Communicate to Advocate!

First, I would like to share how excited and honored I am to be the new President of this great association. I look forward to working with our members throughout the state as we Communicate to Advocate! 

Communication is an important part of my life. From my professional position as a School Information Officer in an upstate school district in the Central Region, to promoting Communications within PTAs at a unit level, council, region and the state level.

On a daily basis my job as a communications officer exposes me to administrators, teachers, students and parents. It places me in classrooms at elementary and secondary levels where it is a joy to see our public education system in action. In that capacity, I am a witness to the great progress being made as a result of the many changes occurring in education.

Communication can be defined as, "the two-way process of reaching mutual understanding, in which participants not only exchange information, news, ideas and feelings but also create and share meaning". In general, communication is a means of connecting people or places.

As we were creating the logo and pin for this theme, it was decided to use a megaphone as a base as it is used to amplify a voice and direct it in a given direction. We use our VOICE to ADVOCATE for all children.

From a low tech perspective, when you place a megaphone at your ear it symbolizes how it can also amplify and direct what others are saying to us. This two-way communication will allow us to actively interact at the region, unit and grassroots level.

As public education continues to come under fire and we anticipate more battles ahead, it is more important than ever that we:

• continue to represent the interests of children and youth to the educational and legislative communities; and
• continue to address such hot topics as: equitable school aid; charter school funding – not at the expense of public school funding, multiple pathways to graduation, standards, high-stakes testing, teacher tenure, unaccompanied minors, and many other important and relevant topics.

Moving Forward: 

• We will address the challenge to ensure that PTA is relevant to our current and future parents. To accomplish this, we need to continue to strengthen and expand our communication between the state, the regions/units and grassroots member--continue to listen and collaborate together. 

• We will recognize that we cannot do many things the way they were always done if we want to meet the needs of today’s volunteer. We have been working hard to utilize today’s technology and anticipate the technology of tomorrow to address these changes. The introduction of our new Mobile Phone app is just the beginning of that effort. (Please go to your app store and search on NYS PTA to download the free app to your phone and/or tablet!)
• We will identify the needs of our grassroots to deliver what is needed for and to members at all levels to advocate for children is crucial to our meeting our mission.
• We will continue to look at how we deliver services to our members as the majority of our technology moves to our hands (smart phones and tablets).  

Participating in conversations about these issues is the best avenue to ensure equitable educational opportunities for ALL children. Therefore, our energy and efforts needs to be focused on the fight for what we know to be in the best interests of all children. Our visibility in Albany has grown and our opinions sought on many important issues…this will continue.

As we build on our VOICE and STAND UP campaigns from last year, we will keep that voice heard in Albany and throughout the state. At the same time, we will expand our communication to identify and clarify what our members concerns are in order to address them through collaboration at all levels to ensure that ALL children receive the best education available to them.

Going forward, my intent is to post shorter updates to The Voice of NYS PTA, more often. We have been very busy with advocacy the past few weeks, so I look forward to posting about those experiences in the coming weeks.

Bonnie M. Russell
NYS PTA ® President 

Communicate to Advocate
everychild.onevoice.®

president@nyspta.org

Unaccompanied Minor Children: Where Do We Go? What Can We Do?

The surge in numbers of unaccompanied minor children (predominantly from Central America) crossing southwestern U.S. borders has drawn much national attention. Compelled by poverty, socio-economic inequities, and high incidence of violence from gangs and drug cartels, parents seek passage to the U.S. for their daughters and sons. These children cross our borders carrying something more precious than their belongings -- they carry hope, the hope that they will escape harm and that they will live a better life.

But the journey may be dangerous. It often relies on unscrupulous human smuggling networks that expose them to harm, exploitation and abuse. And if they survive the journey, once on US soil these children wait to be reunited with relatives already living in the US. Notes are pinned to the clothing of some as young as four years old to help identify and locate relatives. While they still carry hope, they must also wonder: Where do I go? Where do I belong?

The plight of these children presents an enormous challenge. Political posturing abounds. Blame is hurled at laws and policies established by current and previous presidential Administrations’ and failed immigration reform proposals. Congressional stalemates on requests for funding to address the large increase of children abound. But all this is irrelevant to the children. What we have is a humanitarian crisis. Federal law says minors cannot be held at a Border Patrol facility for more than 72 hours. They must be processed, then either sent to live with a relative or released to a shelter operated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (Department of Health and Human Services). The refugee office operates only about 150 permanent shelters for unaccompanied minors and they are filled to capacity. So, again where do they go? 


