Even more than the decision to cut teacher tenure, I am disappointed in the fact that the board was presented with this idea and that they were told that teachers agreed with it. Agreed with the idea of what? To weaken our already fragile contracts? To give more power to a principal? Who is speaking for the teachers? Because that person is not my voice. Neither is it the voice of TSTA.

How does the Board of Trustees hear my voice? My voice, as a mere teacher, isn’t counted in anything: my salary, district technology decisions, student concerns, or even health insurance. Every day, people make decisions that affect my job in the classroom, my students and their success in the classroom (and on the TAKS test), and I don’t get a voice. No one asks me anything. And if I take the initiative and voice my concerns, I am quickly placated, shut down, or ostracized. Even worse, hanging over my head is the oft verbalized threat that “I should just be happy that I have a job”, and that if I don’t like it here in Klein, there are 1,000 people willing to take my position and do my job with a smile on their face.

While that may not be the legal definition of a hostile work environment, it certainly isn’t a very friendly environment. In fact, I would say it is rather demoralizing. Is that how Klein ISD deals with criticism and questions? We may have a few people who need to go through Boys Town training to learn KLASS skills in how to handle conflict. I live in Klein ISD. I work in Klein ISD. I bought a house in Klein ISD because I wanted to raise a family in this particular school district. This is my community, and whether you like it or not, I am here to stay. And as far as ME being lucky to have a job, Klein is lucky to have ME as a teacher!

My concerns-
1. We don’t want schools to replace well-paid, experienced teachers with lower salaried inexperienced teachers. Not that there is anything wrong with inexperienced teachers – we were all there once. If not for MY highly-paid, experienced mentor, I may well have been another professional drop out. Take tenure away you could easily disenfranchise new teachers.
2. Tenured teachers have the opportunity to criticize ill-formed plans, become politically active, and join teacher organizations. They are more likely to be innovative in the classroom. They are more likely to advocate for students who are in crisis. Take tenure away, and you will end up with The Emperor’s New Clothes.
3. I worry about giving anyone person too much power – whether that be teacher or principal. Many teachers already complain about nepotism, and removing tenure would make it that much easier for it to occur in Klein. Take tenure away and we could be at risk of losing good teachers so that principals could protect their friends and family members.
4. Not all principals are reliable. You only need three years of classroom experience to be a principal. I know that many principals became principals to escape the classroom. Even though they are trained in KPAS evaluation, they may not truly understand good teaching, especially with the technology push in Klein. Just because someone is using the Starboard during an observation does not mean that learning is occurring.
5. Teachers are already scared of retaliation. That’s why this is an anonymous letter through TSTA. To get rid of tenure just make it easier for principals to retaliate by giving a bad evaluation, putting the teacher on a growth plan, and firing them. With tenure, teachers can only be fired for just cause, and the board will have to see evidence of poor performance. If just cause exists, then the personnel file should contain ample evidence of this. If Klein finds that they cannot fire teachers with continued poor performances even after an attainable growth plans have been issued, then we should take a look at the why the administrator failed to document appropriately.

What reassurances can the board give the teachers and community members that this is not going to happen? This is the sort of thing that puts everyone on guard and makes everyone nervous. Times are rough in education. We all understand that. We also know that there are teachers who need to have a nonrenewal of contracts, but is this really the way? Klein ISD is not an educational business; it is a community of stakeholders, and we have a responsibility to everyone to provide the best education for our children with as little corporate tactics as possible.

Signed,
A teacher, resident, voter, and believer in Klein ISD.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development wants to make American communities stronger, promote home ownership, build a safer nation and take an active role in the revitalization of cities. The purpose of the Good Neighbor Next Door sales program is to improve the quality of life in distressed urban communities by encouraging law enforcement officers, teachers (preK-12), firefighters, and emergency responders to purchase and live in homes in these communities.

What are the benefits for the participant? The lottery winner may purchase the property at a 50 percent discount from the current “as is” appraised value which is the list price. For example, if the home has a list price of $150,000, a participant can buy it for $75,000. You can also apply for an FHA-insured mortgage with a down payment of only $100 and you may finance all closing costs, repairs, improvements, appliances and all acquisition expenses. You must live in the home for three years, but after that you can sell the home and keep all the profit.

If the home you want to purchase needs updating or repairs, you may use FHA’s 203(k) or the new 203(k) Streamline Mortgage program. This mortgage option allows you to finance both the purchase of the home and any needed repairs and/or updates you want to make to the home. You have the benefit of one loan for both costs and one monthly payment. It is a home improvement loan and property acquisition loan combined in one. www.halfpricehome.net/LOTTO_ENTRY.html

To find out about the NEA Home Financing Program, go to www.neamb.com and click on Loans, then NEA Home Financing.

$23,000,000,000. This is the potential money from the education jobs bill. We are closer but without engaging our members, we may leave that money lying on the table. We have two to three weeks left before this support to our state’s budget is gone. We need members contacting Congress.

Check out NEA’s TV ads –  one ad where kids ask, “If I were a Wall Street banker, would Congress listen to me?” is creating quite a buzz. The new TV ad highlights the impact on students when our ESP members are laid off. Go to www.educationvotes.nea.org and in the right hand column, scroll below the Fund box and click on the featured video.

At www.educationvotes.nea.org you can also email members of Congress and become an activist. This is money in our state’s coffers to save our members’ jobs. Please take the time to help!