The 2016 FL Legislative Session

continues to roar on with the Florida House

and Senate competing with each other for the

title of “Which Body is Most Outrageously

Disrespectful to Educators?” As of this writ-

ing, the Best and Brightest Program has sur-

vived a vote where even its sponsor voted

against it and has been included in the House’s

budget for a total of $45 million categorical

tax dollars spent on a bad idea.

But there is at least one bright spot on

the horizon for educators and their students.

100 minutes of unstructured play (also known

as “recess”) getting ready for a vote by the full

House as HB 833.

HB 833 would mandate that every

student in grades K-5 receive 100 minutes per

week of unstructured play called “recess” of

no less than 20 minutes at a time. The bill

would also mandate recess for 6th graders in

schools that have elementary grades (which

means all K-8’s).

The groundswell of support for this

bill came initially from parents who are urging

their school boards to adopt this policy even if

the final bill does not make it to the Gover-

nor’s desk. Right now, the companion bill in

the Senate has NOT been heard in any Senate

committees and is not scheduled to be heard

at this time.

All students need play that is un-

structured and allows them time to stop being

tested and to relax. As a local union, we are

in 100% support of this for schools in our

district. The continued erosion of time for

recess (“wasted instructional time” say some

administrators) leads to the ever-increasing

stress and behavioral issues we seen in chil-

dren as early as kindergarten. Time to play in

a safe environment with same age peers is a

luxury for some of the children in our

schools. Where there are high rates of pov-

erty and children live in neighborhoods where

playing outside is simply not an option, our

schools should stand in to teach the valuable

skills children learn from playing.

In the words of Mr. Rogers, “Play is

often talked about as if it is relief from seri-

ous learning. For children, play IS serious

learning.”

What’s 100 Unstructured Minutes?

The VOICE

Volume 10 Issue

February 2, 2016

Editor: Karen Lyman

371 East Midway Road

Ft. Pierce, FL 34982

S T . L U C I E C O U N T Y C L A S S R O O M T E A C H E R S ’ A S S O C I A T I O N

A N D C L A S S I F I E D U N I T — A F T L O C A L 3 6 1 6

February 15: Presidents’

Day Holiday

February 24: Ear ly Release

“America will never be de-

stroyed from the outside. If we

falter it will be because we de-

stroyed ourselves.”

Abraham Lincoln

Read to Win!

2

Focus on CU with

S. Rohn, CU VP

2

K-12 Tax Services &

VALIC Opportunities

2

By the Numbers/

Negotiations Corner

3

Union Seeks Member

Support Specialist

3

Walk in Your Shoes at

VGE

4

Enough Is Enough! Ex-

tra!

Enough Is Enough!

Cont’d

Ex-

tra!

Inside this issue:

Upcoming Events

SL CTA/CU, SL CTA/CU Retired & CWA “Dream Forward” !

The VOICE St. Lucie Classroom Teachers’ Association and Classified Unit February, 2016

Page 2

Read the Voice to Win!!!

Read, answer the riddles and SEND your answer to

Barbara.Ziegler@floridaea.org by February 24, 2016

1. 100 minutes of unstructured play would be mandated as a

part of this legislative bill.

2. As an official partner of the SLC CTA/CU, we will prepare

your tax return at a reduced rate.

Winners of $10 Gift Card

Answers to January Voice Riddles:

1. I am the new Organizing and Communication Specialist for

the SLC CTA/CU. A: Lucy Bravo

2. I am the contact in Human Resources (HR) Dept. for info on

the “Para to Teacher” program.

A: Patricia Galloway

Focus On CU with CU VP Sandy Rohn

Hi All, I can't believe it's

February already. We are

currently working on issues

for our support staff such as

Training Rate of pay and

issues, concerns and pay for

support staff who sub for

teachers and others. Stay

tuned.

The CU work committee is

currently working on a

community service project

to support Safe Space, a

battered woman's shelter.

We want to organize a dis-

trict wide drive to gather

items they desperately need

such as blankets, pillows,

toys, diapers, women's and

children's clothes toys, and

the list goes on. These

women and children usually

leave their homes with the

clothes on their backs and

little else.

We need volunteers at each

We are pleased to announce K-12 Tax Services Inc., an

Official Partner of the SLC CTA/CU is offering a tax prep

MEMBERS ONLY DISCOUNT!

