Published by the TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION May 2012 Vol. 44, No. 2 www.teateachers.org

Published by the TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION May 2012 Vol. 44, No. 2 www.teateachers.org

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Bob & Karen Holder Lead the AsssociationIn Campbell County

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teach (USPS 742-450, ISSN 15382907) is published monthly (except June, July and December) by the Tennessee Education Association, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville TN 37201-1099. Periodical postagepaid at Nashville, TN. The subscription price of $3.65 isallocated from annual membership dues of $258.00 for active members; $129.00 for associate, education support and staff members; $16.00 for retired mem-bers; and $10.00 for student members. Member of State Education Editors (SEE).

Postmaster: Send address changes to teach,

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

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

ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Carol K. SchmoockPUBLISHER: Alphonso C. Mance

Tennessee Education Association801 Second Avenue NorthNashville, TN 37201-1099

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

Fax: (615)259-4581Website: 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 Leisa Lusk* (423)928-6819DISTRICT 2 Lauren McCarty (865)385-5220DISTRICT 3 Karen Starr (423)628-2701DISTRICT 4 Tanya Coats* (865)637-7494DISTRICT 5 Michael Plumley (423)749-8228DISTRICT 6 Scott Price (931)455-7198DISTRICT 7 Allen Nichols* (615)653-6501DISTRICT 8 Kawanda Braxton (615)554-6286DISTRICT 9 Theresa L. Wagner (270)776-1467DISTRICT 10 Guy Stanley (615)384-2983DISTRICT 11 Wendy R. Bowers (731)645-8595DISTRICT 12 Suzie May (731)779-9329 DISTRICT 13 Ernestine King (901)590-8188DISTRICT 14 Sarah Kennedy-Harper (901)416-4582 DISTRICT 15 Tom Emens (901)277-0578 ADMINISTRATOR EAST Johnny Henry (865)509-4829ADMINISTRATOR MIDDLE Julie Hopkins (615)569-5742ADMINISTRATOR WEST Charles Green (901)624-6186HIGHER EDUCATION Clinton Smith (731)881-7167BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER EAST Paula Hancock (865)694-1691BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER MIDDLE Kenneth Martin (615)876-1948BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER WEST LaVerne Dickerson (901)416-7122STATE SPECIAL SCHOOLS VacancyESP Christine Denton (931)647-8962TN NEA DIRECTOR Melanie Buchanan (615)305-2214TN NEA DIRECTOR Diccie Smith (901)482-0627TN NEA DIRECTOR Diane Lillard* (423)478-8827STEA MEMBER Marilauren Anderson (731)478-5106TN RETIRED Gerald Lillard (423)478-8827NEW TEACHER Candra Clariette (615)506-3493* Executive Committee

TEA HEADQUARTERS STAFFEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Alphonso C. Mance; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Terrance Gibson ; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Mitchell Johnson; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Carol K. Schmoock; TEA GENERAL COUNSEL; Rick Colbert; MANAGER OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS: Stephanie Faulkner; INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & SYSTEMS MANAGER, Galen Riggs; STAFF ATTORNEYS: Katherine Curlee, Virginia A. McCoy; MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: Jerry Winters; GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COORDINATOR: Antoinette Lee; WEB MASTER & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Amanda Chaney; MANAGING EDITOR & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Alexei Smirnov; RESEARCH & INFORMATION: Melissa Brown; INSTRUCTION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS: Susan Dalton, Vacancy; COORDINATOR OF MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATE RELATIONS: Duran Williams.

UniServ Staff contact informationcan be found on page 12 or by scannig

the Quick Response code below.

Gera Summerford, President

In the November elections this year, a unique opportunity is at hand for Tennessee educators. Many of you across the state will be able to vote for a fellow TEA member for the 108th General Assembly. Eleven TEA members — your fellow teachers — declared themselves candidates for the state legislature this year. From House district 8 in East Tennessee to House district

91 in Shelby County, these teachers chose to step up and seek election to help govern our state. It’s an exciting time in Tennessee and I’m very proud they’ve taken this bold step!

TEA members have not forgotten that the 107th legislature repealed the professional negotiations law, dramatically changed teacher tenure and removed all job security for non-certified school staff. Educators who have devoted their professional lives to

preparing children for a successful future are now committed to making a difference in state government as well. Throughout 2011 and this past school year, TEA members worked hard to convince legislators to represent their interests. We came to the capitol in record numbers, we called and emailed and met our state representatives in their home districts. Now, in 2012, some TEA members are making the ultimate commitment to run for office themselves.

Nine of the eleven have been successful in the state primary races and they need our support in November. These proud teachers from Knox County, Hamilton County, Coffee County, Murfreesboro, Weakley County, Tipton County, and Shelby County are working hard to raise money and raise awareness for their campaigns. The support of their education colleagues will be invaluable in the fight to win election this fall, and I know TEA members will not let them down. If you live in these counties you can get further information through your local president, UniServ Coordinator or the TEA website.

As a Tennessee teacher or education support staff, you give your energy and best effort to help children learn and grow. You know better than anyone what’s needed in our schools to provide a quality public education for every student. You advocate for children and public education in the work you do each day. Your advocacy is needed at the ballot box this year — and every election year — to make sure our schools and our students get what they need. Across the state, those candidates who will listen to teachers and support public education will need your support and your vote. They will also need the support of your relatives, friends and colleagues, so ask everyone you know to vote for pro-public education candidates. It is the responsibility of every Tennessean.

TEA has always been the chief advocate for quality public schools in Tennessee. We’ve always worked to support education-friendly candidates. This year we must remain united and focus our efforts like never before.

Remember in November: Vote for education! And, where possible, vote for an educator!

91 in Shelby County, these teachers chose to step up and seek election to help govern our state. It’s an exciting time in Tennessee and I’m very proud they’ve taken this bold step!

107th legislature repealed the professional negotiations law, dramatically changed teacher tenure and removed all job security for non-certified school staff. Educators who have devoted their professional lives to

Al Mance, Executive Director

Anytime there are indications that classroom results have improved, it is good news. The recent release of the 2011-2012 Tennessee student test scores brought good news about Tennessee’s students and teachers.

