Exit Interview With Beloved Teacher - Tennessee Education ...

Published by the TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
May 2012 Vol. 43, No. 9 www.teateachers.org
Local Associations
Reading Well
Exit Interview With Beloved Teacher
Prevail in Court
page 12
TEA Members Run
For State Legislature
page 4

Speaking out with you
Gera Summerford, President
Let’s Get to Know Ourselves Better
My husband has a phrase he uses sometimes. He says, “We don’t
know who we are.” Because he’s also a teacher, I usually hear it when
we talk about ourselves as educators.
I might disagree. I believe we know who we are in our schools.
We’re the people who entered this profession with a passion for
helping children and a desire to impact the future. We drive school
buses, plan lessons, soothe away tears, prepare
meals, and assess learning. We try to be both a
role model and a mentor to kids who may have
neither at home. We have the experience and the
expertise, the know-how and the knowledge, to
encourage and nurture and instruct and coach
and inspire our students to be the best they can
be. We know our students count on us—and we
would never let them down.
So why do we let ourselves be teased into
denying what we know? We let ourselves be the object rather than the
subject in the grammar of public education. We act as if the changes
and reforms are happening to us, when in fact we should be making
change happen.
In this sense, maybe we don’t know who we are. We don’t know the
potential impact and influence and power we can have. We think we
are only pawns in the game of education reform when we should be
the players. We often see ourselves in isolation, powerless to direct
our own professional lives.
How can we act with confidence and authority to take the lead
in our profession? How do we give our very best for our students and
their future? What must we do to protect the basic right to public
education in the face of corporate interests? How do we turn our
frustration into action?
First of all, we must share the responsibility of providing a quality
public education for every child. It’s my duty to not only give my best
effort for my students, but also to share my skills and seek support
from fellow educators. When I know my instruction was successful,
I share the plan and the enthusiasm with my peers. When I know
it could have been better, I ask for help from a colleague. We must
create and use the collective knowledge we share.
We must also share the responsibility of electing the right people
to public office. We know that all elected officials, from local school
boards to state legislators to the President, make decisions that
directly impact our ability to provide quality instruction. To advocate
for our students and ensure we get the resources we need to provide
quality instruction—we must elect the right people.
In the new environment in our schools and in our politics, it’s
more important than ever that we act as one. We must know who
we are—not just as individual educators, but as a collective body of
professionals. Together, we must create the synergy that occurs when
we combine our skills and our talents, our dedication, our passion
and our votes.
Throughout the coming months, we’ll be asking you to make
commitments and take action to elect the right people for public
education. Thomas Jefferson said, “Do you want to know who you
are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.”
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. It can. It will.
Al Mance, Executive Director
Looking Ahead: All In
No organization—whether a family, church, association or
neighborhood watch group—lives a totally pleasant, trouble-free
existence. I can’t think of any person who’s led a trouble-free life
either. We are always competing with the elements of human nature
and Mother Nature to successfully manage our existence. To succeed
in the face of adversity, we must ask, “What are we to do about it?”
We can expect a positive result if we adopt the
commitment to be all-in. In other words, all of us
will join in the effort to respond.
We remember well the massive amount of
anti-teacher legislation passed by the 107th
General Assembly in 2011, and we will not forget
until it is changed.
Those who proposed and voted for the
infamous repeal of teacher negotiations and
for five-year probationary periods showed no
empathy for the teachers who have to live with the result. These
legislators pressured TEA to give more money to their political party
and then took away teachers’ right to influence the teaching and
learning environment. They pursued their self-interest through their
raw exercise of power.
Teachers do not have the freedom to advocate purely in their
self-interest. We are morally and ethically obligated to advocate
for the education of all
Tennessee students and
their futures. We shirk
these moral obligations if
we empathize with those
who acted against public
education and the future
of Tennessee’s boys and
girls. That would be a
“In 2012 every teacher
and Tennessee
citizen should vote for
education.”
failure of nerve resulting in a weakened public education system.
We’ve heard from teachers across the state who said they voted
for some of the legislators who passed the damaging legislation—but
they never will again. I hope they mean it. No professional teacher
should vote for any legislator who voted against them and the children
they teach. Political party is irrelevant.
In 2012 every teacher and Tennessee citizen should vote for
education. This means voting for candidates of any political party
who respect teachers and public education and are committed to
correcting the excesses of the last General Assembly. All in.
The recent legislature held the power of office granted by innocent
citizens who trusted them not to attack. We were wrong to do so.
Now we have the power to change who represents us in public office
and we must exercise it as never before. It will take all of us working
together in every voting district in the state. It will take simple things
like placing signs in your yard, going door-to-door to speak with
neighbors and spending a few hours making telephone calls on behalf
of a candidate who actively supports teachers and public education.
It may be as simple as standing on a corner handing out campaign
literature or writing notes to acquaintances asking them to vote for
the education candidate, your candidate. Everything you do will help.
Get ready. We are all-in and you count.
teach (USPS 742-450, ISSN 15382907) is published
monthly (except for June, July and December) by the
Tennessee Education Association, 801 Second Avenue
North, Nashville TN 37201-1099. Periodical postage
paid at Nashville, TN. The subscription price of $3.65 is
allocated from annual membership dues of $254.00 for
active members; $127.00 for associate, education
support and staff members; $16.00 for retired members;
and $10.00 for student members. Member of
State Education Editors Conference (SEE).
Postmaster: Send address changes to teach,
801 Second Avenue North,
Nashville, TN 37201-1099.
