The Cobb County Association of Educators is an advocacy organization for education professionals. We are a division of the Georgia Association of Educators and the National Education Association and are committed to great public schools for all children!
I had forgotten to let everyone know that CCAE is now on Twitter!!! you can find us at @ccaepresident. I look forward to tweeting information to you!
Superintendent's statement regarding Federal Education Jobs Bill & My Response
Today Superintendent Fred Sanderson issued a statement regarding his not supporting Race to the Top, and more importantly, his plans on spending Cobb County's portion of the Federal Education Jobs Bill. His statement was very clear and I am excited to announce that he is planning to bring back the step raise mid-year!! If you remember that is what happened last year but we had been told there was no step raise this year due to budget cuts. Now we should get that raise!! He also proposed that the remaining two furlough days be done away with!! So a pay raise and no furloughs!! I am very impressed. The school district also cared enough about CCAE's opinion to ask for a statement. Please feel free to follow the links to both his statement and mine.
from Education Weekly: Race to the Top dollar amounts...
August 24, 2010
14523 Updated: Race to Top Round 2: Announcing the Winners
Posted by guest blogger Sean Cavanagh
UPDATE: Here's the final, confirmed list of winners. The department has also released the dollar amount each state is slated to receive, and their point score:
•District of Columbia: $75 million. Score: 450.0
•Florida: $700 million. Score: 452.4
•Georgia: $400 million. Score: 446.4
•Hawaii: $75 million. Score: 462.4
•Maryland: $250 million. Score: 450.0
•Massachusetts: $250 million. Score: 471.0
•New York: $700 million. Score: 464.8
•North Carolina: $400 million. Score: 441.6
•Ohio: $400 million. Score: 440.8
•Rhode Island: $75 million. Score: 451.2
The U.S. Department of Education confirmed the 10 winners of the second round of the Race to the Top competition late this morning as the news trickled out state by state from members of Congress, who were notified first.
Eighteen states, plus the District of Columbia, had been finalists for the remaining $3.4 billion in federal funds in the Race to the Top program—money that the administration hopes will transform education across the country.
The 10 awards are expected to each be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Just two states, Delaware and Tennessee, won money in the first round of the competition earlier this year.
We'll have more on the winners—and on the states the didn't make the cut—shortly at Politics K-12.
14523 Updated: Race to Top Round 2: Announcing the Winners
Posted by guest blogger Sean Cavanagh
UPDATE: Here's the final, confirmed list of winners. The department has also released the dollar amount each state is slated to receive, and their point score:
•District of Columbia: $75 million. Score: 450.0
•Florida: $700 million. Score: 452.4
•Georgia: $400 million. Score: 446.4
•Hawaii: $75 million. Score: 462.4
•Maryland: $250 million. Score: 450.0
•Massachusetts: $250 million. Score: 471.0
•New York: $700 million. Score: 464.8
•North Carolina: $400 million. Score: 441.6
•Ohio: $400 million. Score: 440.8
•Rhode Island: $75 million. Score: 451.2
The U.S. Department of Education confirmed the 10 winners of the second round of the Race to the Top competition late this morning as the news trickled out state by state from members of Congress, who were notified first.
Eighteen states, plus the District of Columbia, had been finalists for the remaining $3.4 billion in federal funds in the Race to the Top program—money that the administration hopes will transform education across the country.
The 10 awards are expected to each be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Just two states, Delaware and Tennessee, won money in the first round of the competition earlier this year.
We'll have more on the winners—and on the states the didn't make the cut—shortly at Politics K-12.
Facebook flap in Barrow raises troubling fairness issues
This is why what CCAE and GAE do is so important!! You must know your rights and how to defend yourself. This could be you!!
Facebook flap in Barrow raises troubling fairness issues
Facebook flap in Barrow raises troubling fairness issues
School Board Meeting 8/23
I attended the specially called board meeting this evening from 4pm until 6pm. The following is a synopsis of the proceedings. If you have any questions, please contact me. Thanks!
