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Here is a summary of how our Knox County legislators voted during the first half of the current legislative session in regard to issues important to educators. Thanks goes to Bill Bell, Legislative Contact Team, for supplying and clarifying the list.
Most of the listings are self-explanatory; here are three clarifications:
“Repeal of Negotiations” created the Collaborative Conferencing Act (PECCA).
The “alteration of TCRS” refers to the removal of our right to elect our representatives to the retirement board (Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System).
“No Vote” simply means the legislator did not vote. It does not indicate support of or opposition to any specific bill.
| Legislator |
Diminish Tenure
|
Repeal Negotiations
|
Authorize Virtual Schools
|
Alter TCRS Board
|
Expand Charter Schools
|
Authorize
At-Will Employment
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| Sen. Campfield, Stacy (R-7) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Sen. McNally, Randy (R-5) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Sen. Woodson, Jamie (R-6) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Rep. Armstrong, Joe (D-15) |
No Vote
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
| Rep. Brooks, Harry (R-19) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Rep. Dunn, Bill (R-16) |
Yes
|
No Vote
|
No Vote
|
Yes
|
No Vote
|
Yes
|
| Rep. Hall, Steve (R-18) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Rep. Haynes, Ryan (R-14) |
Yes
|
No Vote
|
No Vote
|
Yes
|
No Vote
|
Yes
|
| Rep. Niceley, Frank (R-17) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Rep. Tindell, Harry D-13) |
No
|
No Vote
|
No Vote
|
No
|
No Vote
|
No
|
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Critical Thinking: Strategies and Practices for Teaching Critical Thinking Skills in the Classroom February 16, 2012 4:30 – 7:30 KCEA Office
Strategic Goal: AA 1: High Expectations and Academic Rigor
Knowing the “facts” will be insufficient for our survival and success in the 21st Century. In this information age, productive citizens will be those who can bring well-developed critical thinking skills to bear on the challenges and problems of the day. This workshop provides an introduction to strategies for teaching critical thinking in all subject areas.
(All teachers, all grade levels)
Building Academic Vocabulary April 12, 2012 4:30 – 7:30 KCEA Office
Strategic Goal AASG1: High Expectations and Academic Rigor; AG2: High Quality Instruction
Since true vocabulary development involves more than recitation of the definition or looking up words in the glossary, this workshop is designed to help develop additional vocabulary strategies for K-10 teachers across the core curriculum. Using the key terms identified through the Tennessee Academic Vocabulary project, participants will be introduced to a six-step process and a comprehensive approach to teaching academic vocabulary based on the strategies identified by researchers, Robert Marzano and Debra Pickering.
(K-10 teachers in reading/language arts, math, science, and social studies) 3 hours unscheduled in-service credit
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 WE DID IT!!!
KCEA won 81% of the total votes to represent educators the Collaborative Conferencing process!
Voting Breakdown:
There were 2,571 certified votes (about 60% of eligible voters).
2,466 (57.32% of all eligible voters) voted “yes” for collaborative conferencing. There were 105 “no” votes (2.4% of all eligible voters).
Requesting representation are the following totals:
Knox County Education Association (KCEA) – 2,073 votes for 81% of the total vote
Professional Educators of Tennessee (PET)- 232 votes for 10% of the total vote
Unaffiliated – 208 for 8% of the total vote
None of the above – 26 for 1% of the total vote
Congratulations! Thanks to all who took the time to vote!
It is clear that the majority of certified employees of Knox County Schools want a voice in how our schools are operated for the best interests of our students and employees.
We know that a lot of people worked very hard to make this happen. THANK YOU!!!
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Please be sure to check your email for a message from votenet.com to get your secure code to vote for Collaborative Conferencing in Knox County. The link in the email will take you directly to the poll.
For Knox County to be able to enter into the Collaborative Conferencing process, 50% of the certified teaching staff plus 1 must vote in favor of it. Please vote FOR Collaborative Conferencing.
After that, you will be asked what group you want to represent you. The Knox County Education Association, of course!
When you submit your vote, you will see a confirmation page and a link to your receipt. That page also lets you know that your vote has been successfully recorded.
KCEA has extensive experience advocating for students, educators, and public schools and is located right here, in Knoxville. Please encourage all of your colleagues to vote for KCEA to represent us in Collaborative Conferencing in Knox County.
If you have questions, please post them below, and we will answer them as soon as possible.
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On June 1, 2011, Governor Haslam signed into law the Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act (PECCA). The PECCA replaces the Education Professional Negotiations Act (EPNA), effectively substituting collaborative conferencing for Tennessee’s traditional collective bargaining process. While there are some similarities between the two laws, the PECCA is substantially different from the EPNA, creating “new avenues of communication” between teachers and school boards and stressing inclusiveness of all professional employees’ organizations.
KCEA took the first step in initiating Collaborative Conferencing in Tennessee on October 18th, when KCEA President Sherry Morgan presented the Knox County Board of Education with over 2,300 signed petition cards, requesting Collaborative Conferencing for Knox County educators. Knox County teachers, with the help of KCEA, presented the FIRST petition in the state, asking to begin the collaborative conferencing process.
As required by the new law, the Knox County Board of Education completed the second step of the process by establishing a “Special Question Committee” to conduct a confidential poll of eligible professional employees to determine whether a majority (50% plus 1) express a desire to participate in collaborative conferencing.
The third step in the process will take place November 17-22, when Knox County Schools will hold its Special Question Poll, which has been paid for by KCEA. (The new law requires that the initiating organization pay for the process.)
EVERY certified teacher in Knox County needs to express their wishes by VOTING BETWEEN NOVEMBER 17 and NOVEMBER 22.
For additional information on PECCA, please visit the TN Department of Education website: http://www.tn.gov/education/
or download the FAQ from the TN Department of Education: http://www.tn.gov/education/doc/PECCAFAQ_June17.pdf
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CALLED REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
NOVEMBER 14th - 4:30
KCEA OFFICE
TO EXPLAIN THE VOTING PROCESS FOR
COLLABORATIVE CONFERENCING
KCEA NEEDS YOU
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Mike Edwards, Harry Brooks, and other Republicans will be at the KCEA office Saturday morning at 9:00am.
Normally this pre-legislative session conference is attended by KCEA officers and Legislative Contact Team members. But, this year, we would like to invite anyone who would like to address educational issues – in a professional manner – with these individuals.
This is a chance for all KCEA folks to “say their piece”. The meeting is expected to end sometime around 10:30am.
Your presence is welcome!
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We need to elect Gloria Johnson!!!
Election day is Tuesday . . . yep, Tuesday! There’s not much time!
1,350 TEA members + each significant other + at least one friend = 4,050 votes for Gloria – and for us!
Yes, we do have that much power!!!
But . . . not unless we use it.
Let’s vote! And, if you can help Gloria contact our members to get them to vote, please call her at 660-9800 or e-mail at glostik@bellsouth.net
There’s not much time left!
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