AdvocateThe

KCEA Officers

PresidentSherry Morgan

Vice-PresidentLisa Thomas

SecretaryJennifer Owen

TreasurerTanya T. Coats

Past PresidentJessica Holman

_____

Executive Board Representatives

Support PersonnelPeggy Thomas

High SchoolsJason Gulledge

Middle SchoolsKaren Peterman

Kim Waller

Elementary SchoolsJudy Barnes

Tiffany WatkinsHeather WallaceJoan Washington

Alternative SchoolsAmy Arnold

AdministrationBrad Corrum

Minority at LargeSherry Hensley

ParliamentarianPaula Brown

_____

TEA / NEAEast TN Minority

Paula Hancock

TEA-FCPE, Dist. 4Bill Bell

NEA Resolutions Anthony Hancock

_____

KCEA OfficeUniServ

Jim Petrie Admin. Assistant

Abbie Hoover

Times are Changing and KCEA is Here to HelpKCEA President, Sherry Morgan

Welcome to an exciting new school year!

Last year was difficult, with the implementation of new standards, and this year promises to be even more challenging, as we all learn to use our new evaluation tool. KCEA is here to support you.

Resources

Every teacher will be evaluated at least four times this year. Non-tenured teachers will be evaluated at least 6 times. TEA’S Magazine, teach, has information about websites and other sources to help in this evaluation. I encourage you to go to these websites for additional information about the rubric and the evaluation:

http://www.teateachers.org http://www.tn.gov/firsttothetop/programs-committee.html

Document each part of your evaluation. (After an observation, I always find it useful to write what happened.) Remember that an appeal process is in a place. Please call the KCEA office if you need help with any part of the evaluation process.

Professional Development

KCEA and TEA are planning many professional development opportunities this year, including:

• Navigating Teacher Evaluation September 6 & 20 and October 4 & 18

• Academic Vocabulary workshop October 6

Please call the KCEA office (522-9793) to register for the evaluation workshops and check ERO for more opportunities provided by KCEA.

Collaborative Conferencing

KCEA will be working for you in the new Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act of 2011. KCEA and TEA worked all summer to ensure that we are advocating for you, concerning this piece of legislation. Times are changing and we will be at the forefront to help you. On August 25, TEA will hold a Concerns and Issues meeting at the KCEA office at 4:30.

The Tennessee Legislature

Several of you have said that you do not want to be involved in politics. Unfortunately, we are one of the few professions where the state legislature dictates everything we do. I urge you to register and vote in every election. Become a member of GREAT (our GrassRoots Education Action Team) and learn about the issues at

http://KCEAinTouch.org & http://teateachers.org to help you advocate for our students and our profession. Talk to your state legislator about what’s happening in your classes. Believe me, they really don’t understand what we do in public schools.

Education “Reform”

The recent, misguided attempts at “education reform” have resulted in placing a target on our association and all public educators in Tennessee. Current legislative leaders promise that we haven’t seen anything yet. Therefore, your membership (and that of every teacher) is more important than ever. If you know non-members, ask them to stand strong with you and KCEA. We must speak up for public education and our students.

Help is Here

If you need help at anytime, please call the KCEA office 522-9793 or the KCEA cell phone 660-0822. I look forward to working for you.

KCEA, Stronger Than EverFor months, as legislators showed their lack of respect for public employees, and lack of concern for public education, KCEA welcomed new members, who knew (and still know) the importance of standing together.

Those who worked to coerce bad legislation, destroy unions, and divert tax dollars to private corporations, thought we would be distracted and divided, as they tried to pit teachers against principals, principals against parents, and parents against both. They thought we would turn against each other. They were wrong.

They were wrong because they failed to recognize that we were not reared in the imagined, “terrible” education system they deride, but in real public schools, with real teachers – like us. They failed to recognize that we do not bow to dollars, but to decency, integrity, and sincere concern for children and that we understand the importance of standing together, for each other, and for students, regardless of the cost. They failed to recognize that excellent educators do not walk away from each other, but join together, in response to adversity.

