NCAE
NEWS BULLETIN August
2016
NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS
Volume 47, No. 1
Budget Could Have Done More for Public Ed NCAE Helped Stave Off the Following Legislation Setting retirement age at 65. Elimination of the 15-point school grading system. Elimination of sick leave for additional retirement service credit. TABOR-like laws to cap income taxes and make the state’s emergency savings account nearly impossible to use. This would have permanently damaged public education. (Click here to see the entire list).
The $22.3 billion budget passed by lawmakers during the “short session” has been signed by Governor McCrory and is now law. Included is an average 4.7 percent increase for teachers, but it continues to shortchange the state’s experienced teachers, public school personnel, and retired educators. About 4,000 of our most experienced teachers were completely snubbed, receiving no raise or bonus whatsoever. At the last minute, the House passed a technical corrections bill to fix this snub but the Senate left without taking it up. This affects teachers who have recently received ‘hold harmless payments’ because the salary schedule for a bachelor’s degree was greater than $50,000 prior to 2013-14, and also due to longevity payments that were rolled into the salary schedule a few years ago. “NCAE has consistently beaten the drum that for students to be successful,
the state must fully invest in our public schools by increasing the resources they need and by compensating educators as professionals,” said NCAE President Mark Jewell. “Now that it’s an election year, some in the General Assembly are trying to make you forget about the previous actions that have disrespected the profession. Instead of investing in our public schools and students, this budget sets an artificial spending limit and sets aside nearly half a billion dollars in the state’s Rainy Day Fund when technically, it is already a rainy day for public school students. It also earmarks nearly $35 million for private school vouchers, which is three times the amount invested in textbooks for our 1.5 million students. It’s about priorities. The priority should be our public school classrooms, not our corporate board rooms.” ESPs, Central Office staff, and schoolbased administrators will receive a 1.5
percent permanent raise and a .5 percent bonus. Non-educator LEA personnel will be eligible for merit-based bonuses that average around 1 percent. Some will get more and some will get less or nothing with the criteria to be established by the employing agency. Retirees will receive a 1.6 percent one-time cost-of-living (COLA) bonus. Before adjourning, lawmakers also advanced some high-profile legislation. Two of the most disappointing were the Achievement School District pilot project and the repeal of House Bill 2, which was never heard. But despite these setbacks, the Association was instrumental in helping to stop some bad policies from becoming law. To view a detailed teacher salary schedule, click here. To see the complete set of salary schedules, click here. To view a copy of the budget, visit www.ncleg.net.
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Make a Commitment to NCAE and Public Education This Year! The beginning of a new school year is always a special time. As educators, you look forward to shaping the lives of a new group of students, you are excited about embarking on new opportunities that will help you grow professionally, and you feel a sense of accomplishment knowing Mark Jewell that you are able to continue doing President what you love. Something else I hope you will make a part of this 2016-17 year is an obligation to be part of the “NCAE Renaissance” experience that will soon take place. What is this NCAE Renaissance experience, you ask? It is the goals that Vice President Kristy Moore and I have of moving our organization forward. It’s about unity and us coming together as the state’s largest public education advocacy organization. And, it’s about us taking pride in knowing that we still have a lot of influence with community stakeholders. One of the most important pieces of this Renaissance plan is unity among our members. We have to be seen as a cohesive unit that is moving to accomplish our goals and mission of fighting for our greatest resource, human capital. As an organization, we are in a position to ensure that students have the resources they need to be successful, that you have the support you need in order to do your jobs, and that you are adequately compensated as professionals.