MANAGING EDITOR: Alexei Smirnov
asmirnov@tea.nea.org
PUBLISHER: Alphonso C. Mance
MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS: A.L. Hayes
Tennessee Education Association
801 Second Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37201-1099
Telephone: (615)242-8392,
Toll Free: (800)342-8367, (800)342-8262
Fax: (615)259-4581
Website: www.teateachers.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT: Gera Summerford* (800)342-8367
VICE PRESIDENT: Barbara Gray* (901)353-8590
SECRETARY-TREASURER: Alphonso C. Mance (615)242-8392
DISTRICT 1 Leisa Lusk (423)928-6819
DISTRICT 2 Melinda Reese (423)587-2120
DISTRICT 3 Karen Starr (423)628-2701
DISTRICT 4 Tanya Coats (865)637-7494
DISTRICT 5 Sandy Smith (423)991-8856
DISTRICT 6 Beth Brown* (931)779-8016
DISTRICT 7 Bonnie T. Dixon (931)967-9949
DISTRICT 8 Kawanda Braxton (615)554-6286
DISTRICT 9 Erick Huth (615)973-5851
DISTRICT 10 Guy Stanley (615)384-2983
DISTRICT 11 Melanie Buchanan* (615)305-2214
DISTRICT 12 Debbie D’Angelo (731)247-3152
DISTRICT 13 Ernestine King (901)590-8188
DISTRICT 14 Sarah Kennedy-Harper (901)416-4582
DISTRICT 15 Stephanie Fitzgerald (901)872-4878
ADMINISTRATOR EAST Johnny Henry (865)509-4829
ADMINISTRATOR MIDDLE Margaret Thompson
(615)643-7823
ADMINISTRATOR WEST Charles Green (901)624-6186
HIGHER EDUCATION Derek Frisby (615)898-5881
BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER EAST Paula Hancock
(865)694-1691
BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER MIDDLE Alzenia Walls
(615)230-8144
BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER WEST LaVerne Dickerson*
(901)416-7122
STATE SPECIAL SCHOOLS Vacancy
ESP Christine Denton (931)647-8962
TN NEA DIRECTOR Stephen Henry* (615)519-5691
TN NEA DIRECTOR Diccie Smith (901)482-0627
TN NEA DIRECTOR Diane Lillard (423)478-8827
STEA MEMBER Caryce Gilmore (865)640-6590
TN RETIRED Gerald Lillard (423)478-8827
NEW TEACHER Candra Clariette (615)506-3493
* Executive Committee
TEA HEADQUARTERS STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Alphonso C. Mance; ASST. EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, AFFILIATE SERVICES: Mitchell Johnson; ASST.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PROGRAM SERVICES: Carol K.
Schmoock; TEA GENERAL COUNSEL; Vacancy; MAN-
AGER OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS: Stephanie Faulkner; IN-
FORMATION TECHNOLOGY & SYSTEMS MANAGER, Galen
Riggs; MANAGER OF UNISERV & BARGAINING COORDINATOR:
Donna Cotner; STAFF ATTORNEYS: Katherine Curlee, Virginia A.
McCoy; MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: Jerry Winters;
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ASSISTANT: Antoinette Lee; MANAGER
OF COMMUNICATIONS & GRAPHICS: A.L. Hayes; WEB MASTER &
COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT: Amanda Chaney; MANAGING EDI-
TOR & COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT: Alexei Smirnov; MANAGER
OF RESEARCH & INFORMATION: Melissa Brown; RESEARCH & IN-
FORMATION ASSISTANT: Susan Ogg; MANAGER FOR INSTRUCTION
& PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Terrance Gibson; INSTRUCTION
& PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS: Susan Dalton,
Nicki Fields; COORDINATOR OF MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATE RELA-
TIONS: Duran Williams.
UniServ Staff contact information
can be found on page 12.
2 May 2012
Leaving it to the Young’uns
After 39 happy years and one not so much, Charles Wallace heads for the exit
On a quiet, cloudy Tuesday in May, two
weeks before the end of the school
year, Charles Wallace paces resolutely
through his classroom at Ashland City
Elementary School as he explains words
such as “indignant” and “cautions” to his students.
Wallace makes a calculated stop near a boy who is
having difficulty reading a complicated passage,
then pauses near a girl whose mind seems to have
wandered away from the book page. He picks up
another student’s pencil off the floor, places it on
the desk and says, quietly, that if the pencil falls for
the fourth time, he might have to take it away. With
immaculate pacing and seamless transitions, Wallace
switches from reading Beverly Cleary’s “The Mouse
and the Motorcycle” to writing assignments, sails
swiftly through the bathroom break, then back to
more reading and recess.
In his 40th year at Ashland City Elementary,
Wallace is a celebrated teacher and master of all
disciplines, having taught special education, grades
one through four, math and Title I reading. A big
advocate for teaching English through reading,
Wallace challenges his students to think, imagine
and learn, but he is afraid that as he retires, younger
teachers are given no opportunity to foster creativity
in students.
Wallace didn’t plan to retire this year, but a
stress-related medical leave caused him to rethink
his plan.
“The previous 39 years I loved my job,” he says. “I
have not loved my job this year. I’m not saying I hate
it, but it has been extremely stressful. The thrill is
not there any longer.”
Wallace had planned to teach two more years, but
with the pressures from the legislature, mountains
of paperwork, and three changes of the email system
during this school year, he decided to leave the
classroom. And it’s not just his district, where the
superintendant announced his departure the day
before our interview.
“I know a lot of teachers who are retiring or going
into other areas,” Wallace says, convinced that the
people making decisions about public education
today “don’t respect our knowledge.”
“I’ll tell you what to do, and you’ll do what I tell
you, and then I want you to show me that you did it
the way I told you”—that’s the approach he says he
has witnessed every day this school year.
When asked about the new teacher evaluation
system, Wallace says he finds many of the procedures
unfair, despite the fact that he’s done very well on
Charles Wallace talks with his students at Ashland City Elementary School in May.
his evaluation. Just don’t get him started on the
prospect of adding 35 percent from the results of the
TCAP test to his evaluation score. Wallace’s students
recently finished TCAP, and it pained him to observe
that many kids just marked through the answers
without much thought.