According to Tennessee Department of Education data, students in grades three through eight made the following statistically significant improvements since 2010. The percentage of students scoring proficient/advanced in reading/language arts rose from 44.8 to 49.9; the percentage in math rose from 34.6 to 47.3; the science percentage rose from 51.9 to 60.5, and social studies increased from 79.9 to 82.9. Students completing courses with end-of-course tests (English I, English II, algebra I, algebra II and biology) also showed improved test scores. These are all

statewide improvements. Bravo! Thank you, Tennessee’s teachers!Historically, when the educational achievement of a typical

sixth-grade class is measured, researchers find a range of approximately eight years in reading comprehension, vocabulary, arithmetic reasoning, arithmetic computation, mechanics of English composition, and other forms of achievement. In almost any sixth-grade class, researchers found a pupil with first- or second-grade reading ability and another with eleventh- or twelfth-grade reading ability. In any grade above the primary level, we find the complete range of elementary school achievement.

Imagine how remarkable it is then that teachers and students have realized an average six percentage-point improvement over a two-year period. Despite the distractions of a new evaluation system and other “education reform” initiatives, professional teachers continued to teach to the outer limits of their talent and skills. In the end, the improvements in student achievement came as the result of common-sense changes in curriculum standards and teachers’ dedication to helping all students achieve these new standards.

This is huge! Please take a moment to stand up and cheer for the success of teachers and public education. Hurray!

Several teachers with whom I have spoken said that previous lower performance was due, in part, to redundancy in the curriculum. Students were spending up to six months each school year studying the same material they had completed the year before. Some of that wasted instructional time has been recouped and also helped increase student scores.

More curriculum changes are in progress. The new state standards are being melded with National Common Core Standards. The result should be a curriculum that more closely parallels the learnings measured by national standardized achievement tests. The Common Core Standards are not a silver bullet for improving teaching and learning. A rigorous course of study taught by well-educated teachers who are given the freedom and resources needed to teach just might become that silver bullet.

One thing is clear. It is the combined efforts of teachers and students in classrooms that have resulted in improved test scores. Nothing else comes close. Let’s hope the scores also reflect a higher-quality education.

Congratulations to you.You count.

Student Achievement Gives Tennessee Teachers Reason to Stand Up and Cheer

statistically significant improvements since 2010. The percentage of students scoring proficient/advanced in reading/language arts rose from 44.8 to 49.9; the percentage in math rose from 34.6 to 47.3; the science percentage rose from 51.9 to 60.5, and social studies increased from 79.9 to 82.9. Students completing courses with end-of-course tests (English I, English II, algebra I, algebra II and biology) also showed improved test scores. These are all

Remember in November: Vote for Education

Speaking out with you

2 September 2012

teach (USPS 742-450, ISSN 15382907) is published monthly (except June, July and December) by the Tennessee Education Association, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville TN 37201-1099. Periodical postagepaid at Nashville, TN. The subscription price of $3.65 isallocated from annual membership dues of $258.00 for active members; $129.00 for associate, education support and staff members; $16.00 for retired mem-bers; and $10.00 for student members. Member of State Education Editors (SEE).

Postmaster: Send address changes to teach,

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

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

ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Carol K. SchmoockPUBLISHER: Alphonso C. Mance

Tennessee Education Association801 Second Avenue NorthNashville, TN 37201-1099

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

Fax: (615)259-4581Website: 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 Leisa Lusk* (423)928-6819DISTRICT 2 Lauren McCarty (865)385-5220DISTRICT 3 Karen Starr (423)628-2701DISTRICT 4 Tanya Coats* (865)637-7494DISTRICT 5 Michael Plumley (423)749-8228DISTRICT 6 Scott Price (931)455-7198DISTRICT 7 Allen Nichols* (615)653-6501DISTRICT 8 Kawanda Braxton (615)554-6286DISTRICT 9 Theresa L. Wagner (270)776-1467DISTRICT 10 Guy Stanley (615)384-2983DISTRICT 11 Wendy R. Bowers (731)645-8595DISTRICT 12 Suzie May (731)779-9329 DISTRICT 13 Ernestine King (901)590-8188DISTRICT 14 Sarah Kennedy-Harper (901)416-4582 DISTRICT 15 Tom Emens (901)277-0578 ADMINISTRATOR EAST Johnny Henry (865)509-4829ADMINISTRATOR MIDDLE Julie Hopkins (615)569-5742ADMINISTRATOR WEST Charles Green (901)624-6186HIGHER EDUCATION Clinton Smith (731)881-7167BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER EAST Paula Hancock (865)694-1691BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER MIDDLE Kenneth Martin (615)876-1948BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER WEST LaVerne Dickerson (901)416-7122STATE SPECIAL SCHOOLS VacancyESP Christine Denton (931)647-8962TN NEA DIRECTOR Melanie Buchanan (615)305-2214TN NEA DIRECTOR Diccie Smith (901)482-0627TN NEA DIRECTOR Diane Lillard* (423)478-8827STEA MEMBER Marilauren Anderson (731)478-5106TN RETIRED Gerald Lillard (423)478-8827NEW TEACHER Candra Clariette (615)506-3493* Executive Committee

TEA HEADQUARTERS STAFFEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Alphonso C. Mance; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Terrance Gibson ; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Mitchell Johnson; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Carol K. Schmoock; TEA GENERAL COUNSEL; Rick Colbert; MANAGER OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS: Stephanie Faulkner; INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & SYSTEMS MANAGER, Galen Riggs; STAFF ATTORNEYS: Katherine Curlee, Virginia A. McCoy; MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: Jerry Winters; GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COORDINATOR: Antoinette Lee; WEB MASTER & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Amanda Chaney; MANAGING EDITOR & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Alexei Smirnov; RESEARCH & INFORMATION: Melissa Brown; INSTRUCTION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS: Susan Dalton, Vacancy; COORDINATOR OF MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATE RELATIONS: Duran Williams.

UniServ Staff contact informationcan be found on page 12 or by scannig

the Quick Response code below.

3 www.teateachers.org

Tennesee’s Teachers Impact EvaluationConstant feedback, surveys and lobbying push for improvement

Ever since Tennessee’s teachers opted to remain at the table as the Tennessee teacher and principal evaluation system was being developed, TEA pushed for a fair evaluation process and guided its members through the pitfalls of the system’s implementation.

