by standing up as one.<br />
Lisa Dammert teaches at Fairview High School and is membership chair of the<br />
Williamson County EA, www.wceateachers.com.<br />
Scott Price (Coffee Co. EA) and Anthony Hancock (Knox Co. EA) talk<br />
to the state delegation at the NEA Representative Assembly about<br />
their individual campaigns for <strong>Tennessee</strong> State Representative.<br />
Campaigns Heat Up<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong>’s Teachers Aim High<br />
Nine of the eleven TEA members who stepped up earlier this year to<br />
reverse the anti-public school agenda at the State Capitol won the primary<br />
election in August, demonstrating strong support for teachers and public<br />
education in communities across <strong>Tennessee</strong>.<br />
Coinciding with the start of school, many of the candidates are balancing<br />
day-to-day school duties along with running ever-intensifying grass<br />
roots election campaigns, which will culminate in the November 6 general<br />
election.<br />
Tommy Scott Price, who teaches at Coffee Co. Central High School, said<br />
he is grateful for the support of his colleagues and fellow citizens.<br />
“I decided to throw my hat in the race in House District 47 because I<br />
didn’t feel that our elected officials represented the interests of teachers in<br />
our area,” Price said.<br />
The 16-year member of TEA and Coffee Co. EA said that the 2011-12<br />
legislative session delivered plenty of misguided “education reform” to<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> schools. Watching the slew of anti-teacher bills become law<br />
during the past couple of years inspired Price to bring a real teacher’s<br />
perspective to the <strong>Tennessee</strong> General Assembly.<br />
Together with Anthony Hancock, a fellow teacher and House District<br />
18 candidate from Knox County, Price addressed the <strong>Tennessee</strong> delegation<br />
during the NEA Representative Assembly in Washington, D.C., in July.<br />
An active Knox Co. EA member since 2003, Hancock stressed the need to<br />
reverse past legislative measures aimed at silencing teachers’ voices in favor<br />
of corporate interests and out-of-state virtual schools.<br />
“Educators deserve dignity and respect, and children deserve access<br />
to high quality instruction guided by the curriculum,” said Hancock, who<br />
teaches special education at Bearden Middle School in Knoxville. “I believe<br />
that parents and families should be engaged in and have opportunities to<br />
participate in the education of their children.”<br />
10 <strong>September</strong> 2012 11<br />
www.teateachers.org
It’s the Best Thing Since Mars Rover:<br />
Apply for <strong>Tennessee</strong> Space Week Grant by <strong>September</strong> 24<br />
If you are interested in the <strong>Tennessee</strong> Space Week 2012-13<br />
learning grants, don’t forget the application deadline is <strong>September</strong><br />
24. TEA will award Space Week learning grants to teachers for<br />
instructional projects and materials in grades K-12. This is a great<br />
opportunity to demonstrate your local <strong>Association</strong>’s commitment<br />
to academic excellence, particularly in the STEM fields of science,<br />
technology, engineering and math. Our <strong>Tennessee</strong> Space Week<br />
celebration will be held January 27-February 2, 2013.<br />
What on earth is <strong>Tennessee</strong> Space Week?<br />
Space Week is a statewide project designed to increase teachers’<br />
and student interest and performance in the STEM fields of science,<br />
technology, engineering and math through focus on aerospace<br />
programs and accomplishments. Activities are co-sponsored by TEA,<br />
the <strong>Tennessee</strong> Space Grant Consortium and the National Aeronautics<br />
and Space Administration (NASA).<br />
Originated in 1986, the Space Week project includes special<br />
learning opportunities for both students and teachers. TEA<br />
generally offers workshops that deal directly with teaching math and<br />
science at the annual TEA Spring Symposium in March. Information<br />
concerning other available training opportunities is disseminated<br />
to members through TEA publications and the Scholarship, Grants &<br />
