December 2015 news bulletin final

NCAE

NEWS BULLETIN December

2015

NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS

Volume 46, No. 5

Happy Holidays INSIDE Two Pitt County members have opened their hearts and homes to foster children ... page 4 Mooresville City NCAE President Becky Snyder steps outside of her comfort zone to speak on an issue ... page 5 Members share why family traditions are a part of their holiday celebrations year after year ... page 6 6 smart money moves to make before Dec. 31 ... page 7

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NCAE

News Bulletin

December 2015

A Public Education Victory? You Bet, If We’re “All In!” “All In.” That’s what NCAE needs from you as a member is to be “All In” as we prepare for the 2016 Legislative Session and election cycle. Next year is critical to public education and it’s up to us to make a difference.

I know I can, I know you can, I know we can if…… we’re ALL Rodney Ellis IN! President On January 30, 2016, NCAE will host “Stand Up for the Schools Our Children Deserve,” a statewide gathering to expand our ability to shape public policy and the direction of our state’s public school system. This event will be held at Alamance Community College from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Other event organizers include Public Schools First NC, the N.C. PTA, the N.C. Justice Center, Moms Rising, Progress NC, Americans for the Separation of Church and State, and the League of Women Voters.

Over the last several years, North Carolina has been targeted by some lawmakers who seek to dismantle and privatize our public schools. We’ve experienced budget and personnel cuts, frozen salaries, rising class sizes, the infiltration of unaccountable charter schools, the elimination of due process rights, the funneling of public money to fund private school vouchers, plans to take schools away from communities and their democratically elected school boards, and attacks on our own Association.

This event is the first step in a plan that will span several months to engage more educators, parents, students, and members of the community in the fight to defend and

transform our public schools. What do we hope to accomplish? Efforts to get school boards/city councils/county commissioners to issue resolutions and take actions in favor of a pro-public school agenda ahead of the 2016 Legislative Session; actions that encourage local lawmakers to the General Assembly to support a pro-public school agenda; a statewide day of actions on the opening day of the General Assembly, which is April 25.

We need Action Teams consisting of a diverse group of 3-5 people from as many counties across the state as possible to participate in this event and glean the following: • An understanding of and tools to help others understand the political and economic context and motivations behind attacks on our state’s public schools • The purpose and timeline of the spring action plan and resources needed to take actions in their locals • Skills needed to take actions in their locals • Desire to build stronger relationships and plug into the action plan infrastructure in order to stay connected and support ongoing work In order for this plan to work, NCAE must lead. As our members, what we need from you is a commitment to help make this a success! We encourage you to spread the word about this event in your locals. Extend an invitation to a minimum of 3 to 5 people in your community (colleagues, parents, students, and/or those in the community who support public education). Assist with travel arrangements/logistics to ensure that the Action Team from your area is in place on January 30.

With ALL of us working together, we can successfully make a difference in 2016 for our students, our public schools, and public education. So, will you join me in being “All In?”

NCAE Election Forms Are Due Soon If you are interested in running for an NCAE office in 2016, now is the time to begin thinking about the process and getting your information in order.

The following statewide positions are open: NCAE president and vice president, Regional directors, NEA Delegate positions, offices within the Principal/Administrators Division, offices within the Education Support Professionals Division, and offices within the Student Services Division.

Forms for all positions are available by clicking here.

Forms for candidates running for NCAE president, NCAE vice president, Regional directors, and Division offices MUST be accompanied by an official NCAE biographical form, personal statement, and a professional-quality photograph. All materials should be sent to ncaeelections@ncae.org. Should you have questions, please send an e-mail to the above address or contact Derevana Leach at 1-800-662-7924, ext. 203. You may print a copy of your form, which must be submitted via certified mail and postmarked on or before January 7, 2016. Information submitted after the January 7 deadline, or without all of the proper documentation, will not be published in the NCAE News Bulletin.

NOTE: March 19-24 are the days the NCAE Board of Directors has allotted for voting on the above 2016 election of officers.