TEA insisted on—and succeeded in—including the option to grieve evaluation results, circulated 30 Tuesday Reports, highlighting ongoing tweaks in the evaluation system, conducted multiple surveys among teachers and principals across the state, and promoted a comprehensive seven-point plan to fix the evaluation system in January 2012.

The July 26-27 meeting of the State Board of Education showed that TEA’s concerns are being heard. As Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman congratulated teachers across the state for “exceeding expectations against a very high bar,” he said that more work remains ahead, such as reducing the number of options for the 15% evaluation component and reducing the impact of school-wide teacher effect scores on individual scores.

“Our goal is to get more and more teachers into an individual teacher effect category,” Huffman said, hoping that three-quarters of teachers will be evaluated that way “over the next couple of years.”

Why the half-baked evaluation system was put in motion without a full trial run is still lost on most teachers in the state, but Huffman defended the

move by saying that the department learned far more from implementing the evaluation system as opposed to continuously studying it.

Also during the July meeting, the state board approved the application by an out-of-state charter school entity, Great Hearts Academies, to build a charter school in West Nashville, overturning the decree of the Metro Nashville school board, which

voted twice earlier this year to reject the Great Hearts application.

In one of the more contentious meetings in recent history, state board members chose to ignore the board staff’s recommendation. Even so, in mid-August the Metro Nashville school board voted 7-2 to defer the Great Hearts application in defiance of the state board’s order.

TEA President Gera Summerford (right) shares teachers’ evaluation concerns with State Board of Education Chairman Fielding Rolston and Executive Director Gary Nixon.

Novice teachers will have two opportunities again this year to sharpen their teaching skills and improve their success in the classroom at TEA’s New Teacher Conferences.

TEA’s New Teacher Conference is offered on two Saturdays during the 2012-2013 school year, once each semester: November 3, 2012, and February 23, 2013.

Power Teaching introduces best practices for delivering powerful instruction to increase student learning. This session promises to strengthen teaching in ways that matter when it comes time for observations under the state’s evaluation process no matter the evaluation model used.

I Can Do It! is the highly acclaimed classroom-management training program that addresses one of the most pressing issues identified by beginning teachers and their principals. The program covers classroom transitions, reinforcements, rules and routines, and dealing with difficult behavior.

Both tracks offer valuable insights and practical tips for teachers of all subjects at all grade levels.

Each track runs all day, from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., on both dates.

Teachers in their first three years of classroom teaching are invited to attend either or both conferences. Teachers earn six hours of professional development credit for each day they attend, a total of 12 hours for those who attend both conferences during the year.

Registration for the new teacher conferences can be done by mail or online. A $40 registration fee, payable in advance, secures a spot in the training. A discounted rate is available for those who register for both sessions at the same time, and an additional early bird registration discount applies for those who register by October 6 for both dates. The fee will be refunded to TEA members who attend if their registration fees were paid by personal or Association check.

More details and registration information have been mailed to local presidents, and can be found online at www.teateachers.org/new-teacher-conference.

For new and nearly new teachers

Sharpen Your Teaching Skills at TEA’s New Teacher Conferences

New teachers participate in TEA’s ‘I Can Do It!’ training. Conference fees will be refunded to TEA members.

4 September 2012

“I spy, I see. I see Delaney looking at me. Can you line up for me so we can go outside?”

Sitting on the floor in Karen Holder’s classroom at LaFollette Elementary School in Campbell County makes us wish we were five years old, singing about Mr. Alligator and the apple tree, climbing a wooden ship and learning about new animals, pronouncing new words and busting out new dance moves, excited about playtime outdoors.

Before we enter the playground, Karen checks under every object in sight to make sure there are no bees or other undesirable insects that could upset her crew of pre-K students. As the kids frolic, Holder and her teaching aide make sure that every child is courteous during play, managing to keep almost everyone happy. Then we line up, go back inside to wash hands, sing a couple more songs and, all of a sudden, it’s lunchtime.

A few miles up the road, Karen’s husband Bob holds court in his wellness health class at LaFollette Comprehensive High School. His students have just received

the folders with an assignment to be completed by Friday.“If you don’t do it, you get a zero,” says Bob in a no-nonsense

tone he has perfected over decades of teaching, coaching and stints in management at Frito Lay and Burger King.

Witnessing Bob and Karen in their teaching roles, it’s no wonder that the Campbell County Education Association had a stellar year, garnering a 30-percent increase in membership, the highest in the state, in spite of the fact that their county is the only one in Tennessee dominated by the American Federation of Teachers.

Karen, who has been a TEA member for 38 years, recalls arriving in Campbell County two decades ago and being asked to join AFT.

“I’d been told it would be a good thing to do because they were the main bargaining unit,” says Karen. “I was encouraged to join AFT, but a couple of friends of mine with whom I’d gone to school

told me it wasn’t necessary, that they were members of TEA and they were fine.”

And so it went on, with a handful of dedicated TEA members keeping the tradition alive in the county where collective bargaining and payroll deduction were the exclusive rights of a competing organization.

“There was a small group of us who saw TEA as a teachers’ group. TEA is what we believe in, so we just hung together and tried to keep going,” Karen says. “Last year we started moving up because of the legislative changes. People saw that we had a lot more to offer. We were on top of things. We have a UniServ coordinator we can call on, while other organizations don’t have a person who can connect them with the state. It’s always great to have somebody you can turn to, and to know that somebody is going to be here for you.”

Following the 2011 legislative changes, exclusive collective bargaining rights were taken away from AFT, and teachers in the area became more interested in joining TEA.

With Bob serving as president and Karen as co-president and secretary-treasurer, CCEA has stepped up its local communications efforts, positioning themselves as experts in teacher and principal evaluation, grievance process and collaborative conferencing efforts.

As of this writing, Bob is the only teacher in the county who has grieved his evaluation results. He tells his colleagues that he’s not afraid of being a turtle without a shell, with his neck sticking out.

“In our school we haven’t had any training in evaluation. I filed the grievance because I knew what to do, and that’s what I share with our members.”

Bob is also doing battle with central office on behalf of area career and technical education teachers, who have been recognized as such at the state level but have not received classroom supplies or compensation for their CTE workload.

“There’s been some harassment and denial of representation,” Bob says. “We have CTE teachers who have retired and have not been compensated for teaching CTE.”

