NCAE North Carolina Association of Educators
News Bulletin
August 2018
Vol. 49, No. 1
www.ncae.org
It’s the Start of a New School Year!
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What’s In Store for 2018-19? Unity, Growth, and Change! Summer is winding down and a new school year is fast approaching. Where has the time gone? It only seems like yesterday that thousands of educators and public education supporters were marching through the streets of Raleigh in support of our students and schools. Mark Jewell As you return to your President schoolhouses, take with you the enthusiasm and energy that you experienced on May 16, a day of pride not only for NCAE, but for every parent, community member, and business leader who joined us in saying Enough Is Enough! People everywhere were elated that day as North Carolina stood up for its students. Our citizens value public education, regardless of their political party or affiliation. In every poll we have distributed to both conservative and progressive voters, the resounding response is that the direction in which our state is headed when it comes to public education is wrong! That it’s time to change the course, which we will do on November 6. The relationships that we built and strengthened on May 16 are critical. I encourage you to keep the lines of communication open as you prepare for open house events, home visits, and other activities that connect you with parents
and others in your communities. We must foster those alliances and make sure they are aware of the issues affecting public education. Parents and public education supporters can be some of our strongest messengers as they interact with elected officials – from those who serve on the school board to those who serve in Congress. The message being our students deserve better! Since May 16, this message has reverberated through several trainings that were hosted by the Association over the summer. NBCTs, BTOP organizers, local affiliate leaders, and Instructional Leadership Institute participants have returned to their locals with a renewed sense of commitment. They are ready to share what they learned in an effort to grow membership because they know that the path forward will only come through a unified NCAE. As you prepare for the first day of school and the new opportunities that lie ahead for you and your students, continue to focus also on the importance of a strong educational system in North Carolina, which is only going to happen with the help of a strong NCAE. In order to have a strong NCAE, we must reach out to every educator, whether it’s a bus driver, teacher assistant, teacher, or administrator, and ask them to join this critical movement. There is value in this organization – 158 years’ worth (NCAE/NEA) – and it’s time for all educators to unite for public education, not stand divided! I wish each of you a productive 2018-19 academic year. I look forward to the work we will accomplish together!
New Additions to the NCAE and NCRSP Families Advocacy Center Hires New Staff Attorney
NCRSP Names New Executive Director
NCAE welcomes Verlyn Chesson Porte as the new staff attorney in the Advocacy Center. She replaces Jessica Holmes, who pursued other career opportunities. Prior to coming to NCAE, Chesson Porte worked as the attorney for Charitable Solicitation Licensing in the office of the N.C. Department of the Secretary of State. She has also worked for Legal Aid. Her interest in connecting to the mission of public education and the fact that she has two children in public schools are reasons she was drawn to the Association. “Public education is near and dear to my heart,” said Chesson Porte, herself a product of public schools. “It is my desire to assist our members in preparing the children of North Carolina for a bright future.” Chesson Porte is a member of a large family – eight sisters and nine brothers. She studied at the University District of Columbia where she received a degree in business administration/management. She earned her law degree from North Carolina Central University in Durham.
The NCRSP Administrative Council has named Teresa Evans-Hunter as the new executive director of the North Carolina Retired School Personnel. She replaces Tom Bennett, who retired after serving in the position for five years. Prior to joining NCRSP, Evans-Hunter worked with small to medium-sized nonprofits, serving as executive director for membership organizations on the state and national level. Her background is in association management, an area in which she has worked for the past 10 to 15 years. A native of New Jersey, her vision is simple, “To grow the division, increase engagement among members, and strengthen the Division’s voice and partnerships.” Evans-Hunter and her husband are the proud parents of twin daughters and a son. The product of public schools, she has a degree in Economics from Florida A&M University, and a MBA and MS in non-profit management from the University of Maryland University College
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NCAE’s Young Leaders What do NCAE’s young leaders have to say? PLENTY! And we have plenty of reasons to listen. They hold key leadership positions within the Association and also hold the key to the organization’s future. They offer new perspectives at a time when public education is under attack. However, in light of the climate they currently find themselves in, they are committed to the Association and the direction in which it is going. Four young leaders were interviewed and asked a variety of questions from why they chose to become involved in Association work to what are some of the challenges they face. Here is what they had to say. Robert Alvis, 23 treasurer, Alamance/Burlington Association of Educators
Lauren Piner, 30 president, Pitt County Association of Educators
“I personally became involved in a leadership role because I wanted to advocate for my students. I always want to be in a position that allows me to do that. I feel like a position on the ABAE executive board gives me the ability to organize in a more effective way. My experience as a leader has definitely been a whirlwind! I’m not typically a person who will step into a leadership position unless someone asks me to [he was invited to serve and said yes]. But I would also say the experience has been very rewarding. Being able to see members feel empowered is probably one of the best parts of this job; letting them find their voice and seeing that they can actually have an affect on issues, and other things such as local politics, is priceless!”
