senate votes join your district on trs board...

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION VOLUME 130, NUMBER 12 • APRIL 29, 2013

ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

The latest attack on AEA fi zzled on the Senate fl oor last week when 30 senators, Republicans and Democrats, voted overwhelmingly to protect two K-12 ESP positions on the board of the Teachers’ Retirement System with a fl oor amendment.

The original SB303 called for the addition of two new board members to represent the universities in the state and eliminate traditional positions occupied by members of education support professionals, and AEA’s executive secretary’s ex offi cio position.

After Senator Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, suggested in committee that an amendment should be offered to SB303 to allow the universities representation without disrupting the makeup of the board, most senators warmed to the idea.

The fl oor amendment protecting AEA slots on the TRS was adopted 30-4, the same vote the bill gained in fi nal passage.

The AEA executive secretary slot and two ESP slots proposed to be eliminated were kept intact with the amendment. Executive secretaries of AEA have served on the board for more than 70 years.

The bill does change the membership of the board by creating two new positions to be fi lled by elected representatives of the state’s universities leaving in place all of the original elected board positions, which are fi lled by a vote of the members of the TRS.

The amended bill calls for the election of members by each category of membership, and that the distribution, collection, and counting of ballots are to be conducted by a third party.

The amended version of SB303 is under consideration in the House of Representatives with fi ve days left in the 2013 Regular Legislative Session.

While Speaker Pro Tem Del Marsh’s bill (Senate Bill 439) to do away with the PEEHIP Board and create a new employees’ health board for all education employees and state employees waits on the Senate calendar for debate and a vote, negative news about the condition of the State Employee Health Insurance Program(SEHIP) continues to circulate.

Offi cials for SEIB are talking about increasing state employees’ premiums by as much a $100 per month, switching to a $500 deductible, eliminating the employees’ dental benefi t, or some combination of adjustments.

“The PEEHIP Board has met its obligations and is running a conservative program that benefi ts all education employees and the state,” said AEA’s Executive Secretary Henry Mabry. “The last thing the Legislature needs to do is

tamper with PEEHIP, or even think about combining with the state employees’ program.”

PEEHIP has not required increases in state allocations in two years, and the state contribution is $714 per employee compared to the state employee’s program that made a state budget request of $920 per employee for the coming year.

“Why should an effi cient PEEHIP be punished by combining with the SEIB, which is obviously having mounting problems,” Mabry said. “Education employees and retirees must call their legislators and tell them to leave PEEHIP alone.”

In addition to merging PEEHIP and SEIB into a new board, Marsh’s SB439 gives the majority of board appointments to politicians. The Governor, Lieutenant

Governor, Senate Speaker Pro Tem, the Speaker of the House, will control the proposed new board with their appointees. The model in SB439 closely resembles the political appointee model of the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (PACT) Program that failed to meet fi nancial expectations for families saving for their children’s college education.

The SEIB is also controlled by political appointments by the governor along with the state treasurer as an ex Offi cio member, unlike the PEEHIP Board, which is dominated by a board elected by the members of PEEHIP.

“That state employees’ health board is calling for a $100 a month increase for members. PEEHIP members can expect a similar increase if this bill passes in the near future,” said Mabry.

Bill to End Elected PEEHIP Board forPoliticized Board on Senate Calendar

PEEHIP would be forced to combine with state employees’ plan with higher costs for members

Governor, Senate Speaker Pro Tem, the Speaker of the House, will control

Senate Votes TRS Board Change, Save ESP Positions

Voucher bill came from D.C.Language used in HB84 taken from out-of-state think tank

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Conference offers leadership trainingAEA Leadership Conference June 12-14 in Mobile

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Free workshopsAlabama Humanities off ers summer learning program

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Join your district on FacebookGet education news updates daily

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The State Senate version of the 2013-14 Education Budget proved to be even less kind to teachers and education employees than the House version.

The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee cut the meager two percent pay raise for K-12 education employees to one percent, prompting Committee Chair Trip Pittman, of Daphne, to respond to a question acknowledging that the amount allocated for a raise was reduced to pay for students already in private school.

Retirees are ignored in the Senate budget but money that could go to raises at the postsecondary level is allocated in the budget without any requirement that the money go to employees.

“We are witnessing the incredible shrinking raise for some education employees, an iffy raise for postsecondary, and nothing for retirees,” said AEA’s Executive Secretary Henry Mabry.

“It’s as if these legislators are determined to starve the people who have given their careers to educate our children. They are facing more than a 10 percent reduction in pay since 2007 with a pay cut, higher benefit costs, and no cost-of-living considerations,” Mabry added.

AEA is asking members to call their state legislators and demand a fair raise of five percent.

One Percent Raise?

Tuning Up VouchercareChanges in the private school voucher law proposed by the Republican leadership would specify that existing private school students have their tuition paid with public funds.

At the same time, GOP-sponsored legislation in the Senate has slashed a pay raise approved by the House from two percent to one percent, and ignored a recommendation by Gov. Robert Bentley of

a 2.5 percent raise.

Senate chair of the Finance and Taxation Education Committee Trip Pittman said the additional $30 million to $40 million cut from

teacher pay raises was needed to finance the private school voucher bill.

Rural legislators have complained that Marsh’s

amendment would be especially harsh for their

school systems by robbing their public schools of critical state funds.

Under Marsh’s bill, until 2017 a failing school would be defined as one scoring in the lowest 10 percent of public schools in the state on standardized tests in reading and math during three of the last six years. After June 1, 2017, a new school report card being developed would strictly define failing schools. One F or three consecutive D’s would put a school on the failing list.

Other changes in the private school tuition law would:

-- Require that parents’ first try to transfer to a non-failing public school within their current school system before attempting to transfer to a public school in another system.

-- Clarify that no school -- public or private or school district -- would be forced to take transfers from failing schools.

-- Change the income limit for scholarships, which are funded by donations made in exchange for tax credits, to $70,650 for a family of four. The current limit is $62,122.

-- Increase the tax credit available to a company contributing to scholarship funds to 100 percent of the donation instead of 50 percent.

Since passage of the private school voucher bill, lawyers around the state have already started soliciting parents and corporations to cash in on the Education Trust Fund.

“Although this bill was mired in controversy, it is now the law of the land in Alabama,” one lawyer posted on his website. “Concerned parents who wish to avail themselves of the opportunities presented in the act should contact our office immediately to see how we can help.”

Call your state legislators today. Tell them to pass a fair raise of 5% for all education employees and retirees.

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2 ALABAMA SCHOOL JOURNAL | APRIL 29, 2013

Dorothy Strickland, AEA President

The Alabama School Journal (USPS/ISSN 0011-821) is published weekly when the Alabama Legislature is in session and otherwise, on the fi rst and third Mondays of each month by the Alabama Education Association, 422 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36103-4177. Periodical postage paid at Montgomery, AL. Postmaster: Send address changes to Alabama School Journal, P.O. Box 4177, Montgomery, Ala. 36103-4177. Manuscripts and other material submitted for publication, as well as advertising matter, should be addressed to Managing Editor, Alabama School Journal, P.O. Box 4177, Montgomery, AL 36103-4177.

Problems concerning delivery or addresses can be answered by calling toll free to 800.392.5839. All rights reserved.

Editor: Dr. Henry C. MabryAssociate Editor: Dr. Gregory T. Graves. Managing Editor: J. David Stout; Editorial Staff: Suzie R. Smith, Ashley McLain, and Sheri Monfee.

Advertising rate card furnished on request by contacting Sheri Monfee toll free at 800.392.5839. CONTENTS © 2013 The Alabama School Journal. All rights reserved.We encourage letters and opinion articles from members of AEA.

All submissions must have your full name, mailing address, phone number, and local affi liation. Because of space limitations, we reserve the right to edit for length. Letters of less than 200 words are given preference for publication.