KCEA President, Sherry Morgan, received a letter, which exemplifies everything we told our legislators to expect. It is the opposite of the cooperative, congenial, working relationship we have had with our school board for decades.

In one quick notice, Dr. McIntyre attempted to strip the Association of our voice, by revoking our President’s two-year assignment, and returning her to the classroom. (The full letter can be read on page 2.)

continued -->

THE ADVOCATE SEPTEMBER, 2011

As “The Advocate” goes to press, we do not yet know the fate of the teacher who was hired to take Sherry’s place or to what extent the school board was involved in the decision.*

For decades, our president was required to leave the classroom – to serve as a liaison between employees, central office, and the school board, as well as a link between the school system and the legislature. This allowed ALL students to have fully focused teachers in the classroom: teachers who could be confident that, in addition to KCEA office staff and a Knoxville-based TEA Uniserv Representative, there was also a full-time, elected professional working to solve any employment issue that might arise.

Though Dr. McIntyre claims that he does not want to show preferential treatment, he also admitted that no other group has expressed interest in Collaborative Conferencing with KCS. He said that he wants to be sure there is an “appropriate opportunity” to represent teachers, while refusing to listen to the person elected to speak on our behalf. This is not collaboration, representation, or a system that supports teachers and students, yet this will fail to divide or weaken us.

The KCEA Officers and Executive Board members are standing strong and standing together to represent every member and every student in our schools. We will support our president as she continues to advocate for our members after hours, just as she has done for many years.

KCEA is here to support every educator, as we continue to stand up for students and others who cannot advocate for themselves. We will continue to ensure a voice for educators, students and public schools. We know that the very best way to do this, is together. It is our hope that each KCEA member will share this with a non-member and ask them to stand with us as well.

*See p. 6 for an update from the August School Board Meeting.

July 25, 2011

Dear Ms. Morgan:

I have received Ms. Holman’s letter of May 26 concerning your election as President of the Knox County Education Association as well as the request for a two year temporary assignment pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement with the KCEA.

I truly appreciate and respect the relationship that the Knox County Schools has had for many years with the KCEA. Together we have addressed many issues of importance to our teachers.

As you know, the Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act (PECCA) was recently signed into law by Governor Haslam. This act redefines our relationship with the KCEA in a number of subtle and substantial ways. Under PECCA, the Board of Education is no longer allowed to collectively bargain with a teachers association, and is required to collaboratively conference with any and all entities that have the support of 15% of our teachers. After careful review of the new law, I believe approving a temporary assignment for the KCEA President is no longer appropriate given the substantial changes in our operating environment.

Again, I appreciate the work that we have accomplished in the past, and I anticipate that we will continue to have a collaborative relationship with the Knox County Education Association.

Sincerely,

Dr. James P. McIntyre, Jr.Superintendent

Now What?Bill Bell, Legislative Contact Team The bills that attack more than a half-century of progress in Tennessee public education have now become law. And, it is being left up to educators to make the mess legislators have made work in the classroom.

Yes, they may have finally made such a mess of things that educators cannot fix them. But, it is the nature of our profession to try. And try we will.

There are a lot of “ifs” that keep coming to mind when one looks at the situation in which Tennessee’s public schools begin this school year:

IF we had all registered to vote – We could have been a significant force in the electorate.

IF we had all voted – We, our significant others, and a friend of two could have placed enough votes on the side of education friendly candidates to swing most elections.

IF we had voted for the recommended candidates – A Democratic Governor would certainly nave vetoed anti-teacher bills placed on his desk.

IF we had all listened to the recommendations of KC-PACE and TEA’s Fund for Children and Public Education Counsel – We could have placed in the state legislature candidates friendly to public education. That being the case, anti-teacher legislation would never have had a chance to pass.

How about addressing these “ifs”? The first step is to register to vote. It’s a simple thing. Our adversaries have already done it.

