SEP OCT 2016

the
DISCLAIMER:
TABCO assumes
no responsibility
for
representations
made or services
performed in
advertisements
published in the
Bulletin.
Association Events
OCTOBER
21 & 22 MSEA Convention schools closed for students
25 Recognition Committee mtg.
25 Board of Education mtg.
26 Member Benefits Savings & Retirement Workshop,
Carver Center, 4:30
NOVEMBER
1 TABCO-Retired Fall Forum, 8:30 a.m.,
Oak Crest Village Garden Room
1 Minority Affairs Let’s Rap Workshop,
Randallstown HS, 4:30
2 TABCO Board of Directors mtg
5 IPD Yes You Can! Classroom Management
Workshop, Towson Public Library, 9:30-3:30
8 ELECTION DAY
9 Board of Education mtg.
10 TABCO Board of Directors mtg
12 TABCO Bus Trip to New York City
14-18 American Education Week
16 TABCO Board of Directors mtg
22 Board of Education mtg
24-25 Thanksgiving holiday—schools, TABCO closed
29 TABCO Board of Directors mtg
Become a KIDCARE payroll
supporter—fill out the form
on tabco.org. So far this
year, the KidCare Fund has
distributed $6,000 to help
Students in Need
150 BCPS students.
Unless someone
like you cares a
whole awful lot,
nothing is going
to get better.
It’s not.
– Dr. Seuss
TABCO TELEPHONE & EMAIL DIRECTORY
office: 410-828-6403 fax: 410-337-7081
ELECTED LEADERSHIP
TABCO President Abby Beytin ext. 229 abeytin@mseanea.org
Vice President John Redmond-Palmer ext. 224 jredmond@mseanea.org
Treasurer John R. Wilkins ext. 223 jrwilkins@mseanea.org
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Bob Anzelc ext. 225 banzelc@mseanea.org
UNISERV DIRECTORS
Zone 1: Ben Forstenzer ext 230 bforstenzer@mseanea.org
Zone 2: Sheila Harte-Dmitriev ext 234 sharte-dmitriev@mseanea.org
Zone 3: Seleste Odewole ext.233 sodewole@mseanea.org
Zone 4: Natasha Eckart-Baning ext. 235 neckart-baning@mseanea.org
Offices: Danielle Jones ext. 236 djones@mseanea.org
SUPPORT STAFF
Jacque Gerhardt
Lisa Levee
Teresa McDowell
Kim Melfa
Ray Prematta
Stacie Strickland
ext. 237 jgerhardt@mseanea.org
ext. 222 llevee@mseanea.org
ext. 226 tmcdowell@mseanea.org
ext. 232 kmelfa@mseanea.org
ext. 238 rprematta@mseanea.org
ext. 221 sstrickland@mseanea.org
TABCO Office Hours:
MONDAY—THURSDAY, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
FRIDAY—9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Professional Tutoring Service: Subject area teachers
needed to tutor secondary math, chemistry, physics,
biology, SAT prep., English, reading, Spanish, French, special
education, and elementary subjects.
Please contact 410-486-3464 or
professionaltutoringservice@comcast.net .
TABCO Tutor Referrals: If you are interested in tutoring,
contact Stacie at sstrickland@mseanea.org for more
information about inclusion on the TABCO tutoring referral
list.
Am I the only one who has noticed
a shift in our society’s civil
discourse? The most disturbing
cultural change we have been
witnessing is the lack of civility.
This has manifested itself in the
Abby Beytin
presidential race in a way never
before seen. We listen for the latest sound bite and we
decide our position on half-truths and innuendos.
Once we decide our position we do not allow ourselves
to be swayed by the truth or a cogent argument.
We deem that we are correct and the other side
is made up of loud mouthed awful people who therefore
aren’t decent Americans.
This is not what our country should be. I hope we
can move closer to those ideals instead of moving in
~Angela Leitzer, Editor
It doesn’t matter what the curriculum calls for,
how carefully the lesson plan was crafted, or what the
objective says. What students internalize and what
influences their lives the most are things that are not
written in any plan--the messages they receive about
how they fit into the complexity of their world.
By the time they reach middle school, one in four
students say they have been sexually harassed
(unwanted physical touching, rumor-spreading, verbal
sexual commentary, and homophobic namecalling
being the most prevalent behaviors). Furthermore,
these incidents take place in surprising locations--22.7%
in school hallways, 21.4% in classrooms,
13% in school gyms and 9.7% near school lockers .1 By
high school, the percentages go up, and the offenses
often take on even more devastating forms. With the
availability of technology, student harassment can
quickly become a group activity.
