March-April 2017 Vol. 48, Issue 4

TEACHThe teaching and learning journal of the Tennessee Education Association

THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TENNESSEE

Approximately 60 percent of all Tennessee teachers are in districts engaging in PECCA, the state’s collaborative conferencing law. TEA locals have won the vast majority of conferencing seats in PECCA elections, a sure sign teachers know which organization best represents them. As more local associations organize votes and win, the strength of the 2011 Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act is being put to the test.Recently, TEA and the Bedford County EA successfully challenged the district when it failed to pay for teacher insurance at the level agreed upon in the PECCA MOU, winning Bedford County teachers reimbursement for the extra money they had to put toward insurance.

Another important test is unfolding in Maury County. After numerous failed attempts with collaborative conferencing, Maury County

Education Association has filed

PECCA cont. page 8

With more locals engaged in PECCA, the strength of the law is put to the test

License expiring? Stay on top of requirements, earn PDPs with TEA trainingsWhen it is time to renew your teaching license, don’t get caught unprepared at the last minute.A teacher’s license is up for renewal every three to six years depending on the type of license, but the expiration date is always August 31 of the designated year (Visit www.teateachers.org/License for a full explanation).“August is hard enough

on teachers. The last thing we want is for a member to realize their license is about to expire in a matter of days,” said Rhonda Thompson, TEA Instructional Advocacy coordinator. “Log into TNCompass to double check your expiration date and your number of PDPs, and make sure you are intentional about scheduling professional development. TEA offers

a number of in-person and online opportunities for members to earn PDPs throughout the year, often at no cost to them.”The Tennessee

License cont. page 8

Legislation laying out the administration’s implementation plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act, the federal replacement for No Child Left Behind, takes positive steps forward in some areas, but also doubles down on many NCLB-era decisions that have had a negative impact on education in the state. It does not take advantage of new flexibility and misses a chance to make headway on testing reduction and changes to teacher evaluation.A number of changes that were made under NCLB and the Race to the Top grant, such as the creation of the Achievement School District, continue under the new ESSA plan. This is despite the fact that ESSA removes some federal mandates describing accountability for school improvement, clearing the way for the state to revisit decisions like the continued expansion of the ASD, which has failed to live up to promises of improvement and has come under intense scrutiny in recent years.

The bill does incorporate some positive changes related to the ASD, including preventing an ASD school from expanding beyond the grades served by the school it replaces. The bill also makes positive changes related to graduation rates and the assessment of students with special needs that have been the subject of legislation in recent years. However, overall assessment reduction remains an area that needs improvement. TEA has submitted formal feedback to the department of education’s ESSA implementation team calling for more investigation into the use of grade-span testing for science and social studies, something that is permitted under ESSA.Also not addressed is new flexibility around teacher evaluations, particularly the use of student growth data in TVAAS. TEA will continue to address the opportunities provided by the new federal law, and applauds the positive changes that are present in the bill.

Educators must hold state accountable in ESSA implementation ESSA Opportunities

Reduce testingImprove teacher

evaluationLocal control over

school improvementEnsure equitable resources for ALL

studentsAlternatives to test-

based accountability

Teach (USPS 742-450, ISSN 15382907) is published in August, October, Jan/Feb, and March/April by the Tennessee Education Association, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville TN 37201-1099. Periodicals postage paid at Nashville, TN, and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION Teach, 801 Second Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201-1099. Periodical postage paid at Nashville, TN, and additional offices. The subscription price of $3.06 is allocated from annual membership dues of $258.00 for active members; $129.00 for associate, education support and staff members; $16.00 for retired members; and $10.00 for student members. Member of State Education Association of Communicators (SEAC).

Postmaster: Send address changes to TENNESSEE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

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

MANAGING EDITOR: Amanda Chaney achaney@tnea.org

ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Jim WryeEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER:

Carolyn CrowderTennessee 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: Barbara Gray* (800) 342-8367VICE PRESIDENT: Beth Brown* (931) 779-8016SECRETARY-TREASURER: Carolyn Crowder (615) 242-8392DISTRICT 1 Joe Crabtree* (423) 794-9357

