Volume 44, No. 10NCAEN E W S B U L L E T I NN O R T H C A R O L I N A A S S O C I A T I O N O F E D U C A T O R SJune 2014

Day of Action Sends MessageThat Saving Public Schools is

NCAE’s Top Priority!

More Inside!✓ NCAE Saves Career Status✓ May 14 Day of Action continued

NCAE News Bulletin June 20142

The May 14 Day of Action in Raleigh is one of many NCAE events that Franklin County member Hannah Bethea has recently attended to voice her concerns about the devastating changes being made to public education. “Since I am so close to Raleigh, I felt like it was my responsibility to come and stand up for all of those who couldn’t make it that day,” Bethea said. “I enjoy being around like-minded individuals who are ‘fighting the good fight!’ Having the ability to join voices to tell whoever would listen that what the governor and General Assembly are doing is just PLAIN WRONG was powerful!” Bethea was among a few hundred members from across the state who participated in the Day of Action, which was held on the opening day of the General Assembly. From the time members arrived until departing for home, they sent a clear message to lawmakers just how much they [heart] public schools and will work to save them. The day’s events included a press conference at DPI, delivering We Heart Public School petitions, 25 percent contract resolutions and copies of the NCAE Legislative Agenda to legislators, sitting in the House and Senate galleries to view the opening session, participating in the “It’s On” Rally at the NCAE Center, and marching to the Capitol to deliver cookies containing hand-written messages about public education issues to Governor McCrory. Members who couldn’t travel to Raleigh participated in activities coordinated by their local affiliates prior to and on May14. Another opportunity for members to rally in support of public education will be Monday, June 9, at the Education Moral Monday protest in Raleigh. The event will be held at 5 p.m. on the Halifax Mall. Member participation is strongly encouraged. Everyone should meet at the NCAE Center no later than 4:30 p.m. in order to walk as a group to the event.

- - Day of Action Photos by Les Todd

NCAE President Ellis and Vice

President Jewell deliver petitions, D2S resolutions

and copies of the NCAE

Legislative Agenda to

legislators.Members crowded into both galleries of the House and Senate during the opening session.

State Superintendent June Atkinson speaks to the importance of paying teachers a professional salary at the NCAE press conference.

Several lawmakers attended the press

conference to show their support for NCAE and

public education. Michael Farrier, a member from

Gaston County, said “It was nice having a few

legislators come out to speak and march with us.”

Executive Director Rachelle Johnson pumps up the crowd during the rally.

Rally-goers prepare for the march to the Capitol.

NCAE 3News Bulletin June 2014

Victory is ours! After the culmination of a year-long, statewide effort by NCAE to bring the voices of teachers to the forefront of the career status law, Superior Court Judge Robert Hobgood ruled that North Carolina cannot take due process rights from teachers who have already earned them. Hobgood issued a permanent injunction against the 2013 law and also halted implementation of the law that local school boards could offer four-year contracts to 25 percent of their teachers. Taking away career status, he said, was unconstitutional and it violated the constitutional protection of contracts, and the prohibition against taking a person’s property. In essence, abolishing career status “was not reasonable and necessary to serve an important public purpose.” President Rodney Ellis said this is a

HUGE win for the Association! “Our Decline to Sign campaign resulted in thousands of teachers saying that if they were offered a contract they would not sign it. There were more than 50 school boards across the state that said they wanted this law repealed. Clearly, the people who are the most passionate about public education – teachers and school leaders – have been heard by the courts. “The courts said teachers should be protected from politics in the classroom,” he added. “The administrators and teachers whose depositions were part of the lawsuit gave powerful testimony to the importance of due process and reasonable job protections.” Rhonda Holmes, one of six educators who filed the lawsuit along with NCAE, says this win makes her more confident as an NCAE member. “It sends a clear

message that educators are not afraid to speak up and stand up for our rights,” said Holmes, a visual arts teacher at Conway Middle School in Northampton County. “I am extremely proud to have been a part of this process and I look forward to more ‘wins’ in the future. I’d like to extend a huge thank-you to our wonderful legal team, and to NCAE, for organizing educators and pursuing victory in this case!” NCAE will however repeal Judge Hobgood’s ruling that dismissed the claim that probationary teachers have vested rights to earn career status. The Association is pursuing all avenues to ensure due process protections for teachers who do not currently have them. Additional information about this victory and the court ruling will be available soon.

