Seattle Education Association
The Voice of Seattle Public School Educators

May 2013
WEA Statewide Representative Assembly 2013 
 Jonathan Knapp, SEA President
 

For the first time in years, SEA sent a full delegation to the WEA Representative Assembly.  The Seattle delegation, 79 members strong, stood out at the three-day event in Bellevue, April 25-27.  We were not just the largest delegation; we also managed to place important issues in front of the assembly for consideration.

 

The WEA governance elections headlined the event this year.  Having reached the 6-year limit of her terms, this was the last RA for WEA president, Mary Lindquist.  The delegates chose between three candidates for president: Kim Mead, Everett EA president; Mike Ragan, WEA vice-president; and Peter Szalai, Oak Harbor EA president.  Kim Mead was elected president after a second round of voting.  The vice-presidency went to Sammamish Council's Stephen Miller over Cascade Council's Tim Brittell.  Joining Mid-State Council president Ted Raihl, are the two new NEA board directors from WEA: Central Kitsap ESP Patrick Nicholson and United Faculty of Washington (higher ed) president Bill Lyne.

 

On Saturday morning, the whole RA, 1000 people strong, adjourned to buses and a trip to Olympia for a major rally on the steps of the Capitol.  Governor Inslee, seconded by House and Senate education advocates, addressed the delegates on the fight for education funding.  Four Seattle delegates were interviewed by KING-5 television while the crowd sang old-time favorite songs with modified lyrics that lampooned the Senate's lack of leadership on this issue.

 

By fall of the gavel on Saturday night, the Seattle delegation had proposed 6 new business items (NBIs) and got 3 of them passed.  NBIs call for action.  SEA treasurer Marianne Bratsanos argued for a legislative lobbying focus on funding professional development for teacher evaluation.  Jesse Hagopian placed a motion of support for the MAP boycotting educators.  Noam Gundle outlined a May Day action on the MAP test.  Former SEA president Olga Addae saw her ideas for peer evaluation go to committee for more work.  Other Seattle ideas such as advocating for site-based hiring for school administrators and linking WEA staff pay increases to member increases heard debate on the floor but did not pass.

 

The body debated 34 NBIs in total from across the state; 17 of them passed.  Notable non-Seattle NBIs include $750 support for the 2013 NW Teaching for Social Justice Conference; a higher priority for connections between WEA members and their local PTAs; the promotion of legislator visits to public schools; and closer relationships between WEA and other public sector unions (SEIU and AFSCME). 

 

Two continuing resolutions originating from Seattle passed.  Resolutions are statements of belief without a specific call to action.  Rick Harlan's highlighted the important contributions of Education Support Professionals.  Jeff Morgan's made the case for medical experts to be present at all high-contact high school athletic competitions.

 

Many of the new delegates, especially, were fascinated by the workings of the assembly and amazed to see how accessible and immediate the democratic process is at this level of the union.  As a delegate, if you have an idea and you can gain support for it, you can make your idea become policy or action for the union!

Special Education:  

Time for a Change

Phyllis Campano, SEA Vice President

 

Thank you to the 2700+ members who have already signed the Special Education Declaration of Concern! Keep them coming in, we will reach 3000 in no time!

In the 2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement, an "ICS taskforce" was developed. Over the past three years, the taskforce has progressed and is now known as the Special Education Taskforce. The taskforce is made up of representatives from SEA, the district, and parents.  The taskforce will continue to develop and grow as the need continues to review, assess, and make improvements to the proposed new service model. As many of you have heard, the new Special Education Service Model will be at the Negotiation table. Here is a brief description of the proposed Model for Delivery of Special Education Services with key points.

  • All schools will have a resource room(s) and access to related services.
  • All attendance area secondary schools will have the services required to provide comprehensive special education services.
  • Each middle school attendance area will have at least three (3) elementary schools which will have the services required to provide comprehensive special education services, and will be referred to as a Comprehensive School.
  • Selected Option and k-8 schools will provide special education services in addition to resource rooms, based on student population projections.  
    • o   One elementary option school in each region will be a comprehensive school.
    • Students with unique assignment needs, including certain physical impairments, deaf/hard of hearing, blind, deaf/blind and medical fragility will benefit from a community of students with similar disabling conditions, and may be assigned outside their assignment area based on population projections and student IEPs.
    • Elementary Comprehensive schools will consist of Resource services, Access services, and either Distinct, Contained,or Behavioral services. Middle and High School Comprehensive Schools will provide Resource, Access, Distinct, Contained, and Behavioral services.
    • Collaborative Teams of Special Educators allow for students and staff to flex to meet all student needs without costly program changes in the Comprehensive Schools.
    • This model reduces transportation costs for students and travel costs for itinerants, and increases economic efficiency for student seat use, staffing, and facility space.
    • The design and implementation of this model must be a structured and transparent process with ongoing collection of data followed by immediate system response.

April 13th was the latest Special Education Law training and was another successful event! We will be looking into planning a Special Education Law Training in the near future! 