The meeting was called by Ms. Crowder-Eagle to discuss the search for a new Superintendent
1. The board agreed that they will NOT decide on the new Superintendent, they will leave the decision to the new board. They discussed this with the new lawyer for the board, Clem Doyle. He agreed that they were following the best path.
2. The lawyer reviewed the current law,passed in 1962. This law reaffirms that the current board should not hire a new superintendent but may begin the search.
3. The search for candidates for the position will begin in September 2010.
4. The formulation of a job description and qualities of an ideal candidate will include: focus groups, public survey, and public comment. This will all happen in Sept.
5. The focus groups will be made up of volunteers. When the volunteer opportunities close, a computer will randomly select the participants. There will be three focus groups to allow for a variety of people from all the target groups to participate.
6. The survey will be on the district website and open to all.
7. Public comment sessions were discussed but no time was agreed upon.
8. The board discussed that the current superintendent is the lowest paid in the Metro area. This could impact the pool of candidates and keep good candidates away. The board agreed to post the salary as negotiable when it advertises the position.
9. Jay Dillon reviewed the data and documents from the last superintendent search. He will provide the board with the prior survey questions by this Friday and they will approve or suggest changes by Monday, Aug. 30.
10. The tentative timeline was agreed upon. September will be information gathering with the closing for input being around the first of October.
11. The new board members being involved from Nov. 2 forward was discussed. They are not bound by the same confidentiality as other board members until they take the oath of office in January. This could present a problem.
12. The board agreed to vote on hiring a search firm, a consultant, or doing the search in house at the September 8th board meeting. They also agreed that the search was going to be a national search, not internal or just from Georgia.
13. The board adjourned.
Connie Jackson
President
Cobb County Assoc. of Educators
678-577-8690
www.ccaepresident.blogspot.com
The meeting was called by Ms. Crowder-Eagle to discuss the search for a new Superintendent
1. The board agreed that they will NOT decide on the new Superintendent, they will leave the decision to the new board. They discussed this with the new lawyer for the board, Clem Doyle. He agreed that they were following the best path.
2. The lawyer reviewed the current law,passed in 1962. This law reaffirms that the current board should not hire a new superintendent but may begin the search.
3. The search for candidates for the position will begin in September 2010.
4. The formulation of a job description and qualities of an ideal candidate will include: focus groups, public survey, and public comment. This will all happen in Sept.
5. The focus groups will be made up of volunteers. When the volunteer opportunities close, a computer will randomly select the participants. There will be three focus groups to allow for a variety of people from all the target groups to participate.
6. The survey will be on the district website and open to all.
7. Public comment sessions were discussed but no time was agreed upon.
8. The board discussed that the current superintendent is the lowest paid in the Metro area. This could impact the pool of candidates and keep good candidates away. The board agreed to post the salary as negotiable when it advertises the position.
9. Jay Dillon reviewed the data and documents from the last superintendent search. He will provide the board with the prior survey questions by this Friday and they will approve or suggest changes by Monday, Aug. 30.
10. The tentative timeline was agreed upon. September will be information gathering with the closing for input being around the first of October.
11. The new board members being involved from Nov. 2 forward was discussed. They are not bound by the same confidentiality as other board members until they take the oath of office in January. This could present a problem.
12. The board agreed to vote on hiring a search firm, a consultant, or doing the search in house at the September 8th board meeting. They also agreed that the search was going to be a national search, not internal or just from Georgia.
13. The board adjourned.
Connie Jackson
President
Cobb County Assoc. of Educators
678-577-8690
www.ccaepresident.blogspot.com
Teachers asked to 'unfriend' students on Facebook
Teachers asked to 'unfriend' students on Facebook
A school district in Florida is advising teachers not to "friend" students on social networking sites, claiming that teacher-student communication through this medium is "inappropriate."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38789410/from/toolbar
A school district in Florida is advising teachers not to "friend" students on social networking sites, claiming that teacher-student communication through this medium is "inappropriate."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38789410/from/toolbar
Letter to Governor Sonny Perdue from GAE
This letter was sent to Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue on Wednesday, August 18, 2010.
