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Now MoreThan Ever”

Special Membership Edition

“We Need Our Association

teach (USPS 742-450) is published monthly (ex-cept for June, July and December) by the Tennes-see Education Association, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville TN 37201-1099. Periodical postage paid at Nashville, TN. The subscription price of $3.65 is allocated from annual membership dues of $254.00 for active members; $127.00 for associate, education support and staff members; $16.00 for retired mem-bers; and $10.00 for student members.

Postmaster: Send address changes to teach,

801 Second Avenue North,Nashville, TN 37201-1099.

MANAGING EDITOR: Alexei Smirnov asmirnov@tea.nea.org

PUBLISHER: Alphonso C. ManceMANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS: A.L. Hayes

Tennessee Education Association801 Second Avenue NorthNashville, TN 37201-1099

Telephone: (615)242-8392, Toll Free: (800)342-8367, (800)342-8262

Fax: (615)242-7397Web site: www.teateachers.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT: Gera Summerford* (800)342-8367VICE PRESIDENT: Barbara Gray* (901)353-8590SECRETARY-TREASURER: Alphonso C. Mance (615)242-8392DISTRICT 1 Karen Anderson* (423)610-6030DISTRICT 2 Melinda Reese (423)587-2120DISTRICT 3 Patsye Thurmon (865)457-1636DISTRICT 4 Jessica Holman* (865)591-4981DISTRICT 5 Sandy Smith (423)991-8856DISTRICT 6 Beth Brown (931)779-8016DISTRICT 7 Patrick Britt (615)668-6042DISTRICT 8 Cindy Young (931)205-0399DISTRICT 9 Erick Huth (615)973-5851DISTRICT 10 Guy Stanley* (615)384-2983DISTRICT 11 Melanie Buchanan (615)305-2214DISTRICT 12 Debbie D’Angelo (731)247-3152 DISTRICT 13 LoMay Richmond* (901)867-1541 DISTRICT 14 Sarah Kennedy-Harper (901)416-4582 DISTRICT 15 Stephanie Fitzgerald (901)872-4878 ADMINISTRATOR EAST Carmelita Perry (865)594-4471ADMINISTRATOR MIDDLE Margaret Thompson (615)643-7823ADMINISTRATOR WEST Charles Green* (901)624-6186HIGHER EDUCATION Donald Sneed* (931) 221-0633BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER EAST Tanya T. Coats (865)594-1330BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER MIDDLE Alzenia Walls (615)230-8144BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER WEST LaVerne Dickerson (901)416-7122STATE SPECIAL SCHOOLS Joe Gregory (615)896-6927ESP Christine Denton (931)647-8962TN NEA DIRECTOR Stephen Henry (615)519-5691TN NEA DIRECTOR Diccie Smith (901)482-0627TN NEA DIRECTOR Diane Lillard* (423)478-8827STEA MEMBER Delvin Woodard (901)596-5706TN RETIRED Gerald Lillard (423)478-8827NEW TEACHER Larry Proffitt* (423)608-7855* Executive Committee

TEA HEADQUARTERS STAFFEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Alphonso C. Mance; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AFFILIATE SERVICES: Mitchell Johnson; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PROGRAM SERVICES: Carol K. Schmoock; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & TEA GENERAL COUNSEL; Bryan McCarty; MANAGER OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS: Stephanie Faulkner; INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & SYSTEMS MANAGER, Galen Riggs; MANAGER OF UNISERV: Ronny Clemmons; MANAGER OF UNISERV & BARGAINING COORDINATOR: Donna Cotner; STAFF ATTORNEYS: Tina Rose Camba, Katherine Curlee, Virginia A. McCoy; MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: Jerry Winters; GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ASSISTANT: Antoinette Lee; MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS & GRAPHICS: A.L. Hayes; WEB MASTER & COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT: Tanya Ruder; MANAGING EDITOR & COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT: Alexei Smirnov; MANAGER OF RESEARCH & INFORMATION: Melissa Brown; RESEARCH & INFORMATION ASSISTANTS: Susan Ogg, Vacancy; MANAGER FOR INSTRUCTION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Terrance Gibson; INSTRUCTION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS: Susan Dalton, Nicki Fields; COORDINATOR OF MEMBERSHIP & AF-FILIATE RELATIONS: Duran Williams; PLT—UNISERV FIELD ORGA-NIZERS: Jeff Garrett, Cheryl Richardson, Rhonda Thompson.

UniServ Staff Contact Informationcan be found on page 12.

3 2 August 2010 Special Membership Edition 3 2 August 2010 Special Membership Edition

NOW MORE THAN EVERYour Association Membership is a Smart Investment

The volatile world economy has even billionaires worried about the future.

It has triggered layoffs, bankruptcies, foreclosures and more going-out-of-business sales than anyone might have imagined only a couple of years ago. Even the wealthiest Americans are analyzing every investment dollar they spend.

But what about teachers and education support professionals? There are not many billionaires among our ranks. You already count each dollar on payday and seriously weigh where you will spend your money. Anything left after bills are paid is invested carefully. After all, you cannot afford to lose whatever savings you have. The economic downswing simply magnifies the need to be very careful how you spend. As school starts again for most of us, there is one investment that many of you are analyzing more seriously, and that is your investment in the Association. How do you justify your dues investment this year?

First, consider one thing that does not change despite the economic downturn. Tennessee’s children are still here! They await you in every classroom every day. They depend upon you to teach them what they need to know to be successful adults, and so do their parents. Your colleagues depend upon you for the professional support that comes through new ideas and shared resources.

