PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA EDUCATORS
WINTER 2024
THE POWER OF
ADVOCACY EDUCATION-FOCUSED ADVOCACY TO THE GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Advocating for You | 2024 Legislative Priorities | How a Bill Becomes Law
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CONTENTS 7 IN THIS ISSUE 8 FROM THE PRESIDENT 10 TEACHERS: THE ULTIMATE INFLUENCERS
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA EDUCATORS
WINTER 2024
EDITORIAL STAFF Craig Harper Ramona Mills Executive Director
Executive Editor/Writer
Dolly Purvis Writer/Photographer
GUEST WRITERS THIS ISSUE Scotty Brewington Christy Todd, 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year PAGE One Official Publication of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators
Vol. 45 No. 1
16 ADVOCATING FOR YOU
As the largest independent educator association in the state and nation, the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) exists to support our members who serve in every Georgia public school. PAGE provides unparalleled legal coverage, legislative advocacy, professional learning, grants, and scholarships. PAGE honors and encourages educational excellence through student programs including Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR), Future Georgia Educators (FGE), Georgia Academic Decathlon (GAD), and PAGE Academic Bowl for Middle Grades.
26 S PEAKING UP: THE POWER OF ADVOCACY
19 P AGE 2024 LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES 23 PAGE DAY ON CAPITOL HILL 24 HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW
Winter 2024
40 KIM FOSTER JOINS PAGE STAFF 44 PAGE LEGAL AI Technology in the Classroom
PAGE One | 5
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In This Issue
It’s a cold winter in Georgia, but things are heating up at the state Capitol. On Jan. 8, the 2024 session of the Georgia General Assembly was called to order. Lawmakers are addressing numerous topics, including those that will directly impact public education budget and policy. As always, the best way to influence outcomes is to participate in the process – to advocate with elected officials. In this issue of PAGE One, you will: • Hear from President Khrista Henry: “I savor each opportunity to actively engage in the legislative process,” she writes. “As PAGE members, we are fortunate to have advocates who are as passionate about education as we are.” (pp 8-9) • Meet your PAGE legislative team – gaining insight into their advocacy work with lawmakers year-round and during each session of the Georgia General Assembly. (pp 16-17) • Read the member-developed legislative priorities that are guiding PAGE advocacy this session. (pp 19-21)
voice and create a future and life they can only dream about, and it is important that as teachers, we do the same for ourselves. It is important to get involved because we all have a stake in this and if we want to improve, we have to join efforts to ensure that every student in Georgia is served and every teacher in Georgia gets what they need to serve those students.” (pp 26-36) • View the intricate process through which proposed legislation moves beneath the Gold Dome. (pp 24-25) In addition to legislative topics, this issue explores ethical considerations of using AI Technology in the classroom (pp 44-46), introduces new service-focused staff members (pp 22; 40-41), and features Teachers: The Ultimate Influencers, an article by 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year, PAGE member Christy Todd. (pp 10-11) Enjoy this issue of PAGE One – and we hope to see you Feb. 20 at PAGE Day on Capitol Hill (p. 23). Thank you for your membership and the opportunity to serve you as you serve others. n
• Learn how each year’s priorities are developed. (p 18) • Discover what motivates PAGE members throughout the state to leverage their stories and experiences to amplify PAGE advocacy to policymakers. From the article: “As teachers, we are trying to ensure that our students feel empowered to use their Winter 2024
Ramona Mills Executive Editor PAGE One | 7
From the President
PAGE Invites Educators to Take Part in the Legislative Process
During the 2023 PAGE Day on Capitol Hill, several board members met with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, front row left, and Senate Education and Youth Committee Chair Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett) front row right. With them is (front row, from left) Past-President Oatanisha Dawson, Board Member Amy Carter, and Board Member Andrea Bridges and (back row, from left) President Khrista Henry, Board Member Jennie Persinger, attendee Bryana Higganbotham, and President-Elect Daerzio Harris.
As I sit this morning contemplating PAGE Day on Capitol Hill, I’m holding one of my favorite mugs, decorated with the Gettysburg Address. The last words on the mug are, “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” At no time is “by the people” state government more evident than the annual legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly. Each session, the state Capitol teems with lawmakers and citizens; the marbled halls are filled with individuals from civic organizations, special interest groups, and school tours posing for photos; the House and Senate chambers are abuzz 8 | PAGE One
with conversation; and all areas of the state are represented. I savor each opportunity to actively engage in the legislative process, and I always wish for my students to be with me to witness our government at work – for them, for all of us. When teaching 4th and 5th graders about the founding of our nation and our branches of government, I get excited to tell them that our legislative process affords everyone the opportunity to be part of the process that makes changes. It is an exciting exchange when I come back from PAGE Day on Capitol Hill each February and explain to stu-
dents that I talked directly with lawmakers and sat in the House and Senate galleries – not simply watching but actively participating in the legislative process! Having the opportunity to participate in this process is one of the many reasons I initially became involved with PAGE. The association is a strong, forward-thinking, positive advocate for Georgia educators. I have subscribed to PAGE legislative email and Capitol Report for many years. Any time I have questions concerning legislation, I email my PAGE Membership Services Representative (MSR). She is quick Winter 2024
with responses and, if she can’t answer my questions, she forwards my email to our PAGE advocates: the Legislative Services team. The team never fails to respond swiftly with the answers I need. PAGE Legislative Services team members are highly respected educator advocates under the Gold Dome. I’m always impressed with the work they do year-round, their knowledge, and their professionalism. As PAGE members, we are fortunate to have advocates who are as passionate about education as we are. They tirelessly follow legislation as it progresses during the session – making phone calls, sending emails, scheduling conversations with lawmakers, participating in committee meetings, testifying in hearings, tracking and reporting on bills, and speaking with the media. They do a wonderful job of taking the concerns of Georgia educators to the legislators and leaders who put laws and policies in place. As educators, we can often feel helpless about changes to policies that govern our jobs, and we can feel ill-equipped to be part of legislative conversations. But, through PAGE, Georgia educators have a strong and respected voice in the legislative process. Each annual PAGE Day on Capitol Hill provides members with an opportunity to amplify that voice by adding our individual advocacy to PAGE’s advocacy on our behalf. It is an exciting day when educators from throughout the state join together to take their concerns directly to lawmakers. This year’s event is Tuesday, Feb. 20. I hope you will join us! Even if you are unable to attend PAGE Day on Capitol Hill, PAGE makes it easy to stay informed of legislative happenings.
As educators, we can often feel helpless about changes to policies that govern our jobs, and we can feel ill-equipped to be part of legislative conversations. But, through PAGE, Georgia educators have a strong and respected voice in the legislative process.
How can you get involved, stay informed, and get answers to your questions? • Complete the annual pre-session PAGE Legislative Survey. Each fall, PAGE sends the survey link by email and posts to social media. Responses are anonymous with data reported in aggregate. • Get to know the PAGE representative in your school building. • Utilize your PAGE MSR. To locate the name and contact number of the MSR in your region, view the map on page 43 of this issue, visit the PAGE website, or ask your PAGE building representative. Knowledgeable and responsive, MSRs are available to answer questions your building representative may not be equipped to answer. • Stay up to date on Georgia education legislation by subscribing to the PAGE Capitol Report. You will then receive by e-mail a summary report from PAGE advocates each day of the legislative session.
Touring a new friend around the Capitol.
On these cool winter mornings when you are contemplating your day over morning coffee, remember our PAGE advocates who are championing our cause with Georgia legislators, and take a minute to catch up with the latest happenings under the Gold Dome. Our legislators are hard at work for us, “the people.” I encourage you to be part of the process. If we want to see change, we must remember that we are invited to take an active role in producing that change. n
Several members advocating “at the ropes.”
Henry received a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education (1995) and a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Gifted Education (1996) from the University of Georgia. She completed her Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Augusta University (2009). Henry taught gifted students in Clarke and Columbia counties prior to her present role as 4th and 5th grade gifted and talented teacher at R.L. Norris Elementary in McDuffie County. Winter 2024
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Guest Column
Teachers: The Ultimate Influencers
Todd gave the keynote address at the FGE Day at Georgia State University, this school year’s opening event. As part of her dedication to inspiring the next generation of teachers, Todd will join PAGE for several FGE Days this year. Here, she takes a moment for a selfie with students and educators.
By Christy Todd 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year As Georgia Teacher of the Year (GaTOTY), one of my favorite parts of the job is speaking to high school and college students; after all, I am a teacher. I love spending time with kids. So, it goes without being said that when I see a PAGE Future Georgia Educators (FGE) Day on my appearance schedule, I am PUMPED! As GaTOTY, I will give approximately 125 keynote speeches this year at conferences and events across our state to a variety of audiences. When writing a speech, I first spend time researching who is in the audience so I can tailor my message directly to their interests and needs.
10 | PAGE One
Since high schoolers are my audience for FGE Days, I’ve been reading a lot about Generation Z. They are entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and tech-driven people who want to connect and change the world. It is inspiring and amazing stuff. But as I started digging deeper, I found a fascinating statistic: One in four Gen Z-ers want to be a social media influencer… for their career. A Higher Visibility research study conducted in 2022 by Censuswide, surveyed 1,000 Gen Z-ers aged 16 to 25 across the US.* Not only did research find that one in four participants wanted to become a social media influencer, but they also found that 16 percent of those people would actually PAY to be a social media influencer!
Winter 2024
your colleagues after hours, attending a professional development event, or going out of town to a conference, spending time with other teachers is one of the best parts of this job. • And finally, if you want to be a celebrity, this is it! Every year, teachers directly impact students, their families, and their communities. The more years you teach, the more your celebrity status grows.
Todd and the students at the Georgia State FGE Day were all amazed at a presentation that featured how to teach about chemical reactions.
Number of Years in the Classroom (X) Average Number of Students Taught Annually (=)
I don’t know about you guys, but when I signed the contract for my first job, I made sure they paid me, not the other way around.
After each retiree determined their number, we added all the numbers together. The direct collective impact of 40 teachers?: 155,758 students!
