SEP OCT 2016
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the<br />
DISCLAIMER:<br />
TABCO assumes<br />
no responsibility<br />
for<br />
representations<br />
made or services<br />
performed in<br />
advertisements<br />
published in the<br />
Bulletin.<br />
Association Events<br />
<strong>OCT</strong>OBER<br />
21 & 22 MSEA Convention schools closed for students<br />
25 Recognition Committee mtg.<br />
25 Board of Education mtg.<br />
26 Member Benefits Savings & Retirement Workshop,<br />
Carver Center, 4:30<br />
NOVEMBER<br />
1 TABCO-Retired Fall Forum, 8:30 a.m.,<br />
Oak Crest Village Garden Room<br />
1 Minority Affairs Let’s Rap Workshop,<br />
Randallstown HS, 4:30<br />
2 TABCO Board of Directors mtg<br />
5 IPD Yes You Can! Classroom Management<br />
Workshop, Towson Public Library, 9:30-3:30<br />
8 ELECTION DAY<br />
9 Board of Education mtg.<br />
10 TABCO Board of Directors mtg<br />
12 TABCO Bus Trip to New York City<br />
14-18 American Education Week<br />
16 TABCO Board of Directors mtg<br />
22 Board of Education mtg<br />
24-25 Thanksgiving holiday—schools, TABCO closed<br />
29 TABCO Board of Directors mtg<br />
Become a KIDCARE payroll<br />
supporter—fill out the form<br />
on tabco.org. So far this<br />
year, the KidCare Fund has<br />
distributed $6,000 to help<br />
Students in Need<br />
150 BCPS students.<br />
Unless someone<br />
like you cares a<br />
whole awful lot,<br />
nothing is going<br />
to get better.<br />
It’s not.<br />
– Dr. Seuss<br />
TABCO TELEPHONE & EMAIL DIRECTORY<br />
office: 410-828-6403 fax: 410-337-7081<br />
ELECTED LEADERSHIP<br />
TABCO President Abby Beytin ext. 229 abeytin@mseanea.org<br />
Vice President John Redmond-Palmer ext. 224 jredmond@mseanea.org<br />
Treasurer John R. Wilkins ext. 223 jrwilkins@mseanea.org<br />
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR<br />
Bob Anzelc ext. 225 banzelc@mseanea.org<br />
UNISERV DIRECTORS<br />
Zone 1: Ben Forstenzer ext 230 bforstenzer@mseanea.org<br />
Zone 2: Sheila Harte-Dmitriev ext 234 sharte-dmitriev@mseanea.org<br />
Zone 3: Seleste Odewole ext.233 sodewole@mseanea.org<br />
Zone 4: Natasha Eckart-Baning ext. 235 neckart-baning@mseanea.org<br />
Offices: Danielle Jones ext. 236 djones@mseanea.org<br />
SUPPORT STAFF<br />
Jacque Gerhardt<br />
Lisa Levee<br />
Teresa McDowell<br />
Kim Melfa<br />
Ray Prematta<br />
Stacie Strickland<br />
ext. 237 jgerhardt@mseanea.org<br />
ext. 222 llevee@mseanea.org<br />
ext. 226 tmcdowell@mseanea.org<br />
ext. 232 kmelfa@mseanea.org<br />
ext. 238 rprematta@mseanea.org<br />
ext. 221 sstrickland@mseanea.org<br />
TABCO Office Hours:<br />
MONDAY—THURSDAY, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.<br />
FRIDAY—9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.<br />
JOB OPPORTUNITIES<br />
Professional Tutoring Service: Subject area teachers<br />
needed to tutor secondary math, chemistry, physics,<br />
biology, SAT prep., English, reading, Spanish, French, special<br />
education, and elementary subjects.<br />
Please contact 410-486-3464 or<br />
professionaltutoringservice@comcast.net .<br />
TABCO Tutor Referrals: If you are interested in tutoring,<br />
contact Stacie at sstrickland@mseanea.org for more<br />
information about inclusion on the TABCO tutoring referral<br />
list.<br />
Am I the only one who has noticed<br />
a shift in our society’s civil<br />
discourse? The most disturbing<br />
cultural change we have been<br />
witnessing is the lack of civility.<br />
This has manifested itself in the<br />
Abby Beytin<br />
presidential race in a way never<br />
before seen. We listen for the latest sound bite and we<br />
decide our position on half-truths and innuendos.<br />
Once we decide our position we do not allow ourselves<br />
to be swayed by the truth or a cogent argument.<br />
We deem that we are correct and the other side<br />
is made up of loud mouthed awful people who therefore<br />
aren’t decent Americans.<br />
This is not what our country should be. I hope we<br />
can move closer to those ideals instead of moving in<br />
~Angela Leitzer, Editor<br />
It doesn’t matter what the curriculum calls for,<br />
how carefully the lesson plan was crafted, or what the<br />
objective says. What students internalize and what<br />
