“Unfreeze salaries,” NCAE will demandof the NC Legislature. “We will seek astep increase for teachers and supportpersonnel,” said NCAE President SheriStrickland.

“The most important question NorthCarolina citizens can ask is: Are we investing in the people who drive eco-nomic health and prepare our childrento compete in a global 21st century jobmarket?” said NCAE President SheriStrickland. “Unfortunately, the answeris no. Our clear and direct proposal isthat legislators, at minimum, offerteachers what amounts to a step increase plus cost-of-living and otherschool personnel receive an equivalentpercentage salary increase.”

This announcement follows on theheels of Governor Perdue’s call at theNCAE Convention for the General Assembly to unfreeze the teacher salaryschedule. “Investments yield dividends,and an investment in you, the educa-tional leaders of this great state willyield dividends for years and years tocome in North Carolina,” Perdue said. “I will not be silenced on education, onteachers and on what they need. Myvoice will be heard. Will your voice beheard?”

Strickland commented that salariesfor educators have been eroded by thedecisions of legislators. “Their jobs havebecome more challenging with cuts topublic education. Teachers are doingmore with less, spending money out oftheir own pockets for supplies, with nosupport for professional developmentand diminishing paychecks. EducationSupport Professionals are doing doubleduty, driving buses as well as assistingstudents. Yet overall, educators stillcontinue to do a good job educating ourstudents. North Carolina has reached a point where legislative leaders are penalizing success.”

Here are some startling statistics onthe state of education in North Carolina:

Key Facts from NEA Rankingsand Estimates of the States• North Carolina’s current ranking for

salary (2010-11) is 41st in the nation.Our ranking has been helped mainlyby the teachers who pursued NationalBoard Certification in great numbers.North Carolina leads the nation inNational Board Certified teacherswith 19,193 NBCTs.

• North Carolina’s preliminary salary

ranking for 2011-12 drops to an esti-mated 44th in the nation.

• Preliminary 2012 rankings put NorthCarolina at 9th in the 12 Southeasternstates.

• As a percentage of the U.S. average,the North Carolina average teachersalary has dropped to 82.28 percent.With the exception of 1997, this is thelowest percentage since 1982.North Carolina teachers’ compensa-

tion has steadily lost ground for fouryears. For example, a successful 10-yearveteran teacher today is still at thesame pay level as she/he was with onlysix years in the profession. However,with cuts in benefits, no funding for instructional supplies and increasedclass sizes, teachers are earning less butdoing more.

“NCAE is taking the lead to say,‘enough is enough’,” Strickland said.“North Carolina needs to make a betterfinancial commitment to the womenand men who work each day, helpingchildren succeed. It’s the engine thatdrives healthy economies. And the cen-ter of that driving force is the educa-tion workforce.”

– Karen Archia, PR/media coordinator

April 2012 Vol. 38 No. 7

IN THIS ISSUEFrom The President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2Contact Information for School Board Members

& County Commissioners . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2-3 Reflections from Convention . . . . . . . . Pages 3 & 6NCAE- Questions & Answers . . . . . . . . . . Pages 4-5What Has NCAE Done for Me Lately . . . . Pages 1 & 7Dates to Remember . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7Convention Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 7NCAE EFT Application Form . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8

Enough is Enough! It’s Time for a Pay Raise!

What Has NCAE Done for Me Lately?NCAE – fought and averted immedi-ate implementation of the salary pre-pay plan. Educators now have anadditional year to prepare. WithoutNCAE, teachers would not have re-ceived any state salary August,2011.

NCAE – demanded that school sys-tems be granted waivers of the im-posed five additional instructionaldays.

NCAE – has been the force behindevery salary increase for teachers. TheAssociation has fought many a foe of

teacher pay raises, aswell as preventing aproposed 5% pay cutto all educators in 2011.

NCAE – was the impetus for the Master’s pay differential increasingfrom 6.5% to of 10%.

NCAE – initiated, increased and en-sured bonus pay for the ABC program.