To take advantage of the great tax prep rate, call K-12 at

772-646-0037 and make an appointment OR

Stop by the CTA/CU on the dates and times below:

Wednesdays, 3pm to 7 pm: Saturdays, 9am to 1 pm:

February 17th February 27th

March 16th March 12th

April 13th April 2

A packet with a check-off sheet to assist you in gathering

your tax documents is available for pick-up at the CTA/

CU Office.

Do not miss the chance to take advantage of this

affordable service!

Ashley Anderson-Wood Fairlawn Elementary

Fred Charak Port St. Lucie H.S.

school and worksite that are

willing to promote this

drive, collect and store the

items during the months of

March and April. Once we

have a list of volunteers,

we will create flyers to post

at school and worksites.

Please contact me if you are

able to be involved in any-

way with this project. We

are support staff, we matter

and we can make a differ-

ence in our community, just

like we make a difference

in our worksites. Please

step forward and join us in

this important effort. You

can email me at San-

dra.rohn@stlucieschools.or

g to join our committee or

volunteer to help with this

project in any way. I look

forward to hearing from

you. Remember, we are

stronger together. Sandy

VALIC Retirement Seminar

Retirement Income Strategies

“Choice, DROP questions?

We have answers”

Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Time: 4:30-5:15p.m. Sign in / dinner

5:15-7:00 p.m. Presentation

Location: CTA/CU Union Office

371 E. Midway Rd.

SEATING IS LIMITED

Please RSVP by calling Lucy Bravo at

772-464-6430 or emailing: lucy.bravo@floridaea.org

The VOICE St. Lucie Classroom Teachers’ Association and Classified Unit February, 2016

Page 3

By the Numbers:

Total number of new members who

joined the SLCTA/CU in January:

26

Statewide rank in overall union

density (percentage of members)

for St. Lucie CTA/CU as of Jan.:

4th

Number for House Bill that would

give all K-5 students recess each

week:

833

Number of unstructured, free play

minutes required of recess in HB833:

100

Negotiations Corner In addition to their local

duties representing members on

various committees here in St.

Lucie, there are a number CTA/CU

members who serve on statewide

committees representing your inter-

ests in FEA (Florida Education As-

soc.).

The Executive Board mem-

bers who serve on FEA Committees

are Rebecca Petrie (FEA Member-

ship Development/Internal Organiz-

ing) Laura Lovett-Estima (FEA

Minority Affairs), Cynthia Poole

(FEA Constitution, By-laws, and

Rules) and Sandy Rohn

(Chairperson of FEA Education

Support Professionals).

In addition, two Retiree

Chapter members have been ap-

pointed by FEA President Joanne

McCall to FEA Committees as well.

Felicia Bruce will serve on the

FEA Government Relations Com-

mittee and Chuck Brothers will con-

tinue to serve on the FEA Creden-

tials and Elections Committee.

Finally, President Vicki

Rodriguez has been appointed to

a statewide task force on teacher

recruitment and retention. The task

force met for the first time Jan. 28-

29th and began work on the crisis in

teacher recruitment and retention in

Florida. Their first job is to collect

and disseminate accurate district-by

-district data since the state stopped

collecting it in 2011-2012.

Union Seeks Member Support Specialist Due to Retirement

For more than 12 years, CTA/

CU members have received the support

and coaching services of Karen Lyman as

the Member Support Specialist. In her

role, Karen has coordinated 1000’s of

hours of professional development for

100’s of teachers and support staff,

coached new and not-so-new teachers in

implementing strategies for successful

classrooms, and edited the union’s

monthly publication, The VOICE. At the

end of the 2016 school year, Karen has

decided to finally “really” retire (she has

already retired once—completing DROP

in 2013) and not come to work! She will

be missed by all of us in the union office

and throughout the district.

The St. Lucie CTA/CU is seeking a full-time release Member Support Specialist. This is

a 10 month position. The qualified individual will be a union member who has had at

least 5 successful years in as a classroom teacher in a public school in grades PK-12 and

is currently certified to teach in Florida. Master’s degrees are preferred. Candidate will

have:

experience planning and delivering professional development to adult learners

strong classroom management skills

strong written and verbal communication skills

training in current teaching and learning pedagogy (including Marzano Framework) knowledge or experience in the AFT Professional Development Framework.

Ideal candidates will also have experience in coaching and mentoring colleagues.