One of CCEA’s new members who joined last spring has taught CTE for 18 years, but was never paid as a CTE teacher. According to CCEA’s estimate, these teachers are due between $1,000 and $1,500 a year in additional salary.

“When you take into account their retirement, Social Security wages, that makes a big difference. We know 15 former teachers who will be involved. Last spring we brought it all to the director. He promised that something would be done, but it hasn’t. The paychecks still don’t reflect any changes.”

At one point last year, Bob says he and a fellow teacher accidentally witnessed grades being changed live on a school system’s website. The officials denied it, yet at the end of the last school year one teacher’s paycheck was withheld for 15 minutes, presumably due to grade discrepancies. “It was an embarrassing situation,” Bob says.

A 13-year member of TEA who began his teaching career in 1976 in Coffee County, Bob sets an example of bravery in a county

Masters of the GameBob and Karen Holder boost morale and expertise among colleagues, garner a statewide membership award

Karen Holder (left), Campbell Co. EA secretary-treasurer and teacher at LaFollette Elementary School, and Assistant Principal Heather Smith, also a CCEA member, talk with Holder’s pre-K students in late August. On the cover: Karen Holder shows her youthful spirit on the playground; Bob Holder teaches health and wellness at LaFollette Comprehensive High School.

5 www.teateachers.org

In other areas of specialization, attorneys often change firms and clients. What motivates you to remain in your position as a TEA staff attorney for 23 years?

I believe in public education as an essential democratic institution and in teaching as a valued profession. To my mind, TEA is the only organization in Tennessee that is committed both to preserving public education for all of Tennessee’s children and to uplifting teachers as respected professionals.What caused you to become an advocate for the rights of public education employees?

Fortuitous circumstances. I was working as an attorney at the Tennessee Department of Revenue, and a colleague suggested that I apply for an opening at TEA. My father worked for Knoxville City and Knox County Schools. My mother’s family is full of educators, including my great-grandmother, who was the first woman to sit on the Monroe County Board of Education and my aunt, Jean Black, who is a retired teacher and principal from Monroe County who once served as president of her local association. When I enrolled in college, I had initially intended to pursue a career as a teacher, but was side-tracked by the law. When I was offered a position with TEA, it seemed like my professional life was coming full circle with the opportunity to represent public school teachers and employees.Why should one join TEA today?

TEA supports public education, public school teachers and employees, and is one of the few education organizations in Tennessee that is willing to speak truth to power on Capitol Hill. Why should one not be afraid or ashamed of joining TEA?

If you aren’t afraid or ashamed to be part of your profession, you shouldn’t be afraid or ashamed to be part of the pre-eminent organization in the state that represents and supports the members of your profession.What are the flaws in comparing public schools in the United States to schools in China, Finland or other countries?

I would be very happy if Tennessee was comparable to Finland and what the Finns have accomplished in public education. But Tennessee and Finland aren’t comparable, because the characteristics of the populations, the public support for a social safety net, and the approach to producing a trained teaching force are very dissimilar. Plus, Tennessee’s current leadership simply isn’t committed to providing Tennessee with the kind of education system to which the Finns have committed for their children.What’s wrong with trying to run public schools like a business?

You can’t send a bad batch of blueberries back to the supplier. You have to make blueberry ice cream with whatever blueberries you happen to have on hand.Among the many things you wish your clients did differently, what are the most common mistakes or oversights?

1. Not keeping good documentation. 2. Not seeking assistance early enough in the process. 3. Not observing professional boundaries with students and colleagues.

What is your advice to TEA members for this school year?Don’t wait to ask questions if you are having issues or concerns. Knowledge is

power, and TEA members have access to incredible amounts of information, resources and guidance, particularly through the TEA website, the UniServ coordinators, and legal services.

Virginia McCoy, TEA Attorney: “Don’t Wait to Ask Questions”

Virginia McCoy in her office by the poster of her favorite film.where education policy is often set in impenetrable school board

workshops. Most of the school board members know him as the keeper of the scoreboard for high school football and basketball games, and they usually get an earful whenever Bob gets their attention.

“We’ve been ignored, and we think we’ve had enough,” he says. “I’ve called the director several times to address our issues. I made eight to ten phone calls. I left voicemails. On Friday at lunchtime, I told him, ‘Please don’t ignore me. I’m not going away.’ Still, no answer. I think I’m going to have to go there one morning and just sit on the doorstep.”

The CTE issue is not the only one being ignored by the local school authorities. Bob says the grievance he had filed on July 15, 2012, was accepted and signed by his evaluator, yet he has received no response from central office. With a few days left to file with the school board,

Bob is considering submitting a copy to the state board of education.

Having raised three children and innumerable students who learned in their classrooms, Bob and Karen say they have their work cut out for them to

further solidify CCEA. Recently, they worked on the Association’s constitution, and

sought members who will work on the local’s Facebook and newsletter outlets to help push information about the coming evaluation changes and collaborative conferencing updates.

TEA District 5 UniServ Coordinator Jason White says the lack of information about evaluation and grievance is partially due to the fact that the state made last-minute changes in July, when many school officials were on vacation.

“It’s hard to fault the local school system because the state is fixing the plane in mid-air,” he says.

With a new, three-step grievance process in place, Bob and Karen are hard at work helping members realize that they have options that could positively impact their evaluation results.

“I’d say 50 percent of teachers in our system have never even looked at their scores,” says Bob. “Because it was sent out in an email, there are two passwords. Some teachers don’t understand the impact that evaluations can have.”

In a county where many teachers and students don’t carry cell phones or have Internet access at home, one-on-one communication is king, and Karen and Bob Holder appear to be the masters of it.

Karen Holder, CCEA member Chris Honeycutt, who teaches math and coaches football, and Bob Holder attend the system-wide in-service day. CCEA set up a “welcome back” table filled with information and giveaway opportunities.

“We’ve been ignored, and we think we’ve had enough... I’m going to go there one morning and just sit on the doorstep.”

6 September 2012

Teachers Overwhelmingly Choose TEA in Collaborative Conferencing Votes Across the State

Rutherford County teachers didn’t have a difficult time deciding who would represent them at the collaborative conferencing table with the local school board.

“Rutherford Education Association, of course. Who else?” said Darrick Bowman, who teaches history and social sciences at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro.