NCAE – stood for, increased andsaved bonus pay for NBCTs from being cut and eliminated. NCAE

Wake NCAE, Winner of the 2012NCAE PAC Capacity Award!

Congratulations to all our hardworking AR’s and thank you tothose to give to the PAC.

(continued on page 7)

Page 2 Wake Action April 2012

April showers may bring May flowersbut for the Wake County PublicSchool System it will bring a vote

on the Superintendent’s proposed budgetduring the May 8 board meeting.

For the past two years, the schoolboard has not requested additional fund-ing from the county commissioners eventhough there was an increase in the num-ber of students enrolled.

Last year, $28 million from the Edujobs funding was available to fill theholes that remained after money was paidback to the state. This year, money is being used from the Rainy Day Fund because the rainy day has arrived. TheWake County Public School System con-tinues to grow and each year it is moreand more challenging to find the moneyneeded for the budget.

On March 29, Superintendent Tata’sproposed 2012-2013 budget was pre-sented during the joint meeting of thecounty commissioners and the schoolboard. One of the priorities of the budgetis an investment in classroom teachersand staff. In support of this priority, a re-curring one-percent increase to supple-ment pay schedules for certified staff anda $500 one-time bonus to all other staff,except those on the Superintendent’sLeadership Team, have been proposed.

Since we have not had a salary in-crease of any type in four years, this is a

start. The local supplement is based on apercentage of the regular annual salary.The information needed to calculate theamount can be found by 1) accessing yourelectronic paystub, 2) selecting the bene-fits statement and 3) locating the regularannual salary and the annual supplementto which you would add 1% for the pro-posed increase.

We must remember that this is the Superintendent’s proposed budget. Theschool board and stakeholders will pro-vide input regarding the budget proposalduring upcoming board meetings andwork sessions. After input has been re-ceived, the details of the budget proposalwill be decided, a formal vote will betaken at the May 8 meeting and thebudget will be presented to the countycommissioners.

-Tama

From the President… Wake NCAEAn Affiliate of NCAE and NEA

Officers & Board of Directors

Tama Bouncer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President (2010-12)Larry Nilles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice President (2011-13)Michele Hicks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary (2011-13)Richard Suggs, III . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer (2010-12)Tia Shue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K-5 (2010-12)James Shaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K-5 (2011-13)Cindy Hoyt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8 (2010-12)Paulette Jones Leaven. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8 (2011-13)Zora Felton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12 (2010-12)Christopher Bridges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ESP (2010-12)Debbie Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ESP (2011-13)Judy Wiggins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At Large (2010-12)Rhonda Riggins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At-Large (2011-13)Salinder Broady . . . . . . . . . Administration (2010-12)Lyn Carter. . . . . . . . Presidential Appointee (2011-12)

Triangle Region UniServ Consultants919-782-8996

Charlotte Bumgarner . . charlotte.bumgarner@ncae.orgSean McKillop . . . . . . . . . . . sean.mckillop@ncae.orgTyrone Melton. . . . . . . . . . . .tyrone.melton@ncae.orgNorma Reaves-Carree . . . . . . norma.smith@ncae.org

Office Manager 919-782-8908

Keisha Wells. . . . . . . . . . . . . wakeoffice@bellsouth.net

Wake ACTIONTama Bouncer, Editor

wakeeditor@bellsouth.net

Wake NCAE3900 Merton Drive, Suite 100

Raleigh, NC 27609

Monday-Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm24-Hour Voice Mail

Telephone: 919-782-8908 or800-650-5034

FAX: 919-782-8906Website: www.wakencae.org

Blog: www.ncaeconnections.comTwitter: @WakeNCAE

Facebook Search: Wake Ncae

NCAE Advocacy CenterMonday-Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

24-Hour assistance requestTelephone: 1-855-ASKNCAE (1-855-275-6223)

www.askncae.org

WAKE ACTIONWAKE ACTION is published monthly duringthe regular school term by Wake NCAE.

TYPESETTING, LAYOUT & PRINTING BYPIEDMONT LITHO, INC.

If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him.An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.