Applicants for this position will agree to transfer to a release time “Teacher on Special Assignment-CTA”

position and be released by the school district to perform Union Duties while receiving all salary and benefits

according to the negotiated salary schedule and CTA contract. Interested applicants should send a resume

and cover letter to Vicki Rodriguez vicki.rodriguez@floridaea.org by Friday, February 18th.

St. Lucie Classroom Teachers’ Association

and Classified Unit

371 E. Midway Road

Ft. Pierce, FL 34982

Office: 772-464-6430 Fax: 772-464-7446

E-mail: Info@stlucieteachers.com OR

Vicki.rodriguez@floridaea.org

Christine.Hill@floridaea.org

Lucy.bravo@floridaea.org

Barbara.ziegler@floridaea.org

Karen.lyman@floridaea.org

CTA/CU Executive Board

Vicki Rodriguez, President CTA/CU: CTA Ofc.

Christine Hill, Vice President CTA: CTA Ofc.

Sandy Rohn, Vice-President CU: SGA

Laura Lovett, CTA/CU Treasurer : Records Ofc.

Rebecca Petrie, Secretary CTA: SRE

Cynthia Poole, CU Secretary : St. Assign.

David Freeland, CTA Executive Board: FPCHS

Maureen Sinnott, CTA Executive Board

Alan Mathison, CTA, Executive Board

Aurea Justo, CTA Executive Board: Fair lawn

Pamela Jenkins, Executive Board CU: SLWCH

Barbara Kaste, President, Retir ed Chapter

Union Staff

Karen Lyman/ Membership Specialist

Lucy Bravo/ Organizing and Communication Specialist

Barbara Ziegler/ Office Manager

Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to CTA member,

Jeffrey L. Johnson, Sr.

Of Dale Cassens Education Complex.

He was selected as a St. Lucie County teacher of

the year finalist.

Union President Walks in Their Shoes

SLC CTA/CU President, Vicki Rodriguez spent her January Walk in

Their Shoes day with ….

During Vicki Rodriguez’s

visit, Ms. Johnson’s Class

was treated to a “field trip”

from the Savannah’s Wildlife

area. Students learned about

animal adaptations.

Ms. Carmella Johnson Teacher

at Village Green Elementary

instructs her first graders.

The VOICE St. Lucie Classroom Teachers’ Association and Classified Unit February, 2016

Extra! Extra! Extra!

SL CTA/CU Travels to Tallahassee and

Tells Legislators: Enough Is Enough

Preparing for Tallahassee at January Worksite Leader Meetings

WSLs create signs for the January 14th rally, expressing the frustration over FL legislators’ misguided education policies.

ALL ABOARD! Early Morning- Tallahassee Bound! SL CTA/CU members, SL CTA/CU Retired members, friends of education as well as reporters from Channel 5 gathered at

5 am on Jan. 14th to begin the 5 hour bus ride to Tallahassee.

SL CTA/CU officers lead the

travelers in song, celebrating the

strength of union solidarity!

Union President Vicki Rodriguez and TCHS teachers Maureen Sinnott and Christine Cirocco tell reporters that all the required

testing is taking away from time that teachers should be teaching. This group continued to tell the reporters that the legislators

must hear from teachers, administrators and parents that Enough is Enough. Contact your legislator now!

Continued next page

The VOICE St. Lucie Classroom Teachers’ Association and Classified Unit February, 2016

Extra! Extra! Extra!

At the Capitol Steps: 3000 Strong!

It was a long bus ride. Participants tried their hand at a number of “on

the road” game-challenges! “Game-Chair”, Rebecca Petrie, awarded priz-

es to the winners.

First Row left to right:

Nanette Serrano, Kelsey Schumacher, Monette Wynn

Second Row, left to right:

Allison Romero-Michel, Debra McCrary Singleton, and Shannon Dolan

Local Teachers, ESP’s and Retired Educators joined their colleagues from all over the state to tell the Legislators that Enough is

Enough! The crowd, nearly 3,000 strong, rallied in front of the old capital building, listening to speeches by State Officers, Presi-

dent, Joanne McCall, Vice President Fredrick Ingram, Treasurer, Luke Flynt as well as representatives from other state organiza-

tions. The message was we must stand together to make a change in Florida Education to ensure equal education for all Florida’s

children. Your turn to contact your senator and representative to let them know that you just want to teach! Enough IS Enough!