DISTRICT 2 Michele Bowman (865) 679-6523DISTRICT 3 Michael Carvella (865) 212-9774DISTRICT 4 Connie Mitchell (865) 609-1702DISTRICT 5 Jeanette Omarkhail (423) 413-9114DISTRICT 6 Jennifer Eilender (931) 704-2487DISTRICT 7 Jim Gifford (615) 430-6233DISTRICT 8 Kevin King (615) 504-0425DISTRICT 9 Stephen Henry (615) 519-5691DISTRICT 10 Randall Woodard (615) 594-5632DISTRICT 11 Brandi Adams (731) 439-3476DISTRICT 12 Janis Carroll (731) 431-2387 DISTRICT 13 VACANTDISTRICT 14 Kenyon Cook (901) 605-7080DISTRICT 15 Neshellda Johnson (901) 857-6042ADMINISTRATOR EAST Jessica Holman (865) 689-1450ADMINISTRATOR MIDDLE Margaret Thompson (615) 643-7837ADMINISTRATOR WEST Dennis Kimbrough (901) 494-0105HIGHER EDUCATION Josephine McQuail (931) 520-0449

BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER EAST Pam Thompson (615) 948-7378BLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER MIDDLE VACANTBLACK CLASSROOM TEACHER WEST Tiffany Reed (901) 412-2759 STATE SPECIAL SCHOOLS Debi Ponder (615) 969-4362NEW TEACHER Carrie Allison (812) 205-7689ESP Sandra McDurmon (901)237-2866TN NEA DIRECTOR Tanya Coats (865) 308-2787TN NEA DIRECTOR Karen Anderson (423) 741-9682STEA MEMBER Celeste Randall (615) 335-0217TN RETIRED Linda McCrary (615) 888-7026 * Executive Committee AT LARGE RETIRED DIRECTOR ON NEA BOARD JoAnn Smith (423 )914-2818

TEA HEADQUARTERS STAFFEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Carolyn Crowder; ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS: Terrance Gibson; Steve McCloud; Jim Wrye; TECHNOLOGY &

BUILDING OPERATIONS MANAGER: Galen Riggs; COMPTROLLER: David Shipley; UNISERV FIELD MANAGERS: Karla Carpenter; Leigh Phillips; STAFF ATTORNEYS: John Allen, Virginia A. McCoy; GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COORDINATOR: Drew Sutton; COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Amanda Chaney; COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR: Alexei Smirnov; INSTRUCTIONAL ADVOCACY & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS: Rhonda Thompson; William O’Donnell; ADVOCACY HOTLINE COORDINATORS: Forestine Cole, Gera Summerford & Cynthia Wood.

UniServ Staff contact informationcan be found on page 6.

By TEA Executive Director Carolyn Crowder By TEA President Barbara Gray

I can’t tell you how many Association leaders have told me they got their first leadership position in their local because “I missed a meeting and everyone decided I should do the job no one else was willing to take.”I want to thank all of those out there who have stepped up to the plate no matter what the circumstances – but I encourage you to take advantage of some TEA events coming up that could help you determine what your next step in leadership should be before you get drafted just because you missed a meeting.If you are a delegate to the TEA RA, please use that time to talk with other leaders across our state to see what they recommend. In addition, TEA’s annual Summer Leadership Academy (SLA) is coming up June 8 – 10 (please see advertisement below). It is entitled, “Catch the Momentum – Leadership with a Sense of Urgency”. There will be multiple workshops that will make you aware of leadership opportunities from your building level (as a member of an Association S.W.A.T. team) all the way to the state and national level. In addition to workshops, the networking with folks from other areas is extremely valuable to help you learn more about how to accomplish more in the leadership positions you already have or what other areas to explore.This issue of TEACH also includes an announcement of TEA’s Education Support Professional (ESP) conference. The ESP conference is geared towards our ESP leaders, but all members are welcome. The theme and focus of this year is “Building an ESP NETWORK towards a stronger voice.” Participants will learn how to fight isolation and outsourcing, and have an opportunity to make important connections with colleagues from all across the state.TEA’s continued strength, despite the challenges we are facing from those that want to defund or otherwise harm our public schools, is because of educators like you stepping up and getting engaged in your association. We are the strongest force in Tennessee defending public education and making sure the educator voice is included in school improvement ideas. We need as many leaders as we can get. Please don’t wait to be drafted – pro-actively determine what you can do during these critical times to advocate for our students, our schools and our profession!