influences their lives the most are things that are not<br />
written in any plan--the messages they receive about<br />
how they fit into the complexity of their world.<br />
By the time they reach middle school, one in four<br />
students say they have been sexually harassed<br />
(unwanted physical touching, rumor-spreading, verbal<br />
sexual commentary, and homophobic namecalling<br />
being the most prevalent behaviors). Furthermore,<br />
these incidents take place in surprising locations--22.7%<br />
in school hallways, 21.4% in classrooms,<br />
13% in school gyms and 9.7% near school lockers .1 By<br />
high school, the percentages go up, and the offenses<br />
often take on even more devastating forms. With the<br />
availability of technology, student harassment can<br />
quickly become a group activity.<br />
September/October <strong>2016</strong><br />
the opposite<br />
direction. The<br />
Golden Rule<br />
has been<br />
thrown away<br />
as if it were<br />
not still important<br />
in a<br />
vibrant society.<br />
We have found that hating others is easier than<br />
trying to work together with those who do not share<br />
our ideas.<br />
I have seen the tragedies that have befallen our nation<br />
and the world because of hatred. Often that hatred<br />
has no basis in fact and yet for decades, even centuries<br />
and on into millennia, that hatred has driven<br />
senseless acts of violence against others.<br />
See “In search of civility,” page 2<br />
Title IX, a federal law, holds schools responsible<br />
for protecting students from all forms of sexual harassment--ignoring,<br />
tolerating, or not addressing the<br />
problem are considered violations of the law. The<br />
law holds that sexual harassment interferes with the<br />
right of students to participate in and benefit from<br />
school and school activities. 2<br />
In today’s world, where even well-known adults<br />
openly use their power to degrade, dominate, bully,<br />
and sexually harass others, students must be not only<br />
defended, but must learn to defend themselves. They<br />
need tools to recognize and deal with aggression,<br />
whether sexual or otherwise. Just because they are<br />
prepared to score well on a college-entrance exam<br />
does not mean they are prepared to protect themselves<br />
from the increasing incidence of sexual assault<br />
or to deal with other forms of harassment.<br />
In some communities, teachers spend more time<br />
each day with their students than do their parents,<br />
See “LIFE—the curriculum,” page 2<br />
8
(from page 1)<br />
That very hatred now seems to have found a mainstream<br />
voice. It doesn’t matter which side you are on<br />
in the debate, we vilify the other side and are not willing<br />
to listen to the reasons behind the blind rage and<br />
hatred. Instead of working out compromises we stand<br />
our ground and declare we have the only correct path.<br />
The art of compromise has been opposed as if it<br />
shows weakness instead of providing a strong position<br />
to move forward. We are not willing to give up on any<br />
point instead of crafting a workable solution to the issues<br />
facing us. No wonder the United States Congress<br />
has been unable to accomplish very much. The legislators<br />
yell across the aisle at each other and say, “It’s<br />
your fault; you won’t listen to us!”<br />
If, as an association, we were to sit at the negotiations<br />
table and declare, “You have to do everything<br />
our way,” we would get nowhere and would not have<br />
(from page 1)<br />
won some important language already in our Master<br />
Agreement. The art of win-win is being lost. The simple<br />
fact is, in order to get along, we must be able to<br />
have some victories on each side. Everyone wants to<br />
believe they are getting something valuable when the<br />
negotiations are completed, or the laws are written or<br />
an agreement is reached.<br />
We should not be living by the creed, “I want what<br />
I want and I will not settle for anything less.” Sometimes<br />
you will get all that you want, but other times<br />
you may get part of what you need. This all or nothing<br />
attitude works once in a while, but it is unsustainable.<br />
It doesn’t have to be this way. I believe that most of<br />
