Kansas City Federation of Teachers & School-Related Personnel, Local 691

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Our Issues

Teachers' Evaluation Cheat Sheet

Dear Union Colleagues,

One of our union members, Ali Johnston-Hull, gave me a copy of the Cheat Sheet (see below) she developed to help new teachers with their evaluations. I thought she did a great job with it, and she gave me permission to share it with everyone. If you find it useful, let me know, and I'll share the feedback with Ali.

TOP TEN NON-NEGOTIABLES

· Are your objectives current, listed by subject area and time, and all begin with a verb? Do you begin each class by reviewing the prior day's objective and bring their attention to today's objective - revisiting it throughout the lesson

Example: SWBAT or TLW examine the parts to a plant cell and define their role in the development and growth of a plant.

· Is your room neat, organized, and conducive to learning? Do you have a word wall up that is current and referred to frequently? Are necessary materials made readily available for a child's success (calculators, manipulatives, supplies, etc...) with minimal disruption to the learning environment?

· Do you have current work on your bulletin boards with an appropriate scoring guide that illustrates differentiated instruction? Are any of your bulletin boards reflective of project based learning? Do any of your bulletin boards display the use of technology?

· Is their academic rigor present in your lesson? Are you asking questions at all levels when appropriate?

· Are the children on task and responsible for their learning? Is it evident that the children are aware of your expectations and procedures?

· Are the children engaged and attending to the lesson - beginning, middle, and end?

· Are you prepared with all necessary materials and supplies for the lesson? Do you have a plan B should the children not be engaged or attending to your planned lesson?

· Do you use data to drive your instruction? Is that evident in your lesson plans and goals for success for your children?

· Do you differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners? Is it visible in the children's independent practice, flex grouping, your guided practice, their projects, the bulletin board displays, and the children's portfolios?

· Are your lesson plans current, out, and visible? Do you state in your lessons your objectives and there is evidence that you have thoroughly planned keeping in mind the children and the GLEs?

· Do you share with the children your love of learning, especially through mistakes and perseverance?

Safe Schools Survey

Dear Union Colleagues,

The Safe Schools Committee met last week and developed a tentative proposal to address the immediate needs of schools that are having extreme problems with discipline. The proposal consists of developing a Support Team to assess, assist, and reassess the discipline concerns in the school.

We will get you more information once the details of the proposal have been worked out. In the meantime, we want to get the Staff Survey to you. This will help the committee identify the schools that are most in need of assistance.

You can take the survey online by clicking here or going to our website at mo.aft.org/691.

We are also sending hard copies of the survey to the Building Representatives to pass out to non-members and members who do not have personal email addresses. We want all staff members to take this survey.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Union office at 816-756-1818.

Healthcare Reform Bill

Dear Union Colleagues,

The Senate Finance Committee finally passed its version of the healthcare reform bill.

The bill "was developed with good intentions," says AFT president Randi Weingarten, "but it has serious defects that could jeopardize insurance affordability for both the insured and the uninsured."

The Senate bill's shortcomings are:

Failure to adequately address affordability. Even with subsidies for the uninsured, many families and individuals will not be able to afford the cost of health insurance. It also penalizes those who do not obtain coverage.
Proposed health insurance tax on employer-provided benefits;
Weak employer responsibility on coverage (or "pay or play");
Lack of a public option.

In an effort to ensure that the necessary changes are made, Oct. 19-30 has been designated an AFT healthcare mobilization period. During this period, the union has set a goal of five percent of our membership contacting their U.S. Senators and House members by phone, letter, e-mail and/or personal meetings.

Please contact your legislators today!

To contact your senator by email, click here.

To find your elected official or to visit AFT's Legislative Action Center for more information, click here.

COPE Drive

We are in the midst of our COPE Organizing Drive and we're asking for your support.

Every day in our jobs as teachers and school-related personnel we are impacted by decisions made by elected officials - from educational funding to our salaries and benefits.

The elections in 2010 (at the School Board, state, and federal levels) will have a major impact on us as educators and Union members. It's crucial that we elect candidates in 2010 who support us on our issues and it's just as important that we donate money to their campaigns.

But, it's against the law to use regular Union dues for political contributions.

The only way we can donate money to the candidates who support our issues is through COPE and to raise funds for COPE we must ask you for a voluntary contribution. We're encouraging every Union member to contribute at least $1.00 per pay period to COPE.

See your KCFT & SRP Building Representative today and sign up on the yellow COPE card!

COPE - Committee on Political Education

Early Childhood Paras - Release Time

Dear Union Colleagues,

Despite the Union's urging, the District has not yet set up an account code to pay Early Childhood paraprofessionals for providing release time for Early Childhood teachers.

We need to know what schools are affected by this.

If you are an Early Childhood paraprofessional who is providing release time for an Early Childhood teacher, please email or call the Union at 756-1818.

Thank you.

Safe School Campaign

Dear Union Colleagues,

Thank you to everyone who braved the rain and cold to attend the general membership meeting last week. Janies is typing up all the questions that didn't get asked, and I will deliver them to Dr. Covington.

Safe schools, student discipline and abusive principals made up the preponderance of questions from membership, and for good reason. Many of our schools are in crisis; students assaulting other students, students assaulting adults, principals who refuse to follow the Code of Conduct.

The issue of safe schools can no longer be swept under the rug. The District must stop pretending there isn't a problem and address the issue. Our kids deserve a safe environment and so do the adults working in our school buildings.

Therefore, we, as a Union, have decided to attack this issue head on. A committee is being formed to outline our strategy. I will be speaking at this week's Board meeting on October 14th to announce our Safe Schools campaign, and both Board members and Administration will be invited to join us. But whether they decide to join us or not, our campaign will move forward. We will:

Identify the schools in crisis,
Identify the needs of those schools, and
Create and implement solutions.

I invite you to become an active participant in our campaign and if you are free Wednesday night, join me at the School Board meeting (6:30 pm. 1211 McGee).

DFS Hotline Tips

Dear Union Colleagues,

The Union usually sends out a flyer every year with DFS Hotline Tips, and we will do so again this year. But I thought I would pass these tips on to you early this year. Please take the time to read through them carefully.

Tips to avoid being hotlined:

Hands off - It is best to keep physical contact with your students at a minimum.

Let them leave - Hotline calls often result from incidents involving student discipline. For example, a student attempts to leave your room and you try to block it. The safer course of action is to tell the student not to leave, but to not take any physical steps to prohibit him/her from doing so. Then immediately call the office and fill out a conference card on the incident.

Pointers and Yardsticks - Although they can have a place in the classroom, discontinuing their use will decrease your chance of being the subject of a hotline call.

Report and Record - If you suspect that your students are engaging in inappropriate behavior between themselves including sexual behavior, you need to report the situation to your building administrator immediately, verbally and in writing.

Language - Keep in mind that there are times when staff members are hotlined or referred to a District investigation for inappropriate use of language.

Any questions or concerns about the above tips, please call the Union office at (816)756-1818.

If you are hotlined or being investigated by the District:

Call the Union Office immediately - (816) 756-1818.

Do not provide any statement in writing until after you have consulted with your Union representative/Union attorney.

Do not discuss the events of the allegations with anyone.

Try to recall any events regarding the situation - for preparation for interview with the DFS/District investigator.

Ask for Union representation when asked to meet with the administrator.

Our Union attorney will be there for you and will schedule an interview with the DFS/District investigator.

In Solidarity,

Andrea Flinders
President, KCFT & SRP