September/October 2016
the opposite
direction. The
Golden Rule
has been
thrown away
as if it were
not still important
in a
vibrant society.
We have found that hating others is easier than
trying to work together with those who do not share
our ideas.
I have seen the tragedies that have befallen our nation
and the world because of hatred. Often that hatred
has no basis in fact and yet for decades, even centuries
and on into millennia, that hatred has driven
senseless acts of violence against others.
See “In search of civility,” page 2
Title IX, a federal law, holds schools responsible
for protecting students from all forms of sexual harassment--ignoring,
tolerating, or not addressing the
problem are considered violations of the law. The
law holds that sexual harassment interferes with the
right of students to participate in and benefit from
school and school activities. 2
In today’s world, where even well-known adults
openly use their power to degrade, dominate, bully,
and sexually harass others, students must be not only
defended, but must learn to defend themselves. They
need tools to recognize and deal with aggression,
whether sexual or otherwise. Just because they are
prepared to score well on a college-entrance exam
does not mean they are prepared to protect themselves
from the increasing incidence of sexual assault
or to deal with other forms of harassment.
In some communities, teachers spend more time
each day with their students than do their parents,
See “LIFE—the curriculum,” page 2
8

(from page 1)
That very hatred now seems to have found a mainstream
voice. It doesn’t matter which side you are on
in the debate, we vilify the other side and are not willing
to listen to the reasons behind the blind rage and
hatred. Instead of working out compromises we stand
our ground and declare we have the only correct path.
The art of compromise has been opposed as if it
shows weakness instead of providing a strong position
to move forward. We are not willing to give up on any
point instead of crafting a workable solution to the issues
facing us. No wonder the United States Congress
has been unable to accomplish very much. The legislators
yell across the aisle at each other and say, “It’s
your fault; you won’t listen to us!”
If, as an association, we were to sit at the negotiations
table and declare, “You have to do everything
our way,” we would get nowhere and would not have
(from page 1)
won some important language already in our Master
Agreement. The art of win-win is being lost. The simple
fact is, in order to get along, we must be able to
have some victories on each side. Everyone wants to
believe they are getting something valuable when the
negotiations are completed, or the laws are written or
an agreement is reached.
We should not be living by the creed, “I want what
I want and I will not settle for anything less.” Sometimes
you will get all that you want, but other times
you may get part of what you need. This all or nothing
attitude works once in a while, but it is unsustainable.
It doesn’t have to be this way. I believe that most of
us don’t believe public discourse should be handled
like this. We need to start speaking up and leading the
way to help turn the conversation around to bring
about more productive and inclusive outcomes.
TABCO-RETIRED, a part of a “Second Life” for educators
Staying involved and continuing to make a difference is
as important to retired TABCO members as it was when
they were in the classroom. In this second year of its existence,
the TABCO-Retired Committee continues to work on
keeping our fellow retirees informed and connected. We
have just mailed out our third edition of the TABCO-R
Messenger, a newsletter for retired members and have an
entertaining and informative “Fall Forum” planned that
will take place on November 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.m. at Oak Crest Village, featuring a keynote address
entitled “Redefining Retirement: Finding Passion, Purpose
and Engagement.” If you know a retired TABCO
member who may not be on our mailing list, let them
know that they can contact the committee chair at
bookends68@comcast.net to register for this free event.
Our membership has grown by 31% since we began in
the spring of 2014, but more importantly, we are working
to increase participation in a variety of activities.
We are off to a good start this year, having once again
obtained funding from MSEA after submitting a grant proposal
to the Innovative Engagement & Organizing Program.
As the retiree population grows, other locals around
the state are starting their own retiree
branches. There is far too much expertise
and talent residing in our retirees to
shut the door on those who have the desire
to contribute in their “second lives.”
Currently, two of our retirees are leading a series of
workshops to teach parents to help their children learn to
read and write through a joint PTA Council/BCPS/TABCO
project called Read for Life.
Retired members continue to be a primary source of
degreed substitutes for the school system (in spite of the
low pay as compared to active employment). Several of
our members have come to the rescue already this year in
schools with desperate need of long-term substitutes.
For those who weather all of the challenges of teaching
in today’s difficult climate, retirement is coming...sooner or
later. We will be here for you when you arrive—and looking
forward to having you join with us and your retired
colleagues.
TABCO-Retired Committee: Carol Dann, Stephanie
Foy, Angela Leitzer, Cindy North, Barbara Tyler, Mary
Ellen Vecchioni, Cheryl Vourvoulas
who may be unavailable after school for various reasons.