This summer will make the 50th anniversary of the merger agreement between the Tennessee Education Congress - TEC ( also known as Tennessee Teachers Association in Colored Schools and Tennessee Negro Education Association) and the Tennessee Education Association-TEA.For many years before the merger and integration, TEC and TEA operated as two separate organizations, but they had the same goals in mind and always had some degree of understanding and relationship with each other on some matters. That degree of understanding

and relationship increased as time moved on. The officers and membership of both organizations communicated frequently and understood each other. Both had issues of concern at the local, state, and national levels. As early as 1951, the Tennessee Negro Education Association’s executive

secretary, at the request of its Executive Committee, wrote a letter to TEA’s Administrative Council requesting a joint committee to work on legislation and other matters that were of mutual concern. The proposal was voted on and accepted by TEA. Each organization

appointed three people to the committee. This opened the door for further negotiations at the state level. This kind of relationship continued over the years.In December 1964, TEC-TEA merger talks began with the formation of a joint committee of the two organizations at the request of TEC Executive Committee. The first meeting of the merger committee took place in 1965 at the TEA building. The committee began to work on the merger plan with specific terms and provisions to be included in the agreement which would be recommended to the two state associations’ membership for action. In July 1966, the joint committee met and completed its draft proposal. The proposal was presented to the Administrative Council of TEA and the Executive Committee of TEC, and was later approved by both membership bodies. The merger was adopted and all agreements were finalized on July 1, 1967.TEA and TEC have operated as one organization ever since and we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the merger at the TEA Representative Assembly in May.The spirit and motivation of the merger lives on in our membership today. We recognize the common goals we share as public school educators and know the power we wield when we stand as one united front fighting for public education in Tennessee.

50 years later, we are still stronger together

Don’t wait to be drafted, choose your own path

TEA’s continued strength ... is because of educators like you stepping up and getting engaged in your association.

The spirit and motivation of the [TEA and TEC]merger lives on in our membership today.

Leadership with a Sense of Urgency

Catch the

June 8–10Embassy Suites Hotel — Cool Springs2017 Summer Leadership Academy

The joint committee of TEA and TEC in the mid-1960s.

TEA Public School Advocate 3

Member Voices

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a piece of federal legislation that passed with bipartisan support in December of 2015. ESSA replaces the highly unpopular No Child Left Behind (NCLB), which was in the driver’s seat of public education since 2002. The most notable

difference between NCLB and ESSA is a shift to more state and local control.I participated in an ESSA Cadre training in December of 2016, which gave an overview of the federal legislation as well as Tennessee’s Draft ESSA Plan. This training consisted of presentations from TEA and NEA, as well as a spokesperson from the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE). The cadre members were encouraged to go back to our locals and get members and other stakeholders involved in this process. Across the state, cadre participants spoke at faculty and school board meetings, wrote newspaper editorials, and generally bothered anybody who would stand still about how important ESSA could be for teachers and students in Tennessee and the opportunities for change that it afforded. One key opportunity for change under ESSA is in the area of assessments. At the federal level, ESSA only requires math and reading assessments annually in third through eighth grades and once in high school, as well as science three times

between grades 3 and 12. ESSA also allows for a standardized assessment such as ACT in lieu of testing in high school. Tennessee’s testing requirements far exceed the federal requirements. Currently, 11th graders across the state are required to take English III, Chemistry, Algebra II, and U.S. History, all of which have a TNReady and/or EOC Assessment. This does not include honors students who many times opt to take rigorous classes as electives; many of these classes also have testing requirements involved. Finally, in April, all 11th graders also take the ACT. ESSA legislation also allows for a great deal of flexibility regarding teacher evaluations. There is no one system required and states can choose how they will evaluate teachers. Tennessee’s ESSA State Plan does not include any change to the current evaluation system. According to TDOE, recent teacher survey data indicates the majority of teachers surveyed believe the evaluation system improves their teaching. All teachers would agree that some feedback is necessary and helpful to improve, in much the same way we provide feedback to students. However, I doubt most teachers believe the current models are the best way to accomplish this. There is a cost associated with everything we do in education. The amount of resources dedicated to evaluating teachers with the current models is staggering. One of the key points that I shared with the stakeholders in my district about ESSA was the timeline for implementation proposed by the state. This timeline started with Stakeholder Input (June through September of 2016), Writing the Plan (September through November of 2016), Stakeholder Feedback (December 2016 through