The Association dues investment you make each year is the single most important investment in your portfolio. It is that investment in your profession and the children you teach that pays off today, tomorrow and every day of your life.

Your investment guards against losing the strong system of public schools that form the cornerstone of American democracy. Only with strong, solid membership can the Association successfully advocate for smaller classe size and greater resources. With you on our team, we can make progress toward the competitive salaries that are necessary to recruit and retain the best teachers for Tennessee’s children. Your investment encourages excellence in the classroom. Because you’re a member, the Association has a place at the table with decision makers to consider ways

to strengthen curriculum and examine new ways to teach our children. We can develop and expand important professional development offerings and delivery systems so that members can perfect the skills required to reach every child.

Your investment also improves the buying power of every member in the Association. As the nation’s largest professional organization, we can offer huge savings on goods and services for you and your family just by virtue of your membership.

Your investment funds the research and development needed to tackle local education

issues through our network of local Associations. Solutions to the challenges you face don’t come if we only talk about the problem. Solutions come when members of the Association put their heads together and put their local, state and national Association resources to work.

Tennessee teacher salaries are the lowest in the Southeast except for West Virginia and Mississippi. You still pay much more for health insurance premiums than other state employees. Your teacher retirement benefits fall far short of what retirees need and what other states pay. That’s why TEA’s 60, 80, 90 campaign is so critical.

There has never been a time when your professional investment has been more important, and there’s never been a time when the benefits from that investment could be greater. Your Association becomes stronger when more teachers and education support professionals choose to invest in membership. Without you, we will not be as strong, but our challenges will be even greater. The dollars that make public education possible look very tempting to policymakers during lean years. Only your continued dues investment will allow us to continue to protect public education funding, in general, and public school jobs, in particular.

Your Association needs your experience and expertise like never before. Invest wisely in your profession. Invest in your Association.

Join or renew your Association membership today.

Alan Nichols and Diana Brown during Rutherford EA’s new teacher event at the end of July.

3 2 August 2010 Special Membership Edition 3 2 August 2010 Special Membership Edition

NOW MORE THAN EVERYour Association Membership is a Smart Investment

Due to the severe recession, it is estimated that as many as 100,000 to 300,000 teachers nationally may lose their jobs as the 2010-2011 school year begins. But—due to TEA’s lobbying—the Tennessee General Assembly did not make cuts to personnel funded through the Basic Education Program (BEP). The bottom line – many teachers will retain their positions because TEA was diligent in protecting BEP funding!

In addition, if some legislators had their way, thousands of current teachers could have lost their career ladder supplements. A very serious proposal would have funded career ladder supplements on a “non-recurring” basis. This means the state would have to “find” $35 million to keep career ladder supplements funded. Here’s the approximate number of career ladder teachers who would have been affected: Career Level I – 26,166; Career Level II – 1,735; Career Level III – 2,717.

Are you one of these teachers? Then TEA—your Association—was the key to stopping a major cut to your personal income! You probably have colleagues whose jobs have been saved. If they haven’t joined us, forward this message to them—and let’s make TEA stronger so it can further protect Tennessee’s teachers. Please encourage your non-member colleagues to visit www.teateachers.org and join us today.

TEA Saves Jobs, Prevents Cuts to Teacher Salaries

TEA members at work during one of many education policy meetings held at the TEA headquarters this summer.

Tennessee’s Teachers in the NewsWilliamson County Principals Switch Schools

Two veteran Williamson Co. EA administrator members will be moving to new schools for the upcoming school year. Tim Brown has been appointed principal of Sunset Middle School, and Josie Jacobs will now be principal of Sunset Elementary School, according to The Tennessean. Brown has served as principal at Sunset Elementary for the past two years. Prior to that, he was assistant principal at Page High, and a science teacher and an assistant principal at Brentwood Middle. He also served nine years as an officer in the U.S. Army and is a veteran of Desert Storm. Jacobs comes from Page Middle School where she had been principal since 2006. She opened Winstead Elementary as principal in 2002. Cheatham Co. Member Named School District’s Secondary/CTE Supervisor

Cheatham Co. EA member Jenny Fitzgerald Simpkins has been named the county’s new secondary/career technical education supervisor. “Ms. Simpkins has the resources, leadership, communication skills and excellent rapport with students, parents and peers. She exhibits a driving force to excellence in education that will make her a valuable asset for the Cheatham County Board of Education,” said interim director of schools Dianne Williams in a news release, according to The Ashland City Times.Event Draws Thousands to Civil Rights Museum

Memphis EA member Karla Randle-Jackson of Cordova Elementary was quoted in The Memphis Commercial Appeal as part of a report on the National Civil Rights Museum, which held a family event in July. “No matter how many times I’ve been here, I’ve always been touched,” said Randle-Jackson, who came with her daughter, 14, and niece, 16.Director of Schools Takes Plans to Town Hall Meetings

Clarksville-Montgomery Co. EA member and Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools Director Mike Harris was featured in The Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, which highlighted Harris’ initiative to take the school system’s plans to town hall meetings. According to the article, “people seemed to appreciate last summer’s town hall meetings hosted by Director of Schools Mike Harris at area community centers.”TEA Member Confident in Future of Carter County Schools

Dr. Shirley Ellis (TEA-Retired), who began work this month as director of Carter County Schools, was quoted in The Elizabethton Star after she spoke to the local Kiwanis Club earlier this month. “My vision was developed many years ago… back when I first started teaching in 1965,” said Ellis, who intends to unify the school system, according to the report. Musical Talent Abounds in Hamilton County

