December 2014 news bulletin final

NCAE

NEWS BULLETIN December

2014

NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS

Volume 45, No. 5

Road to 2015 Transitioning from the Mid-Term Election to the Legislative Session

SEE PAGE 2 FOR STORY

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News Bulletin

December 2014

The Election is Over...Now What?

The political ads are gone from the TV and radio. No more “I’m Kay Hagan or Thom Tillis, and I’ve approved this ad.”

The evening phone calls have stopped. The only person at your door is someone you know. As we learned this election cycle, these campaign tactics, especially one-on-one conversations, persuade opinions and votes. When the contact is from someone you respect and trust, like a fellow teacher or education support professional, it means even more. This is especially true when educators talk about public education with the general public.

There is a reason that public education was a key issue this election cycle. Because we helped make it so.

The journey to this election started with the 2013 Legislative Session. The powers that be slashed funds for public schools while increasing funds for vouchers and cutting taxes for the rich. They stripped teachers of vested due process rights and eliminated them for any future generation of teachers. This trend against public schools and for the special interests continued when lawmakers returned this May. The funding cuts continued. More teacher assistants were lost. More money went to vouchers. This year however was different; it was an election year. So, educator raises were the topic of the day.

During all of this, NCAE followed committee hearings and lobbied for what was best for students, public education and teachers/education support professionals. We made sure to educate the public about what was really happening, connecting the dots on tax breaks for the wealthy with continued cuts to public schools and how it was impacting students. And we began to talk about this campaign because we knew that if there was not a change in the Legislature, we would not be able to change the direction in which public education was heading.

Many of you worked hard during this campaign – participating in the endorsement process, phone banking, canvassing, distributing apple cards at polls, and talking with colleagues and neighbors about the importance of this election.

For some of you, these were new activities which may not have been entirely comfortable. Thank you for whatever you did to help move the needle forward. In many races, these activities

NCAE President Rodney Ellis

helped edge our endorsed candidate to victory. In some races, we closed the loss gap considerably – an accomplishment to build on for future campaigns even if our candidate didn’t win.

So, what do we do now that the election is over to keep public education in the spotlight?

1) We take stock of what we did well and what we could have done better. We document the lessons learned and goals achieved.

We collect and analyze the data so that we know who will volunteer and who will not, and begin to think about how to get more folks engaged because it matters and will be important during this long session.

2) We celebrate our successes, realizing that successes are sometimes different from winning. We set new goals to accomplish so we continue to challenge ourselves.

3) We strategically plan for the newly elected General Assembly. It’s still under one-party control so we must game plan for what to expect and how to meet those challenges. We reach out to those who share the same values and keep advocating for our students and our schools. We understand that the actions of the Legislature impacts students and educators every day. We must hold elected officials accountable for what they have and will do to public education and what they said during their campaigns.

Again, thank you for all you did during this campaign and all you will do in the upcoming session to fight for public education and students. Together, we will keep moving forward to make public education the best it can be. Not because we have to but because it is what we do and care about.

Rachelle Johnson, NCAE executive director

Holding True to Our Vision of Excellent Schools

Are You Connected?

As we prepare for the 2015 Legislative Session, we must embrace new, different, and better ideas on ways to fight for our students and public schools. We must work collaboratively with lawmakers to ensure that we as educators have what we need to ensure our children are successful. Click here to read ways your voice can be added to the conversation.

Want to know the latest NCAE news and places you can find great resources? Stay connected via the Association’s social media outlets. And don’t forget about the NCAE Web site.

• Facebook • Instagram • Twitter • Flickr • Pinterest

News Bulletin

December 2014

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Members Roll Up Their Sleeves to Keep Public Education the Focus of the Mid-Term Election Whether passing out apple cards at the polls, participating in door-to-door canvassing activities, making phone calls, or coordinating candidate forums, NCAE members played a huge role in showing their support for pro-public education candidates during the mid-term election. Here are a few of the many members across the state who worked tirelessly on behalf of our students and public schools. To read more, click here.

Laura Piner, South Central Elementary School, Pitt County – “I serve as the co-chair of our legislative committee and was involved in interviewing candidates and making decisions for our local’s endorsement process. I also led a phone bank activity. Although I have voted in every election, this was the first time I have been involved on the ‘front lines’ of an election. Prior to joining NCAE, I felt very strongly about the attacks I saw on educators, but did not know how I could help. I finally joined and make it a point to be as involved as possible. I know how important public education is and could not be a silent bystander as I saw attempts at blatant dismantling of our public education system occurring within the General Assembly.”

