JOURNAL
August, 2011 www.feaonline.org Vol. 55 No. 1DoDEA Headquarters is
taking our schools in the
wrong direction.
FEA’s Maximize the
Learning campaign offers
our suggestions for
changes that will maintain
excellence in our schools.
see pages 6 and 7 for more on FEA’s Maximize the Learning Campaign
DoDEA Needs to Change Its Ways
to Maximize Our Students’ Learning
FEA is calling for major changes in the way DoDEAoper-ates so that our schools can maintain the excellence for which they are recognized.
When we say “Maximize the Learning,” we are
calling for changes that will refocus resources away from pointless paperwork exercises and ill-conceived initiatives and put the emphasis back on our most important task: educating students!
MEANINGFUL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DoDEA once had an outstanding professional development program. It ensured employees were trained, not just in “educational theories,” but in content that was specific to their curricular areas. Such training is vital to student learning.
Sadly, in recent years DoDEA has adopted a more generalized approach. Professional Development now is lumped under UDDI and does little to help employees increase their students’ learning.
Improving professional development is a top priority
of FEA’s Maximize the Learning campaign.
MORE and BETTER LOCAL CONTROL In 2001, Vanderbilt University released a report praising DoDEA schools as a model system. Among the reasons cited for our achievements was DoDEA’s practice of setting solid goals at the headquarters level and then allowing local decision making to heavily influence how those goals were attained.
Recently, however, DoDEA Headquarters has elimi-nated virtually all local control. We are gradually returning to the “one size fits all” approach that failed in the 1990s, as well as returning to the negativity and frustration such an approach invariably breeds.
Increasing local control and calling for capable and highly-qualified leadership at all levels of DoDEA is
an-other priority of the Maximize the Learning campaign.
Our third, and highest priority – reducing
manage-ment initiatives that take away teaching time - is discussed on page 7 of this newsletter.
Expect to hear more about the Maximize the
I have made it my personal goal to maxi-mize instructional time in the classroom for educators and students. Let teachers teach!
Unfortunately, DoDEA Headquarters in Arlington continues to chart a path that robs educators of time with children and as a result does harm to the educational process.
How?
1. There are too many initiatives
The DoDEA Acting Director acknowledges over 100 initiatives will be coming out of Arlington – all piled directly or indirectly onto children.
This year we have training on ELA, math, social studies, Surestart, another UDDI module, new assessments, new man-agement systems, software programs, CSI/ AdvancedEd, curricula evaluations, new regulations, new polices, and the list goes on. The new reading assessment for grades K-3 will take the teacher away from his/ her entire class for over 20 hours in the fall alone!
An Agency cannot implement scores of initiatives at the same time and expect to do any one of them well – and certainly not all of them. However, DoDEA Headquarters
personnel stress that they will hold school-level personnel accountable. It should be those in Arlington who are held accountable for the products they produce.
Research has shown that what made DoDEA a great educational system was that needs were identified and addressed locally and that Headquarters provided the resources – not the other way around.
2. Arlington refuses to acknowledge
the problem
FEA has asked that DoDEA Headquarters address the problem head on and reduce the number of initiatives to ensure that each one is implemented well, with appropriate training and resources. This will prevent Headquarters from taking away resources from schools and teachers.
FEA has asked that each initiative
include an educational impact statement as to
the direct effect a program will have on the classroom teacher and students. Headquar-ters has refused, stating that “management should not usurp the union’s role by iden-tifying impact. It is the union perspective that is most important here, therefore, we will not provide a management position on impact.”
3. Out of Touch
Over the past years, while budgets are cut at the school level, administrative positions in DoDEA have grown. Now, Headquarters personnel push out programs to the schools on a weekly basis for teachers to implement.
Some in Arlington have no first-hand knowlege of our schools but still gener-ate work for you to do. A specialist once claimed to me that “all DoDEA teachers do is pass out worksheets” before admitting she’d never even been to a DoDEA school. Such comments are insulting and untrue.
It is time that all curriculum personnel in Arlington are placed on a 5-year rotation cycle to work directly as a classroom teacher for at least 3 years. They need to see the phenomenal job that our educators do every day. They need to see that our educators work around the clock – early morning, late at night, weekends, holidays, and yes, even meeting with parents in the frozen food aisle at the Commissary.
Headquarters personnel need to work under the initiatives that they have created, under conditions that are not fully funded. They need to listen to teachers. They need
to be advocates for maximizing instructional
time. Enough is enough!