Allan Ledford, Hamilton Co. EA member and former musical theater teacher at the Center for Creative Arts offered encouragement and praise to Mark Laseter, a young singer who has won many vocal and music competitions in the area. Crossville Student Makes Family, Teacher Proud

Cumberland Co. EA member Robert Taylor, who teaches at Glenn Martin Elementary, recognized the talents of his student and nominated her for the National Young Scholars Program, which will be held this summer at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. According to The Crossville Chronicle, Taylor nominated fourth-grader Kendall Caitlin Cook for demonstrating exceptional maturity, scholastic merit and leadership ability even at her young age.Bradley Co. EA Members Featured in Good News Report

Adelia Hall and Tessa Workman, kindergarten teachers at Oak Grove Elementary School in Cleveland, were featured in the recent Good News Report on Chattanoogan.com. Hall was recognized for her work with the school’s art program during the 4th Annual Value-Plus Art Conference held in Dickson. Tessa Workman was chosen as the State Art Teacher of the Year by the Tennessee Arts Commission. Shelly Earls, who teaches at Waterville Community Elementary, was recognized for guiding teachers in creating flip charts to use with their students this fall. Earls participated in a Promethean Board training earlier this summer. New teachers line up for goodies at Metro Nashville EA’s new teacher event

at Glencliff High School on July 26.

4 August 2010 Special Membership Edition

There was a point in Tina Williamson’s teaching career when she considered leaving public education. It took a move back home, to her high school alma mater, and a principal who trusted her vision, to keep her in the classroom. These days, the mother of three

daughters who teaches everything above Algebra I at Cosby High School in Cocke County, says that teaching is her calling. As we walked through the beautiful Cosby Park, which serves as an entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Williamson talked about her students, her association work and a myriad ways to help all kids succeed in school.

teach: How was your summer?It was short. We had to make up 18 snow days.

Then I was invited, along with another teacher from Cosby High School, to make a presentation on our Cosby Academy program at the Advanced Placement Conference in Washington, DC. It was the first time we gave a presentation to anybody other than parents, so, obviously, we were a little nervous. We started advanced placement classes at our school about seven years ago with Calculus and we now offer six AP classes. I no longer teach AP after I switched to dual enrollment.

The sole purpose of Cosby Academy is to prepare students to make it past their first year of college, which is the toughest. If you’re in the Academy, in which 10th-12th-graders are eligible to participate, you have to take at least two dual-enrollment or AP classes by the time you graduate. In addition to that, you have to complete 225 community service hours. You get special regalia at graduation, along with a stamp on your diploma. I’m proud that this year the students who were in this program completed over 10,000 community service hours. They won the Cocke County Volunteer of the Year award.

How did the Race to the Top legislation affect your work and the work of your colleagues?

We’re mostly waiting—anxiously—to find out what happens. We’re dealing with the new graduation requirements, which have us on overload

at the moment. We’re trying to decide how to get kids through high school. This system means a lot to me. It is my calling. Being a graduate of this school, I want to see it prosper. I now have three children who are coming through this school. One of them is a freshman and she is going to have new graduation requirements. I try to do anything I can to make this system better.

Please describe your typical day.I get to school every morning at 7:30 a.m. and

I usually walk out the door at 5 p.m. I stay in the afternoon for tutoring. Sometimes I come back to our sporting events. My daughters play volleyball. Other times we have negotiating meetings. My day is pretty full. We just finished negotiating our three-year contract. We like it, considering the economy. I’ve been on the Cocke County Education Association’s bargaining team for about seven years. I’m the mathematician, so I run all the numbers. Our negotiating chairman is the English teacher. She says: “Hand this to Tina.” At home, I work until about 11 p.m.—grading papers, helping our daughters do their homework along with my husband Curtis, or, as my students would say, “I’m coming up with new ways to torture them.”

What are the challenges with the new high school requirements?

The fact that we have such specific requirements.

E

Every high school student has to have four math classes. It’s about making sure that each student has the capability and the background to succeed in class. We don’t want any failures. We want them to be ready for the next level. Once you fail, you’re likely to give up on yourself.

How would you compare your high school experience with your students’ experience today?

My daughter Lindsey has many more expectations on her as a freshman than I did when I was in high school. I had two math classes. She’s got a minimum of four, and if she takes all of her classes, she’ll be up to eight. And she doesn’t consider herself a math student. But I think with the opportunity for the dual enrollment classes, it’s better to take them now, whether you’re a math student or not, and get them out of the way. Lindsey gets to be my sounding board. She’s heard it since she was in kindergarten: “This is the work ethic; this is what I expect from you.” Lindsey is in a unique situation because she’s legally deaf. I constantly talk to her and her sisters, Caley and Kendall, about doing the best possible job they can do. I ask them to push themselves so that they get out of their classes what they need. I encourage them to always ask questions if they don’t understand something. This is the first year Lindsey will be in my classroom. I’m hoping that I won’t show any partiality to her. I’m looking forward to that experience, and

Tina Williamson inspires her students to go the extra mile. After she gave her geometry class an art assignment, they rolled in a giant contraption built from scrap metal, Mr. Zaeef (above), now a permanent fixture in her classroom.

The Williamson Success Formula

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Lindsey says she is as well. We had a discussion the other day, whether she has to call me “Mrs. Williamson” or “Mom”. I said: “Everybody in the room knows that you’re my daughter. You’re not fooling anybody, so go ahead and call me “Mom.””

We understand that your whole family is involved with the school. Please tell us about that.