Awards section at www.teateachers.org. Every teacher who applies<br />
for a Space Week Learning Grant automatically receives notification<br />
of training opportunities sponsored by <strong>Tennessee</strong> Space Grant<br />
Consortium and NASA.<br />
TEA awards Space Week Learning Grants to members each year,<br />
prior to <strong>Tennessee</strong> Space Week. Since 1999, TEA has awarded over<br />
$175,126 to association members and various school systems across<br />
the state. These grants fund special Space Week materials and<br />
activities. Grant awards vary in amount to a maximum of $1,000.<br />
Applications are available at www.teateachers.org, with a<br />
deadline in late <strong>September</strong>. Awards are mailed directly to winners in<br />
late November or early December.<br />
The goal of Space Week activities is to increase student interest<br />
and performance in the STEM fields of science, technology,<br />
engineering and math. Keeping this goal in mind, TEA strongly<br />
encourages interdisciplinary project development as well as traditional<br />
proposals within math and science departments across the state.<br />
When does Space Week take place?<br />
Following the Challenger tragedy on January 28, 1986, TEA<br />
acted to honor the life and teaching of fellow NEA member, Christa<br />
McAuliffe, who was aboard the Challenger as America’s first teacher in<br />
space. In her honor, <strong>Tennessee</strong> Space Week is held each January, the<br />
last school week preceding, or the school week including, January 28.<br />
If you would like to be the Space Week contact for your local<br />
<strong>Association</strong>/school, email Alexei Smirnov at asmirnov@tea.nea.org.<br />
Provide your name, address, e-mail address (home preferred), and<br />
telephone numbers and name of your local <strong>Association</strong>/school.<br />
1. Application must be typed and submitted as directed on the<br />
application form.<br />
2. Individual K-12 teacher members, groups of members or local<br />
associations are eligible to apply. Applications for collaborative<br />
projects should be made in a single application. Only current<br />
members holding a license to teach in <strong>Tennessee</strong> are eligible. Special<br />
consideration is given to proposals from first-time applicants or<br />
proposals that include matching funds from other school and/or<br />
community sources.<br />
3. Grant amounts up to $1,000 will be awarded to purchase<br />
aerospace teaching and learning materials to be used in instructional<br />
projects for classrooms, departments or schools. Reusable materials<br />
are preferred, but not required. TEA encourages incorporation of<br />
matching funds from other sources wherever possible. Learning grant<br />
funding can change annually, and matching funds increase the impact<br />
of your proposal.<br />
4. Field trips, salary supplements and professional development<br />
courses are not eligible for funding with Space Week Learning Grant<br />
Fund; however, they can be part of a total project.<br />
5. Applications are due at TEA by 5 p.m. (CDT), Monday,<br />
<strong>September</strong> 24, 2012. A joint committee of TEA and the <strong>Tennessee</strong><br />
Space Consortium will select and notify winners. Winners will receive<br />
their grant in November so requested items may be purchased prior to<br />
the <strong>Tennessee</strong> Space Week in January.<br />
6. Grant report forms and any unspent funds must be returned to<br />
TEA by Friday, May 3, 2013, as part of the final report for each grant<br />
project.<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> Space Week – January 27-February 2, 2013.<br />
Please mail the completed application to:<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> Space Week Learning Grant<br />
Attn: Alexei Smirnov<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> <strong>Education</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
801 Second Avenue North<br />
Nashville, TN 37201-1099<br />
Download the TEA app @<br />
App store or Android market<br />
Need information, services?<br />
<strong>Tennessee</strong> <strong>Education</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
801 Second Avenue N., Nashville, TN 37201-1099<br />