Across Tennessee, teachers overwhelmingly chose TEA members to represent them in collaborative conferencing, which replaced professional negotiations under the Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act (PECCA).

Critics say this mouthful of an acronym and the accompanying legislation were designed to weaken TEA’s influence in fighting on behalf of school employees and to strip teachers of collective bargaining rights. While the 107th General Assembly succeeded in taking away teachers’ ability to negotiate their contracts with local school systems, some locals still have contracts in place, and others are receiving votes of confidence from teachers in their districts.

To secure 100 percent of the seats at the collaborative conferencing table, REA members reached out to at least 15 percent of teachers in the district who said they would like for the school board to participate in collaborative conferencing. The Association then placed a flier in every teacher’s hand, informing them of the upcoming polling date and a track record of REA’s past wins on behalf of local teachers and school employees.

“REA did an excellent job of organizing teachers,” said Susan Young, District 11 UniServ coordinator. “They contacted every teacher in the

county and explained to them their expertise in the field.”

In Clarksville-Montgomery County, Becky Jackman, librarian and media specialist at New Providence Middle School, is preparing to send three alternates as part of the upcoming collaborative conferencing training in September to make sure that CMCEA always has their side of the conferencing process covered.

“CMCEA also plans to survey their members and to hold a training session on etiquette and strategy,” said Rhonda Thompson, District 14 UniServ coordinator.

After 81 percent of Knox County teachers voted last November for Knox Co. EA to represent them in talks with the local school board, KCEA determined that their ultimate goal is to reach a memorandum of understanding and to be able to work for the

benefits and rights of the employees of Knox County schools.

“Even though the legislature took away our bargaining rights, KCEA is still here for its members,” said KCEA President Sherry Morgan. To those locals that are yet to start the collaborative conferencing process, her advice is to create a plan and stick to it.

“The focus should be on getting a calendar and a plan of action going,” she said. “It’s important to meet the deadlines imposed by the process. Being on the front lines of collaborative conferencing really helps people see the benefits of being a member of our Association. Many non-members signed cards and voted for us. They told us, ‘We know you are going to do something, not the other organizations.’”

The Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act (PECCA) provides professional employees with the right to self-organization and to form, join or be assisted by organizations, to participate in collaborative conferencing and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of other mutual aid and benefit.

TEA will continue to protect and defend the numerous rights that still exist.

Under PECCA, professional employees have the right to:

* Self-organization and to form, join or be

assisted by organizations * Be free of interference, restraint or

coercion in the exercise of guaranteed rights * Be free of reprisals or threats of reprisal

for exercising their rights * Be free of domination of interference in

their chosen organization

Local Associations have the specific right to:

* Have access at reasonable times before or after the instructional day to areas in which employees work

* Use institutional bulletin boards, mail

boxes and communication media * Use school facilities, as permitted by

policy for community use, for the purpose of holding meetings

* Determine organizational rules for acquiring and retaining members

* Enter onto school grounds to contact professional employees at times that will not interfere with normal school operations

PECCA, in a statement of policy and purpose, ensures the right of professional employees to participate in collaborative conferencing through representatives of their own choosing.

Know Your PECCA Rights

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7 www.teateachers.org

TEA President Gera Summerford (middle) visited Jefferson County schools with District 3 UniServ Coordinator Tina Parlier (left). Summerford spoke with JCEA member Karen Bible (right) during the visit. Karen teaches AP art at Jefferson County High School.Below, Summerford welcomes Holston Middle School reading teacher Kelsey Bull at the recent Knox Co. EA new teacher luncheon. Kelsey will serve as the new association representative (AR) at her school.

After a long day at school, you deserve the very best, which is why the TEA Member Benefits program is committed to meeting your needs and those of your family.

TEA is proud to announce the member benefits partners listed below and welcome your feedback, comments and suggestions of potential future member benefits partners. Remember, no TEA or NEA dues are used to provide these services.

1. TEA-WOWbudget.com invites you on a secure and confidential journey to financial freedom. Specializing in offering a financial planning system to help teachers retire debt-free, WowBudget offers TEA members up to a 20% savings on monthly services if you utilize this debt reduction plan.

2. K-12 Benefits Advisors (Transamerican) specializes in offering flexible spending accounts to teachers. TEA members will receive up to a 25% savings on the monthly cost of this program and the $5.00 setup fee will be waived.

3. HERO - Healthcare Education Research & Outreach provides a diabetes education and screening program to adult members of the Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plan. In six classes, this plan offers participants the information needed to learn how to make daily decisions about self-care and diabetes. HERO also works in cooperation with PromiseCare, a company that provides discounted pharmaceuticals in this area of healthcare.

4. TEA Night with the Nashville PredatorsWould you like to see The Nashville Predators play

Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m.?Order tickets today at www.nashvillepredators.

com/TEANight with Special Offer Code “TEANight”Discounted rates for TEA Members:• $26GoalZone(yellowseatsinSec301-306,

329-333; regularly $35+)• $44MezzanineLevelincludesall-you-can-

eat hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, popcorn, soft pretzels

& Pepsi products (blue seats in Sec 313-322; regularly $58+)

• $51EndzoneClub(tanseatsinSec201-206,212-213, and 219-224; regularly $66+)

• $65LowerBowl(greenseatsinSec101-108,112-120; regularly $84+)

5. Discounted tickets to the University of Tennessee football games

As a TEA member, you have an exclusive opportunity to purchase discounted football tickets to select home games this year in honor of UT’s Education Appreciation Games. Simply visit www.UTTix.com, enter the promotional code and purchase as many tickets as you need for each game. Please call (865) 974-9585 for a three-game mini plan that includes the Florida home game or the Alabama home game, plus two additional home games of your choice for just $162.

Visit www.teateachers.org for detailed log-in instructions.

New TEA Member Benefits Partners Offer Superior Service, Ways to Save Money

Voter registration deadline for the November general election: October 8.

Early voting period for the November election: October 17-November 1.

Election Day: Tuesday, November 6.Now is the time to support candidates who

support teachers and public education.

Scan this QR code to view testimonials from your friends and colleagues featured in the TEA web video or visit vote.teateachers.org.

8 September 2012

If you’re like most Americans, you don’t have enough life insurance—so if anything ever happened to you, your loved ones could be hurt even more. Without your income, financial hardship could add to their sorrow.

That’s where the NEA Members Insurance Trust comes in. We’re your best choice for life insurance—because we’re a different kind of insurer. We serve NEA members exclusively, with superior benefits and preferred pricing.

September is NEA Life Insurance Awareness Month

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9 www.teateachers.org

If you’re like most Americans, you don’t have enough life insurance—so if anything ever happened to you, your loved ones could be hurt even more. Without your income, financial hardship could add to their sorrow.

That’s where the NEA Members Insurance Trust comes in. We’re your best choice for life insurance—because we’re a different kind of insurer. We serve NEA members exclusively, with superior benefits and preferred pricing.

September is NEA Life Insurance Awareness Month

Come feel the love at mynealife.com

Enter for your chance to win $1,000! Just tell us who you love and why. Go to mynealife.com for complete details. Then, submit a brief love story and an optional photo by October ��, ����.

Learn all about love and life insurance. Visit mynealife.com to see how much coverage you and your family really need.

Or call ������NEA�LIFE (��������������) for more information.

Promotion conducted between 8/13/12 and 10/15/12. Sponsor/Operator is NEA Members Insurance Trust. Offer open only to NEA members. For details and official rules, visit mynealife.com. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries submitted. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER TO WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

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By Amanda ChaneyMore than 9,000 educators descended upon Washington,

D.C., this summer for the National Education Association’s Annual Representative Assembly. Tennessee’s delegates, a group of more than 200 teachers, administrators and education support professionals, took an active role in the week-long event by participating in floor discussions, important votes and even performing with the NEA choir.

The week was filled with many inspiring speeches and nearly 100 new business items. NEA President Dennis Van Roekel kicked things off with the keynote address.

“This has been a challenging year for our country. I know it has also challenged you, as well as our members back home. Not just in some states, but in EVERY state,” said Van Roekel. “I know how hard you worked – to stand up for our members and to serve our students, from pre-K to graduate. And you do it each and every day – it’s who you are – it’s what we do.”

Van Roekel went on to challenge members to stand up for their profession and work together to “raise the level of preparation for those coming into our profession and improve the practice of those who are already here.”

The highlight for many attendees was a phone call from President Barack Obama. The president called in while on the road for his 2012 campaign bus tour across the country.

“I want you to know that I am proud of all the great work you have done,” said President Obama. “You can’t help the American people without helping educators. I’m proud to stand with you, I’m proud of your support.”

National Assembly Inspires, Energizes Tennessee’s Teachers

“We know what will work,” he continued. “What will work is if we are making an investment in a strong and growing middle class. That starts in the classroom, the places where you and your colleagues are teaching, and leading and inspiring. I’m running for a second term as president to make sure every American has a chance to get a great education and the skills and training that today’s jobs require.”

In addition to the president’s call, attendees also received a visit from Vice President Joe Biden and his wife and former NEA member, Dr. Jill Biden.

The vice president immediately won the crowd over by confessing, “I’m in love with a teacher.” He went on to say, “You make dreams a reality. My mother and father never doubted that I could become vice president or president of the United States. No group of professionals can make that possible other than the educators of this great country. You know better than anyone that our success in the 21st century depends on our ability to educate all children. And that starts with the women and men in our nation’s schools.”

The week’s activities also included several recognitions. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is this year’s recipient of the NEA America’s Greatest Education Governor Award. Judy Near, a Colorado education support professional, won the National Education Association’s Education Support Professional of the Year. The 2012 National Teacher of the Year was awarded to Rebecca Mieliwocki, an English teacher from California.

STEA members attend the 2012 NEA RA. Clockwise from left: Chris Martin, Amy Orick, Kelly Stapleton, Brittany Seal, Corbin Lester, Parris Malone, Londyn Huntley, STEA President and TEA board member Marilauren Anderson, and Caryce Gilmore. Read the story about Caryce Gilmore on the next page.

Rosemary Winters of Memphis EA performs with the NEA choir in a Fourth of July celebration at the NEA Representative Assembly in Washington, D.C.

Hamilton Co. EA President Sandy Hughes addresses the national assembly.

The Tennessee delegation included eight husband-and-wife pairs pictured below.

10 September 2012

Former Student Tennessee Education Association President Caryce Gilmore received the NEA Student Program’s Outstanding State Student Leader Award at the 2012 NEA Student Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.

The award recognizes a student member who has achieved excellence throughout the year by providing leadership to the State Student Program to meet the three pillars of the program: community outreach, professional development and political action.

Gilmore’s leadership experience includes starting a community outreach project for STEA, lobbying with state officers in Nashville, holding a voter registration drive at the STEA Fall Conference, serving on the TEA Board, attending two NEA Student Program Conferences and one NEA conference.

Gilmore was also elected by her peers to serve as a student representative on the NEA Board of Directors at the leadership conference.

Tennessee Student LeaderEarns National Recognition

Caryce Gilmore

This fall, dependents of many public school teachers will enroll in a Tennessee Board of Regents school or one of the schools that are part of the University of Tennessee system. Most of them will apply for a tuition discount as provided in Tennessee Code Annotated 49:7-119.

This 25-percent tuition discount is available to a teacher’s dependent child under the age of 24. In order to receive the discount, a form must be completed and submitted upon enrollment. What is not on the form are the words “retired teacher.” Whether by design or simple oversight, these words were omitted when the law passed in 1993. Every year, numerous new retirees are surprised to find their student is no longer eligible for the discount because the teacher is now retired. Retiring teachers lose the benefit of discounted tuition for their dependents.

Tennessee Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) believes there is a difference between losing a benefit and never having it. TRTA has fought hard for many years to correct this unfair treatment. The lobbyist for the Tennessee Board of Regents and the UT Board of Trustees has resisted the inclusion of retired teachers in the law providing the discount. Please keep this significant loss of tuition discounts in mind when planning for retirement.

Counting On Tuition Discount? Read the Fine Print

A warm welcome — Jessica Stephens (left) signs a record-breaking membership form during Williamson County EA’s new teacher event at Franklin High School on August 2. More than 75 new teachers joined WCEA during the event, exceeding last year’s count.

11 www.teateachers.org

Nine of the eleven TEA members who stepped up earlier this year to reverse the anti-public school agenda at the State Capitol won the primary election in August, demonstrating strong support for teachers and public education in communities across Tennessee.