AEA Board of Directors

PresidentDorothy J. Strickland

Vice President Anita Gibson

Past President Peggy MobleyNEA Directors Sherry Tucker,

Dr. Susan C. Brown, Sheila Hocutt-Remington,

Ashley Strickland Administrator President

Dr. Cathy McNealPostsecondary President

Dr. Susan W. BrownESP RepresentativeCassandra Childress

ACT PresidentBonita English

AERA PresidentJohn Paul JonesSAEA President

Meagin HintonDistrict 1 Directors

Stephanie Craig Taylor, Michelle Robinson,

Pam Baker District 2 Directors

Tammy Sims, JoAnn Wilson,

Theresa Leonard District 3 Directors

Amelia Couch, Shannon Clark, Vivian Crosby

District 4 DirectorsCharlene McCoy, Arthur Crumpler,

David Holt District 5 Directors

Donna McDaniel, Anthony Daniels, Gregory Martin (interim)

District 6 DirectorsDarryl Traylor, Charlotte Wilson,

Bernard SandersonDistrict 7 Directors

Dr. Rhonda Mosley, Gloria Gentry, Dr. Donna D. Strong

ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONTION ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION ASSOCIA

As we look forward to several upcoming events, I would like to remind you of important deadlines. If you are a local president and you have not sent in your delegate list for the RA in Atlanta, it is past due. Please contact Terri Taylor immediately at 334-834-9790, extension 402, if you plan to send delegates to Atlanta.

Save these dates:

June 5, 2013: Pre-RA Delegate Business Meeting, Renaissance Hotel at the Convention Center, Montgomery. Registration will begin at noon and the business meeting will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. All delegates are asked to please attend.

June 12-14, 2013: AEA Leadership Conference, Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel, Mobile.

Calling all local offi cers, representatives, leaders and future leaders – This is a “must-attend” workshop for you! Valuable information will be given to help direct you along the path to maintaining a successful local association.

Our own NEA Secretary-Treasurer, Becky Pringle, will be one of our speakers for this conference. We are encouraging all members who can to attend.

Just when we thought the Legislature had fi nished dealing us a dirty hand, they are coming back with a gesture of a one percent raise for K-12 employees. Glory hallelujah! They reduced the amount of the raise to be able to ensure that $40 million was there for the Accountability Act …. Just so you know.

Please vote your conviction on the Accountability Act (poll) at this link: Should private school families get the Alabama Accountability Act tax credit? http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/04/should_familes_already_enrolle.html

Postsecondary employees will also receive one percent but it will be up to the chancellor to decide what to do with the money. Good luck with that. Regardless of those in the Legislature who continue to take away because they can, remember that the greatest comfort in all of this is the knowledge that you have done your best.

On a lighter note – I would like to congratulate Sherry Tucker, president of the Education Support Professionals division, on being selected to serve as one of NEA’s Leadership Development advisors. I know that Sherry will represent Alabama well.

Also sign up to win $1,000 for your classroom by registering at www.classwish.org/fuelingeducation.

CITGO has teamed with CLASSWISH to give teachers a chance to win money for classroom supplies. The deadline to register is July 7, 2013. Good luck.

There is a group of House and Senate members in the Legislature who vote for anything viewed as being against teachers, education support professionals, and education retirees. Out of the 105 members of the House, 52 have voted against public education over 80 percent of the time during the past three legislative sessions since Representative Mike Hubbard took over as Speaker of the House. This is one member shy of a simple majority of the House of Representatives. One of those voting against public education over 80 percent of the time is a Democrat.

In the State Senate, there are 35 senators. More than half of the body has voted against public education more than 80 percent of the time since Sen. Del Marsh took over as President Pro Tempore of the Senate. None of these senators voting against public education over 80 percent of the time have been Democrats. All total, this means one-half of the 140 lawmakers in Montgomery have voted over 80 percent of the time against public education on key votes.

Thousands upon thousands of educators voted for this half of the Legislature that has opposed public education. Educators who voted for these particular lawmakers need to let them know how they voted for them in 2010, and that they are displeased with their performance.

Ring leaders of anti-public education assaultThe Republican leadership, led by Speaker Hubbard – the ring leader of the anti-public education assault – and Sen. Del Marsh have, quite frankly, put many of their followers in a position of supporting legislation strongly opposed

by voters, Republican and Democrats alike.

The Accountability Act was just the most recent of these attacks against public education that a supermajority of the public – including Republican voters – fails to appreciate. The Republican leadership has an “accountability act correction bill,” but all it does is attempt to put a pretty shade of red lipstick on this heifer with horns legislation.

Legislators not elected by party leadershipSome rank and fi le Republican legislators have been experiencing consternation regarding the path their leadership has been leading them down.

Hopefully, these lawmakers will recognize that their leadership does not elect them in their districts. Most certainly, the leadership is rather adept at raising campaign funds by hook and crook, but as seen in recent special elections, more is needed to capture seats in the Legislature besides money.

Nationally, this truism occurred in every U.S. Senate race on the Republican side in the 2012 elections where the “party” favorites lost despite the overwhelming money advantage.

In many of these races, insurgent candidates beat the Super PAC candidates regardless of being outspent four, fi ve, or six times to one. The election of Sen. Bill Hightower in Mobile County is a good Alabama example of how the money game is not king of the hill in some races.

More than money needed to win electionsConcerning specifi cally the money game in Alabama, the tarnish seems to be getting even blacker as tactics and actions have been exposed in the public eye.

Many anti-gambling lawmakers have seen fi rst-hand that receiving gambling money indirectly is not in their own political interest when brought into the light of day. What other tainted dollars have been spread around to lawmakers that may not pass muster with home folks if such blood money becomes shown in the sunlight?

What about all of the out-of-state money funding these Alabama lawmakers?

Why would some of them rely so heavily on dollars from big, out-of-state corporations?

Could it be that these lawmakers look out for the interests of these huge corporations that only want to assure that they pay little or no Alabama taxes, have easy access to exploit our natural resources, and keep wages low in the state?

Alabama and her citizens have been exploited for nearly two centuries. Such exploitation has been aided and abetted by elected offi cials by their offi cial actions.

Voters in Alabama sometimes get fed up with Montgomery shenanigans. The question for many lawmakers should be concerning how much the envelope can be pushed without poking voters over the tipping point. It seems, at least, many lawmakers are treading in no man’s land and are getting pretty close to the line.

Don’t tread on me? No. Don’t tread on us. That is what should be of concern.

Some legislators not concerned about the voters they represent

Reminders of things we must do soon

Small actions carry deep meanings for Donna West who has been selected an NEA Classroom Superhero.

West is the child nutrition manager at Brownwood Elementary School in Scottsboro. She is serving as vice president of Scottsboro Education Support Professionals until next year when she will become the organization’s president.

When students are invited to wipe down a cafeteria table, mop up a fl oor spill, or tutor other students during school breakfast, West says there is more to it than meets the eye.

“We are equipping our students with the opportunities to discover their own strengths of responsibility, leadership, and teamwork,” West says. “Our goal is to help students believe in themselves and ultimately to help them become productive citizens. These activities also provide us (food service workers) with a sense of accomplishment and with the knowledge that we can make a difference in their lives,” she says.

This mindset at Brownwood is school-wide and deliberate. Since 2012, West and other educators have methodically been preparing the school’s

360 students one small act at a time for the following: to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

“We are continuing to look for new and innovative ways to inspire, empower, and motivate our future leaders,” says West, who has been at the school for nine years.

Their methodology is based on Stephen Covey’s book, “The Leader in Me: How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child at a Time.”

“I admire Covey’s book because it has taken Brownwood from a building of individuals, each with singular ideas and goals, to a unifi ed body with a common goal and a common language,” says West.

Like many schools across the nation, Brownwood has been recognized as an offi cial “Leader in Me” school for successfully implementing the student development program, which is structured over three years. The program also incorporates lessons from one of Covey’s earlier books: “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. “Collaboration has

increased tremendously since the implementation of the program,” West says.

“Collaboration has increased tremendously since the implementation of the program,” West says.

Always thinking ahead, West says the school is already planning for the next school year when educators hope to add a component to the program that identifi es student leaders to read aloud during breakfast. “On occasion, we also hope to generate a modifi ed fl ash mob during lunch, which incorporates physical activity into the nutrition arena,” says West.

There are also plans at the school to train students as building guides for new parents and incoming students.

“They will be tour guides of sorts,” she says. “This can help to build their confi dence, self-esteem, and leadership skills.”

For now, Brownwood educators will focus on small actions that can produce profound results, like social manners.

“We are instructing students on how to properly introduce themselves to one another,” West says. “They might be a work in progress, but you can see positive results.”

Donna West

Donna West named an NEA Classroom Superhero

Dr. Henry C. Mabry, AEA Executive Secretary

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APRIL 29, 2013 | ALABAMA SCHOOL JOURNAL 3

Sen. Hank Sanders

Last Wednesday, a line drawn in the sand became an obvious slap in the face.