Make the Keep the future of NCAE in your hands by switching to e-Dues! The process is easy and simple. Click to hear from three colleagues on why signing up is so important.

News Bulletin

December 2015

NCAE

Naughty or Nice?

So, we’ve come to the end of another year. It’s time to assess the events of the last year and decide what was good and what was bad. Personally, I enjoyed my first full calendar year in North Carolina and at NCAE as your executive director. The year was full of relationship building and getting accustomed to Southern traditions. All things I enjoyed. For public education though, it was another tough year. Much of what happened to public education and students in N.C. is the result of actions or inactions by politicians or the state Legislature.

NCAE fought on many fronts and had an impact in staving off some real damage to public education and educators.

A review of five important changes that occurred in public education this year: 1) Chicken Feed – According to Governor McCrory, the $750 bonus given to most education professionals, including more experienced teachers, was chicken feed, but that didn’t stop him from signing the budget bill into law. It took the General Assembly until late September (the second longest session in recent memory) to make that decision. This bonus does nothing to move our state out of the bottom in teacher salaries.

North Carolina ranks 42nd in the nation and dead last in the Southeast in teacher pay. There is no plan to deal with this issue or reverse the trend of teachers leaving the profession.

2) Unaccountable Vouchers – The North Carolina Supreme Court in a 4-3 decision upheld the constitutionality of the Opportunity Scholarship Program, meaning taxpayer dollars can be used to fund private schools outside of the public education system. Many of these schools are unaccountable and not subject to the same standards as traditional public schools that serve all students. The General Assembly then used that victory to increase the allotment of public dollars to fund this program. This continues to siphon away needed resources from public schools to private interests.

3) Career Status – A couple of sessions ago, the General Assembly removed basic due process from teachers. NCAE filed litigation against the State alleging an unlawful taking of an earned right. NCAE was successful at the lower court level for teachers who had already earned it but not for those in the

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pipeline. The Appellate Court upheld the lower court’s decision, and the State appealed.

Until the Supreme Court decides the case next year, those with career status maintain that right.

We continue to fight for all teachers to have these basic protections – a clear issue for recruitment and retention of quality teachers.

Rachelle Johnson 4) Manual Typewriters – After Executive Director session ended, Senate President Phil Berger equated teacher assistants to manual typewriters, despite having never walked a day in a TA’s shoes. In the budget, the Senate proposed slashing the number of TAs in grades K-3, which would have eliminated more than 8,500 positions. The impact on student success and teacher workload would have been dramatic. After significant outcry from NCAE and other groups, the final version of the budget maintained these positions.

5) Education Leave – As if attempting to silence teachers and other educators from advocating for their students and public education was not enough (SB 480 – passed the Senate), the General Assembly took aim at NCAE leaders by placing in the final budget bill a provision that eliminates the ability of NCAE leaders to be on education leave in order to fight for students, public education, and our members. This prohibits NCAE leaders from earning retirement credit for their efforts in leading the profession and the fight for a quality public education for all students in North Carolina. Clearly, we are making a difference, and some don’t like it. We will continue our efforts.

As the New Year approaches and you consider your new year’s resolutions, I ask that you resolve to work for and vote for pro-public education candidates in 2016. Your efforts can make a big difference for your students and the quality of public education in North Carolina in the coming years.

Best wishes for a Happy New Year.

Interested in Attending the NCAE Convention as a Delegate?

One way to learn more about NCAE and become involved is to serve as a delegate to the State Convention. If you have an interest in helping to direct the work of the Association, here’s your opportunity to make a difference.

Delegates from across the state, who have been elected by their colleagues to serve on their behalf, come together to make decisions needed to move the Association forward in supporting public school educators and students. During this two-day annual meeting, delegates discuss and vote on New Business Items, Resolutions, and Amendments to the NCAE Constitution.

Any active member as of December 15 can serve as a delegate. To be considered, let your local president know of your interest. A list of local presidents and their e-mail addresses can be found here. Each local is allotted one delegate per 20 active members. If the interest is more than the local’s allotted number, the local president conducts an election and members vote from the pool of candidates.