us don’t believe public discourse should be handled<br />
like this. We need to start speaking up and leading the<br />
way to help turn the conversation around to bring<br />
about more productive and inclusive outcomes.<br />
TABCO-RETIRED, a part of a “Second Life” for educators<br />
Staying involved and continuing to make a difference is<br />
as important to retired TABCO members as it was when<br />
they were in the classroom. In this second year of its existence,<br />
the TABCO-Retired Committee continues to work on<br />
keeping our fellow retirees informed and connected. We<br />
have just mailed out our third edition of the TABCO-R<br />
Messenger, a newsletter for retired members and have an<br />
entertaining and informative “Fall Forum” planned that<br />
will take place on November 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30<br />
p.m. at Oak Crest Village, featuring a keynote address<br />
entitled “Redefining Retirement: Finding Passion, Purpose<br />
and Engagement.” If you know a retired TABCO<br />
member who may not be on our mailing list, let them<br />
know that they can contact the committee chair at<br />
bookends68@comcast.net to register for this free event.<br />
Our membership has grown by 31% since we began in<br />
the spring of 2014, but more importantly, we are working<br />
to increase participation in a variety of activities.<br />
We are off to a good start this year, having once again<br />
obtained funding from MSEA after submitting a grant proposal<br />
to the Innovative Engagement & Organizing Program.<br />
As the retiree population grows, other locals around<br />
the state are starting their own retiree<br />
branches. There is far too much expertise<br />
and talent residing in our retirees to<br />
shut the door on those who have the desire<br />
to contribute in their “second lives.”<br />
Currently, two of our retirees are leading a series of<br />
workshops to teach parents to help their children learn to<br />
read and write through a joint PTA Council/BCPS/TABCO<br />
project called Read for Life.<br />
Retired members continue to be a primary source of<br />
degreed substitutes for the school system (in spite of the<br />
low pay as compared to active employment). Several of<br />
our members have come to the rescue already this year in<br />
schools with desperate need of long-term substitutes.<br />
For those who weather all of the challenges of teaching<br />
in today’s difficult climate, retirement is coming...sooner or<br />
later. We will be here for you when you arrive—and looking<br />
forward to having you join with us and your retired<br />
colleagues.<br />
TABCO-Retired Committee: Carol Dann, Stephanie<br />
Foy, Angela Leitzer, Cindy North, Barbara Tyler, Mary<br />
Ellen Vecchioni, Cheryl Vourvoulas<br />
who may be unavailable after school for various reasons.<br />
In any case, educators cannot avoid being models<br />
of attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs. What do we<br />
teach our students through our interactions with them<br />
and with the other adults around them? How do students<br />
perceive their places within the sphere of our<br />
influence? What practical skills can we demonstrate to<br />
prepare them to stand up for themselves when they<br />
face put-downs, bullying, emotional blackmail or<br />
worse?<br />
We operate in an environment that does not allot<br />
time for much beyond covering the curriculum (with<br />
lots of problematic requirements related to new grading<br />
guidelines), but we can, and in fact, do, teach kids<br />
every day who they are. Through an instinctive impulse<br />
to prepare the child that she cared for, Aibileen<br />
Clark, the maid of the household in The Help, taught<br />
her young charge by repeating these simple words to<br />
her, “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”<br />
A poem that has been around since the 1950’s expresses<br />
pretty clearly the concept that “Children Learn<br />
What They Live”—here are a few lines: “If children<br />
live with encouragement, they learn to be confident...If children<br />
live with approval, they learn to like themselves…If<br />
children live with acceptance, they learn to find love in the<br />
world...If children live with honesty and fairness, they learn<br />