As the influx of unaccompanied minor children is most-recognized in the southwest, many of our states are experiencing increasing numbers with no immediate end in sight. New York places second only to Texas with the number of children released to sponsors, with over 4,000 children released to our state from January through July this year. Federal law requires that unaccompanied children arriving from non-bordering countries be given a removal hearing in court. While awaiting proceedings (which could take months or even years) unaccompanied children go through a two-step process: first, federal shelter until placed with a sponsor; second, release to “approved” sponsor, usually a family member or friend, to await disposition hearing. 

When children are released to their sponsor, they are eligible to enroll in the local school district. Under Federal law, states and local educational agencies are obligated to provide all children – regardless of immigration status – equal access to public education at the elementary and secondary level. This has resulted in schools across the nation, including our NY schools, experiencing a sharp rise in numbers of immigrant students. Districts receiving them are in need of resources, i.e. funding, staff and services, to assist supporting these students and families. So, where can we go? 

National PTA has received inquiries from state leaders and membership asking the questions, “Where can WE go?” and “How can WE Help?” To find out, click on the links to documents below. We are the most committed, most powerful child advocacy group in the nation. Together we must find innovative ways PTAs can welcome and support these children, their families and sponsors as we are all neighbors sharing our homes, schools and communities:  

Unaccompanied Children in the U.S.: Fact Sheet and Resources

Answers to common questions about the increase of unaccompanied children entering the United States from Central America including federal and state responsibilities, the anticipated impact on public schools and federal resources available to address this impact, and the federal response to date.

Connecting with Children & Families who Recently Immigrated: Putting PTA's National Standards for Family-School Partnerships into Action

Using PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships as a guide, here are some ways local PTAs can welcome and support all children, families and sponsors of children who recently immigrated to the United States. This resource also contains national and community resources that can provide PTAs with valuable supports and services to engage families and sponsors.

National PTA’s Position statement and talking points:

• National PTA’s position statement Services for Undocumented Children
• Talking Points for PTAs: Services for Unaccompanied Children 

Policy Briefing: Increase of Unaccompanied Children Entering the United States

A webinar for state and local PTA leadership on the recent increase of unaccompanied children entering the United States. This resource provides an overview of the issue including relevant federal laws, federal and state impact, PTA positions, and available PTA resources. The slides are available here and the recording is available here.

Please distribute these resources widely to your membership. These resources, as well as future resources on this matter, can be accessed at pta.org/advocacy.


Lana Ajemian, President
Reflect the past, Transform today, Inspire tomorrow!
president@nyspta.org

Teacher Tenure, Retention, and Evaluation

We are hearing a great deal about teachers and tenure; last-in, first-out (retention); APPR and so on. As if the politicization of Common Core hasn’t been contentious enough, we are now confronted by a new challenge: competent delivery of classroom instruction.  It is only natural that parents want assurance that the person spending upwards of 900 hours each school year with their child is qualified, competent and compassionate.  PTA has long recognized the vital role that teachers and administrators play in the lives of their students, not only in their academic development but also in their social, emotional and civic development.

In light of today’s challenges to the education profession exploring the relationship in context of who we are as an association is crucial for our mutual understanding and future advocacy. One of the objects of PTA is to bring into closer relation the home and the school. That parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.

Parents and teachers are partners with a common mission: to ensure every child the opportunity to reach his/her potential. They are interdependent and deeply respectful of their individual and shared roles. For this reason, and to assist you with understanding our NYS PTA positions I would like to share the following talking points:

• As far back as the early 1970’s, NYS PTA’s Legislative Program called for:  
• NY’s tenure law to include periodic review of tenure and provisions to protect the integrity of teachers, i.e. teachers should be able to freely speak up on behalf of their students without fear of punishment

• The teacher-student-family relationship is complex and can be emotionally charged and susceptible to conflict. There are also well-documented incidents of teacher-administrator conflict where an incompatibility exists leading to greater vulnerability to reprimand or dismissal based on bias or reactionary behavior. For this reason:


• NYS PTA has long-supported measures, i.e. “due process”, to safeguard teachers and administrators from arbitrary or capricious employment decisions.

• Abolishment and/or “excessing” of educator positions is often the consequence of tough economic times, reductions in school aid and imposed spending caps.
  • For more than 40 years, NYS PTA has urged the adoption of legislation allowing school boards to consider both certification and seniority in determining whose services should be terminated or retained upon abolishment of or excessing a teaching position in order to maintain quality education in the classroom.
  • NYS PTA supports, and with certain exceptions federal law requires, the placement of highly qualified (appropriately certified) personnel in ALL teaching positions.
    
