Educating From the Heart

Our conversation about testing was so robust that we broke it into two parts. Did you miss the first part of "Assess the Test"? Listen to it here.The impact standardized testing has on students, educators and school communities extends long beyond test day.In Part II of Assess the Test, we move beyond talking about the tests themselves and discuss the overall accountability system.Join us for this exploration of how 20 years of "accountability" in Florida have drained the joy out of teaching and learning. Episode 16 Show Notes: Guests Show Resources Transcript /*! elementor - v3.10.1 - 17-01-2023 */ body.elementor-page .elementor-widget-menu-anchor{margin-bottom:0} GuestsAnthony Colucci, President Brevard Federation of TeachersVicki Kidwell, President Clay County Education Association Bethany Koch, High school English teacher from Clay CountyMatt Yount, Teacher from Brevard County ResourcesMore information on the legislation that will create the new testsBeyond the Bubble: Americans Want Change on High Stakes Assessments Moving Beyond the Failure of Test-Based AccountabilityFlorida Department of Education: Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (note: many of the promises made on this webpage about the new test are not included in the proposed legislation) TranscriptAndrew Spar, FEA President: Hi, this is FEA president Andrew Spar. To stay on top of all the latest news and issues impacting our public schools, be sure to follow FEA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on this podcast, visit FEAweb.org/podcast.Sharon Nesvig: You're listening to Educating from the Heart. Thank you for joining our lively conversations with support professionals, parents and students as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt.Luke Flynt, Host: Welcome to another episode of Educating from the Heart. I am Luke Flynt, along with my cohost, Tina Dunbar. And Tina, you know, schools are the place where a childhood happens, where students get to explore their creativity, learn to think critically and develop the skills they will need to succeed in life and in the workplace. Or at least that's what they should be.Tina Dunbar, Host: You're so right, Luke. And in our last episode, we chatted with four educators about Florida's transition away from the FSA to a new testing system. While many educators are excited about the shift, many also shared their concern that this might be more of the same, a new name without major changes to the test itself.In the second part of our conversation, we'll focus less on the tests themselves and more on the overall accountability system. Our educators even address how testing has transformed our schools from places of joy and creativity to a place filled with anxiety due to the intense focus on standardized assessments.You know, Luke, you are so right. Life is so much more than knowing the right answers to a series of multiple-choice questions.Luke: It absolutely is. There is so much about our students that cannot be measured but is still very important to know. Part two of Assessing the Test begins with Bethany Koch sharing her love for English and how it can enrich the lives of all students. But she also shares the reality that Florida's fixation on testing has had in her classroom, as well as the classroom of many of her colleagues, where the love for teaching and learning has been replaced with dread.Bethany Koch, HS English teacher: I think one of the most heartbreaking, and someone that loves English, right? Like I went into this because I love English. I love books. But one of the most heartbreaking consequences of the FSA is that it is effectively killing some of the things that students and teachers love about o...

Don't miss part 2 of "Assess The Test": Our conversation about testing was so robust that we decided to continue it to a second episode. Listen to the 2nd part of here.Change is coming to Florida's system of standardized testing. Parents, students and educators alike are wondering if we will see the significant changes that are needed to create a system that actually works towards improving teaching and learning or if this will be just the same old testing regime with a new name.  Join us for part one of a two part series where we Assess the Test. Episode 15 Show Notes: Guests Show Resources Transcript GuestsAnthony Colucci, President Brevard Federation of TeachersVicki Kidwell, President Clay County Education Association Bethany Koch, High school English teacher from Clay CountyMatt Yount, Teacher from Brevard County ResourcesMore information on the legislation that will create the new testsBeyond the Bubble: Americans Want Change on High Stakes Assessments Moving Beyond the Failure of Test-Based AccountabilityFlorida Department of Education: Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (note: many of the promises made on this webpage about the new test are not included in the proposed legislation) TranscriptAndrew Spar, FEA President: Hi, this is FEA President, Andrew Spar. To stay on top of all the latest news and issues impacting our public schools, be sure to follow FEA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on this podcast, visit FEAweb.org/podcast.Sharon Nesvig: You're listening to Educating from the Heart. Thank you for joining our lively conversations with teachers, support professionals, parents and students, as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt.Tina Dunbar, Host Welcome to another episode of Educating from the Heart. I'm Tina Dunbar with my cohost, Luke Flynt. So Luke, can you name your favorite educator, one who had a really big impact on you?Luke Flynt, Host: Oh, absolutely. Mr. Powell was my fifth grade teacher at Glendale Elementary, and he's actually the reason I became a teacher. I wanted to be just like him when I grew up. How about you?Tina: Well, several come to mind, but Señor Milliones, he was my Spanish teacher. He really stands out. He was the best, no matter what was going on with the students, he was always there to inspire you and push you forward. So, can you remember your favorite class?Luke: Favorite class? That's a little tougher, you know, I'm a bit of a nerd. I enjoyed almost all of my classes. If I had to choose one, I would probably be History of the English language. I actually loved it so much, I took it as an undergrad and then again at the graduate level.Tina: Wow, that sounds interesting. I might have to get a lesson from you on that. So, one more question: Can you remember your favorite standardized test? I'm sure you've got a few to choose from.Luke: No, no, absolutely not. “Favorite” and “standardized tests” don't really belong in the same sentence. You know, Tina, I was really fortunate that I graduated from public school in Florida before the current testing craze. The FCAT didn't come around until the year I graduated, and seniors didn't have to take it. As a teacher though, I did administer the FCAT, the FCAT 2.0 and the Florida Standards Assessment. And I can tell you, even though the test had three different names, nothing else really changed about them.Tina: I hear what you're saying. And once again, Florida is preparing to administer a revamped assessment system. That includes progress monitoring and a new end of the year tests called F.A.S.T. Or the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking. And while Governor DeSantis has made some really big promises about these new tests,

