NCAE North Carolina Association of Educators
News Bulletin Sept.
2019
Vol. 50, No. 2
www.ncae.org
State Budget Woes Continue to Loom! Dithering, namecalling, timewasting. For close to three months, the state’s Republican leadership has been engaged in the aforementioned shenanigans in a desperate attempt to hold on to their waning power. The result of it all? They are using a “minibudget” strategy to keep state government functioning, and are trying to pit teachers against support staff, and educators against public employees. “Governor Cooper delivered a compromise budget to Republican leaders in July, which they refuse to negotiate on while simultaneously complaining that the governor is not negotiating with them on a new budget,” said NCAE President Mark Jewell. “Meanwhile, we wait and watch as they pick and choose pieces to pull out in an effort to continue stalling the process!” One of the “mini-budget” bills is House Bill 426, which deals with raises for ESPs and retirees, would give custodians, teaching assistants, bus drivers, and other non-certified local school employees LESS THAN a 1 percent increase in the first year, and does not guarantee a raise in the second year. This is less than what was offered in the conference budget,
and a level that NCAE feels is insufficient and offensive to our members! This bill would also give retirees a pair of .5 percent cost-ofliving supplements over the next two years, both non-recurring. Currently, there is no bill that addresses teacher or school-based administrator pay. We expect to see a separate bill filed when lawmakers return from their hiatus on September 10. Like most educators, NCAE member Jameel Williams, a teacher assistant at Zeb Vance Elementary School in Vance County, feels a sense of uncertainty and is nervous of what the outcome may be. However, he said, “I know we are optimistic that Governor
Cooper will stand his ground in his belief for the state’s public school educators and students.” Before their departure, the Democrats offered 10 amendments on the bill, arguing for an 8 percent raise, better retirement COLA, and raises for non-certified school workers and community college and UNC system employees. However, when Speaker Tim Moore saw the amendments, he withdrew the bill and sent it back to the House Appropriations Committee. At this point, we are not sure what the bill will contain when it reappears, but we will update members when we know more.
NCAE News Bulletin
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Let’s Not Just Talk the Talk, But Walk the Walk! The anticipation of a new year is over. School is now in session, students are back in class, and you as an educator are on the path to ensuring they are successful. Whether a teacher, custodian, or resource officer, everyone in the building plays a Kristy Moore significant role in the Vice President learning process. On the day the school doors opened, many students came ready for the work ahead. They had their pens, notebooks, paper, and other supplies needed to get started. However, there were some who did not. They showed up with very little or emptyhanded, but they too were just as eager. Like their peers, they deserve the same chance at receiving an opportunity to shine, to thrive, and to grow. You understand and realize how important it is for all students to feel included and valued. You know what their needs are and will do your best to provide for them if you can. Teachers – you often sacrifice to buy school supplies, even clothes and shoes from time to time. Custodians – you frequently serve as a mentor to a child who is struggling and feels alone. Cafeteria staff – you see those children who may not be getting the proper nutrition and so you add a little bit more to their tray during lunch. Principals – the responsibility of the entire school rests on your shoulders; your leadership sets the tone for the building. Each of you, as well as the other education professionals who are part of the school, has been charged with the huge task of guaranteeing a quality public education for every
child in your care. You take this charge seriously, but wouldn’t it be nice if you had some assistance? Wouldn’t it be nice if those on Jones Street truly felt the same? They have the ability to provide funding for the resources and equipment you need, to increase per-pupil funding, to fix crumbling schools and build new ones, to invest in students’ well-being, and to implement a professional compensation and benefits plan so you won’t have to depend on two or three jobs in order to make ends meet! Schools are the hub of our communities and educators are some of the most revered people in those communities. Parents look up to you and entrust you with their most prized possession – their children. Your opinion is often sought after by those who are looking for answers on issues dealing with education. Students trust you, emulate you, and know that you only want the best for them. This is a new year and it’s another chance for us as educators to put into perspective what we need to do to ensure that ALL students have a bright future. The children we serve cannot help in which zip code they live, they cannot help who their parents are, they cannot help the color of their skin, and they cannot help to which school they are assigned. But, as the educators who help build their confidence, who teach them lessons, and who push them to excel, we can do everything in our power to let lawmakers know that they have a job to do. And, that job is to put all schools in the state on a level playing field; schools that focus on the success of EACH child that walks through its doors. As educators, we must continue to lift our voices in unison, share our stories, and invite our colleagues to join the cause. Our students are depending on us and we can’t let them down! We owe them that. We owe ourselves that! It’s all about Strong Students, Strong Schools, Strong Communities…this is all that matters and together we can make it happen! Let’s not just talk the talk, but walk the walk!
