ODE - Organization of DeKalb Educators

Top News Highlights

Teacher Union Reform Network
Mid-Atlantic/Southeast Regional TURN
Building Collaborative Partnerships to Improve T
eacher Effectiveness

February 18-19, 2012
North Carolina Association of Educators
700 South Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27601

Saturday, February 18, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday, February 19, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

>> Click Here for Tentative Schedule <<

>> Click Here for Registration Form <<

Members,
Attention ODE Members,

ODE Official Call to Nominations for the 2012 ODE Election

The deadline for candidate nominations for the upcoming 2012 ODE election is 5:00pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Nomination forms are available for the following Executive Offices, Executive Board seats and elected positions:

•         President
•         1st Vice-President
•         2nd Vice-President
•         Secretary
•         Treasurer
•         Assistant Treasurer
•         Elementary School Representative at Large
•         Middle School Representative at Large
•         High School Representative at Large
•         Political Action Committee Representatives
•         NEA-RA Delegates

Biographies of no more than 150 words (which should include the position sought), single spaced, 12 point font and 1 headshot photo (jpeg/passport size) are by 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Election documents may be delivered (via hand or USPS) or emailed to odecredentialselections@gmail.com

Emailed election submissions should contain the subject line “ODE 2012 Election Info.” All necessary forms are attached and may also be found by visiting www.odegaenea.org

We ask that all members kindly direct questions, comments and or concerns regarding the ODE election to ODE Credentials and Elections Chair, Deborah Jones, at jondebor9@aol.com

>> View or Download PDF

Members,

As you all know beginning in January 2012 all DCSS employees will be paid on a semi-monthly basis. Due to this change, the deduction amounts for members who were paid monthly will be altered. Certified and classified members will now pay $24.63 or $13.50 respectively per pay period.

We ask that you please share this information with members in your building. Should there be any questions regarding the aforementioned changes, please contact the ODE Office.

2012 Levi A. Simon, III
Scholarship Criteria

Scholarship applications are available for download at
www.odegaenea.org
and will be distributed to each
DeKalb County high school counseling center.

Completed scholarship application packets must be received in the ODE Office by 5:00pm on Friday, March 23, 2012.

Scholarship application packets
received after March 23, 2012 will not be eligible to receive full credit.
Completed scholarship application packets meet the following criteria:

Completed application with required signatures.

Thoughtful answers to questions 14-19 submitted. All answers should betype-written and submitted on separate sheets of paper.

An official high school transcript.

A minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Two (2) original letters of recommendation on school, church or
organization letterhead signed in blue or black ink

>> Click Here for 2012 Scholarship Application <<

I am please to announce a 10% discount for ODE members at:

J & L Meat Market
3546 Panola Road
Lithonia, GA 30058

The business is owned and operated by June and Orin Lowell.

Show your GAE Access Card when placing your order.

David Schutten
President. ODE

Thanks to the Southest DeKalb PTA for this information!

Call Me MISTER

Do you know any Black males who are seniors in high school who want to go to college out of state for 'FREE'? Several Black Colleges are looking for future black male teachers and will send them to universities/colleges for 4 years FREE.

The 'Call Me MISTER' program is an effort to address the critical shortage
of African American male teachers particularly among South Carolina 's
lowest performing public schools. Program participants are selected from
among under-served, socio-economically disadvantaged and educationally at-risk communities. The Call Me MISTER program combines the special strengths and resources of Clemson University with the individualized instructional programs offered by four historically black colleges in South Carolina: Benedict College, Claflin University, Morris College and South Carolina State University. To provide even greater opportunity and access, students have the option of first attending one of our two-year partner colleges before! transferring to one of the four-year institutions to complete their baccalaureate degree. In addition, the project has limited enrollment in the middle school Master of Art in Teaching program.

The project provides: Tuition for admitted students pursuing approved
programs of study at participating colleges. An academic support system to help assure their success. A cohort system for social and cultural support.

Visit http://www.callmemister.clemson.edu/index.htm for more information and online application
or call (800) 640-2657.

The Unity in the Community Rally &
25 Book Campaign Kickoff Celebration Parade
>> Flyer <<

Subject: AJC Editorial page on teacher quality for 9/25, op-eds sought

Dear Mr. Schutten:
I got your name from my colleague, Jaime Sarrio. As the AJC begins an occasional series on teacher quality this Sunday, I’m planning my editorial page package for Sun., 9/25 around that subject. To that end, I’m seeking teachers from around the metro area who would be willing to write a short op-ed essay for us on the best, attainable and realistic ways to improve the skills/abilities of Georgia’s classroom teachers and, by inference, improve learning of our students. The essays are pretty short: 300 words max and I would need them in hand by close of business next Wednesday.

I would appreciate your help and insights in this matter. Feel free to post this query wherever you think it might elicit good responses.
Thanks for your help.

Andre Jackson
Editorial Editor
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and AJC.com
Andre.Jackson@ajc.com
404.526.5882

The DeKalb Board of Education Budget Committee met this morning to discuss the DCSS 2011-2012 Budget.