Academic freedom is under attack on the campuses of Florida's colleges and universities, perhaps none more so than the University of Florida. Recently, we sat down with three university faculty to discuss the current attacks, gain an historical perspective and learn what steps all of us can take to fight these attacks on academic freedom.  Episode 13 Show Notes: Guests Show Resources Transcript Guests Andrew Gothard, Ph.D., Florida Atlantic UniversityUnited Faculty of Florida, President, FEA/NEA/AFT/AFL-CIOhttps://myuff.org/officers/    UFF News: https://myuff.org/news-coverage/Paul Ortiz, Ph.D., Department of History, University of Florida and Authorhttps://history.ufl.edu/directory/current-faculty/paul-ortiz/Deandre Poole, Ph.D., School of Communication and Multimedia Studies, Florida Atlantic Universityhttps://www.fau.edu/artsandletters/scms/faculty/poole/ Resources HB 233 Intellectual Freedom SurveyFlorida Governor Approves Controversial Bill on Campus ‘Intellectual Freedom’Debate over academic freedom spills into Florida litigation, legislationUF Voting Rights ChallengeUnited Faculty of Florida list of demands to save academic freedomA choice for the University of Florida: Academic freedom or government stooge | EditorialUF task force recommends high bar for blocking faculty from expert testimony against stateAmid free speech concerns, UF declares it is ‘free from undue influence’ Faculty greet the message with skepticism, calling it “superficial.”Book Ban850 Books Texas Lawmaker Matt Krause Wants to BanA Texas lawmaker is targeting 850 books that he says could make students feel uneasyJohns CommitteeHomosexuality and Citizenship in Florida: A Report of the Florida Legislative Investigation Committee, January, 1964Behind Closed Doors: The Dark History of the Johns Committee  TranscriptAndrew Spar, FEA President: Hi, this is FEA president Andrew Spar. To stay on top of all the latest news and issues impacting our public schools, be sure to follow FEA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on this podcast, visit  feaweb.org/podcastSharon Nesvig: You're listening to Educating from the Heart. Thank you for joining our lively conversations with teachers, support professionals, parents, and students, as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt.Tina Dunbar, Host: Hello. I'm Tina Dunbar here with Luke, and welcome to another episode of Educating from the Heart. Hey, Luke, I don't know if you've noticed most of our episodes have focused on issues related to pre-kindergarten to 12th grade education. But this episode is going to focus on higher education, which is a crown jewel for the state of Florida.I don't know if most people realize that our colleges and our universities are consistently ranked among the best in the nation. In fact, US News and World Report recently ranked the University of Florida as a top five public university in the country. Go Gators!Luke Flynt, Host: Go Gators? I don't know, Tina, did you hear about this? A little more than a month after they received the prestigious honor of being ranked the fifth public university in the nation, UF found itself back in the news for a much more concerning reason.News broke that UF was preventing three professors from serving as expert witnesses in a trial on voting rights in Florida. This sparked some very serious concerns about academic and intellectual freedom being under attack.Tina: And that's why you'll hear from our guests today as they tell us this lawsuit debacle is not an isolated incident. Instead, it's a continuation of what many professors and faculty members of the United Faculty of Florida say has been an ongoing attack from state leaders on an essential principl...

National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers presidents Becky Pringle and Randi Weingarten join us to talk about the tangible benefits of union membership like public service loan forgiveness and the dynamic power that comes when there is alignment between the national, state, and local unions and rank-and-file members. Episode 12 Show Notes: Guests Show resources Transcript GuestsBecky Pringle is president of the National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States. Learn more about Becky: https://www.nea.org/about-nea/leaders/presidentRandi Weingarten is president of the 1.7 million-member American Federation of Teachers (AFT), AFL-CIO, which represents teachers; paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; higher education faculty and staff; nurses and other healthcare professionals; local, state and federal government employees; and early childhood educators. Learn more about Randi:https://www.aft.org/about/leadership/randi-weingarten Resources Public service loan forgiveness resources  from AFT: Public service loan forgiveness resources from NEALabor union approval at highest point since 1965 (Gallup) TranscriptAndrew Spar, President of FEA: Hi, this is FEA President Andrew Spar. To stay on top of all the latest news and issues impacting our public schools be sure to follow FEA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on this podcast, visit FEAweb.org/podcast. Sharon Nesvig, Announcer: You're listening to Educating from the Heart. Thank you for joining our lively conversations with teachers, support professionals, parents and students, as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt. Tina Dunbar, Host: Welcome to another episode of Educating from the Heart. I’m Tina with Luke. You know, we've been hearing a lot of educators share concerns over personnel shortages in their schools, and the impact it’s having on the work they do. Now some are even expressing worries over not having enough school supplies to make it to the end of the school year due to rising prices, disruptions in the supply chain and worker shortages in every area of our economy. You know, Luke, people are voluntarily walking away from their jobs or standing up for safety and fighting for better worker rights. We're experiencing an explosion of labor activism in Florida and throughout the nation. Luke Flynt, Host: You know, Tina, I see it too, from the workers at John Deere to Kellogg's, those employed in healthcare to Hollywood. This fall has seen one of the largest increases of organized labor activity in a century. Tina, did you know that during the fall of 2021, up to 100,000 working people have either been on strike or voted to authorize a strike. Tina: Wow. That's a lot. I knew about the strikes, but so many standing up.  Luke:  This wave of taking back power and asserting worker rights has been wonderful to watch. I'm reminded of one of my favorite songs. