Caldwell County Association of Educators CCAE

Several of us attended the MO WANTS TO KNOW listening tour in Lenoir tonight. We are so glad that we did. Maurice “Mo” Green, NC state superintendent sent four questions out prior to the session and allowed participants to answer them one at a time at a microphone or in a Padlet link. Here are a few things mentioned for each question. (Those in attendance) Please comment if you remember something left out here.

1. What should we celebrate and continue in NC public schools?
~Art and Music programs that are wonderful
~Access and opportunity for all
~Currently providing free breakfast and lunch
~Great educators
~ #1 state for number of national board certified teachers
~ Advanced educational opportunities: Highest number of students taking AP exams and getting qualified scores
~Experiences that students have in CTE (career and technical education).
~NC has a state superintendent who knows public education from the inside and will be a supporter of our public schools.

2. What are the challenges and potential solutions for NC public schools?
~Funding and staffing our schools at levels that ensure student success in an environment that is safe and inclusive.
~Recruit and retain teachers
~Trauma, poverty, emotional deregulation: need a structure for how to address these issues when needed with the limited resources. We need more counselors and/or outside resources for students.
~Bullying is a challenge and counseling was mentioned again, as well as having a team specially trained to address bullying at each school.

3. What is your big idea for NC public schools?
~Make student teaching a paid internship to help with recruitment
~Give students a voice, especially high school students.
~Provide authentic learning opportunities for students.
~Private sector adopt schools, volunteer and mentor
~Shorten the NC Return to Work time period for retirees. It’s 6 months now. Longer than surrounding states.

4. What are the actions that you/your organization are committed to do to enhance NC public schools?
~voting
~speaking up
~celebrating
~sharing

Looking forward to 2025 bringing in a new year full of good tidings!

Power's ON!!! So many pulling together to help others! Note that we were more fortunate than many in our surrounding counties. So much yet to do!

Power still out. Cash is required to pay for anything because cash registers don’t operate. Most new gas pumps require power, so gas, which those with generators need, is difficult to come by. Some have power, but we are not back to normal.

I’m posting this for a fellow educator who can’t:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
― Fred Rogers

This author could hear helicopters coming in and out of Hickory Airport yesterday. These people were taking supplies to the hardest hit areas in Western North Carolina and rescuing as many people as possible. They flew over and back all day yesterday. This author found her heart full as I watched and listened to those helicopters. I thought back to Mr. Rogers and knew I was seeing those helpers.

People in our community still need helpers. County Schools is not helping by being so slow to decide about opening our schools. Our families need support and the comfort of knowing what is going to happen over the next few days. More than a daily update is required. We'd like to ask the school board to make the call for the rest of the week. Our community needs you to be the helpers.

The storm has passed. Damage assessed. For most, the cost is monetary. For others their loss will be felt for a lifetime.

As an educator, I am thinking about the emotional well being of my students. How can I help them recover? To feel safe again.

I'm thinking about my colleagues and those who are dealing with more than mere inconveniences. I wish our county's Ed. Cntr. would do better than giving daily announcements of school closures. Some families might prefer to travel to safe places, thereby enabling distribution of the limited resources to others.

Due to power outages, the food at schools has spoiled and can't be reordered immediately. Clean up takes time. Families are in dark homes trying to make do. Let us care for each other without waiting for a 2:00 pm announcement stating that school is closed!
Of course it is!

The message of concern could be better. Schools that have power should be a place where volunteers could show up and give food bags or resources to those without. Maybe air mattresses could be donated and set up in gyms for people who need a dry place to sleep. These should be the concerns right now.

Why isn't this the message coming from our education center? This is a chance for our students to see our community pull together. Those who can, helping those in need. The needs are great!

Even those whose homes were spared may be grieving for loved ones across communities who were less fortunate. Looks of wellness may be deceiving. We need time and opportunity to come together as a community. Right now many of us are still in survival mode.

Even after power is returned, we need to think about how the emotional needs of staff and students will be met. That is what's on my mind... Let's make emotional healing a priority.

These are my thoughts, but you are welcome to share if you agree.

NBCT Candidates, join us April 2 for two sessions on "Unpacking Component 1" at 9-11 a.m. and Noon-2 p.m. Click the link to register -- https://bit.ly/NBCTSpring2022, or scan the QR code.

NBCT Candidates, join us on February 17 for the session "Body of Knowledge." Click the link to register --https://bit.ly/NBCTSpring2022, or scan the QR code.

NBCT Candidates, join us on February 12 for the session "MOC Renewal." Click the link to register -- https://bit.ly/NBCTSpring2022, or scan the QR code.

Here is your chance to learn all about National Board Certification. To register for a FREE introductory session, visit https://bit.ly/NBCTSpring2022 or scan the QR code.

The Atlanta Hawks has available an Educator Appreciation Ticket Package for its game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, December 19. The game begins at 7:30 p.m. at the State Farm Arena. The package includes a discounted ticket to the game, a $10 food and beverage credit, and an Atlanta Hawks t-shirt. To purchase a package, visit www.hawkspromos.com/educator.

It's Giving Tuesday.

CCAE supports local teacher grants on DonorsChoose. We know educators spend an average of $500 of their own money on their students. Every dollar of support matters. Please support this Donors Choose project by one of our CCAE members.

https://www.donorschoose.org/project/the-digitized-classroom/5938587/?utm_source=dc&utm_medium=directlink&utm_campaign=project&utm_term=unknown&rf=directlink-dc-2021-11-project-unknownI

The Digitized Classroom, a project from Mr. Moore Help me give my students pens, caddies, erasers, copy paper, and other tools needed to digitize their classroom experience. My students are typically not the traditional college bound students give...