KCEA president, Sherry Morgan, talks with a KCEA member after a school board meeting. Dr. McIntyre’s refusal to allow release time for the president, has made it difficult for teachers to contact our president when they need support.

THE ADVOCATE SEPTEMBER, 2011

Let's Talk: You, Your Job & Your Association In August, TEA will host regional forums for members and potential members.  The forums will take place from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. on the dates listed below.

TEA will share the latest information on critical education employment issues (evaluation, tenure, collaborative conferencing), provide resources and additional opportunities to help members stay up-to-date, and seek input on the immediate and ongoing needs of our members.

To register, send an email to Deborah Bonner  (dbonner@tea.nea.org) containing your name, local, meeting date you plan to attend, and email address.

City Place Date

Cookeville

Morristown Clarksville Jackson Memphis Kingsport

Knoxville

Dyersburg

Manchester

Nashville

Cookeville HS Lecture Hall, 1 Cavalier Drive August 23Best Western, 5435 S Davy Crockett Pky August 23Emmanuel Life Center, 303 Fairview Lane August 23 Liberty H.S. Auditorium, 3470 Ridgecrest Rd August 24MEA Office, 126 Flicker Street August 24Dobyns-Bennett HS, 1800 Legion Drive August 25

KCEA Office, 2411 Magnolia Ave. August 25Dyersburg Prof. Dev. Center, 305 College St. August 25

Coffee County Central HS, 2135 New Tullahoma Hwy August 29

TEA  Auditorium,  801  2nd  Avenue,  North August  30

Understanding Early EndorsementJennifer Owen, KCEA Secretary

The decision of whether to endorse President Obama was not an easy decision for the NEA Representative Assembly. With strong feelings on both sides, I expected our Tennessee Caucus to turn into a confrontational, uncomfortable event. I was wrong.

Rather than confrontation, our delegates presented clear, thoughtful reasons for their support or opposition. When Torian Hodges-Finch (Rutherford County Education Association) came to the microphone, we were given a thought-provoking lesson in government and the political process. (His unique perspective, comes not only from being a history teacher, but also from his previous career, working in politics.) Torian made some important points:

• An endorsement is not a vote. It does not a guarantee our individual votes.

• An endorsement is only a first step, but without the first step, there can be no subsequent steps. After that first step, we can begin to negotiate and discuss what we have to offer each other and what we want from each other.

• An endorsement is simply a way of getting a seat at the table. We need to be at that table for the entire campaign, rather than trying to edge in during the last 4 months of the campaign. Consider all of the other groups who are vying for the President’s attention. They are jumping on board as soon as possible to be sure their interests are recognized.

• An endorsement does not encompass everything a candidate represents – it is an endorsement of the ONE, tiny slice (the education slice) of all of things that fall under his consideration.

Think of joining a “Trivial Pursuit” game that has already been going on for an hour:

When you arrive, most players have been around the board several times. They have asked and answered many questions, and have won a slice in almost every category, but you are unconcerned, because you only want to win one slice for yourself.

Just as you take your seat at the table, the game ends. The players who were at the table from the beginning, end up with almost everything they want, while you end up walking away with nothing. You could say that you were in the game, but you didn’t really play. You weren’t significant to the outcome. Your contribution didn’t matter. Other players may not even remember that you showed up.

Though our issues are certainly not trivial, politics is a game. As an Association, it is strategically important that NEA gets in this game and starts playing now. Later, if we see that the game is not being played the way it should be, we can stand up and leave the table.

The game has started. It is time to play.

Stephen Henry from TEA’s Metro-Nashville Education Association was a featured soloist with the NEA Choir this year. Members from each state devote additional time for rehearsals each year and the choir performs patriotic pieces for the delegation on July 4th.

THE ADVOCATE SEPTEMBER, 2011

TEA Pledges to Continue AdvocacyThe Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act creates new rules that govern the relationship among teachers, local education associations, and school districts. As the Tennessee Education Association (TEA) analyzes the language of the new law and its impact on teachers, the organization pledges to continue promoting, advancing, and protecting public education, the education profession and the rights and interests of its 52,000 members.