Local presidents will receive the required forms to submit their list of delegates, which is due to Susan Kane (Susan.Kane@ncae.org) by February 10.

NCAE

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News Bulletin

December 2015

A Spirit of Giving Leads Educators to Open Their Homes to Children Without Giving and the holidays go hand-inhand. But for two members at Falkland Elementary School in Pitt County, giving is more than just seasonal, it’s a 365-day commitment to ensure children without a home have a place where they are loved and cared for.

Danian Carr, an exceptional children’s teacher and Linda Harris, a data manager, are both foster parents. Despite their extremely busy lives as educators in and away from school and raising families of their own, they heeded the call to open their hearts to complete strangers.

“I became a foster parent in 2000, initially fostering five children,” said Carr. “In 2010, my wife and I opened a foster care facility and have cared for more than 70 children ages 6-18.”

As a child, Carr saw his mother take in relatives and care for them. This prompted him to begin fostering children.

“I love helping them, seeing them grow, and ultimately unite with their families.

My biological children get very

attached to them and sometimes cry when they have to leave.

The experiences we have had with these foster children, and they with us, have

A “Shout-Out” to Rutherford County Schools Rutherford County is head-over-heels for its schools! Wonderful things are happening inside classrooms all across the county. To celebrate the great efforts, the Rutherford County NCAE recently sponsored a special event to say “Thank You.” Sue Collin, who serves as the local’s treasurer and the 1-B Region membership chair, helped coordinate the event. “It was nice that so many school clubs and organizations were able to get so many students to participate,” said Collin. “It was fantastic to see all the people here celebrating public schools.

We felt really fortunate.”

Several education supporters turned out for the event, including former Lt. Governor Walter Dalton, Rutherford County Schools Teacher of the Year Angel Ledbetter, Assistant Superintendent David Sutton, and NCAE Board member Kristy Moore.

Former Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton talks with Rutherford County NCAE leaders Sharon Lowery and Londa Von Weter.

“Our public schools in Rutherford County are in competition with charter schools, private schools, virtual schools, and home schools, and we get a bad rap from the N.C. General Assembly,” said Rutherford County NCAE President Sharon Lowery. “We just wanted to make sure the good people in Rutherford County got a glimpse of what happens in our public schools each and every day. I know that I learned several new facts!”

been life-changing. My family and I are glad that we are able to serve as a home away from home; a place that is warm, nurturing, and loving.”

Harris decided to become a foster parent because she grew up with foster children as part of her family. “My sister was a foster parent and even after the children reunited with their families, they continued to be a part of our family,” said Harris. “Even today at age 45, one of the young men still continues to call her ‘Mom’ and attend family functions.”

The mother of a biological daughter, Harris’ path to fostering came during a time when her plate was literally full. She was working on her degree at East Carolina University, was driving a school bus full time, started a new job, and was enrolled in two foster parenting classes. She juggled her schedule (and still does) to make it work because she knows how important it is for all children to receive love.

“My family and I are glad that we are able to serve as a home away from home; a place that is warm, nurturing, and loving.”

-- Danian Carr “Fostering is not easy but it is very rewarding,” Harris laments. “Sometimes the children reject what I am offering but I continue to try. For me, it’s about showing them they are loved, regardless; whether they want it or not. Being a foster parent has enlightened me to remember how blessed I was as a child and how blessed my 20-year-old daughter is.”

Harris has been a licensed caregiver since 2013 and currently cares for one foster child. She expects to open her home to a second child soon.

News Bulletin

December 2015

NCAE

Local Leader Doesn’t Let Nerves Overshadow an Opportunity to Speak on an Important Issue Stepping out of your comfort zone is never easy, as NCAE member Becky Snyder recently experienced when she spoke before the Mooresville City School Board for the first time about implementing the Association’s Beginning Teacher Organizing Program.