The Senate Finance and Taxation – Education Committee voted to cut the insulting two percent “raise” for educators approved by the House and replace it with a one percent “raise” and the possibility of a “bonus” of another one percent, if the governor approves it.

Raise sacrificed for private school costsAs usual, this new substitute bill was not provided to anyone prior to the meeting. It was sprung on the assembled overflow crowd by Sen. Trip Pittman, of Baldwin County, the committee chairman. When questioned by other members of the committee, he conceded that the “raise” for educators had to be cut yet again due to HB84, the “Vouchercare” law.

You read it correctly, your “raise” is going for handouts to wealthy parents in Montgomery, Mobile, and Huntsville who already send their kids to private schools.

Why this is nota real raiseYou will note that the word “raise” is in quotation marks in this article. There is a very simple reason for that: what is being proposed is not a “raise” in the true sense of the word.

What they have proposed is to try and off-set some of the pay cut they have given you over the last two years. What’s more, this “raise” is not like

any other real pay raise in memory because it does not apply to all educators. There is no raise for employees in Postsecondary and there is no cost-of-living adjustment for our retirees.

This bill is nothing more than an attempt by the Republican majority to deflect from their war on educators by giving them the ability to say, “See, we gave you a pay raise.” Fortunately, as professional educators, you are all smart enough to see through this charade.

Finally, Sen. Pittman confirmed in the committee meeting what we have told you from the start.

Any hope of a real pay raise of five percent this year, as AEA advocated, and even the two and a half percent raise the governor recommended to at least get you back to even from the pay cut, died when Vouchercare (HB84) was passed.

Hear me and hear me clearly: your raise that you have earned and that would have helped you better provide for your family is going to welfare for corporations and wealthy individuals who already send their kids to private schools.

Token liability measureis another insultTo add insult to injury, the liability insurance provision is still attached to this bill. Now, however, it is down to only $3.5 million. As someone who deals with liability issues every day, I can tell you that it would only take one tragic incident to bleed that fund dry.

Democratic legislators, including two lawyers on the committee, tried to make that point to their Republican colleagues to no avail.

This liability insurance shows the depth of the leadership’s hatred of AEA and determination to do everything in its power to destroy us.

In defending his proposal on the House floor, Rep. Jay Love of Montgomery repeatedly urged educators to drop their AEA membership because this new insurance will take care of them and they would get a bigger “raise” by not having dues.

What none of them explain is that this liability coverage will be cheap and shabby. There are many questions yet to be answered regarding this new liability plan.

Where will educators make their claims? What lawyers will represent them? What will happen if the lawsuit amount exceeds coverage? What are the exceptions to coverage?

Furthermore, this insurance provides no job protection if your employer takes action against you. This insurance provides you with no professional development.

This insurance provides you with no discounts on insurance, financial services, and other products through

the ACCESS card program. This insurance will not lobby to stop bad bills, like charter schools, and fight in the courts against illegal bills, like Vouchercare (HB84), that hurt public education.

Hate drives their agendaIt is simply a slap in the face on the part of the Republican leadership to try to divide and conquer public education. They think they can peel off a few members of AEA by providing cheap liability insurance.

This insurance plan isn’t as simple as Representative Love and his Republican colleagues think, but then again their actions are not based on logic, only hatred towards AEA and the proud educators (including retirees) of this state.

It is with great pleasure that I say to Representative Love and his colleagues that one benefit provided does not make the AEA, and the mean spirited attempts of the Republican leadership to off-set that benefit will not break the AEA.

You are the Alabama Education Association and it is your dedication to education that makes us who we are. Our dedication to making sure that you are treated fairly in all aspects of your employment is what makes us who we are.

The education family, standing strong, united, as always is what makes us who we are.

Insulting pay raise and attacks motivated by a hateful agenda

Alabama high schools among best in nationU.S. News has released its 2013 Best High Schools ranking, and Montgomery’s Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) High School is not only number one in Alabama but has moved from 32 to number seven in the nation in the top 100. The school holds the number one spot in the nation in the Best Magnet Schools ranking. The magazine said 100 percent of the LAMP’s 448 students tested college-ready. LAMP emphasizes parent engagement through newsletters, conferences, volunteering, and fundraising. The school’s curriculum includes a variety of Advanced Placement courses, as well as competitive academic groups such as the Scholar’s Bowl and Science Olympiad. Extracurricular activities at LAMP include Model United Nations and the forensics club, among others.Among the 2013 U.S. News Best High Schools in Alabama, two were awarded gold medals, 16 received silver medals and 72 were considered bronze medal schools. To be eligible for a state ranking, a school must be awarded a national gold or silver medal.Alabama’s top ranking Gold and Silver Award winners and their ranking in the state include:Gold Award Winners:1. Loveless Academic Magnet Program (LAMP) High School, Montgomery County2. Mountain Brook High School, Mountain Brook Silver Award Winners3. Homewood High School, Homewood City4. Auburn High School, Auburn City5. Bob Jones High School, Madison City6. Ramsay High School, Birmingham City7. Virgil Grissom High School, Huntsville8. Brewbaker Technical Magnet High School, Montgomery County9. Booker T. Washington Magnet High School, Montgomery County10. Vestavia Hills High School, Vestavia Hills City11. New Century Technology Demo High School, Huntsville City12. Fairhope High School, Baldwin County13. Athens High School, Athens City14. Hewitt-Trussville High School, Trussville City15. Winfield High School, Winfield City16. Murphy High School, Mobile County17. Cleburne County High School, Cleburne County18. Florence High School, Florence CityU.S. News joined forces with the American Institutes for Research, a D.C.-based organization, to evaluate schools on overall student performance on state-mandated assessments, as well as how effectively schools educated their black, Hispanic, and economically-disadvantaged students. Performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams was then used to determine the degree to which schools prepare students for college-level work.Schools were ranked within each state, as well as on a national stage. In the national rankings, 500 schools earned gold medals, 1,790 were awarded silver, and 2,515 took home bronze.U.S. News collected data on more than 21,000 public high schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia.

It’s bad enough to rob Peter to pay Paul. It’s terrible to rob Peter and Paul and their children to give to the better-off. It’s even worse when the robbing is performed through a pig-in-a-poke scheme. And that’s exactly what the supermajority in the Alabama Legislature is doing.

The supermajority is the 23-member-strong all-male Republican Caucus in the 35-member Alabama Senate. They have loudly declared their intention to help children in “failing schools.” To them, “failing schools” are the bottom 10 percent of public schools. By this definition, all schools could be performing excellently and we would still have “failing schools.” The pig-in-a-poke concept arose during the late Middle Ages when meat was very scarce and scammers sold dead dogs and cats in a closed sack (poke) as succulent pigs.

The law passed by the supermajority gives a $3,500 tax credit per year to the parent of any child who lives in a so-called “failing school” district and transfers to attend a private school or travels to attend a “non-failing” public school. You probably realize that $3,500 per year is not enough to pay for a private school education. In fact, it is less than half the sum required. It does not help the poor in the so-called “failing schools” because they cannot pay the additional thousands required.

Therefor, they will not be transferring to private schools. This legislation really helps those already in private schools or students who can travel outside their communities to other public schools. The supermajority is using a pig-in-a-poke scheme to rob Peter and Paul and their children to help the better-off.

The state gift is not just for those attending so-called “failing schools.” It is a gift to those residing in the district that the “failing school” serves. In other words, those whose children have never attended a “failing school” but live in the district now get a $3,500 tax credit to attend private schools or “non-failing” public schools outsider their district.

When a student leaves an Alabama school system, $7,500 in funding leaves with her/him. Therefore, the already underfunded school/school system will struggle even more because it will have even less funding. Instead of helping these students as claimed, it hurts the very students it proposes to help.

In addition, all public education, including higher education, will have less funding. Hundreds of millions of dollars will be

taken off the top. In a state that ranks a dismal 49 out of 50 states in funding public education, that’s a terrible blow, hurting all public school students at all levels of education.

The transferring students do not have to go to a “non-failing school” for their families to get the tax credit. A private school absolutely can be “failing” under the standards the supermajority uses to classify an Alabama public school as “failing.” This law is not about “failing schools” or “failing students” but rather is about providing public school funds to help the better-off attend private schools. It is a pig-in-a-poke scheme that robs Peter and Paul and their children to help the better-off.