“TEA will represent members and local affiliates to the full extent allowed by the new law, even as we continue to ensure that existing negotiated agreements are fully enforced,” says TEA President Gera Summerford, a high school math teacher from Sevier County,

“Teachers are resilient,” adds Summerford. “We will continue to focus on what’s best for our students and public schools. We will continue to support and represent teachers and assist them in acting collectively to advance their interests.”

“It has always been our goal to advance education in our state,” notes the TEA president. “That will not change. We will work with the new rules on collaborative conferencing while keeping student achievement at the forefront of our efforts. By informing and training our members, TEA will continue to ensure teachers are successful in what they do – educating all students every day to meet high academic standards.”

Response to a Facebook Challenge:“Have the guts to re-post this.”Often, when people get caught up in the chain-letter type posts on social networks, we wish we had a way to explain our opposition, without offending a friend. A response to “Have the guts to repost this,” struck me as an especially eloquent way to answer this kind of challenge.

~ Jennifer Owen, Editor

“I will not repost this, not because I don't have the guts to, but because I fundamentally do not agree.

Just as I will always help a friend in trouble, or throw some change to a homeless musician, no matter how poor my own financial situation is, I hope that my country would do the same.

If there is a time in my future that I'm struggling to feed my kids, help out my parents, or pay my own bills, I will always be the type of person to try to help out others that are outside of my direct responsibility.

The issues you raise are important ones, but our government's inability to take care of it's own sufficiently should not preclude our natural tendencies to altruism in the face of the unspeakable suffering being felt by our fellow man, even if they are in another country.”

~ April Annika Cattell, Stony Brook University, Swarthmore(reprinted with April’s permission)

NEA President, Dennis VanRoekel, leads the NEA delegates as they conduct the business of the Association in July. Made up of nearly 10,000 delegates, the NEA Representative Assembly is the largest democratic deliberative body in the world.

“We will continue to focus on what’s best for our students and public schools. We will continue to support and represent teachers and assist them in acting collectively to advance their interests.

TEA President, Gera Summerford

New NEA Member Early Enrollees May Access Benefits Programs New NEA members who join the Association prior to the start of the September 1, 2011 membership year can still take advantage of “early enrollee” benefits, including the following NEA Member Benefits programs:

• NEA Credit Card Program®• NEA Group Term Life Insurance Plan• NEA Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance

Plan• NEA Members Auto and Home Insurance Program• NEA Car Rental Program• NEA Magazine Service

In addition, new enrollees are eligible for a number of free and discount offers such as 20% off SmileMakers merchandise, 50% off Weekly Reader magazines, and our popular NEA Click & Save online discount program. All the early enrollee needs to do is go online to www.neamb.com/newmember and register!

Welcome to the Association & your NEA Member Benefits Program!

THE ADVOCATE SEPTEMBER, 2011

National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers Oppose Duncan's Waiver PlanStephen Sawchuk writes at the Education Week (6/16) "Teacher Beat" blog about the backlash among organized labor officials to Education Secretary Arne Duncan's recent vow to grant NCLB waivers, should Congress not reform the law before the beginning of the school year. He notes that "neither the National Education Association nor the American Federation of Teachers is a big fan" of the plan.

"As the strongest critics of the now 9-year-old law, the teachers' unions should, in theory, like the idea of regulatory relief." Asking "what gives" with the unions' opposition, Education Week quotes NEA President Dennis Van Roekel: "Secretary Duncan has acknowledged the need to intervene if Congress doesn't act, but he's clearly signaled that any relief would be coupled with more unmanageable hurdles for schools and students."

Sawchuk sums up the union's position as being that the law should be completely waived.

The Tennessee Three: NEA Resolutions CommitteeAnthony Hancock, NEA Resolutions Committee

I am sure you are wondering, “Who are the ‘Tennessee Three’ and what is their role concerning the Tennessee Education Association?”.