    
    

    

    
    
• NYS PTA believes well -executed evaluations lead directly to improvement of classroom instruction by teachers as well as improved supervisory skills by administrators.
  • NYS PTA long-advocated for the NYS Education Department to establish regulations to require a system of regular observation and annual evaluation for both teachers and administrators and observation and evaluation guidelines.
  • NYS PTA has encouraged requirements for local school boards to establish advisory committees (administrators, teachers, chairmen, parents and students) to define and refine the evaluation system appropriate to individual school district needs.
  • NYS PTA believes in a balanced teacher/principal accountability system that employs multiple measures to improve academic achievement for all students. The evolving policy of Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) is generally consistent with PTA positions. However, greater attention should be given to the 60% observation component -- with training for skillful use of rubrics, concerns regarding subjectivity can be minimized. Once fully and appropriately implemented, APPR coupled with fair and efficient safeguards through due process, will assure that our children’s teachers and teacher leaders are qualified, competent and effective partners for boosting student achievement.

As we look ahead to a new school year, lets’ keep in mind that effective instruction and family-school collaboration are essential components of student academic success and, most importantly, that in our shared mission we are all one community working  together to improve the lives of children.

Lana Ajemian, President
Reflect the past, Transform today, Inspire tomorrow!
president@nyspta.org

Summertime Reflection

Wow, July is here…and the hammock beckons! Where DID the year go? For someone loathe to ride the Cyclone, this year has surely been a heart-stopping roller coaster ride with plans made, plans thwarted; challenges met with success, those met with defeat; knowing where we stand, wondering where we stand – surely a year of unprecedented highs and lows. But I look back at what we have learned and what we have accomplished and feel reassured, proud. We held to our mission and influenced change, we reached new heights of visibility, and we lifted more NYS PTA voices in advocacy.  And so, it’s been a good year.

We cannot deny that differing views, competing ideas and flawed education reform remain hurdles to clear. Yet, they also stimulate creativity and innovation to find solutions. Throughout the summer, NYS PTA will continue to press forward for seeking both an independent review of assessment and accountability policies, and the suspension of the link between standardized assessment outcomes and high stakes decisions for students, teachers or principals. 

However, in the shadow of education reform, APPR, and high stakes testing is a membership challenge that threatens. As we combine reform controversies with targeted efforts of certain groups to undermine PTA’s mission for children, I cannot overemphasize the pride I feel in our local PTA leaders -- you have held steady and strong in your efforts to build membership throughout a year that has challenged your resolve.  For this I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you – extraordinary effort in an extraordinary time!  

But membership decline is not just a state or local issue, it is a national issue. We know there are ever-growing demands on the time of parents and families; we know so many are full-time in the workplace yet need to be that helping hand at home; and we know that you are being pulled in different directions by competing interests, always with our children’s future at the center of each effort.

But we also know we are the only parent group consistently at the table with decision makers representing the needs of New York’s children. PTA’s VOICE matters. PTA’s advocacy voice, your voice, has value. It is what has brought us to the table to influence change – whether the issue is one of education reform, or access to healthy foods and safe environments, or to assure a child’s mistake is not punished in the same manner as an adult’s. We do not put membership dollars ahead of mission. However, no matter what or how many positions we take to safeguard children and youth, they are meaningless without members to take them to action.

With the talent and commitment inherent in our NYS PTA membership, I know we can and will build our chorus. Your hard work throughout this year has surely earned you time to kick back and relax; take a swing in that hammock. But, as you do, please consider this request: reflect upon what has been accomplished through 118 years of advocacy for children by this remarkable association. Then ask how your voice, your influence CAN make a child’s dream become reality. Wishing you warm, reflective, transformative and inspirational summer days!

Lana Ajemian, President
Reflect the past, Transform today, Inspire tomorrow!
president@nyspta.org 

It's Time to STAND UP Taller!

Dear Members,

Over the past several months, NYSPTA members have fought the good fight to let our elected officials know how to prioritize our concerns for public education. In just the past three weeks, you have sent more than 6,200 messages to legislators through our website, as well as made innumerable phone calls to communicate our message. 

It has made a difference, but there is still more to do. Let’s take a look:

Good News
State aid was increased by more than 5%, the largest jump in the past 6 years. We are incredibly grateful that our legislators realized that in a tax cap environment increases in state aid are critical! Tell them ‘thank you!’

Needs Work
While partially restored, the GEA (Gap Elimination Adjustment) is still taking more than $1 billion away from our schools. This ‘loan’ to our state government – the one that professes to have a $2 billion surplus – must end! Tell them to pay debt first, ‘eliminate the GEA!’