Beginning her third year as local president, Piner was very anti-NCAE when she first began teaching, but soon realized that every win for public education was a result of the work the Association was doing. So she joined, she said because, “I found myself beginning to complain. I told myself, ‘you’re not allowed to complain if you are not willing to do something about the situation.’” Stepping into leadership has been one of the best things she has ever done. “When I was first asked to take on a leadership role I was a bit apprehensive. I remember talking about it with former NCAE President Rodney Ellis. He said to me, ‘You have to do this because if you don’t, who will?’ I explained that I didn’t feel prepared and he assured me that nobody is ever prepared; you learn as you go. So, I began this journey as vice president and have enjoyed every moment of it.”
Turquoise Parker, 31 vice president, Durham Association of Educators “I feel that it’s important for young members to become leaders because this is our profession and we are the future of the profession. Being in this role feels natural to me; my mother was a leader and when she was moving through the ranks in her local, I was right there, observing. As young educators, if we don’t assume the role of learning and serving then this association will die. Our adversaries would love to see that happen. But those of us who are young educators in this movement are enthused and ready to learn how we can take this work from where we are and move it to the next phase. Personally, I’m super motivated and encouraged by leaders who came before me – people like Fannie Lou Hammer and JoAnn Robinson – people who began their leadership roles at a young age and understood what sitting at the feet of wisdom looks like, and how sitting at the feet of wisdom is the ascension into organizational work.”
Tameka Walker Kelly – 35 vice president, Cumberland County Association of Educators Kelly not only serves as a local officer, but also as Region 6 director on the NCAE Board. “I was 29 years old when I first stepped into a leadership role. A position was created on the CCAE Executive Board – political action chair – that fit my interests and skill set. It allowed me to use what I was good at to teach my colleagues why politics is so important in our profession.” Kelly said one of the most difficult things about being a young leader in the Association is trying to find a balance. “Not only are you growing in the Association, but you are working to grow in your professional life as well. Being valued as a voice of leadership as well as melding new ideas with existing ones in order to move forward with the work can also be challenging.”
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Summers Off? Not for Some NCAE Members! Hot fun in the summertime -- relaxing by the pool, reading a book at the beach, or traipsing across country! As good as these scenarios sound, many NCAE members gave up their summers, or a portion of it, to participate in a variety of professional development opportunities. Here are some of the activities your colleagues engaged in during their time off.
Beginning Teacher Organizing Program 1
1) Members serving as BTOP organizers discuss ways to assist new teachers. 2) President Jewell joins a group of BTOP organizers for an activity. 3) Alamance-Burlington BTOP organizers Jacob Fleming and Medora Burke-Scoll work on a plan for their local.
Network to Transform Teaching (NT3) Training 4 2 3 5
Instructional Leadership Institute
7 6 9 4) NBCTs receive tips on how to become instructional leaders. 5) Gov. Cooper stopped by to thank NBCTs for their work: “You are making a difference in the lives of our children and for that I am grateful.” 6) Former Gov. Jim Hunt, a guest speaker for the NT3 training, said “I am proud of each of you and want to congratulate you on your NBCT accomplishment. As educators, you deserve to be listened to and I encourage you to work your heart out for this profession!”
8 7) Participants engage in a coherence card activity. 8) Learning about elementary and secondary standards. 9) It was a race to the finish for clues as groups wandered around the building on a scavenger hunt.
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Summer Leadership Conference 2018
More photos from this year’s SLC are available on the NCAE Flickr site.