“I had one student who finished a 69-minute test
in 12 minutes,” Wallace says. “That tells me, they
don’t care. And until they care, it’s not going to show
accurately.”
Without hesitation in his voice,
Wallace says that if he were in
college now, he would not choose
to be a teacher. And if he were a
student, he would hate it.
A veteran of Cheatham Co. EA, Wallace agrees
with the sentiment that students cannot be inspired
to care about test results and teachers cannot
be improved through legislative acts. Instead of
erecting walls around teachers, Wallace’s colleagues
say Tennessee’s lawmakers would do well to visit
Ashland City Elementary and other classrooms
across the state, where they will see how children
actually learn, and hear about Wallace’s students
who were inspired to achieve great things in life. One
local doctor is eternally grateful to Wallace for the
inspiration to dream big.
“He came to our retirement tea and thanked
me for giving him the self-confidence to believe he
could do anything he wanted to do,” Wallace says.
“He graduated valedictorian of his high-school and
received a full medical scholarship.”
Wallace says it was his ability to inspire students
through project-based learning that hooked and
inspired the future doctor. “We made foods out of salt
dough, we studied the human body and did all these
reports,” he says. “There’s no time for that anymore
if you’re planning to cover all the standards you have
to cover.”
Without hesitation in his voice, Wallace says that
if he were in college now, he would not choose to be
a teacher. And if he were a student, he would hate it.
“I loved school when I was a kid, but now all we do
is teach the standards and test. There’s no time for
projects.”
So what are the younger teachers to do? What
can be done for teachers who, like Charles Wallace,
came into the classroom with a passion and talent to
educate children and impact their future?
“We have to buckle down and do the best job
we can do,” says Ashland City Elementary teacher
Melanie Buchanan, whose classroom is across the hall
from Wallace’s. “This, too, shall pass.”
As we observe students playing during recess,
teachers share their opinions about their working
conditions and the need to preserve what they have.
Wallace looks over the school playground, perhaps
trying to guess which child will become a doctor, or a
teacher, but he is interrupted by a couple of students
running a bit too fast.
“Tammy, be careful, don’t fall,” he says, and
jumps into the conversation about current social
studies materials. He has more stories to tell.
www.teateachers.org
3

Chattanooga Educator’s Idea Wins National Award
Tennessee’s teachers are stepping up to reverse
Dickerson, who teaches English as a second
even have a science portion yet. They are refusing
the anti-public schools agenda at the State Capitol. As language and is a science coach at Northfield
to see educators as experts in the field and hold us
of the April 5, 2012, filing deadline, 11 TEA members in Elementary School in Murfreesboro, is especially vocal accountable for things we don’t teach—which is very
nine counties have accepted the challenge of running about the lack of attention currently given to testing disturbing.”
When given a chance to voice their thoughts
“Because students love to compete in online workplace and the 21st century economy,” said
for the General Assembly.
ESL and special-needs students.
Dickerson encouraged TEA members to donate to
on how gaming can be used in student learning, games and interactive phone apps, any way of Harriet Sanford, president and CEO of the NEA
local campaigns in support of pro-public education
measures and candidates. “Our students and
TEA Members Run for State Legislature communities deserve professional teachers and
educators have an unlimited number of ideas. To
highlight some of the best, the NEA Foundation, in
partnership with the U.S. Department of Education
incorporating those activities into the fabric
of the classroom is sure to engage students and
create an interest in content learning,” Brown
Foundation. “So we asked educators to share,
discuss, and evaluate ideas about how to use
these tools to support classroom instruction. We
Most of the candidates are grassroots politicians
“The governor
small classrooms where teachers are involved in their
and Microsoft Partners in Learning, recognized said. “Whenever I cover new material, I can hear discovered educators who are using technology
fed up with current measures aimed at silencing
came to our school
community, which is what research suggests.”
Kimberly Brown, a physical science teacher at students discussing which games would go along in fun, creative ways. By initiating this discussion
teachers’ voices in favor of corporate interests and out- last year and
Tommy Scott Price, who teaches at Coffee Co.
Signal Mountain Middle School in Chattanooga. She with the new ideas and how they plan to present and knowledge sharing, we hope to help educators
of-state virtual schools. Shelby Co. EA member James announced our scores.
Central High School and is a member of Coffee Co. EA,
was selected by her peers and a panel of experts them.”
better equip their students with the skills they’ll
Coley is an incumbent, while Mark Maddox of Weakley Unfortunately, the
said that his desire to represent teachers caused him to
for posting one of the top ten ideas and will receive The NEA Foundation uses crowd sourcing on need to be successful in college, work, and life.”
Co. EA is seeking to return to the legislature.
current accountability
run for a state house seat.
the NEA Foundation’s Challenge to Innovate (C2i) the Department of Education’s innovation portal
Brown is also a member of the C2i community
“I’m running because good teachers can no longer model doesn’t take
“After the 2011-12 legislative sessions, I didn’t feel Gaming Award along with a cash prize of $1,000. as a way to ensure that educators have a voice of some 1,000 educators and others, which is
sit quietly and watch bad politicians destroy our schools into account that our
that our elected officials represented the interests of
Brown’s idea, “Curriculum APPlications,” is in determining new instructional strategies. hosted on the Department of Education’s Open
and shortchange our kids’ future,” said Gloria Johnson student population
teachers in our area. I decided to throw my hat into the
an ongoing classroom activity, in which students Continuing a multi-year partnership, the
Innovation Portal.
of Knox Co. EA. “The anti-teacher legislation influenced
my decision to run.”
Sandy Smith, a veteran member of Hamilton Co.
changes year-to-year,”
Dickerson said. “I
have a new student
Luke E. Dickerson of
Murfreesboro EA
race and give people a choice in District 47. I would like
to take a real teacher’s perspective on education reform
to the state House.”
use popular, interactive gaming apps to identify
relevant science concepts that they are learning in
class. Students create mini-posters to be displayed
Foundation partnered with Microsoft to solicit and
share ideas on how gaming could be integrated into
the curriculum to meet students where they are
Members of the community help the NEA
Foundation and its partners identify and solve
education’s most pressing classroom problems.