NCAE Staffer Marge Foreman to Receive 2019 Defenders of Justice Award “Marge is a true champion for public education. Her almost 35-year career here at NCAE has been spent ensuring that the best interest of educators and the students they serve are being met. No one is more deserving of this award. We are so proud of her and all that she has accomplished, and we know that she will continue this great work for years to come.” — NCAE President Mark Jewell The award is being presented by the N.C. Justice Center
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Is Summer Really Over? Every year about this time, I get sad and happy at the same time. I am sad for the end of summer, which is my favorite time of year, full of sunshine, beaches, barbecues, adventures, and joy. I also get happy at the thought of school starting; new students and colleagues; cool, new school supplies; and endless possibilities. I can never believe how quickly the seasons change or how quickly time passes. It is also at the beginning of every traditional school year that I take a look at all the things NCAE values and believes in and how we might accomplish our goals. There is much to be done to reshape public education in North Carolina, and we need everyone’s help to accomplish our mission to fight for Strong Students, Strong Schools, and Strong Communities. While I know and understand that we all have a lot to do and have competing pulls on our time, I know all of you are committed to the work of the Association and its impact on public education. That commitment of our members is key to positive policy change and the success of NCAE in shaping that change. So, how can you plug in and get involved in your Association? 1. Stay informed about educational issues and NCAE’s position on key issues. Share that information with others in your building or work location. Share it with your circles of influence. Keep track of what policy-makers are doing or not doing on our issues so that you can hold them accountable for their decisions. Get engaged with our campaigns on behalf of all students and educators. 2. Become an Association Representative or run for a local association leadership role such as president, Executive Board or committee chair. NCAE and local associations are always looking for members to take on new challenges and offer fresh perspectives about our collective work. Diversity on all levels is key to
continuing to move the organization forward. NCAE divisions also provide an opportunity to lead on their governing boards/councils as well. 3. Attend NCAE Rachelle Johnson events and Executive Director activities. Bring a friend, or 12! NCAE regions often have regional trainings around topics of interest to our members, and NCAE staff/experts provide informational updates at local and state membership meetings throughout the state, including professional development for local school districts. Statewide … anyone remember May 1? 4. Spread the word about the value of NCAE membership and invite others to join us on our journey to reclaim public education. There are lots of reasons to join NCAE. Your local president or UniServ director has membership forms that outline key reasons to join including leadership opportunities, social and racial justice advocacy, professional development, member benefits, political advocacy and much more. We are stronger together than we are divided. I look forward to the challenges ahead of us this year and remain energized around the great work that leaders, members, and staff do together to move the Association forward. As the temperatures begin to drop, the fire and passion around the work we do together remains high. Have a great school year.
Short on time but looking for resources to help with your job as an educator? Subscribe to the NEA School Me Podcast, where you can receive tips, tricks, and advice from colleagues across the country. Click here to sign up and to listen. Check out this episode on using humor in the classroom. It may be just what you’re looking for!
NCAE News Bulletin
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Ready, Set, Go! A New School Year Begins With Trainings, Member Recruitment NCAE leaders, staff, and members started the school year off right by attending New Teacher Orientations to recruit members, by organizing and conducting trainings for regional leaders, and by coordinating workshops for Association Reps. A lot of work needs to be accomplished in 2019-20 in order to produce Strong Students, Strong Schools, and Strong Communities, and everyone needs to be fired up and ready to go!
(LEFT): Association Reps from Hickory, Newton-Conover, and Catawba participate in a joint training.
(RIGHT): Training for Region 4 leaders.
(LEFT): Members of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Association of Educators sign up a new member during a New Teacher Orientation.
(RIGHT): LeAnna Delph talks with a prospective member at the Buncombe County New Teacher Orientation.
Rutherford County ARs planning for the new year during their training session.