Jameel Williams, L.B. Yancey Elementary School, Vance County – “This election was not the first in which I’ve volunteered but it was very important that I participate in order to make sure that my colleagues and those in the community knew which pro-public education candidates to support. I was instrumental in coordinating the Vance County March to the Polls event and also worked with our local chapter of the NAACP and Black Caucus Committee. As educators, it’s imperative that we elect lawmakers who are concerned about our students, our educators, and every aspect of public education.”

Laura Hagwood, Charles T. Koontz Intermediate School, Buncombe County – “I recruited volunteers, phone banked, canvassed on weekends and handed out apple cards to voters during Early Voting and on Election Day. It’s the first time that I’ve actively engaged in a campaign and I’m not sure why I was hesitant to do so. I received such positive response from people in the community who genuinely wanted to know who the pro-public education candidates were. Public education is definitely something worth taking a stand for. Now it’s time to think about 2016 and how we can get more educators involved in making a positive difference for our public schools.”

Lyn Monroe Carter, Barwell Elementary School, Wake County – “I felt I needed to be involved in this election because I understand the importance of having pro-public education candidates in office. The decisions made by county and state officials directly affect my students and fellow educators. My roles included serving as co-chair of the Wake NCAE Government Relations Committee where I participated in the endorsement process, serving as the Wake NCAE phone bank captain, and helping to recruit volunteers.

Because we are on the front lines, it’s important that we support and elect pro-public education candidates who will work to change and implement policies that will make a positive difference in the work we do in classrooms every day.”

Todd Warren, Guilford Elementary School, Guilford County – “This is not the first campaign that I’ve actively participated in, but it’s the most involved I’ve been to date. I helped train members how to phone bank and participated in GCAE Get-Out-the-Vote events. As an educator, it is impossible not to see the negative impact that the General Assembly is having on our schools and our profession. It’s not only important that we stand up for ourselves, but our students. Now, more than ever, we need to make our voices heard. As one of the largest groups of employees in the state, our collective awareness coupled with action has the potential to turn the tide for public education.”

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News Bulletin

December 2014

VP Mark Jewell Talks Testing

measures must be implemented that could include student work, formative NCAE Vice President Mark Jewell assessments recently addressed the State Board of conducted by Education’s Task Force on Summative teachers using Assessments. His message: Educators curriculum need more time to teach. guides, team “NCAE strongly supports using projects, teachermultiple, well-crafted accountability made tests, and measures that gauge and promote real professional achievement,” Jewell said. “We need judgment. Some smarter, not more tests, that provide short-range students and schools with the tools they changes that can need to succeed.” be made immediately are timely testing Needed are assessment programs developed by teachers that ensure quality data and data that is relevant, in addition to giving teachers the time over quantity and “We need smarter, not more tests, that provide they need to teach and true time students need to minimize students and schools with the tools they need learn. intrusion on to succeed.” NCAE VP Mark Jewell Test scores, Jewell the shared, give little data on instruction how to improve school day. And, there must be a greater focus operations.

He encouraged the task force on targeted professional development. to keep an eye on discussions being had Jewell added that a “one size fits all in other states on alternative testing approach” will not work. “Multiple

solutions. “The bottom line is all of us – teachers, education support professionals, parents and policy-makers -- should be held accountable for the success of our students. We must work to reach and motivate every student and ensure they have the tools and resources they need to be successful.”

To read more about the short- and longterm goals for the state’s testing program based on current state and federal parameters, click here.

2015 NCAE Elections

Interested in Running for NCAE Office? Here’s What You Need to Do March 21-31, 2015, are the days the NCAE Board of Directors has allocated for the 2015 election of state officers, regional directors, NEA director, division officers and state-allotted NEA delegates. Offices that are available can be accessed by clicking here.

Forms for candidates running for NEA director or NCAE regional directors MUST be accompanied by an official NCAE biographical form, personal statement and a professional-quality photograph (either print or a highresolution digital image that is 300 dpi or higher). All materials should be sent to ncaeelection@ncae.org. Should you have questions or need a hard copy form, please send an e-mail to the above address or contact Derevana Leach at 1-800-662-7924, ext. 205. Hard copy forms need to be mailed certified and must be postmarked before midnight on January 7, 2015. Information submitted after the January 7

deadline, or without all of the proper documentation, will not be published in the NCAE News Bulletin. Candidate forms are also available on the NCAE Web site, www.ncae.org.