You must really want a job badly if you are willing to pay someone for the opportunity. So, when participants were asked “why” they wanted to be a social media influencer, they responded with reasons including: • Free products • Holidays • Earnings • Followers • Meeting other influencers • Being a celebrity Well, when I saw this list, only one thought came to my mind: If you want to be an influencer… be a teacher! • Teachers get all sorts of free products, like homemade cookies, teacher discounts, school supplies, handwritten notes, and sometimes, if you are really lucky, Starbucks gift cards. • We absolutely own the trip and holiday category. Teachers have a yellow school bus that we can take anywhere we want to go. And we don’t play around with our holiday breaks, whether it be fall, winter, spring, or summer. Winter 2024
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of 40 retired educators. I may be a music teacher, but I stepped a little outside my comfort zone and asked the audience to complete a math problem:
Teachers are the ultimate influencers because of one simple fact. We have a superpower: Todd was happy to spend some time with a student after her keynote speech at the Georgia State FGE Day.
• Let’s talk about potential earnings: We make the same average salary as a social media influencer, but with a huge difference – we get a monthly check we can count on. Teachers also receive healthcare benefits and a retirement pension plan (Teachers Retirement System) in Georgia that is one of the strongest in the country. Without a pension plan, you would have to amass a fortune of millions of dollars to generate a retirement income equivalent to what teachers receive. • Teachers have followers. I can’t go to the grocery store without hearing a child calling out, “Mrs. Todd,” while running down the aisle to give me a hug. • We love to meet other teacher influencers. Whether hanging out with
Teachers change the future when we help students see their potential. And no, we might not get as many “views” as Taylor Swift or as many “likes” as Dude Perfect, but our collective impact is far greater. So, when you hear a high school or college student start to talk about why they want to be a social media influencer, do me a favor… Take a minute and let them know who the ultimate influencers are: Teachers! n *Source: https://www.highervisibility.com/ ppc/learn/gen-z-and-the-rise-of-influencer-culture/
2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year PAGE One | 11
IT’s Time To Apply for A PAGE Foundation Scholarship! Are you a Georgia educator seeking to advance your career through a higher degree? Maybe you’re a paraprofessional pursuing initial certification? Perhaps you’re a high school student interested in obtaining a degree in education or a college student pursuing a teaching degree??
PAGE Foundation scholarships are here to help! The PAGE Foundation awards scholarships – more than $600,000 to date – to eligible PAGE members seeking to advance their careers through higher degrees and to students aspiring to become educators. Applicants are scored based on academic achievement, recommendations, and written essays. Each scholarship is a one-time cash award payable to the recipient’s college or university. 12 | PAGE One
Winter 2024
MICHAEL YEAGER 2023 PAGE Professional Scholarship Teacher, East Forsyth High School Forsyth County Schools Applied at University of West Georgia
“I am proud to receive the PAGE Foundation Scholarship as it represents that my passion and energy for teaching are strong … As I always tell my students, ‘it’s not what I teach, it’s what you carry forward that matters.’”
AMORAY ROBERTS 2023 PAGE Dr. Allene Magill Support Personnel Scholarship Special Needs Paraprofessional, Seminole County Elementary School Seminole County School District Applied at Thomas University
“I am so grateful to be a scholarship recipient because it will contribute to the completion of my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Thanks so much to the PAGE Foundation!”
SKYLAR BRIDGES 2023 PAGE S. Marvin Griffin Scholarship Applied at University of North Georgia
“PAGE has allowed me as a first-generation college student to attend school another year. With a single mom and no money for college, PAGE has now given me the opportunity to become closer to my dream of teaching elementary school.”
APPLY TODAY Through May 30!
To learn more about PAGE Foundation Scholarships, visit www.pageinc.org/scholarships. Winter 2024
PAGE One | 13
The Help You Need When You Need It A unique, personalized service by educators for educators What is PAGE Coaching? PAGE Coaching is an exclusive members-only benefit available to you for as long as you maintain your PAGE membership. Are sessions with coaches confidential? PAGE Coaching is completely confidential, so you’ll be able to address even the most difficult and sensitive topics. Who are the PAGE coaches? All PAGE coaches are experienced educators skilled at mentoring, counseling, conflict resolution, relationship building, and educator best practices. Areas of expertise include regular education, special education, and leadership. How does PAGE Coaching work? At your request, PAGE will pair you with a professional coach for one-on-one sessions dedicated to assisting with your specific challenge. You’ll meet virtually to identify foundational issues. Your coach will then work with you to determine next actions to effectively address those issues.
?
rted a t s t e g o ady t
Re
access o t e d o c R form. t Scan the Q s e u q e R oaching C E G A P e h t
14 | PAGE One
Winter 2024
“
From a member who recently completed PAGE Coaching:
THE PAGE COACHING EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO ME. The guidance and wisdom shared has benefited me regarding instruction, communication, and relationship skills, especially with coworkers and administration.
I CANNOT THANK MY COACH ENOUGH. Not only was she professional, but she was also supportive and uplifting during a time when I needed it most.
I APPRECIATE AND RECOMMEND THIS SERVICE to anyone struggling in education.
Winter 2024
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Advocating for you: Meet Your PAGE Legislative Team
I
n your role as a Georgia educator, advocating for students is one of the important ways you look out for them. Advocating for Georgia educators is one of the many important ways PAGE looks out for you. As you consider the factors impacting your ability to effectively serve students while growing in your profession, caring for your family, cultivating work/life balance, and preparing for your future, there’s one critical aspect that may not immediately come to mind: state policy. State policy greatly influences your work – from compensation and retirement benefits to testing, evaluation, curriculum, class size, rules of conduct, and so much more. Changes in one or more of these areas can dramatically alter your 16 | PAGE One
work both inside and outside the classroom. And, the lawmakers responsible for education budget and policy decisions often have limited insight into your day-to-day realities as educators. This is why you need a team of legislative and education policy experts advocating on the issues and topics that matter to you. As a PAGE member, this is exactly what you have. Your PAGE advocacy team develops, communicates about, and advocates for policies at the state and federal levels that support Georgia educators and enable them to thrive professionally. Though their most visible work happens during each session of the Georgia General Assembly, the team advocates on behalf of members year-round.
Perennial education policy topics for which the team advocates include teacher pay, school funding, teacher evaluation and assessment, protecting the Teachers Retirement System, preventing the expansion of existing private school voucher programs, and stopping the creation of new private school voucher programs. Topics such as teacher burnout, recruitment and retention, and COVID-19 learning recovery have also emerged as major education policy issues in recent years. In addition to these policy areas, the PAGE Legislative Advisory Committee (p 18) works with PAGE staff annually to identify specific issues that require legislative action during a particular year. You’ll find this year’s legislative priorities at www.pagelegislative.org and on pages 19-21 of this issue. Winter 2024
Guided by direct member input, and in collaboration with the PAGE Legislative Advisory Committee, your advocacy team: n Attends each education-focused legislative and agency meeting
n Testifies at hearings and speaks with the media n Reports to members on all legislative and agency meetings and developments
n Tracks and analyzes all education-focused bills n Engages with lawmakers to:
n Provides members with policy resources and advocacy tools
• Raise awareness of the issues members tell us matter most to them
n Hosts member events such as webinars and the annual PAGE Day on Capitol Hill advocacy opportunity (p 23)
• Express concerns or support of proposed legislation • Recommend changes to benefit Georgia educators
Your PAGE Legislative Team Members Margaret Ciccarelli
Josh Stephens
Director of Legislative Services mciccarelli@pageinc.org
Legislative Services Specialist jstephens@pageinc.org
As Director of Legislative Services, Margaret Ciccarelli leads your PAGE advocacy team. Margaret has served PAGE members since 2003. She attended public school in Statesboro, Georgia, and is a graduate of the University of Georgia and Mercer Law School. Margaret lives in Decatur with her husband and their three children – all of whom attend public schools. The proud daughter of a life-long professional educator, Margaret is committed to providing the best in advocacy and legislative services to PAGE members.
Legislative Specialist Josh Stephens is a Georgia native with strong ties to public education. Growing up in Madison, Georgia, Josh’s mother served for many years on the Morgan County Board of Education. Josh completed his undergraduate studies at Augusta University before moving to Atlanta to earn his Master of Public Policy from Georgia State University. He and his wife Graci recently bought their first home in Covington, Georgia. A passionate advocate for Georgia educators, Josh has served PAGE members since 2012.
Robert Aycock
Claire Suggs
Legislative Communications Specialist raycock@pageinc.org
Education Policy and Budget Consultant
Legislative Communications Specialist Robert Aycock comes from a long line of Georgia teachers who instilled in him a strong commitment to supporting educators and public education. A graduate of Lassiter High School in Cobb County, Robert holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Georgia College and State University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Georgia State University. Robert lives in Mableton with his wife Leona, who he met while they were both interns at the Georgia Capitol. He has served PAGE members since 2023.
Claire Suggs is an education policy and budget consultant with PAGE. She has extensive experience in the policy sector including designing and leading initiatives to increase funding for public schools in Georgia, developing research analyses and advocacy strategies to expand postsecondary opportunities in southern states, and designing and conducting research to support and evaluate district reform efforts. Claire earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin. She lives in Athens with her husband and two children.