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PROUD MOMENTS
Forsyth County TA Named Recipient of 2018 Linda Rader Professional Opportunity Award Beverly Miller, a teacher assistant at Konnoak Elementary School, is the recipient of the 2018 NCAE Linda Rader Professional Opportunity Award. She was recognized at the Summer Leadership Conference by President Mark Jewell, who presented her with a plaque and a cash prize of $1,500. The Linda Rader Professional Opportunity Award is named for a former NCAE president. Historically, Rader was instrumental in the merger of the predominately African-American North Carolina Teachers Association and the predominately white North Carolina Education Association, which came together to form NCAE in 1970. Buncombe Co. Member Announced as an NEA Global Learning Fellow NCAE member Jennie Robinette, a teacher at Francine Delany New School in Buncombe County, has been named a 2019 NEA
“Education is not a tool for development -- individual community and the nation. It is the foundation for our future. It is empowerment to make choices and emboldens the youth to chase their dreams.” -- Nita Ambani
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Foundation Global Learning Fellow. She is among 48 educators from across the nation to receive this achievement. Chosen from more than 400 applicants, she will spend the next year building global competency skills to prepare herself and her students for global citizenship. She will meet this fall for a two-day workshop, and next summer, she will take part in an international field study where she will experience all aspects of the culture, including school visits, and learn with and from local educators. Other members who have served as Fellows in past years include: • Jeremy Aten, North Windy Ridge Intermediate School in Buncombe County • Karyn Dickerson, Grimsley High School in Guilford County • Brad Rhew, Cook Literacy Model School in Forsyth County • Brenda FeathersS, Kannapolis Middle School in Kannapolis City
Concord High School Scores Athletics Grant from California Casualty Athletes at Concord High School in Cabarrus County will benefit from the 2018 California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Program. California Casualty provides an auto insurance program to members through NEA Member Benefits. The school will use the $1,000 to purchase necessary equipment for a variety of sports, including balls, mitts, and training gear. Public middle and high schools in North Carolina with an unmet need for a sports program can apply for a grant next year by visiting www.calcasathleticsgrant.com. The deadline for consideration is January 15, 2019.
Classroom Management Tips... Establishing Ground Rules on Day 1 The first day of school is the perfect time to establish the rules by which your classroom will function. NEA offers on its Web site a list of resources, recommended reading, and classroom activities to help you establish your rules on day one! Click here to see what’s available.
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Applications are available by clicking here.
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DEALS
2018
for NEA Members
Dates to Remember
NEA Click & Save “Buy-Lights” for August Summer is zooming by, but there’s still time for a quick vacation while getting ready for the new school year! NEA Click & Save, the online discount buying service for NEA members, highlights select retailers and merchants each month. Check out these featured “BuyLights” for August. • Container Store – Find everything you need to set up your classroom in time for the opening bell! Save up to 50 percent on sale items, earn 4X WOWPoints on your purchase, and get free shipping on orders of $75 or more. • Office Depot – Need school supplies? Check out daily deals and save up to 50 percent. Earn 2X WOWPoints on your order. • Best Buy – Technology rules at Best Buy with the latest in smart phones, notebooks, laptops, fitness & GPS watches, etc. Get free shipping on eligible orders, and earn 2X WOWPoints. • Kohl’s – Get your school wardrobe in order with clothing, footwear, and outerwear from this valueoriented department store! • Shoes.com – Treat your feet to some comfortable shoes with brands such as Naturalizer, Aerosoles, and Clarks. Save up to 75 percent on sale items, and earn 4X WOWPoints. • Hello Fresh – Create amazing meals that are easy to prepare. Get $30 off and earn 1,000 WOWPoints on your first box. • Blue Apron – Another healthy meal service that offers $30 off and 700 WOWPoints on your first order. Delivery is always free, and plans have no commitment (only seven days’ cancellation notice is required). Not a Member of Coscto? Consider Joining! Save money on thousands of brand-name items. It’s easy to join: go online to www.neamb.com/costco, sign in or register, click “Join Now” to purchase your Costco Membership Activation Certificate.
N C A E
N E W S
August 5th 10th 12th 15th 18th 21st 25th 29th
Friendship Day National Kids’ Day Worldwide Art Day International Youth Day Best Friends Day International Homeless Animals Day Poet’s Day National Park Service Day Individual Rights Day
Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month Children’s Vision & Learning Month Get Ready for Kindergarten Month National Truancy Prevention Month
Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Awards for Science and Mathematics Teachers
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for Science and Math Teachers (CASMT) application is now available online. The Career Award for Science and Mathematics Teachers is a five-year award available to outstanding science and/or mathematics teachers in the North Carolina public primary and secondary schools. The purpose of this award is to recognize teachers who have demonstrated solid knowledge of science and/or mathematics content and have outstanding performance records in educating children. The deadline for submission is September 24, 2018. For more information or to access the application, visit https:// www.bwfund.org/grant-programs/science-education/careerawards-science-and-mathematics-teachers.
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., Raleigh, NC 27601, 1-800-662-7924. Linda Powell-Jones, Editor/Designer
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