As I reported last week, adoption of the budget was delayed when Board Vice Chair Paul Womak raised general concerns. At issue is using the $40 million surplus from this year to restore furlough days to employees. Voting with Mr. Womak were Don McChesney, Nancy Jester, Pam Speaks, and Sarah Copelin-Wood.

The Board is scheduling a Committee of the Whole for next week. It is imperative that as many ODE members as possible contact these 5 Board members prior to Monday and urge them to adopt the proposed budget! Once again, ODE was the only organization at the meeting representing employees. I urged Board members to adopt the budget as proposed by Interim Superintendent Ramona Tyson. Below is a link to the Board members' contact information:

https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/AboutBoard.aspx?S=4054#31066

Their contact information is also on the ODE web site home page.

I have also received numerous phone calls and e-mails about a rumor circulating that DCSS employees will receive another stimulus check. This rumor is not true.

Thank you for your membership in ODE/GAE/NEA.

David Schutten
President
Organization of DeKalb Educators

Urgent Call to Action!

After months of preparation and few questions, the DeKalb Board of Education voted Monday evening to delay approval of the 2011-2012 budget after Board Vice Chair Paul Womak raised vague questions and concerns. Voting with Mr. Womak to delay adoption of the 2011-2012 budget were Nancy Jester, Don McChesney, Pam Speaks, and Sarah Copelin-Wood.

The Interim Superintendent's proposed 2011-2012 budget would restore furlough days to 10 and 11 month employees, keep the pre-K program for the full year, remove fingerprint fees for employees, fund crossing guards, among other critical needs.

The move to delay adoption of the budget was done at the 11th hour with no plausible explanation, and prior to Chief Financial Officer Marcus Turk's presentation of the budget. This action by the five BoE members serves to further erode confidence, trust and respect for the DeKalb Board of Education, further undermines their ability to find viable Superintendent candidates, and could serve as a major blow to the morale of DCSS employees, already reeling from years of scandal and budget challenges. Why didn't Mr. Womak raise his questions and concerns at earlier meetings? Why did Jester, McChesney, Speaks and Copelin-Wood go along with this blatant grand standing? Is Mr. Womak trying to put the furlough days back in next year's budget? Is there a hidden agenda here? Have we now moved from the Keystone Cops Search for a Superintendent to the Keystone Cops Adopt a Budget? It is time we demand they explain their actions!

Please contact the five Board members who voted to delay adoption of the budget, and urge them to pass the 2011-2012 DCSS Budget as presented by Interim Superintendent Ramona Tyson and her staff. Please ask your friends, family members, neighbors and church members to contact them as well.

Mr. Paul Womak                h_paul_womak@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
404-680-8790

Ms. Nancy Jester               nancy_jester@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
404-394-8750

Mr. Don McChesney           don_mcchesney@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
404-664-2458

Ms. Pam Speaks                 pam_speaks@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
404-931-7971

Ms. Sarah Copelin-Wood   sarah_copelin-wood@fc.dekalb.k12.ga.us
404-371-1490

This is an urgent call to action!
David Schutten
President

What You Need to Know About
What's Happening Right Now

Do You Need Help?

If you've been contacted by the PSC or law enforcement officials regarding alleged CRCT cheating, contact GAE Legal Service ASAP.

Call GAE at
678-837-1100 or 800-282-7142.

Talk to GAE before you talk to anyone else.

Talk to Your ODE/GAE
UniServ Director
Do you have other questions about this situation?

Do you need assistance?

Talk to your ODE/GAE UniServ Director (UD).

>> Find your UD here <<

Or call ODE at
(678) 837-1170

How You Can Help:
Keep us posted on what's happening at your school and with your colleagues.

Talk to ODE.

"While we do not condone cheating, we expect a fair process--and that our members' rights will be honored."

--David Schutten
ODE Presdident

ODE Members:

As many of you have heard by now, 24 DeKalb educators were removed from the classroom and administrative offices due to allegations of CRCT cheating. Currently, these employees have been temporarily reassigned while the state investigates their certification.

While, neither the Organization of DeKalb Educators (ODE) nor the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) condone cheating of any kind, we do stand committed to protecting the rights of all members.

Currently, there is no direct evidence of cheating. ODE is in the process of gathering information.

Rest assured, ODE and GAE will be there to defend, counsel, and assist any member who needs us. We'll be there. Remember this: As an ODE member, you never stand alone. Never.

Our ultimate goal is to get good teachers back in the classroom and good educators back to their schools.

I promise to keep you informed of the latest developments as we find out more. If, at any point, you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Sincerely,

David Schutten
ODE President

Email David

What ODE is doing to HELP
We stand by our members and for our members. That's always been our promise to you. That will always be our promise to you.

Here's what we're doing to help.

For any members affected by this situation, we're matching them with UniServ Directors skilled in member defense. ODE UniServ Directors are available to go with members to any meetings with the school system's internal investigators.

We will be there to make sure that our members are treated fairly, equally, and with the respect they deserve as professional educators.

While our UDs assist members, the GAE Legal Department is contacting the PSC to see what its next moves will be and how those moves will affect our members.