“Although I have had personal contact, conversations, and relationships with most of the people in the room in some capacity, I was still nervous,” said Snyder, who teaches at East Mooresville Intermediate School. “For me, humor keeps me safe. I wasn’t sure where to stand and awkwardly walked back and forth. I eventually laughed out loud and said, ‘Well, this makes me want to dance,’ as I proceeded to do just that in front of the group. We all giggled, I found the podium, and overcame my jitters.”

Snyder, who serves as co-president of the Mooresville City Association of Educators, was asked by the superintendent to speak before the board about the program, which is a way to connect the value of the Association to those entering the profession as new educators. As a project trainer, she will assist with in-service trainings requested by beginning teachers.

Although there are a variety of educational issues she could have brought before the school board, Snyder felt sharing information about the Beginning Teacher Organizing Program was appropriate. New teachers, she said, need support and are

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vital to the life of public education. “Our beginning teachers come to work with fresh and new ideas. They are vibrant and willing to soak up what they need to succeed in this new world called teaching. We spend hours helping to train, mold, and educate them and my heart continues to break when we lose them because we don’t have enough to offer them locally.”

Snyder said it’s important to invest in beginning teachers and help them recognize that this job isn’t just a stepping stone.

“This is the future of our country, our towns, and the community. We want to invest in new teachers and have them fall in love with the school district and the community. If we invest the time and effort, they will fall in love with their community and in turn make it a better place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Standing up and speaking out for something she believes will greatly benefit the Mooresville City community was scary and intimidating, but it was also exciting. “We [educators] do amazing things in our classrooms and our school board members deserve to hear about them. I’m passionate about what we do every day so it was important to me that this program be shared and documented as part of the meeting.”

For more information about the Beginning Teacher Organizing Program, contact Elic.Senter@ncae.org.

Anson County NCAE Working With Community to Resolve Educational Issues With school performance scores leaving many local school districts facing tough decisions on educational equity, Anson County is taking a community-based approach by encouraging residents to look at the problems and develop solutions beyond traditional remedies.

Anson County NCAE stepped in to assist by hosting a think tank surrounding the equity in education services being provided to students enrolled in Anson County Schools. More than 30 parents, teachers, students, and members of the community participated.

They received historical data on budgets and results relating to minority suspensions, alternative schools, and overall graduation rates.

Anson County President Dannie Montgomery was thrilled to see so many diverse segments of the community come together

to provide their perspective and ideas on such a critical issue.

“I hope that this conversation will spark a movement in the community to truly care about all children in Anson County.”

Small group breakout sessions allowed participants the opportunity to express their thoughts on the information they received and suggest solutions based on three focal points – school accountability, school resources, and family/community engagement. Each group was tasked with addressing issues of low-performing schools and generating ideas to help improve the outcome for all students. Many participants committed to continuing support of the ideas generated with emphasis on informing the public and attending Anson County Board of Education meetings to assist school leaders with ensuring equality and success throughout the school district.

NCAE UniServ Directors Keyth Harrison and Marcus Bass served as training facilitators, along with Angela Farthing, director of Instructional Advocacy and Organizing. The community conversation is based on the NEA training to empower community members on ways to hold conversations and create action steps to address closing the achievement gap.

Anson County NCAE applied for and received a grant that supports getting community members engaged in their public schools.

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NCAE

News Bulletin

December 2015

Holiday Traditions ... Members Share Why They Are So Special!

The holiday season is a time to build lifelong memories with your family. Traditions help us bond and reconnect with loved ones, friends, and neighbors. Each of us has a holiday tradition that we look forward to every year, whether singing carols door-to-door or toasting marshmallows around an open fire. To help ramp up the festive mood that is beginning to spread, members were asked to reveal their favorite holiday tradition(s) – past and present. This is what some of you shared: “Every year since my son was 5, we’ve gone to see a performance of ‘The Nutcracker.’ It’s our special mommy/son time. He’s now 11 and we still go on our ballet date each year.” – Misty Goodman, Kannapolis City