EA, said her retirement from active teaching this year in my classroom who
The complete list of TEA members running for state
on a section of the classroom wall called the
highly engaged while improving their learning. Brown’s idea was selected from a pool of 157
coincided with an opportunity to seek public office. is a refugee from a third-world country. He can’t even legislature this year:
“leader board,” and receive points based on their “Game-based learning and interactive
nominees across 38 states and five countries by
“The representative in my district never had
count to six in his native language. Testing him under SD 6 – Evelyn Gill (D), Knox County
written explanation of the concept and how it technology like this can help build technological their peers and a panel of educational experts.
opposition and voted straight down the party line
where education was concerned,” Smith said. “He’s not
very knowledgeable in public education and hasn’t been
receptive to teacher’s concerns. As I retire, I hope to
make a difference in the state legislature.”
Smith said her decision was fueled by what she
witnessed during last year’s legislative session, when a
slew of anti-teacher bills became law. Like many of her
peers, Smith said teachers have to influence education
policy for the sake of students and the future of our
state.
Luke Dickerson of Murfreesboro EA said teachers
lost their voice when collective bargaining rights
were taken away by elected officials during the 2011
legislative session.
“My campaign is about bringing the community
and parents back into the classroom,” Dickerson said.
“The Republicans say they want less government and
less bureaucracy, but teachers have been dealing with
the current system is not an effective measure of his HD 8 – Grady Caskey (R), Blount County
HD 13 – Gloria Johnson (D) Knox County – open seat
progress.”
HD 18 – Anthony Hancock (D) Knox County
Dickerson sees right through Governor Bill Haslam’s HD 30 – Sandra Smith (D) Hamilton County
rhetoric about improving science education.
HD 34 – Luke Edward Dickerson (D) Murfreesboro
“Our science program is being cut due to the lack HD 47 – Tommy Scott Price (D) Coffee County
HD 76 – Mark Maddox (D) Weakley County
of funds and we’re forced to look at alternative grants,”
HD 78 – John Paul Wood (R) Robertson County – open seat
Dickerson said. “With the governor saying they are HD 81 – Conneye T. Albright (D) Tipton County – open seat
pushing STEM education, the new PARCC exam doesn’t HD 97 – James Coley (R) Shelby County, incumbent
In Spite of Hurdles, Many Wins for
Teachers in 2012 Legislative Session
TEA successfully advocated for Tennessee’s proposal would have eliminated state funding for
teachers during this year’s legislative session. possibly hundreds of teaching positions (HB 2348/
Among major wins in 2012:
SB 2210)
• Passage of a bill to ensure that teacher
• Defeat of a bill which would have allowed
evaluation ratings are not public records (HB 1908/ individuals who could pass a subject area test to be
appears in the game.
and communication competencies valued in the
Visit www.neafoundation.org for details.
They took your right to bargain!
They What took will they your try right to to take bargain! next?
What will they try to take next?
You can help STOP this
You by can protecting help STOPyour this
byTEA protecting membership! your
TEA membership!
so much paperwork and micromanagement since the SB 1447)
licensed as teachers (HB 3059/SB 2298)
Republicans have come into office. My campaign is also
• Passage of additional funding for the BEP,
• Defeat of legislation which would have
about seeing students as individuals who need a special including a 2.5% salary increase for BEP funded provided a dubious state-paid liability insurance
plan in order to succeed.”
While stressing the need to change the current
teacher and principal evaluation system, Dickerson
said he regrets that the outgoing crop of Tennessee’s
legislators refused to fund alternative evaluation
models which were provided across Tennessee school
districts.
“We can’t continue to do the same thing,” he said.
“We’ve tried a lot of assessments. They are a good
measure of accountability, but our kids and parents
come to us with different needs. We need to give
struggling students more after-school support. This
is where I want to see our state spend more money,
teachers (HB 3835/SB 3768)
policy for teachers (HB 2170/SB 2478)
• Passage of a bill to prevent abolition of
• Defeat of a bill to mandate a statewide
position in order to avoid due process provisions of uniform school start date (HB 1805/SB 1471)
the tenure law (HB 2738/SB 2693)
• Defeat of a proposal which would have
• Passage of a resolution to require broad- provided vouchers for private and parochial schools
based input on possible changes to the teacher (HB 388/SB 485)
evaluation system (HJR 520)
Many thanks to all members who contacted
• Defeat of Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposal to raise legislators about these important issues. These
class size and eliminate the state teacher salary successes demonstrate that, together, we can
schedule. In addition to raising class size, this accomplish great things for public education.
Are You Registered to Vote? Register in person
Sign up for
TEA Representatives will attend.
Sign up for
The process takes just minutes.
TEA TEA Automatic
Automatic
Dues Pay! Safe. Secure. Easy to do!
Dues Pay! All Safe. it takes Secure. is a Easy voided to do! check.
All it takes is a voided check.
not on evaluation and testing. We have enough of that
already.”
at public libraries, county clerk’s offi ces or visit www.tn.gov/sos
For more information call TEA at 800.342.8367 ext. 213 or visit www.teateachers.org
For more information call TEA at 800.342.8367 ext. 213 or visit www.teateachers.org
4 May 2012 5
EDUCATORS
EDUCATORS
U N P R O T E C T E D
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DUTY-FREE
A B A T E D
A B A T E D
LUNCH
LUNCH
DUTY-FREE
CLASS SIZE
CLASS SIZE
I N C R E A S E D
I N C R E A S E D
TEA
RETIREMENT
RETIREMENT
C O M P R O M I S E D
C O M P R O M I S E D
COLLECTIVE
COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING
BARGAINING
TENURE
TENURE
D E S T R O Y E D
W E A K E N E D D E S T R O Y E D
W E A K E N E D
TEA Representatives will attend.