what truth and justice are.”<br />
Hopefully, if children live with teachers who model<br />
strength and mutual respect, they learn to stand up for<br />
themselves--and refrain from harassing others. We’ve<br />
all had that teacher somewhere along the way--she (or<br />
he) was the one who made us want to follow in her (or<br />
his) educator footsteps.<br />
Every generation has faced its own version of challenges,<br />
but perhaps none has been so bombarded in so<br />
many ways by confusing messages as the kids coming<br />
through classroom doors today. All the academic rigor<br />
that can be stuffed into them will not compensate for a<br />
lack of life skills.<br />
1<br />
www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/04/06/study-sexual-harassmentfrequent-among-middle-school-students<br />
2<br />
www.nwlc.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/<br />
nwlcharassbullying_titleixfactsheet.pdf<br />
2 7
According to reports in the Washington Post, U.S.<br />
News & World Report, NEA Today, and others, a teacher<br />
shortage has evolved in status from impending to arrived.<br />
Factors cited in various articles include:<br />
Teachers resigning or opting for early retirement due to<br />
dissatisfaction with their jobs;<br />
Reduction in enrollment in teacher preparation programs<br />
(35% decrease, according to the Learning Policy<br />
Institute);<br />
Declining salaries;<br />
Budget cuts resulting in larger class sizes and fewer<br />
classroom materials and resources;<br />
Lack of respect and support by elected officials and policy<br />
makers;<br />
Emphasis on test preparation, resulting in significant<br />
loss of teacher autonomy.<br />
From the Washington Post article by Joe Heim, dated<br />
September 14, <strong>2016</strong>: “The United States is facing its first<br />
major teacher shortage since the 1990s, one that could develop<br />
into a crisis for schools in many parts of the country,<br />
according to a new study by the Learning Policy Institute,<br />
TEACHER SHORTAGE ~it’s here<br />
an education think tank...Linda Darling-Hammond, president<br />
of the Learning Policy Institute and one of the study’s<br />
co-authors, pointed out that teachers make about<br />
20 percent less than other college graduates and that teacher<br />
salaries have lost ground since the 1990s. That despite<br />
increased teaching hours and less time for classroom preparation.”<br />
The study was accompanied by a report on a shortage<br />
of minority teachers, authored by Richard M. Ingersoll,<br />
who wrote Who Controls Teachers' Work?: Power and Accountability<br />
in America's Schools in 2006.<br />
“Teacher turnover is especially high in poor and disadvantaged<br />
schools,” said Richard Ingersoll, ‘What the data<br />
tell us is that we need to focus on more recruitment of minority<br />
teachers but also more retention of minority teachers<br />
if we ever want to have the teaching force look like the<br />
student population in schools.’ Although compensation<br />
was a factor for minority teachers, it wasn’t the only one,<br />
Ingersoll said. ‘We need to work on working conditions,’<br />
he said. ‘Among the key conditions that drive out minority<br />
teachers are a lack of autonomy and discretion in the classroom.’<br />
“<br />
Baltimore County Numbers<br />
Each time that the Baltimore County Board of Education<br />
meets, they receive reports on resignations, retirements<br />
and appointments that have occurred since the last meeting.<br />
The resignation numbers below cover ONLY four of<br />
those reports, dated August 23, September 11, September<br />
28 and October 11.<br />
RESIGNATIONS FROM BCPS (Aug 23-Oct 11)<br />
7 days to 1 month of service: 8<br />
1 month, 1 day to 1.9 years of service: 10<br />
2 years to 6.1 years of service: 15<br />
7 years to 10 years of service: 10<br />
11 years to 20 years of service: 9<br />
Total: 52<br />
“Teaching conditions have hit a low point in the United<br />
States in terms of salaries, working conditions and access<br />
to strong preparation and mentoring — all of which<br />
would attract and keep a stronger, more sustainable<br />
teaching pool.” -Linda Darling-Hammond<br />
To read the full report, entitled “A Coming Crisis in<br />
Teaching? Teacher Supply, Demand, and Shortages in the<br />