Dear Governor Perdue:
On behalf of the 43,000 members of the Georgia Association of Educators and their professional colleagues throughout Georgia’s schools, I ask that you help alleviate the anguish and frustration taking place--right now during this school year–-throughout our schools and communities by accepting U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s invitation for states to submit an application for their share of the $10 billion of assistance provided through the recently passed Education Jobs Fund Program.
Georgia’s share of the funding--$322 million--would help bring back many dedicated educators and/or stop their impending layoffs. It would allow our schools to provide the best possible learning environments for our children by relieving overcrowded classrooms that were created this school year due to cuts. These funds would also allow schools to bring back programs they feel are essential and valuable to the learning process of their students. Secretary Duncan himself has said that “this is stimulus money, not a savings account” and that he is willing to call any superintendents or lawmakers to emphasize that point.
Our support of these federal funds differs from our opposition to the Race to the Top funding due to the following reasons. First, the process for obtaining RT3 money had the effect of pitting Georgia communities against one another with the ultimate outcome being some Georgia children benefitting at the expense of others. We have no problem competing with other states for funding, but RT3 led to Georgia school districts competing with other Georgia school districts at a time when funding was a major concern for all of our schools. Second, RT3 will only benefit a few targeted school districts, while Ed Jobs Fund monies can be used to benefit all Georgia communities and therefore all of our children. And finally, teacher associations were not involved in the RT3 process as the application instructed.
I don’t have to tell you of the distress and outright pain being felt within our communities and the impact on our children’s learning environments due to the layoffs of valuable teachers and support professionals, increasing class sizes, and the cutbacks and elimination of programs that are valuable to the overall education of our children.
Whatever learning opportunities our children will be deprived of during the 2010-2011 school year, they will never have an opportunity to recoup. Whether that be the opportunities for more individualized instruction afforded in a normal sized classroom, being able to take those classes such as art, music, drama and others that lead to the development of the whole child, or realizing the benefit of having that one special teacher that sets them on the course to a love of learning, it is our state’s duty to take advantage of whatever may be available to make that happen.
No one has a crystal ball to predict what will happen economically for our schools in the 2011-2012 school year, but our federal government has provided assistance to help our children maintain a modicum of normalcy in their schools right now. Georgia would be remiss in not doing everything possible to ensure, at least through this school year, that every opportunity has been explored and utilized.
I offer my expertise and that of my organization if it will in any way help the process. I understand that the state has until September 9, 2010 to submit its application. For the benefit our public schools and 1.75 million children who walk their halls, I hope and pray you do so.
Sincerely,
Calvine Rollins
President
http://www.gae.org/
Dear Governor Perdue:
On behalf of the 43,000 members of the Georgia Association of Educators and their professional colleagues throughout Georgia’s schools, I ask that you help alleviate the anguish and frustration taking place--right now during this school year–-throughout our schools and communities by accepting U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s invitation for states to submit an application for their share of the $10 billion of assistance provided through the recently passed Education Jobs Fund Program.
Georgia’s share of the funding--$322 million--would help bring back many dedicated educators and/or stop their impending layoffs. It would allow our schools to provide the best possible learning environments for our children by relieving overcrowded classrooms that were created this school year due to cuts. These funds would also allow schools to bring back programs they feel are essential and valuable to the learning process of their students. Secretary Duncan himself has said that “this is stimulus money, not a savings account” and that he is willing to call any superintendents or lawmakers to emphasize that point.
Our support of these federal funds differs from our opposition to the Race to the Top funding due to the following reasons. First, the process for obtaining RT3 money had the effect of pitting Georgia communities against one another with the ultimate outcome being some Georgia children benefitting at the expense of others. We have no problem competing with other states for funding, but RT3 led to Georgia school districts competing with other Georgia school districts at a time when funding was a major concern for all of our schools. Second, RT3 will only benefit a few targeted school districts, while Ed Jobs Fund monies can be used to benefit all Georgia communities and therefore all of our children. And finally, teacher associations were not involved in the RT3 process as the application instructed.