(615) 242-8392, (800) 342-8367, FAX (615) 259-4581<br />
UniServ Coordinators<br />
District 1 — Harry Farthing, P.O. Box 298, Elizabethton,<br />
TN 37644; phone: (423)262-8035, fax: (423)262-8053;<br />
Assns: Carter, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan.<br />
District 2 — Jennifer Gaby, P.O. Box 70, Afton, TN<br />
37616; (423)234-0700, fax: (423)234-0708; Assns: Cocke,<br />
Greene, Unicoi, Washington, Johnson City. District<br />
3 — Tina Parlier, P.O. Box 74, Corryton, TN 37721;<br />
(865)688-1175, fax: (865)688-5188; Assns: Claiborne,<br />
Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Sevier, Union. District<br />
4 — Jon White, Knox County <strong>Education</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, 2411<br />
Magnolia Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917-8289; (865)522-<br />
9793, fax: (865)522-9866; Assns: Knox, TSD. District<br />
5— Jason White, P.O. Box 5502, Oak Ridge, TN 37831;<br />
(615)521-1333, fax: (865)200-5254; Assns: Anderson,<br />
Campbell, Blount, Morgan, Scott. District 6 — Jim<br />
Jordan, P.O. Box 4878, Cleveland, TN 37320; phone/fax:<br />
(423)472-3315; Assns: Rhea, Roane, Meigs, McMinn,<br />
Monroe, Loudon, Bradley, Polk. District 7 — Theresa<br />
Turner, 4655 Shallowford Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37411;<br />
(423)485-9535, fax: (423)485-9512; Assns: Hamilton<br />
County. District 8 — Jeff Garrett, P.O. Box 1202,<br />
Lebanon, TN 37088; (615)630-2605, fax: (855)320-8755;<br />
Assns: Coffee, Cannon, Bledsoe, Franklin, Grundy,<br />
Manchester City, Marion, Sequatchie, Tullahoma City,<br />
Van Buren, White, Warren. District 9 — Shannon Bain,<br />
1001 Rhett Place, Lebanon, TN 37087; phone: (615)547-<br />
7769, fax: (855)715-0824; Assns: Clay, Cumberland,<br />
DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett,<br />
Putnam, Smith, Trousdale. District 10 — Jackie Pope,<br />
2326 Valley Grove Dr., Murfreesboro, TN 37128; (615)<br />
898-1060, fax: (615) 898-1099; Assns: Bedford, Marshall,<br />
Moore, Williamson. District 11 — Susan Young, P.O.<br />
Box 422, Madison, TN 37116-0422; phone: (615)865-<br />
9700, fax: (615)865-9701; Assns: Rutherford, Sumner.<br />
District 12 — Cheryl Richardson-Bradley, 801 Second<br />
Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201; (615)630-2601, fax:<br />
(888)519-4879; Assns: Cheatham, Dickson, Hickman,<br />
Wilson. District 13 — Forestine Cole, Ralph Smith,<br />
Metro Nashville, 531 Fairground Court, Nashville, TN<br />
37211; (615)726-1499, fax: (615)726-2501; Assns:<br />
Metro Nashville. District 14 — Rhonda Thompson,<br />
801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201; phone:<br />
(615)242-8392, ext. 321, fax: (615)259-4581; Assns:<br />
Clarksville-Montgomery, Robertson. District 15 —<br />
Miley Durham, P.O. Box 10, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464;<br />
phone: (931)766-7874, fax: (913)762-9391; Assns: Giles,<br />
Lawrence, Lincoln, Hardin, Lewis, Maury, Wayne.<br />
District 16 — Maria Uffelman, P.O. Box 99, Cumberland<br />
City, TN 37050; phone: (931)827-3333, fax: (931)827-<br />
3330; Assns: Benton, Carroll (West Carroll) Central,<br />
Henry, Stewart, Weakley, FTA, S.S.D. Decatur, Houston,<br />
Humphreys, Perry. District 17 — Lorrie Butler, P.O.<br />
Box 387, Henderson, TN 38340; (731)989-4860, fax:<br />
(731)989-9254; Assns: Chester, Hardeman, Henderson,<br />
Jackson-Madison, McNairy. District 18 — Karla<br />
Carpenter, P.O. Box 177, Brunswick, TN 38014; (901)590-<br />
2543, fax: (901)382-1433; Assns: Crockett, Dyer, Gibson,<br />
Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion, Tipton. District<br />
19 — Zandra Foster, 3897 Homewood Cove, Memphis,<br />
TN 38128; (901)377-9472, fax: (855)320-8737; Assns:<br />
Fayette, Shelby. District 20 — Memphis <strong>Education</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong> — Ken Foster, Executive Director; MEA<br />
UniServ Directors: Marilyn Baker, Susanne Jackson,<br />
Terri Jones, Tom Marchand, Herman Sawyer, MEA, 126<br />
South Flicker Street, Memphis, TN 38104; (901)454-0966,<br />
fax: (901)454-9979; Assn: Memphis.<br />
www.teateachers.org<br />
www.nea.org<br />
Scan this Quick Response<br />
code for UniServ contact<br />
information<br />
12 <strong>September</strong> 2012