In any case, educators cannot avoid being models
of attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs. What do we
teach our students through our interactions with them
and with the other adults around them? How do students
perceive their places within the sphere of our
influence? What practical skills can we demonstrate to
prepare them to stand up for themselves when they
face put-downs, bullying, emotional blackmail or
worse?
We operate in an environment that does not allot
time for much beyond covering the curriculum (with
lots of problematic requirements related to new grading
guidelines), but we can, and in fact, do, teach kids
every day who they are. Through an instinctive impulse
to prepare the child that she cared for, Aibileen
Clark, the maid of the household in The Help, taught
her young charge by repeating these simple words to
her, “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”
A poem that has been around since the 1950’s expresses
pretty clearly the concept that “Children Learn
What They Live”—here are a few lines: “If children
live with encouragement, they learn to be confident...If children
live with approval, they learn to like themselves…If
children live with acceptance, they learn to find love in the
world...If children live with honesty and fairness, they learn
what truth and justice are.”
Hopefully, if children live with teachers who model
strength and mutual respect, they learn to stand up for
themselves--and refrain from harassing others. We’ve
all had that teacher somewhere along the way--she (or
he) was the one who made us want to follow in her (or
his) educator footsteps.
Every generation has faced its own version of challenges,
but perhaps none has been so bombarded in so
many ways by confusing messages as the kids coming
through classroom doors today. All the academic rigor
that can be stuffed into them will not compensate for a
lack of life skills.
1
www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/04/06/study-sexual-harassmentfrequent-among-middle-school-students
2
www.nwlc.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/
nwlcharassbullying_titleixfactsheet.pdf
2 7

According to reports in the Washington Post, U.S.
News & World Report, NEA Today, and others, a teacher
shortage has evolved in status from impending to arrived.
Factors cited in various articles include:
Teachers resigning or opting for early retirement due to
dissatisfaction with their jobs;
Reduction in enrollment in teacher preparation programs
(35% decrease, according to the Learning Policy
Institute);
Declining salaries;
Budget cuts resulting in larger class sizes and fewer
classroom materials and resources;
Lack of respect and support by elected officials and policy
makers;
Emphasis on test preparation, resulting in significant
loss of teacher autonomy.
From the Washington Post article by Joe Heim, dated
September 14, 2016: “The United States is facing its first
major teacher shortage since the 1990s, one that could develop
into a crisis for schools in many parts of the country,
according to a new study by the Learning Policy Institute,
TEACHER SHORTAGE ~it’s here
an education think tank...Linda Darling-Hammond, president
of the Learning Policy Institute and one of the study’s
co-authors, pointed out that teachers make about
20 percent less than other college graduates and that teacher
salaries have lost ground since the 1990s. That despite
increased teaching hours and less time for classroom preparation.”
The study was accompanied by a report on a shortage
of minority teachers, authored by Richard M. Ingersoll,
who wrote Who Controls Teachers' Work?: Power and Accountability
in America's Schools in 2006.
“Teacher turnover is especially high in poor and disadvantaged
schools,” said Richard Ingersoll, ‘What the data
tell us is that we need to focus on more recruitment of minority
teachers but also more retention of minority teachers
if we ever want to have the teaching force look like the
student population in schools.’ Although compensation
was a factor for minority teachers, it wasn’t the only one,
Ingersoll said. ‘We need to work on working conditions,’
he said. ‘Among the key conditions that drive out minority
teachers are a lack of autonomy and discretion in the classroom.’
“
Baltimore County Numbers
Each time that the Baltimore County Board of Education
meets, they receive reports on resignations, retirements
and appointments that have occurred since the last meeting.
The resignation numbers below cover ONLY four of
those reports, dated August 23, September 11, September
28 and October 11.
RESIGNATIONS FROM BCPS (Aug 23-Oct 11)
7 days to 1 month of service: 8
1 month, 1 day to 1.9 years of service: 10
2 years to 6.1 years of service: 15
7 years to 10 years of service: 10
11 years to 20 years of service: 9
Total: 52
“Teaching conditions have hit a low point in the United
States in terms of salaries, working conditions and access
to strong preparation and mentoring — all of which
would attract and keep a stronger, more sustainable
teaching pool.” -Linda Darling-Hammond
To read the full report, entitled “A Coming Crisis in
Teaching? Teacher Supply, Demand, and Shortages in the
U.S.,” see https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/
FROM THE TRENCHES
From time to time, we
receive commentary from
members who are dealing
with various concerns “in
the trenches.”
“UNION THUGS”
Excerpt from MSEA VP Cheryl Bost’s letter to members:
“I have been an elementary classroom teacher in Baltimore
County for more than 20 years. Just like you, I care about
kids and I want to give them every opportunity to succeed.