– Benjamin Franklin

Mr. Kevin L. Hill, Chair 300 Paprika Court Raleigh, North Carolina 27614 919-431-7326 /officeTerm Expires: November 2015klhill@wcpss.net

Mr. Chris Malone224 W. Holding Ave.Wake Forest, North Carolina 27587919-431-7324 /officeTerm Expires: November 2013cmalone2@wcpss.net

Use the following information if you would like to contact the School Board Members or

County Commissioners regarding the Superintendent’s proposed budget.

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

(continued on page 3)

April 2012 Wake Action Page 3

By Greta Lumsden, Sanderson High School

I really did not know what to expectat the NCAE convention in March.Honestly, I thought it would be like

a teaching conference where you couldsign up for workshops. Well, I couldn’thave been more wrong! Instead what Ifound was a group of hundreds of edu-cators who are passionate about whatthey do and why they do it. I could feelthe energy and excitement as soon as Iwalked into the auditorium for the firstsession on Friday morning. Listeningto the speakers throughout the morn-ing speak about education in NorthCarolina and the changes that are happening in our state reminded me ofwhy I cannot sit back and be a passivemember of NCAE. I was inspired byGovernor Purdue’s speech because Icould tell that she genuinely caresabout education in North Carolina andwill fight to the end to see that educa-tion is fully funded.

As if the morning was not excitingenough, the afternoon session beganand I witnessed democracy at its best.While reading about the proposed con-stitutional changes I thought I was

going to be bored to tears, but I wasn’t.I loved listening to the debates over theproposals, the different groups whowere equally passionate about whatthey believed, and having the power tovote and be a part of the decision making process. Saturday was just asexciting.

I left convention with the feelingthat I am part of what makes NCAE thewonderful organization that it is. NCAEis not just an organization that repre-sents the voices of teachers in NorthCarolina. It IS the voice of North Carolina teachers! NCAE is what WEmake it. If we want to be heard we musthave NCAE. I AM NCAE!

LIFE WITHOUT NCAEOver the past couple of years I have

begun to have a shift in my beliefs. Thecatalyst for this took place in January,2010 when the newly elected WakeCounty School Board members weresworn in. I was at that meeting and leftwith a feeling of dread about the futureof WCPSS. I began to realize that I hada greater purpose. I needed to be thevoice for what is right for my students

and my profession. Since then, manyother changes have happened, somegood, some bad. The other day I wastold by three NCAE members at myschool that they were going to droptheir membership and not enroll inEFT. At first I was sad that they weremaking this choice. Then I got angry! Iwondered why, now, they would makethis choice. I wondered why they would

Reflections from Convention

Greta Lumsden

(continued on page 6)

Mr. John Tedesco104 Rock Fish Ln. Garner, North Carolina 27529919-701-9253/officeTerm Expires: November 2013jtedesco@wcpss.net

Mrs. Susan P. Evans2016 W. Sterlington Place Apex, NC 27502919-431-7331 /office Term Expires: November 2015sevans5@wcpss.net

Dr. Jim Martin8613 Cavatina Court Apex, NC 27539 919-431-7328 /office Term Expires: November 2015Jmartin4@wcpss.net

Mr. Keith Sutton, Vice Chair4536 Drewbridge WayRaleigh, NC 27604919-431-7327 /officeTerm expires: November 2015ksutton@wcpss.net

Mrs. Christine Kushner3220 Birnamwood RoadRaleigh, North Carolina 27607919-431-7329/officeTerm Expires: November 2015ckushner@wcpss.net

Ms. Deborah Prickett11305 Ridgegate Dr.Raleigh, North Carolina 27617919-431-7330/officeTerm Expires: November 2013dprickett@wcpss.net

Ms. Debra GoldmanCrossroads I, 5625 Dillard DriveCary, NC 27518919-678-1090/officeTerm Expires: November 2013dgoldman@wcpss.net

County Commissioners:Joe Bryan206 Maplewood DriveKnightdale, NC 27545 Wake County: 919-856-5575 Email: joe.bryan@wakegov.com

