Welcome Back

 

I hope that you found time to enjoy your summer, through relaxation, excitement, or preferably both. As the school year begins I am excited (and a little intimidated) by some of the challenges this year will bring. We will be continuing our work on a new evaluation model through a joint committee between the District and SEA. (For more information on the Teacher and Principal Evaluation Pilot, TPEP, visit their website: http://tpep-wa.org/) WEA and your SEA Exec Board have also prioritized getting to know our members. We will be visiting schools as well as participating in one-on-one conversations to ensure that we understand what brought you to education, what gives you the passion needed to do your job, and how we can meet your needs.

 

As I’m sure you are aware, the Tacoma Education Association is on Strike. They are fighting to avoid pay cuts, increased class sizes, and proposed changes to how teachers are evaluated, assigned to buildings, and retained. For more information visit http://weteachtacoma.org/. Please take the time (from home) to post comments of support either on their website or facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WeTeachTacoma. They need to know that we support them.

 

Know Your Contract

 

Professional Development:

 

29.1     Each year of this agreement, the District shall support educator-selected professional development. The District agrees to provide a budget allocation equal to the cost of one and one-half day substitute days for each certificated FTE.  Each certificated employee will be given an opportunity to visit other classrooms, attend conferences, work to obtain the Professional Certificate, or engage in other forms of self-selected professional growth that supports the individual’s professional growth plan or the building’s school improvement plan. All funds not committed by the individual as of February 1 shall be pooled for support of certificated instructional staff professional development by the Instruction Department.  See also Section 32.16 for additional permissible use of this budget allocation.

32.15   Elementary Assessments. The District shall not mandate any one-to-one assessments without providing sufficient paraprofessional and/or certificated staffing (release time or team of assessors) to conduct them.  The District shall provide an annual electronic notice to the Association and to all certificated employees regarding projected District and building-level support for assessments.  Any district-wide expectations for student assessments, including timing and frequency, shall be communicated to teachers annually prior to the first day of school.

32.16   Assessment Support.  Each certificated employee may, at his or her discretion, use the resource allocated in Section 29.1 in support of administering common assessments, collaboratively analyzing assessment results, and modifying instruction based on results.

 

What this means to you:

·         Use your time and/or money! If you don’t have other plans I encourage you to spend time visiting other classrooms.

·         You do not have to use it by February 1, you only have to earmark it. Check with your Administrator or Office Manager for how to do this.

·         Elementary teachers are in no way obligated to use this money for assessment support. The District must provide adequate support for mandated testing. You may choose to augment this support using your professional development money if you’d like.

Opportunity for Involvement

 

Be a Building Rep:

 

Why should you become a building representative?

·         We’re a member driven organization and SEA Building Reps serve as the ultimate link between our members and our larger organization

·         You will be better informed about what is happening to your profession at the District, State, and National level

·         You have a chance to meet and interact with colleagues across grade levels, disciplines, and the schools monthly

·         You will provide a valuable service to your school and your association

 

For more information contact a current or former rep in your building, myself, or a member of Executive Board. A calendar of meetings can be found on the SEA Events Calendar here.