Equally as important is we must increase our membership. I can’t stress enough the value of making every eligible educator a member. There is power in numbers and the type of power that NCAE has, and that you have as educators, is advantageous because it gives us the ability to make effective change. For too long, we have been accepting of pats on the back; we can no longer operate in this manner. The only way we can continue to provide advocacy for educators and for our students is through membership and through member commitment to invest in NCAE and public education! And as we move toward Election Day, another advantage of having a strong membership will be our ability to impact legislation. It’s imperative that we have a strong grassroots campaign to make sure that we elect pro-public education policymakers from the White House to the school board. We must have a place at the political table and have a say in the decisions that are made in the governor’s mansion and the General Assembly. So, as you begin preparing for your first day back at school, make a commitment to join Kristy and me in this journey. Commit to being more involved and engaged. Make the ask of those who are not yet a part of the NCAE family and share your personal story of why your membership is so valuable to the work that you do. Know that Kristy and I are here for you and are willing to travel from the mountains to the coast, from the piedmont to the foothills to support you in any way that we can. We are ALL IN this together. Let’s do our part to remain THE VOICE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION in North Carolina! Have a great year!
Summer Lobbying
President Mark Jewell introduces press conference speakers: Kimberly Manning, Saletta Urena, Erica Johnson, and Donald Dunn.
On June 15, members made their presence known at the General Assembly as they participated in NCAE’s Lobby Day, where they met with legislators, observed sessions of both the House and Senate, and participated in a propublic education press event in front of the Legislative Building.
Rep. Kelly Alexander meets with CMAE President Earlene Lyde and Randolph Frierson.
Click to see more photos from Lobby Day.
Members get a birdseye view from the gallery as legislation is discussed on the floor.
A huge crowd turned out in support of public education.
Better schools was the reason a group of members and public education supporters walked more than 20 miles to Raleigh.
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Welcome, Vice President Kristy Moore “I tried very hard to ignore my calling to become an educator, but really couldn’t,” said newly elected Vice President Kristy Moore, during a recent interview with the News Bulletin, where she shared her “Why” and the role she hopes to play in growing the Association and moving public education in North Carolina forward. NB: When did you first become aware that you wanted to become an educator? KM: My mother always told me that I was going to be a teacher and I always fought back saying, “I hate school, I don’t want to be a teacher!” But I was a child magnet. In college, I studied child psychology and became a B-K teacher. I taught pre-school and first grade for six years before taking a position as a fullrelease mentor for Durham Public Schools. [Positions that Moore has held in the Association include: association rep, president and vice president of the Durham Association of Educators, NEA director, and member of the NCAE Board of Directors] NB: You mentioned that you fought your calling to become a teacher. However, it’s clear that public school teachers greatly influenced you. What was life like for you as a student and who were some of those educators who made a difference in your life? KM: It was a struggle. I lived with my grandparents when I was young and they did not give me the foundation that was needed for me to do well, but they did the best they could. Because of that, I didn’t learn to read well. However, when I entered high school, I discovered theater. I wanted to be able to read scripts so I pushed myself. Literature and books became more alive to me! As for teachers who impacted my life, there were several. My first-grade teacher Miss McNeill saw my potential. With her encouragement, I began to earn gold stars in her class. Karen Saunders, one of
my English teachers at Reynolds High School was influential in helping me join the drama team. She gave me monologues and speeches to recite. At first I didn’t think she liked me because she was hard on me. I quickly realized that she cared and wanted me to be successful. NB: What was theater like for you? KM: It was freeing! It was fun to not be myself and be somebody else. I wasn’t into sports or cheerleading. I couldn’t sing and I didn’t play an instrument. Theater allowed me to find my place in school and to find “my people.” The love of theater that I acquired in high school spilled over into college. I attended UNC-Greensboro, where I received a bachelor’s degree in education. I also earned my master’s in K-6 education from Elon University. NB: What led you to the decision to run for NCAE vice president? KM: I don’t believe in complaining and not putting my full effort into something. I saw where there could be growth in the Association and saw some places where I felt I could bridge some gaps. After thinking about it long and hard, I asked myself three questions -- “Do you have the strength? Do you have the drive? Do you have the passion?” My answer was a resounding YES. And quite honestly, seeing what the state is doing to public education as a whole, in my heart I just couldn’t sit back and not stand up in some way. NB: What are you most looking forward to in this role? KM: So many things! One thing I most look forward to is working with President Mark Jewell. He’s a fantastic person and I think the two of us together can make a lot of change if we stay on the trajectory that we have set for ourselves. I also look forward to coming up with a plan for the state to share with
“I thought long and hard about running for this position. I looked within myself and asked, can I do this, do I have the strength, do I have the drive? Each time I asked, the answer was always YES!”