The supermajority passed out a list of so-called “failing schools.” It appears that every school on the list is majority African American. Every school serves areas with high poverty rates with all the challenges that go with poverty. Yet the effect of this bill is to help whites who are better-off further segregate schools at the public’s expense.

The recently enacted law has a provision to allow students in so called “failing schools” to transfer to other “non-failing” public schools in or out of their school system. That means that students do not have to attend public schools in their district, but can choose other schools in the system or schools in other

systems.

Many parents, school employees, and others are very concerned about the potential influx of poor black children, the same “poor minority children” the supermajority asserts this law was specifically designed and enacted to help. This has created a powerful political problem for the supermajority. The law they passed already allows private schools to reject any students from “failing public schools” who apply.

Now the supermajority is proposing a new law to authorize public schools and school systems to also reject any students who try to transfer under the provisions of the original law. The very thing they claimed that it was supposed to do – put children in “failing schools” in better schools – they are now trying to fully negate. The supermajority is using a pig-in-a-poke scheme to rob Peter and Paul and their children to help the better-off.

This entire legislation – both the original law and the proposed corrective bill – is a pig-in-a-poke. All this proposed corrective legislation does is to put lipstick, powder, and paint on this pig-in-a-poke. It does not change the hard fact that it promises a succulent pig but provides a dead dog or cat in a sealed sack (poke).

Just as you can’t “correct” or fix a pig-in-a-poke, the only way this law can be cured is to repeal it and start all over again.

Private school law a pig-in-a-poke hurting the poorest public schools

Dr. Gregory T. Graves, Associate Executive Secretary

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AEA members who are practicing administrators, a great professional development opportunity awaits you and it is free! An academy to leverage leadership in school reform has been designed by the Education Policy and Professional Practice Department as a means to support school leaders in their roles as change agents. Realizing that formal education in school administration does not generally include a structured plan for facilitating school reform, the proposed academy will provide participants with coursework, collaborative planning opportunities, mentoring/executive coaching, and action research projects as the foundational tools to build sustainable reform in a school or school system.

Building upon the works of Dr. John P. Kotter, an internationally known expert on change management, the leadership academy will include on-site executive visits, collaborative forums/think tanks, and print or electronic resources for professional development. Texts for the EPPP-designed leadership academy will include the following Kotter trilogy: Leading Change, The Heart of Change: Real-life Stories of How People Change Their Organizations, and Our Iceberg is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions. Including the provision of these texts and other sources of professional learning, the academy design represents an investment of $1,500 per participant but it is free to AEA members.

Twenty-five administrators representing the state’s eight Alabama School Board Districts will form a cohort to include leaders of priority and non-priority schools.

Practicing school administrators who desire to move to the next level of

change management impacting school reform are invited to apply for the leadership academy. Please complete the AEA Leadership Academy application below.

Applicants will be assessed on the following criteria:

• Employment as an administrator in an Alabama public school;

• Membership in the Alabama Education Association; and

• Completion of a vision statement for change management in his or her school, including an explanation

for desired outcomes that impact the urgency of change for the specific learning environment. (The submission of the vision statement should include name, name of school, school board district number, and an email address and telephone number as contact information.)

The deadline for submission is May 3, 2013. Approved applicants will be notified by May 10, 2013.

The scheduled start date for the leadership academy is June 1, 2013.

Leadership Academy focuses on change management

2013 AEA Leadership Academy

Name: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

School System: ____________________________________________________________________________________

School Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________________________________________

City: ___________________________________________________ ST: _________________ ZIP: __________________

Email Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: (____) ________________________________ Secondary Phone: (____)________________

Vision Statement (100 words or less): _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please complete form and submit to: AEA Headquarters, Attn: Dr. Tyna Davis, P.O. Box 4177

Montgomery, AL 36103-‐4177 Deadline to submit application is May 3, 2013.

Hell froze over.

That’s the only conclusion one can reach as they see that our leaders in Montgomery, those same people who loudly claim how conservative they are, are supporting legislation that would make Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid swell with pride.

These are the same people who talk incessantly about “Alabama values” but turned their back on Alabama input when they came up with the Alabama Accountability Act, the most far-reaching education legislation in the state’s history. Instead of seeking advice from Dr. Tommy Bice, state superintendent of education, and the elected members of the State Board of Education (six of whom are Republicans), they turned to a Washington, DC think-tank known as the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Senate leader Del Marsh told AL.com that he was not in contact with ALEC at any point when the Accountability Act was being crafted.

But thanks to the work of a class of doctoral students at Auburn University, Marsh’s statement doesn’t hold much water. The class spent hours dissecting the bill. They found that more than 80 percent of the wording comes straight from model legislation cranked out by Washington.

A true conservative would not listen to Washington when there are more qualified folks in Alabama. It would be hard to be a better representative of “Alabama values” than Dr. Bice. The son of textile mill workers in Alexander City, he went to Auburn University before taking his first teaching job at the Talladega Institute for the Deaf & Blind.

But obviously our legislative leadership, the same ones who wrap themselves in “Alabama values,” believes folks in Washington are smarter than people in Alabama.

The Accountability Act offers other examples of how liberal thinking has taken over the State House.

Conservatives don’t try to tear down traditional institutions such as public schools, which have been part of Alabama’s fabric since before we became a state in 1819. When early communities wanted to tell the world they had “arrived,” they built churches and schools. The first school in Clarke County had students in 1809 according to Dr. David Mathews, former president of the University of Alabama and a native of Clark County.

But the Accountability Act is more about harming public education than helping it. How else can you describe legislation that singles out “failing schools” and then takes resources away from the very schools that need them the most?

Conservatives know that in a democracy everyone plays by the same rules – but not in the Accountability Act. Here we have two sets of rules. With public schools we point out failing schools and hold them up for all to see. But we don’t do that for private schools. If we rank public schools and say the bottom 10 percent are failing, shouldn’t we do the same for private schools? Maybe a liberal thinks we should have different rules for different folks – but not a conservative.

Conservatives believe that in a democracy everyone pays his fair share. Yet the Accountability Act allows businesses to take tax dollars that would be used for education, roads and

bridges, corrections, and the overall common good and divert it dollar for dollar into scholarships for private schools. In other words, instead of repairing a road, let’s help a private school recruit a new quarterback.

Talk about liberal elitism. It would be difficult to find a better example.

And what makes all of this even more incredible is that the same legislators who went to Washington to get the Accountability Act screamed to high heaven that we should repeal the College and Career Ready Standards because they came out of Washington.

If this isn’t classic liberal doublespeak, then what is?

But it’s when you dig into the details of the Accountability Act, that you really see why Nancy and Harry would be happy.

For example: I thought conservatives were against more government and more bureaucracy. This bill increases both. In fact, some of the money designated for

scholarships for kids will be sent to the State Department of Education (SDE) and the Department of Revenue to defray their costs of policing all the new regulations.

Revenue will create new rules. SDE will create new rules.

Revenue will get into the education business by hiring a private, independent researcher to study private schools to see if they are up to snuff. Test results from private schools will be sent to revenue – not education.

Scholarship organizations will have to have criminal background checks on employees and board members. Private schools will have to post bonds with scholarship groups.

You just can’t put enough conservative lipstick on this pig to make it what it ain’t.

(Larry Lee led the study, Lessons Learned from Rural Schools, and is a long-time advocate for public education and frequently writes about education issues. )

Most of private school voucher language came from out-of-state think-tankFailed Indiana

charter schools could have loans forgivenIn Indiana, lawmakers are considering forgiving $12 million in loans that “failing” charter schools accepted from the state as part of a package of state aid for charters. Critics of the proposed legislative action are calling it a “windfall” for the charters.A loan of $12.9 million was made to eight charter schools to help with startup costs, but the schools still owe $12 million and now have lost their charters because they were failing academically. Seven, whose charters were revoked by Ball State University in January, would be absolved of payments if legislators approve, along with another school, which did not seek to renew its charter. Ball State revoked charters after determining the schools were not meeting performance standards. An eighth school, which received aid from the state’s Common School Fund, withdrew its application for an extension from the university. The schools also scored “Fs” or “Ds” under the school grading system unveiled by former School Superintendent Tony Bennett.Three of the schools are operated by the Imagine Schools network, which is challenging the loss of the charters. According to an Associated Press (AP) story, Imagine still owes $6.28 million from $6.3 million it borrowed.The AP story said that legislators who support forgiving the loans say that the schools were never properly funded to begin with.Public school advocates say Indiana’s school corporations accept loans from the same account and are forced to repay those loans. But giving charter schools six months’ worth of operating money in advance is like a worker getting a six-month advance payment from an employer: It should be repaid, said Frank Bush, executive director of the Indiana School Boards Association.“There’s been a debt created by the charter school. And just like school corporations, charter schools should pay their debt,” he said.Even if the loan forgiveness is not approved, it’s possible the state would still have to cover the revoked charters. If the school closes, the loan would be repaid from the state’s tuition disbursement fund, said Dan Altman, spokesman for the Department of Education.