James West2401 Sanderford RoadRaleigh, NC 27610 Wake County: 919-856-5573Phone: 919-856-5573 Fax: 919-856-5699james.west@wakegov.com

Phil Matthews1901 Navan LaneGarner, NC 27529Wake County: 919-856-5576Fax #: 919-856-5699Email: phil.matthews@wakegov.com

Betty Lou Ward1321 Deerhurst DriveRaleigh, NC 27614Wake County: 919-856-5566 Email: bward@wakegov.com

Tony Gurley10037 Sycamore RoadRaleigh, NC 27613Wake County: 919-856-5579Business: 919-215-0240Email: Tony.Gurley@wakegov.com

Ervin Portman101 Fern Bluff WayCary, NC 27518Wake County: 919-856-5574Fax: 919-856-5699Home: 919-233-8551Office: 919-557-2820Email: ervin.portman@wakegov.com

Paul Coble2412 Tyson St.Raleigh, NC 27612Wake County: 919-856-5577Fax #: 919-856-5699Home: 919-783-7217Business: 919-510-9185Email: paul.coble@wakegov.com

CONTACT INFORMATION –School Board Members(continued from page 3)

Page 4 Wake Action April 2012

No Other Organization Compares to NCAEIn tough economic times, some prospective members may opt for a “cheaper alternative” to

NCAE membership. But the truth is: there is no cheaper alternative to NCAE.

Q: How many staff members doesNCAE employ locally to assist mem-bers in local school districts and towork with local school boards andsuperintendents?

A: In each district, NCAE has at least onefull-time staff member, called a Uni-Serv director, available locally to assistmembers. In some districts, depend-ing on size, there may more than onestaff person available to members.

Q: How many educators has NCAE rep-resented before any North Carolinaschool board in recent years?

A: At no additional cost to members,NCAE represents hundreds of educa-tors each year before school boards, in the legal system, as well as inmeetings with administrators. NCAEalso handles concerns that can be resolved by the state department ofeducation, including certification orlicensure issues.

Q: How many full-time lawyers doesNCAE employ to work exclusivelyfor members?

A: NCAE retains a total of 13 lawyers in10 different law firms to handle casesfor members.

Q: What does NCAE offer to help mem-bers become better educators —workshops, conferences, publications?

A: NCAE offers workshops on instruc-tional issues, National Board Certifi-cation and leadership development;sponsors an annual State Conventionthat hundreds of educators fromacross the state attend. The state Association also publishes the NCAENews Bulletin, a monthly online publication for members; The Daily Political Briefing, a daily electronicnewsletter with the latest info about political actions and activitiesthat affect public schools; a newteacher handbook; and a Website —www.ncae.org — updated regularlywith relevant news and information.

Q: Does NCAE liability insurance payONLY if a member is found innocent?

A: No. In most cases, NCAE’s liability in-surance pays regardless of whetherthe educator is found to be at fault ornot. Only in criminal cases does thepayment hinge on guilt or innocence.

Q: Does NCAE have a regular presenceand a strong voice with legislatorsand state leaders?

A: NCAE continually lobbies for im-proved working conditions, benefitsand higher salaries for educators. Inrecent times, with North Carolinafacing its toughest economic timessince the depression, NCAE has leadthe fight to protect education fund-ing — organizing rallies, EducatorWednesday Lobby Days, the “WearRed” campaign, and leading the pushfor increased revenue. Over the years,the Association also helped movemany important bills through theGeneral Assembly to improve workingconditions in our public schools. Be-cause of NCAE’s efforts, legislationwas passed that:

✔ Directs the school improvementteam (SIT) to provide a duty-freelunch period each day for allteachers

✔ Provides more funding for excep-tional children

✔ Allows school improvement teamsto schedule regular planning timefor elementary school teachersduring school hours

✔ Secured 100 literacy coaches forselected middle schools to assistwith development of students’reading skills

✔ Gives veteran teachers the abilityto be “retired and rehired”

✔ Provided a 12 percent salary in-crease for earning National BoardCertification

During every session, three full-timestaff members monitor every meet-ing on education issues, meet withkey legislators to discuss importantissues, organize weekly visits for

NCAE members totalk with their leg-islative delegations,and create opportu-nities for educatorsto easily and quicklyspeak out on im-portant issues.Also, NCAE’s statepresident and vice president arecalled on to address committee meet-ings and meet regularly with Houseand Senate leaders and the governor.