Learn more about PAGE advocacy, analysis, and resources at www.pagelegislative.org. Winter 2024
Stay up-to-date on education policy and PAGE advocacy activity by subscribing to the PAGE Capitol Report. https://bit.ly/3XBKuvF PAGE One | 17
YOUR PAGE Legislative Advisory Committee
Y
our PAGE Legislative Advisory Committee (LAC) consists of members representing each of the association’s 15 membership districts. The LAC also includes legacy members who have consistently demonstrated a commitment to the work of the committee. The LAC meets annually at the PAGE office in early September to develop the association’s legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Committee members also serve as subject matter experts for the legislative department throughout the year. As part of a recent redesign of the committee, formerly known as the Legislative Task Force, members now have an opportunity for enhanced participation in the association’s interaction with policymakers. In addition to in-person engagement with legislators during the annual PAGE Day on Cap18 | PAGE One
Top left: Kevin Keve and Kristi Keve (Thomas County) Top right: Emily Kobito (Cherokee County) speaking; Willie Matthews (Muscogee County) listening. Bottom center: Tisha Boyd (Clayton County)
makers rely on educators – the experts – for information on education policies that shape Georgia public education.
itol Hill, LAC members now have the option to attend virtual meetings with lawmakers, state education agency representatives, and other special guests throughout the year. We encourage LAC members and all PAGE members to develop relationships with their state House members and state Senators. These relationships are vital to the success of your association’s efforts at the Capitol as policy-
Members interested in serving on the LAC should contact Legislative Specialist Josh Stephens at jstephens@pageinc.org to request an application. As seats on the committee become available, the PAGE legislative team will contact applicants to schedule a virtual interview. Those selected to join the committee, serve at least one two-year term with the option to return for a second two-year term. All members of the committee attend the early September meeting at the PAGE office in Atlanta. n Winter 2024
PAGE 2024 Legislative Priorities
Support Georgia’s Literacy Initiative: Educator Professional Learning, Planning Time, and Class Size HB 538, the Georgia Early Literacy Act, reflects a promising commitment to improving student literacy. The initiative requires K-3 educators to complete professional development on the science of reading. Lawmakers should build upon this commitment by expanding the FY 2025 budget to fund literacy initiatives. By undertaking the following, the General Assembly can further ensure the effectiveness of literacy requirements: Winter 2024
Prioritize Educator Planning Time Lack of planning time contributes to teacher turnover¹ and impedes teachers’ ability to serve students.² The Georgia General Assembly made progress on teacher planning time with the passage of HB 340 in 2023, but planning time requirements remain waivable by school districts. For a variety of reasons, school districts often struggle to protect teacher planning time. PAGE One | 19
The legislature should examine the effects of waiving planning time requirements to ensure waivers do not negatively impact student achievement. Bolster Substitute Funding Schools encounter challenges identifying substitute teachers and often resort to alternative methods of covering classes.³ PAGE surveys indicate the third most common reason teachers lose planning time is when covering for an absent colleague. As teachers engage in new professional development requirements, legislators should consider bolstering funding for substitute teachers to ensure proper classroom coverage. Under QBE, school districts annually earn $150 per teacher to cover the cost of a substitute for eight days,
which amounts to $18.75 per day. This amount has not changed since 1985.⁴ Lower Class Sizes PAGE members highlight large class sizes as detrimental to student learning. Smaller class sizes in primary grades are linked to improved achievement, particularly among low-income and minority students.⁵ HB 538 requires the administration of K-3 literacy screeners three times each school year. The legislature should consider funding lower class sizes. It should also closely monitor the academic progress of districts which raise class size caps to ensure class sizes are low enough to ensure educators can connect with and successfully serve students.
Improve Safety, Discipline, and Mental Health in Schools Educators report that student discipline continues to hamper success in Georgia classrooms. Many educators surveyed by PAGE report dealing with disruptive student discipline issues at least once a month. In addition, PAGE educators say students require more mental health supports now than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Georgia educator assertions are echoed in national findings.⁶ Educators are also struggling with mental health issues. PAGE survey respondents identified burnout as the top reason motivating educators to leave the profession. The second most cited reason was student behavior. Failing to address mental health and school behavioral issues endangers the educator workforce, student success⁷, and school safety.⁸
of 1 to 250 students for social workers¹⁰ and 1 to 500 for psychologists.¹¹ Ensure Educator Well-Being Protecting planning time and duty-free lunches, increasing state funding for substitute teachers, and providing mental health supports – including expanded counseling options – will all significantly contribute to the improved well-being of Georgia educators.
The state can promote student and educator mental health by: Annual School Safety Budget Allocation While Georgia has made strides in protecting students and educators in schools through periodic funding in the form of school safety grants, there is no budget line item to make safety a consistent priority. Legislators should incorporate an annual allocation in the state budget. Increase State Funding for School Counselors, Social Workers, and Psychologists School counselors are funded at a ratio of 1 counselor for 450 students, which is nearly double the 1 to 250 ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association.⁹ The state funds one school social worker and one school psychologist for every 2,475 students, far exceeding the recommended ratios 20 | PAGE One
Winter 2024
Increase Transportation Funding State funding to transport students to and from school safely has not kept pace with district transportation costs. State dollars cover only about 12 percent of these costs, down from approximately 50 percent in the 1990s. This shift adds significant costs to local school budgets and limits the amount of local dollars that can be directed to the classroom. PAGE members commonly report that the bus driver shortage has contributed to lost class time due to late arrival, increased misbehavior on buses, and loss of educator planning time. Lawmakers examined student transportation funding in 2000 and 2012 and laid out recommendations to increase the state’s contribution, which have not been implemented. Guided by these recommendations, legislators should consider an incremental funding plan to: Develop and Enact a Pupil Transportation Plan Lawmakers should enact a 10-year plan, beginning with the FY 2025 budget, to bring state pupil transportation funding to a partnership level of 50 percent. The plan would provide the largest percentage increase in FY 2025, then smaller increases each year with the goal of sustaining partnership equilibrium by FY 2035. n
PAGE Legislative Priorities are created and approved by members every year. While the priorities reflect areas of PAGE advocacy focus during the legislative session for which they are generated, PAGE also strongly supports and continuously advocates for policies benefiting educators, students, and public education, including raising educator salaries and promoting strong retirement and healthcare benefits for Georgia educators.
¹Provasnik, S. & Dorfman, S. (2005) Mobility in the teacher workforce (NCES 2005-114). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/2005114.pdf ² McGoey, K.E., Rispoli, K.M., Venesky, L. G., Schaffner, K.F., McGuirk, L., & Marshall, S. (2014) A preliminary investigation into teacher perceptions of the barriers to behavior intervention implementation, Journal of Applied School Psychology, (30)4, 375-390 ³NCES School Pulse Panel https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/spp/results.asp ⁴Georgia School Boards Association. (2020). Rural Task Force 2020 Rural Report. Lawrenceville, GA. https://gsba.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ GSBA-Funding-rtf20.pdf ⁵Krasnoff, B. (2015) What the research says about class size, professional development, and recruitment, induction, and retention of highly qualified teachers: A compendium of evidence on Title II, Part A, program- funded strategies. Portland, OR: Northwest Comprehension Center. https://files.eric. ed.gov/fulltext/ED558138.pdf ⁶National Center for Education Statistics (2022, June 6) More than 80 Percent of U.S. Public Schools Report Pandemic Has Negatively Impacted Student Behavior and Socio-Emotional Development [Press Release] https://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/07_06_2022.asp ⁷National Association of School Psychologists. (2020). Mental Health and Academic Achievement [Research summary]. Bethesda, MD: Author ⁸Teasley, M. L. (2018). School shootings and the need for more school-based mental health services. Children & Schools, 40(3), 131-134. ⁹American School Counselor Association. (nd). School Counselor Roles & Ratios. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/School-Counselor-Roles-Ratios ¹⁰School Social Work Association of America. (nd). School Social Workers Helping Students Succeed: Recommended School Social Worker to Student Ratios. Retrieved from https://www.sswaa.org/_files/ugd/426a18_4050422b3c41478f9ee0db83d1bc1f75.pdf ¹¹National Association of School Psychologists (nd). Federal Public Policy and Legislative Platform. Retrieved from https://www.nasponline.org/research-andpolicy/policy-priorities/nasp-policy-platform
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PAGE Welcomes New Legislative Team Member Robert Aycock
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n November, the PAGE advocacy team welcomed Robert Aycock as legislative services communications specialist.
An Atlanta native, Aycock comes from a long line of Georgia educators. Both his mother and his grandmother taught in Georgia schools. This heritage has instilled in him a deep and enduring belief in the importance of supporting educators. During his first week at PAGE, Aycock hit the ground running, attending a State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting, conferring with a legislator about school safety funding, and helping to draft both the 2024 PAGE Legislative Priorities and the annual legislative survey report. “I’m very excited to continue supporting PAGE legislative initiatives and advocating for members throughout the state,” Aycock said. A graduate of Lassiter High School in Cobb County, Aycock holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Georgia College and State University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Georgia State University. Prior to his work with PAGE, Aycock served in a variety of roles in and around state government. He started his career in Georgia politics through a series of internships with the Georgia General Assembly and the governor’s office during the Deal administration. From there, he went on to work for the Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). Originally employed as a research analyst, Aycock soon became a member of the government affairs team, supporting the legislative initiatives of the state judiciary while also serving as a liaison with various judges and court officials. After leaving the AOC, Aycock reentered the world of data and research analysis when he joined the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) where he worked on educational statistics and numerous education-focused projects related to the teacher workforce and student success. “This unique background has prepared me to excel as part of the PAGE legislative team,” said Aycock. “I’m looking forward to all that we’ll accomplish this session and beyond for PAGE members and Georgia public education.”
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“I’m looking forward to all that we’ll accomplish this session and beyond for PAGE members and Georgia public education.” Aycock lives in Mableton with his wife Leona, who he met while they were both interns at the Georgia Capitol. When not working, Robert spends his time tending to his home and yard, playing with the family dog Winston, visiting friends and family, and cheering on the UGA Bulldogs during football season. n
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Your Opportunity for Direct Advocacy with Lawmakers PAGE Day on Capitol Hill Is Feb. 20
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his is it! PAGE Day on Capitol Hill is your opportunity to join fellow members at the Capitol for a day of education-focused advocacy on the issues that matter to you. Following an on-site breakfast, attendees will hear from legislators and policymakers as well as PAGE advocates and others during the morning session. All participants will then choose their preferred form of advocacy – direct dialogue with lawmakers or email correspondence. The event culminates in a lunch buffet and keynote address. In recent years, attendees have heard from Gov. Brian Kemp, State School Superintendent Richard Woods, Senate Education and Youth Committee member Sonya Halpern (D-Atlanta), and House Education Committee chair Chris Erwin (R-Homer). Multiple paths to register: • With your phone, hover over the QR code below • Copy the following into your browser: https:// bit.ly/PDOCH2023 • Access the link from any PAGE Day on Capitol Hill post on PAGE social media • Click on the link supplied in PAGE Day on Capitol Hill registration email in your inbox • Visit www.pageinc.org, select Legislative, then Events, then PAGE Day on Capitol Hill Questions? Contact PAGE Legislative Specialist Josh Stephens: jstephens@pageinc.org. Hoping to see you at the Capitol!