“My favorite holiday traditions begin right after Thanksgiving. My son and I trim the Christmas tree and decorate the house. We have done this for as long as he was tall enough to place his first ornament on the tree. On Christmas Eve, I cook for my immediate family. They all gather at my house to eat, sing, exchange gifts, and enjoy time together. The laughter we share and remembering loved ones who have passed on is an awesome feeling!” – Debb Verdell, Lexington City

“On Christmas Eve, we would eat cookies, drink hot chocolate, and read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.’ I started this tradition when my twins were born. They are now 24, but my 14-year-old and I read the story of the birth of Jesus and open one small gift before going to bed. I hope this is something they will continue to do when they have children of their own.” – Linda O’Neal, Rockingham County

“My three daughters and eight grandchildren gather at my house to bake and decorate Christmas cookies. We also gather around the table to compose our own version of the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,’ based on our family’s activities since last Christmas. We read it on Christmas Day. I love seeing the children’s creativity and humor come alive.” – Cathy Jones, Randolph County

“I really enjoy being up when everyone else has gone to bed. I turn off all the lights and sit with a cozy blanket and mug of hot tea while watching the tree and contemplating my blessings.” – Sharon Kolman, Chatham County

“Our favorite holiday tradition is reading the Christmas Story from the Book of Luke before we open our gifts. It takes a while but everyone gets to share in what others receive. It is such fun!” – Rebecca Willis, Brunswick County

“A number of years ago, we adults in the family felt that we no longer needed ‘things’ at Christmas. We now draw names and donate money to a favorite charity of that person. I give my nieces my money with a note letting them know of a favorite cause. I then donate the same amount of money.” – Mary Billingsley, Forsyth County

“It is a Christmas tradition in my family to have a Christmas Day pajama breakfast. Ever since I was born, my parents have hosted a Christmas breakfast that is so much fun it turns into a Christmas lunch and sometimes dinner. The menu and crowd have changed a bit over the years but the attire is the same ... warm, comfy PJs and slippers. We follow lunch with games, add in a nap and/or a movie and hang out sometimes until dinner. This will forever be a favorite Christmas tradition for me and now my daughters.” -- Valantina Stocks, Wake County

News Bulletin

December 2015

6 Smart Money Moves to Make Before Dec. 31 You’re in the thick of a busy school year, with the first semester wrapping up – and all of the paperwork that comes with it.

But with the holidays and the end of the year just ahead, winter break presents great opportunities for several smart financial moves.

In fact, with experts predicting that interest rates could rise in the coming year, you should consider taking advantage of the current climate with one or more of the following steps:

1. Refinance Your Existing Home –

Interest rates have held relatively steady in the last year. That means it’s still a good time to refinance, and you don’t want to miss the boat should rates rise.

2. Buy a House – Like interest rates, the housing market is headed upward. The median existing home price in August 2015 was $228,700, up from $218,400 in August 2014, according to the National Association of Realtors.

3. Trade in Your Old Car – If your set of wheels is constantly in the repair shop, it may be costing you more in the long run to keep it than unload it. Loan rates are still a good bargain, so if you’ve been on the fence about replacing your ride, it may be time to make the switch.

4. Pay Off Your Credit Card – Credit card rates are tied to the prime interest rate, so watch out for increases here. If you have a balance and you have the cash, you should aim to pay off your debt.

5. Beef Up Your Rainy-Day Fund – With school boards constantly under pressure to keep budgets lean, you should always have a decent amount set aside for an emergency fund. The general rule of thumb is to have no less than three to six months of living expenses allocated solely for this purpose, parked in a non-risk bank savings account.

6. Rebalance Your Portfolio – You need to prepare for the economic headwinds, and the rise in interest rates doesn’t bode well for bond funds. Now could be a good time to take a look at what you have.

For more information on refinancing, home buying, purchasing a car, lowinterest credit cards, and ways to save, visit the NEA Member Benefits Web site, www.neamb.com.

NCAE

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Time for a Parent/Teacher Conference? Have No Fear ...