Q: Does NCAE support teachers whowant to earn National Board Certifica-tion and help them throughout thecertification process?

A: Yes. NCAE offers the state’s mostcomprehensive support system forNational Board Certification (NBC).NCAE holds workshops for NBC can-didates at each stage of the process,hosts a listserv for NBC candidates,and facilitates mentoring opportuni-ties by current NBC teachers to sharetheir advice on how to successfullycomplete the certification process.The Association also lobbied the Leg-islature for the 12 percent salary in-crease to teachers who earn NBCstatus. NCAE’s significant and expan-sive efforts related to National BoardCertification have been a vital ele-ment of North Carolina’s status asfirst in the nation for the greatestnumber of NBC teachers.

Q: Does NCAE receive funding fromany other organization in addition tomembers’ dues?

A: No. NCAE is funded 100 percent bymembers’ dues.

Q: How many pro-public education candi-dates has NCAE helped elect to office?

A: Over the last 30 years, at the state, local and national levels, teachershave elected hundreds of friends ofeducation and educators to localschool boards, the state Legislature,Congress, the presidency, and otherelected offices. Currently, there areformer or retired educators servingin the General Assembly.

Q&A

(continued on page 5)

Q: How are leaders of NCAE selected?A: NCAE members elect the Association

leadership based on a system of one-person, one-vote; open nominations;and secret ballot. NCAE membersalso directly elect delegates to the annual Representative Assembly.

Q: How can NCAE members change anorganizational policy they disagreewith?

A: All Association policy decisions aremade democratically. NCAE mem-bers elect representatives to theNCAE Board of Directors by district,and all of the membership votes toelect representatives to the board ofthe National Education Association(NEA). Members also elect their rep-resentatives who attend the NCAERepresentative Assembly and theNEA Representative Assembly wherepolicy decisions are made. Any mem-ber may run to become a delegate toeither of these bodies.

Q: Do minorities and women have equalopportunities to serve as leaders inNCAE?

A: Yes. NCAE has a long history of itsleadership positions being held by educators of different ethnic back-grounds, women and men and fromdifferent regions of the state. There isalso a very active retired educators division. NCAE sponsors leadershipdevelopment programs for womenand ethnic minorities, and supportsits local affiliate leaders with ongoingtraining. NCAE welcomes and en-courages diversity throughout theAssociation.

Q: If a local school board or principaltries to fire a member, does themember get his/her own lawyer andreinstatement before NCAE pays?

A: No, if your principal or school boardtries to fire you, your NCAE UniServdirector will work with NCAE attor-neys to try to assure that all yourrights are protected. This is a FREEservice to the members.

Q How many NCAE leaders teach inpublic schools? Who’s representedon the board of directors?

A: All local association officers work (or

are on-leave from positions) in publicschools. NCAE’s Board of Directors atthe state level includes representa-tives from all geographic districts ofNorth Carolina and divisions of theAssociation including, principals/administrators, education supportprofessionals, student services andcollege students. Three members ofthe NCAE Board also serve on theNEA Board of Directors representingNCAE. The NCAE Board also includestwo nonvoting, honorary directors.

Q: How many members does NCAEhave?

A: NCAE has approximately 50,000dues-paying members including ac-tive, retired and student members.

Tell prospective members: you get what you pay for.

NCAE offers more services, morebenefits and simply DOES more

than any other professionalorganization for educators.

Q: Where is the NCAE office located?Are there local offices?

