CEA-Advisor_April-2023-issue_web

APRIL 2023 CEA ADVISOR 9

about treating them with dignity and respect. It’s about listening to them and hearing what they have to say. When we talk about hero pay, I have to tell you, these are heroes.” CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey also emphasized the need

for teacher autonomy, better working conditions, and the restoration of meaningful pedagogy and play-based learning—all of which, she

pointed out, have eroded under the burden of standardized testing. Rep. Christopher Poulos, a CEA member and 2007 Connecticut Teacher of the Year, said, “We need systemic change that brings teachers to the table, and this legislation provides a starting point for that

H NEEDED TO PASS LEGISLATION

“We need to keep calling, emailing, and talking with legislators who will ultimately decide whether the bill becomes a law or dies.” Kate Dias NEW TEACHER EVALUATION GUIDELINES ON THE WAY After 11 frustrating years of evaluations that teachers often feel are unfair and lack useful feedback, the State Board of Education this spring is expected to vote on new teacher evaluation guidelines that are more meaningful, personalized, and collaborative. “We’re trying to get away from this idea of rank ordering,” says CEA President Kate Dias. “The new teacher evaluation system is focused on personalizing the learning for educators themselves—looking at where are you today, where do you need to be tomorrow, and how are we going to get you there? It’s going to require the administrator and teacher working together to develop goals that make sense.” For the last decade, Dias says, educators have looked at the state’s teacher evaluation program and asked, “Does this really support me, or does it judge me?” The new system, developed over 20 months of back-and-forth by a council of various education stakeholders, including CEA, is more intensive and more meaningful. “It allows us to evaluate a first-year teacher like a first-year teacher—and a veteran of 25 years like a veteran of 25 years,” she explains. After adoption by the State Board of Education, districts will have the 2023–2024 school year to plan for implementation of the new Connecticut Guidelines for Educator Evaluation beginning in the 2024–2025 school year.

shift.” He stressed the importance of having teacher representation on the State Board of Education so that the real-world implications on classroom practice are considered when new initiatives are discussed. “If we give teachers agency, we’ll make them proud again. We’ll make them want to stay in their profession.” “I’m really excited to see us consulting with teachers, addressing what’s in these bills, and elevating teacher voice,” said Rep. Maryam Khan, adding, “One of the most important pieces is retaining teachers. We can recruit a lot of teachers, but if we’re not retaining them, we’re going to be here again.” A recent CEA policy brief notes that teachers in their first five years are among the most likely to leave the profession. “We can stop bleeding educators from our schools,” said Dias, “with bold and decisive actions that are supported by the vast majority of voters—90% of whom say that teacher compensation should be comparable to or higher than that of professionals with similar education and training. It’s time for us to make some history. We are in a time when needs and resources are aligned, when our desires for support and acknowledgment align with those of voters. The support is there; we just need this legislation to make it happen.” NEXT UP Watch your inbox for CEA Action Alerts letting you know the status of key bills and how you can move them in the right direction. We have only days left to contact Appropriations Committee members and urge them to support and fund HB 6884, An Act Concerning the Recruitment, Retention, and Enhancement of the Teaching Profession. They will vote on or before April 21.

g profession major boost

“The minimum teacher’s wage being proposed is a huge step in the right direction,” said Bloomfield Education Association President Gail Jorden, a fifth-grade teacher. “In order for us to be competitive, we need to step it up and make sure we show teachers they are valuable and the work they do is respected.” Jorden also spoke to the importance of the COVID pension benefit, uninterrupted prep time, and improvements to school climate. “Few professionals have to go to work and worry about being assaulted,” she said. “We need

protections. We need to feel safe at work so that we can make sure students are safe and Rep. Michelle Cook noted that the physical and emotional abuse many educators endure is another driver of the teacher shortage. “This is what we need to talk about when we talk about teacher recruitment and retention,” she said. “Teachers’ safety should not be at risk. Retaining teachers is we can focus on educating them.”

CEA President Kate Dias comments on new TEVAL guidelines announced at a March 23 press conference held by the governor’s office.