Florida teacher raises in jeopardyFlorida legislators who want to tie raises to teacher performance may scuttle a $2,500 across-the-board pay raise that Gov. Rick Scott had promised teachers.House and Senate budget negotiators have set aside nearly $480 million to boost teacher pay in the Sunshine State.But the proposal will require that some of the money be linked to teacher performance instead of giving out raises to every classroom teacher. Legislators also plan to offer raises to all instructional personnel and not just classroom teachers. This is a move that could also lower the amount offered to each employee.Scott had made the across-the-board teacher pay raise one of his top priorities for the 2013 session.Florida lawmakers have until May 3 to wrap up work on the new state budget.

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Register now to attend the 2013 AEA Leadership Conference in Mobile, June 12-14

2013 AEA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE – REGISTRATION and WORKSHOP SELECTION FORM

Please PRINT the information below and return this form, with the $35.00 registration fee for each person, to Wanda Foust, AEA, P. O. Box 4177, Montgomery, AL 36103-4177 by May 24. Registration is $50.00 for those postmarked from May 25 - June 3. Registrations postmarked on June 4 or later, including on site registration, are $100.00. No exceptions will be made to deadlines or registration fees. Please use one form for each person. Make checks or money orders payable to AEA. 1. NAME______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

First Middle Initial Last

2. MAILING ADDRESS____________________________________ CITY: ___________________________ STATE: _____ ZIP: __________

3. EMAIL ADDRESS (If applicable): _______________________________________________________________________________________

4. PHONE include area code (Work) ___________________________________ (Home) ___________________________________________

5. LOCAL ASSOCIATION – Please Do Not Abbreviate: ________________________________________________________________________

6. IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME TO ATTEND LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE? Yes: _____ No: _______

⇒ PLEASE INDICATE YOUR FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD CHOICE FOR EACH TIME PERIOD LISTED – WORKSHOPS FILLED ON FIRST COME BASIS.⇐ 1. Wednesday, June 12, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 3. Thursday, June 13, 9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. 5. Friday, June 14, 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. A Representative Assembly will be held for each division during this time. This will be a time to discuss possible resolutions as well as issues facing each division as well as those facing the Alabama Education Association. ___ Assn. of Classroom Teachers Rep Assembly ___ Administrative Rep Assembly ___ ESP (Support Professionals) Rep Assembly ___ Postsecondary Rep Assembly ⇒ Did you select 1 for the 12:00 – 5:00 time slot?

SPECIALIZED TRAINING SESSIONS

___ 2014 Political Action – What Part do I Play?

___ Using AEA/NEA Member Benefits – Savings for You!

___ Membership Recruitment

___ Assn Rep: Leadership Roles/Responsibilities (open to all) ___ School Safety – It Matters to Everyone

___ Legal Update – Knowing your Rights

___ Common Core Standards

___ Educators C.A.R.E. – Part I

⇒ Did you select 3 for the 9:45 – 11:15 time slot?


___ Assn Rep: Promoting/Recruiting Members (open to all) ___ Legal Update – Knowing your Rights

___ Professionalism

___ Membership Recruitment

___ Using AEA/NEA Member Benefits – Savings for You!

___ Legislative Updates - How new education laws will

affect you.


2. Thursday, June 13, 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. 4. Thursday, June 13, 11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. 6. PLEASE CIRCLE an answer to each question


Training for: ___ Experienced Presidents/Vice Presidents

___ New Presidents/Vice Presidents

___ Secretaries

___ Treasurers

___ Assn Rep-History & Structure of Organization (open to all)



___ Assn Rep: Standing Up for Our Rights (open to all)

___ Educators C.A.R.E. – Part II

___ Common Core Standards

___ Professionalism

___ Social Media – the Do’s and Don’t’s

___ School Safety – It Matters to Everyone

___ Legal Update – Knowing your Rights

___ 2014 Political Action – What Part do I Play?


I will attend the 6/12 banquet: YES or NO

I will attend the 6/13 luncheon: YES or NO

Registration fees are the same for those who attend meal functions as those who do not. C: LS Reg & Workshop Selection Form

Take the mystery out of serving as an association leader and come to the 2013 AEA Leadership Conference, June 12 - June 14, at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza in Mobile. Informative workshops and general sessions will bring you the latest on educational issues, instructional concerns as well as organizational topics. At the end of the fi nal session on Friday, professional development forms will be given to certify that you participated in the conference. This conference is open to all AEA members.

Each participant is required to pay a registration fee. The fee for registrations postmarked on or before May 24 is $35.00 per person. Registrations postmarked between May 25 - June 3, are $50.00 per person. Registrations postmarked on June 4 or later, including on site registration, is $100.00 per person. No exceptions will be made to the registration deadlines or fees.

Return registration form(s) (at left) with the appropriate registration fee for each person to Wanda Foust, Alabama Education Association, P. O. Box 4177, Montgomery, AL 36103. Use one form per person – this form may be duplicated. Make checks or money orders payable to the Alabama Education Association.

Since AEA must guarantee number counts for food functions, no registration fees will be returned after June 2, 2013, except for extenuating circumstances. All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to Darryl R. Sinkfi eld at AEA.

The Renaissance Riverview Plaza in Mobile is the host hotel. For reservations, you may contact the Riverview by dialing 1-800-922-3298 or register online at: www.RenaissanceRiverview.com and enter the code, aeaaeab. The deadline is May 27.

Hotel rates are: $131.00 + tax/Single or Double; $141.00 + tax/Triple or Quad(Currently the tax is 14 percent and subject to change without notice.)For hotel reservations, contact the Renaissance Riverview in Mobile by dialing 1-800-922-3298

2013 AEA Leadership Conference Workshops

Division Representative Assemblies/ Meetings

In an effort to better serve members, the Representative Assemblies for each division have been incorporated within the annual Leadership Conference. This will be a time to discuss possible resolutions as well as issues facing each division as well as those facing the Alabama Education Association. Each local should bring as many members as possible to this conference. Since this will be the fi rst Leadership Conference to incorporate the Representative Assemblies, we ask that as many members as possible attend this Conference. The process for deciding upon resolutions and all other aspects of the Representative Assembly will be discussed during these sessions. It is important that all members understand how this democratic process works.

Workshops• Association Representative Training – History & Structure of the Organization: (Open to All) - This workshop is one of four training modules required to become a Certifi ed AEA Association Representative. No one can adequately be a leader in an organization unless he or she knows and understands its history. Do you know that AEA has been a political force fi ghting for public education since 1856?

Can you tell members and non-members what AEA has done for public education and public education employees in the past 155 years?

Do you know how and why A-VOTE was started? Do you know how we merged the AEA and ASTA, and why AEA is held up nationally as the model for a successful, merged organization?

This workshop will give you all these answers and much more. All Association Representatives who have not previously attended this training should attend this workshop!

• Association Representative Training – Leadership Roles and Responsibilities of the Association Representative: (Open to All) - This workshop is one of four training modules required to become a Certifi ed AEA Association Representative. You will learn about the roles of an Association Representative and how to effectively carry them out. You will learn to be the Association Vital Link at your worksite by becoming an effective leader, communicator, organizer, advocate, election coordinator, mediator, and recruiter. You will be given valuable resources to make your job easier

and more effective. All Association Representatives who have not previously attended this training should attend this workshop!

• Association Representative Training - Promoting & Recruiting Members: (Open to All) This workshop is one of four training modules required to become a Certifi ed AEA Association Representative. The lifeblood of AEA is its members. AEA is politically strong because it has a strong membership base. Local associations are strong because they have a high percentage of the employees as members.