U.S.,” see https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/<br />
FROM THE TRENCHES<br />
From time to time, we<br />
receive commentary from<br />
members who are dealing<br />
with various concerns “in<br />
the trenches.”<br />
“UNION THUGS”<br />
Excerpt from MSEA VP Cheryl Bost’s letter to members:<br />
“I have been an elementary classroom teacher in Baltimore<br />
County for more than 20 years. Just like you, I care about<br />
kids and I want to give them every opportunity to succeed.<br />
I think we do that best when we come together as professionals<br />
and organize for the resources we need for our students.<br />
Governor Hogan has some different opinions about us and<br />
our association. On Friday night, he took to Facebook to<br />
call educators advocating for fully funding our schools<br />
“union thugs.” Well, here are the facts. Our state has a significant<br />
budget surplus and instead of sending $25 million<br />
to our classrooms and students, it’s staying in Annapolis to<br />
sit untouched in a state bank account. That makes two<br />
years in a row that he’s withheld school funding despite<br />
budget surpluses. I think that’s wrong and as advocates for<br />
kids, I think it is our duty to stand up and be their voice.”<br />
TABCO member Serafina DeVita’s letter to Governor<br />
Hogan:<br />
“I feel it absolutely necessary to express my deep disappointment<br />
in your words and actions regarding the latest<br />
lack of funding for our state's public schools. It is outrageous<br />
to me that you would not only insult the incredibly<br />
hard-working teachers in this state, but also attack our union<br />
which I know is fighting hard to get us the rights and<br />
funding we deserve. MSEA seems to be the only organization<br />
that understands the struggles of educators in this<br />
state to provide students in overcrowded, underfunded<br />
schools with the resources every already highly-qualified<br />
teacher needs to provide them with the most thorough,<br />
well-rounded education. I was raised in Baltimore County<br />
Public Schools and am proud to be serving as an educator<br />
now in that same county because I believe in the power to<br />
change children's lives. Unfortunately, I am increasingly<br />
disappointed with the aloof attitude of my state government,<br />
expecting high-quality education without being willing<br />
to put any money toward the betterment of schools. I<br />
spent the last six years teaching in a Title I school. The experience<br />
grew me as both a teacher and a person, but I also<br />
faced the challenges of working in a building with mold,<br />
asbestos, and very limited classroom resources. It is so important<br />
to make the schools in communities like this safe,<br />
clean, healthy environments for the many children who do<br />
not experience those life necessities at home.<br />
By withholding funding from education, you are hurting<br />
the children who will make the most important decisions<br />
for the trajectory of our country for decades to come. And<br />
by using such ignorant, bullying language toward the<br />
teacher's union, you are alienating the people who will<br />
shape those children.”<br />
I hope that you will read this and reconsider how you<br />
address the people who work so tirelessly and thanklessly<br />
for the benefit of our country's future.”<br />
NOVEMBER 8<br />
TA B C O B u l l e t i n Circulation 7,600 Volume 40, Number 1, <strong>SEP</strong>TEMBER/<strong>OCT</strong>OBER <strong>2016</strong><br />
The newsletter of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County, an affiliate of the Maryland State Education Association<br />
and the National Education Association<br />
Teachers Association of Baltimore County 305 East Joppa Road Towson, Maryland 21286-3252<br />
President: Abby Beytin<br />
Vice President: John Redmond-Palmer Treasurer: John R. Wilkins Secretary: Lora Zerrlaut<br />
Board of Directors:<br />
District I ~ Nicole Caple, Jane Sacks, Seth I. Rich District II ~ Amber Gaede, Vernon Fains, Cindy Sexton<br />
District III ~ Lisa Norrington, Roxann Russo, Frank Soda<br />
Bulletin Editor: Angela Leitzer bookends68@comcast.net<br />
The Bulletin is published bi-monthly during the school year. Your suggestions and letters to the editor are welcomed.<br />