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New NCAE Academy Focuses on Recruiting, Retaining Educators of Color It’s a well-known fact that equity among public schools across North Carolina is a problem. Bragg Street Academy, a public alternative high school in Lee County, is no exception, says NCAE member Daria Fedrick, who teaches there. The majority of students enrolled at Bragg Street are students of color and every day Fedrick says she feels they are not being equally represented. As an African-American educator, she wanted to find a way to better advocate for them, as well as ways to help draw more educators to the profession who look like her. She has found that opportunity through the NCAE Educators of Color Academy (EOC). The EOC Academy has been developed to recruit and retain educators of color in the field of education in North Carolina. It is being supported by a three-year grant awarded to NCAE by the NEA Great Public Schools Fund. Open to members of color, participants will receive support and instructional practices to implement in their schools, conduct community forums on the value and importance of educators of color, and serve as trainers and mentors. The first meeting was held in August at the NCAE Center. “The Academy will provide instructional strategies, support, and action steps that can be practiced and implemented in any role educators have in the field,” said LaAlice Hopkins, the instructional advocacy and policy specialist for the Center for Instructional Advocacy. “NCAE is extremely excited about the ways these members will be engaging in the community focusing on recruiting and retaining educators of color. There has been such a need to have educators reflect the student body in schools. The impact will be amazing and the Association is excited about being on the front line of this groundbreaking work!” Federick said when she saw information about the EOC Academy
she knew she had to be a part of it. “Sometimes minority educators feel like they have to go along with the status quo,” said Fedrick. “We don’t want to give the perception that we’re confrontational, that we’re not a team player, or that we are racist. But the initial training I received has shown me that I can respectfully ruffle a few feathers to promote change!” She also feels the EOC Academy can serve as a tool to teach non-minority educators how to cultivate better relationships with students of color and motivate them in the classroom. “There’s an invisible divide in our schools that has to be erased for minority students to be successful. There is no way they can be successful without everyone being fully on board.” Amazing, enlightening, spiritual, uplifting, and visionary is how Mark Colebrook describes the EOC Academy. A seventh-grade math teacher at Brogden Middle School in Wayne County, Colebrook wants to begin an off-shoot program in his county that aligns with the goals of the Academy. He, too, took away the lesson of why speaking up and speaking out is empowering, and feels it will provide a framework to teach his students that they are important and should not be ashamed of who they are. “We all have differences; what makes those who look like me different is that we are black or brown,” said Colebrook. “Other people may see that as a negative, but we must continue to turn it into a positive.” Being an African-American male in education is sometimes challenging, Colebrook added. One of the biggest challenges is the fact that there are so few males of color in the public education arena. Some students of color complete their entire K-12
experience without ever being taught by a male teacher who looks like them. “Often the perception of AfricanAmerican males in education is that we can only handle discipline issues. It’s unfortunate that we get typecast that way and that we sometimes aren’t considered for leadership opportunities afforded other male educators. Sometimes it seems we have to work harder to have a bigger impact on students.” Fedrick and Colebrook both agree that the Academy is a much-needed resource in addressing the problem of increasing the number of educators of color in schools. “I cannot tell you how ridiculously empowering it was being able to be in a room of like-minded, similar-looking individuals,” said Fedrick. “It was nice to have meaningful and motivational conversations with educators of all levels, from beginning teachers to veteran teachers.” “I now have a team of folks that I can rely on and look to for answers to questions I may have,” Colebrook added. “To me, this feels like an extension of my education family.”
NCAE News Bulletin
State Health Plan In-Network Dispute Is Over … NCAE Plays Critical Role! The State Health Plan’s network coverage dispute, that would have been effective in 2020, has been resolved, thanks to action by NCAE. The controversial attempt by State Treasurer Dale Folwell was to make the Clear Pricing Project plan (CPP) the only innetwork option for the State Health Plan. This means that the state’s 126 hospitals and healthcare providers would have been compelled to sign a contract that would have deemed them out-of-network. The good news is this plan has been abandoned and the Blue Options Network and the new North Carolina State Health Plan Network (providers who did sign the new contract) will give our members and other State Health Plan providers plenty of options for their healthcare needs. NCAE President Mark Jewell penned a letter to State Treasurer Folwell in July pointing out the detrimental effects this would have on public school educators and their family members. “State Health Plan members are rightfully frightened and frustrated at the lack of information coming out of your office, and we feel strongly that it is time to stop playing political games and put the best interests of members first,” Jewell wrote. “N.C. educators need you to do your job, so they can concentrate on doing their jobs!” Click here to read the letter in its entirety. For background, the Treasurer's Office began the push for the Clear Pricing Project earlier this year, by announcing that all providers involved in the SHP would have to sign new contracts or be considered out-of-network starting next year. NCAE was involved with this issue from the start, including meeting several times with the Treasurer's Office. Now that the immediate crisis has been averted, we look forward to engaging with the Treasurer's Office in a real and meaningful way to move the SHP in the right direction for 2021. News of the change prompted President Jewell to release the following statement: “We are relieved that all State Health Plan participants will have access to quality, affordable healthcare next year, and that our members will not have the prospect of their local hospital or doctor being out-of-network hanging over their heads as they prepare for the start of the upcoming school year. It appears the combination of the Blue Options Network and the new North Carolina State Health Plan Network will give members sufficient choice and access for their healthcare needs.”
