2006 Georgia Teacher of the Year(May/June 2005) - Ciclt.net

DON’T BE MISLED ABOUT STATE LIABILITY!PAGE MEMBERSHIP PROTECTS YOUAND YOUR CAREER!This year the legislature took action whichrequires the state to provide liabilityinsurance to educators, similar to thegeneral liability coverage most districtscurrently provide to all employees. PAGEcontinues to urge teachers to carry theirown coverage, because they can be (andusually are) the first ones “thrownoverboard” in lawsuits involving them andtheir local schools.STATE FUNDED LIABILITY DOES NOTCOVER EMPLOYMENT MATTERS!It is important to note that state coverage isfor liability and not for employment rights.If you are like most PAGE members, youwill work your entire career without everfacing a million dollar liability lawsuit.Thousands of members each year, however,contact our legal department regardingemployment rights and salary matters.STATE FUNDED LIABILITY DOESNOT COVER CERTIFICATIONMATTERS!If a complaint is filed against you withthe Professional Standards Commission(PSC) alleging that you committed anethics violation, the state liability policywould not cover you. A complaint withthe PSC is a serious matter since they havethe authority to suspend or revokeyour teaching certificate. PAGEmembers have coverage and will berepresented in these cases.STATE FUNDED LIABILITYDOES NOT PROVIDE ACCESSTO ATTORNEYS!PAGE’s four staff attorneys are availableto members 24/7 at no cost. Statecoverage does not include access to staffattorneys, nor to a legal network ofattorneys across the state such as PAGEoffers – more than sixty attorneys! Thisis the core of the legal services PAGEprovides to its members.STATE FUNDED LIABILITY DOES NOTINCLUDE CRIMINAL COVERAGE(UNLESS EXONERATED)!PAGE not only holds a professional liabilitypolicy for its members but also a policy whichpays for attorney fees, win or lose, in criminalcases where you are charged with a crime inrelation to your duties as an educator.DON’T BE MISLED BY STATE FUNDEDLIABILITY! Does not cover employment or certificationmatters. The state program does not providefor financial assistance nor legal representationin these two critical areas. Does not provide free access to staff attorneys,nor to our network of sixty local attorneys whoknow education law and their localcommunities. Does not provide legal advice or protection inemployment matters such as termination,suspension, nonrenewal, demotion,reassignment, evaluations, or salary disputes. Does not include criminal coverage unlesscharges are dropped or you areexonerated.JOIN PAGE OR RENEW YOURMEMBERSHIP TODAY!To have your own coverage with nocost access to your own attorneyand the lobbying efforts of thosewho are advocating specificallyfor you, join PAGE or renew yourmembership today! PAGEmeets the legal, legislativeand professional needs of ourmembers everyday. Call usat 1-800-334-6861 (outsideAtlanta), or 770-216-8555(metro-Atlanta).