The process takes just minutes.
www.teateachers.org

Teachers Elect New Leaders, Pledge to Vote for Education in 2012 Elections
More than 600 educators from across the
state gathered at the Nashville Convention
Center on May 11-12 as local delegates to
the Tennessee Education Association’s 2012
Representative Assembly.
The Representative Assembly is TEA’s
highest governing body and consists of
delegate-members who are elected locally by
their peers. This year, the delegates elected
several new officers. The delegates also honored
outstanding educators and citizens, set the
organization’s budget and legislative priorities
2012-2013 Don Sahli-Kathy
for the upcoming year, and adopted resolutions
and business items introduced by delegates.
Woodall Scholarship Winners
New this year was an emphasis on the
upcoming 2012 election. Attendees were asked
to sign a pledge card vowing to register to vote,
Sons & Daughters Scholarship
($1,000)
remember the legislative attacks on teachers
in 2011 and vote for education interests – not
political affiliation – in 2012. TEA gathered
nearly 600 signatures.
TEA Executive Director Al Mance (left), President Gera Summerford (middle) and Vice President Barbara Gray (right) speak at the TEA Representative Assembly in May.
Victor Kuehn
Wayne County High School,
son of Amelia Kuehn,
TEA President Gera Summerford of Sevier Co.
Wayne County Education Association
Sen Andy Berke (D-Chattanooga) receives the 2012 Friend of
Education award from Jerry Winters, TEA manager of government
relations.
EA and Vice President Barbara Gray of Shelby Co.
EA were each re-elected for two-year terms.
Melanie Buchanan of Cheatham County was
elected to the National Education Association
(NEA) Board of Directors.
Elected to the TEA Board of Directors were
FTA Scholarship ($1,000)
Krista Tate
Obion County Central High School
Wendy Bowers of McNairy County, Thomas
Emens of Memphis, Suzie May of Haywood
Minority Scholarship ($1,000)
TEACHER
APPRECIATION
DAY
Don’t miss out on the celebration
and these great perks:
County, Lauren McCarty of Sevier County, Allen
Nichols of Rutherford County, Michael Plumley
of Bradley County, Tommy Scott Price of Coffee
County, Tanya Thomas-Coats of Knox County and
Theresa Wagner of Metro Nashville.
Elected to the TEA Fund for Children and
Public Education (TEA-FCPE) Executive Council
were Kenneth Emerson of Haywood County, Lynn
Eubanks of Blount County, Nancy Holland of
Metro Nashville and Pamela Hopkins-Witzel of
Delegates discuss agenda items.
Newly elected officers appear on RA stage.
Ashley Delavega
David Crockett High School
STEA Scholarships
President ($1,000)
Marilauren Anderson
UT Martin
FREthanyogifbagwitbonu
coupotusathevent
Sneapeeamust-havneitem
foyouclassroom
Hamilton County.
Julie Hopkins of Metro Nashville was elected
as Middle Tennessee administrator on the TEA
board of directors. Kenneth Martin of Metro
$1,000 Winner
Jessica Blair
UT Knoxville
Timtcatcuwitcolleague
* F R EE
gift
bagavaila
blefor
the
fi rst
100
teac
hers.
Whilsupplielast.
Date/Time:
Saturday, August 4
9 AM to noon
Nashville was elected as Middle Tennessee black
classroom teacher and Clinton Smith from UT
Martin was elected as the Higher Education
classroom teacher.
Erick Huth of Metro Nashville was elected
Middle Tennessee member on the Board
of Trustees of the Tennessee Consolidated
Retirement System. Elected to the Local
Education Insurance Committee as Middle
Tennessee member was Rebecca Jackman of
Clarksville-Montgomery Co.
TEA delegate signs a voter registration pledge.
Delegates line up to vote on the morning of May 12.
$500 Winner
Jared Copeland
Tennessee Technological University
$500 Winner
Sophie Celino
East Tennessee State University
6 May 2012
7
www.teateachers.org

TEA Honors Outstanding Teachers, Supporters of Public Education
Beth Brown (right) of Grundy Co. EA
receives the Distinguished Classroom
Teacher award from TEA President
Gera Summerford during the luncheon
ceremony at TEA on May 11.
The Tennessee Education Association presented awards
to Tennessee educators and supporters of public education at
TEA’s Annual Awards Luncheon prior to the TEA RA.
TEA recognized the 2011-12 Distinguished Classroom
Teachers. This year’s winners are Mary Brockett (Knox
County), Beth Brown (Grundy County), Debbie D’Angelo
(Henry County), Allen Nichols (Rutherford County) and Elaine
Weaver (Franklin County).
Beth Baker (Metro Nashville) and Priscilla Davis (Johnson
County) were awarded the Distinguished New Teacher award
in their schools earlier in May. This new award is the first of
its kind to honor new teachers in Tennessee.
During the early morning faculty meeting at H.G. Hill
Elementary on May 9, the stunned Baker said she thought the
delegation that came through the door to present the award
was there to take away the school principal.
“I thought they were going to take Connie away,” said
Beth Baker, the Distinguished New Teacher Award recipient,
referring to Connie Gwinn, the H.G. Hill Middle School
principal who led the faculty meeting when TEA President
Gera Summerford walked in with Metro Nashville Education
Association President Stephen Henry. “Wow!” Baker said. “I
feel like a seventh-grader. I don’t know what to say.”
Marilda Smith (Robertson County) received the award
for 2012 Distinguished Education Support Professional.
The Distinguished Administrator Award recipients are
Julie Hopkins (Metro Nashville) and Julie Thompson (Knox
County).
Metro Nashville EA member Beth Baker receives the Distinguished New Teacher award from TEA President Gera
Summerford (middle) as H.G. Hill Middle School Principal Connie Gwinn applauds.