February 2017), and Plan Approval (March through April of 2017). Per the timeline, TDOE has done an admirable job of amassing ESSA stakeholder input and has made many positive statements regarding utilizing this input to make changes to Tennessee’s ESSA Plan. TDOE released ESSA Feedback in February of 2017, which provided some very general information and a few quotes from stakeholders. After six town hall meetings with 1,000 participants and 2,000 comments received online and emailed, the state is only proposing two changes to the ESSA Draft Plan released in December of 2016. Third and fourth grade science and social studies assessments will be reduced by half. The Opportunity to Learn Indicator for attendance will be relabeled “Chronically out of School” to account for students who are frequently suspended, and this metric will be reduced to 10%.The most memorable piece of my ESSA Cadre Training took place in the first two minutes of the presentation from the TDOE spokesperson. She said, “The state has had their plan in place for 18 months.” ESSA was passed 12 months prior to this, so it begs the question: Does Tennessee have any interest in making significant changes to their plan?We have an opportunity to make positive changes. Tennessee will likely release the ESSA Plan for federal approval on April 3. Teachers should not be complacent and just wait to see what happens. Be informed and get involved. Regardless of what ESSA looks like in its first year, there will be more opportunities for change in the future.

Is Tennessee making the most of ESSA? I have my doubts.By Anna Mullin, Franklin County EA President and TEA ESSA cadre member

Michael Joseph Franklin, TEA member and Spanish teacher at Franklin Co. High School, was chosen as the recipient of NEA’s 2017 Applegate-Dorros Peace and International Understanding Award, which is presented to an individual whose activities in education contribute to international understanding and motivate youth to work for world peace.Franklin, whose undergraduate and graduate work focused on women’s studies, has been an advocate for women’s rights and a champion of equality and advancement of minorities since he was a teenager. “My feminism started when I was a 13-year-old child and I visited Honduras for the first time,” Franklin said last year when he received the 2016 TEA Susan B. Anthony Award. In addition to a full-time career in public education, Franklin also works as a development coordinator for a program teaching survival skills and working to promote clean water, smoke inhalation prevention and abuse prevention to community leaders in Honduras.

Wen Marcec, founder of A Lasting World Inc. of Old Hickory, Tenn., has been named the National Education Association’s 2017 Reg Weaver Human and Civil Rights Award winner, which is presented to an individual whose activities around closing the poverty gaps for children in America and around the world have made a significant impact in helping poor students and eliminating poverty. A retired preschool teacher with a passion for teaching students the love of nature, Marcec founded Camp H.O.P.E., a week-long, all-expenses-paid, environmental education experience for underprivileged middle school students in Estill County, Ky. Along with her husband Jerry, a retired research chemist, Marcec brings 12 students to the camp each summer. “Mrs. Marcec’s commitment to lifting up children living in poverty is truly remarkable,” said TEA President Barbara Gray. “Her work has opened up a world of possibilities for students who would have otherwise likely continued the cycle of poverty in their families and communities. I am proud to see our national affiliate recognizing the great work of a fellow Tennessean.”The 2017 NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner will take place July 1 in the Grand Ballroom of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, Mass., as part of a series of events surrounding the NEA Representative Assembly.

Michael Franklin, left, was honored as the 2016 TEA Susan B. Anthony Award winner at the 2016 TEA Representative Assembly.

NEA honors Tennesseans with prestigious human rights awards

Rebate application deadline for student members May 1Student members seeking a membership fee rebate must submit completed Student Rebate Applications for fiscal year 2016-17 by May 1. Active members who in 2016-17 were in their first year of educational employment are eligible for a rebate of $20 per year of paid student membership, up to four years. The application is available on the NEA website: http://www.nea.org/home/1676.htm and must be returned to NEA Membership Management Services by May 1 in order to be eligible (address/email/fax are noted on form). Rebates are mailed to the member at the address in the IMS database in August. Questions can be directed to studentrebate@nea.org.

TEA Teach 3

4 TEA Teach

TENTATIVE AGENDA2017 REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLYTennessee Education Association

Embassy Suites – Murfreesboro, Tenn.May 5-6, 2017

Friday, May 5, 5:15-5:45 P.M. - Delegates from the following districts will convene to nominate candidates for the TEA Board of Directors: One (three-year term); Three (three-year term), Seven (two-year unexpired term), Eight (three-year term), and Thirteen (three-year term). For TEA-FCPE Executive Council, the following districts will convene: One (three-year term), Three (three-year term), Six (two-year unexpired term), and Thirteen (three-year term). Friday, May 5, 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. – First General Session1. Invocation2. Pledge of Allegiance3. National Anthem4. Seating of Delegates5. Approval of Minutes6. Approval of Agenda7. Adoption of Standing Rules