locals so that everyone is on the same page and know in which direction we are going. I am really excited about taking on this new role; I’m energized and ready to hit the ground running for members and with members. NB: What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment? KM: Perservering through my struggles. I was adopted and for a long time, I felt like I did not fit in a lot of places. My strong spiritual background enables me to strive to make sure that I put a lot of effort into everything that I do. I am able to pick myself up, no matter the circumstances. NB: When you are not working or involved in Association business, how do you enjoy spending your time? KM: I enjoy working out, being pampered, and spending time with my daughters, Jasmine who is 11 and Mikayla who is 3, and my husband Eric.
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NCAE’s Teacher Truth Tour Hits the Road! As final budget negotiations came to a close, educators across the state made their voices heard during the Association’s Teacher Truth Tour to talk about what’s really happening in public schools. Tour stops were made in Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greenville. Members urged elected officials to prioritize our public schools because currently, North Carolina ranks 43rd nationally in per-pupil spending and 41st in average teacher pay. “The truth is that none of the budget proposals put forward by the governor, House, or Senate did enough to give our students the resources they need to be successful,” said NCAE President
Mark Jewell, who taught in Guilford County. “Gov. McCrory and leaders in the General Assembly continue to sit on more than a billion dollars in savings even though we have more students and fewer teachers, textbooks are in short supply, and we keep asking parents or educators to pay for copy paper and toilet paper when our schools run out. Instead of using some of that money to prioritize classrooms, they continue to focus on corporate boardrooms! Our students deserve better than this. As educators, we will continue to stand up and speak out to fight for what is best for our students.” CHARLOTTE
GREENSBORO
GREENVILLE
RALEIGH
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Durham Member Vows to Continue Advocating for Detained Student “When am I getting out?” is the question that Riverside High School student Wildin Acosta asks teacher Ellen Holmes each time she calls him. Unfortunately, she never has an answer. A native of Honduras, Acosta is being detained in solitary confinement at the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. He was arrested outside of his home in January while leaving for school by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Instead of just waiting and hoping to see what happens, Holmes, her colleagues, and students have waged a campaign in support of Acosta’s freedom. This situation has devastated everyone in the Riverside High community and Holmes feels advocating and fighting for the rights of her students is a large part of her job as an educator. “I believe that ALL of my students deserve a right to an education. My number one goal as an educator is to make sure they are successful, enjoy learning, and graduate. I love these kids like they're my own and they need for someone to stand up and be there for them…I can do that!” The fight to free Acosta and other detainees has taken Holmes and a few of her students to Capitol Hill twice, where they met with congressional leaders, Secretary of Education John King, and representatives from the Department of Homeland Security. They had three primary “asks,” according to Holmes: that Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson demand that Wildin and other detained youth be released, that members of Congress and the Senate visit the detained students to get a better understanding of what they are experiencing, and to keep the names of the detainees in the spotlight so that support for them will continue to grow. “The students who accompanied me to Washington did a wonderful job of advocating on Wildin’s behalf. Their voices were powerful and I am so proud of them. They were determined not to
5 Ellen Holmes (far left in gray suit) and her students outside of the Department of Education building in Washington, D.C., where they advocated for Wildin Acosta.
take ‘no’ for an answer.” Holmes said North Carolina Congressman G.K. Butterfield has been very vocal on the issue of immigration raids and traveled to Georgia to visit Acosta back in May. He, along with Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC), and Georgia Congressmen John Lewis and Hank Johnson recently released a statement opposing the raids. Butterfield and Lewis will be returning to the Stewart Detention Center this month. In addition to the support of his classmates, Holmes said the entire Durham high school community has been equally supportive of him and his family. Students across the county joined forces to launch a social media campaign, wrote letters to President Obama and Jeh Johnson, held rallies, wrote messages of encouragement to Wildin and the other detained students, and sponsored a “Week for Wildin,” where they participated in a different activity each day.