The Court Rules...NCAE is Victorious in Saving Career Status for Teachers

The crowd gathered in front of the Capitol Building to let Governor McCrory know that “this year” he and the state’s legislative leaders need to take strong action to invest in public education.

Members write messages on cookies to be delivered to Gov. McCrory. One note said, “Thank you for helping me to push my child into another profession other than education.”

Several locals also held Day of Action activities. Here, a group of teachers and college students in Iredell-Statesville, participate in a letter-writing campaign at Chick-Fil-A.

Rutherford County members Londa Von Weter and Michelle Webber had an opportunity to meet with Rep. Mike Hagar while in Raleigh.

4 News Bulletin June 2014NCAE

Message From the President

In his message, President Ellis discusses the success of the May 14 Day of Action and the victory of NCAE saving career status. He encourages ALL members to become actively engaged as the Association continues the fight to raise per-pupil spending, push for higher salaries for educators, and repeal other bad public education legislation. Click here to read more.

Applause Please!It’s never a surprise when our members are honored for their outstanding service. Our public schools are possible because of the great work that they do, and NCAE constantly looks for opportunities to say “thank you.” Congratulations to the 2014 award winners of the Principal of the Year and Education Support Professional of the Year, and North Carolina’s NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence finalist!Principal of the Year

Chris Meadows, principal of Jones Senior High School in Jones County, is congratulated by Vice President Mark Jewell during a presentation at his school. A graduate of the high school, Meadows has created a culture where learning for all is the priority. “I do not allow my students to use their circumstances as an excuse to accept or expect failure. I urge them to view these hurdles as challenges that will make them stronger individuals who can conquer any obstacle in their path to success.”

ESP of the Year Award

NCAE President Rodney Ellis made a special trip to Burke County to help Katherine Davis celebrate such a special honor. Davis is a computer instructor at Forest Hill Elementary School and has been described as someone who is creative beyond measure and is an expert in her classroom. While working two jobs and taking online classes, she was able to complete her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Technology. “I drew my courage to go back to school from other educators whose strength supplied me with confidence in my abilities to do so.”

NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence – North Carolina Finalist

Brad Rhew, a science and social studies teacher at Walkertown Middle School in Forsyth County, is the North Carolina finalist for the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence. The award recognizes, rewards and promotes excellence in the teaching profession. Rhew will be presented with the state award later this summer and will compete for the national award, where five finalists and a winner will be announced. “To reach excellence, a teacher should never feel like he/she has done everything he/she can for the classroom,” Rhew wrote in his essay. “Excellent teachers must keep in mind they are in this profession for their students and that their needs and the world around them are ever-changing.”

NCAE Educator RallyJune 25, 2014

Visit http://goo.gl/QQJw6q for more information and to register.

NCAENews Bulletin June 2014 5

When NC Teachers RunOut of Patience, We All Lose

In an editorial penned to the News & Observer, NCAE member Megan Taber shared how much she has seen the profession change since becoming a teacher. In the past few years, Taber estimates that she has lost $11,360 in salary by not receiving promised salary and step increases. Her job is more difficult, and she works a second job, as do 70 percent of the staff at her school, to supplement her income. Like many of you who have similar challenges, Taber loves what she does and will continue to fight until she is satisfied that she has done all she can to save public education. Over the summer, NCAE encourages you to keep the momentum going by continuing to share your stories, by reaching out to your legislators, and by participating in Association-sponsored activities on the local and state level. Together, we can make a difference! This is her story:

My story as a teacher began in 2007. As luck would have it, I was hired the same year teacher salaries were frozen. In my seven years as an educator, I have never received a step increase. Taking inflation into consideration, I make less today than the day I started. Even more strangely, I mentor a first-year teacher this year who has his master’s degree. And while he receives increased pay for his master’s degree – as he should – it also means he makes more than I do. But I am a patient person. In fact, all teachers have that in common. You can’t work effectively with children if you lack extra reserves of patience! So we’ve been patient, and we’ve waited for the economic downturn to right itself. We’ve been patient as we go year after year without the raises originally promised us. We’ve been patient even though our budgets have been slashed and we’re expected to do more with less. We’ve been patient while our class sizes have grown and our support staff has shrunk. Not only has our pay remained stagnant, but our job is more difficult. When I began teaching at Culbreth, I taught four classes and had 85 students total. I also had a teacher assistant who came to my second-period class every day to assist me with three students with autism who needed extra support. Our building also had three reading specialists, six teacher assistants, an experienced staff and high morale. Today, I teach 117 students over five classes, and next year is projected to be even larger. I have no teacher assistant help unless I’m giving a test. We are down to just one reading specialist, half the number of teacher assistants, several of our most experienced teachers have left, and morale is the lowest I’ve ever seen. Click here to read more…

