President Edie Clark presents the SBEA Red Apple Community Service Award to CIMA Energy. Accepting the award are Eric Hernandez, a Northbrook graduate and alumni of the CIMA Co-op program, and SBEA member and Northbrook business teacher, Craig Adams.

TSTA organizer, Shane Riddle, SBEA delegates, Noel Flynn, Laura Gaffney, Edie Clark, Mike Falick, TSTA President Donna New Haschke, Joanne Frimel, and Joyce Roberta Miller-Alper. Mike Falick won for his blog Mike Falick’s Blog in the category of electronic media.

2007 TSTA School Bell Award winners: Mike Falick of Mike’s Falick’s Blog (Spring Branch ISD), Joe Smith, TSTA President Donna New Haschke, Tricia Cortez of the Laredo Morning Times and Peter Daut of KFOX-TV in El Paso.

SBEA member Joanne Frimel, center is shown accepting the Ronnie Ray  Educational Support Professional of the Year from TSTA President Donna New Haschke and TSTA Vice President Ann Hueberger  at the TSTA State Convention in Dallas. Joanne is an Art Specialist at the Spring Branch High School of Choice where she works with at-risk students to integrate art across the curriculum.

Spring Branch Superintendent Says No to DATE
Effective and speedy mobilization by the Spring Branch Education Association (SBEA) persuaded Superintendent Duncan F. Klussmann that the Houston district should not participate in the Texas Education Agency’s controversial District Awards for Teacher Excellence, or DATE, merit pay program.

When DATE participation unexpectedly showed up on the consent agenda for the Spring Branch ISD school board’s March 24 meeting, SBEA quickly organized to respond with comments on the district’s website. The timing was a hurdle because the district was on spring break the week before that Monday evening meeting.

SBEA President Edie Clark spoke with district trustees friendly to the local, emailed members with talking points about problems with DATE, urged them to attend the March 24 meeting to speak out against participating, prepared a short online survey, worked with TSTA Public Affairs to generate news media coverage of Spring Branch teachers’ opposition to DATE, and enlisted support from The Metropolitan Organization, a broad-based, multi-issue community advocacy organization.

The local’s talking points against DATE included the cost to the district when it already faces a budget deficit, inadequate time for teachers to study and comment on the program, how participation would hinder effective classroom teaching and learning, and misuse of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills to reward and punish teachers.

On March 24, Clark briefed Klussmann on the local’s response to the DATE program. “He assured me that he will pull the DATE incentive pay grant from tonight’s school board agenda,” she emailed SBEA members later that day. 

The superintendent told Clark that unless TEA makes drastic changes in the program in the next two weeks, which no one expects, the district does not intend to participate in DATE.

At the March 24 board meeting, Klussmann asked trustees to pull DATE from the agenda, explaining that the program does not meet the goals of the district and that DATE conflicts with Spring Branch ISD’s five-year plan goals.

“This is a huge victory which we have won for teachers. Thanks to all of you who took the time to enter your comments and take our SBEA survey on this ill-advised and divisive incentive pay plan. You made the difference!” Clark told members.

Effective and speedy mobilization by the Spring Branch local’s leaders and members added another district to the growing list of those across the state that are not participating in the DATE program.

Spotlighted above is a postcard SBEA recently sent out asking for support for the Bond Issue.

SBEA President Edie Clark ( 2nd from left) presents the Red Apple Award for outstanding service to public schools and students to Mr. Wyn Norris of the Notre Dame Alumni's Golden Dome Mentors, who have been mentoring 7th and 8th grade students at Northbrook Middle School. Laura Schuhmann, Principal of Northbrook Middle School assisted in presenting the award as part of the Districts Service Awards Ceremony. 

Neighborhood Block Walk
SBEA members and HS of Choice students participated in  a Neighborhood Block walk to talk to residents about education issues as part of The Metropolitan Organization's Standing for Families Campaign. SBEA is a member of TMO, a powerful coalition of community groups which includes schools , congregations, civic groups, and community members.

Edie Clark, SBEA President  (3rd from left) and SBEA member Denny Dial (5th from left) speak  on education issues at the TMO Candidate Forum held at Memorial Drive Methodist Church.

 
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