Nominate a special parent-volunteer for recognition by CMAE

On Tuesday, November 19, CMAE celebrates the incalculable investments made by parent-volunteers in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, and it invites CMAE members to nominate individual parent-volunteers for special recognition.

Exceptional parent-volunteers can have direct, positive impact on the effectiveness of instruction and learning in schools, and such parents aid school administrators and classroom educators in Charlotte Mecklenburg School every day.

Complete CMAE's ESSA checklist before November 22 to win breakfast for YOUR school

CMAE will bring breakfast to the CMS schools whose educators complete the largest percentage of  ESSA checklists by the last day of American Education Week (AEW).

AEW is celebrated November 18-22, next Monday through Friday. Responses collected from educators online will be used by CMAE and NCAE to create action plans, and to seek resources to meet pressing needs.

ESSA is the "Every Student Succeeds Act, the current iteration of the federal law first passed in 1965 and known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

Designed for revision at regular intervals, ESEA has been renamed several times, with each new version reflecting the priorities of Congress and the administration in office at the time. During the past 40 years, it has been known as the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act (ECIA, 1981), the Hawkins-Stafford Elementary and Secondary School Improvement Act (ESSIA, 1988), the Improving America's Schools Act (IASA, 1994), and No Child Left Behind (NCLB, 2001). NCLB was due for re-authorization in 2007 but the process was stalled by Congressional gridlock until 2015, when ESSA was negotiated and signed into law.

Monthly CMAE Association Representative meetings will be held at the YWCA on Park Road

Beginning November 21, CMAE's monthly Association Representative meeting will be held at YWCA of the Central Carolinas, 3420 Park Road. The location is one mile from CMAE's office at 4523 Park Road.

CMAE President Lawrence Brinson said the YWCA location offers a comfortable, modern meeting space that will accommodate all of CMAE's Association Representatives, and more room for catering and other meeting needs.

CMAE members are invited to attend the AR meeting in the new location on November 21. At that meeting, CMAE will invite a YWCA representative to present an overview of programs and services provided by that organization.

Gunter briefs Retired School Personnel on retirement fund health and influences

Linda Gunter, vice president of North Carolina Retired School Personnel, briefed attendees at the NCRSP Region 3 General Meeting on Tuesday. The meeting was held at South Piedmont Community College in Monroe. NCRSP includes retirees in Anson, Cabarrus, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Gaston, Lincoln, Montgomery, Rowan, Stanly, and Union counties.

Earlier this year, she was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to represent retired teachers and school district employees on the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System (TSERS) Board of Trustees.

While the state retirement system remains one of the best-funded systems in America, several factors weigh upon its health, Gunter explained. The increasing number of retirees who draw benefits from the fund, the decreasing number of public employees contributing to the fund, and the trend of retirees living longer, all impact the projections offered by staff members at the retirement system, in the state Treasurer's Office, and at the legislature.

Those projections govern decisions by legislators to afford cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), which are preferable to one-time "bonuses," she explained. One-time bonuses affect benefits in a single year, but COLAs improve monthly benefits for the rest of a retiree's life. For that reason, it's important that the system remain well-funded.

CMAE voices support for Cooper's veto, urges lawmakers to negotiate

Voicing support for Governor Roy Cooper's veto at a CMAE press conference were (left to right): Courtney Stallman, Amanda Thompson, Melissa Easley, Rep. John Autry, Justin Parmenter, Randolph Frierson, Sen. Jeff Jackson, Sen. Joyce Waddell, Pat Naylor, Winifred Muhammad, and Lakisha Mills.

 CMAE voiced its support for Governor Roy Cooper's veto of a new legislative proposal that would raise some educators' salaries at the expense of others.

In a press conference at the CMAE office, CMAE members Randolph Frierson, Winifred Muhammad, Lakisha Mills, Amanda Thompson, Justin Parmenter, Courtney Stallman, Pat Naylor, and Melissa Easley were joined by Senator Jeff Jackson, Senator Joyce Waddell, and Rep. John Autry.