My husband Curtis and I are both originally from this area. We knew of each other, his brother was in the same class with me. In college, I told everyone that Curtis was my math tutor, which was true. I started in college as engineering major, and I lasted about two years. You really can’t have two engineers in a household and be able to raise children. We would be on the road all the time. I decided to be a math teacher after he taught me from the ground up. Curtis is an electrical engineer, and it helps me in the classroom. My teaching philosophy, especially in mathematics, is to focus on hands-on projects. Our engineering background helps me design projects and show my students how things work. For instance, we build robots. I start them out with Lego-type robots, which teaches them about basic programming and logic, then we learn about electricity.

My father is a janitor at the school. He’s a retired electrician. My mother is a special ed aid in elementary. She helped decorate the school. Her

painting of Cosby High School hangs in the school’s hallway.

What is the percentage of disadvantaged students in your school?

We estimate at least 69 percent, and we know the number is actually higher. I had a discussion with a lady who attended our presentation in Washington. She wanted to know why we chose the word “disadvantaged” instead of “misunderstood”. I explained that once she watched our presentation, she would realize that they are disadvantaged, in regard to the location—away from everything—and economically. I definitely understand that they’re not misunderstood. I understand my students, but that doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that they have no running water at home. The state of Tennessee gives them a $300.00 scholarship to take dual enrollment courses, but some of them still have trouble paying dual enrollment tuition. One parent

had to work all summer long, saving money for his child, and brought me a bag full of coins. It felt really good to tell him that someone had already stepped in to pay for his child.

What are your thoughts on performance-based pay schemes for teachers?

I have issues with performance-based measuring because certain students click better with certain teachers. We also have students whose home life changes year-to-year. I also don’t like to see teachers having disagreements over children’s potential to learn. Performance-based compensation will inevitably lead teachers to favor high-level students and the other students will be left out.

You’ve been teaching for 20 years, 10 of which you spent at Cosby High School. How has your teaching evolved?

I don’t give a lot of homework because of the difficulty of the subject level in my class. Not many students have help at home. I have very short lectures and we get to the point and start practicing. The more I got into block scheduling, the more I focused on practice. My teaching style has changed over the years. When I started teaching 20 years ago, the administration wanted our students to sit in neat rows, facing the board and being quiet. I am far from that now. I had to find a school and administration

that would let me step out of the box. When I got to Cosby 10 years ago and told the principal how I wanted to teach, he said: “Let’s try it. If they don’t learn anything, we’ll go back to the other way.” And I’ve been teaching my way for the last 10 years. It’s a lot of project-based learning, a lot of logic and reasoning, which I think are the main things you need to learn in high-school math. Not everyone is going to leave high school and continue solving calculus problems as part of their daily routine. But the logic and reasoning—everyone needs these skills. I try to vary my projects, from geometry to art. In geometry, when we were studying circles, we went into the back pasture and made alien crop circles. I threatened to put antennae on my students’ heads and paint them green, but I didn’t. We do a lot of stained glass art, a lot of constructions, robots, of course. We get together with the English department to build trebuchets which toss eggs and small stones

the length of a football field. We storm castles. I set up targets and there will be two different teams which have to adopt a country, for example, medieval England and France. Students have to learn their history and dress in period costume that day. The entire school comes out to watch them fire at the king as they storm the castle. Our football coach volunteered to be the target one year, and I told him: “You don’t understand, they’ll hurt you.” My students build working models of roller coasters. They can’t buy a kit—they have to make them out of trash. They work in teams. Each team has a budget and an engineer to help design the roller coasters to our specifications. Our students advertise their work, produce TV commercials, and the school gets to vote for the best roller coaster. They also have to write a research paper, which makes the English department happy. We build paper towers. My dad brings a leaf blower and tries to push them over. He teaches them how to solder when they build circuits for robots.

We build sculptures out of trash, which helps with geometry lessons. I tell my students that I’m with Williamson University and I’m looking for art, asking them to make me a presentation. One year, some students asked me how big a project they could turn in. Next week they rolled in a life-sized version of a robot. We also build rockets and set up geocaching

competitions. We hide things all over the school grounds, which provide clues to the prize at the end. The first person to get to the last spot gets the prize. They love it.

Your students must love you and your classes. Can you describe your most difficult student?

When I taught in South Carolina, I had a student whose parents had put him in the military school and he was kicked out of there—very much a discipline problem. He helped me more with classroom management than any class I’ve ever taken. His name was Binji. Every time I heard it, I had to stop. Learning to control him in a calm manner, I tried very hard to never raise my voice in a classroom. He taught me that.

I try to inspire all of my students to take as much math as they can, to push themselves, regardless of their career plans and aspirations. They’ll be happy they did it later in life.

Not your typical math class: Tina Williamson’s students build roller coaster models, learn to solder, build robots and storm medieval castles with trebuchets of their own design.

6 August 2010 Special Membership Edition

2010 NEA Representative Assembly New Orleans, Louisiana www.flickr.com/teateachers

Delegates listen as assembly gets underway.

Hamilton Co. EA delegation.

Tennessee caucus meets.

Maury Co. EA delegation.

Knox. Co. EA delegation.

Robertson Co. EA delegation.

Clarksville-Montgomery Co. EA delegation.

Jamie Breaux of Athens EA.

Ernestine Haines (left) of Shelby Co.EA and Lee Eaves of Anderson Co. EA.

7

Stay Connected…

www.teateachers.org

www.youtube.com/TennesseeEA

www.facebook.com/TennesseeEA

www.twitter.com/TEAEducators

www.flickr.com/photos/teateachers

Memphis Education Association member Kem Edwards, a special education teacher at Peabody Elementary School, hosted the Third Annual Arts & Crafts Summer Camp for Children With Disabilities between the ages of six and 11 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Memphis. Along with her daughter Helen, Edwards founded not-for-profit Kem’s House Inc., which this year invited volunteers Tunga Otis, Melanie Woods and Margie Nolen to host the free camp in mid-June.