NOTE ABOUT NCAE AND NEA CONVENTIONS: Locals will have the opportunity to place nominations for the NCAE and NEA local delegates on the NCAE-NEA ballot.

The deadline for submitting local NCAE and NEA delegate nominations is January 7, 2015. Locals that are sending delegates to the NCAE Convention in Wilmington (March 20-21, 2015), also must turn in a list of state convention delegates to NCAE by February 10, 2015. A copy of the following items must be submitted with the list: 1) notification of the election to members, 2) the ballot used, 3) the reporting form, 4) the tally

sheet. Please send items to: Carolyn Evans, P.O. Box 27347, Raleigh, NC 27611.

NEA delegate lists are due to Carolyn Evans by April 10, 2015. NEA will send the forms and information by e-mail to all local affiliate presidents.

Please contact Carolyn Evans at carolyn.evans@ncae.org or call 1-800-662-7924, ext. 203, if you have questions.

REMINDERS: JANUARY 7 -- Deadline to submit candidate information for NCAE offices FEBRUARY 10 -- Deadline for list of State Convention delegates

News Bulletin

December 2014

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Dreams of Becoming a Teacher in the US

P R O U D

Leads Member from His Homeland to NC Julio Morales says as a child, he was fascinated with moving to the United States in hopes of one day becoming a teacher here. That dream became a reality 10 years ago when he applied for a job through the Visiting International Faculty Program and was hired to fill a position in Duplin County. It was the beginning of a new chapter in his life and since that day, he hasn’t looked back.

Currently in his seventh year as an ESL/Spanish teacher at Mattamuskeet School in Hyde County, Morales began his career in Venezuela at the age of 17, teaching English to children and adults at a language academy. After graduating from college, he taught at the Berlitz School of Languages as well as at a few public and private schools.

“I credit my mother with my love for education,” said Morales. “She was a science teacher and is currently the principal at the pre-K-12 school I attended.”

Morales, who led a very active life as a student back in Venezuela, maintains the same level of energy as an educator and member of the community. As a member of the Association, he is the 7-B director on the NCAE Board, is vice president of the NCAE Hispanic Caucus and volunteers as treasurer of the Hyde County NCAE. At school, he advises the Multicultural Club and serves as a member of the Superintendent’s Employee Advisory Committee. His community involvement includes serving as president of the Hyde County Children’s Center Board, as vice chair of the Hyde County Transit Board, and as a board member of the Ocracoke Health Center/Engelhard Medical Center.

“Living in such a beautiful yet isolated county has helped me realize that it really takes a village to raise a child. There are many needs and I try to the best of my ability to be part of the solution. Being part of school and community organizations helps me to support my community and students first hand.”

As for NCAE, Morales said he joined because it came as second nature to belong to his professional organization. “I am working hard to become more active and educated in how the public education system works in this state. It is my goal to work tirelessly to defend and enhance it.”

This young professional, who is working on getting his permanent residency in the United States, has achieved a lot in 10 short years. He says his greatest accomplishments are growing as a leader in the field, improving himself professionally, and being an important part of his students’ success in school and in their personal lives.

When asked what he would like his legacy to be, Morales said, “I want to show the world that regardless of race, background and upbringing, one can always leave a positive mark on the world and be proud of it!”

MOMENTS Congratulations to: James Ford has been named the Charlottean of the Year and is being featured in the December issue of The Charlotte Magazine. Ford, a teacher at Garringer High School in Mecklenburg County, is the 2014 North Carolina Teacher of the Year. Click here to read the story.

Dr. Rodney Shotwell, superintendent of Rockingham County Schools, for being named the 2015 A. Craig Phillips Superintendent of the Year. He was honored during an awards presentation and reception at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. The award was presented by the N.C. Association of School Administrators, the N.C. School Superintendents’ Association, and the N.C. School Boards Association. To read more, click here.

Five NC Schools Receive National Blue Ribbon Honors Five of the state’s schools have been named 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools. They were among 287 public and 50 private schools across the country where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap.

The schools that received this prestigious recognition are: • Briarcliff Elementary School, Wake County • Caldwell Early College, Caldwell County • Raleigh Charter, Wake County • Shoals Elementary School, Surry County • West Elementary School, Cleveland County The National Blue Ribbon Schools were recognized in one of two performance categories: Exemplary High Performing Schools or Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools.