The most important person in recruiting, retaining, and reclaiming AEA members is the Association Representative. Learn how to be a world-class membership recruiter. Learn how to protect your membership from competing organizations. All Association Representatives who have not previously attended this training should attend this workshop!

• Association Representative Training – Standing Up for Our Rights: (Open to All) This workshop is one of four training modules required to become a Certifi ed AEA Association Representative. Association Representatives have many roles. One of the most important of these is to serve as an advocate for the AEA members at the worksite.

The workshop includes such topics as Basic Employment Rights, Dealing with Diffi cult People, Wage and Hour Issues, Facts about Transfers and Terminations, Highly Qualifi ed Teachers and Paraprofessionals, and Organizing Against Privatization. All Association Representatives who have not previously attended this training should attend this workshop!

• Common Core Standards – Harnessing the Energy: This session is designed to help participants better understand the Alabama College and Career Ready Standards. Participants will learn about the benefi ts of implementing the standards in classrooms for educators and for students.

Participants will also learn how implementing the standards will enable our students to compete globally and be better prepared for college and/or careers after high school.

• Educators C.A.R.E., Parts I and II: This session will help participants to refl ect, plan, and implement approaches that address the themes of cultural, economic, and language differences; unrecognized and undeveloped abilities; resilience; and effort and motivation. They will examine research based instructional strategies and participate in interactive

discussions which show them ways to collaborate with colleagues to meet the diverse needs of students for the purpose of closing achievement gaps.

• Legal Update – Knowing Your Rights: Laws affecting education employment are constantly changing. This workshop will discuss the laws, recent changes, and how employees can protect themselves by being knowledgeable of the laws.

• Legislative Updates – How new education laws will affect you: Many laws have been passed over the last two legislative sessions that affect everything about your job, from working conditions to benefi ts. Come learn how these will affect you as you perform your job everyday.

• Membership Recruitment: Ever heard a co-worker say “I get the same benefi ts you do, salary increases, health insurance, retirement, etc., so why should I be an AEA member?” The fact is without a strong membership base, all of your hard earned benefi ts are in danger of being taken away. This session will help you learn to recruit members, even those who have been holding out for years!

Now more than ever, it is important that we all stand together as one to protect the rights of our members – and membership is the only way AEA can protect you.

• Political Action – What Part do I Play?: The 2014 elections are about to get underway. No one understands what it takes to educate children better than educators. The education process begins the moment a student steps on a school bus, continues on in the classroom and cafeteria – every single education employee – no matter the job title – plays an important part in educating the students of Alabama.

Education employees must understand the important role they play in making certain that candidates who are friendly to public education are successful in their bid for offi ce. We all must learn to work together to make sure our students are prepared for their future.

• Professionalism: How you dress, act, and write portrays to the public an image that can be good or bad. This workshop will explain how vitally important it is that you dress and act as a professional educator. It will also discuss the dangers of web use to your professional career.

• School Safety – It Matters to Everyone: This workshop will focus on and discuss preventative strategies as it relates to every aspect of school safety, from the bus driver to the superintendent.

• Social Media – The Do’s and Don’ts: Social media is constantly changing

and evolving. This workshop will cover a wide range of social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin. You will get a brief overview of what each social media platform is used best for along with the ways to best use them. The do’s and don’ts of social media will also be discussed. This is not an instructional workshop on how social media operates, but an overview of social media, how it’s changing the way we live and operate, and how to best integrate it.

• Training for Experienced Presidents and Vice Presidents: This workshop is designed to train experienced local presidents and vice presidents to lead the local association into a new level of activism in the areas of issue organizing, building effective and reliable association representative systems, engaging members in association activities, increasing membership, and building a strong leadership team.

• Training for New Presidents and Vice Presidents: New presidents and vice presidents need a thorough understanding of their role and responsibilities in the association. This workshop will provide you with the skills you need as a new leader to provide the vision and leadership for a strong, active local.

• Training for Secretaries: This workshop will train local association secretaries to be part of a strong local association leadership team while taking care of the job as a secretary. Secretaries will be provided information on writing and presenting minutes, maintaining association records, and handling correspondence.

• Training for Treasurers: This workshop will train local association treasurers to be part of a strong local association leadership team while making sure that the fi nances of the local association are properly managed. Treasurers will learn how to handle the fi nancial details of the local association including preparing budgets, understanding IRS rules and regulations, regular audits, bookkeeping procedures and membership transmittals if applicable.

• Using AEA/NEA Member Benefi ts: Make sure you know what benefi ts are available to you as an AEA and NEA member. As a member you are eligible for a score of cost-saving options from insurance to vacation trips, from free professional development to fi nancial counseling. Learn about these benefi ts plus many, many more.

Please remember to register before the deadline as registration fees increase signifi cantly and there will be NO exceptions to the deadlines.

2013 AEA Leadership and more effective. All Association Representatives who have not

discussions which show them ways to collaborate with colleagues to meet

and evolving. This workshop will cover a wide range of social media including

SLUG -- PAGE 6CMYK

The Education Policy and Professional Practice (EPPP) Department of the Alabama Education Association (AEA) has launched its second semester of professional studies for educators who want to earn Professional Learning Units (PLUs) for the year.

The professional studies presented by the EPPP Department have been approved by the Alabama Council for Leadership Development (ACLD).

PLU requirements are based on the instructional leader certification held, not the position or role in which an individual serves.

Persons who wish to begin a professional study to earn a PLU in Standards 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8, must attend two conferences for each standard.* After attending two conferences for a standard, participants must complete all online PLU assignments, engage in interactive online discussions, and collaborate online in AEA’s Instructional Leaders’ Forum for that standard.

PLUs will be awarded when all online PLU assignments, discussions, and collaboration are complete.

Persons who wish to earn professional development clock hours for CEUs may also participate in these conferences.

Professional development certificates will be awarded at the conclusion of each conference.

Persons who are unable to collaborate with others to complete assignments in their schools and/or school systems or who do not work in a school system may attend the AEA PLU Collaboration

Camps to collaborate with colleagues and complete assignments.

Participants also have options of beginning a professional study to earn a PLU or attending training sessions to earn professional development clock hours for CEUs at AEA’s Collaboration Camps.

AEA members may attend regional conferences at no cost.

The fee for non-members is $500 for PLUs and $150 for CEUs.

Please complete the registration form attached and send it to AEA, Attn: Kynesha Brown, PO Box 4177, Montgomery, AL, 36103-4177 or fax to 334-262-8377.

The form is also available on the AEA website at www.myaea.org

*Standards are subject to change.

Regional PLUs conferences scheduled for May and JuneRegional PLUs conferences scheduled for May and June

ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 2013 CEU/PLU PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCES

Name : ________________________________________________________ System: __________________________ AEA Membership # ___________________

(located on ASJ Label)

Address: _______________________________________________________City: _________________________ ST: __________ ZIP: ________________

Phone: _________________________ Email: ________________________________________________________________________________________ ___

CEU REGISTRATION:

Registration Fee (AEA Member) □ FREE FOR MEMBERS Registration Fee (Non-AEA Member) □ Enclosed ($150.00)

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING UNIT (PLU) REGISTRATION:

Registration Fee (AEA Member) □ FREE FOR MEMBERS Registration Fee (Non-AEA Member) □ Enclosed ($500.00)

PLEASE SELECT A LOCATION AND PLU STANDARD (CEU participants do NOT have to select a standard):

□ May 4—Renaissance Riverview Plaza, 64 South Water Street, Mobile, AL 36602 □ Standard 2: Teaching and Learning □ Standard 4: Diversity □ Standard 6: Technology (second conference only) □ Standard 8: Ethics □ Collaboration Camp

□ May 18—Lincoln Professional Development Center, 901 9th Avenue, North., Birmingham, AL 35204 □ Standard 1: Planning for Continuous Improvement □ Standard 4: Diversity □ Standard 6: Technology (second conference only) □ Standard 8: Ethics □ Collaboration Camp

□ June 8——Marriott Legends, 2500 Legends Circle, Prattville, AL 36066

□ Standard 2: Teaching and Learning □ Standard 4: Diversity □ Standard 6: Technology (second conference only) □ Collaboration Camp

*Please mail registration form to: AEA Headquarters

Attn: Kynesha Brown P.O. Box 4177

Montgomery, AL 36103-4177 Or fax to: 334-262-8377


AEA staff vacancyPosition available

UniServ District 17

(Bibb, Greene, Hale, Perry, Pickens, Marion Military Institute, Shelton State Community College)

