So, this month State Supt. Catherine Truitt wrote that "attrition rates" in our teaching force have been relatively stable. "The results: remarkable stability. Overall, North Carolina teacher attrition increased from 7.5% to 8.2%. Of the 94,328 teachers employed by the state, 624 more left the teaching profession than the year before. In fact, dissatisfaction within the teaching … Continue reading Stable Attrition Rates? Maybe Look At The Vacancies

Ten years ago teachers in North Carolina could receive an increase in salary and a higher certificate if they held graduate degrees. That does not happen any longer. Ten years ago teachers in North Carolina could receive due-process rights after a few years of teaching to allow themselves a chance for defense if their jobs … Continue reading The Endgame: To Make Public School Teaching A Short-Term Contract Job In North Carolina

Below are screen shots of the application process for the Parent Advisory Commission set up by Superintendent Catherine Truitt. Six parents from eight different "education regions" will be appointed from the application process to "help put together recommendations for elected officials and policy makers in North Carolina." They will also have "direct input" to Truitt. … Continue reading Looking At The Gerrymandered Application Process For The State Supt.’s Parent Advisory Commission

So, I just completed the 2022 Teacher Working Conditions Survey. Really felt heard. Not really. There is still one glaring shortcoming about the Teacher Working Conditions Survey issued by the state every two years in the spring: it should ask about teachers’ views not only of their school, but of their perceptions of the state leadership. … Continue reading What If NC Had A Teacher Working Conditions Survey With Questions About State Leadership?

Not many teachers leave the profession because of how they are treated by the students. Most teachers leave the profession because how they are treated by other adults: lawmakers, parents, taxpayers, and even administration. Students don’t write the curriculum and mandate tests. Students generally don’t come to school board meetings and threaten lawsuits or boycotts. … Continue reading It’s Not Because of Students; It’s Because Of The Adults – Why Teachers Leave.

Interesting that the same man who claimed this: Also wants to force local systems to put up more money to support schools as he wants to slash a sizable chunk of their current revenue stream. The same guy who said this: Also started this: The same guy who wants to do something about discipline in … Continue reading When People Who Don’t Know What Happens In Schools Have Power Over Schools

From this report on WRAL.com: That presentation can be found here. The odd part of this report is that it does not include this school year. Maybe Tomberlin should look at this: That seems like a lot of vacancies just for classroom teachers. Imagine how many vacancies are no longer reported as we are nearing … Continue reading He Says, “The teaching profession is stable.” Don’t Think He’s Right.

It's simple - they don't want us to have longevity in a career as a North Carolina public school educator. In August of 2021, teachers began a new school year and their “step” increased by another year. That “step” is the number of years served in schools. Not long ago, teachers who served the state … Continue reading Why Don’t We Get Longevity Pay?

With the onslaught of bills concerning what is taught in our public schools and the shrill tones that many in Raleigh use when debating classroom curriculum in this election year, no doubt that the events happening in the Ukraine are weighing on the minds of a lot of students. When a school board meeting is … Continue reading Phil? Tim? Mark? Catherine? So, How Would You “Instruct” Teachers On How To Talk About Ukraine?

It starts about 44 and 1/2 minutes in to the February 22nd, 2022 WSFCS School Board meeting. A blonde-headed lady approaches the lectern during the open comments section and begins reading. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ENJDQ8y4B7I It's a script from here: And she starts just the way it reads. Violation of Your Oath of Office: You have sworn an … Continue reading Word For Word: The NC Script For “Bonds For The Win”