As one of the Tennessee Three elected, I would like to take this opportunity to tell you who I am and what I do as part of the NEA Resolutions Committee.

I am Anthony Hancock, a twenty plus year resident of Knoxville and one of three team members selected to be a part of the Resolutions Committee for TEA. Resolutions are a series of beliefs, values and by-laws by which we govern ourselves as a professional organization. This is the first of a series of articles that will be written with information about how to write and submit resolutions that you may want to create or change.

In November of 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addressed the labor union in Chicago, asserting that all labor had dignity. He stated, “...whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity, and is for the building of humanity it has dignity and it has worth. All labor has dignity.“ During June of this year in Chicago, forty-five years later, our educators union, at the NEA Representative Assembly encouraged teachers around the nation to “Stand Together and Stand Strong.” Educators’ we have dignity and we have worth, because education serves humanity.

“Let me say to you tonight, that whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity, and it has worth... All labor has dignity.”

~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“All Labor Has Dignity”Edited by Michael K. Honey, Beacon Press

“An unprecedented and timely collection of King's speeches on labor rights and economic justice.”

“Gathered in one volume for the first time, the majority of these speeches will be new to most readers. The collection begins with King's lectures to unions in the 1960s and includes his addresses during his Poor People's Campaign, culminating with his momentous "Mounta in top" speech, delivered in support of striking black sanitation workers in Memphis. Unprecedented and timely, "All Labor Has Dignity" will more fully restore our understanding of King's lasting vision of economic justice, bringing his demand for equality right into the present.”

Available from htttp://www.beacon.org, http://amazon.com, and many other booksellers.

TEA President, Gera Summerford, talks to KCS Superintendent, Jim McIntyre about his decision to deny release time to KCEA’s newly-elected president.

THE ADVOCATE SEPTEMBER, 2011

NEA Member Benefits800-637-4636 neamb.com

NEA Members Insurance Trust800-637-4636 neamb.com

NEA Credit Card & Loan ProgramsBank of America: 866-575-9070 neamb.com

NEA Home Financing ProgramWells Fargo Home Mortgage

800-NEA-4YOU (4968) neamb.com

NEA Auto & Home Insurance ProgramCalifornia Casualty: 800-877-7345 neamb.com

NEA Long Term Care ProgramJohn Hancock

800-637-4636 neamb.com

NEA Income Protection PlanAmerican Fidelity Assurance Company

800-637-4636 neamb.com

NEA Homeowners Insurance ProgramHorace Mann: 800-637-4636 neamb.com

NEA Valuebuilder ProgramSecurity Benefit

800-NEA-VALU (8258) neamb.com

National Foundation forCredit Counseling 866-479-NEA2 (6322) www.debtadvice.org/nea

NEA Member Benefits is acutely aware of personal and financial challenges faced by NEA members. One way NEA Member Benefits is assisting members is through the Member Assistance Program, an online resource center that provides guidance, information and tools to help unemployed members prepare for a job search and cope financially. This brochure outlines the resources and services available, including a step-by-step Job Layoff Checklist and useful sites on the Web. Find MAP online at www.neamb.com/assistance.

Update (from page 2)

On August 10th, KCEA President, Sherry Morgan, was allowed 5 minutes to address the Knox County School Board, during the public forum that follows all board meetings. TEA president, Gera Summerford was also there to support the continuing voice of Knox County teachers.

President Morgan shared many of our concerns with board members and asked questions about representation for Knox County teachers, but none of those concerns or questions have yet been answered by the board. Though elected to serve the interests of their constituents, many of them, sadly, seem to be quite dis-interested. We hope they won’t wait until election time to see that we are voters, too!

Questions addressed to the board:

• We have been told that the superintendent will no longer have monthly meetings with the KCEA president. Will the elected KCEA president have a voice to represent members? Will teacher’s voices be heard?