Coinciding with the start of school, many of the candidates are balancing day-to-day school duties along with running ever-intensifying grass roots election campaigns, which will culminate in the November 6 general election.

Tommy Scott Price, who teaches at Coffee Co. Central High School, said he is grateful for the support of his colleagues and fellow citizens.

“I decided to throw my hat in the race in House District 47 because I didn’t feel that our elected officials represented the interests of teachers in our area,” Price said.

The 16-year member of TEA and Coffee Co. EA said that the 2011-12 legislative session delivered plenty of misguided “education reform” to Tennessee schools. Watching the slew of anti-teacher bills become law during the past couple of years inspired Price to bring a real teacher’s perspective to the Tennessee General Assembly.

Together with Anthony Hancock, a fellow teacher and House District 18 candidate from Knox County, Price addressed the Tennessee delegation during the NEA Representative Assembly in Washington, D.C., in July.

An active Knox Co. EA member since 2003, Hancock stressed the need to reverse past legislative measures aimed at silencing teachers’ voices in favor of corporate interests and out-of-state virtual schools.

“Educators deserve dignity and respect, and children deserve access to high quality instruction guided by the curriculum,” said Hancock, who teaches special education at Bearden Middle School in Knoxville. “I believe that parents and families should be engaged in and have opportunities to participate in the education of their children.”

By Lisa Dammert

T his is a plea for the restoration of collective bargaining. Just because that right was taken away from us, it doesn’t mean that we

must surrender it. Teachers have accepted lower salaries than those offered by corporate jobs under the guise that teachers have better benefits. That is no longer the case. Without collective bargaining we lose more than perks—we lose the ability to use our strength in numbers to negotiate for more affordable health care coverage, life and disability insurance. Premiums continuously creep up as do the costs of routine health maintenance.

I know this first-hand as a cancer survivor, mother and spouse who wants the best for her family.

Teachers and education support professionals are no longer respected as we once were. State standards, high-stakes testing and the threat of lawsuits loom over every one of us. These threats take away from the time we spend with students. We are stuck in meetings and webinars to address these demands, when instead we’d rather be, well, teaching! Our voice is no longer one of solidarity. We must unite together and let the

politicians know that we will not surrender collective bargaining. We can only win this fight if we work together.

Several politicians are up for re-election who have no respect for teachers. We must show them that we remember. We remember marching in the rain. We remember sitting outside of the legislative sessions as our profession was

bashed. Some politicians painted us as glorified babysitters. To those politicians, I say this: Teachers are the ones who taught you how to read, how to follow directions and how to tie your shoes. Teachers dried your tears when you were sad and gave you hugs to celebrate your success. During that entire process teachers unfolded the world before your eyes. They showed you that the universe is vast and that cells are microscopic. Teachers taught you critical thinking skills and how to get along with other people. Babysitters just make sure the baby stays in one piece before the parents get home.

It is time to show the politicians the power of solidarity. We can collectively bargain their jobs away by voting new people in. Remind fellow teachers how politicians voted on issues near and dear to your heart. Show students the legislative process in action – vote! We can only get our right to collective bargaining back by standing up as one.

Lisa Dammert teaches at Fairview High School and is membership chair of the Williamson County EA, www.wceateachers.com.

Nine of the eleven TEA members who stepped up earlier this year to reverse the anti-public school agenda at the State Capitol won the primary election in August, demonstrating strong support for teachers and public

Campaigns Heat UpTennessee’s Teachers Aim High

Scott Price (Coffee Co. EA) and Anthony Hancock (Knox Co. EA) talk to the state delegation at the NEA Representative Assembly about their individual campaigns for Tennessee State Representative.

“It’s time to show the politicians the power of solidarity. We can collectively bargain their jobs away by voting new people in... We can get our right to collective bargaining back.”

Opinion/Commentary

We Are Professionals. Let’s Get Our Rights Back

his is a plea for the restoration of collective bargaining. Just

lose the ability to use our strength

affordable health care coverage, life and disability insurance. Premiums continuously creep up as do the costs of routine health maintenance.

I know this first-hand as a cancer survivor, mother and spouse who wants the best

Teachers and education support professionals are no longer respected as we once were. State standards, high-stakes testing and the threat of lawsuits loom over every Nine of the eleven TEA members who stepped up earlier this year to

reverse the anti-public school agenda at the State Capitol won the primary

Campaigns Heat UpTennessee’s Teachers Aim HighTennessee’s Teachers Aim HighTennessee’s Teachers Aim HighTennessee’s Teachers Aim High

Scott Price (Coffee Co. EA) and Anthony Hancock (Knox Co. EA) talk to the state delegation at the NEA Representative Assembly about their individual campaigns for Tennessee State Representative. their individual campaigns for Tennessee State Representative.

12 September 2012

Need information, services?Tennessee Education Association

801 Second Avenue N., 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, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan. District 2 — Jennifer Gaby, P.O. Box 70, Afton, TN

37616; (423)234-0700, fax: (423)234-0708; Assns: Cocke, Greene, Unicoi, Washington, Johnson City. District 3 — Tina Parlier, P.O. Box 74, Corryton, TN 37721;

(865)688-1175, fax: (865)688-5188; Assns: Claiborne, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Sevier, Union. District 4 — Jon White, Knox County Education Association, 2411

Magnolia Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917-8289; (865)522-

9793, fax: (865)522-9866; Assns: Knox, TSD. District 5— Jason White, P.O. Box 5502, Oak Ridge, TN 37831;

(615)521-1333, fax: (865)200-5254; Assns: Anderson, Campbell, Blount, Morgan, Scott. District 6 — Jim Jordan, P.O. Box 4878, Cleveland, TN 37320; phone/fax:

(423)472-3315; Assns: Rhea, Roane, Meigs, McMinn, Monroe, Loudon, Bradley, Polk. District 7 — Theresa Turner, 4655 Shallowford Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37411;

(423)485-9535, fax: (423)485-9512; Assns: Hamilton County. District 8 — Jeff Garrett, P.O. Box 1202,

Lebanon, TN 37088; (615)630-2605, fax: (855)320-8755;

Assns: Coffee, Cannon, Bledsoe, Franklin, Grundy, Manchester City, Marion, Sequatchie, Tullahoma City, Van Buren, White, Warren. District 9 — Shannon Bain, 1001 Rhett Place, Lebanon, TN 37087; phone: (615)547-

7769, fax: (855)715-0824; Assns: Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Trousdale. District 10 — Jackie Pope, 2326 Valley Grove Dr., Murfreesboro, TN 37128; (615)

898-1060, fax: (615) 898-1099; Assns: Bedford, Marshall, Moore, Williamson. District 11 — Susan Young, P.O.