TEA President Gera Summerford presents the Distinguished
Administrator award to Julie Ann Hopkins (above), principal
of Buena Vista Elementary School in Nashville and member
of Metro Nashville EA. Marilda Smith (below) of Robertson
Co. EA receives the Distinguished Education Support
Professional award.
Melanie Buchanan of Cheatham County was recognized as
TEA’s nominee for the 2011 National Education Association
Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.
The E. Harper Johnson Human Relations Award for the
layperson category was awarded to Gregory Ramos, an
attorney in Nashville. The Student Tennessee Education
Association (STEA) was recognized in the association
category.
Crystal Harper of Memphis received the Susan B. Anthony
Award for her work in support of programs and achievements
for women and girls.
The $1,000 Sons and Daughters Scholarship was
presented to Victor Kuehn (Wayne County High School).
This year’s $1,000 Future Teachers of America Scholarship
recipient is Krista Tate (Obion County Central High School).
Ashley Delavega (David Crockett High School) received the
Minority Scholarship.
Student TEA President-elect Marilauren Anderson
(University of Tennessee Martin) and Jessica Blair
(University of Tennessee Knoxville) both received $1,000
STEA scholarships. STEA also awarded $500 scholarships to
Sophie Celino (East Tennessee State University) and Jared
Copeland (Tennessee Technological University).
TEA’s 2012 Friend of Education Awards were presented to
Sen. Andy Berke of Chattanooga, in the individual category,
and the Governor’s Books From Birth with Imagination
8 May 2012 Library, in the organization category.
9
www.teateachers.org

Mike Blankenship, agriculture
education teacher at North Knox
Vocational School, has never met a
broccoli or tomato plant he didn’t
like.
Now he is helping students and their families
gain a deeper appreciation for sustainable
and nutritious foods through the Food for All
(FFA) grant sponsored by the Howard G. Buffett
Foundation.
A longtime instructor for the North Knox FFA
the donation of a tandem-load of topsoil from
Claiborne Hauling, a local trucking business.
This soil will come in handy when Blankenship
and crew begin planting their Better Boy,
Celebrity and Beef Master tomatoes. “These
types have resistance to diseases, thanks to their
genetics,” he says. “They are a good-tasting
tomato.”
Specializing in horticulture and landscaping,
Blankenship presides over a program in which
students take at least three classes (such
comes from,” says Blankenship. “There’s some
background that they don’t realize exists. That’s
where we can help.”
Blankenship says the “a-ha” moments come
almost every day, and not just from the students.
Teachers have told him that they enjoy eating
peas, but have never seen what a pea vine looks
like, or expressed bemusement at the fact that
broccoli stems are ok to eat.
“Call it agriculture literacy,” he says. “That’s
why the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and
Jamie Vollmer delivers keynote
speech at Spring Symposium.
By Amanda Chaney
Springtime at TEA always includes two
important professional development
conferences – the TEA Spring
Symposium and the Johnella Martin/
TEA Statewide Minority Affairs
Conference. Together, these two events reach
nearly 400 teachers from across the state.
The 16th Annual Spring Symposium was
held March 16 and 17 at the Park Vista Hotel in
Gatlinburg. This year’s theme, “The Quest for
Excellence,” encouraged participants to move
beyond their comfort zones to be the talented,
caring and committed educators Tennessee’s
students need.
The Symposium’s keynote speaker, Jamie
Vollmer, energized attendees Friday night with
his opening remarks about building public
TEA UniServ Coordinator Forestine Cole looks to
the past in her presentation as “Sis. Sylvia, retired
educator from Senatobia, Miss.”
Spring Conferences Educate, Inspire Teachers
TEA members share best practices, delve into stress management
Planting the Seeds
Savings and Discounts
support for public education. “We need four
things for success in our schools, and it is all
about our communities,” Vollmer said. “We
Of Agriculture Literacy
TEA Member Benefi ts ................................................................ 800.342.8367
8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., CT, M-F 800.342.8262
615.242.8392
must have community understanding, trust,
permission to change and support.”
Saturday included a variety of sessions
TEA Access Benefi ts ...................................................................866.245.4552
including topics such as implementing Common
10
and veteran Knox Co. EA member, Blankenship
spends more than his allotted time with students,
which often leaves evening hours for office work.
When we caught up with him in May, Blankenship
was still at the office at 9 p.m., preparing a field
trip to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C., and
making sure that everything is in place for the
next school day.
As part of the $2,500 grant, Blankenship has
created a lineup of year-long service-learning
projects focused on developing and implementing
sustainable programs to help fight hunger in the
local community.
Since grant winners were announced at the
beginning of March, Blankenship and his students
have planted broccoli, radishes, butter crunch
lettuce, salad greens, and sugar snap peas.
“There’s a lot of collateral learning going on
when students ask questions about a certain way
a plant grows,” he says. “Our big push will be this
fall when we have our other beds in production—
an additional 600 square feet of growing area.”
Requiring plant beds at least 10 inches in
depth, Blankenship is happy to have assistance
from some of the career and technical education
students. “Toward the end of school there’s a lot
of volunteering going on,” he says, grateful for
May 2012
www.teateachers.org
as Introduction to Horticultural Science,
the Department of Education came together in
Horace Mann Insurance (west of I-65) ......................................214.548.1714
Greenhouse Management and Floral Design) that
the career and technical area.”