The specially designed instruction section of the training received a lot of questioning. Come to the next training to continue the discussion!  Here is the law:

 

Specially designed instruction

WAC 392-172A-01175

(c) Specially designed instruction means adapting, as appropriate to the needs of an eligible student, the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction:

     (i) To address the unique needs of the student that result from the student's disability; and

     (ii) To ensure access of the student to the general curriculum, so that the student can meet the educational standards within the jurisdiction of the public agency that apply to all students.

WAC 392-172A-02090

Personnel qualifications.

(g) Special education and related services must be provided by appropriately qualified staff.

Other staff including general education teachers and paraprofessionals may assist in the provision of special education and related services, provided that the instruction is designed and supervised by special education certificated staff, or for related services by a certificated educational staff associate. Student progress must be monitored and evaluated by special education certificated staff or for related services, a certificated educational staff associate.

MLTP Teaching Equity Conference
May 18, 2013 

 

Don't miss 6 Clock hours for $5 at our MLTP Teaching Equity Conference with Professor and famed cross cultural competency author Dr. Sonia Nieto from Amherst College School of Ed. The WEA Conference is on May 18th at Highline Community College. Hurry up and register and share the event with your friends.
 

Click here for more information and to register!

 

Know Your Contract 

 

Evaluation Timelines for Certificated Staff 

All education staff will receive an annual evaluation.  All certificated employees will be observed by their evaluators regardless if you are on the comprehensive or general evaluation. The evaluator will complete an Evaluation Form and provide a copy to the certificated employee and send a copy to Human Resources to be placed in the employee's personnel file. The employee may add his/her comments to the Evaluation Form.  You are required to sign the form.  Your signature only means that you have seen the contents of the evaluation and does not mean that you agree with the contents.      

                                                                                                        

Evaluations must be completed by May 31 unless an employee has chosen to link their teacher determined Academic Achievement Goal to MAP results in which case the evaluation must be completed by the end of the school year.

 

*Note - State law on teacher evaluation has changed since our evaluation language was bargained in 2010.  The SEA and District will be bargaining evaluation language that complies with the law in our upcoming negotiations.  

Looking to Transfer? 

Are you interested in applying for a job within the District?

Your opportunity starts May 13.

 

Phase 1 for both internal Certificated and Classified employees- May 13-20.  Check Seattle Public Schools websites for openings.

 

Displaced employees, who are not hired in Phase 1, will have opportunities to look at positions at:

Phase 2 Job Fair for both Certificated and Classified displaced employees- June 13, 4-6 p.m., JSCEE 

 

Following the Job Fair, remaining displaced Classified employees can take advantage of In-Person Staffing - June 18

 

Following placement of displaced staff the hiring process will move to Phase 3 (Open Hiring) when there are no internal candidates for open positions. Classified and Certificated positions will be advertised in categories and job titles where no displaced or RIF remain unassigned.

Seattle Public Schools Professional Development Plan

 

Seattle Public Schools Teaching and Learning Department has developed a cross-departmental, multi-year professional development plan designed to support principals, teachers, and instructional assistants in the integration of standards, high quality instruction, and assessment toward the goal of achieving equity for all students. This plan outlines focused, collaborative supports that provide a roadmap to further the implementation of the four Seattle Public School initiatives: Common Core Standards (CCSS), Equitable Access Framework, Professional Growth and Evaluation (PG & E), and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Integration is a major emphasis of the plan both vertically, pre-K - 12, and horizontally across disciplines, specialties, and departments. 

 

SEA is working, within the context of the contract's Joint Professional Development Steering Committee, to move the district to more relevant and timely professional development.  The four initiatives listed above represent the best understanding of the focus and direction for PD in the near future.  SEA will advocate for targeted PD that is specific for those who need it and for educator voice in the development and delivery of PD. 

Contacting SEA Leadership?

 

If you are contacting SEA President Jonathan Knapp or Vice President Phyllis Campano, be aware that their previous seattleschools.org addresses do not work while they are on SEA leave.  

 

There have been times when members are trying to email them and are wondering why Jonathan or Phyllis have not responded.  If you would like to contact either one of them by email, you must use their WEA email address.  Jonathan is at [email protected] and Phyllis is at [email protected]

 

If you are contacting any SEA staff, you use their first initial and last name @washingtonea.org.  

 

SEA National Board and ProTeach� Support Groups  

 

The Seattle Education Association (SEA) is excited to offer two candidate support programs for members seeking Professional Teacher Certification and National Board Certification in the 2013-14 school year.  

 

SEA National Board Cohort Support:
In 2012-13, SEA became a state-approved National Board Certification candidate support provider.  36 candidates are currently working with the SEA program and will submit their requirements this spring.  The SEA program meets the support requirement for candidates who have the Washington State National Board Conditional Loan. 

Here are some program basics:

  • Cohort groups of 6-8 candidates are run by a state-trained National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT)
  • Candidate kickoff event in August, 2013 for whole group; cohorts then meet on a monthly basis through May, 2014
  • Participants strongly advised to attend one of WEA's 4-day National Board Jump Start Seminars in the summer
  • 30 clock hours will be available for cohort participants
  • Fee:  This program is offered as an SEA member benefit.  2012-13 cost for the member-only participants was $450, with the fee paying for the facilitator stipend, meeting logistics and clock hours.  Program costs are still to be finalized for 2013-14.
  • Registration for the cohort begins in mid-May.  Registration will close when the program has reached capacity. 