Need funding to help further your education? NEA Member Benefits has teamed up with Sallie Mae to offer members a chance to win $2,000 cash. Visit www.neamb.com to enter. The contest runs through August.
While Acosta awaits an outcome, Holmes says he is trying to remain positive. A few weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Board of Immigration Appeals reopened the case and will be scheduling a new hearing. “He keeps asking for homework because he feels as if his skills are slipping. He is very studious and wants to stay on top of it. The detention center has so many restrictions, but we are working to see if we can get his request honored.” Acosta is a senior and was set to graduate before his arrest. Holmes said she will not rest until Acosta is united with his family. She, along with NEA, is calling for an end to the DHS/ICE raids, which inflict grave harm on children, families, and communities. More support is needed, she added, and if you are interested in becoming involved, visit http:// freewildin.weebly.com/ for more information.
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Highlights of the 2016 Summer Leadership Conference 1
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1) President Mark Jewell and members practice one-on-one conversations. 2) District 6 had the most members in attendance.
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3) Roy Cooper, candidate for governor -- “I am so proud to be in a room full of educators.” 4) Leaders participate in an activity at their table.
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5) Vice President Kristy Moore shares helpful tips that will help make local VP’s jobs easier. 6) Angie Cathcart listens as Karen Green explains values she thinks the Association should possess.
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7) Local leaders learned more about organizing, ESSA, and NEA360 Ed Communities as part of their training.
To see more conference photos, click here.
8) ESP President Karen Slade and VP Tijuana Greene participate in a phone banking activity to call members and ask them to be All In for public education. 9) N.C. Teacher of the Year Bobbie Cavnar.
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What Will We Tell Our Children This Time? In the wake of more violence with the recent shooting deaths of Philando Castile, Alton Sterling and the five police officers in Dallas, NEA President Lily Eskelsen-Garcia penned this heartfelt message for her blog “Lily’s Blackboard” about the crisis that has overcome America and how we should share it with our children. “Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars… Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Like many of you, I cried this morning. I cried for the five officers in Dallas who were shot in cold-blooded fashion during a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest. I cried, again, for the men in Baton Rouge and St. Paul, Minn., who were fatally shot by officers only days ago. I cried when I listened to the accounts of witnesses to the hell in Dallas. Their shock, fear, and utter despair made me flinch. I cried when I watched the graphic footage of Philando Castile and heard his final moans as his girlfriend told the world of the unfolding tragedy. I cried when I saw the equally graphic footage of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and heard the shots that ended his life. I cried when I heard the Dallas police chief tell us that the Dallas sniper said he wanted to kill white police officers in retribution for the fatal shootings of black men. I cried when I watched President Obama – for the second time in less than 24 hours – address violence in this nation. It was not lost on me that when he spoke, he was 5,000 miles away attending his last summit of NATO, an organization that exists in part to safeguard the freedom and security of member nations. I cried when I contemplated what we,
as educators, will tell our children this time. I cried when I thought about the world they are seeing, the pain they are witnessing, the sadness they are feeling. I cried when I considered the psychic damage to each and every one of us. On the one hand, we are becoming inured to the constant shootings, the ever-present dangers, the lockdowns, the standoffs. On the other hand, each time another act of violence interrupts a brief interlude of “peace,” our souls cry out. Our hearts break again. Like you, I am so very weary of crying. I am so very weary of anger. I am so frustrated by the easy access to highpowered weapons that paved the way for Sandy Hook, Orlando, and Dallas. We have, unfortunately, developed a catalogue of resources for how we speak to students about the shootings, ambushes, snipers, random violence, targeted attacks. But there are not enough resources in the world to make sense of the senseless. One man in Dallas put it this way: “I’m tired of waking up every morning and seeing the same thing over, and over, and over again.” As people who work in our nation’s public schools, NEA members are public service professionals, and we have a special bond with the men and women who devote their lives to securing the safety of all of us. We mourn with the city of Dallas and with the families of
the slain police officers. In communities across the country, we work hand in hand with officers. Like them, we want to ensure that kids have the opportunities for a good life that they deserve. At the same time, we recognize that there are some uses of deadly force by police officers against black and Latino people that call into question their training, and sometimes, even their assumptions about race and communities of color. Those two perspectives – our solidarity with police officers and our concern about institutional racism and the way minorities are sometimes viewed and treated by police – are not in conflict with each other. What we all recognize is that there is a need by all of us for more comprehension and compassion. We cannot demonize those we don’t understand. We cannot hate entire groups of people because of the actions of some. Because we are educators, I believe we have a special role to play in creating understanding. In building community. In the coming weeks, I challenge all of us to think about what we can do and how we can be beacons in this nation that all of us love so dearly. We owe it to our students. They are watching us.