(east of I-65) ......................................615.708.4048
count toward a CTE cluster, which is a component www.horacemann.com Happily married to his wife Joy, a longtime
of the NEA Member 28 units Services of credit Center required ....................................................800.637.4636
for graduation. Knox Co. EA member who teaches at Holston
He 8:00 sees a.m.-8:00 his mission p.m., ET, M-F in 9:00 popularizing a.m.-1:00 p.m., the ET, Sat. www.neamb.com Middle School, Blankenship makes it a joy to talk
understanding NEA Financial Services that basic ...............................................................877.721.9398
farming can be done by about sustainable nutrition and is eager to share
anyone. (Car Rental “Agriculture Programs, Credit and Card commerce Programs, Investments, are the two and Loans) more details about his current projects. If you are
words NEA Insurance on our state Operations seal, Services yet some .......................................... of the younger 800.523.5877 interested in finding out more about his work,
students (Life Insurance don’t understand Programs, Medical where Insurance their Programs, food etc.) 800.541.4119 email asmirnov@tea.nea.org.
(For detailed benefi ts and the most current information, please visit the corresponding websites.)
Pictured above, left to right:
Stay Connected Through Social Media
Fresh radish harvest;
Stay connected to the Tennessee Education Association through any of
Hanna Davis, Ryan Cox and Mike
our social media connections by visiting any of the following websites:
Blankenship attend to a raised
broccoli bed;
www.facebook.com/TennesseeEA
Micalee Segers shows off a fresh
crop of broccoli with love.
www.twitter.com/TEA_Teachers
www.youtube.com/TennesseeEA
www.fl ickr.com/photos/teateachers
www.pinterest.com/TEAteachers
16
Attendees enjoy a breakout session.
Left to right: Rhonda Lankford (Greene Co. EA), Jill
Davis and Tiffany Burcham (Humphreys Co. EA), and
Comeshia Williams (Shelby Co. EA).
Attendees with NEA Vice-President Lily Eskelsen (center).
Core State Standards, virtual learning, the
politics of education and other best practices.
The Symposium ended with remarks from
NEA Vice-President Lily Eskelsen compelling
attendees to have “obnoxious pride in yourself
as a teacher.”
The next weekend, TEA members again
gathered for a weekend of professional
development and fellowship. The Johnella
Martin/TEA Statewide Minority Affairs
Conference was held in Chattanooga on March
23 and 24 at the DoubleTree Hotel.
This year’s event was all about empowering
educators to face – and beat – the challenges
that come with being an excellent teacher. The
two-day event kicked off with opening remarks
from Metro Nashville principal Ronald Powe.
His passionate words encouraged teachers to
face their challenges head-on and to always
persevere.
Saturday was filled with five different
sessions covering everything from the latest
technology to differentiated teaching to stress
management techniques.
Please visit the TEA website to learn
more about these events and the many other
professional development opportunities
provided by TEA throughout the year.
Paula Hancock, Evelyn Gill, Robin Curry and Antoinette Williams
(Knox Co. EA) attend Minority Affairs Conference.
To view more photos, scan this
code with your smart phone’s QR
reader to visit the TEA website or
go to www.teateachers.org.
11
www.teateachers.org

Teachers in Sumner, Hamilton and Dickson
Counties celebrated big legal wins last month as
courts supported teachers’ rights to engage in
association activities.
On April 3, 2012, the Sumner County Board of
Education approved a settlement of a federal court lawsuit
filed last year by the Sumner County Education Association
(SCEA) and its president Alzenia Walls.
SCEA filed the lawsuit in response to the restrictions
imposed by the Sumner Co. school board on the activities
and communications of the SCEA and its representatives.
The SCEA and Walls claimed that those restrictions violated
the First Amendment and Tennessee state law. In late
December, the federal court issued an injunction against
the Sumner Co. school board as a result of some of those
restrictions.
“This is a good settlement for the SCEA and for teachers
in Sumner County,” Walls said. “It vindicates the principles
that led us to believe at the outset that this lawsuit was
necessary. We are especially gratified that the director
welcomed our proposal to meet regularly to discuss
educational and employment concerns. We hope board
members will choose to join us in those meetings and that
this will mark the beginning of an improved relationship
between the Sumner County Board and its teachers.”
Under the terms of the settlement approved by
the parties, the director of schools sent a letter to all
teachers clarifying that the law allows teachers and
their associations to engage in many activities and
communications that the board previously restricted. The
board also agreed to restore payroll deduction of SCEA
dues and to reimburse the SCEA to the tune of $50,000 for
attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the association in
pursuing the case.
In an effort to improve relationships between the
administration of the school system and its teachers,
the director of schools agreed to participate in meetings
with SCEA representatives at least quarterly to discuss
educational subjects and teachers’ concerns.
In Hamilton County, Chancery Court Judge Frank Brown
ruled that the county school system cannot refuse to
negotiate “reopeners” with the Hamilton County EA under
the current contract. The April ruling includes a temporary
injunction, which said HCEA is likely to prevail in the
lawsuit.
HCEA claimed in its March lawsuit that the school system
was obligated to honor the current contract, which is set
to expire in 2014, in spite of the bill passed by the state
Three TEA Locals Prevail in Court
legislature last year that outlawed contract negotiations
between teachers and school boards.
“The Hamilton County Board of Education shall comply
with the parties’ presently existing collective bargaining
agreement which predated the effective date for PECCA,”
Chancellor Brown wrote in his ruling. “And the Hamilton
County Board of Education is temporarily enjoined, pending
further Order of the court, from refusing to negotiate the
“reopeners” covered by the parties’ collective bargaining
agreement.”
In a similar case in Dickson Co., Chancellor George
Sexton ruled that the Dickson County EA’s contract with
the local school board remains in effect through June 30,
2013, ordering the board to return to the bargaining table
to negotiate the reopeners, including teacher pay and
benefits.
Patricia Hudson, Dickson Co. High School teacher and
chief negotiator for DCEA, told The Tennessean that the issue
was more about losing basic rights than it was about money.
“This has never been about money,” Hudson said. “This
was about our right to negotiate. When we received the
information from the state department at first it didn’t even
address those counties that had standing contracts. Then
they put out an addendum which did address those counties
that had standing contracts, and it clearly said that they
should continue to negotiate as they always had.”