For more information, email Tim Kopp

 

SEA ProTeach� Portfolio Cohort Support:
Teachers with Residency Certificates (certified after August 31, 2000) are required to earn a Professional Certificate in order to maintain employment.   With several college/university support programs ending their programs recently, SEA has decided to pilot its own low-cost candidate support program.  SEA has received a grant from the National Education Association (NEA) to implement this program. 

Here are some program basics:

  • Cohort groups of 10-12 candidates are run by a state-trained National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT)
  • Candidate kickoff event in August, 2013 for whole group; cohorts then meet on a monthly basis through May, 2014
  • Participants required to attend one of WEA's 4-day ProTeach� Jump Start Seminars in the summer
  • 15 or 30 clock hours will be available for cohort participants depending on length of program
  • Fee:  This program is offered as an SEA member benefit.  We will offer two support options for ProTeach� candidates: submission of their portfolio in January, 2014 (5 months of support) or submission in June, 2014 (10 months of support).  The 5-month fee will be half the 10-month fee.  Program costs are still to be finalized for 2013-14 and will be commensurate with the National Board program.
  • Registration for the cohort begins in mid-May.  Registration will close when the program has reached capacity. 

For more information, email Temple Robinson.

 

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Need more details about ProTeach� or National Board Certification to make your decision?  

Residency Certificate holders (teachers certified September 1, 2000 and beyond) can meet their Professional Certification requirement by either passing the ProTeach� portfolio or achieving National Board Certification.  To help its members make an informed decision about their best option, SEA is hosting two evening seminars to learn more about the ProTeach� Portfolio and National Board Certification.  Jim Meadows, staff with the Washington Education Association, will run two sessions for SEA members: 

  • May 15, 2013 (4:30-7:00pm) SEA, 5501 Fourth Ave. S. Seattle, WA
  • May 20, 2013 (4:30-7:00pm)  SEA, 5501 Fourth Ave. S. Seattle, WA 

This session is also open to other educators certified before September, 2000 who are interested in National Board Certification. 

 

You may register to join us for one of these events by clicking here.

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 SEA Calendar
SEA Meetings: 
SEA Board Meeting
Monday, June 3rd @ 4:30
SEA Offices- 5501 4th Ave S.


SEA Rep Assembly
Monday, May 13th @ 5:00
Cleveland High School Bldg 3


Substitute Meeting:
Weds., May 29th @ 4:30
JSCEE, 2nd Floor Commons.
  

Please RSVP to Pat Robertson.

Interview Training(s): 
Interview Training's are from
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
   

Thursday, May 9th @ JSCEE, Auditorium
Tuesday, June 11th @ JSCEE, Auditorium
Thursday, June 20th @ JSCEE, Room 2700
 
Pre-registration is required. 
Register via email, by clicking on the date you wish to attend. 

 2013 Hiring Training Schedule
Colleague's Request for Sick Leave Donations: 

Rosa Tavai, SAEOP at Aki Kurose, is in need of sick leave donations while recovering from surgery. 


Mary Decker-Perrigo, teacher at Laurelhurst Elementary, is in need of sick leave donations while on maternity leave.  

Marianne Bratsanos, teacher at Beacon Hill, is in need of sick leave donations while out on health leave. 

Patricia Murray, accountant out of JSCEE, is in need of sick leave donations while recovering from surgery. 

If you are interested in donating leave, contact the HR service center at 252-0377 to be referred to the appropriate Leave Desk, or log on to Seattle Inside Schools to find information and print forms.




2012-2013 SEA
Board of Directors:
President:  Jonathan Knapp    

Vice President:    
Phyllis Campano 
   

Treasurer:

Marianne Bratsanos     
High School:
Kimberly Depew- West Seattle
Margot Maffucci- Nathan Hale
Jef frey Morgen - Ingraham   
Middle School:
Deanna Barrett- Aki Kurose  
Multi-Grade
Marian Wagner- Salmon Bay   
Elementary School:
Kathy Ablott- Adams
Ann Berberian- North Beach
Elaine Cooper- Lawton
Susan Kingsbury- Graham Hill
Mary Vester- Alki

Central: 
Lesley Teem- STAR Mentor    

Substitutes
President:
Pat Robertson
Vice President(s):
Dan Troccoli
Mike Acord

Paraprofessionals
President:
Marla Rasmussen- Wing Luke
Vice President:
Micheal Melonson- FSW

SAEOP
President:
Antoinette Felder- Concord
Vice President:
JoJean Peters- John Stanford International

WEA Board
Jonathan Knapp
Antoinette Felder- Concord
Joyce McDonald- Dunlap
Linda Overlie- Nathan Hale
Debbie Passi- Green Lake

WEA & NEA Board
Marguerite Jones- WSHS