Representing the CMAE Government Relations Committee, Frierson urged lawmakers to "stand up to bullying, to stand strong for public schools and our students. We ask our elected representatives to stand against dishonest tricks and dishonest bargains that offer dishonest incentives with strings attached and that leave our education support personnel behind."

NCAE, CMAE leaders urge Governor Cooper, legislators to stand strong, keep working

NCAE and CMAE leaders will join Sen. Jeff Jackson and Sen. Joyce Waddell in a press conference at the CMAE office on Friday, November 8, at 4 p.m. to urge Governor Roy Cooper and legislators to stand strong for public school students and educators, and to continue working toward a better budget agreement. CMAE is located at 4523 Park Road, Suite 102.

CMAE invites members to attend the press conference, to show support, and to urge Cooper to reject the latest scheme proposed by the legislative majority.

Strengthen CMAE through the Fall Membership Drive

Celebrate American Education Week with CMAE, November 18-22

During American Education Week, Americans nationwide will join CMAE, NCAE, and NEA in raising awareness about the need to provide every child with a quality public education.

CMAE officers are finalizing plans now for events in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, and details will be posted at the CMAE Bulletin.

Celebrations highlight the importance of bringing together educators, parents, students, and communities in a unified effort to build great public schools. They reflect the collective vision of CMAE, NCAE, and NEA members of calling upon America to provide public school students with quality schools so that they can grow and achieve in the 21st century.

To reinforce American Education Week's themes, each day of the week will spotlight the different people who are critical in building great public schools for the nation's 50 million K-12 students.

American Education Week's celebration days include:

Monday, November 18: Nationwide Kickoff. Across the country, schools will celebrate excellence in education by hosting kickoff events and activities.

Tuesday, November 19: Parents Day. Schools will invite parents into the classroom for a hands-on experience of what the day is like for their child.

Wednesday, November 20: Education Support Professionals Day. Individuals who provide invaluable services to schools are recognized for their outstanding work.

Thursday, November 21: Educator for a Day. Community leaders will be invited to serve as educators to get a glimpse of a day in the life of a school employee.

Friday, November 22: Substitute Educators Day. This day honors the educators who are called upon to replace regularly employed teachers.

2019 CMAE Legislative Breakfast

On Monday, October 28, 2019, the CMAE Government Relations Division hosted the 2019 Legislative Breakfast to Covenant Presbyterian Church. We are so grateful for the NC General Assembly Members, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Commissioners, CMS School Board Members and CMAE Officers/Executive Board/Members that attended and participated. 

Linda Gunter will brief retirees on benefits, insurance, COLAs, and the state budget

North Carolina Retired State Personnel (RSP) Vice President Linda Gunter will speak to members of the Charlotte Mecklenburg RSP chapter on Monday, November 11, and deliver a training on the retirement system, health insurance, and cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to members of the NCRSP Region 3 on Tuesday, November 12, at 11 a.m. at South Piedmont Community College, 4209 Old Charlotte Highway, Monroe. Retired state personnel and school district employees who are nearing retirement eligibility are invited to attend.

Gunter is a career-long NCAE member and leader whose advocacy has led her into public service beyond her community in Cary. After teaching social studies at Cary High School in Wake County from 1971 to 2002, she served NCAE as a UniServ Director and Government Relations Specialist from 2005 to 2015. As an active and retired leader in NCAE, Gunter is a past vice president of Wake NCAE, and past president of Wake Retired School Personnel.

In her career outside the classroom, Gunter served as president of the South Raleigh Civitan Club, and president of the Democratic Women of Wake County. She voted as a Presidential Elector in 2008, and she presently serves on the North Carolina Democratic Party's State Executive Committee. In 1992, she was elected to a term in the North Carolina Senate.

Register to attend three remaining dates in CMAE Leadership Development Academy

Three training dates remain in CMAE's "Leadership Development Academy" series, and members are encouraged to register to attend. The schedule of remaining dates, and a description of each training module, is found below. Each module in the series will only be offered once under this grant.

Please click here to register and indicate your commitment to attend the training dates. Register to attend any dates that you can commit to attend.