State education departments nominate public schools that meet the rigorous criteria for consideration. Once all nominations are received, the U.S. Secretary of Education invites the nominated schools to submit applications for possible recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School.

Schools selected model excellence in leadership, teaching, curriculum, student achievement, and parental involvement.

To read more about the National Blue Ribbon School program, visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs.

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by Recent Legislation

The North Carolina General Assembly recently approved legislation to create a new category of eligibility under the State Health Plan to enable employing units to avoid tax penalties imposed under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). This new category extends eligibility to non-permanent full-time employees who traditionally have not been eligible for coverage with the State Health Plan. The benefit available to these employees is a high deductible health plan (HDHP). In addition, legislation was also passed that requires employing units to cover re-hired State retirees as active employees and specifies that during the time of their full-time employment, re-hired State retirees are not eligible for retiree health benefit coverage.

Employing units are responsible for determining the eligibility of their employees and for notifying the State Health Plan when a retiree is eligible for coverage with the employing unit.

While eligible retirees are not required to enroll in the HDHP, the retiree is no longer eligible for the State Health Plan retiree group coverage under the Retirement System. Upon notice from the employing unit of the retiree’s eligibility as a full-time employee the State Health Plan will terminate the retiree from the State Health Plan retiree group coverage under the Retirement System and will issue a letter to the member confirming the termination.

Any re-hired retiree who enrolled in the HDHP will be offered COBRA, if the individual is no longer eligible for the HDHP. In addition, loss of eligibility is a qualifying life event under the State Health Plan enrollment rules and retirees will have 30 days to re-enroll in their State Health Plan coverage under the Retirement System. If they fail to re-enroll within the 30 days, they will be unable to come back on the Plan until the next enrollment period.

The State Health Plan has sent several HBR alerts to nonBEACON agencies and posted information on its Web site to serve as a reference regarding the HDHP, including a Reference Guide to assist employing units in navigating through the HDHP eligibility requirements. This guide can be used as a reference tool; however, you will need to seek guidance regarding your specific needs with your employing unit’s legal counsel.

Questions can be sent to the State Health Plan at HBRInquiries@nctreasurer.com.

Reprinted from the NC Department of State Treasurer

News Bulletin

December 2014

There’s Nothing Wrong with Dreaming: Believe in the Power of Your Voice!

2015 NCAE Martin Luther Jr. Scholarship Event DATE: Friday, January 16 LOCATION: NCAE Center TIME: Reception 6-6:30 p.m. * Dinner 6:30-9 p.m.

TICKETS: $50 for Members * $75 for the Public HIGHLIGHTS: Keynote Speaker Montravias King, a city councilman from Elizabeth City, NC * Recognition of the Multicultural Arts Contest Award Winners and the Recipient of the 2015 Excellence in Equity Winner * Brief remarks by a few students who received the 2014 MLK Scholarship * Silent Auction If you are unable to attend, become a “Friend of the MLK Scholarship Fund” by making a tax-deductible donation. To order tickets or make a donation, visit http://ncfpsc.org/mlkscholarship-event by December 22, 2014.

The event is being sponsored by the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children (NCFPSC) and the NCAE Human and Civil Rights Commission. Proceeds will support the MLK Scholarship Fund.

The North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children is a North Carolina non-profit corporation and a section 501(C)3 organization under the Internal Revenue Code.

Our EIN is 56-1957977. All contributions are deductible for federal income tax purposes as provided by law. In accordance with IRS regulations, this message verifies that no goods or services were provided in whole or in part for your contribution.

Visit www.neamb.com/learnmore-welcome.htm for helpful holiday resources. Everything from maximizing your holiday budget to booking last-minute travel can be found.

News Bulletin

December 2014

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Germs! Germs! Go Away! Staying Healthy This Winter All those lovely children…they don’t call them snots for no reason! Snot, mucus, call it what you like, but know that your students are full of it. With the winter season just around the corner, it’s likely you’ll be exposed to all manner of common cold and flu. But you don’t have to get sick. Eat healthy, sleep late on weekends, and take the advice of veteran (and immune-superior) colleagues: ✓ Wash Your Hands! You’ve heard it before, but that’s because it’s the best way to stay healthy. It’s especially critical to wash your hands before lunch, after using the bathroom or blowing your nose, and before handling contact lenses. ü My Pencil, Your Pencil. While your students are busily solving equations, you’re walking between desks surveying their work. What’s this? A mistake?