Publication of submitted materials is subject to approval, editing, and/or space availability. Names will be withheld upon request.<br />
6 3
4<br />
TABCO Committee Spotlight: Instruction and Professional Development<br />
The Instruction & Professional Development (IPD)<br />
committee is tasked with enhancing the professional<br />
knowledge of members and advocating for instructional<br />
reform. The committee works to offer professional development<br />
opportunities throughout the school year in response<br />
to teacher need. Past workshop topics have included<br />
classroom management, technology, stress management,<br />
SLOs, interview & resume writing skills, National<br />
Board certification, portfolios, teacher evaluation,<br />
and many more. The committee is always looking for<br />
suggestions from members, so please feel free to share<br />
your ideas!<br />
IPD Workshops address teachers’ needs<br />
On Tuesday, October 18 the IPD committee sponsored<br />
a New Teacher Talk. This was a great opportunity for<br />
new teachers to learn about all the things newbies wish<br />
someone had told them. Topics included how to read the<br />
paycheck, understanding IEPs, BIPs, 504s, and SST, and<br />
teacher rights related to observations, evaluations, and<br />
working conditions.<br />
TABCO’S<br />
Did you know that TABCO has regular legislative<br />
sessions? They are more commonly known as Representative<br />
Assemblies, and like the U.S. Congress, Reps<br />
(also known as AR’s) have similar responsibilities.<br />
REPRESENTATION: Representing the people who<br />
elected them--that’s right, TABCO’s Bylaws specify<br />
that the Reps at each school or worksite must hold<br />
elections for Rep positions (elected for two-year<br />
terms) and for the members of their Faculty Councils.<br />
LEGISLATION: Reps also have the responsibilities<br />
of presenting motions, debating, and voting on the<br />
actions of the association. Article VIII, Section 1 of<br />
the Association Bylaws, states, “The legislative and<br />
policy-forming body of the Association shall be the<br />
Representative Assembly.” The meetings should be<br />
interactive, in other words--motions on issues important<br />
to members can and should be presented<br />
by Reps for consideration by the assembly.<br />
In order to fulfill these and other responsibilities<br />
outlined in the bylaws, Reps are trained in August of<br />
Coming up on Saturday, November 5 the IPD<br />
Committee will be presenting an all day workshop<br />
titled “Yes You Can!,” to be held at the Towson<br />
branch of the public library, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30<br />
p.m. This nationally recognized program has been<br />
adapted by the Maryland State Education Association<br />
and TABCO to reflect the current needs of teachers<br />
and focuses on Classroom Management. Participants<br />
will learn about routines, student voice and<br />
choice, dealing with difficult behaviors, communicating<br />
with families, and much more. The IPD committee<br />
also advocates on behalf of members regarding<br />
instructional concerns. In recent years the committee<br />
has worked on new curriculum concerns, special<br />
education workload, and member responsibilities<br />
related to IDEA. We ask that members share<br />
their instructional concerns with the committee so<br />
that we may advocate for you and your colleagues.<br />
~Frank Soda, TABCO Board of Directors<br />
each year<br />
and are<br />
offered<br />
other opportunities<br />
to learn<br />
about leadership<br />
Ja’nel Alston, new Rep for Woodholme ES,<br />
hard at work learning her new responsibilities<br />
at the August Rep Training.<br />
through<br />
workshops<br />
given at the local and state levels.<br />
However, all Reps should take the proverbial “bull<br />
by the horns” and become familiar with the bylaws,<br />
learn to use parliamentary procedure, and attend<br />
scheduled Representative Assemblies. Reporting back<br />
to their constituents—the members at their buildings—<br />
is also a part of the job.<br />
Many times, the job of Association Rep falls to<br />
someone whose arm has been twisted (figuratively),<br />