“There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.” — Jiddu Krishnamurti
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Fall National Board Drive-in Sessions
If you are interested in pursuing National Board Certification, NCAE will offer several Drive-In sessions this fall. The fee for members is $20 and $50 for non-members. For more information, click here. Introduction to the Process and the Body of Knowledge September 28, 2019 •Region 3 – Charlotte, NC •Wake – Apex, NC •Region 6 – Lumberton, NC October 5, 2019 •Region 1 A&B – Hickory, NC •Region 2 – Mount Airy, NC •Region 7 A&B – Edenton, NC October 12 •Region 4 and 5– Durham, NC Deep Dives Into Components 2, 3 and 4 November 2, 2019 •Region 1 A&B – Hickory, NC •Region 2 – Mount Airy, NC •Region 3 – Charlotte, NC •Wake – Raleigh, NC •Region 6 – Lumberton, NC November 16, 2019 •Region 7 A&B – Greenville, NC November 23, 2019 •Region 4 and 5 – Durham, NC Nomina'ons Are Open for the 2019-2020 I Love My Librarian Award! The I Love My Librarian Award invites library lovers from across the country to recognize how their librarians transform their communities and improve lives; 10 exceptional winners will be selected to win $5,000 and be honored at a ceremony in New York later this fall. Library users from school, public, and college/university libraries can submit a nomination online at ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian between now and October 21. To start spreading the word about the award in your community, use the free promotional tools available on the I Love My Librarian website. The award is an initiative of the American Library Association.
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Education As a Profession
for Young People…Yes or No? Being an educator is a noble profession. The experiences of seeing a student have an “ah ha” moment or having a child say what a difference an educator made in their life are priceless. Most educators didn’t choose this work for the pay, or for the excessive amount of paperwork, or for the decisions being made by those who have never walked in their shoes! They entered the field because of their love for children. NCAE members were polled and asked if they would recommend education as a career choice for young people they know. Of the responses received, 10 said YES, 17 said NO, and 3 were UNSURE. Here are just a few of the comments. “I would absolutely recommend the field of education to a young person. I have been teaching at the elementary school level for 16 years. Teaching is so rewarding. It is the best experience ever when you teach children in kindergarten and they come back when it’s time to graduate from high school to tell you that they remember you, and to thank you for making a difference in their lives.” – Lakisha Mills, Devonshire Elementary School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg
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“I can’t recommend teaching. We have reduced down to a number (EOG scores) and N students remediate middle school students ‘ad nauseum.’ Teaching is no longer about building relationships with students; it’s about one test given by the state. We aren’t given resources. We scour the Internet for materials. We spend our own money. With the state of education in North Carolina, no one in their right mind would become a teacher!” – Tim Kenney, South Davie Middle School, Davie County “I always tell people who want to teach that it is a passion and hard work. I have seen as many new teachers stay feeling proud and excited as well as many that leave feeling upset and defeated. I have taught for more than 30 years and I would like to think teaching is a noble profession; however, it is not socially esteemed nor supported financially by society. It saddens my heart that I cannot quickly respond that yes it is a noble profession. Maybe I am jaded. I do know that teaching is not for the faint of heart. It takes passion and a love for children.” – Mandy Godbey, Marvin Ridge Middle School, Union County
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“Being a teacher and working with youth has given hope for the future. Young people are ready and Y me energized to make a difference and create a better world. There aren’t many professions where you have so many people building community, but community, connection, and caring are at the core of education!” – Meredith Licht, Brevard High School, Transylvania County
Fifty-seven percent of members who responded said they would not recommend education as a career choice for young people they know. “My two children expressed a desire NOT to be a teacher after watching me struggle with financial, physical, and emotional aspects of being an educator. I did not encourage them and I am glad they are not teachers. There is no respect, no professional salary, and no quality mental or physical health care that is affordable on our poor salaries. As long as NC educators continue to accept the status quo of being under the control of this Right to Work state, nothing will change.” – Penny Adams, Kitty Hawk Elementary, Dare County
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“I am beginning my 10th year in public education. I Y would recommend teaching as a profession to those who feel ‘called’ to this service, for it is a service to humanity and to our future. Teaching is a way to influence the future, and a way to stay connected to young people.” – Sharon Kolman, Chatham County “I have made education a career, and have taught N grades from pre-K through graduate level courses. Sadly, I would never recommend becoming an educator to anyone. Teachers are not only teachers, but have become the person who is expected to raise every child in this country without parental support and respect. We are expected to jump through more hoops than an animal performing in a circus! I love my students and cherish the impact that I have made on hundreds of lives, but I strongly discourage anyone from choosing this career path and it makes me extremely sad.” – Marian Anderson, Roberson High School, Buncombe County
NCAE News Bulletin
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NC Foundation for Public School Children…Building a Pathway of Hope, Dignity, Potential “Anna (student’s name has been changed to protect her identity) is 13 years old. She has not been able to hear since she came to our school as a first grader. Her family has no money and no insurance. With one simple phone call, your foundation gave Anna the gift of hearing. You have changed her world.” – Teacher from Union County Public Schools Every day, children like Anna struggle in school because they do not have resources to meet their needs. This is where the NC Foundation for Public School Children comes in! The mission of the Foundation is to provide for the needs that directly impact a child’s school experience when no other resource is available. It works directly with and through public school personnel. You can be a part of the story this school year by investing in this one-of-a-kind organization. Here’s how:
Eyeglasses Medication School Supplies Hearing Aids Medical Services
$50
Shoes and socks for 2 students
$100
Clothing for a homeless student
$250
Asthma inhalers or medication for 2 students
$500
Eyeglasses and exams for 5 students
Over half of public school children live in poverty?