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Register Today.
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HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW
START
Legislator drafts a bill.
Legislator files bill with Clerk of House or Secretary of Senate.
Bill assigned to committee.
VOTE Bill goes to full chamber for consideration.
Bill goes to Rules Committee.
RULES COMMITTEE
PASS COMMITTEE. BILL MOVES. IF BILL FAILS, IT IS REJECTED.
Commitee hears testimony from the bill’s author as well as proponents and opponents.
VOTE COMMITTEE
PASS COMMITTEE. BILL MOVES. IF BILL FAILS, IT IS REJECTED.
VOTE VOTE
FULL CHAMBER
ORIGINATING CHAMBER
IF BILL FAILS, IT IS REJECTED.
DIFFERENCES? BILLS GOES TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
Originating chamber considers bill.
AMENDED BILL PASSES, GO TO GOVERNOR
PASS CHAMBER. BILLS GOES TO GOVERNOR
Conference Committee works out differences
GOVERNOR SIGNS. BILL IS LAW.
BILL IS AMENDED AND GOES BACK TO ORIGINATING CHAMBER.
GOVERNOR DOESN’T SIGN. BECOMES LAW IN 40 DAYS.
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VETO. BILL FAILS AND IS REJECTED.
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COMMITTEE PASS COMMITTEE. BILL MOVES.
Bill goes to Rules Committee.
IF BILL FAILS, IT IS REJECTED.
RULES COMMITTEE PASS COMMITTEE. BILL MOVES. IF BILL FAILS, IT IS REJECTED.
Bill assigned to committee.
Commitee hears testimony from the bill’s author as well as proponents and opponents.
Bill goes to full chamber for consideration.
Bill moves to other chamber.
VOTE FULL CHAMBER PASS CHAMBER. BILL MOVES. IF BILL FAILS, IT IS REJECTED.
ABOUT CROSSOVER DAY
VOTE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
PASS CONFERENCE COMMITTEE BILL MOVES.
IF BILL FAILS, IT IS REJECTED.
Both Chambers Consider Conference Committee Bill.
Crossover Day is the last day that a bill can be passed in one chamber and sent to the next chamber. Bills that do not receive a floor vote by Crossover Day are not eligible to pass during the current legislative session unless added to another bill.
VOTE
BOTH CHAMBERS
VOTE
VOTE
PASS BOTH CHAMBERS. BILL GOES TO GOVERNOR IF BILL FAILS, IT IS REJECTED.
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Bills can be revised at multiple points in the legislative process: committee meetings, floor debate, and conference committee. PAGE One | 25
Speaking Up: The Power of Advocacy
Members throughout the state are leveraging their stories and experiences to amplify PAGE advocacy to policymakers. They’re speaking up and making their voices heard.
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our Professional Association of Georgia Educators is a dedicated, highly effective advocate for teachers, students, and public education. Informed by annual member surveys and guided by member-developed legislative priorities, the PAGE legislative team serves as your eyes, ears, and influential voice at the state Capitol. During each session of the Georgia General Assembly, PAGE legislative team members are at the Capitol moni-
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toring and analyzing education-related legislation, meeting with lawmakers, attending and presenting at committee meetings, testifying in hearings, speaking with the media, and taking other focused action to promote legislation beneficial to members while working to stop harmful bills. PAGE advocacy is a powerful voice within the legislative process. When paired with individual educator advocacy, that voice is amplified exponentially.
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“Lawmakers responsible for education budget and policy decisions often have little insight into the day-to-day realities of teaching and learning. That’s why education advocacy is essential.” The Georgia General Assembly creates policies that directly impact public education and your work as a Georgia educator in critical areas such as: • School safety and threat assessments • Emotional wellbeing and mental health supports • Curriculum, literacy implementation and student learning needs • Compensation and retirement • Testing, evaluation and class size • Funding for school counselors, social workers, psychologists, paraprofessionals and substitutes • Student rules of conduct and pupil transportation Yet, despite the extreme importance of these topics, lawmakers responsible for education budget and policy decisions often have little insight into the day-to-day realities of teaching and learning. That’s why education advocacy is essential.
“PAGE advocacy is a powerful voice within the legislative process. When paired with individual educator advocacy, that voice is amplified exponentially.”
And no one has a better perspective on teaching and learning than those responsible for educating Georgia’s children. The 2024 session of the Georgia General Assembly is well underway. In addition to the powerful voice of your PAGE advocacy team, many individual educators are making their voices known. PAGE One talked with several of these outspoken members about their efforts with lawmakers – asking them to share how and why they blend personal advocacy with the advocacy work of PAGE. Here’s what they shared…
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Speaking Up: The Power of Advocacy Individual Education-Focused Legislative Advocacy – Why It’s Important “Many times, individuals think they don’t have a voice, but it’s like the song says – ‘each one can reach one,’” said Andrea Walraven, a work-based learning coordinator and gifted lead at Sonoraville High School in Gordon County. “Legislators need more input from teachers. If we don’t tell the legislators how we feel and what these specific pieces of legislation will do to us in the classroom, how will they know?” Walraven, a former social studies teacher, has attended PAGE Day on Capitol Hill and many legislative advisory committee meetings. As the PAGE building representative for her school, she reads the legislative updates and condenses them to keep her coworkers updated about what is being discussed by the Georgia General Assembly. “As a social studies teacher, I was always interested in the legislative process and wanted to get my students and other teachers interested in the process as well,” said Walraven. “You think you are just one person, but together you become a voice. It is so important for individuals to realize that collectively, we have a voice in education and we have to advocate for ourselves.”
Nancy Ratcliffe, retired educator and former PAGE Membership Services Representative, advocating during a PAGE Legislative Advisory Committee meeting.
Nancy Ratcliffe, a veteran educator with 45 years experience in education – 35 of those in high school English and academic intervention – served as a PAGE membership services representative for 10 years in Northwest Georgia. During her tenure, Ratcliffe, who retired in 2022, also urged the members she served to become active advocates for public education. “Legislators respond when they hear about a situation that impacts a particular child or situation,” said Ratcliffe. “If, for example, a child is not getting the services he or she needs or is not reading on grade level because the class is overcrowded – put the face of a child with the comments you make to legislators. Give your story a face. That can only be done by people on the ground.”
During small group discussions at a PAGE Legislative Advisory Committee meeting, Andrea Walraven, second from right, contributes to PAGE legislative priorities.
“It is so important for individuals to realize that collectively, we have a voice in education and we have to advocate for ourselves.” 28 | PAGE One
Ratcliffe, who has been attending PAGE Day on Capitol Hill since 2013, always made it a point to read each day’s Capitol Report to learn about pending legislation and its impact on Georgia teachers and students. Each morning, she would make sure members in her district received timely information about what was being covered in the legislative session so they could contact their legislators that very day. “When teachers who were retiring would ask how they could continue to be involved with PAGE, I always suggested that they ‘adopt’ their school and keep the staff there updated when the legislature was in session,” said Ratcliffe. “Many times, teachers are so busy in the classroom working with children that they appreciate having someone help them know when to reach out to legislators about critical bills.” Winter 2024
Oatanisha Dawson, past president of the PAGE board of directors, knows the impact an educator’s firsthand experience can make when shared with legislators. “No one can tell your stories. No one can give those details. No one can give life to those specific experiences that are happening in your day-to-day walk as a teacher,” said Dawson, who is also a former school principal and longtime Georgia educator. “What happens in the power of storytelling is an absolute game changer. The most powerful voices are firsthand.” Dawson, who has attended PAGE Day on Capitol Hill four times, has met with Governor Brian Kemp and multiple legislators and members of the chambers of commerce throughout her career. She has been a vocal advocate for public education, increased teacher pay and professional development opportunities, and ensuring that teachers have the equipment and training they need to deliver high-quality instruction in a virtual learning environment. Though not currently employed as a Georgia educator, Dawson continues to serve as an advocate for public education. Through her work as an educational leadership consultant, Dawson continues her work to benefit public schools and students with learning needs. “We encourage educators to speak with legislators – to empower them – because we are worth it,” said Dawson. “As educators, we need to go up to lawmakers and say, ‘this is what is happening in the classroom, and I am willing to share it with you firsthand.’”
Oatanisha Dawson, past president of the PAGE board of directors, meets with Rep. Al Williams during PAGE Day on Capitol Hill.
“As educators, we need to go up to lawmakers and say, ‘this is what is happening in the classroom, and I am willing to share it with you firsthand.’”
On the Hill or Through Email, Advocacy is Your Voice to Lawmakers For Lamar Scott, current treasurer and former PAGE president who has served on the association’s board of directors since 1990, the inspiration to advocate came from personal experience with the frustrations educators face. His 42-year career began as a paraprofessional and continued through the highest levels of administration – a route he believes ultimately made him a better school administrator because he walked in the shoes of classroom teachers, gaining first-hand awareness of their unique challenges. “I saw what was happening,” said Scott. “That first year I taught school, I had 34 10-year-olds in my class with no assistance.” Winter 2024
Lamar Scott, Title I director with Hart County Schools, has served on the PAGE board of directors since 1990 and is an outspoken advocate for Georgia educators. He’s pictured here with (from left) District 3 Board Member Mary Case, District 8 Membership Services Representative Joy Robinson, and District 11 Board Member Amy Carter.
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Speaking Up: The Power of Advocacy
“Make your voice heard. The more voices, the better off we are. Volume does speak.”