Consider Amendment to Standing Rules

8. Appointment of Committees Credentials Committee Resolutions Committee Elections Committee

9. President’s Speech10. Legislative/FCPE Report

11. Constitution & Bylaw Amendments12. Susan B. Anthony Award13. E. Harper Johnson Human Relations Award14. Friend of Education Awards15. Presidential Merit Award16. Nominations

a. Board of Directors (1) East Tennessee Administrator for a three-year term (2) East Tennessee Black Classroom Teacher for a three-year term (3) Middle Tennessee Black Classroom Teacher for a one-year unexpired term (4) State Special Schools Representative for a three-year term (5) New Teacher for a three-year term (6) Classroom Teacher Board members from Districts 1, 3, 8, 13 for three-year terms (7) Classroom Teacher Board member from District 7 for a two-year unexpired term b. West Tennessee contact to the Board of Trustees of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System for a three-year term c. West Tennessee contact to the Local Education Insurance Committee for a three-year term d. Districts 1, 3, and 13 TEA-FCPE Council members for three-year terms e. District 6 TEA-FCPE Council member for a two-year unexpired term

17. TEA/NEA Fund Report

18. Report of the Committee on Campaign Policies and Candidate Expenses

19. Reading of New Business Items*

Saturday, May 6, 7:30 – 9:15 A.M. – Election Polls Open

Saturday, May 6, 9:30 A.M. – Second General Session1. Membership Awards2. Tennessee Retired Teachers Association

(TRTA)3. Report of the Executive Director4. Gubernatorial Candidates5. Distinguished Educator Awards6. Teaching of Excellence Nominee – Cathy

Whitehead7. Memorial Recognition8. Financial Report9. Presentation and Adoption of the 2017-

2018 Budget10. Continuation of any unfinished business

from the Friday night agenda11. Action on Proposed Resolutions12. Action on New Business Items13. Report of the Credentials Committee14. Report of the Elections Committee (to be

given when vote count is completed)15. Introduction of Elected Officials16. Announcements17. Adjournment

*Standing Rules require that this agenda item be completed prior to the adjournment of the First General Session.

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BYLAWS ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIPSECTION 3 Dues:

d. Persons joining after September 1 shall have their dues pro-rated for the balance of the membership year, provided they join as continuing members. An active A member who ceases to be employed by an educational institution prior to January 31 (as verified by the local education association) will have returned that amount in excess of one-half of the annual dues and will cease to be a member as of January 31. The membership fee for persons eligible for Active membership and Education Support membership who are regularly employed for fifty (50) percent or less of the normal schedule for a full-time faculty member (as certified by the local association) shall be one-half (1/2) of the Active or Education Support membership dues, as appropriate.

Rationale: The proposed amendment changes the phrase “An active member” to “A member” to ensure that education support members that cease to be employed by an educational institution prior to January 31 have the same ability as Active teacher, administrative and supervisory members to have returned that amount in excess of one-half of the annual dues.

Proposed Amendments to TEA BylawsThe TEA Board recommends that the Representative Assembly amend the article to the right by deleting the words indicated by a strikethrough and adding the words indicated by bold type.

According to Bylaws Article XVI, “Any portion of these bylaws may be amended at the annual meeting of the Representative Assembly by a majority vote of the delegates present and voting provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the executive director of the Association by an affiliated local association, or by a petition signed by 100 active members, or by the Board of Directors of the Association not later than sixty days prior to the date set for the convening of the Representative Assembly. The executive director shall cause said proposed amendments to be printed in a publication of the Association at least twenty (20) days prior to the annual meeting of the Representative Assembly. An amendment shall become effective on July 1 following its adoption unless the amendment includes a different specified beginning date. An amendment adopted by the Representative Assembly shall not become effective prior to the date following adjournment of the Assembly.”

TEA Teach 5

District One (three-year term) LaDawn B. Hudgins, Washington Co. EA – WCEA President: 2012 - current, WCEA Vice-President: 2010-2012, AR: Rep. 10+ yrs., TEA-RA Delegate: 12+ yrs., TEA State Delegate @ NEA-RA: 4 yrs., TEA State Delegate at NEA MLT/WLT 2013-2014 & 2016-2017, IPD Committee Member: 2014-2016, Membership Committee: 2016, School Calendar Committee: 7 yrs., MAC Committee Member: 3 yrs., School SLP: 29 yrs.,

Masters in Theology 2009, Member Black Caucus, Pastoral Staff at Calvary Church, married 35 yrs, Member of WCEA PECCA Team: 2013 to present

District Seven (two-year unexpired term) Jim Gifford, Rutherford Co. EA – Taught English for 19 years. Taught at Oakland High School, Rutherford County since 2001. President-elect Rutherford Education Assn. 2013-15, President 2015-16, TEA Board of Directors 2016-17. I have devoted much of my time and efforts for the past six years (since the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act) working for public education. We are under siege by wealthy

corporate interest groups. Joining the REA, TEA and NEA in this fight has been a difficult, but rewarding challenge for me. I have written numerous editorials for local newspapers alerting fellow citizens about the dangerous path our country is on. I have lobbied lawmakers in the Tennessee Legislature, and have written endorsements and campaigned for local pro-public school candidates in this effort. It is apparent, however, that much work is yet to be done.