Page 2 FEA Journal
Notes from the President
Michael Priser
Get breaking news and twice-monthly updates from FEA President Michael Priser sent directly to your e-mail. Sign up at www.feaonline.org/listserv.htm
(use the Membership ID number on the
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Association Business
H.T. Nguyen
FEA Executive Director
Hopefully during your summer you hadan opportunity to catch up on the news and, if you were not already aware of it, you learned a little more about the many ongoing attempts to scapegoat public employees for decades of poor decisions by politicians and policy makers.
To be sure, FEA members are not immune from these threats. In this column, I want to quickly apprise you of some of the most ominous issues on our list of concerns.
• Likely proposals to transfer some or all DDESS schools to the local education agency (LEA) near the base. This issue seems to come up every 10 years or so and has repeatedly been shown to be good for neither the existing DDESS students nor the communities that would be expected to absorb these students with inadequate federal Impact Aid funding. However, in the present budget-cutting mania, we are already hearing this issue raised and expect the idea to come up more in the months ahead. All FEA members, but especially DDESS members, will want to pay attention to FEA communications for information on how you can help preserve DDESS schools. • Vouchers for military families. With NEA’s help, we fought off an unnecessary and misguided attempt to institute vouchers for special needs students last spring. However,
those who seek to turn education into a for-profit business never tire of seeking an opening for vouchers and we expect them to try using military dependents as yet another test case.
• Cuts to the DoDEA budget. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the Department of Defense budget is no longer the sacred cow it once was. We will do all we can to make sure lawmakers continue to honor their commitments to military families by properly funding DoDEA schools.
The above examples threaten our students, schools and staff as a whole. Additionally, FEA continues to fight the following efforts that would directly harm our members:
• Expanding the federal pay freeze for up to five years (or longer)
• Basing federal retirement pensions on an employee’s “high 5” years instead of the current “high 3”
• Requiring higher contributions from employees for retirement benefits and health insurance premiums
• Instituting a government-wide hiring freeze that would make it impossible to properly staff DoDEA schools
• Requiring an across-the-board 15 percent cut in the size of the federal workforce • Eliminating official time for Association representatives to do their work on behalf of
the employees who lawfully elected them as representatives
• Eliminating collective bargaining rights or severely curtailing bargaining rights, especially on pay issues
• Ending the option of automatic dues deductions for members
• Implementing a new Performance Management System that will reduce employees’ access to fair hearings and redress of grievances
• Removing the statute of limitations for the government to seek debt collections from employees
As you can see, it is a very long list. It is important for our members to acknowledge that we, as educators and as public employees, are under attack. These attacks are well orchestrated and have just one ultimate goal: to wipe out all rights of employees.
The only way we can possibly fight these attacks is through a united front. This makes your support of FEA important and appreciated now more than ever.
Working with NEA and our partners in the United DoD Workers Coalition and the Federal Workers Alliance, we will continue to fight these attacks and, with your support, we will beat them back.
Stay strong and stay united!
Get all the latest news on issues affecting FEA members by
regularly visiting FEA’s Web site at www.feaonline.org
Page 4 FEA Journal
In School Year 2010-2011*, FEA State Dues were $395.
From that amount, funds used to support the FEA
Headquarters operating budget were $240.16
The balance of $154.84 remains in the regions to support the individual regions (Stateside, Europe, Pacific). In addition, a portion of local association dues is returned to the region. Local association dues do not come to the Headquarters office.
Administration
Office equipment, maintenance, and supplies. It also includes audit services, legal publications, and membership promotional items.
Personnel Salary, benefits, and expenses for the staff in the FEA Washington office.
Professional Services
Negotiations, arbitrations, insurance and outside legal assistance when necessary.
Governance
Expenses for At-Large officers, FEA BOD meetings, funding for state delegates to the FEA Annual Membership Meeting/ NEA convention, training for FEA leaders, and benefits and expenses for the FEA President.
Communications/ Publications
FEA Journals and other publications, BOD minutes, FEA Web site.
How Your Dues Dollars Are Utilized
NEA, the National Education Association, is the parent organization of FEA.
There are NEA affiliates in all 50 U.S. states. The NEA is America’s leading
proponent of quality public schools and a quality education for all children.
Breakdown of the $166 NEA Dues for 2010-2011*
*2010-2011 figures are used because they were the most current numbers available at the time this publication went to press.
Governance
Implement an inclusive, engaged governance process that fosters member participation and democratic decision-making through such avenues as the Representative Assembly, NEA Board, NEA Executive Committee, and NEA committees and task forces.
$6.13
Legal Support
Implement advocacy programs for members including the Unified Legal Services Program, Fidelity Bond, Association Leaders liability insurance, and a one million dollar member liability insurance program.