Needs (a lot more) Work
Common Core ‘reform’ trumpeted by the Governor does NOT address any of NYSPTA’s five points of concern, and certainly does not help our students. The moratorium on use of students’ test scores is contradictory: if the value of test outcomes is questionable for use in making student decisions, the same must apply for determining educator effectiveness. Tell them to temporarily ‘suspend links to BOTH student and educator high stakes decisions!’

Ill-conceived testing related to Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) has not been addressed. The concessions that have been made to date are simply distractions from real reform. SED has been charged with providing information and training to educators and parents, but has been provided with zero dollars in support. Tell them to create ‘real Common Core reform!’

Must be Rejected
Not included in the budget but still on the table for discussion this spring is the ‘education scholarship tax credit,’ which is really a wolf in sheep’s clothing and represents ‘politics over public good.’ It seems warm and fuzzy on the outside but would devour public school funding via quasi-vouchers. Tell them NO!

There is a lot of time left in this legislative session. Don’t be distracted by the fact that the budget is done. Legislators are aware of what they are doing and are strategizing the best way to market their plans to make it sound like they benefit everyone. Change can still happen. We must be vigilant in our mission.

I urge you all to continue emailing and calling the legislators to Hear Our VOICE.
Thank you for your continued support!

Lana Ajemian, President
Reflect the past, Transform today, Inspire tomorrow!
president@nyspta.org 

Reflecting On The New Year - It's Time To STAND UP!

I would like to begin the New Year with a little reflection and much gratitude. Looking back at 2013 it was surely a year of extraordinary challenge -- my heartfelt thanks go to all PTA members, friends and partners who demonstrated extraordinary fortitude with navigating the mine field of education reform over the past year. And, within every challenge lies opportunity.

2013 was a year of soul searching and self-examination for our association and brought with it renewed purpose and drive. In 2014 we will pay this forward as we advocate for change that will prepare today’s children for the challenges of tomorrow’s highly mobile, global society -- change that is necessary; change that must be actualized with reasoned and rational approaches; change that considers all affected; and change that will assure opportunity for every child to not only succeed in college or the workplace but succeed as contributing citizens.

As we dive headfirst into 2014, we add to the turbulent waters of education reform, state and local assessments, APPR and data privacy issues, a proposed executive (state) budget that, at the time of this writing, is likely to start out with a cap on state and local spending significantly lower than 2%.

Under these imposed constraints, fiscal mandates and demands of reform implementation, our students, school staff and our communities struggle to effectively meet heightened expectations.
But this does not alter the fact that we must focus forward and, as we do so, identify obstacles along the path to reform as well as who can assist us in removing those, whether fiscal or programmatic.

To accomplish this, members, parents and families must be meaningfully engaged at all levels of advocacy with prioritizing education spending and addressing real world implications of NY’s reform efforts. We are at a critical juncture -- as we work collaboratively and deliberatively to find common ground with our state education partners, policy makers and legislators, at the same time we must adhere to our mission for children.

We must be the VOICE of common sense and a reasoned, responsible approach to reform. NYS PTA’s HEAR OUR VOICE campaign is designed to provide just that, talking points and rationale to assist our members to speak out. But this is only the beginning...

We now ask that every member not only speak out but STAND UP for education reform and investment.

• STAND UP for what’s sound and necessary about reform
• STAND UP for fair measures of accountability
• STAND UP for respect for educators
• STAND UP for every child being valued and deserving of access to opportunity to be successful in a rapidly changing, competitive world
• STAND UP at home in your school district by attending board of education meetings - ask questions, be part of the process, choices and decisions being made locally for your community and,  most importantly, for your child
• STAND UP with your region PTA as trainings and events are offered
• STAND UP with your state PTA as we share information and provide opportunities to participate in calls to action and attend events that foster knowledge and provide access to decision makers

Together we must STAND UP to learn, to question, to build relationships, to influence!

March is PTA Advocacy Month. While the HEAR OUR VOICE campaign was initiated in October and the New Year launched our STAND UP campaign via statewide digital media outlets, we continue to ratchet up our advocacy momentum as we approach NYS PTA’s Annual Legislation/Education Conference at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, on March 1-2; Lobby Day (state/local representatives) at the state Legislature on March 3; and Virtual Lobby Day (grassroots) on March 4.This conference is your opportunity to explore key issues with state governance, representatives of education and child advocacy groups and decision makers. Visits to the Legislature and VLD are your opportunity to connect and communicate our message to decision makers. As we unite our voices and turn up the volume on advocacy, participation is your opportunity to STAND UP for your child, for every child! 

Lana Ajemian, President
Reflect the past, Transform today, Inspire tomorrow!
president@nyspta.org