“Each year our campers have come and presented their best work,” said Edwards. “Our campers are very talented, we are very proud of them. Some of the artwork the campers created during the week was the Masi Tribe Jewelry, Jazzy Big Cats and flowers made from geometric shapes”.

Kem’s House plans to hold its next Summer Camp for Children with Disabilities on June 13-17, 2011, at St. Augustine Catholic Church. To learn more about Edwards’ work, visit http://kemshouseinc.org or find it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kemshouseinc.

Memphis Member Hosts Camp for Area Children

2010 NEA Representative Assembly New Orleans, Louisiana www.flickr.com/teateachers

View of New Orleans.

Student TEA delegates take a break from meetings.

TEA-retired delegates

Sharon Blevins of Sullivan Co. EA.

Clarksville-Montgomery Co. EA delegation.

TEA-Retired delegation.

Ernestine Haines (left) of Shelby Co.EA and Lee Eaves of Anderson Co. EA.

8 August 2010 Special Membership Edition

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WP470810*Terms and conditions apply, log onto www.partners.whirlpool.com and click on Terms of Use for complete program details. Program available in the Continental US.

9

Tennessee law about schools, students and teachers fills volumes. Below is the most up-to-date summary of a few high points of the laws that relate directly to you and your work.

Licensure general requirementsTo be granted a Tennessee teaching license, an

individual must: • Complete a teacher education program approved

by the State Board of Education.• Meet the requirements of at least one area of

endorsement. • Complete a full semester of student teaching or

internship. • Be recommended by an institution of higher

education. • Meet the requirements for tests specified by the

State Board of Education.

Licensure application • An applicant must apply for a license directly

to the office of Teacher Licensure in the Tennessee Department of Education. (Look for our guide to maintaining your teaching license in the September issue of teach.)

• To advance from an apprentice license to a professional license, a teacher must receive a positive recommendation from the local school system.

• The teacher, the teacher’s principal, the superintendent and the chairman of the school board must sign the license recommendation form.

Personnel files• Usually maintained in the central office,

although principals often keep evaluation records at the school (check your local collective bargaining agreement).

• Public records under Tennessee Public Records Act, which means that any citizen can see the contents.

Exceptions to the Public Records Act include: ~ unpublished phone number ~ residential information ~ bank account information ~ Social Security number ~ driver license information (except when

operating a vehicle is part of an employee’s job) ~ any of the same information pertaining to

the employee’s immediate family or house• Must be made accessible to the teacher at any

reasonable time .

Transfers Director of schools has the authority to transfer

a teacher from one location to another and from one

type of work to another. The type of work must be work for which the teacher is qualified and licensed. The transfer must be necessary for the efficient operation of the school system. (Check your local collective bargaining agreement.)

Abolition of position• A non-tenured teacher whose position is

abolished must be notified in writing of the reason for abolishing the position and is entitled to the next position for which such person is certified that opens within the system during the remainder of the year. (Check your local collective bargaining agreement.)

• A tenured teacher who is dismissed as a result of an abolition of position due to a decrease in

enrollment or for other good reasons is entitled to written notice explaining fully the circumstances making the dismissal necessary. The teacher shall also be placed on a preferred list for re-employment in the first vacancy the teacher is qualified by training and experience to fill. (Check your local collective bargaining agreement.)

Dismissal of a teacherUnder Tennessee law, a teacher can be dismissed

only for specified reasons:

• Incompetence • Inefficiency • Insubordination • Neglect of duty • Unprofessional conduct

TenureTo gain tenure, a Tennessee teacher must: • Have a degree from an approved four-year

college. • Hold a valid professional license based on

training covering the subjects or grades taught. • Have completed a probationary period of three

school years or not less than twenty-seven months within the last five-year period, the last year having been employed as a regular teacher.

• Be recommended by the director of schools for service after the probationary period and elected by the board of education.

Due process for tenured teachersTenured teachers being recommended for

dismissal have a number of rights: • Written notice specifying the offense(s) with

which the teacher is being charged and the signature of the person making the charge(s).

• Upon the teacher’s written request to the director, which must be given within 30 days of the teacher’s receipt of notice of dismissal charges approved by the board, a hearing before an “impartial” hearing officer named by the director and approved by the board of education should take place. “Impartial” means the selected hearing officer has no history of employment with the board or director of schools, no relationship with any board member and no relationship with the teacher or representatives of the teacher.

“Impartial” means the selected hearing officer has no history of employment with the board or director of schools, no relationship with any board member and no relationship with the teacher or his/her representatives.

Knowing the Basics of School LawEssential guide to protecting yourself and your students

This article is adopted from First Class, TEA’s newly revised guide for teachers beginning their careers.

10 August 2010 Special Membership Edition

• The right to be represented by counsel, the right to call and subpoena witnesses and the right for the witnesses to testify under oath.

• The right to bar witnesses from the hearing except as they are called to testify. The hearing may be private at the request of the teacher or in the discretion of the hearing officer.

• The right to have evidence included in the record, even if objected to by the opposing party.

• The right to a written record of the hearing, either in written or recorded form, or as otherwise agreed by the parties.

• Written notice of findings and a decision within ten days of the hearing.

• The right to appeal the hearing officer’s decision, first to the board of education and then to the chancery court of the county in which the school system is located.