Lamar Scott with fellow advocates (from left) PAGE Board Secretary Susan Mullins, retired school superintendent and former PAGE staff member Gayle Wooten, Scott, and former PAGE President Kelli De Guire.
It is these kinds of personal experiences and insights that make individual advocacy so powerful and such a critical part of the legislative process, Scott says. For his part, Scott has made participating in PAGE-sponsored activities and attending PAGE Day on Capitol Hill an annual tradition. “I have been going almost every year since 1990, and I never hesitate to talk to the local representa-
tives I have gotten to know in the legislature over time,” said Scott, now a Title I director with Hart County Charter System. “I encourage others to send emails to legislators and am zeroed-in on advocating for public education. I encourage others to get involved and speak up as well. When PAGE puts surveys out there, complete them. When an issue comes up, make your voice heard. The more voices, the better off we are. Volume does speak.” Teresa Carver’s interest in individual advocacy work grew as she became more aware of the issues facing education and their impact on her students. Carver, a social studies department chair and systems lead induction coordinator at Thomas County Central High School, has taught for 36 years – 31 of those in public school. A longtime PAGE member, Carver is a PAGE building representative and has served on the legislative advisory committee. She also participates in PAGE Day on Capitol Hill whenever possible, visiting with her local representatives and advocating for issues that directly affect her district. “Email has made advocacy easy,” said Carver. “Over the years, it has become easier to have contact with legislators, but PAGE Day on Capitol Hill is a huge asset for advocacy because legislators know you have made the effort to come and advo-
Teresa Carver and fellow Thomas County Central High School educators Harley Tanner and Lawrence Hyde reviewing last year’s PAGE legislative priorities prior to their advocacy during the 2023 session of the Georgia General Assembly.
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Carver writes a postcard to her local legislator, and confers with fellow teacher Taylor Jenkins as the two prepare to email lawmakers.
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cate for Georgia children and educators. Show up at PAGE Day on Capitol Hill – and if you can’t do that – you can still email. Let your voice be heard.” Shannon Watkins, a 27-year teaching veteran and current member of the PAGE board of directors for District 5 in Paulding County, looks forward to attending PAGE Day on Capitol Hill each year as an opportunity to meet in-person with her local legislators. “PAGE does an amazing job of getting information out to its members to make sure we know what is on the floor each day so we can contact our representatives and senators,” said Watkins. “Two years ago, I actually got to sit down with Senator Jason Anavitarte and express a lot of concerns I had about school vouchers here in Georgia.” Watkins said she has also sent numerous emails to both her senator and representatives about various bills that have been brought before the legislature. She has also called their offices and left messages. “I know what committees they’re on, and I will let them know what I think,” said Watkins. “Every time a voucher bill has come to the floor, I have written and asked them not to vote for it. I have taught in both private and public schools in Georgia, and I feel like I have a voice in the voucher debate.” As a PAGE building representative, Watkins also helps spread the word to fellow educators when the Senate or House is going to vote on an important issue, and she helps colleagues find contact information for their local legislators so they can email and call them on their own. “Anytime PAGE sends something out about the Senate or House voting on something that will affect us, I push it out to my school and on social media,” said Watkins. “Two years ago, when the voucher bill was on the floor, I had someone ask, ‘how did you do that? Who did you contact?’ When I got home, I
“Show up at PAGE Day on Capitol Hill – and if you can’t do that – you can still email. Let your voice be heard.” Winter 2024
Shannon Watkins, an educator from Paulding County and member of the PAGE board of directors, is active in many PAGE activities, including advocacy. Here, she joins retired educator Sandra Westerfield; PAGE Student Programs staff member, Michelle Crawford; and B.J. Jenkins, PAGE director of membership services. Fri, Mar 3 at 4:22 PM To: jason.anavitarte@senate.ga.gov March 3.2023 Dear Senator Anavitarte. Thank you for serving the citizens of Paulding County and working on legislation that impacts the schools here in Paulding County. I appreciate the hard work that you are doing in the Senate to support students, parents, and teachers in Paulding County. Today I became aware of SB 233 that would create another voucher program here in Georgia. This bill would add a third voucher program to Georgia with no fiscal or academic responsibility and accountability. This means that state money that could go to fund public education would not do that. The bill currently has not been reviewed to determine the fiscal cost that it would have on the taxpayers of Georgia. PAGE has calculated estimates over a 5-year implementation period that go from $60 million during the first year to over $180 million by 5 years. This is not feasible and will hurt everything that has been done in the state to help public school funding. I would like to share my story of how I have worked in both public and private schools here in Georgia and that I really want to see transparency in the current voucher programs. I do not wish to see the programs expanded in anyway until the fiscal responsibility and transparency is in place. I taught in a private school in Cobb County that I know used money from the voucher programs and the school closed in 2014 because the administration at the school did not use fiscal responsibility in overseeing all of the finances. Thus, I feel that they abused the voucher program. I want to see fiscal and academic transparency in any voucher program which the state of Georgia has in place and was recommended by a state audit to the voucher programs. Again, no fiscal responsibility or academic transparency has been added to the two voucher programs that are currently in place. I feel like the Senate and the House have both wanted to add a third voucher program to increase the money in the voucher programs without seeking any input from their stakeholders and also not seeking a way to hold the voucher programs accountable for how the current money is used and how any future programs would use the money or tract student performance. Please vote NO on SB 233. This bill if passed will hurt our local public schools here in Paulding and impact the students by making money available to private schools that could potentially go to public schools. With the private schools not having any financial or academic transparency, we do not know how well these students are doing in private schools, and finally, these parents of students who are using the vouchers for their IEP students or 504 students sign their student’s rights away for these special education services. Please again. I ask that you vote NO on SB 233 and any future voucher bills that come before the Senate. I thank you again for all that you do to support the public schools in Paulding. Polk and Haralson Counties. I appreciate the work you have done on Alyssa’s Law. If you would like to discuss any ideas on how to create financial or academic transparency in these voucher bills, please let me know. I would be willing to testify and share my story with any of your fellow lawmakers. Sincerely, Dr. Shannon Watkins
Shannon Watkins, a 27-year teaching veteran and current member of the PAGE board of directors for District 5 in Paulding County, regularly advocates in person and by email.
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Speaking Up: The Power of Advocacy took the email I sent to my state representative and senator and forwarded it to that teacher and said, ‘Here – this is what I sent. This is how you find your representative. This is how you find your senator. Ask them to please not vote in favor of the voucher bill.” Advocacy work continues for many teachers even when they are no longer in the classroom. Retirement has not slowed Judy Teasley’s work as an education advocate. A veteran educator of over 23 years, Teasley currently sits on the Columbia County Board of Education and was appointed by the governor to the Georgia Commission for Civic Education. She served as a PAGE building representative, a member of PAGE’s board of directors, and as PAGE President in 2006-07. She is also a member of the PAGE Legislative Advisory Committee and is currently a lifetime member of the association. Despite retiring in 2010, Teasley still regularly attends PAGE Day on Capitol Hill events and is part of
a group of fellow retired educators – the Columbia County Retired Educators Association – that meets monthly to discuss issues related to education. “I still stay in touch and get the briefings every day on what is happening on the Hill. I still have legislators’ contact information, and I still send information out to my network of people,” said Teasley. “I have grandchildren in school. I am still going to say something if given an opportunity.”
Critical Legislative Topics for Educators For Lindsey Martin in Lowndes County, access to broadband in rural counties – an issue that was exposed during COVID-19 – remains a top priority for her district. Martin, a veteran English teacher and former president of the PAGE board of directors, has spoken to her local representative, Russ Goodman, about the issue many times. Goodwin, a farmer in neighboring Clinch County, understands the need for increased rural broadband. “Broadband helps farmers as well as teachers and students,” said Martin. “People in metro Atlanta can’t imagine not having internet in their homes, but for many people here, it’s a luxury. I always try to advocate for our rural students, teachers, and citizens because I feel theirs are voices that need to be heard.” For Martin, the concern is that progress will be too slow.
A veteran educator of more than 23 years, former PAGE President Judy Teasley actively advocates in many forums including within the Columbia County Retired Educators Association. In this photo, Teasley offers her thoughts during a PAGE Legislative Advisory Committee meeting.
“Getting quality teachers in the school system is always a concern – and having competitive salaries will draw and keep qualified teachers.” 32 | PAGE One
“My fear is that we will wait so long that there will be a generation of rural children that will miss out on some of the skills they need,” she said. “It’s important that we don’t speak in generalities. We need to tell legislators, ‘this is Little Johnny, and he has learning differences. His family doesn’t have broadband on their farm. How do we as a district provide support for him so his parents can conference with his teachers?’” For Carver, the teacher pipeline is always a critical topic. “Getting quality teachers in the school system is always a concern – and having competitive salaries will draw and keep qualified teachers,” said Carver. “I want to see Georgia education strong with qualified teachers fulfilling every spot for my grandchildren and even beyond. When we have quality teachers and we build for that future, it effects the entire community.” “When I think of what I made when I first started, Georgia educators have come a long way,” said Carver. “The Georgia retirement system is one of Winter 2024
Lindsey Martin, a veteran teacher and former president of the PAGE board of directors, advocates on behalf of her students in Lowndes County, a rural area of the state with insufficient access to broadband.
the strongest in the southeast and as I am approaching retirement age, I am very grateful for that.” In many other districts – like Gordon County, for example – basic issues like transportation are front and center. Hiring and retaining enough bus drivers throughout the district remains an ongoing struggle. “For my district and all over, transportation – finding bus drivers – is a huge issue,” said Walraven. “There is a statewide bus driver shortage, and when drivers have to drive multiple routes, kids get to school late and it snowballs from there.”
“I always try to advocate for our rural students, teachers, and citizens because I feel theirs are voices that need to be heard.”