$17.83
Leadership Development & Constituency Support Provide for Regional Leadership Conferences, Minority and Women’s Leadership Training, support for councils including NCUEA, ESP, Higher Education, NEA-Retired, and the NEA Student Program.
$5.32
Administrative Support
Provide a facility that includes technology infrastructure, financial services, facilities services, and human resources to serve the needs of affiliates and members.
$39.41
Legislative & Ballot Initiative Action
Build bipartisan support for public education that includes lobbying, government relations, a state ballot initiative and legislative crises fund, cyber lobbyists, members’ education, and mobilization on political issues.
$13.87 ContingencyProvide funding
for emergencies at the national, state, or local levels.
$1.38
Partnerships & Public Relations
Establish new partnerships with diverse supportive organizations and businesses and outreach to family-community organizations and to minority communities. Establish NEA’s public image as an advocate for great public schools through TV, radio, print, and cyber news.
$17.18 Support Strong States & Locals to Protect Member Interests
Support the UniServ program, affiliate project and assistance grants, bargaining training and research on salary and benefits issues, and compensation database technology. Recruit and retain members in all categories and produce communications for members and leaders.
$57.44
Improve Teaching & Learning
Advocate for qualified teachers and support professionals in every classroom and worksite; provide strategies for school improvement and raise student achievement through early childhood education, teacher preparation, certification and development, and research and documentation on testing and accountability. $7.44 $7.86 $5.02 $12.80 $166.45 $48.03
Notice for Members Wanting to Cancel Dues Deduction
Any FEA member who wishes to cancel payroll deductions for their SY 11-12 Association dues must submit a Cancellation of Payroll Deduction for Labor Organization Dues, Form SF 1188, to the appropriate location.
In Europe and Stateside, the forms should be submitted to the Customer Service Representative (CSR) at your District Office. In the Pacific, submit the form to your FEA membership chair. The SF 1188 form is available from your school secretary or the CSR.
There is a limited time at the beginning of the school year when such payroll deductions can be halted. If you miss the deadline, your FEA dues will continue to be deducted from your pay throughout the remainder of SY 10-11. Check with your FEA building representative to learn the deadline for submitting the SF 1188 if you wish to halt dues deductions for the current school year.
To ensure you are complying with all local requirements, please check with your FEA building representative about this procedure.
Poor Condition of Many DoD
Schools Highlighted in Articles
Six Charges Against Miles
Substantiated in IG Report
An 18-month investigation by the Department of Defense Inspector General (IG)’s office has substantiated six abuses of authority committed by former DoDEA Director Dr. Shirley Miles during her brief tenure with the agency.
The IG office reported its findings to the Pentagon and released a redacted copy of its report in June, just prior to the conclusion of the DoDDS school year.
The IG report substantiated the following abuses by Miles:
• Advocating for and causing the hiring of a relative; • Engaging in prohibited personnel practices by
provid-ing an impermissible preference to and selectprovid-ing a personal acquaintance for employment with DODEA; • Traveling on temporary duty on flights ticketed with
other than City-Pair fares on the lowest available Gov-ernment fare;
• Claiming and receiving credit pay on one occasion for time in duty status when on leave;
• Claiming and being paid in one instance for per diem expenses to which she was not entitled; and
• Engaging in unprofessional conduct and speech.
The redacted text of the complete IG report can be found at http://www.dodig.mil/fo/Foia/PDFs/MilesROI-forreleaseRedacted.pdf.
Following release of the IG report, Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told the Stars & Stripes newspaper that he expects the Pentagon to follow through on the report and seek accountability from “everyone” responsible for the substantiated actions.
Miles was removed as DoDEA Director in June, 2010, after serving two years in that position. She had served one additional year in DoDEA administration prior to being named DoDEA Director.
As of press time for the FEA Journal, Miles remained in an SE-3 position at the Pentagon.
An investigation into the poor physical condition of many schools attended by DoD dependents has brought much-needed attention – and the potential for additional funding – to the cause of renovating or replacing the deteriorating buildings.
An article published by the Center for Public
Integrity’s iWatch News site (www.iwatchnews.org)
and summarized in Newsweek magazine, reported that many of the over 350 schools attended by military dependents worldwide, including many DoDDS and DDESS schools, are in deplorable physical condition.
That many DoDEA-run schools are in need of repairs or replacement has been acknowledged since a 2008 report to Congress and DoDEA last year revealed a $3.7 billion plan to do work at 134 of its schools over the next seven years. Funding for those projects, however, has been in question due to recent budget cutting.
