Also, while parent and student opinions are very important (they are our customers, after all), I don’t think their feedback should be part of the CALCULATED formula. Both are too volatile,subjective, and can be driven by attitudes antithesis to good teaching (“I hate that teacher because my kid deserved an A!”. Instead, gather student and teacher feedback and if there is a pattern indicating a legitimate issue, then administrators should investigate and if necessary initiate remediation.

The more things we throw at teachers, the more chance there is for prospective teachers look elsewhere for work.

After interviewing two local private schools, I discovered my kids (at the age of 3) were seen as “unworthy of kindergarten” because they couldn’t yet read. Yes, you read that correctly. My children couldn’t read at the age of 3, so I was told they needed to be held back for one year instead of starting kindergarten TWO YEARS LATER.

I cried at this news. I wanted them to be with their friends in their own age group.

I kept them in the private preschool program until age 5. Then, I decided to speak with the local public school kindergarten teachers.

They told me about a wonderful program they have at the school. It is a program intended for kids who need extra help with reading. They meet after school, in small groups, and teach in fun ways. Mid-way through kindergarten, my kids can READ!!!

Why do I chose public school? Because they did not give up on my kids. Private school did.

At a news conference on Jan. 3, Mary Loftus Levine and Phil Apruzzese outlined CEA’s position reflected in the CEA resolutions adopted by the Representative Assembly, spelled out in the CEA legislative agenda adopted by the Board of Directors, and identified in the comprehensive work of the Committee on the Future. CEA stated at the news conference that when we stand for greater accountability for everyone involved in public schools, teachers demonstrate that we’re dedicated professionals deserving of respect. Key reforms include 1) an evaluation system using multiple indicators of teacher quality rather than relying on test scores alone, 2) support to help struggling teachers improve, and 3) a streamlined dismissal process to remove underperforming teachers while still allowing for due process.

Go here to read some of the stories written about the plan http://www.cea.org/issues/news/2012/view-from-classroom-news-articles.cfm or watch TV clips of the news conference http://www.youtube.com/ceavideo.

You can find the plan, “A View from the Classroom,” at http://www.cea.org.

For more information, contact your local UniServ Rep.