Finding the Inspiration to Advocate “I’m a firm believer that when our society invests in public education, the rewards are exponential – not just for the kids but for the greater society – when all of our children receive the education that is their right and that they deserve,” said Cherie Goldman, 2022 Georgia Teacher of the Year, who teaches English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in Chatham County. “I have grown into this role of advocacy because at the core, I have a firm belief in public education and a conviction that it is our obligation to take our world from where it is to where it should be and that public education is a way to do that for everybody.” As 2022 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Goldman led the Teacher Burnout Taskforce. Educator burnout is an issue she has spoken about publicly with leaders at the school, district, and state level. She has also been an outspoken advocate for issues surrounding ESOL. Winter 2024
Cherie Goldman, 2022 Georgia Teacher of the Year, at the state Capitol.
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Speaking Up: The Power of Advocacy
“It is important for teachers to speak up on behalf of the students they interact with on a day-to-day basis.”
“While I was Teacher of the Year, I was very proud to speak on behalf of teachers and students, but I was still just one ESOL teacher from one school in Savannah. There are so many different teachers in so many different settings with many different specialties. I did my best to represent teachers as a collective, but it is important for teachers to speak up on behalf of the students they interact with on a day-to-day basis,” said Goldman. “I believe that every teacher is an advocate for their students and the families they serve,” said Michael Kobito, 2023 Georgia Teacher of the Year. “For me, it was very inspiring during my time as Teacher of the Year to get to travel around the state to meet with teachers, policymakers, and decision-makers to talk with them on behalf of our profession. I realized that people want to hear the voice of teachers. They are interested in what we have to say.” Kobito, a longtime PAGE member, currently works with the Georgia Department of Education as a teacher recruitment and retention specialist. “We all know the impact a great teacher has on a student’s growth, and we are facing a time where we need to recruit and retain teachers and help them feel that they are respected and supported in the profession because it’s the most noble profession we have,” Kobito said.
2023 Georgia Teacher of the Year Michael Kobito is a staunch advocate for Georgia educators.
“For me, the high point of my advocacy was a meeting in Gwinnett County that Governor Kemp attended in the fall of 2019,” said Charles Hyatt, a 30-year veteran teacher who retired from Forsyth County in 2021. “I am a believer in standardized tests for a reason, but I felt that we could use fewer tests and accomplish the same thing. I was not impressed with many of the high school milestone tests and felt that we needed to trust our teachers.” At that meeting with the governor, Hyatt took full advantage of his platform and used the opportunity to share his thoughts with Kemp. “I had the microphone, and I said to the governor, ‘I respect and appreciate the raise, but students
Kobito takes a moment to speak with students about becoming educators.
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“People want to hear the voice of teachers. They are interested in what we have to say.” Winter 2024
Retired educator Charles Hyatt sharing his insights about standardized testing during a listening session with Gov. Brian Kemp, State School Superintendent Richard Woods, and others.
are being tested too much. It’s stressing the teachers and staff and if we could give fewer tests, we could accomplish the same thing and have more time for instruction,’” said Hyatt. Ultimately, Hyatt said, the message resonated. “Enough teachers spoke up, and the governor is sympathetic to education. Plus, it’s just common sense,” he said. “The number of tests was ultimately streamlined, and that was good. Sometimes, the legislators don’t know unless the educators tell them.
“We have to join forces to ensure that every student in Georgia is served and every teacher in Georgia gets what they need to serve those students.” Only You Can Tell Your Story – and Telling it is Essential PAGE One asked the educators we spoke with what they would most like their peers to know about the importance of individual advocacy. For some, the work comes naturally from a sense of individual responsibility – both as an educator and as an American. For others, the drive to get involved Winter 2024
is born from a deep-felt responsibility to the next generation. For all, it is essential: • “As teachers, we are trying to ensure that our students feel empowered to use their voice and create a future and life they can only dream about, and it is important that as teachers, we do the same for ourselves,” said Kobito. “It is important to get involved because we all have a stake in this, and if we want to improve, we have to join efforts to ensure that every student in Georgia is served and every teacher in Georgia gets what they need to serve those students.” • “It’s exciting to be making a difference for the next generation of educators,” Ratcliffe said. “I will always be an advocate. Public education allowed me to grow and become a successful individual, and I feel like this is a way for me to pay it forward.” • “I don’t know many careers where you can advocate for the future,” said Carver. “Knowing what is coming your way potentially – what could happen in the upcoming session – gives you a sense of empowerment as an individual to share your beliefs and ideas on an issue and see it make a difference.” • “We have to be in control of our own destiny,” said Martin. “To advance education in our state, we have to tell our story. If we don’t tell it, someone else will.” • “I often see teachers who are disappointed at times because they feel they are not being heard or are left out of the conversation because only a few are sharing the story of what PAGE One | 35
Speaking Up: The Power of Advocacy
“The decisions that are made at 5,000/10,000/30,000 feet all hit the classroom. We as teachers see the impact and can make some really valuable suggestions.” education should look like,” said Dawson. “We need more voices out there – more real stories. If we don’t change the hearts and minds of those who make the decisions, then little will change.” • “You may be just one person, but one becomes 100 becomes 1,000 becomes 10,000,” said Walraven. • “We teach the children of Georgia, and they are our future leaders,” said Watkins. “I would encourage any teacher who has never been to go to PAGE Day on Capitol Hill to meet with senators and representatives and get a chance to share with them. If not, then write them an email. Legislators want to hear from the people they represent, and the more teachers who reach out to them, the more they will understand how education works.” • “Get your point across to legislators and let them know the issues that need their attention,” said Scott. “Tell them what is happening in the classroom and across individual school districts. The more people who give their input, the better off we will all be.”
36 | PAGE One
• “As a citizen of the state and nation, you should get involved,” said Hyatt. “When you make the profession better, you are making it better for students.” • “Democracy was never meant to be a spectator sport. We are expected to be involved. ‘We the people’ was written in big print for a reason,” said Teasley. “I was a social studies teacher, so I actually believe that.” • “The decisions that are made at 5,000/ 10,000/30,000 feet all hit the classroom. We as teachers see the impact and can make some really valuable suggestions about how policies and initiatives are implemented in the best interest of students,” said Goldman.
Advocacy Amplified Because legislators are rarely experts on education, they rely on input from those who are. PAGE advocacy to lawmakers, based on member-developed legislative priorities, is far-reaching and highly effective. When paired with individual advocacy, this positive impact is amplified exponentially. To learn more about PAGE Day on Capitol Hill and additional advocacy events and opportunities, subscribe to the PAGE Capitol Report, visit the PAGE website and choose the Legislative tab, and follow PAGE social media platforms. To contact your PAGE advocacy team directly, send an email to legislative@ pageinc.org n Stay up-to-date on education policy and PAGE advocacy activity by subscribing to the PAGE Capitol Report. https://bit.ly/3XBKuvF
Winter 2024
KEEP YOUR INFORMATION CURRENT WITH PAGE Keeping pace with your needs, PAGE has streamlined the system for renewing and updating your member profile. Visit https://members.pageinc.org or scan the QR code below to create an account and access this easy-to-use portal.
It’s Now Simpler Than Ever To: ENSURE THAT YOUR MEMBERSHIP REMAINS CURRENT
STAY IN-THE-KNOW BY KEEPING YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION UPDATED
CHANGE FROM STUDENT MEMBERSHIP TO PROFESSIONAL
If you transfer from a school system where you are on payroll deduction, you’ll need to provide PAGE with this new information in order to maintain membership and prevent a lapse in coverage and benefits.
Review your contact information, updating if needed, to ensure accuracy. Providing a personal email rather than a work email address is preferred as some school system filters will prevent receipt of messages.
When transitioning from student to teacher, ensure continued coverage by also transitioning your membership to professional. And you’ll receive your first year at half price!
Visit https://members.pageinc.org or scan the QR code at right to access the portal.
PAGE ONE Magazine, Professional Association of Georgia Educators Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation Title of Publication: PAGE One Magazine: Professional Association of Georgia Educators. Publication Number: 1523-6188. Date of filing: September 28, 2023. Frequency of issue: Four times yearly. Location of known office of publication: New South Publishing, Inc., 9040 Roswell Road, Suite 210, Atlanta, GA 30350. Owner: Professional Association of Georgia Educators, 2971 Flowers Road South, Suite 151, Atlanta, GA 31141.
Winter 2024
Extent and Nature of Circulation: Circulation of single issue published nearest to filing date: Total copies printed, 75,135. Sales through vendors, dealers, carriers and over the counter: 0. Mail subscriptions, 74,487. Total paid circulation, 74,487. Free distribution (by mail carrier or other means, including samples) 610. Total distribution, 75,097. Copies not distributed (office use, unaccounted for) 38. Percent paid and/or requested circulation: 99.2%.
Average circulation for each issue in preceding 12 months. Total copies printed, 60,005. Sales through vendors, dealers, carriers and over the counter, 0. Mail subscriptions, 59,305. Total paid circulation, 59,305. Free distribution (by mail, carrier or other means, including samples) 659. Total distribution, 59,964. Copies not distributed (office use, unaccounted for) 41. Percent paid and/or requested circulation: 98.9%.
PAGE One | 37
Protection AdvocAcy Growth economy
We’ve Got You Covered.
PROTECTION
• $1 million liability coverage*
• $10,000 coverage policy for legal defense of employment, criminal, and ethics cases with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission* • All coverage is “win or lose” with no reimbursements, deductibles, or up-front costs. • Direct access to one-on-one, privileged, and confidential guidance from an expert legal team • Interactive Code of Ethics presentations, FAQs, and informative resources
ADVOCACY
• Your voice at the Capitol — and with policymakers at the local, state, and national level • PAGE engages lawmakers on a variety of issues that affect educators and students throughout the year and especially during each session of the Georgia General Assembly. • Advocacy focus areas include salary increases and pay supplements, school funding, teacher evaluation, assessment and accountability, the Teachers Retirement System, and preventing the expansion of private school vouchers. *Coverages are subject to industry standard exclusions. For specifics of coverage and exclusions, visit the self-service member portal at https://members.pageinc.org.