District Thirteen (three-year term) Renee Baum, Bartlett EA – 17-year professional educator with Bartlett City Schools, currently teaching 8th Grade English Language Arts at Bon Lin Middle School; previously taught at high school level; active member of TEA/NEA since 1999, currently serving as District 13 Representative to TEA FCPE (Fund for Children in Public Education), TEA

Legislative Contact Team member and NEA Concerns Committee member. Previously served as: building level AR in every school I have ever taught, the PACE committee for over seven years for the former Shelby County Education Association, co-chair of the Bartlett Education Association PACE, District 4 Representative on the SCEA (Shelby County Education Association) Board of Directors, Public Relations Committee of SCEA and the Scholarship Committee. When SCEA and MEA merged, I was on the NEA Merger Transition Committee. When the merger occurred, I was elected as a Middle School Director for the newly merged M-SCEA and served in that capacity until my school became part of Bartlett City Schools. Elected first Middle School Representative on the BEA Board of Directors in 2014. Elected to attend NEA RA on behalf of SCEA, M-SCEA, and BEA. Appointed by the TEA Board to fill the TEA BOD District 13 position that was vacated in January 2017.

East TN Administrator (three-year term) Carrie Clabo, Sevier Co. EA – I would like to serve on the TEA Board as East Tennessee Administrator. I am currently the Director of Library Services for Sever County Schools. I began serving in this capacity in July 2016 after 27 years as a Librarian at Pigeon Forge Primary School. I have been very active in the Sevier County Education Association and

even served as President for 2 terms. I have been a delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly on 6 occasions. After the experiences that I had this year, I feel that I have acquired some unique skills which would make me a better leader.

West TN TCRS (three-year term) Renee Baum – See photo and bio above under District 13

The following positions did not have any nominations submitted prior to the Teach publication deadline: (Nominations may be made from the TEA RA floor.)

District Three (three-year term) District Eight (three-year term)East TN Black Classroom Teacher (three-year term)Middle TN Black Classroom Teacher (one-year unexpired term)State Special Schools (three-year term)New Teacher (three-year term)West TN Insurance (three-year term)District One TEA-FCPE (three-year term)District Three TEA-FCPE (three-year term)District Six TEA-FCPE (two-year unexpired term)District Thirteen TEA-FCPE (three-year term)

Budget cont. page 7

Biographical information and campaign statements that follow were submitted by the candidates and/or their campaign coordinators. Elections will be held at the TEA Representative Assembly at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Murfreesboro on Saturday, May 6, between 7:30 and 9:15 a.m.

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Contact TEATennessee 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: (866)379-0949; Assns: Bristol, Carter Co., Elizabethton, Johnson Co., Hancock Co., Hawkins Co., Kingsport, Northeast State Community College, Rogersville, Sullivan Co. District 2 — Jennifer Gaby, P.O. Box 70, Afton, TN 37616; (423)234-0700, fax: (855)299-0723; Assns: Cocke Co., Greene Co., East Tennessee State University, Greeneville, Hamblen Co., Johnson City, Newport, Unicoi Co., Washington Co. District 3 — Tina Parlier, P.O. Box 70288, Knoxville, TN 37938-0288, (865)688-1175, fax: (866)518-3104; Assns: Campbell Co., Claiborne Co., Grainger Co., Jefferson Co., Sevier Co., Union

Co., Walters State Community College. District 4 — Duran Williams, KCEA, 2411 Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917; (865)522-9793, fax: (865)522-9866; Assns: Knox, Pellisippi State Comm. College, UT-Knoxville, TSD. District 5— Jason White, P.O. Box 5502, Oak Ridge, TN 37831; (615)521-1333, fax: (855)301-8366; Assns: Athens, Alcoa, Anderson Co., Blount Co., Clinton, Etowah, Loudon Co., Maryville, McMinn Co. (except Athens City - see District 7), Monroe Co., Oak Ridge, Polk Co., Sweetwater. District 6 — Shannon Bain, P.O. Box 3452, Lebanon, TN 37088, phone: (615)547-7769, fax: (844)274-0765; Assns: Cannon Co., Cumberland Co., Cumberland University, DeKalb Co., Lebanon, Putnam Co., Van Buren Co., Warren Co., Wilson Co., White Co., TTU. District 7 — Theresa Turner, HCEA 4655 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411; (423)485-9535, fax: (423)485-9512; Assns: Athens City, Bradley Co., Chattanooga State Community College, Cleveland, Hamilton Co., UT-Chattanooga. District 8 — Josh Trent, P.O. Box 451, Livingston, TN 38570, (931)279-9530,