Non-reelectionA non-tenured teacher who is not rehired for

another year of teaching has certain due process rights, including:

• Written notice that the teacher will not be rehired. (The notice does not have to contain reasons.)

• The notice must come from the director of schools.

• The teacher must receive the notice by May 15.

Due process for non-tenured teachersNon-tenured teachers who are recommended for

dismissal have these rights: • Written notice of the charges against them. • A full and complete hearing before an impartial

hearing officer selected by the board of education. • Representation by counsel. • The right to call and subpoena witnesses and to

have witnesses testify under oath. • Factual findings and a decision within ten

working days after the hearing.• The right to appeal, first to the board of

education, then to the chancery court of the county in which the school system is located.

PROTECTING YOURSELFAvoid being sued

You could be held responsible if someone is injured during a school-related activity. To reduce your chances of being sued:

• Be familiar with and follow school and school district policies and board procedures.

• Notify your principal if you find hazards. • Never leave students unsupervised. • Get permission slips for all students

participating in field trips. Make sure there are enough adults to supervise students.

• Keep a record of all incidents that may have the potential of creating problems while details are fresh in your mind.

• Keep your own records of any unusual problems with students or families.

Report suspected child abuse• Teachers have a mandatory duty to report

suspected child abuse. Failure to do so can subject a teacher to a criminal charge.

• See page 11 of this issue for more information on recognizing abuse. To report child abuse or neglect, call 877.237.0004, 24 hours a day.

If called into a disciplinary meeting• Seek the presence of a witness, preferably a

local Association representative or TEA UniServ coordinator.

• Make sure you understand of what you are being charged.

• If the administration requests your side of the story, inform them that you will provide it after you consider the charges and reflect on the sequence of events.

• If your request for representation is denied, you may have to attend the meeting without a representative to avoid a charge of insubordination. If this happens, take careful notes and limit your responses. Following this meeting, speak with your UniServ coordinator and check your local collective bargaining agreement for any potential violations

that could be grieved. • Immediately after the meeting, if you have

not yet been able to speak to your TEA UniServ coordinator, give him/her a call. That experienced professional is on your side and can advise you what to do next.

• Your UniServ coordinator will see that you have legal advice when you need it.

Responding• Submit only statements that your UniServ

coordinator has reviewed. Keep copies of all documents you receive and submit.

• Keep all correspondence related to your situation, including the envelopes containing information mailed to you. If information is hand-delivered, note when you receive it and who gives it to you.

• Arrange for an Association representative to accompany you to meetings. The representative may be your Association Representative, a grievance committee member, an Association officer, your UniServ coordinator or a lawyer. Your UniServ coordinator can help decide who is most appropriate for your situation.

• Whoever accompanies you should commit to testify for you in any administrative hearings or court proceedings, if necessary.

Beware• Beware of solutions offered by administrators.

Do not agree to any proposals without first checking with your Association.

• If offered an “opportunity to resign,” do not submit a resignation without first conferring with your UniServ coordinator.

Don’t talk• Don’t make public statements about your

situation. • Do not seek to change the accuser’s view of what

happened.• Share your situation with as few people as

possible. Be very cautious about saying anything except to your closest family member, Association representative and most trusted friend.

Be conscious of the potential dangers of new technology

• Most students have cell phones and may be taking pictures or sound/video recordings at any time.

• The Internet should be used with care. Do not make any online commentary regarding your employment or your students. If you have a Facebook page, make it private. Do not “friend” your students. Try to avoid any Internet contact with students, as well as cell phone calls and text messages to and from students.

MAINTAINING PROPER CONDUCTAccusations of sexual misconduct lead to more

teachers being fired than any other single issue. Just being accused of sexual misconduct can jeopardize your career. The police may investigate you, your

Arrange for an Association representative to accompany you to meetings. The representative may be your Association Representative, a grievance committee member, an Association officer, your UniServ coordinator or a lawyer.

For more resources and training, contact TEA’s Instruction and Professional Development Division at 1.800.342.8367

11

school district may fire you and the state may revoke your teaching license.

Think aheadThinking about how you deal with students and

making good decisions in advance can help avoid problems.

Since some sexual misconduct involves words only, plan not to make remarks that a student could misconstrue.

Do not remark on students’ physical attributes. Confine praise and criticism to academics and behavior.

Age and gender matterAs you think about whether and how to touch

students, consider their age. In primary grades, you don’t need to avoid hugging students. Young children need and demand physical affection.

As children age, hugging becomes less appropriate. Hugging secondary students is considered suspicious. Take particular care with prepubescent females. Females of this age are more likely to make charges and to perceive a neutral touch as improper.

Also consider the gender of students and your own gender. More than 90 percent of teachers who are accused of sexual misconduct are male. If you are male, be doubly cautious about touching students of either gender.

Be careful to touch boys and girls in the same fashion.

Not just your imaginationSome teenagers do make advances to teachers.

Flirting is a social skill that students are learning and will practice with their teachers. It is never appropriate to flirt in return. A teacher should never date a student. When an adult dates anyone younger than 18, it can lead to criminal charges. Never confide in students or share personal problems regarding your family or yourself.

High-risk jobsConsider your job responsibilities. Coaches, band

directors, physical education teachers and school counselors are particularly vulnerable and should be especially careful.

Types of touchThere are various kinds of touching. It is risky to

touch students anywhere except the back, shoulders or arms. Many allegations stem from touching the thigh or knee, slapping the bottom in gym and massaging shoulders. Authorities take these kinds of touching very seriously. Avoid frontal hugs with students. Touching adolescent girls anywhere can be risky. Girls of this age are starting to mature physically and may view these touches as sexual.