but the reward for serving can be a real sense of empowerment.<br />
The more you know…<br />
“Above and beyond” – who are they?<br />
Association members have the opportunity to nominate<br />
colleagues or friends of education to be honored<br />
at the annual Retirement & Recognition Dinner on May<br />
4, 2017. The nomination process begins in late November;<br />
nomination forms will be provided.<br />
Start thinking now about colleagues whose superior<br />
qualities make them eligible for the TABCO Recognition<br />
or Rookie Recognition Award (given to “rookies”<br />
with 5 or fewer years in the profession).<br />
The possibility exists to nominate “friends of education”<br />
such as businesses or other entities not eligible as<br />
members of our bargaining unit, but who contribute to<br />
our schools or students in some exceptional way. Although<br />
awards are presented to such groups, the main<br />
goal of the awards is to recognize outstanding teachers.<br />
You know who they are. You work alongside them<br />
every day. Please help us find them!<br />
*Nominators must be members of the association<br />
and nominees must be members, if eligible.<br />
~Committee Co-chairs Roxann Russo, Michele Snell<br />
TABCO members join others to train for building a<br />
coalition to be part of a BCPS implementation team,<br />
the “Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Action Team”:<br />
those who represented TABCO’s team were Jill Cox,<br />
Samantha Yuhanick, Aimee Freeman, John Redmond-<br />
Palmer and Natasha Eckart-Baning.<br />
In Memory of ~<br />
Stacy Crowl,<br />
educator at Pine Grove ES, who passed<br />
away on October 5. She gave 25 years of<br />
service to Baltimore County schools.<br />
We honor her service<br />
and express our condolences<br />
to her family, friends and colleagues.<br />
TABCO UNISERV<br />
DIRECTORS!<br />
Observation issues? Infringement on your planning<br />
time? Student accusations? Need help getting a Faculty<br />
Council up and running? Call your UniServ Director!<br />
TABCO’s professional staff are experts on the Master<br />
Agreement, as well as county policies and state laws regarding<br />
public education. They stand ready to represent<br />
you when there are infringements on your rights.<br />
Recently, TABCO re-organized the UniServ staff to<br />
match the four zones created by BCPS in its supervisory<br />
revisions. Ben Forstenzer is the designated UniServ Director<br />
for Zone 1. Zone 2 is covered by Sheila Harte-Dmitriev,<br />
Zone 3 by Seleste Odewole and Zone 4 by Natasha Eckart-<br />
Baning. All of them may be reached by called TABCO’s<br />
main number, 410-828-6403, but their email addresses are<br />
listed on page 8.<br />
“If there's something weird, And it don't look good<br />
Who you gonna call? ...If you're all alone,<br />
Pick up the phone, And call…” UniServ Directors!<br />
October 21-22 — Opportunities<br />
Friday, October 21 is a unique work day (and it is a<br />
work day). Educators have the opportunity to attend<br />
meetings sponsored by their professional associations<br />
(such as the Maryland Art Education Association or Maryland<br />
Music Educators Association) or “go downy ocean”<br />
to take advantage of the offerings at the MSEA Convention.<br />
The convention hall will be open with exhibitors from<br />
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00<br />
p.m. on Saturday.<br />
A full program of professional<br />
development<br />
workshops will be offered,<br />
as well, covering<br />
topics from classroom<br />
management to technology<br />
to shutting down the<br />
prison pipeline for students,<br />
and many more—<br />
check out the list on the<br />
MSEA website for times<br />
and topics. All of the<br />
workshops are free to members.<br />
If you head to O.C. after school on Thursday, you are<br />
welcome to attend the President’s Reception at 7:30 p.m.<br />
at the Convention Center ballroom.<br />
Others may feel the need to spend that time working<br />
on classroom projects of their choosing, catching up on<br />
grading, planning or other tasks that never seem to get<br />
done on a regular work day.<br />
Feel like a real professional—develop your own plan<br />
for this day of opportunities!<br />
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