The trainings will be delivered in the Media Center at Kannapolis Middle School, 1445 Oakwood Avenue, Kannapolis. Each training date will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 1:30 p.m., and lunch will be provided.

November promises a busy month for CMAE

Candidate recommendations approved by CMAE Association Representatives

CMAE officers and Government Relations Committee members pause with recommended candidates for CMS Board of Education following the monthly meeting of CMAE Association Representatives in October. From left to right are (front row) CMAE Secretary Lakisha Mills, candidates Elyse Dashew and Lenora Shipp, and committee member Amanda Thompson; (second row) CMAE President Lawrence Brinson, candidates Monty Witherspoon and Stephanie Sneed, and committee members Jennifer Anderson and Phyllis Washington. Municipal elections will be held November 5, 2019.

Public officials, candidates to attend "Educational Issues Breakfast" on October 28

CMAE's Government Relations Committee will host a Legislative Breakfast on Monday, October 28, at the Covenant Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 100 East Morehead Street, from 9 to 11 a.m. CMAE members are invited to attend.

The Mecklenburg County legislative delegation (members of the state House and Senate representing residents of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County) have been invited to the breakfast, as well as members of the Mecklenburg County Commission and the CMS Board of Education.

Committee members will introduce CMAE's four recommended candidates for the CMS Board. Earlier this month, the committee interviewed nine candidates for the three at-large board seats, and asked general and specific issues around advocacy and policy-making which impacts public education in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and North Carolina.

Based upon candidates' responses and its deliberations, the committee recommended candidates Elyse Dashew, Lenora Shipp, Stephanie Sneed, and Monty Witherspoon to CMAE Association Representatives at their monthly meeting on October 17. The CMAE Executive Board approved the recommendations.

Current officeholders and the recommended candidates will have opportunities to speak and to answer questions from members in attendance.

Committee chairs and members also plan to review CMAE's and NCAE's legislative agenda for 2019-20, and to discuss developments from the current biennial session.

Register: CMAE BTOP Summit for early-career educators, November 16

CMAE's Beginning Teacher Organizing Program (BTOP) is sponsoring a Summit for early-career educators -- those with fewer than five full years in the classroom -- on November 16 in Charlotte. The Summit will be held at Newell Elementary School, 325 Rocky River Road West, Charlotte. (This is the same location where the Regional Association Representative Training was held on September 7.)

Educators in CMS and surrounding districts who have completed fewer than five full years in the classroom are invited to register. Use this form to register by November 12.

CMAE President Lawrence Brinson has announced that CMS Teacher of the Year Kim Tuttle will speak to attendees, and more guest speakers may be announced soon. Vendors, including school supply companies and local businesses, will be on-site to describe various products and services.

Several sessions have been planned for educators with specific interests. These sessions will be rotated and are offered more than once, to allow participants to attend up to three.

Sessions already named include the following:
- Blended Learning
- Trauma Informed
- Classroom Management
- Vocabulary Instruction
- Teacher Evaluations
- Fun for Math
- True Colors
- Strategies for Resilience
- Working with EC Students

After completing the registration, educators are urged to share the notice with other early-career educators at your school.

Members are invited to serve on CMAE committees

CMAE is expanding its outreach to members who wish to participate in the organization's leadership.

President Lawrence Brinson invites all CMAE members to consider serving on one of the organization's several standing and special committees. Standing committees are perennial committees named in the CMAE Constitution and By-Laws, and special committees are those created by the President and/or the Executive Board to address specific tasks and topics.

Some committees meet as often as monthly, others on a less-frequent regular basis. Current standing and special committees include the following:

- Communications and Public Relations Committee- Constitution and By-Laws Committee
- Early Educators Committee
- Education Support Personnel Committee
- Elections Committee
- Government Relations Committee
- Grievances Committee
- Just Schools Committee- Leadership Development Committee
- Membership Committee
- Organizing Committee
- Student Services Committee

If you are interested in serving on any of these, indicate your interest to CMAE officers by completing the interest survey here. Officers will contact you with more details.