• KCEA is the only large urban local in the state without a release time president. Neither Shelby County nor Metro Nashville have a Memorandum of Agreement, but their president is still release time. Why would Knox County not allow its teachers’ voices to be heard?

• KCEA is part of the Great Schools Partnership Board of Trustees. We have helped connect partnerships and donors to provide meaningful learning opportunities for students. Will KCEA be allowed to continue bringing opportunities to KCS students?

Points to Ponder:

• KCEA was instrumental in establishing the Teacher Supply Depot and the President is on the board.. Every time the Teacher Supply Depot is open, our members volunteer to help.

• KCEA has worked to ensure that class size is kept low and teachers have supplies and resources to effectively teach students. We have worked to support teachers in their first 5 years of teaching through mentoring programs and classroom management training to develop competent , effective teachers. However, this year, Dr. McIntyre told KCEA that our donation of notebooks and lunch for each new teacher in Knox County would not be accepted.

• KCEA, its leaders and members realize things are changing. We are offering staff development for teachers to become better teachers to help student achievement. No other local professional edducation organization is offering this kind of support to their members.

• KCEA pays the salary of the president during the two years she is serving the Association.

• To date, no other organization has expressed interest in collaborative conferencing, or in paying for their own release time president.

• This is collaboration.

Dr. McIntyre has been invited to our first meeting at the KCEA office on August 22nd. We hope you will also be there to let him know that we intend to Stand Strong and Stand Together for our students and for each other.

School Board members and Central Office staff listen as President, Sherry Morgan, shares our concerns.

THE ADVOCATE SEPTEMBER, 2011

Earl Wiman Elected to NEA Executive Committee

Thousands of National Education Association members from across America elected former Tennessee Education Association President, Earl Wiman, to the NEA Executive Committee. The nine-member executive committee is the governing body that oversees the 3.2 million-member NEA.

“I am humbled to receive this vote of confidence from my peers,” said Earl Wiman. “Every student deserves great public schools and I am honored to work on behalf of

an advocacy organization like NEA that is responsible for making that vision a reality. I look forward to working side-

by-side with NEA leaders to continue to stand up against attacks on our profession and public education.”

A former kindergarten teacher, principal, TEA president and media specialist, Earl Wiman will begin serving his three-year term on the Executive Committee this July.

Nearly 9,000 educators from every state attended NEA’s Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly (RA). The RA is the top decision-making body for the 3.2 million-member NEA. Delegates set Association policy and address issues facing schools, students and the teaching profession.

The Executive Committee is responsible for general policy and financial interests of NEA and acts for the NEA Board of Directors between the board's four regularly scheduled meetings each year.

Tennessee’s Teachers Elect New Leaders at Annual MeetingMore than 1,000 delegates from the Tennessee Education Association convened at the Nashville Convention Center on May 20-21 for the 2011 Representative Assembly. The Representative Assembly is TEA's highest governing body and consists of delegate-members who are elected locally by their peers.

Elected to TEA Board of Directors were Leisa Lusk of Washington County, Karen Starr of Morgan County, Kawanda Braxton of Williamson County and Ernestine Haines of Shelby County.

Diane Lillard of Bradley County was re-elected to the National Education Association Board of Directors.

Elected to the TEA Fund for Children & Public Education Executive Council were Joe Crabtree of Johnson City, DeWayne Emert of Anderson County, Stacy Jones of McNairy County and Sammy Jobe of Shelby County.

Johnny Henry of Jefferson County was elected as East Tennessee administrator on the TEA board of directors, Paula Hancock of Knox County was elected as East Tennessee black classroom teacher and Candra Clariette of Metro Nashville was elected as the new teacher member.

Clara Ford of Memphis was elected West Tennessee member on the Board of Trustees of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System. Elected to the Local Education Insurance Committee as West Tennessee member was Cindy Lumpkin of Benton County.

Earl  Wiman  addresses  Tennessee  delegates  during  a  caucus  meeting  at  the  NEA  Representative  Assembly.

