Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/195036
How the president sees it We do not yet have the evaluation system you deserve s a 6th grade science teacher, I administered DPAS II exams for math and reading. Our team worked hard to analyze data to best meet student needs. Social studies and science teachers understood their roles in supporting instruction of key English Language Arts and mathematics concepts. As part of the original student improvement segment of teacher evaluation, I took goal-setting seriously, using data from 4-8th grade science testing to plan enhanced learning of critical graphing techniques. Test results demonstrated that too many students struggled to produce graphs from collected data, A DSEA ACTION! (USPS 010111 ISSN 01995413) is the official publication of the Delaware State Education Association. ACTION! is mailed 7 times a year, (September, October, combined Nov/Dec issue, February, March/April, June and July) at DSEA headquarters located at 136 E. Water St., Dover, DE 19901. Telephone: 302-734-5834, or toll-free: 1-866-734-5834. Our Wilmington office may be reached by calling 302-366-8440. Subscriptions are included in membership: $2.32 a year for teachers and $1.19 a year for ESPs. Subscriptions are $5 per year to those ineligible for membership. Periodical postage paid at Dover, DE 19901. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to DSEA ACTION!, 136 E. Water St., Dover, DE 19901. President FREDERIKA JENNER Vice President KAREN CROUSE Treasurer DOM ZAFFORA NEA Director MIKE HOFFMANN Exec. Director JEFF TASCHNER Editor PAMELA T. NICHOLS Program Assistant SUSAN W. KELLER DSEA President Frederika Jenner explains why taking a stand on the teacher evaluation system is so important. as well as to accurately "read" various prepared graphs. This proved to be a worthwhile endeavor. Many things have changed since I left the classroom in June, 2011 I've never taught in the shadow of Component 5. I've never struggled to integrate Common Core standards, new curriculum, and pedagogical changes while maintaining a full teaching schedule. In 39 years of teaching, this is the most long-term, far-reaching, wellfunded, and overwhelming reform movement I've ever seen. Recent surveys indicate that educators' confidence in DPAS has eroded; that in some schools, conditions for teaching and learning are not what they should be; that school leadership and teacher satisfaction play a major role in teacher retention and attraction. There are some disturbing trends: • Highly effective teachers are being recruited to take on a staggering number of tasks; • More educators are seeking jobs outside of public education; • More staff are on stress-related medical leave; and • Good teachers, close to retirement, are leaving sooner than they ever intended. By 2009, educators were already complaining about "too much on one's plate" and the need to have someone somewhere take something off that plate. We get confirmation every week of the many challenges facing Delaware educators. By the middle of September this year, we were hearing reports of members feeling overwhelmed, experiencing change-fatigue, and their genuine concern about expectations to do it all: comprehend new standards, develop new curriculum, redesign lessons, implement new pedagogy—all the while making good on goals set this fall for next spring, with so many initiatives underway . We are taking a stand At DSEA, we have steadfastly represented member problems and concerns. We have carried your message to the powers that be, addressing each issue forcefully and effectively We have stayed on . top of each DDOE update and release of information. Since the earliest days of DPAS II-Revised, we have worked to Leading the way. . . his month we feature Elena Brenner, who teaches English 9 and 20th Century Playwrights at Delcastle Technical High School. A teacher for 17 years, she is an Association Rep for the members in her wing. T Why did you become involved? I joined the association as soon as I was hired, but honestly 2 October 2013 DSEA ACTION! never really gave it much thought. A few years ago I had to file a grievance and the support I received from Maureen Keeney, my building rep, was tremendous. Her presence and support gave me courage and strength. I knew then that I wanted to be that person for others who might need someone to support them. What accomplishments as a leader are you the most proud of? Earning the trust and respect of my colleagues is my greatest accomplishment. They know that when they come to me with an understand and influence decisionmaking, both at the district level through local associations, and at the state level through our own interactions with DDOE. We have taken every opportunity to communicate to Department staff and leadership what we know and what you all tell us are your greatest concerns about the evaluation program. In the past two years, we have worked through some of the wrong directions that were once in place, such as evaluating many of you using school-wide scores and test results for cohorts of students you would never teach. The current system is far from perfect. We are committed to working alongside you, our members, to realize the system that you want and deserve. Here is what I can promise you. DSEA staff and leaders will continue to advocate for solutions that address our concerns - your concerns - so that the teacher evaluation system design and implementation is one that is genuinely fair, transparent, easy to understand (and follow), and respectful of the profession. THERE IS POWER IN THE UNION. Frederika Jenner President frederika.jenner@dsea.org issue, I will take them and it seriously and work to help them find an acceptable and workable resolution. Their confidence and faith mean the world to me. What do you think is your local Association's biggest challenge this year? Our biggest challenge is encouraging members to be active; to attend meetings and support one another. Our staff is large and our building is pretty spread out and we are burned out on meetings. "In the perfect world at work, … teachers would be respected and classroom needs would be the first items on the budget list." www.dsea.org