I think we do that best when we come together as professionals
and organize for the resources we need for our students.
Governor Hogan has some different opinions about us and
our association. On Friday night, he took to Facebook to
call educators advocating for fully funding our schools
“union thugs.” Well, here are the facts. Our state has a significant
budget surplus and instead of sending $25 million
to our classrooms and students, it’s staying in Annapolis to
sit untouched in a state bank account. That makes two
years in a row that he’s withheld school funding despite
budget surpluses. I think that’s wrong and as advocates for
kids, I think it is our duty to stand up and be their voice.”
TABCO member Serafina DeVita’s letter to Governor
Hogan:
“I feel it absolutely necessary to express my deep disappointment
in your words and actions regarding the latest
lack of funding for our state's public schools. It is outrageous
to me that you would not only insult the incredibly
hard-working teachers in this state, but also attack our union
which I know is fighting hard to get us the rights and
funding we deserve. MSEA seems to be the only organization
that understands the struggles of educators in this
state to provide students in overcrowded, underfunded
schools with the resources every already highly-qualified
teacher needs to provide them with the most thorough,
well-rounded education. I was raised in Baltimore County
Public Schools and am proud to be serving as an educator
now in that same county because I believe in the power to
change children's lives. Unfortunately, I am increasingly
disappointed with the aloof attitude of my state government,
expecting high-quality education without being willing
to put any money toward the betterment of schools. I
spent the last six years teaching in a Title I school. The experience
grew me as both a teacher and a person, but I also
faced the challenges of working in a building with mold,
asbestos, and very limited classroom resources. It is so important
to make the schools in communities like this safe,
clean, healthy environments for the many children who do
not experience those life necessities at home.
By withholding funding from education, you are hurting
the children who will make the most important decisions
for the trajectory of our country for decades to come. And
by using such ignorant, bullying language toward the
teacher's union, you are alienating the people who will
shape those children.”
I hope that you will read this and reconsider how you
address the people who work so tirelessly and thanklessly
for the benefit of our country's future.”
NOVEMBER 8
TA B C O B u l l e t i n Circulation 7,600 Volume 40, Number 1, SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
The newsletter of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, an affiliate of the Maryland State Education Association
and the National Education Association
Teachers Association of Baltimore County 305 East Joppa Road Towson, Maryland 21286-3252
President: Abby Beytin
Vice President: John Redmond-Palmer Treasurer: John R. Wilkins Secretary: Lora Zerrlaut
Board of Directors:
District I ~ Nicole Caple, Jane Sacks, Seth I. Rich District II ~ Amber Gaede, Vernon Fains, Cindy Sexton
District III ~ Lisa Norrington, Roxann Russo, Frank Soda
Bulletin Editor: Angela Leitzer bookends68@comcast.net
The Bulletin is published bi-monthly during the school year. Your suggestions and letters to the editor are welcomed.
Publication of submitted materials is subject to approval, editing, and/or space availability. Names will be withheld upon request.
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4
TABCO Committee Spotlight: Instruction and Professional Development
The Instruction & Professional Development (IPD)
committee is tasked with enhancing the professional
knowledge of members and advocating for instructional
reform. The committee works to offer professional development
opportunities throughout the school year in response
to teacher need. Past workshop topics have included
classroom management, technology, stress management,
SLOs, interview & resume writing skills, National
Board certification, portfolios, teacher evaluation,
and many more. The committee is always looking for
suggestions from members, so please feel free to share
your ideas!
IPD Workshops address teachers’ needs
On Tuesday, October 18 the IPD committee sponsored
a New Teacher Talk. This was a great opportunity for
new teachers to learn about all the things newbies wish
someone had told them. Topics included how to read the
paycheck, understanding IEPs, BIPs, 504s, and SST, and
teacher rights related to observations, evaluations, and
working conditions.
TABCO’S
Did you know that TABCO has regular legislative
sessions? They are more commonly known as Representative
Assemblies, and like the U.S. Congress, Reps
(also known as AR’s) have similar responsibilities.
REPRESENTATION: Representing the people who
elected them--that’s right, TABCO’s Bylaws specify
that the Reps at each school or worksite must hold
elections for Rep positions (elected for two-year
terms) and for the members of their Faculty Councils.
LEGISLATION: Reps also have the responsibilities
of presenting motions, debating, and voting on the
actions of the association. Article VIII, Section 1 of
the Association Bylaws, states, “The legislative and
policy-forming body of the Association shall be the
Representative Assembly.” The meetings should be
interactive, in other words--motions on issues important
to members can and should be presented
by Reps for consideration by the assembly.