A: NCAE’s headquarters is located at700 S. Salisbury St. in Raleigh.NCAE owns and occupies the build-ing. Staff members work from theNCAE headquarters building. In addi-tion, approximately 36 NCAE UniServstaff work out of offices in cities andtowns all over the state, making theAssociation readily accessible toevery NCAE member via local phonecalls, an 800 number and/or quicklocal visits.

Q Does NCAE monitor State Board ofEducation action?

A: Staff members from the NCAE Cen-ter for Teaching and Learning moni-tor all State Board of Educationmeetings. In addition, the NCAEpresident, vice president, executivedirector and associate executive di-rector spend time working with legis-lators. Finally and most powerfully,NCAE helps its members stay in con-stant touch with legislators, provid-ing opportunities for members tointeract with political leaders andhave their voices heard by elected officials.

Q: Does the state organization alsohave local affiliates and offer oppor-tunities for leadership training?

A: NCAE has local affiliates in eachschool district across the state. Thelarger local affiliates have full-timerelease presidents who serve and ad-vocate for the members and work onlocal education- related issues. Smalland medium-sized locals have lead-ership who volunteer their time. Thisnetwork of local associations meansmembers have opportunities to learnand develop leadership skills, net-work with colleagues from aroundthe state, and stay informed on thelatest professional issues. Each year,NCAE hosts a Summer Leaders con-ference for its local affiliate leaders,and has a unique, three-year programcalled the Emerging Leaders Acad-emy that develops the skills of mem-bers who show leadership potential.

Q: Does NCAE help children and thecommunity?

A: Yes! NCAE has sponsored OperationCooperation — a donation project forthe children in the host community ofthe NCAE State Convention — formany years. NCAE has collectedshoes, clothes, backpacks, school sup-plies and thousands of dollars to helpchildren — all given by NCAE mem-bers. AT&T gave Operation Coopera-tion $5,000 dollars. The NationalEducation Association (NEA), —NCAE’s national affiliate— foundedRead Across America, the celebra-tion of reading on March 2, thebirthday of Dr. Seuss. Each year,schools nationwide and here inNorth Carolina participate in thisspecial event. NCAE has also pro-vided more than 5,000 dictionariesto students in recognition of Ameri-can Education Week. In 1995, NCAEfounded the North Carolina Founda-tion for Public School Children, acharitable organization that providesbasic items and educational oppor-tunities to students in need.

Still need more information?

Contact your NCAE UniServ staff,local NCAE officers, state staff

and/or state officers.

Call 1.800.662.7924

April 2012 Wake Action Page 5

NCAE Q&A (continued from page 4)

Page 6 Wake Action April 2012

allow this message to be sent to thevery people that want NCAE to fail! Istarted to wonder what my life would belike today if NCAE did not exist to helpmy voice be heard. The following iswhat I imagine life for a teacher to belike without NCAE. It is fictional, butevery part is based on either somethingI have experienced or witnessed, orsomething that NCAE has fought to foror against for me and the other teachersin North Carolina.

Today I made a decision about my fu-ture. Many things during the recentpast steered me toward the road that Iam now choosing, all of which have hada direct effect on my classroom and mystudents.

Over the last several years, the statehas reduced the amount of money in thebudget for education. Because of thesebudget cuts, my school system has hadno choice but to cut teachers andteacher assistants and raise class sizes.My classes are bursting at the seams. Myclass size averages 40 students, and everyone of my students pays the price. Myfocus has shifted from instruction toclassroom management. I no longerhave the ability to give individual atten-tion when my students need it because itallows the opportunity for the other 39students to get off task. I no longer havethe materials and supplies I need to allowmy students to engage in hands-on anddiscovery lessons. I must spend my ownmoney if I need materials. My studentsdo not have adequate textbooks becausethere is no money for textbook adoption.North Carolina now spends less moneyper student on education than any otherstate in our country, and the effects arefelt every day by my students.

In my school system, the schoolboard is run by people with a politicalagenda. The school board does not havethe interests of the students at heart. In-stead, they are working to remove initia-tives that have been researched and putin place to increase student achieve-ment. They have completely dismantledour policy on diversity and school as-signment. Students now attend schoolsin their own neighborhoods, which hasled to many schools with large numbersof disadvantaged students. It has alsocaused families and businesses to leaveour area for areas with stronger school

systems. At my school, we have lostmany or our families who made up ourPTSA and we no longer have our Busi-ness Alliance that we had for years.