NEA edCommunities: Inspire, Connect, Collaborate, Share and Learn! NEA members have a new way to interact with one another like never before. The NEA edCommunities online platform seeks to connect members from across the country, while also engaging them with resources, events and information from
their state affiliates and NEA. Ed Communities will tie directly into the NEA360 member portal that will soon be deployed in all NEA affiliates. Create an account if you haven't already, and leverage everything our new online community has to offer.
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development of the Basic Education Program and Career Development Plan.
PROUD MOMENTS Guilford County Member Named A. Craig Phillips Honored Educator Scholar NCAE member Vicki Simmons, an adapted physical education teacher at Haynes-Inman Education Center in Guilford County, has been named an A. Craig Phillips Honored Educator Scholar by NCCAT (North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching). The Honored Education Scholarship Program pays tribute to outstanding educators and individuals whose teaching or influence in public education has made a positive difference in the lives of others. As a scholar, Simmons will be able to attend the professional development workshop of her choice. She has chosen the session “Holocaust Education: Effective Strategies and Resources,” scheduled for September 26-29 at NCCAT, located in Cullowhee, North Carolina. “I have a personal interest in learning more about the Holocaust because my father fought in World War II. He died in 1976 and took many of his war stories to his grave. He never mentioned the war or the Holocaust to me, but I wonder how much he knew? I am in the process of going through some of his treasures and hope that the instruction I receive will help me answer some personal life’s questions.” Phillips served as state superintendent of Public Instruction for 20 years. During his tenure, he instituted state-supported kindergarten for all North Carolina children, expanded employment for teachers to 10 months per year, and assisted in the passage of a $300 million school bond issue. He also suspended multiple textbook adoptions, secured the first money earmarked to improve reading programs in early grades, expanded programs for exceptional children, and oversaw the
Member Takes the Stage at Democratic National Convention Dave Wils, an eighth-grade social studies teacher at The Academy of Lincoln in Guilford County, was a guest speaker at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. An association rep at his school, Wils addressed delegates about the burden of college debt and how he feels presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will make a difference for thousands of students who are trying to make a better life for themselves. “Incurring college debt is especially difficult for educators, particularly in the state of North Carolina where we are not well compensated financially,” said Wils, the Piedmont Regional Vice President of the Young Democrats of North Carolina. “I know quite a few colleagues who went to college and are now working but are not able to have those much needed car repairs done or save for a rainy day. We need a plan to make college more affordable so that the dream of obtaining an education doesn’t turn into a nightmare.” School in Moore County Wins Professional Development from NCAE A free professional development workshop from NCAE is in store for educators at Carthage Elementary School in Moore County. That’s because 100 percent of the school’s educators completed the 2016 North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey. The online survey was administered in March by the New Teacher Center in partnership with NCAE, the North Carolina Teaching Working Conditions Initiative, and the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. Schools that achieved a 100 percent response rate were entered into a drawing for prizes. More than 101,000 educators completed the survey. To see a list of other schools that received prizes, click here.