Full year of school supplies for 20 students
There are more than 12,000 homeless people — 22 percent are children?
$1,000
Contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible – 501c3 non-profit tax ID 56-1957977. Visit www.NCFPSC.org for more information or to submit a request.
Clothing
Did You Know That in North Carolina…
More than 1.1 million between the ages of 1-10 are on Medicaid or uninsured?
Spending money on classroom supplies? Horace Mann is a national sponsor of DonorsChoose.org, a not-for-profit organization that connects teachers in need of classroom resources with corporate and individual donors who want to help. Teachers spend an average of $500 a year of their own money buying school supplies*. What could you do if you weren’t spending this money?
DonorsChoose.org is a great resource that allows teachers to request funding for projects that help you provide the educational supplies and experiences you’re your students deserve. You simply visit DonorsChoose.org, select what you need from the online store and start the crowdfunding process. Now, willing donors have the chance to give back and you have extra money to invest in your own financial goals.
Like you, Horace Mann is driven by the passion to make a difference. For this reason, they help find tools that benefit the financial security of teachers both in and outside of the classroom. By identifying resources like DonorsChoose.org and offering retirement solutions, they can help you enjoy the emotional rewards received from impacting the lives of others while also keeping sight of improving your own.
To schedule a workshop on how to maximize DonorsChoose.org or to learn more about Horace Mann, visit horacemann.com.
NCAE News Bulletin
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DEALS
2019
for NEA Members NEA Click & Save “Buy-lights” for September Hope you’re excited as the kids are about getting back to school! 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 September. • Office Depot – Find daily deals on school supplies, computer paper, backpacks, and arts and crafts supplies. Receive 3X WOWPoints on your purchase. • Macy’s – Update your wardrobe and maybe your home, too, with up to 60 percent off sale merchandise. Your order also earns 3X WOWPoints. • Land’s End – This global retailer offers classically styled apparel, swimwear, and outerwear for women, men, and kids. Right now, get up to 60 percent off sales styles and 2X WOWPoints – plus free shipping on orders of $50 or more. • FamousFootwear.com – Check out the huge selection of brand name shoes for the entire family – fall booties are currently up to 30 percent off. Earn 2X WOWPoints and get free shipping when you spend at least $75. • Crocs – Crocs footwear has evolved from casual and recreational to include professional styles that are soft, comfortable, light-weight, and have superior traction. Crocs-at-Work are now 30 percent off, and your order also includes 6X WOWPoints. • EBags.com – Whatever you need to pack or carry, go to the world’s largest online retailer of luggage, backpacks, and travel accessories for all lifestyles. Get up to 40 percent off and 6X WOWPoints, plus free shipping on orders of $49 or more. GE Appliances Sale Save up to 35 percent on select appliances through September 19, 2019. Visit the GE Appliances Store at www.Shop4GE.com for offer details.
N C A E
N E W S
Dates to Remember September 5th International Day of Charity 6th National Food Bank Day 8th International Literacy Day 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance 12th National Day of Encouragement 13th International Chocolate Day 15th International Day of Democracy 21st International Day of Peace 23rd First Day of Autumn Backpack Safety America Month Childhood Cancer Awareness Month National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month Self-Improvement Month
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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, Editor/Designer
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