Letter From The Editor
TREND
The Official Publication of Professional Educators of Tennessee
While advocacy and legislation work is only one part
of the work we do for educators, it is an important
piece that has far-reaching effects on educators'
classrooms. As we prepare for the upcoming
legislative session, we decided to focus this issue on
the education issues we expect to see focused on next
year.
Value-added metrics and growth scores continue to be
a contentious topic, especially with a new statewide
assessment being launched this year. While some
measures were put in place last session to lessen the
projected negative impact, we still have a long way to
go to correct the harmful ramifications of federal
legislation like No Child Left Behind. (Go to page 12 for
more information on the recent reauthorization of
ESEA, the Every Student Succeeds Act).
For The Policy Issue we thought it was appropriate for
our feature interview to be with one of state
legislators. Representative Joe Pitts shares his feelings
on the role of state leaders in developing education
policy that led to his serving on the House Education
Instruction & Programs Committee.
Our
new
Education
Policy
survey
seeks
perspectives on issues that will, and in f act
already are being discussed on Capitol Hill
next year. Please take a few moments to
weigh in so that we can help take your voice
to the Capitol. And don't forget to sign up for
the Legislation & Advocacy email list for the
most current information as the 2016 session
progresses.
Our offices will be closed Dec. 22nd - Jan 1st to give
our staff time to spend the holidays with their family
and loved ones, as we hope you are blessed with
the opportunity to do as well. We look
forward to returning in January rested and ready
for another rewarding year of serving educators
across our beautiful state.
Wishing You & Yours a Very Merry Christmas,
JC Bowman, Executive Editor
Audrey Shores, Editor
ProEd BOARD
State Officers
Cathy Kolb, President
Karen Stroud, Vice President
Karolyn Marino, Secretary
Tim Childers, Treasurer
Kim Blevins
Dewey Esquinance
Jill Pittman
Mike Ridenour
Penny Sutton
ProEd STAFF
JC Bowman, Executive Director
Mike Sheppard, Director of Benefits
Bethany Bowman
Director of Professional Learning
Audrey Shores
Director of Technology & Communications
Trend (ISSN #04) is electronically published quarterly in
fall, winter, spring and summer with a focus on the Issues,
Ideas and People shaping education in Tennessee. We
advance the profession by offering a modern approach to
teacher representation and educational advocacy, as well
as promoting professionalism, collaboration and excellence
without a partisan agenda. There is no attempt to influence
any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to
candidates for public office. The opinions expressed in this
publication represent the beliefs, views or attitudes of the
contributor whose name appears in the article and do not
necessarily represent the views or policies of Professional
Educators of Tennessee or our members. Subscription rates
are included in membership dues for members of the
association; non-members may secure an online version of
the current online magazine for $25 a year. Trend may
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Professional Educators of Tennessee reserves the right to
refuse advertising contrary to its purpose. All rights reserved.
Permission to reprint, in whole or in part, without permission
is prohibited. Permission will customarily be granted if the
author and the association are properly cited.