“Now,  more  than  ever,  we  need  Earl’s  voice  and  endless  energy  to  push  back  against  the  coordinated  attacks  on  public  education  and  working  families  across  America.”  

~  NEA  President  Dennis  Van  Roekel Lead by Student TEA members, Evelyn Gill and Tanya Coats learn a dance during a caucus meeting at the NEA Representative Assembly. These short breaks help keep delegates energized and focused during the long debates.

THE ADVOCATE SEPTEMBER, 2011

Calendar of Events Calendar of Events

August 25 TEA Regional Forum: (see p. 3) 4:30-7:00pm“Let's Talk: You, Your Job & Your AssociationKCEA Office - 2411 Magnolia Ave

August 26 New Teacher ReceptionKCEA Office - 2411 Magnolia Ave.

August 29 JCS Board of Education Called Meeting5pm AJ Bldg - 1st Floor Conf. Room

September 5 Labor Day - Holiday - KCS Closed

September 5 TEA Board Retreat

September 6 KCS Board of Education Work Session5pm - AJ Bldg - 1st Floor Conf. Room

September 6 “Navigating Teacher Evaluation” Workshop KCEA Office, 2411 Magnolia Ave.

September 7 KCS Board of Education Regular Mtg5pm City/County Bldg,

September 8 KCS Coupon Book Campaign Begins

September 9 PTA County Council “Life Long Literacy” Forum 9-11am AJ Bldg. 1st Floor Conference Room

September 12 End 4.5 weeks grading period

September 17 High School All-East / All-State Choral Auditions 9am-5pm - Heritage High School

September 17 TUEAC

September 20 “Navigating Teacher Evaluation” Workshop KCEA Office, 2411 Magnolia Ave.

September 23 Student Holiday - Staff Development Day(K-5 in-School/6-12 System-wide)

September 23-24 STEA Leadership Conference

September 29 KCS District-wide Family Engagement Advisory Council Fall Mtg 6-7pm Simpson Center, Great Room

October 4 “Navigating Teacher Evaluation” Workshop KCEA Office, 2411 Magnolia Ave.

October 6 “Academic Vocabulary” WorkshopKCEA  Office,  2411  Magnolia  Ave.

October 18 “Navigating  Teacher  Evaluation”  Workshop    KCEA  Office,  2411  Magnolia  Ave.

Contact KCEA2411 Magnolia Ave.Knoxville, TN 37917

Office: 865.522.9793Cell: 865.660.0822Fax: 865.522.9866

THE ADVOCATE

is published monthly by the Knox County Education Association.

Please direct questions & comments to:Jennifer Owen, Editor

KCEA@OwenWebs.com

Our MissionTo promote quality education in Knox County, the Knox County Education Association will provide a support system that guarantees the opportunity for professional growth, secures and improves benefits, and protects the rights of educators of Knox County.

Find us Online:

KCEAinTouch.org

Facebook.com/TNKCEA

How Do New NEA Members Access Benefits Programs?New NEA members who join the Association prior to the start of the September 1, 2011 membership year can still take advantage of “early enrollee” benefits, including the following NEA Member Benefits programs:

• NEA Credit Card Program®• NEA Group Term Life Insurance Plan• NEA Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance Plan• NEA Members Auto and Home Insurance Program• NEA Car Rental Program• NEA Magazine Service

In addition, new enrollees are eligible for a number of free and discount offers such as 20% off SmileMakers merchandise, 50% off Weekly Reader magazines, and participation in our popular NEA Click & Save online discount program. All the early enrollee needs to do is go online to www.neamb.com/newmember and register!

If you have any questions, please call our Member Services Center at 1-800-637-4636.

Welcome to the Association and your NEA Member Benefits Program!

Left: Mark Casteel and Trish Russell consider a New Business Item at the NEA Representative Assembly.

Right: Teresa Busler shows her patriotic spirit on the 4th of July, while deliberating with the Tennessee State Caucus at the NEA RA. The NEA Representative Assembly was in session July 1st-6th, 2011.