Sensitive situationsCertain situations increase the danger of

allegations. Being alone with a student or small group of students creates fertile ground for accusations. Charges may also arise when teachers transport students in their cars. Don’t put yourself in jeopardy. Always have your door open when meeting

with students and leave the driving to families or the school district.

Other risky events include social activities, especially if you invite students into your home. If such activities are part of your reward system, make sure you don’t single out one student for special attention and make sure other adults who are not related to you are always present.

Giving a student affectionate cards or gifts can also lead to problems, particularly if the teacher has a special relationship with the student. Be sure your salutation and signature are professional, not personal. Do not chat with students in e-mails or offer “counseling” at odd hours. Keep your relationship professional. As a teacher, you are no longer one of “them.”

PROTECTING YOUR STUDENTSReporting suspected child abuse

Taking action when you suspect that one of your students may be abused could well save that child from further physical and emotional pain.

1. Tennessee law requires teachers, school counselors and school nurses to report child abuse. Failure to do so can result in conviction of a misdemeanor. To report suspected child abuse 24 hours a day, call 877.237.0004.

2. To encourage reporting of suspected child abuse, the law provides immunity from liability if the report is made in good faith.

3. For your own protection — as well as that of the child — report any suspicions you may have right away.

4. You should also check your school district

policy about reporting child abuse. If you are not sure what the policy requires, contact your TEA UniServ coordinator.

Recognizing abuseA child may show no physical signs of abuse. One

sign or symptom may not necessarily indicate child abuse, but if you see many clues, consider your suspicions carefully. Watch for a child who:

• Appears nervous, disruptive or hyperactive.• Has a pattern of unexplained injuries or an

inordinate number of “explained” injuries.• Constantly comes to school inappropriately

dressed for the season.• Is habitually late or often absent.• Arrives early or leaves late and seems reluctant

to go home.• Is unusually fearful of adults or other children.• Is unusually shy, withdrawn or passive.• Goes to the bathroom with difficulty.• Is constantly tired or thin or seems

malnourished.• Has a sudden drop in school grades or

participation in activities.• Acts out in stylized ways, such as sexual

behavior that is not normal for his/her age group.

Suicide preventionYou could save a child from attempting suicide

if you learn to recognize the warning signals. Recognizing signs of distress can also prevent violence in the school.

While some suicides and violence appear without warning, most do not. Take these signs seriously:

Previous suicide attempts. People who have attempted suicide are more likely to succeed when they try it again.

Talking about death, killing and suicide. Be alert for statements like “My family would be better off without me.” Such talk can be a way of saying good-bye or going away.

Planning for suicide. People contemplating suicide often arrange to put their affairs in order. They may give away articles they value.

Withdrawal. Serious depression is often expressed as a loss of pleasure or withdrawal from activities that were enjoyable to the person before.

Taking action when you suspect that one of your students may be abused could well save that child from further physical and emotional pain.

For more resources and training, contact TEA’s Instruction and Professional Development Division at 1.800.342.8367

12 August 2010 Special Membership Edition

LOST IN SPACE?Come back to Earth. Apply for TEA’s

Tennessee Space Week Learning Grantby September 24, 2010

www.teateachers.org

Need information, services?Mitchell JohnsonAssistant Executive Director for Affiliate ServicesRonny Clemmons & Donna CotnerManagers of UniServTennessee Education Association, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201-1099(615) 242-8392, (800) 342-8367, FAX (615) 259-4581