I don’t have to tell you of the distress and outright pain being felt within our communities and the impact on our children’s learning environments due to the layoffs of valuable teachers and support professionals, increasing class sizes, and the cutbacks and elimination of programs that are valuable to the overall education of our children.
Whatever learning opportunities our children will be deprived of during the 2010-2011 school year, they will never have an opportunity to recoup. Whether that be the opportunities for more individualized instruction afforded in a normal sized classroom, being able to take those classes such as art, music, drama and others that lead to the development of the whole child, or realizing the benefit of having that one special teacher that sets them on the course to a love of learning, it is our state’s duty to take advantage of whatever may be available to make that happen.
No one has a crystal ball to predict what will happen economically for our schools in the 2011-2012 school year, but our federal government has provided assistance to help our children maintain a modicum of normalcy in their schools right now. Georgia would be remiss in not doing everything possible to ensure, at least through this school year, that every opportunity has been explored and utilized.
I offer my expertise and that of my organization if it will in any way help the process. I understand that the state has until September 9, 2010 to submit its application. For the benefit our public schools and 1.75 million children who walk their halls, I hope and pray you do so.
Sincerely,
Calvine Rollins
President
http://www.gae.org/
Cobb names teacher of the year | ajc.com
Cobb names teacher of the year ajc.com
He graduated from the same college I did, Mississippi Valley State University!!! Go Devils!!!
He graduated from the same college I did, Mississippi Valley State University!!! Go Devils!!!
Superintendent Bryant Seeks Student Advisors
Superintendent Bryant Seeks Student Advisors
MEDIA CONTACT: GaDOE Communications office, (404) 651-7358,
mcardoza@gadoe.org
INTERESTED STUDENTS: Courtney Burnett: (404) 657-1340 or
cburnett@gadoe.org
AUGUST 11, 2010 -- State School Superintendent Brad Bryant is accepting
applications for the 2010-2011 Student Advisory Council.
The members of the Student Advisory Council meet three times during the
school year with the State School Superintendent to discuss how decisions
made at the state level are affecting students throughout Georgia. Members
are advisors and act as liaisons between the Department of Education and
the students of Georgia. Superintendent Bryant will conduct the first
meeting, while the others will be hosted by the new superintendent or
Deputy Superintendents.
"I know that former Superintendent Kathy Cox really enjoyed working with
her advisory councils and learning from the advice of students," said
State School Superintendent Brad Bryant. "I believe it is important to
take the feedback of these students into account as we make statewide
policy decisions that affect their futures and prepare them for college
and career readiness."
All students in grades 9-12 are eligible to apply. Meeting dates are:
October 25, 2010; January 24, 2011; and March 7, 2011 (dates are subject
to change.)
Applicants should be able to attend all three meetings.
To be eligible for the Council, applications must be received by September
17, 2010.
MEDIA CONTACT: GaDOE Communications office, (404) 651-7358,
mcardoza@gadoe.org
INTERESTED STUDENTS: Courtney Burnett: (404) 657-1340 or
cburnett@gadoe.org
AUGUST 11, 2010 -- State School Superintendent Brad Bryant is accepting
applications for the 2010-2011 Student Advisory Council.
The members of the Student Advisory Council meet three times during the
school year with the State School Superintendent to discuss how decisions
made at the state level are affecting students throughout Georgia. Members
are advisors and act as liaisons between the Department of Education and
the students of Georgia. Superintendent Bryant will conduct the first
meeting, while the others will be hosted by the new superintendent or
Deputy Superintendents.
"I know that former Superintendent Kathy Cox really enjoyed working with
her advisory councils and learning from the advice of students," said
State School Superintendent Brad Bryant. "I believe it is important to
take the feedback of these students into account as we make statewide
policy decisions that affect their futures and prepare them for college
and career readiness."