Box 422, Madison, TN 37116-0422; phone: (615)865-

9700, fax: (615)865-9701; Assns: Rutherford, Sumner. District 12 — Cheryl Richardson-Bradley, 801 Second

Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201; (615)630-2601, fax:

(888)519-4879; Assns: Cheatham, Dickson, Hickman, Wilson. District 13 — Forestine Cole, Ralph Smith, Metro Nashville, 531 Fairground Court, Nashville, TN

37211; (615)726-1499, fax: (615)726-2501; Assns: Metro Nashville. District 14 — Rhonda Thompson, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201; phone:

(615)242-8392, ext. 321, fax: (615)259-4581; Assns: Clarksville-Montgomery, Robertson. District 15 — Miley Durham, P.O. Box 10, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464;

phone: (931)766-7874, fax: (913)762-9391; Assns: Giles, Lawrence, Lincoln, Hardin, Lewis, Maury, Wayne. District 16 — Maria Uffelman, P.O. Box 99, Cumberland

City, TN 37050; phone: (931)827-3333, fax: (931)827-

3330; Assns: Benton, Carroll (West Carroll) Central, Henry, Stewart, Weakley, FTA, S.S.D. Decatur, Houston, Humphreys, Perry. District 17 — Lorrie Butler, P.O.

Box 387, Henderson, TN 38340; (731)989-4860, fax:

(731)989-9254; Assns: Chester, Hardeman, Henderson, Jackson-Madison, McNairy. District 18 — Karla Carpenter, P.O. Box 177, Brunswick, TN 38014; (901)590-

2543, fax: (901)382-1433; Assns: Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Haywood, Lake, Lauderdale, Obion, Tipton. District 19 — Zandra Foster, 3897 Homewood Cove, Memphis,

TN 38128; (901)377-9472, fax: (855)320-8737; Assns: Fayette, Shelby. District 20 — Memphis Education Association — Ken Foster, Executive Director; MEA UniServ Directors: Marilyn Baker, Susanne Jackson, Terri Jones, Tom Marchand, Herman Sawyer, MEA, 126

South Flicker Street, Memphis, TN 38104; (901)454-0966,

fax: (901)454-9979; Assn: Memphis.

www.teateachers.orgwww.nea.org

Scan this Quick Response code for UniServ contact information

If you are interested in the Tennessee Space Week 2012-13 learning grants, don’t forget the application deadline is September 24. TEA will award Space Week learning grants to teachers for instructional projects and materials in grades K-12. This is a great opportunity to demonstrate your local Association’s commitment to academic excellence, particularly in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Our Tennessee Space Week celebration will be held January 27-February 2, 2013.

What on earth is Tennessee Space Week?Space Week is a statewide project designed to increase teachers’

and student interest and performance in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math through focus on aerospace programs and accomplishments. Activities are co-sponsored by TEA, the Tennessee Space Grant Consortium and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Originated in 1986, the Space Week project includes special learning opportunities for both students and teachers. TEA generally offers workshops that deal directly with teaching math and science at the annual TEA Spring Symposium in March. Information concerning other available training opportunities is disseminated to members through TEA publications and the Scholarship, Grants & Awards section at www.teateachers.org. Every teacher who applies for a Space Week Learning Grant automatically receives notification of training opportunities sponsored by Tennessee Space Grant Consortium and NASA.

TEA awards Space Week Learning Grants to members each year, prior to Tennessee Space Week. Since 1999, TEA has awarded over $175,126 to association members and various school systems across the state. These grants fund special Space Week materials and activities. Grant awards vary in amount to a maximum of $1,000.

Applications are available at www.teateachers.org, with a deadline in late September. Awards are mailed directly to winners in late November or early December.

The goal of Space Week activities is to increase student interest and performance in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Keeping this goal in mind, TEA strongly encourages interdisciplinary project development as well as traditional proposals within math and science departments across the state.

When does Space Week take place?Following the Challenger tragedy on January 28, 1986, TEA

acted to honor the life and teaching of fellow NEA member, Christa

McAuliffe, who was aboard the Challenger as America’s first teacher in space. In her honor, Tennessee Space Week is held each January, the last school week preceding, or the school week including, January 28.

If you would like to be the Space Week contact for your local Association/school, email Alexei Smirnov at asmirnov@tea.nea.org. Provide your name, address, e-mail address (home preferred), and telephone numbers and name of your local Association/school.

1. Application must be typed and submitted as directed on the application form.

2. Individual K-12 teacher members, groups of members or local associations are eligible to apply. Applications for collaborative projects should be made in a single application. Only current members holding a license to teach in Tennessee are eligible. Special consideration is given to proposals from first-time applicants or proposals that include matching funds from other school and/or community sources.

3. Grant amounts up to $1,000 will be awarded to purchase aerospace teaching and learning materials to be used in instructional projects for classrooms, departments or schools. Reusable materials are preferred, but not required. TEA encourages incorporation of matching funds from other sources wherever possible. Learning grant funding can change annually, and matching funds increase the impact of your proposal.

4. Field trips, salary supplements and professional development courses are not eligible for funding with Space Week Learning Grant Fund; however, they can be part of a total project.

5. Applications are due at TEA by 5 p.m. (CDT), Monday, September 24, 2012. A joint committee of TEA and the Tennessee Space Consortium will select and notify winners. Winners will receive their grant in November so requested items may be purchased prior to the Tennessee Space Week in January.

6. Grant report forms and any unspent funds must be returned to TEA by Friday, May 3, 2013, as part of the final report for each grant project.

Tennessee Space Week – January 27-February 2, 2013.Please mail the completed application to:Tennessee Space Week Learning Grant Attn: Alexei SmirnovTennessee Education Association801 Second Avenue NorthNashville, TN 37201-1099

It’s the Best Thing Since Mars Rover: Apply for Tennessee Space Week Grant by September 24

Download the TEA app @App store or Android market