In order to fulfill these and other responsibilities
outlined in the bylaws, Reps are trained in August of
Coming up on Saturday, November 5 the IPD
Committee will be presenting an all day workshop
titled “Yes You Can!,” to be held at the Towson
branch of the public library, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30
p.m. This nationally recognized program has been
adapted by the Maryland State Education Association
and TABCO to reflect the current needs of teachers
and focuses on Classroom Management. Participants
will learn about routines, student voice and
choice, dealing with difficult behaviors, communicating
with families, and much more. The IPD committee
also advocates on behalf of members regarding
instructional concerns. In recent years the committee
has worked on new curriculum concerns, special
education workload, and member responsibilities
related to IDEA. We ask that members share
their instructional concerns with the committee so
that we may advocate for you and your colleagues.
~Frank Soda, TABCO Board of Directors
each year
and are
offered
other opportunities
to learn
about leadership
Ja’nel Alston, new Rep for Woodholme ES,
hard at work learning her new responsibilities
at the August Rep Training.
through
workshops
given at the local and state levels.
However, all Reps should take the proverbial “bull
by the horns” and become familiar with the bylaws,
learn to use parliamentary procedure, and attend
scheduled Representative Assemblies. Reporting back
to their constituents—the members at their buildings—
is also a part of the job.
Many times, the job of Association Rep falls to
someone whose arm has been twisted (figuratively),
but the reward for serving can be a real sense of empowerment.
The more you know…
“Above and beyond” – who are they?
Association members have the opportunity to nominate
colleagues or friends of education to be honored
at the annual Retirement & Recognition Dinner on May
4, 2017. The nomination process begins in late November;
nomination forms will be provided.
Start thinking now about colleagues whose superior
qualities make them eligible for the TABCO Recognition
or Rookie Recognition Award (given to “rookies”
with 5 or fewer years in the profession).
The possibility exists to nominate “friends of education”
such as businesses or other entities not eligible as
members of our bargaining unit, but who contribute to
our schools or students in some exceptional way. Although
awards are presented to such groups, the main
goal of the awards is to recognize outstanding teachers.
You know who they are. You work alongside them
every day. Please help us find them!
*Nominators must be members of the association
and nominees must be members, if eligible.
~Committee Co-chairs Roxann Russo, Michele Snell
TABCO members join others to train for building a
coalition to be part of a BCPS implementation team,
the “Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Action Team”:
those who represented TABCO’s team were Jill Cox,
Samantha Yuhanick, Aimee Freeman, John Redmond-
Palmer and Natasha Eckart-Baning.
In Memory of ~
Stacy Crowl,
educator at Pine Grove ES, who passed
away on October 5. She gave 25 years of
service to Baltimore County schools.
We honor her service
and express our condolences
to her family, friends and colleagues.
TABCO UNISERV
DIRECTORS!
Observation issues? Infringement on your planning
time? Student accusations? Need help getting a Faculty
Council up and running? Call your UniServ Director!
TABCO’s professional staff are experts on the Master
Agreement, as well as county policies and state laws regarding
public education. They stand ready to represent
you when there are infringements on your rights.
Recently, TABCO re-organized the UniServ staff to
match the four zones created by BCPS in its supervisory
revisions. Ben Forstenzer is the designated UniServ Director
for Zone 1. Zone 2 is covered by Sheila Harte-Dmitriev,
Zone 3 by Seleste Odewole and Zone 4 by Natasha Eckart-
Baning. All of them may be reached by called TABCO’s
main number, 410-828-6403, but their email addresses are
listed on page 8.
“If there's something weird, And it don't look good
Who you gonna call? ...If you're all alone,
Pick up the phone, And call…” UniServ Directors!
October 21-22 — Opportunities
Friday, October 21 is a unique work day (and it is a
work day). Educators have the opportunity to attend
meetings sponsored by their professional associations
(such as the Maryland Art Education Association or Maryland
Music Educators Association) or “go downy ocean”
to take advantage of the offerings at the MSEA Convention.
The convention hall will be open with exhibitors from
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00
p.m. on Saturday.
A full program of professional
development
workshops will be offered,
as well, covering
topics from classroom
management to technology
to shutting down the
prison pipeline for students,
and many more—
check out the list on the
MSEA website for times
and topics. All of the
workshops are free to members.
If you head to O.C. after school on Thursday, you are
welcome to attend the President’s Reception at 7:30 p.m.
at the Convention Center ballroom.
Others may feel the need to spend that time working
on classroom projects of their choosing, catching up on
grading, planning or other tasks that never seem to get
done on a regular work day.
Feel like a real professional—develop your own plan
for this day of opportunities!
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