GROWTH
• One-on-one coaching enables you to overcome professional challenges. • Growth-focused professional learning opportunities throughout the state. • Grants to support your classroom and growth as a Georgia educator. • Scholarships to support your continuing education and career goals. • Teacher and student recognition programs and academic competitions: STAR, Academic Decathlon, and more • Future Georgia Educators initiatives support Georgia’s teacher pipeline. •
PAGE One magazine, educator resource materials, and more to keep you informed
ECONOMY • More benefits than any other Georgia educator association • Your best value: — Less than $15 monthly for certified personnel — Less than $8 monthly for support staff • Dues support you — not political action committees; local, state, or national candidates; national organizations; or non-education issues • Dues stay in Georgia to work for you.
PAGE is the nation’s largest independent educator association — with members serving in every Georgia school district — and the best option for your professional future. Membership is available to all Georgia educators and school employees as well as college and high school students enrolled in education courses. Learn more at www.pageinc.org.
Professional Association of Georgia Educators
Doing the Good Work She Prepared To Do Kim Foster Joins PAGE Staff as College Services Representative
A
simple principle guides Kim Foster’s career in education: To do the good work she has prepared to do, whether as a classroom teacher, ELA department chair, teacher support specialist, or the newest PAGE college services representative. Along the way to preparing to do good work at PAGE, Foster spent a great deal of time on college campuses – even while teaching full time – to complete numerous degrees in nine years. Foster grew up on a farm outside Natchez, Miss., and knew from an early age that she wanted to pursue as much education as she could. After finishing her Bachelor of Arts in English (Secondary Education) at Louisiana State University (2007), she chose the University of Georgia for her Master of Education in Language and Literacy Education (2010).
40 | PAGE One
At 30 years old, she was finishing her Doctor of Education in Secondary English Education, which included her specialist’s degree, at Kennesaw State University (2016). As a PAGE College Services Representative, Foster travels to colleges and universities throughout Georgia to offer specialized training and encouragement to teacher candidates as part of the association’s commitment to enhancing the state’s teacher pipeline. Foster’s encouragement ranges from the concrete to the philosophical – from describing the salary benefits that accompany higher degrees to providing advice on how to get through the rough spots in life and career. “Teaching is a calling,” Foster explains. “We teach to raise up the next generation. What might seem very hard – impossible – is hard, but you can do it. You can do hard things.” Winter 2024
“Teaching is a calling. We teach to raise up the next generation. What might seem very hard – impossible – is hard, but you can do it. You can do hard things.” – Kim Foster
She presents to students in colleges of education two modules PAGE developed to assist these future educators with their early careers: Career Launch and Teaching 411. • Career Launch is a session PAGE developed following conversations with employers throughout Georgia to learn what they seek in teacher candidates. The module focuses on building professional resumés, preparing for TKES-aligned interview questions, correlating the students’ strengths to the needs of the school districts to which they are applying, and common interview mistakes to avoid. • Teaching 411 prepares teacher candidates for their first year. Based on input from novice teachers about what they wish they had known when they started their careers, PAGE developed this learning module focused on first-year success strategies paired with helpful topics such as tiered certification, school funding, contracts, the role of the local BOE, impact of state legislation, and retirement benefits. When you ask Foster why she’s so passionate about preparing the next generation of educators, she is quick to an-
swer: “I have four kids, and I want my kids to have good teachers. I want all kids to have good teachers. I want to educate college students about the things they don’t already know and encourage them that the profession needs teachers who really love the kids.” Foster adds that she wants to ensure students are “informed and inspired about degrees, benefits, and all the possibilities of teaching. It’s hard work but super-rewarding.” Prior to joining PAGE staff, Foster taught for 16 years, in the classroom as an English teacher and as the educator responsible for the Teaching as a Profession pathway. She taught eighth grade ELA at Haymon-Morris Middle school in Winder for five years, and ninth Grade Literature and ninth grade literature and composition and American literature at Carrollton High School for one year before settling with her family in Cartersville, her husband’s hometown. She is a Teacher Support Specialist, and he is an educator and head football coach. “Being at PAGE and working with college students is natural for me,” Foster said. “As a Teacher Support Specialist, my job has been to educate and encourage people to do well in the profession.” n
“Being at PAGE and working with college students is natural for me. As a teacher support specialist, my job has been to educate and encourage people to do well in the profession.” Winter 2024
PAGE One | 41
PAGE MSRs and CSRs: Who Are They and How Can They Help? • Wondering who to reach out to when you have questions about your PAGE membership? • Have an issue or concern that you need to bring to PAGE’s attention — but aren’t sure what department or staff member to contact? • Interested in scheduling a Code of Ethics presentation at your school or district office? • Looking for information about a Future Georgia Educators (FGE) program or event? • Need to know the name of your PAGE building contact or how to subscribe to PAGE Capitol Reports? For answers to these questions and more, call or email your PAGE Membership Services Representative (MSR) or College Services Representative (CSR). You’ll find MSR contact information on the map to your right and CSR contact information below. If preferred, send an email to membership@pageinc.org.
College Services Representatives Kimberly Foster kfoster@pageinc.org
42 | PAGE One
Mary Ruth Ray maryruth@pageinc.org
JOIN PAGE! Scan the QR code above or visit https://members.pageinc.org Winter 2024
Membership Services Representatives Jo Breedlove-Johnson District 3A jbreedlove@pageinc.org Hayley Gilreath District 7 hgilreath@pageinc.org
Dade
Floyd Rome City
9
Gilmer
White
Pickens
3A Paulding
Gwinnett Buford City
APS Fulton
Franklin
Jackson Commerce City Jefferson City
Madison
Hart
Barrow
Cherokee
Cobb Marietta City
Banks
Hall Gainesville City
Forsyth
Laurie Provost District 3B lprovost@pageinc.org
Stephens
Dawson
7
Bartow Cartersville City
5
Larrell Lewis-Oliver District 4A loliver@pageinc.org
3B Elbert
Clayton DeKalb Decatur City
4B
Clarke
4A
Oglethorpe
Oconee
Wilkes
Lincoln
10
Spalding Haralson Bremen City
6 Bob Heaberlin District 6 bheaberlin@pageinc.org
Rabun
Habersham Lumpkin
Polk
B.J. Jenkins Director of Membership Services, District 5, and Spalding County bjjenkins@pageinc.org
Diann Branch District 9 dbranch@pageinc.org
Union Murray
Whitfield Dalton City
Gordon Calhoun City
Chattooga
Gina Tucker District 4B gtucker@pageinc.org
Fannin
Catoosa
Walker Chickamauga City
Towns
Greene
Walton Social Circle City
Douglas Rockdale
Carroll Carrollton City
Hancock
Coweta
Richmond
Pike
Lamar
Meriwether
Jefferson
Putnam
Jasper
Butts
Troup
McDuffie
Glascock
Henry
Fayette Heard
Kathy Arena District 10 karena@pageinc.org
Columbia Warren
Morgan
Newton
Taliaferro
Burke
Baldwin Monroe
Peggy Brown District 11 pbrown@pageinc.org
Jones
Upson
11 Jenkins
Washington Harris
Joey Kirkland District 12 jkirkland@pageinc.org
Screven
Bibb Crawford
Talbot
Peach
Taylor
Muscogee
Emanuel
Wilkinson Johnson
Twiggs
Bulloch
Candler Houston Macon
Marion
Chattahoochee
Schley
13
Treutlen Evans
Toombs
12
Pulaski
Bryan
Montgomery
Dodge
Dooly
Effingham
Laurens
Bleckley
Tattnall
Chatham
Linda Woods District 1 lwoods@pageinc.org
Wheeler Liberty
Wilcox Webster
Long
Telfair
Crisp
Stewart
Sumter
Jeff Davis
Ben Hill
Turner
Appling
Wayne
McIntosh
1
Quitman Randolph
Michele Dechman District 2 mdechman@pageinc.org
Clay
Terrell
Calhoun
Early
Dougherty
Bacon
Coffee
Worth
Baker
Tift Mitchell Pelham City
Miller
2
Irwin
Lee
Pierce Atkinson
Berrien
Colquitt
Ware
Cook
Seminole Decatur
Brantley
Glynn
Laura Clements District 13 lclements@pageinc.org
Lanier Grady
Thomas Thomasville City
Brooks
Clinch
Lowndes Valdosta City Echols
Camden
Charlton
8
Joy Robinson District 8 jrobinson@pageinc.org
Visit https://www.pageinc.org/membership to access additional details about PAGE membership — including this MSR / CSR map. Winter 2024
PAGE One | 43
Legal
Ethical Considerations of Using AI Technology in the Classroom
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rtificial intelligence (AI) is a field of study that combines the applications of machine learning, algorithm production, and natural language processing. Recently, AI-powered chats that can emulate human-like conversation and thought processes have moved to the forefront of the conversation surrounding AI. Within the realm of education, AI technology has the potential to support educators in managing administrative tasks such as lesson planning and data tracking. Additionally, it can cater to the diverse needs of students by offering recommendations for materials and strategies that align with their specific classroom requirements. With the growing popularity of AI platforms, guidance regarding AI utilization is continually evolving. However, as with all technology used in the classroom, there are ethical considerations and best practices that educators should keep in mind when incorporating AI into their work with students. This article seeks to address that balance. Local Policies Educators should always consult their district’s technology policies and make sure they are following the proper procedure for their use of AI and any student use of AI in the classroom. If educators intend to use AI for administrative tasks such as creating lesson plans, they should consult their district’s policies and seek prior approv-
44 | PAGE One
al from administration when needed. Prior to educators introducing AI for student use, it is advisable for them to consult the existing policies in their district. Educators may also find it necessary to establish a policy to guide students. Such a policy would clearly state when the use of AI is allowed and when it is prohibited. It should also provide a definition of plagiarism. It is best to seek administrative approval prior to creating and implementing an AI policy for student use. In cases where a district policy may not explicitly address AI, educators should be mindful of state and federal laws that govern the use of technology in the classroom. Georgia Code of Ethics The Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) outlines 10 ethical standards for educators. Standard 4 (Honesty) states that “unethical conduct includes but is not limited to, falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting… information submitted to federal, state, local school districts and other governmental agencies; (and) information regarding the evaluation of students and/ or personnel…” Educators should keep in mind that AI-generated chats, like ChatGPT and other software programs, pull information from various data sources on the internet that include previously submitted information from other users. Before submitting any information ob-
Winter 2024
With the popularity of AI platforms growing, guidance regarding AI utilization is continually evolving. However, as with all technology used in the classroom, there are ethical considerations and best practices that educators should keep in mind when incorporating AI into their work with students.