fax: (855)299-5674; Assns: Fentress Co., Lenior City, Loudon Co., Meigs Co., Morgan Co., Oneida, Overton Co., Rhea-Dayton Co., Roane Co., Scott Co., York Institute. District 9 — Jackie Pope, 2326 Valley Grove Dr., Murfreesboro, TN 37128;phone: (615)898-1060, fax: (855) 301-8214, Assns: Bedford Co., Bledsoe Co., Coffee Co., Franklin Co., Grundy Co., Manchester, Marion Co., Moore Co., Motlow State Community College, Sequatchie Co., Tullahoma. District 10 — Jeff Garrett, P.O. Box 1326, Lebanon, TN 37088-1326; (615)630-2605, fax (855)320-8755; Assns: Clay Co., Jackson Co., Macon Co., Pickett Co., Robertson Co., Smith Co., Sumner Co., Trousdale Co. District 11 — Antoinette Lee, P.O. Box 1412, Antioch, TN 37013; (615)308-5293, fax: (888)519-7331; Assns: FSSD, Williamson, TN Dept. of Ed. District 12 — Sue Ogg; P.O. Box 210486, Nashville, TN 37211-0486; (615)856-0503, fax: (855)427-6660 — Assns: Fayetteville City, Giles Co., Lawrence Co., Lincoln Co., Marshall Co., Maury Co., Wayne Co. District 13 — Mary Campbell, Susan Dalton, Metro Nashville, 531 Fairground Court, Nashville, TN

37211; (615)347-6578 (Campbell), (615)476-3161 (Dalton), fax: (855)299-4968 (Campbell), (855)299-5837 (Dalton); Assns: Dept. of Higher Ed., Metropolitan Nashville, TN School For The Blind, MTSU, Murfreesboro City, NSCC, Rutherford, TSU. District 14 — Maria Uffelman, P.O. Box 99, Cumberland City, TN 37050; phone: (931)827-3333, fax: (855)299-4925; Assns: Austin Peay State University, Clarksville-Montgomery Co., Henry Co., Houston Co., Paris, Stewart Co., Weakley Co., UT-Martin. District 15 — Cheryl Richardson, P.O. Box 354, Goodlettsville, TN 37070; phone: (615)630-2601, fax: (888)519-4879; Assns: Benton Co., Central, Cheatham Co., Clarksburg, Decatur Co., Dickson Co., Hickman Co., Humphreys Co., Huntingdon, Lewis Co., McKenzie, Perry Co., West Carroll. District 16 — Lorrie Butler, P.O. Box 387, Henderson, TN 38340; (731)989-4860, fax: (855)299-4591; Assns: Chester Co., Jackson-Madison Co., Jackson State Community College, Hardin Co., Henderson Co., Lexington, McNairy Co., West Tennessee School for the Deaf. District 17 — Terri Jones, P.O. Box 2140, Cordova, TN

38088; (901)258-3902, fax: (844)270-8083; Assns: Bradford, Crockett Co., Dyer Co., Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College, Gibson Co., Hardeman Co., Haywood Co., Humboldt, Lake Co., Lauderdale Co., Milan, Obion Co., Tipton Co., Trenton, Union City. District 18 — Zandra Foster, 3897 Homewood Cove, Memphis, TN 38128; (901)377-9472, fax: (855)320-8737;—Assns: Bartlett, Collierville, Fayette Co., Germantown-Arlington-Lakeland, Millington, Southwest State Community College, University of Memphis. District 19 — Karla Carpenter, UniServ Field Manager; UniServ Director: Tom Marchand, 6520 Stage Road, Bartlett, TN 38134; phone/fax (901)379-6939; United Education Association of Shelby County, www.unitedshelby.org.