NCAE Unveils New Legislative eNewsletter The NCAE Legislative

Update

Legislative news from NCAE is now at your fingertips via the “NCAE Legislative Update,” a new electronic publication launched by the Government Relations Department to keep members abreast of what’s taking place in the General Assembly during the Short Session. “It’s important that members be in the know about decisions being made to public education,” said NCAE President Rodney Ellis. “Power comes in being informed, and we want you to have information necessary to help us make the changes needed during this critical time.” Ellis added that each issue of the Update will include an “action” item, such as asking members to call or write their legislators on important issues pertaining to the Association’s Legislative Agenda. “When we ask, please know that your voice is needed to amp up the volume on Jones Street!” If you want to receive the Legislative Update, please contact Annette.Montgomery@ncae.org. It will be published regularly and your feedback is encouraged. At any time between publications you want more information, visit the General Assembly’s homepage, which houses information on committee meetings, floor votes, lets you search for bills by topic/text or number, provides legislators’ contact information, and allows you to listen to live floor sessions.

Help Bridge the STEM Gap! If you are interested in participating in one of the leading efforts to strengthen K-16 STEM education in North Carolina, visit www.bridgingthegapnc.com to get involved with this year’s Bridging the Gap conference. Bridging the Gap unites K-12 education, higher education, industry, government and other STEM groups to work toward the common goal of strengthening K-16 STEM education in North Carolina. This year’s conference will be held October 28-29 in Raleigh and is being organized by the North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research. “Early Bird” registration is available until August 1 -- $195 for K-12 educators. For every three registrations purchased as part of a single order, an additional registration will be given at no cost. Please visit the Web site to see how you can apply for special funding and for free registration options.

News Bulletin June 20146 NCAEWake Co. Member Honored for Work at Magnet School

First-grade students at Bugg Magnet Elementary School in Wake County never know what to expect when they walk into the classroom of teacher Maria Eby. On any given day, she may be dressed like a beanstalk or a “Super E” character in order to teach a lesson. “I dress up a lot as different characters,” said Eby, who has taught for six years. “Here at Bugg, we use a variety of arts integration techniques such as drama, music and creative movement to teach students. It serves as a basis for making sure that however children learn they can find that connection.” Eby attributes her ability to be creative in the classroom to her principal, assistant principal, the “dean team” (similar to coaches for the staff) and all of her cohorts. “If you have an idea, you know that there are people behind you to give that support you need. We’re like a family here. We all believe strongly in reaching every child and using the arts to do it.” Because of her creativity, instructional excellence and innovative practices in the classroom, Eby was recently named the 2014 Region IV Teacher of the Year by Magnet Schools America, the national association for magnet and theme-based schools. Region IV is comprised of North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee. “When I found out I had been named a regional winner I was so excited that I jumped up and down, screamed and told my husband, then called my mother! Giddy and shocked are some of the adjectives that describe how I was feeling and I couldn’t wait to tell people. This is such an honor and so is having a chance to show people exactly what we do at Bugg. I know that I’m the one who personally received this award, but it’s for all of my colleagues. “To have something so positive like this happen feels good. To anyone who feels public education is not up to par, I say, come and see us. We do care and we’re all working hard to make sure that every one of these students is reached in the best possible way.”

Becoming a teacher was not always a passion for Eby, who studied creative writing and journalism in college. It was not until she had children of her own and began to volunteer at their school did the desire blossom. “I worked as a special education teacher assistant for six years and learned a lot from the teachers I worked with,” she said. “I began asking myself, ‘what if I were a teacher?’” Eby went back to school and earned her certification, the moved from Michigan to North Carolina and began her teaching career in Wake County Public Schools. Eby says the school and her students occupy a very special place in her heart.She says she has never experienced aschool like Bugg, even when her children

were growing up. “Everyone here is like family; when you walk through the doors you can feel it. As for my first-graders, teaching them is magical. When I see that light bulb come on I know that they are creating a solid foundation on which to build. It’s exciting knowing that when they leave me at the end of the year they’re able to read and form paragraphs. It feels wonderful knowing that I’m a part of that.”