Stop! Do not pick up their pencil! Carry your own pencil that you can grab to make notes on a student’s paper. ü Calling Mr. Clean! Wipe down anything that kids touch, including keyboards, but especially areas that could be warm and moist – that includes classroom sinks and water fountains. ü Pills and Potions. Vitamin C! No, it’s D! In any faculty lounge, you’ll hear

about all kinds of unproven preventatives that teachers swear by. At the top of the list is Airborne, a vitamin supplement invented by a former NEA member.

Echinacea is also popular, as is elderberry concentrate. One educator even recommends a recipe of one teaspoon of Bragg’s apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of water. ü No, That’s Not a Tea Pot…The neti pot looks a little like a genie in a bottle, but it promises all-natural magic. Daily users pour warm salt water into one nostril and out the other, and they swear it helps with chronic allergies and sinus infections. ü Chicken Soup and Lesson Plans.

Did everything right and got sick anyway? Drink plenty of fluids and rest up. But please don’t come back to school sick! Your colleagues and students’ parents won’t appreciate it. However, be sure to give adequate notice and use leave appropriately if you need to be out due to illness.

Reprinted from the NEA Web site.

For more tips on staying healthy, visit the NEA Health Information Network Web site, www.neahin.org.

Convention Housing Info The 2015 NCAE Convention and Representative Assembly will be held in Wilmington, March 20-21. Delegates or local affiliates are responsible for making their own hotel accommodations. Please visit the Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau Web site www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com to secure rooms. Click on “Wilmington” and then click “Hotels & Lodging.”

A limited number of rooms are available at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside Hotel (888-324-8170 or 910-763-5900), which will serve as the convention site and the host hotel. Below are two other hotels that are providing NCAE with a small block of rooms.

• Courtyard by Marriott 888-236-2427 or 910-632-2900 • Wingate by Wyndham - 910-395-7011 If you have any questions, please contact Carolyn Evans at 1-800-662-7924, ext.

203 or carolyn.evans@ncae.org. The deadline for making reservations is February 18, 2015.

Educators our savings pack a wallop!

Did you know you can get lower rates on your Horace Mann auto and home insurance if you have more than one type of insurance with us?

To learn more, contact your local agent or visit horacemann.com.

Auto and home insurance are underwritten by Horace Mann Insurance Company and its affiliates

Never overpay again when buying a car.

The NEA Auto Buying Program offers guaranteed savings and a no-hassle buying experience.

Members have saved an average of $3,078 off of the MSRP. Visit www.neamb.com/buyacar for more information.

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News Bulletin

December 2014

DEALS for NEA Members

Dates to Remember

Click & Save “Buy-Lights” for December

December

NEA Click & Save is an online discount buying service for NEA members. Check out these featured items for December, all designed to make your holiday entertaining and gift-giving bright!

7th 10th 21st 24th

Shoes.com: Get 10 percent off sitewide and enjoy a 60-day return period and pre-paid return shipping

31st

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Nominations for NCAE Awards Due Winter Solstice NCAE Holiday Break Begins (Offices Closed through January 1) New Year’s Eve

Brooks Brothers: Get 15 percent off in-store and online Zales: Save $50 on orders over $300; plus free shipping on orders of $149 or more PerfumeWorldwide.com: Get 10 percent off perfumes, colognes, hair care, skin care, cosmetics and more

Did You Know?

Omaha Steaks: Receive 50 percent off site-wide, and free shipping on orders of $75 or more HomeDepot.com: Enjoy 10 percent off appliances of $396 or more; free shipping on orders of $45 or more TicketsNow: Save 5 percent on sports, concert and theater tickets

NCAE Cultural Competency Workshop WHEN: Saturday, January 31, 2015 WHERE: NCAE Center TIME: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

REGISTRATION: http://bit.ly/ncaecare14

N C A E

N E W S

What To Do During Inclement Weather • If school is cancelled due to weather, certified workers have alternatives other than taking an annual leave day.

NC General Statute 115C-302(c)(1) allows a teacher to make up the day “at a time agreed upon by the teacher and the teacher’s immediate supervisor .” Be sure to document any work you do from home on a weather day, as your principal can agree to count working from home as make-up time.

• Classified employees, on the other hand, will have their number of work hours and corresponding pay reduced if they miss work due to weather conditions. They can make this time up after regular school hours or on weekends with permission of the district.

B U L L E T I N

Follow NCAE events and activities on:

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