TEA Calendar of Events
June 1 Deadline for submitting nominations
for Don Sahli-Kathy Woodall Graduate
Scholarship
June 6-9 TEA Summer Leadership Academy and
Political Academy, Franklin
June 29/July1 NEA Board of Directors,
Washington, DC
June 30-July 5 NEA Annual Meeting, Washington, DC
July 4 Independence Day
July 21 TEA Board of Directors, TEA Building
July/August Local AR Membership Training (as
scheduled by UniServ Staff)
September 3 Labor Day
September 15 Tennessee Urban Education Association
Council
September 28-29 STEA Leadership Conference, Nashville
Need information, services?
Mitchell Johnson
Assistant Executive Director for Affi liate
Services
Donna Cotner
Manager of UniServ
Tennessee Education Association
801 Second Avenue N., Nashville, TN 37201-1099
(615) 242-8392, (800) 342-8367, FAX (615) 259-4581
UniServ Coordinators
District 1 — Harry Farthing, P.O. Box 298, Elizabethton,
TN 37644; phone: (423)262-8035, fax: (423)262-
8053; Assns: Carter, Hancock, Hawkins, Rogersville,
Johnson, Sullivan, Bristol, Kingsport, Northeast State
C.C. District 2 — Jennifer Gaby, P.O. Box 70, Afton,
TN 37616; (423)234-0700, fax: (423)234-0708; Assns:
Cocke, Newport, Elizabethton, Greene, Greeneville,
Unicoi, Washington, Johnson City, ETSU. District
3 — Tina Parlier, P.O. Box 74, Corryton, TN 37721;
(865)688-1175, fax: (865)688-5188; Assns: Claiborne,
Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Sevier, Union, Walter
State C.C. District 4 — Jon White, Knox County
Education Association, 2411 Magnolia Ave., Knoxville,
TN 37917-8289; (865)522-9793, fax: (865)522-9866;
Assns: Knox, UT-Knoxville, Pellisippi State C.C., TSD.
District 5— Jason White, P.O. Box 5502, Oak Ridge, TN
37831; (615)521-1333; Assns: Anderson, Clinton, Oak
Ridge, Campbell, Cumberland, Fentress, Morgan, Scott,
Oneida, York Institute District 6 — Reba Luttrell, 503
Cardinal St., Maryville, TN 37803; phone/fax: (865)983-
8640; Assns: Blount, Alcoa, Maryville, Monroe, Sweetwater,
Loudon, Lenoir City, Roane, Roane State C.C.
District 7 — Jim Jordan, P.O. Box 4878, Cleveland,
TN 37320; phone/fax: (423)472-3315; Assns: Bledsoe,
Bradley, Cleveland, McMinn, Athens, Etowah, Meigs,
Polk, Rhea-Dayton, Cleveland State C.C. District 8 —
Theresa Turner, 4655 Shallowford Rd., Chattanooga,
TN 37411; (423)485-9535, fax: (423)485-9512; Assns:
Hamilton County, Chattanooga State C.C., UT-Chattanooga,
Department of Higher Ed. District 9 — Jeff
Garrett, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201;
(615)242-8392, ext. 228, or (800)342-8367; Assns: Coffee,
Manchester, Tullahoma, Franklin, Grundy, Marion,
Sequatchie, Van Buren, White, Warren. District
10 — Shannon Bain, 1001 Rhett Place, Lebanon, TN
37087; phone: (615)547-7769, fax: (615)547-7879;
Assns: Clay, DeKalb, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett,
Putnam, Smith, Trousdale, TTU. District 11 — Arthur
Patterson, 101 Copperas Court, Murfreesboro, TN
37128; phone: (615)907-9912, fax: (615) 907-5490; Assns:
Cannon, Sumner, Wilson, Lebanon S.S.D., Volunteer
State C.C. District 12 — Susan Young, P.O. Box 422,
Madison, TN 37116-0422; phone/fax: (615)865-9700;
Assns: Cheatham, Rutherford, Murfreesboro, MTSU,
TSB, TN Department of Education District 13 —
Forestine Cole, Ralph Smith, Metro Nashville, 531
Fairground Court, Nashville, TN 37211; (615)726-1499,
fax: (615)726-2501; Assns: Metro Nashville, Nashville
State C.C., TSU, Department of Higher Education
District 14 — Rhonda Thompson, 801 Second Avenue
North, Nashville, TN 37201; (615)242-8392, ext. 321, or
(800)342-8367; Assns: Clarksville-Montgomery, Robertson,
APSU District 15 — Miley Durham, P.O. Box
10, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464; phone/fax: (931)766-7874;
Assns: Bedford, Giles, Lawrence, Lincoln, Fayetteville,
Marshall, Moore, Motlow State C.C. District 16 —
Jackie Pope, 2326 Valley Grove Dr., Murfreesboro, TN
37128; (615) 898-1060, fax: (615) 898-1099; Assns:
Lewis, Maury, Williamson, Franklin S.S.D. District
17 — Cheryl Richardson-Bradley, 801 Second Avenue
North, Nashville, TN 37201; (615)242-8392, ext. 233,
or (800)342-8367; Assns: Decatur, Dickson, Hardin,
Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Perry, Wayne District
18 — Maria Uffelman, 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, Trenton,
Henry, Paris, Stewart, Weakley, UT-Martin, FTA
District 19— 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 20
— 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. District
21 — Zandra Foster, 3897 Homewood Cove, Memphis,
TN 38128; phone/fax: (901)377-9472; Assns: Fayette,
Shelby, Southwest Tenn. C.C., University of Memphis.
District 22/MEA — Ken Foster, Executive Director;
MEA UniServ Directors: Marilyn Baker, Susanne
Jackson, Terri Jones, Tom Marchand, Herman Sawyer,
MEA, 126 South Flicker Street, Memphis, TN 38104;
(901)454-0966, fax: (901)454-9979; Assn: Memphis.
www.teateachers.org
www.nea.org
12 May 2012