Horseheads Teachers Association
Winter 2018-19 Newsletter
NYSUT proposes one-year extension on the transition period for APPR
Proposed Amendment Would Continue Moratorium Delinking Student Assessments from Principal and Teacher Evaluations
60-Day Public Comment Period December 26, 2018- February 25, 2019
Excerpt: Under the direction of Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa, the State Education Department today proposed to extend the transition period for Annual Professional Performance Reviews (APPR) through the 2019-20 school year. This additional year is necessary for the Department to fully implement the Common Core Task Force’s recommendations, while the Department works with educators and stakeholders to develop an evaluation system that better supports teaching and learning.
“As we continue the work to develop a new evaluation system, it’s critical that we listen to teachers, principals, superintendents, parents and other stakeholders to ensure that the process we put in place reflects the best interests of our children and educators,” Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa said. “To be mindful of the concerns we’ve heard, we must take the time necessary to conduct a truly thoughtful process, and that includes extending this transition period.”
To read the extended article, click here
Next Steps and Public Comment
A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published in the State Register on December 26, 2018. Comments will be accepted through February 25, 2019 and can be submitted by email to REGCOMMENTS@nysed.gov.
NYSUT Member Benefits- It's not just for insurance!
--Who is the Average Teacher??
In 2016, the National Center for Education Statistics polled 40,000 public school teachers across the country as part of the National Teacher and Principal Survey. The first round of results was released in May 2018. Here are a few of the highlights:
- The Teaching Force Is Still Predominantly Female and White. The 3.8 million public school teachers (full and part time) in the United States in 2015 – 2016 was significantly higher than the 3 million who were teaching in 1999 – 2000. About 77 percent of public school teachers today are female.About 80 percent are white, 9 percent Hispanic (an increase of 3 percent since 2000), 7 percent black, 2 percent Asian, and 1 percent two or more races.
- The Average Teacher Has 14 Years of Experience. In the 2015 – 2016 school year, teachers in public schools had on average about 14 years of experience and worked roughly 53 hours a week.
- More Teachers Hold Advanced Degrees. The percentage of public school teachers who hold a postbaccalaureate degree (i.e., a master’s, education specialist, or doctoral degree) has increased since 1999 – 2000. Fifty-seven percent had such a degree in 2016, compared to 47 percent in 2000. This trend is evident at both the elementary and secondary levels. Roughly 55 percent of elementary school teachers and 59 percent of secondary school teachers held a postbaccalaureate degree in 2015 – 2016.
- Union Membership=Greater Satisfaction with Salary and Job. Overall, 55 percent of teachers are not satisfied with their salaries. By a significant 12 point margin, however, teachers who belong to a union or education association are more likely to be satisfied with their salaries than those who are not. Almost half of teachers who belong to a union report that they are satisfied with their salaries. Thirty-seven percent of teachers who do not belong to a union say they are not. Furthermore, if you are satisfied with your pay, you are more likely to believe that your school is run reasonably well and that you and your colleagues are a “satisfied group.”
- Teachers Spend Too Much of Their Own Money on Classroom Supplies. Overall, 94 percent of teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies. The average teacher spends $479 every year. If you are an elementary school teacher, you are more likely to spend more than your counterparts in high school. The average amount spent by elementary teachers was $526. For high school teachers, that figure was $430.
From NEAToday October 2018
Did you know that NYSUT has a women's committee?
Chaired by NYSUT Executive Vice President Jolene DiBrango, the NYSUT Women’s Committee has four main goals: encourage more locals to develop in-house women’s committees; educate female members about the work of the union; highlight women-specific issues, including inequalities in pay, health care and education; and involve more union women in leadership roles. Would you like to start a women's committee in your local? To learn how, please click here. For more information, please contact Dora Leland, NYSUT Women's Committee Member, at lelanddora@gmail.com
Southern Tier Labor Council
Teachers have tenure. You can't be fired no matter what kind of job you do!
HERstories
Inspirational NYSUT Women
“Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back.”
This HERstory page was created to highlight the strong female leaders in our union, and to empower more women to take on leadership roles in all sorts of ways within their local unions, their communities, and within NYSUT.
Featured this month is Sophia Howard Johnson of the
Buffalo Teachers Federation. Click here to read HERstory or submit a story of your own!
What are you doing this summer?
NEA group tours unlock VIP access to the world's most famous sites!
Have you always always wanted to get a behind-the-scenes look at the Eiffel Tower or see how “Good Morning America” is produced? No, you don’t have to have inside connections. A group tour can bring you up close and personal to sites and scenes you could only imagine. As a member of the National Education Association, you can take part in a group tour through NEA Adventures or enjoy a 10% discount with Trafalgar Tours. For more information on these programs click here.
To Attend Board of Education Meetings!!!!
- Thursday, January 17th- Topic: Intermediate School
- Thursday, February 7th- State of Schools and Budget Rollout
- Thursday, February 28th- Rgular Business Meeting Topic: Budget update, Technology, Facilities and HR
- Thursday, March 7th- Budget Meeting- Special Education and Athletics
- Wednesday, March 20th- Regular Meeting and Instructional Budgets Topic: Administrators and K-12 School Counselors
For a complete list of BOE meetings, click here
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