Working conditions for teachers atmy school have deteriorated over thepast several years. I used to feel sup-ported by my administration. I used tofeel safe at my school. Now, my author-ity is often undermined when I turn tomy administration for support. Whenstudents misbehave to the point where itescalates to a referral, they are given lit-tle or no consequences. The studentsknow that they will not be held account-able, so the behavior continues. It hascreated an atmosphere of disrespect onmany levels. Yet I feel there is nothing Ican do about this. There is no one I canreport this to who can make a differ-ence. No one seems to be interested inthe conditions at my school.

I have seen instances where good,caring teachers have asked my adminis-tration for help with classroom manage-ment. Instead of having an evaluationsystem in place that will support growthin our job performance, they were la-beled as ineffective and not asked backthe following year. Teachers at myschool are now scared to ask for help, yetthe problem continues to get worse be-cause of the lack of consequences forbad behavior. Again, there is no one togo to about this that can make a differ-ence.

The lack of support for teachers goesbeyond the walls of my school. We arenot supported by our school system either. I have had colleagues that haveneeded legal support from the schoolsystem and have not gotten it. Theywere not able to hire their own attor-ney and things did not go well for them.There is nowhere for teachers to turn

who need job-related legal represen-tation.

Perhaps the largest factor in my deci-sion is based on my salary and benefits.In the last several years I have seenmany changes. We used to get a smallpay raise with each year of experience.Our pay has been frozen for four yearswithout even a cost of living increase.Next year, we will begin a system of paybased on merit. Our salaries will be tiedto test scores and student performance.I teach in a school with a large numberof disadvantaged children who do nothave support at home. I teach low level9th graders who come to me with a 3rdgrade reading and math level. What willhappen to my paycheck next year if mystudents do not perform as well as acomputer program predicts them to ona standardized test? We used to getlongevity pay after we had been with thestate for 10 years. I used this money tohelp me make it through the summerwhen I don’t receive a paycheck. Thathas been taken away. I now have to worka second job at night and during thesummer so that I can pay my bills andsupport my children. We used to havefree medical insurance. Not only havepremiums for our families increasedsteadily each year, but we now have topay premiums for ourselves as well.

Teachers used to be treated as pro-fessionals and received the respect thatthey so rightly earned. Today that is notthe case. Today we are vilified andscorned. Today we are labeled as over-paid and whiney.

I love teaching. It is part of who I amand who I was meant to be. But I alsoneed to look out for myself and my fam-ily. Today I have decided to leave teach-ing. Today I made a decision about myfuture.

Reflections from Convention(continued from page 3)

April 2012 Wake Action Page 7

• April 26 – Take Our Daughtersand Sons to Work Day

• April 27 – National Arbor Day

• May 2 – Wake NCAE Board ofDirectors Meeting

• May 1-7 – National PhysicalEducation and Sport Week

• May 1-31 – Asian PacificAmerican Heritage Month

• May 1-31 – Better Hearingand Speech Month

• May 5 – Cinco de Mayo

• May 6-12 – National TeacherAppreciation Week

• May 8 – National Teacher Day

• May 9 – Wake NCAERepresentative Assembly –NCAE Building, 4:45 p.m

• May 16 – Wake NCAERetirement Banquet – NCAE Building, 6:00 p.m.

developed and provides the vast majorityof training that is available for NBCTcandidates.

NCAE – saved due process rights foreducators in the most recent legislativesession.

NCAE – passed legislation that now as-sures probationary teachers the rightto appeal their non-renewal duringtheir “Career Status year” and expanded“ALL” probationary teacher rights.

NCAE – saved probationary teachersfrom restarting Career Status track at zero, if Riffed and subsequently rehired by same employer.

NCAE – passed legislation that nowprovides that there be no $50 sub de-duction required for use of personalleave on Optional Teacher Work Days.