Preparing for and Conducting Parent/Teacher Conferences Every nine weeks it comes around like clockwork…the parent/teacher conference. You no longer have to dread these meetings, which can be stressful for you as well as parents. With proper planning and organization, you can lay the groundwork for a productive relationship that will benefit the best interest of the student. Here are a few tips to follow to make the parent/teacher conference a positive experience!

If possible, include the child in the conference. If you need to critique him/ her on behaviors, performance or study habits, he/she is right there to help make a plan to correct. If all you have is praise, it’s great for the child to hear you sing!

Be prepared. Have some anecdotal notes, test results, work samples, and so forth to present and discuss in a concrete way, rather than vague references.

Ask the parent to bring you up to speed on past school years’ performance.

Be positive and focused on plans to correct any problems you and the parents and/or student agree upon. Be as specific as you can if you have ideas for implementing help. This may include

specific plans about how you and the parent will keep in touch in the ensuing weeks. In short, what can the parent expect you to do to report progress on any new tactics? Be wary of overburdening yourself with constant written reports or phone calls. Don’t forget you have other students, too!

Recruit the parent by impressing on him/her that you are a team. This may include suggesting that he/she take certain responsibilities in helping the student, too, such as monitoring, checking over work, or even signing daily or weekly reports from you.

Reflect on the child, not on defending yourself or your policies. Center on how the student can best mesh with classroom rules and procedures that are in place.

Be sure the parent knows what to expect as far as progress reports from you throughout the year.

Give contact information to the parent if he/she has concerns.

Start and end with something positive about the child.

NEA Web site

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News Bulletin

Greensboro, North Carolina, March 4-5, 2016

Embassy Suites

More information will be forthcoming closer to the event date.

Contact email: latavia.mayďŹ eld@ncae.org

December 2015

News Bulletin

NCAE

December 2015

Keep More $ in Your Pocket With NEA Click & Save The shopping wars have begun! If you want to save some money this holiday season, you’re already ahead of the game by being a member of NEA. NEA Click and Save is the online discount buying service for NEA members. You can save money on thousands of items by shopping online with popular retailers and merchants that you already love.

Visit www.neamb.com/clickandsave to get started. Once you register and begin shopping, you will earn WOW Points on nearly every purchase. These points are quite valuable; it’s like acquiring free money. Points never expire and can be used to buy other merchandise in the future. You will also have the ability to set up reminders so that you can receive notifications when specific items go on sale.

New retailers are constantly being added to the list to keep your shopping experience fun and exciting. To view a short tutorial on how to use NEA Click & Save, click here. Just remember, discounts are only valid for online purchases.

Happy shopping!

9 Dates to Remember

December 7th 10th 20th 21st 24th-January 1 31st

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Human Rights Day International Human Solidarity Day Winter Solstice NCAE Winter Holiday (NCAE Offices Closed) New Year’s Eve

Universal Human Rights Month

January 2016 1st 7th 8th 16th 18th 23rd 29th

New Year’s Day Deadline for Submitting New Resolutions Deadline for Submitting Nomination Forms for NCAE Offices War on Poverty Day Civil Service Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day NCAE Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Luncheon, NCAE Center (1-3 p.m.)

National Pre-School Fitness Day

MLK Scholarship Luncheon Shop smart this holiday season by taking advantage of exclusive deals through NEA Click & Save. No need to look for a parking space; shop in the comfort of your own home! Register at www.neamb.com/ clickandsave.

“There is Nothing Wrong with Dreaming: Believe in the Power of Your Voice!” is the theme of the 2016 MLK Scholarship Luncheon, which will be held on January 23, 2016, from 1-3 p.m. at the NCAE Center.

Sponsored by the NCAE Human and Civil Rights Commission and the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children, the luncheon will serve to recognize winners of 2016 MLK Scholarships as well as winners of the NCAE Multicultural Arts Contest.

Tickets are $35 (click here to order or for more information).

Proceeds will benefit the NCAE MLK Scholarship Fund.

N C A E

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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

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