All students in grades 9-12 are eligible to apply. Meeting dates are:
October 25, 2010; January 24, 2011; and March 7, 2011 (dates are subject
to change.)
Applicants should be able to attend all three meetings.
To be eligible for the Council, applications must be received by September
17, 2010.
Rules bent for financially strapped schools | ajc.com
Rules bent for financially strapped schools ajc.com
I loved being interviewed for this article. I wanted to stress that teachers' greet each year with love and joy, regardless of how much they heap on us and how much we fear for what comes next. I wish a great school year to all my friends and members!
I loved being interviewed for this article. I wanted to stress that teachers' greet each year with love and joy, regardless of how much they heap on us and how much we fear for what comes next. I wish a great school year to all my friends and members!
DeKalb teachers want board member to resign | ajc.com
Some have questioned why I post articles about other counties and states. I feel that information about education is important, even if it is not about Cobb. The better informed we are, the better we can stand up for ourselves and public education in Cobb County.
DeKalb teachers want board member to resign ajc.com
DeKalb teachers want board member to resign ajc.com
Opportunity for High School Students
This has nothing to do with CCAE, but I wanted to share the opportunity with all my teacher friends.
Keep Cobb Beautiful looking for associate board members
High school juniors, seniors and college students are invited to apply for associate board member positions with Keep Cobb Beautiful. This is a unique opportunity to work with a nonprofit organization to educate the community on environmental initiatives. Participants will gain experience implementing programs and organizing events. Associate board members will also represent KCB at various events and assist with outreach to local groups and schools.
To be eligible for the program, applicants must meet certain criteria, such as being a current county resident, at least 16 years old, able to pledge 35 hours during the school year and have an interest in environmental community service. Program applications are available at cobbcounty.org/kcb. Completed applications are due by Friday, Sept. 3. For more information, call 770-528-1135.
Keep Cobb Beautiful looking for associate board members
High school juniors, seniors and college students are invited to apply for associate board member positions with Keep Cobb Beautiful. This is a unique opportunity to work with a nonprofit organization to educate the community on environmental initiatives. Participants will gain experience implementing programs and organizing events. Associate board members will also represent KCB at various events and assist with outreach to local groups and schools.
To be eligible for the program, applicants must meet certain criteria, such as being a current county resident, at least 16 years old, able to pledge 35 hours during the school year and have an interest in environmental community service. Program applications are available at cobbcounty.org/kcb. Completed applications are due by Friday, Sept. 3. For more information, call 770-528-1135.
Deal has Handel's support if he wins; she doesn't have his if she prevails | ajc.com
Tonight I was able to attend the debate between Nathan Deal and Karen Handel. As some of you may know, CCAE has endorsed Nathan Deal in the Republican run-off for Governor. I personally have interviewed Mr. Deal and found him to be very knowledgeable about education issues. His parents were both teachers and his wife is a retired educator. He clearly wants educators involved in making education policy in Georgia, and that is priority number one for me. I think most teachers are tired of non-educators making all the rules we have to follow, it is time for us to have a hand in making those rules! Please contact me if you have questions or comments about this. Thanks!
Deal has Handel's support if he wins; she doesn't have his if she prevails ajc.com
Deal has Handel's support if he wins; she doesn't have his if she prevails ajc.com
In Cobb, confusion surrounds rehiring of teachers | ajc.com
another article I got quoted in, and am working on the RIF process.
In Cobb, confusion surrounds rehiring of teachers ajc.com
In Cobb, confusion surrounds rehiring of teachers ajc.com
School Visits
Last week and this week are school visits! We picked 15 schools and are taking breakfast, lunch, or desserts in for all the staff. We get a chance to thank our members and introduce non-members to the benefits of being a member. I love talking about CCAE/GAE/NEA so I am loving this! Friday we got a chance to visit Sprayberry High School, somewhere I have never been. We were given a warm reception, especially when we brought 25 pizzas with us! I am looking forward to visiting a couple of schools over my way this week. Kemp is less than 10 minutes from my house, yeah! Thank you to all the wonderful principals who let us visit.
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