PWFT Advocate

 Prince William Federation of Teachers

Reclaiming the Promise of Fairness by Bill Hosp, PWFT President

            The PWCS PPP Core Committee met January 15^th at the Kelly Center. We heard an administration report on what progress administration had made training assistant principals and administrative interns to faithfully implement the PPP in their supervision of teachers and staff as well as training opportunities that had been offered during back to school events prior to the school year. One important point that we learned was that if administrators alter the prescribed format of the PPP they invalidate it, no matter how well intentioned the change may be.

            It is important that our members understand that while we have no problem with the ideals of the PPP, teaching you to do your job better, we do have a problem with the lack of uniformity in implementation. Some of this is due to the relay method of training teachers and staff where central office personnel train administrators, administrators train staff members and some things get lost in the retelling. The other aspect of this issue is more serious.

            After nearly a decade of phasing in and implementing this method of evaluation we still have administrators who do not practice what this system preaches. Instead of using this as a tool for professional growth they are using it to promote their friends and document their perceived enemies for dismissal. I had the unpleasant duty to confront the committee with these realities, such as a teacher who reached out for help with a challenging class only to end up on an improvement plan or the teacher who was put on improvement plans in May (yes, May!) when he met any goals of his previous plan. If you face something similar we need to know about it!

            Until these abuses of authority are meaningfully addressed we will have to decline any administration entreaties to hold PPP workshops for our members. Let’s keep them honest.

Member Engagement

            The new School Board is having a serious discussion about rolling back the length of the teacher workday adopted four years ago and amended in 2014. Teachers, PWFT needs you to make your voice heard on this important step toward restoring teacher morale. Do you prefer getting back the time that was added or finally getting paid for it? Please send your response as a reply to the e-mail containing this newsletter. Tell us “time” or “pay.” Thank you in advance.

School Calendar for 2016-2017

            The School Board voted on December 16^th to begin the next academic year the Monday before Labor Day, 2016. They had considered two options, opening school prior to Labor Day or after Labor Day. The end of the school year was counted from opening day in each plan.

            PWFT had polled members in conjunction with the December newsletter and two thirds of the members who responded voted for the pre-Labor Day option.

Member of the Month

            Congratulations to Wendy Marr for being our January Member of the Month! Since joining us last fall Wendy has become a member of our team of advocates before the Prince William County School Board. Most recently she attended the January 13^th CIP work session to represent PWFT. Wendy teaches Math at Potomac Middle School.