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TEA Public School Advocate 7

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a lawsuit in Chancery Court against the local Board of Education, alleging the board did not follow Tennessee collaborative conferencing law and failed to act in good-faith collaborative conferencing. At the board’s insistence, Professional Educators of Tennessee (PET) was added to the case as a co-defendant.According to the complaint, Maury County Schools Director Chris Marczak employed a “Google Docs” document for a poll November 20-30, 2015, designed to determine whether the majority of eligible professional employees wanted to engage in collaborative conferencing. Polling data revealed that at least 79 multiple or unauthorized votes were cast during the poll, many within seconds of each other, and all for PET. Even though MCEA won five out of seven seats to represent Maury County teachers in collaborative conferencing between the Maury County School Board and professional school employees, the MCEA promptly requested that a new poll be conducted using a procedure that would ensure each employee voted just once, providing valid results that truly reflect

the employees’ choice. Marczak later admitted in testimony in the case that the Google Docs poll had no mechanism for verifying that only Maury County teachers could vote and no mechanism to prevent multiple votes from being cast. In addition, Marczak had the detailed printout of poll results showing voting patterns that even PET Executive Director J.C. Bowman admitted were “fishy.”Despite this knowledge, the school board would only agree to conduct a new poll if PET agreed.“Teachers feel betrayed,” said David Huebner, a social studies teacher at Central High School in Columbia, who has been reelected President of Maury County EA president. “We have lost trust in our school board and our central office.” According to the lawsuit, “by insisting that PET agree if re-polling is to be conducted, the Board of Education assisted PET in a way that violates the requirement of employer neutrality and thereby committed an unlawful act under Tennessee law.”The lawsuit also alleges that Marczak solicited professional employee feedback on a previously negotiated MOU in violation of the PECCA law.

“By soliciting the views or opinions of individual professional employees on mandatory subjects of collaborative conferencing, the Defendant has interfered with the rights of professional employees to be represented in collaborative conferencing by representatives of their choosing,” according to the lawsuit. After the board and teachers agreed on a new MOU during a collaborative conferencing process in 2016 that commenced at MCEA’s urging (and based on a stipulation that MCEA did not waive its rights in pending litigation), the board tabled the proposed MOU, which included a 5 percent teacher raise. Even though the previous MOU expired in August 2016 and the MOU was unilaterally tabled by the board, it took no further action relative to the proposed MOU, but proceeded to unilaterally implement changes to the terms and conditions of employment that are among the mandatory subjects of collaborative conferencing, according to the lawsuit. The MCEA lawsuit says unilateral changes by the board include implementation of the salary schedule with a $1,340.00 per teacher salary increase (instead of the previously agreed-upon 5-percent raise); a change to twelve-month pay periods for all

professional employees; changes to the manner in which pay stubs are provided to teachers; the authorization to school principals to hold faculty meetings after regular school hours in excess of the limits set out in the previous MOU; and changes to policies related to leave and other matters addressed in the proposed MOU.The MCEA lawsuit asks the court to declare that the Maury County Board of Education acted in contravention of its duty to engage in good faith collaborative conferencing, and to order the board to cease and desist from its unlawful acts, among other relief. “MCEA membership has grown in the past year because people know that we’re doing the hard work and it pays off,” Huebner said. “We look forward to the court decision and are eager to restart the collaborative conferencing process. In the end, it’s all about the quality of teaching and learning in our schools.”The Maury filing is just the latest in a series of legal challenges TEA has filed statewide regarding violations of the collaborative conferencing law. If you experience problems with PECCA or would like to start the conferencing process in your district, contact your TEA UniServ coordinator.

PECCA from page 1

TEA proving strength of PECCA through legal challenges

General Assembly and State Board of Education are known to make changes to licensure requirements. The latest changes went into effect in September 2015. “It is important for teachers to read the communications they receive from the state and from the association. This will keep them up-to-date on the latest requirements for license renewal,” Thompson said. “Teachers may apply for renewal up to one year in advance of their license expiration date. To avoid being impacted by new laws or policies passed in the final year before renewal, TEA encourages members to apply for renewal as soon as they are eligible.”

Teachers also have the opportunity to add new endorsements to their license based on specific trainings, course work and experience. The state website (www.tn.gov/education/section/licensing) and TN Compass (www.tncompass.org) are important resources for teachers to check regularly.“It is the teacher’s responsibility to make sure their PDPs are showing up in TN Compass and counting appropriately,” Thompson said. “Teachers have to pay attention. Know your license expiration date. Know how many PDPs you have earned. This is important stuff. Your career is literally at stake.”TEA members with licensing questions should contact their UniServ coordinator.

License from page 1Protect

your careerKnow your license renewal deadline

60 PDPs requiredwww.teateachers.org/License

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