In July, the Senate passed an amendment to the 2012 military construction spending bill, requiring the Defense Department to report on its fund-ing plans for fixfund-ing deterioratfund-ing and overcrowded schools on military facilities. The new Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, has called upon Pentagon officials to address all confirmed reports of substan-dard buildings.
The vote by the Senate is seen as an indication the body is committed to continuing at least some of the funding for the many repairs and upgrades that are needed in the schools. How such funding will fare in the House of Representatives, which has been more fervent in its budget cutting moves, remains to be seen.
FEA and NEA will continue to lobby for adequate funding to ensure all DoDEA buildings are brought up to conditions that support a safe environment for learning.
FEA’s Message:
Maximize the Learning
DoDEA Needs to Stop Churning out New Initiatives and Let Educators Do Their Jobs
Providing an outstanding education
requires many tasks...
...the volume of initiatives from DoDEA
makes it harder to get to those tasks
in students’ rights and responsibilities • UDDI training • ChangesHS counseling recommendations • Evaluation of the AP Task Force rec • New syllabi for CTE course • Competencies for CTE courses • Software validation proce-dure by teachers • AVID program • Proposed changes in the drug education program • Adobe software programs • Changes in atten-dance policy • Changes in assessment procedures for special education • New curricular evaluation process • Resource managers • School nurse mentor program • AdvancED/CSI study • Professional learning teams • Di-versity study • Netsupport implementation • Smartboard training • Windows 7 implementation • Password changes for staff and students • Changes proposed in issuing orders • Library automation pilot • K-5 Common math assessment pilot • New Surestart curriculum implemented • ASPEN
special education pilot • K-2 reading assessment • ASPEN implemen-tation • ASPEN training • ASPEN gradebook pilot • Science survey
• Science scope and sequence changes • High school diplo-ma changes • 21st century building changes • Wellness
regulation change • Honors survey • Math imple-mentation • Social studies
implementa-tion • ELA implementaimplementa-tion • Teaching your class
• Keeping tabs on dozens of students • Covering multiple curricula subjects • Parent contacts and conferences • Recording attendance • Lesson planning • CSI • Grade/subjects meetings • Extracurriculars • Open House • CSC meetings • Gradespeed • Correcting papers • Assemblies • Seminar
If you support this message, tear out the
poster on page 6 and hang it in your room
Educators have plenty of demands on their time – lesson plans, grading papers, teaching classes and meeting with par-ents, to name just a few – they do not need DoDEA inventing new initiatives to take time away from these crucial responsi-bilities.
But that’s exactly what DoDEA management continues to do.
Through an endless series of new programs and initia-tives, DoDEA is sapping the amount of time educators can spend actually educating students.
The bloated ranks of DoDEA management, particularly at the Headquarters level, feel the need to justify their existence by constantly developing new programs, assessments, sur-veys and other initiatives.
Some of these initiatives could have academic value. Many do not.
Even those that are potentially positive are negated because management refuses to recognize that any new initia-tive must be balanced by eliminating an existing one. Failing to do so results in a situation where educators face a mountain
of trainings, pilots and implementations with less and less time left to do the job of educating.
FEA wants this practice to stop.
We want DoDEA to Maximize the Learning. This means halting new initiatives and prioritizing existing ones to make sure they do not hinder education.
FEA will be taking our Maximize the Learning message to DoDEA and to the public. We want both to understand that children miss out when their teachers are not allowed to devote their full attention to educating students.
Page 8 FEA Journal
FEA Retiree Still Fights for Union Rights
Karen Peterson has a message for anyone who thinks politically-motivated attacks on public employees don’t affect DoDEA.
“You’re next,” she says of FEA members and other federal employees.
Peterson retired from DoDEA in 2008 and returned to her home in Madison, Wisconsin, where she has been serving as a substitute teacher.
She was enjoying her new situation until this past winter, when Wisconsin’s newly-elected governor and the state legislature dominated by his party made a move to eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employ-ees.
Peterson joined tens of thousands of working people from across the state in protests opposing the gover-nor’s plan. The fight continues with recall elections of nine state senators in August and an expected effort to recall the governor in 2012.
“It’s terrifying,” Peterson says of the governor’s plan. “It’s an all-out attack on the middle class.”
Governor Scott Walker cut corporate taxes in Wisconsin and then claimed that the resulting budget shortfall made it necessary to strip bargaining rights in order to wring concessions from workers on things like pensions and health insurance. Despite public employees across the state agreeing to pay more for those items, Walker and his party in the legislature refused to back off their efforts to strip bargaining rights.
It’s a tactic that is being repeated in states across America and Peterson warns FEA members not to think they are immune because they are federal workers.