Government Relations Committee will recommend candidates to CMAE

Earlier this month, members of CMAE's Government Relations Committee interviewed nine of 13 candidates for the three at-large seats on the Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board. (Eleven candidates accepted the committee's invitation to interview, but two of these couldn't or didn't attend.) Candidates were asked about general and specific issues around advocacy and policy-making which impacts public education in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and North Carolina.

After careful deliberation, and based upon candidates' responses, the Committee will issue to CMAE's monthly meeting of Association Representatives its recommendations of Elyse Dashew, Lenora Shipp, Stephanie Sneed, and Monty Witherspoon.

Association Representatives will meet Thursday, October 17, at the CMAE office.

According to Chairwoman Winifred Muhammad, committee members applied several criteria in weighing the candidates, their records and positions, and their responses to members' questions. Among the criteria were these priorities:

Register now for CMAE's Leadership Development Academy

A grant has allowed CMAE to develop and host a "Leadership Development Academy," a series of eight training modules on five dates during the next three months. The schedule of dates, and a description of each training module, is found below. Each module in the series will only be offered once under this grant.

PLEASE NOTE that the first of the five training dates is this Saturday, October 19.

Because of material costs associated with some of the modules, participation is limited to 25 CMAE members. (Additional NCAE members will be invited from other local affiliates.)

We hope you'll participate, but seating is limited. Please click here to register and indicate your commitment to attend the training dates. The eight modules are part of a total training package, and those members who are able to attend all five of the training dates will earn a certificate that reflects your completion of the CMAE Leadership Development Academy. However, please register to attend any dates that you commit to attend, and we will extend invitations to other members to ensure that we get maximum participation and meet the grant's objectives.

The trainings will be delivered in the Media Center at Kannapolis Middle School, 1445 Oakwood Avenue, Kannapolis. Each training date will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 1:30 p.m., and lunch will be provided.

Association Representatives will meet Thursday

CMAE Association Representatives will convene their monthly meeting at the CMAE office on Thursday, October 17, at 5 p.m. Dinner will be available beginning at 4:30 p.m., and grade-level divisions will meet during dinner.

Mecklenburg County Commissioner Susan Harden is expected to present information about the pending sales-tax referendum. Committee chairs will offer other reports and presentations.

CMAE members are invited to attend. CMAE is located at 4523 Park Road, Suite 102.

Nhatisha Sturgis: “I care about them and their differences.”

Originally from Norwalk, Connecticut, I moved in 1999 to Greenville, North Carolina after a tour in the U.S. Navy. I completed studies in Social Work at Barton College in Wilson, NC. The paternal side of my family still lives in Connecticut, and the maternal side resides in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

In 2010, my children and I moved to Charlotte, and we love it here. I’ve served Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools for a total of eight years, including my experience as a long-term substitute in a middle-school science class, and as a financial secretary assistant. For the past four years, I’ve been a full-time teacher in the AU self-contained program at Oakdale Elementary.

I’m a single mother; two of my five children attend college, one attends high school and struggles with academics due to her autism, one attends middle school, and one has just begun kindergarten.

Before moving to Charlotte, I never saw myself as an educator, as my passions lay in behavioral health and social work. When it was difficult to find employment in social services, I began working as a substitute teacher and encountered children in middle grades who couldn’t read, or even add two-digit numbers. I used some strategies that I’d used with my children at home, and they worked for these students.

I found that my students wanted to work when they realized that I care about them and their differences. How could I not want to help create structure for, and teach, children who will be our future? As I began to see more students with special needs, who hadn’t been correctly placed and who struggled like my daughter, I knew I wanted to help, even if my help was minute.

One of my students couldn’t speak, couldn’t even attempt to verbalize a word. We practiced with mouth movements every day, and when that student began to say, “Mom,” I knew this was the right place for me. 

Another one of my students couldn’t name colors, and rarely spoke. But when I taught a lesson on tornadoes, he understood it, and began coming to school every day asking, “Where is the tormadoes (spellers how he said it)?”

More examples like these reinforce that I’m in the right place and doing the right thing.

I’m new to CMAE, so I’ve not had direct interaction with my professional organization yet, but I want to become an integral part, and be able to support other educators.

#phenomenallyurs