Volume 2, Issue 4 

IEA UPDATE

SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 

Evaluations

All teachers will be evaluated this year and must be notified by September 15, 2011 and given the tool that will be used to do the evaluation.   Professional Growth Plans are usually due by October 15th of each year but since we are on a balanced calendar for the first time we will not be in school.  Your administrators may ask you to have them in before the beginning of intercession which begins October 10th.

Please be mindful that the evaluation process is no longer part of our contract thanks to our “illustrious” leader at the IDOE and state legislature.  We have spoken with IPS and have been told that the evaluation timelines and tools that we have developed will continue to be honored.

Also make sure that you have all of your evidence ready to present at your pre-conference hearing for Domains 1 and 4.  Domain 1 is “Planning and Preparation” - form A-1 is the documentation form you should use to cite your evidence.  Domain 4 is “Professional Responsibilities” and form C-1 is where you document your evidence. Take your evidence with you to your pre-conference, even if you have to take it in a little red wagon.  Be organized (binder, portfolio, filing system) in order to be able to produce your evidence if asked.  You may not be able to go back to your room to get your evidence.

RIF

There will be a RIF at the end of this year.  We are expecting a minimum of 267 secondary positions to be lost from the four Turnaround schools.  If the state takes Washington and Broad Ripple it could go as high as 400 positions.  Rest assured that IEA is working diligently with IPS to develop a process that will be fair and equitable to all involved.  As you know the state legislature stripped us of our RIF policy and therefore we must rely on the process we are currently developing. 

We have also been informed that the state is considering taking over John Marshall if scores do not improve this spring.

 

LEAD PARTNERS

We have been informed by administration that Lead Partners will be in Washington and Broad Ripple and observing teachers as many as 6 times this year.  Any opposition by the Association or the district will put those schools on Turnaround status and IPS incurring a heavy fine.  IEA has taken the stand that our members will have due process no matter what. 

Lead Partners will be looking at previous and current evaluations of the staff presently in those buildings.  These teachers are essentially on a job interview either for Lead Partners or IPS for employment next year.

IEA is watching closely to see how teachers are selected to stay or be RIF’d just in case we have to file an age discrimination suit.  We know that we have highly qualified and effective veteran educators. We all know that poverty and lack of education for some of our parents is the real issue not ineffective teachers!

 

IEA is not Ann or Rod, nor is it the office on N. Shadeland Avenue, IEA is YOU!  Membership has its privileges.

Keep your heads up and we thank you for supporting the children of IPS.

 

Ann Wilkins, IEA President and Rod Ellcessor, ISTA UniServ Director