Qualifi cations

• Bachelor’s degree

• Ability to develop and implement/coordinate an effective membership recruitment and retention program

• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative/team environment

• Effective consulting, training and presentation skills

• Strong problem solving and confl ict resolution skills

• Good written and verbal communication skills

• Good organizing skills

• Ability to relate to and work well with people

• Interest in and ability to become involved in legislative and political action activities

• Basic understanding in the use of computer software programs such as word processing, spreadsheets and data base applications

General Duties

• To provide leadership and assistance for the local association(s) which comprise the UniServ District

• To advance the programs and promote the goals of the local associations, the AEA, and the NEA consistent with applicable policy

Residence

Must be willing to reside in the district to be served

Accountability

Employee will function under policies adopted by the AEA Board of Directors and will be accountable to AEA executive offi cers and administrative staff

Salary

Salary as per established negotiated agreement

Fringe Benefi ts

• Annual Leave

• Sick leave

• Retirement same as public school employees

• Holidays, including a week for Christmas

• Medical insurance and a contribution toward dental and vision insurance

• Accidental death insurance coverage while on Association business

Application Deadline – 4:45 p.m., May 10, 2013

For Application and Further Information Contact:

Darryl R. Sinkfi eld, Assistant Executive Secretary for Field Services, Alabama Education AssociationP. O. Box 4177, Montgomery, AL 36103-4177

Telephone: 334-834-9790 FAX: 334-263-5913

THE ALABAMA EDUCATION

ASSOCIATION IS AN EQUAL

OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Alexander City school bus driver Sandra Roberts loves her bus – and she now has been awarded statewide recognition for it, thanks to the annual Love the Bus campaign. Roberts is a member of the Alexander City A&E Association.

Alexander City Transportation Supervisor Johnny Cunningham nominated Roberts, who drives a special needs bus.

“Mrs. Roberts has driven the bus for the Alexander City School System for fi ve years and exemplifi es special qualities as a bus driver,” Cunningham wrote in his nomination. “These children need a lot of love

and compassion, and Mrs. Roberts shows this love and compassion to her students daily.”

In the nomination, Cunningham noted that Roberts has provided clothing for some of her students, and when it is raining she gets off the bus with an umbrella and walks the wheelchair-bound students to the door.

Roberts said this is the fi rst time she has been nominated for the award.

“It was an honor,” Roberts said. “It was nice to be recognized.”

Roberts said the children are her favorite part of her job.

“The kids make my day,” Roberts said. “When they smile when they get on the bus, it makes me smile.”

Roberts said her 10-year-old daughter Emily, who has Down syndrome, was her reason for beginning her job as a special needs bus driver and called working with other special needs children “a joy.”

“It’s a tough job, but it’s got its rewards,” Roberts said. “You feel like you’re making a difference in their lives. Some of them have a tough life, and

anything you can do to help is a lot. I know how it was not to fi t in sometimes, and I want to help them have the best childhood they can have.”

“She does this all the time without any award because she’s that kind of person,” Cunningham said. “She has a lot of compassion and passion for the kids.”

Roberts shares the statewide title with another bus driver who helped save a child’s life who was hit by a car.

The Love The Bus campaign is sponsored by bus company Transportation South annually, in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Transportation.

Sandra Roberts wins Love the Bus recognition

Sandra Roberts

Free teacher workshops available

The Alabama Humanities will offer several free workshops for teachers this summer and the deadline for applying is May 10. All multi-day institutes are residential and include free lodging and meals. More information about the School and University Partners for Education Renewal (SUPER) program and application information can be found at www.alabamahumanities.org.

The schedule this summer includes:

• Dimensions of Traditional Modern India – June 10-13, Troy, Troy University, Dr. Priya Menon and Dr. Noel Harold Kaylor, Jr. – This institute will allow participants to investigate the social, political, scientifi c and technological, educational, economic,

cultural, and historical foundations of modern India and the effects of the dynamic position of India in the world today.

• The History, Culture, and Literature of Normandy – June 20, Birmingham, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Dr. Catherine Danielou – This one-day SUPER immersion program will concentrate on Normandy, its history, literature, arts and its contemporary culture.

The objectives of this SUPER program are for teachers to further develop their speaking skills and fl uency in French. This SUPER will give K-12 teachers the opportunity to further develop their appreciation for French culture and its rich diversity.

• Mockingbird Moments: A Study of the Novel and

the Film – June 23-26, Monroeville, Monroe County Museum, Auburn University at Montgomery, and Alabama Southern Community College, Nancy Grisham Anderson – Teachers are invited to spend three days in historic Monroeville, to study “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the novel and the movie.

In addition to enjoy ing the atmosphere and sites of the town on which Maycomb, Alabama, is based, participants will attend sessions led by scholars (literature, history, and fi lm) to discuss the origins and legacy of this masterpiece.

A high point of the teacher institute will be viewing the movie in the courtroom of the Monroe County Courthouse.

• The African-American Experience and the South: Themes in Race, Culture,

Politics, and Identity – July 21-25, Mobile, Spring Hill College, Dr. Larry McLemore and Dr. David C. Carter, Auburn University – Teachers who participate in this institute will explore the experiences of African Americans in the South with an emphasis on themes of race, culture, politics, and identity that will offer ways to enrich the teaching of history and literature.

From the slavery period to Reconstruction and life in the Jim Crow South and after, this institute will focus on the roles blacks have played in the creation of their own history, a principle narrative in the American epic.

This institute will examine familiar topics in new ways as well as new topics in the literature and history of the South and African-American life.

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UniServ DiStrict 18Autauga, Chilton, Elmore, Tallassee CityFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 18https://www.facebook.com/groups/1w79580795475306/

carolyn abrams

UniServ DiStrict 19Chambers, Lee, Auburn, Lanett, Opelika, Alabama Cooperative Extension ServiceFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 19https://www.facebook.com/groups/260666424001861/

teresa ratliff

UniServ DiStrict 20Dallas, Marengo, Sumter, Wilcox, Demopolis, Linden, Selma, GCW/Comm. College/SelmaFacebook GroUp name:

AEA UniServ District #20https://www.facebook.com/groups/333169516716414/

Labarron mack

UniServ DiStrict 22Alexander City, Bullock, Central Alabama Community College, Macon, Russell, Eufaula, Phenix City, Chattahoochee Valley Community College, Tallapoosa CountyFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 22https://www.facebook.com/groups/482853838429577/?fref=ts

thomas “t. c.” coley

UniServ DiStrict 23Choctaw, Clarke, Monroe, Washington, Thomasville, Alabama Southern Community College Facebook GroUp name:

AEA UniServ District 23https://www.facebook.com/groups/307151522663922/

Sandra Jackson

Join Your District Facebook GroupConnect With Other Local AEA Members and

Follow News that Affects Alabama Public Education Employees.

UniServ DiStrict 24Conecuh, Covington, Escambia, Andalusia, Brewton, Opp, Reid State Tech, L.B. Wallace Comm. College, Jeff Davis Comm. CollegeFacebook GroUp name:


vivian m. Jones

UniServ DiStrict 32Baldwin, J.H. Faulkner State Community CollegeFacebook GroUp name: AEA Baldwin Countyhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/314718745237195/

John Hudson

UniServ DiStrict 29• Mountain Brook, Vestavia, Homewood, HooverFacebook GroUp name:

AEA Over the Mountainhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/160038114112360/

Dana clement

UniServ DiStrict 31Barbour County, Butler, Crenshaw, Eufaula City, Lowndes, Pike, Troy City, Troy UniversityFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 31https://www.facebook.com/groups/279739285425965/

Julie Swann

UniServ DiStrict 28Jefferson county UniServ Directors* Jefferson County, St. Clair County, Pell City, Tarrant, Leeds City, Trussville City, University of Alabama - Birmingham, Jefferson State Community College, DYS/Vacca Campus, DYS/Chalkville Campus

Facebook GroUp name:


Jocelyn Schilling tracee binion

UniServ DiStrict 26Dothan, Geneva City, Geneva County, Houston, Troy University/Dothan, GCW Wallace Community College - Dothan/Sparks/EufaulaFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District Twenty-Sixhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/577324005619503/

rhonda Hicks

UniServ DiStrict 25Coffee, Dale, Daleville, Elba, Enterprise, Henry, Ozark, Enterprise State Community College, Alabama Aviation CenterFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 25https://www.facebook.com/groups/aea25/

elfriede marsh

UniServ DiStrict 34DeKalb, Ft. Payne, Jackson, Scottsboro, Northeast Alabama Community CollegeFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 34 https://www.facebook.com/groups/309323402453122/