NCAE – ensured that personal leave ac-cumulates to 7 days annually, and daysover 5 convert to sick leave annually.

Additionally, “ALL” Personal Leaveconverts to sick leave at retirementand provides added retirement credit,thereby, increasing retirees’ pensions.

NCAE – passed law allowing educatorsto not only donate annual leave to col-leagues, if needed, but also sick leave.

NCAE – saved one free health pre-mium option for active employees inthe state health plan, and minimizedpremium cost imposed. Initial pre-mium cost recommendations were$100, compared to $21.62 (active) and$10 (Medicare eligible retirees) forcoverage in 80/20 Plan.

NCAE – fought and saved major pro-posed changes that would have re-quired increasing the requirements forfull service retirement eligibility toage 60. Also eliminated a provision pro-posed to limit earnings used for calcu-lating employees’ pension.

NCAE – passed law to change theKindergarten start date from October16 to August 31.

NCAE – worked to eliminate certain“testing” requirements (End-of-Coursein U.S. History, Civics & Economics,Algebra II, and Physical Science).

NCAE – has pushed for, promoted, andsupported all laws passed that positivelyimpact teachers and other school em-ployees.

NCAE – provides workshops for educa-tors on instructional issues, evaluation,and key benefits such as retirement anddisability.

NCAE – offers the best legal protectionavailable through an advocacy centerstaffed by top education attorneys inthe country.

What Has NCAE Done for Me Lately? (continued from page 1)

NCAE Convention 2012

Page 8 Wake Action April 2012

North Carolina Association of EducatorsNational Education Association

EFT Application Form Membership Year: 2011-2012

Please print clearly and press firmly to make legible copies

Local Name:

Name: Home Phone:

Work Location Name: Cell Phone:

NCAE Individual ID: Work Phone:

Non-Work Email: Other Email:

Home Address: City, State, Zip:

Date Of Birth

Electronic Funds Transfer – Bank Draft Authorization

Account Type (Please check one): Checking Account Savings Account

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Bank Account Number:

Signature: Date:

Credit Card Authorization (Visa/MC/Discover)

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Signature: Date:

The North Carolina Association of Educators, the NCAE-PAC and the National Education Association Fund for Children and Public Education collect voluntary contributions from Association members and use thosecontributions for political purposes including, but not limited to, making contributions to and expenditures on behalf of friends of public education who are candidates for federal, or in the case of the NCAE-PAC and the localPAC, state and local office. Only U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents may contribute to the NEA or NCAE Fund. Contributions to the NCAE-PAC, the local PAC, and the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education are voluntary; making a contribution is neither a condition of employment nor membership in the Association, and members have the right to refuse to contribute without suffering any reprisal. Although the NCAE-PAC, the local PAC and the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education request an annual joint contribution of $40.00 this is only a suggestion. A member may contribute more or less than the suggested amount, or may contribute nothingat all, without it affecting his or her membership status, rights, or benefits in the NEA or the North Carolina Association of Educators.Members who do not wish to contribute the suggested amount of $40.00 but do wish to make a contribution of a different amount should make their contributions to the PAC, the local PAC and the NEA Fund for Children andPublic Education by personal check or credit card. The suggested amount of $40 includes a $4 tax deductible contribution to the NC Foundation for Public School Children. The Foundation assists North Carolina schools andstudents during times of need. Members can also make a separate contribution to the NC Foundation for Public School Children.Contributions or gifts to the NCAE-PAC, the local PAC, and the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect the name,mailing address, occupation, and the name of employer of individuals whose contributions aggregate in excess of $50 in an election cycle. Federal law prohibits the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education from receivingdonations from persons other than members of the NEA and its affiliates, and their immediate families. All donations from persons other than members of NEA and its affiliates and their immediate families will be returned forthwith.. The amount deducted for such voluntary contributions will be divided between the NCAE-PAC, the local association PAC, and the NEA PAC on a 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 basis. This authorization shall remain in effect unlessrevoked in writing to the local association.