UniServ CoordinatorsDistrict 1 — Harry Farthing, P.O. Box 298, Elizabethton, TN 37644; phone: (423)262-8035, fax: (423)262-8053; Assns: Carter, Johnson, Sullivan, Bristol, Kingsport, Northeast State C.C. District 2 — Jennifer Gaby; Assns: Greene, Greeneville, Unicoi, Washington, Elizabeth-ton, Johnson City, ETSU District 3 — Mike Lee, 1607 Solod Drive, Morristown, TN 37814; (423)587-8001, fax: (423)587-8550; Assns: Cocke, Newport, Hancock, Ham-blen, Hawkins, Rogersville, Walter State C.C. District 4 — Tina Parlier, 7845 Country Rose, Corryton, TN 37721; Assns: Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson, Union District 5— Jim Petrie, Knox County Education Association, 2411 Magnolia Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917-8289; (865)522-9793, fax: (865)522-9866; Assns: Knox, UT-Knoxville, Pellisippi State C.C. District 6 — Reba Luttrell, 503 Cardinal St., Maryville, TN 37803; phone/fax: (865)983-8640; Assns: Blount, Alcoa, Maryville, Monroe, Sweetwater, Loudon, Lenoir City District 7 — Donna Jerden, P.O. Box 222, Wartburg, TN 37887-0222; phone/fax: (423) 346-6165; Assns: Anderson, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Campbell, Morgan, Scott, Oneida, TSD District 8 — Jim Jordan, P.O. Box 4878, Cleveland, TN 37320; phone/fax: (423)472-3315; Assns: Bradley, Cleveland, McMinn, Athens, Etowah, Meigs, Polk, Rhea-Dayton, Cleveland State C.C. District 9 — Dannise McKinney, P.O. Box 117, Kingston, TN 37763; phone/fax: (865)882-8211; Assns: Bledsoe, Cumber-land, Fentress, York Institute, Roane, Sequatchie, White, Van Buren, Roane State C.C. District 10 — Rhonda Catanzaro, Hamilton County Education Association, 4655 Shallowford Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37411; (423)485-9535, fax: (423)485-9512; Assns: Hamilton County, Chatta-nooga State C.C., UT-Chattanooga District 11 — Emily Watson, 207 Country Estates Drive, Winchester, TN 37398; phone/fax: (931)967-0175; Assns: Coffee, Manchester, Tullahoma, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Warren District 12 — Shannon Bain, 1001 Rhett Place, Lebanon, TN 37087; phone: (615)547-7769, fax: (615)547-7879; Assns: Clay, DeKalb, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Trousdale, TTU District 13 — Arthur Patterson, 101 Copperas Court, Murfreesboro, TN 37128; phone: (615)907-9912, fax: (615) 907-5490; Assns: Cannon, Wilson, Lebanon S.S.D., Volunteer State C.C. District 14 — Susan Young, P.O. Box 422, Madison, TN 37116-0422; phone/fax: (615)865-9700; Assns: Cheatham, Murfreesboro, MTSU, Rutherford, TSB, TN Department of Education District 15 — Miley Durham, P.O. Box 10, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464; phone/fax: (931)766-7874; Assns: Bedford, Giles, Lawrence, Lincoln, Fayetteville, Marshall, Moore, Motlow State C.C. District 16 — Alice Spicer, 106 Stillwater Trail, Hendersonville, TN 37075; (615)826-1394, fax: (615)826-4589; Assns: Clarksville-Montgomery, Robertson, APSU District 17 — Forestine Cole, Ralph Smith, Theresa Turner, Metro Nashville, 531 Fairground Court, Nashville, TN 37211; (615)726-1499, fax: (615)726-2501; Assns: Metro Nashville, Nashville State C.C., TSU, Department of Higher Education District 18 — Jackie Pope, 2326 Valley Grove Dr., Murfreesboro, TN 37128; (615) 898-1060, fax: (615) 898-1099; Assns: Lewis, Maury, Williamson, Franklin S.S.D., Columbia State C.C., District 19— Melinda Webb, 56 Lakeview Cove, Linden, TN 37096; (931)593-3532, fax: (931)593-3543; Assns: Decatur, Dickson, Hardin, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Perry, Wayne District 20 — Maria Uffelman, P.O. Box 99, Cumberland City, TN 37050; phone/fax: (931)827-3333; Assns: Benton, Carroll (West Carroll) Central, Clarksburg, Huntingdon, McKenzie, Gibson, Bradford, Humboldt, Milan, Henry, Paris, Stewart, Weakley, UT-Martin, FTA District 21 — Lorrie Butler, P.O. Box 387, Henderson, TN 38340; (731)989-4860, fax: (731)989-9254; Assns: Chester, Hardeman, Henderson, Lexington, Jackson-Madison, McNairy, Jackson State C.C. District 22 — Karla Carpenter, P.O. Box 177, Brunswick, TN 38014; (901)590-2543, fax: (901)382-1433; Assns: Crockett, Dyer, Dyersburg, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion, Union City, Tipton, Dyersburg State C.C. District 23 — Zandra Foster, 3897 Homewood Cove, Memphis, TN 38128; phone/fax: (901)377-9472; Assns: Fayette, Shelby, Univ. of Memphis, Southwest Tenn. C.C., University of Memphis. Priority Local Team Field Organizers — Jeff Garrett, Cheryl Richardson, Rhonda Thompson, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201; (615)242-8392 or (800)342-8367 Assns: Sevier, Sumner, Trenton. MEA — Ken Foster, Executive Director; Susanne Jackson, Terri Jones, Tom Marchand, Herman Sawyer and Marilyn Webley, MEA, 126 South Flicker Street, Memphis, TN 38104; (901)454-0966, fax: (901)454-9979; Assn: Memphis.

www.teateachers.orgwww.nea.org

While many teachers across Tennessee took a well-deserved break from the classroom routine during the hot summer of 2010, Tennessee’s 15-member Teacher Evaluation Advisory Committee continued to meet regularly—in person and via conference call—to discuss, consider options and make decisions about the new teacher and principal evalua-tion system required by the Tennessee First to the Top Act.

Every time TEAC met, TEA members on TEAC participated in the deliberations and TEA staff members were on hand to offer information and support.

In addition, the TEA president and TEA staff consulted throughout the summer with TEA members on TEAC, the Commissioner of Education and staff from the Governor’s office, as well as the Education First consultants facilitating TEAC’s work. TEA’s goal throughout the process is to ensure that the new teacher and principal evaluation system is fair to all those who will be evaluated by it, is easily understood and implemented, and will lead to the identification and development of effective teachers and principals in every Tennessee school and classroom.

Through TEA’s influence:• A proposal to use school-wide TVAAS data for 35 per-

cent of a teacher’s evaluation for teachers without TVAAS

scores has been scrapped in favor of a plan to convene groups of such teachers by subject area/specialty in the fall to determine and/or develop what would be acceptable “comparable” measures of growth for those teachers.

• A hastily drafted policy for first reading by the State Board of Education in July has been withdrawn and the timeline has been revised to provide for first reading of a revised policy in late October.

• While field testing of some evaluation rubrics and pro-cesses will be conducted in some districts this fall on a trial basis, this field testing is intended to inform TEAC and the state board on what works and what does not and will not influence a teacher’s official evaluation, tenure or employ-ment status.

As teachers head back to school in August 2010, the work to develop a new evaluation system is ongoing. Many impor-tant decisions must still be made about critical elements of the new system.

TEA members across Tennessee can be confident that the Tennessee Education Association will continue to be vigilant and influential as the new system is developed and rolled out.

TEA Vigilant as New Evaluation System Evolves