Sheila cornelison

rhonda Jett

UniServ DiStrict 6Marshall, Albertville, Arab, Boaz City, Guntersville, Snead State Community CollegeFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 6https://www.facebook.com/groups/330222380351191/

UniServ DiStrict 3• Madison County, Madison City, J. F. Drake Technical College, John C. Calhoun Community CollegeFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 3https://www.facebook.com/groups/AEADistrict3/

beverly Sims

UniServ DiStrict 2* Huntsville, Alabama A&M UniversityFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 2https://www.facebook.com/groups/318175891643704/

rex cheatham

UniServ DiStrict 4Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, Russellville, NW/Shoals College/ Phil Campbell Campus, Northwest Shoals Community CollegeFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 4https://www.facebook.com/groups/240908825985214/

Diana anderson

UniServ DiStrict 5Morgan, Winston, Haleyville City, Decatur, HartselleFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 5https://www.facebook.com/groups/280167762045650/

Gloria Johnson

UniServ DiStrict 9Cherokee, Etowah, Attalla, Gadsden, Gadsden Community CollegeFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 9https://www.facebook.com/groups/352424728110176/

Lanny Lancaster

UniServ DiStrict 11Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Jasper, Winfield City, Bevill State Community College-Fayette/Sumiton/HamiltonFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 11https://www.facebook.com/groups/aeaud11/

butch Sargent

UniServ DiStrict 15Clay, Coosa, Talladega County, Sylacauga, Talladega City, Alabama Institute Deaf & Blind (AIDB)Facebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 15https://www.facebook.com/groups/227545940664109/

charmelle Lewis

UniServ DiStrict 17Bibb, Greene, Hale, Perry, Pickens, Marion Military Institute, Shelton State Community CollegeFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 17https://www.facebook.com/groups/165502690225835/

crystal ratcliff

UniServ DiStrict 16Tuscaloosa County, Tuscaloosa CityFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 16https://www.facebook.com/groups/aeatuscaloosa/?fref=ts

William tunnell

UniServ DiStrict 13Shelby County, University of MontevalloFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 13https://www.facebook.com/groups/139702712815063/

Janet novatnak

The Alabama Education Association strives to keep members informed using all forms of communication. If you are a Facebook user, you now have a local district group page which is managed by your local UniServ director.

If you are unsure of your district, see the map to the left and find your UniServ District director on this page.

When you’re ready to join the group, log in to your Facebook page. Type in the group name in the search field or use the URL provided for your district from the listing. When you locate the group page for your district, ask to join the group. When approved, you’ll start getting

updates on your newsfeed and notifications when news is posted in the group.

UniServ directors will be posting important information on local school board and

education issues, sick leave, upcoming meetings, events, and a host of other resources which benefit AEA members.

Other information includes current, up-to-date happenings in the Legislature. Find out when key education bills are up for vote in committee or on the floor.

If you’re interested in the statewide issues, you can also Like AEA’s Facebook page. Log in to your Facebook page and search for Alabama Education Association. Ask questions or discuss the merits of issues with other members

and receive news and statewide AEA updates in your newsfeed.

ALABAMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

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UniServ DiStrict 1Lauderdale, Limestone, Athens, Athens State, Florence, University of North AlabamaFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 1https://www.facebook.com/groups/535900899794050/

vacant

UniServ DiStrict 8Blount, Cullman County, Cullman City, Oneonta, Wallace Community College/HancevilleFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 8https://www.facebook.com/groups/185302364955143/

cathy W. Smith

UniServ DiStrict 14Calhoun, Cleburne, Randolph, Anniston, Jacksonville, Oxford, Piedmont, Roanoke, Jacksonville State University, Southern Union Community CollegeFacebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 14https://www.facebook.com/groups/139702712815063/

teresa noell

mobile office UniServ DirectorsUniServ DiStrict 27 Mobile, University of South Alabama, Bishop State Community College, Saraland, Chickasaw, Satsuma

Facebook GroUp name:

Mobile County AEA - UD 27https://www.facebook.com/groups/312355342148134/

eric beck Danny Goodwin Jesse mcDaniel

Lynn pettway Quintlon “Shun” ross

UniServ DiStrict 21Montgomery, Alabama State University, Auburn University/ Montgomery, H. Councill Trenholm Technical College, Ingram Technical College, State Dept. of Education (SDE), Troy University-Montgomery. DYS-Mt. Meigs

Facebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 21 Montgomery, Alhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/311518495549986/

montgomerycounty UniServ Directors

Jeffersoncounty UniServ Directors

UniServ DiStrict 12* Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Midfield, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Bessemer State Technical College, T.A. Lawson State Community College

Facebook GroUp name: AEA UniServ District 12https://www.facebook.com/groups/289917431064292/

brenda thompson michael todd

birminghamUniServ Directors


SLUG -- PAGE 8CMYK

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Keynote Speaker: Mark Milliron, Ph.D. Dr. Mark David Milliron is an award-‐winning leader, author, speaker, and consultant well known for exploring leadership development,

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Visit hBp://www.corepartners.org/Development.html for a list of concurrent sessions that focus on technology and pracDcal implementaDon strategies, leadership, and

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CORE AcademyJune 4-6, 2013

On the campus of Jacksonville State University

Offers an exciting professional development opportunity for only $45 per person!

CEUs will be available through the STI-PD site.

Keynote Speaker: Mark Milliron, Ph.D. Dr. Mark David Milliron is an award-winning leader, author,

speaker, and consultant well known for exploring leadership development, future trends, learning strategies, and

the human side of technology change.

Visit http://www.corepartners.org/Development.html for a list of concurrent sessions that focus on technology and practical

implementation strategies, leadership, and methodologies.

Visit http://www.corepartners.org/registration.asp to register.~ We look forward to hosting you on the campus of Jacksonville State University ~

The Tuscaloosa City Schools System has been selected by the National School Boards Association as a first-place Magna Award-winner for its Parent Leadership Academy, started in 2007.

The award recognizes school systems for outstanding programs that advance student learning and encourage community involvement in schools.

“The Magna Awards showcase the great work going on in local school districts across the country to increase student achievement and success,” said Thomas J. Gentzel, the association’s executive director. “This year’s Magna Award recipients are national models that school leaders can learn from.”

The academy was formed in partnership with the University of

Alabama. It is a yearlong leadership development program that teaches parents how to become more engaged with their children’s education and in the community.

Academy participants form teams and work on projects that tackle parental involvement and academic achievement. Nearly 200 parents have graduated from the program.

“We’re excited about the Parent Leadership Academy and what it does for parents in helping them become even stronger advocates for our children,” said Lesley Bruinton, spokeswoman for the Tuscaloosa City School System.

This is the Tuscaloosa City Schools fifth Magna Award.

Parent leadership academy brings recognition to Tuscaloosa City Schools

Baldwin County

• Beverly Byrd, a cafeteria worker and Baldwin Co. ESP member from Daphne High School, is in dire need of donated days.

Recently, her husband was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer and had his larynx, voice box, and vocal chords surgically removed. Byrd will need to be off from work for an extended length of time to care for her husband.

If you are able to donate days, please send the sick leave donation form to Baldwin County School System Payroll Department, ATTN: Darlene Harville, 2600 A N. Hand Avenue, Bay Minette, AL. 36507 or call 251-580-1670.

Thank you in advance for any days that you can donate.

John Hudson, AEA UniServ Director District 32

Andalusia City Schools

• Samuel Shakespeare, a janitor, is in need of sick leave days. Shakespeare has had knee surgery on both knees in the past and is going to have to have knee surgery again. He has to wear braces on both legs due to problems with his Achilles tendons. His sick leave days will end as of April 30. He has 24 years and nine months of service.

If you can donate a day or days to Samuel Shakespeare, please send the donation form to Nancy Crosby, Accounts Payable and Payroll, Andalusia City Schools, 122 Sixth Avenue, Andalusia, AL 36420, call 334.222.3186, or fax 334.222.8631.

Thank you in advance for any days that you can donate.

Vivian Jones, AEA UniServ Director District 24

Members request sick leave donations

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