If you participated in the 2014 NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey, you were among the 93,179 teachers and administrators whose voices were heard. Two thousand five hundred nineteen (2,519) schools – 98 percent – met or exceeded the minimum threshold of 40 percent response rate. These schools are eligible to use their own results in school improvement planning. Here is a sample of the findings gleaned from the survey:• 62.8 percent of respondents feel the

non-instructional time provided for teachers in their school is sufficient.

• 72.6 percent feel that parents/

guardians are influential decision-makers in their school.• 93.2 percent feel that the staff work in

a school environment that is safe.• 76.1 percent said members of their

School Improvement Team are elected compared to 22.5

percent in 2012.•97.7 percent feel the curriculum taught in their school aligns

with the Common Core Standards.

The preliminary results are currently available on the NC TWC Web site, http://www.ncteachingconditions.org/, for schools and districts.

Your Voices Were Heard as Part of theNC Teacher Working Conditions Survey

“Here at Bugg, we use a variety of arts integration techniques to teach students.”

Positions stated in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official position of NCAE unless so identified. The NCAE News Bulletin, a journal of the Association, is published by the North Carolina Association of Educators, 700 S.Salisbury St., Post Office Box Box 27347, Raleigh, NC 27611, 1-800-662-7924.

Linda Powell-Jones, Editor/Designer www.ncae.org

N C A E N E W S B U L L E T I N Follow NCAE eventsand activities on:

7NCAENews Bulletin June 2014

How Will You Spend Your Summer? Members Share Some of Their Plans The school year is quickly winding down and educators will soon say good-bye to students in preparation for the summer break. Whether taking a vacation, working a summer job or taking advantage of professional development opportunities, the period between June and August can be relaxing or a very busy time! When asked what your plans are, many of you shared what you will be doing prior to the beginning of the new school year! Unfortunately, we can’t print all of the responses but here are a few we received.

“Immediately after we get out of school, I will be participating in a week-long leadership training in my district. Then I will visit Sydney, Australia to spend a couple of days with my old college roommate before spending three weeks doing a solo, fully self-supported bicycle ride along the eastern Australian coast.” Ben Owens, Cherokee County

“I am a prolific seamstress and I sew a wide range of things for myself, my children and for others. I will be sewing, among other things, my own tailored “red for ed” suit!” Sandi Shover,Lee County

“I’m excited about summer 2014! I recently got accepted into the 2014 Civil Rights Teachers Institute, hosted by the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. Plus, I will be

attending the NEA RA as a delegate and working on my Master of Arts degree in elementary education at NC State.” Turquoise Parker, Chapel Hill-Carrboro

“The majority of my carefree days of summer will be spent with family and friends. I am also going to continue learning how to play the flute. Without a doubt, I will spend some time working with NCAE to ensure great public schools for every student.” Karen Green, New Hanover County

“I’m traveling to Mexico to attend a Spanish immersion school for three weeks so that I can better serve our Spanish-speaking parents and students. I received a mini-grant from the NCAE Student Services Division to assist with this endeavor. In addition, I’ll be volunteering with an organization that serves impoverished families who live in/around the city dump who have to forage for food, clothing and shelter to survive.” Lisa VonDohlen, Buncombe County

NOTE: A few members who submitted responses say they will be looking for or working summer jobs. NCAE is working tirelessly to ensure that ALL educators are fairly compensated; hopefully one day, no educator in this state will have to seek additional employment in order to make ends meet!

Dates to Remember

June 2014

9th Education Moral Monday Protest, Raleigh, 5 p.m.11th NCAE Education Wednesday Activity 18th NCAE Education Wednesday Activity20th National Summer Learning Day21st Summer Solstice (first day of summer)25th NCAE Education Wednesday Rally, 1:30-4 p.m., Raleigh30th NCAE Summer Break Begins (offices closed)Student Safety MonthDive Into Books Month

July 2014

1st-6th NEA Representative Assembly, Denver, CO NCAE Summer Break (offices closed)4th Independence Day14th-16th NCAE Summer Leaders Conference, NCAE Center, Raleigh (presidents and treasurers only)30th National Support Public Education DayNational Make a Difference to Children MonthRead White and Blue Month

DENVER, CO