Winter 2024
PAGE One | 45
Federal Laws Standard 7 is derived, in part, from The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that protects the privacy of student educational records. Because of this, any violation of Standard 7 could lead to a violation of FERPA.
tained through these AI platforms, an educator should review the information generated to ensure it is accurate and honest. Submitting inaccurate information could lead to an honesty violation under the code of ethics. Furthermore, educators should avoid duplicating content they didn’t generate, opting instead to utilize AI tools for brainstorming, editing, and enhancing content as necessary. Standard 7 (Confidentiality) states “An educator shall comply with state and federal laws and state school board policies relating to the confidentiality of student and personnel records, standardized test material and other information. Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to: (1) Sharing of confidential information concerning student academic and disciplinary records, health and medical information, family status and/or income, and assessment/testing results unless disclosure is required or permitted by law; (2) Sharing of confidential information restricted by state or federal law...” Sharing confidential information of students with AI platforms could lead to a confidentiality concern under the code of ethics. AI-powered systems can collect a large amount of data about students, including their academic performance and personal information. An educator must refrain from submitting confidential information like student names, grades, identifiable data, etc., into AI-powered platforms as this information can be stored and shared with others. For example, if an educator intends to input student test results into an AI platform for data analysis, they should avoid including any personally identifiable information, such as names or student ID numbers, during the process. 46 | PAGE One
Educators should be aware of the potential copyright issues related to using AI in the classroom and exercise care when using AI-generated content. Copyright is a form of protection granted by law for original works like books, songs, plays, art, and much more to those who author them. AI tools like ChatGPT are creating unique questions under copyright law that have yet to be answered. ChatGPT and others like it analyze a prompt and immediately generate text which gives the answer to a question or creates a work. These tools often extract data from diverse sources, potentially incorporating copyrighted content from third parties. The question of whether AI-generated content sourced from third-party copyrighted material constitutes an infringement on the original creators’ copyrights is still unanswered as there are ongoing court cases with no clear answer at this time. Overwhelmingly, the ongoing copyright infringement cases are not against the individual users of AI but rather against those who created AI platforms. One exception of importance to copyright infringement is the fair use doctrine that allows for the limited use of copyrighted materials without the copyright owner’s permission. This exception is crucial for educators, as copyrighted materials may need to be used for specific purposes, such as teaching. While fair use can be a valuable defense, it’s not a guarantee as the application of it is still being tested. Consult a PAGE Attorney as Needed By adhering to best practices and ethical considerations, educators can harness the power of AI in the classroom while avoiding any potential violations of law. If you have questions or need additional information on this or any legal topic related to your work as a Georgia educator, PAGE attorneys are here to help. Contact the PAGE legal department at 770-216-8555 (and select option 1) or email us at legal@ pageinc.org. n
Lauren Atkinson is a PAGE staff attorney. A former middle school educator with Atlanta Public Schools and graduate of Mercer University School of Law, Atkinson has served PAGE members since 2018.
Winter 2024
NEED TO CONTACT
PAGE? HERE’S HOW.
For your Membership Services Representative’s contact information, turn to page 43 of this issue or visit www.pageinc.org/membership.
GENERAL INQUIRIES 770-216-8555 (option 3) 800-334-6861 (option 3) info@pageinc.org PAGE ATTORNEYS / LEGAL SERVICES 770-216-8555 (option 1) legal@pageinc.org PROFESSIONAL LEARNING 334-734-0430 pl@pageinc.org LEGISLATIVE SERVICES 770-216-8555 legislative@pageinc.org MEMBER SERVICES 770-216-8555 (option 2) membership@pageinc.org
Contact Us ad for PAGE One Winter 24.indd 1
12/7/23 2:52 PM
Professional Association of Georgia Educators Legal Defense Fund Consolidating Statements of Activities for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2023 Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions Revenues, Gains and Other Support PAGE Contribution – operations PAGE Contribution - reserve Interest Income Total revenue, gains and other support Expense Legal Expenses License Renewal Total Expenses Increase (Decrease) Unrestricted Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions Beginning Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions Ending Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions
$ 1,052,100 $ 350,000 $ 89,745 $ 1,491,845 $ 526,250 $ 500 $ 526,750 $ 965,095 $ 4,032,415 $ 4,997,510
Professional Association of Georgia Educators Legal Defense, Inc. Consolidating Statements of Financial Position June 30, 2023 Assets Cash, Cash Equivalents, Short-Term Investments and Legal Reserve Fund Total Assets Liabilities and Net Assets Liabilities Legal Claims Payable Legal Claims Loss Reserve Taxes Payable Total Liabilities Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions Total Liabilities and Net Assets
Winter 2024
$ 5,753,984 $ 5,753,984 $ 51,481 $ 639,799 $ 65,194 $ 756,474 $ 4,997,510 $ 5,753,984
PAGE One | 47
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! WHAT’S COMING UP AT PAGE FEB
FEB
20
23-24
PAGE Day on Capitol Hill. You won’t want to miss this annual day of learning and advocacy with lawmakers at the state Capitol. More at https://bit.ly/3Dq6cuW.
Georgia Academic Decathlon State Competition. Looking for a great volunteer opportunity? Meet us at Kennesaw State University to help with this unique competition, testing participant knowledge in 10 academic disciplines. More at www.pageinc.org (select Georgia Academic Decathlon).
2024
2024
MAR
14
2024
Future Georgia Educators (FGE) State Competition. At Mercer University in Macon, FGE state competition brings together the next generation of educators. More at www. pageinc.org (select Future Georgia Educators)
MAR
29 2024
Deadline to Submit Future Georgia Educator Scholarship Applications. For high school students who will be majoring in education in college. More at www.pageinc.org (select Scholarships).
APR
MAY
2024
2024
Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) State Banquet. We will be in Duluth to crown the PAGE State STAR Teacher and Student from among the elite STAR region winners. More at www.pageinc.org (select STAR)
PAGE Foundation Scholarship Application Deadline. Are you working on a new degree? A PAGE Foundation Scholarship can help you earn that credential. More at www. pageinc.org (select Scholarships).
29
Winter 2024
30
PAGE One | 49
The PAGE One Team PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA EDUCATORS
PAGE OFFICERS President Khrista Henry President-Elect Daerzio Harris
Past President Dr. Oatanisha Dawson
Treasurer Lamar Scott
Secretary Dr. Susan Mullins
Ramona Mills Communications Director Executive Editor/Writer
PAGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS District 1 Bivins Miller
Passionate about clear, engaging communications, Ramona is an alumna of UCLA who honed her craft in the film industry before founding a Georgia-based creative agency. An education policy fellow and former district II chair of the Georgia School Public Relations Association, Ramona led DeKalb County School District’s stakeholder engagement initiative – launching an awardwinning magazine and branding campaign. Ramona joined the PAGE Communications team in 2019. Dolly brings to PAGE experience in the Atlanta news media, in higher education, and at several non-profits. An Agnes Scott College alumna and Leadership DeKalb graduate, she has garnered top awards for writing and photography from Georgia Press Association, Suburban Newspapers of America, Georgia PTA, and others. She is NW Metro Atlanta Habitat for Humanity’s photographer in her spare time.
District 2 Dr. Brecca Pope
District 8 Andrea Bridges
District 3 Mary Case
District 9 Jennie Persinger
District 4 Rochelle Lofstrand
District 10 To Be Filled
District 5 Dr. Shannon Watkins
District 11 Amy Carter
District 6 To Be Filled
District 12 TaKera Harris
Cover Design by Dolly Purvis
District 7 Lance James
District 13 To Be Filled
The articles and advertisements published in PAGE One represent the views of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, except where clearly stated.
DIRECTORS REPRESENTING RETIRED PAGE MEMBERS Vickie Hammond Dr. Sheryl Holmes The PAGE Board of Directors is made up of five Officers (President, PresidentElect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Past President), 13 District Directors and two retired Georgia educators. A District Director must be an active member of the association and have his/her place of business and office in the district, which such member represents. Nominations for District Directors and Officers are made by a nominating committee after an interview process of those who have been recommended or expressed interest in serving. District Directors and Officers are then elected for a three-year term via the annual online business meeting of the Association by a majority vote of the members. The two retired Georgia educators who serve on the Board are appointed by the President and approved by the Board for a three-year term. To express interest or apply for a District Director position, please contact your MSR (information on page 43 of this issue and on our website at www.pageinc.org) or Dr. Hayward Cordy (hcordy@pageinc.org). Each year, there are four or five District Directors with expiring terms that are up for election. 50 | PAGE One
Dolly Purvis
Communications Specialist Writer/Photographer
To contact the PAGE One Team, email us at info@pageinc.org.
To submit a topic for consideration, visit www.pageinc.org and select PAGE One Magazine. For advertising rates and opportunities, contact Sherry Gasaway of New South Publishing: 678-689-8303 or sherry@newsouthpublishing.net Contributions/gifts to the PAGE Foundation are deductible as charitable contributions by federal law. Costs for PAGE advocacy on behalf of members are not deductible. PAGE estimates that seven percent of the nondeductible portion of dues is allocated to advocacy. PAGE One (ISSN 1523-6188) ©copyright 2024 is mailed to all PAGE members, selected higher education units, and other school-related professionals. An annual subscription is included in PAGE membership dues. A subscription for others is $10 annually. Periodicals class nonprofit postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices. (USPS 017-347) Postmaster: Send address changes to PAGE One, P.O. Box 942270, Atlanta, GA 31141–2270. PAGE One is published quarterly by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators. ©Copyright 2024.
Winter 2024
YOUR PATH TO
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