“It’s not just Wisconsin,” Peterson says. “It went from Wisconsin to Ohio to Indiana to New Jersey and it’s going to hit you next.”
The best thing you can do to combat the trend, Peterson says, is to make your voice heard by attending
rallies and writing to Congress. FEA members can find a sample letter they can use to write to Congress at www.
feaonline.org and other materials are available at www.educationvotes.org (be sure to seek these materials only when you are off duty and using your own personal computer).
“It’s union busting” Peterson warns. “It’s an attack on the middle class and everybody should be worried.”
“
One of the most stirring sights was the day that we suddenly heard
bagpipes and looked down our famous State Street to see hundreds of
fire fighters, many wearing their helmets, marching towards us carrying
signs – ‘Fire Fighters for Unions’ …. (Governor Scott) Walker had tried
to drive a wedge between state employees and the fire fighters – but it
did not work.
”
– FEA Retired Member and Wisconsin substitute teacher
Karen Peterson on her experience marching for workers’
rights in Madison, Wisconsin
What’s DIsgusting?
UNION
Chad Jimison
wants everyone
to know exercise
doesn’t have to be
boring. In fact, if you like
music and dancing, he’s got
the perfect workout for you.
Chad, an Education Technologist at Seoul American Middle School in Korea, is a certified group aerobics instructor and is
licensed to teach Zumba fitness, the exercise craze that gets participants to work up a sweat while utilizing Latin-inspired dance moves such as the ChaCha and the Merengue.
“The whole idea is to come to the party and get a workout while you’re having fun,” says Jimison, who also serves as FEA Human and Civil Rights Coordinator for Korea.
A long-time devotee to group aerobic activities, Jimison’s first instruction experience was in step and kick boxing classes. When he discovered Zumba, he knew it was a perfect fit for him. He became a licensed Zumba instructor two years ago and has been teaching classes at Seoul ever since.
“The number one thing I enjoy is the music, energy and excitement that every class is filled with. It’s like having a dance party at every class,” Jimison says. “The biggest challenge is learning new choreography and keeping up with the latest music.”
Jimison teaches three one-hour Zumba classes each week with 50 to 60 people typically attending each class. Attendees love the fact that they’re getting a great workout while also having fun, plus Zumba is completely adaptable to each individual.
“Anyone can benefit, from first time aerobics participants to advanced fitness gurus. I have ages from 13 to 63 in my class with all kinds of different health and physical issues,” Jimison says. “Because Zumba doesn’t use any equipment and is based off of dance, the participants can make it as difficult or easy on themselves as they want because they know their own abilities.”
Exercise in any form is important for everyone, Jimison says. Many people are afraid to try exercise classes because they think they don’t have the skills, but Jimison says not being a great dancer or natural athlete is no reason not to try something like Zumba.
“I always tell my newbies ‘just keep moving and enjoy the music’.”
(left) Chad Jimison leads one of his Zumba classes at the base gym in Seoul.
(Below) Chad shows off some moves during a Zumba demonstration class he conducted for delegates to this summer’s FEA Annual
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The
JOURNAL
is a quarterly publication of the Federal Education As-sociation. Contributions, letters, photographs and other submissionsto the
JOURNAL
are welcome and should be sent to the address below.Gary Hritz, Editor
H.T. Nguyen, Executive Director Michael Priser, President BettyLou Cummins Vice President Anita Lang, Secretary/Treasurer Brian Chance, NEA Director Mimi Cuadrado, HCR Coordinator Alex Veto, Europe Area Director Lisa Garmon Ali, Europe Area Director Debra Degalis, Pacific Area Director Terry Arvidson, FEA Director for DDESS
Federal Education Association • 1201 16th St. NW, Suite 117 •
Washington, DC 20036 • 202-822-7850 • Fax: 202-822-7867
Page 12 FEA Journal
FIRST CLASS MAIL
Calendar of Events
September
14-16
FEA
Europe
Area Council Meeting
22-24
FEA
Stateside
Area Council Meeting
24-26
FEA
Pacific Leadership Council Meeting
October
17-21
FEA
Board of Directors Meeting
1201 16th St. NW
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Suite 117
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Washington, DC 20036
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FEA ’s delegates to the 201 1 NEA Representative Assembly in Chicago pose for a group photo at the Blackstone Renaissance Hotel. The RA covered a lot of important business – details are available at www . nea.org/annualmeeting. The delegates were elected by their fellow members to represent them and vote on issues and policies that gov -ern the NEA. Any FEA Active Member can seek a seat as a delegate to the RA. Look for information from your FEA Area Director later this school year , explaining how you can nominate yourself or someoneelse to be a delegate to the 2012 RA
in W
ashington DC.