Ways to Start the School Year Off Right A little planning before school begins can pay big dividends throughout the school year. Starting off on the right foot can make all the difference. Here are a few things to consider as you plan for the months ahead.
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9 Changes for 2017 State Health Plan Update
august 26-28 charlotte convention center
CHARLOTTE
friday 10am-7pm saturday 10am-7pm sunday 10am-5pm
800.849.0248 A Southern Shows, Inc. Production
invites educators, pre-service, and staff* for all day FREE admission on Sunday, August 28!
The State Health Plan’s Board of Trustees approved the following changes for the 2017 benefit year at their May 13, 2016, meeting. These changes impact active members and non-Medicare retirees. These changes include increases in the annual deductible for the Enhanced 80/20 and Traditional 70/30 plans. There were no changes to the Consumer-Directed Health Plan. All members will be placed into the Traditional 70/30 Plan and must take action during Open Enrollment to select a different plan. The Traditional 70/30 Plan for active members will include a base premium which can be reduced back down to $0 if members complete the tobacco attestation premium credit activity. Please note: The tobacco attestation premium credit does not apply to retirees. The Traditional 70/30 Plan will remain premium-free for retiree-only coverage. Open enrollment will take place October 1-31, 2016. To review plan changes, click here.
SOUTHERNWOMENSSHOW.COM * Must present a valid school ID at the box office
Erase Student Loan Debt Help your employee create a successful Financial Future Are student loan payments keeping your employees from participating in your school’s retirement plan? Or worse, are those payments forcing your teachers to leave the profession they love? Do your employees wish their students loans would magically disappear? Learn about student loan forgiveness programs that are available to help reduce or eliminate student loan debts for qualifying education employees. For more information or to discuss scheduling a student loan workshop for your employees, contact your local agent or go to horacemann.com
Has Your Status Changed?
The beginning of the school year is a great time to update your contact information. Visit http:// www.ncae.org/ncaeprofile-update to change your address, phone number, email or name.
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DEALS for NEA Members
Dates to Remember August
It’s time to get ready for the school year! NEA Click & Save, the online discount buying service for NEA members, highlights select retailers and merchants each month. Check out these featured “Buy-lights” for August!
7th 8th 12th 19th 26th 29th
Don’t forget to use your WOW Points—they’re just like cash (100 WOW Points = $1; plus, no blackout dates and no expiration)! • NEA Apparel Store: Find summer outfits and build up your back-to-school wardrobe with access to more than 95 top brands -- all in one place! • OshKosh B’Gosh: Save on the world’s best overalls, denim, and other clothing for kids. • Shoes.com: Great deals on athletic, every day, and dress shoes for all occasions; free shipping on orders of $49 or more. • Kmart: Shop for backpacks, lunch boxes, school supplies, clothing and more; free shipping on orders of $59 or more. • NEA MB Electronics Store: Get member pricing and earn WOW Points on name brands like Panasonic, Samsung, Dell, and Canon.
N E W S
Friendship Day Happiness Day International Youth Day World Humanitarian Day Women’s Equality Day Individual Rights Day
Children’s Vision and Learning Month Get Ready for Kindergarten Month
Resources to Help Students Learn More About Working Men and Women Labor Day honors the American worker and acknowledges the value and dignity of work and its role in American life. The first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882, in New York. Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. On June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday. If you are looking for resources to help your students learn more about the importance of America’s workforce, visit the NEA Web site.
• NEA MB Entertainment Store: Exclusive member pricing on world-class performances and entertainment including Broadway shows, movies, sporting events, and amusement parks.
N C A E
“I tell students that the opportunities I had were a result of having a good educational background. Education is what allows you to stand out.” -- Ellen Ochoa
B U L L E T I N
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Positions stated in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official position of NCAE unless so identified. The NCAE News Bulletin, a journal of the Association, is published by the North Carolina Association of Educators, 700 S.Salisbury St., Post Office Box Box 27347, Raleigh, NC 27611, 1-800-662-7924. www.ncae.org
Linda Powell-Jones, Editor/Designer
August 2016
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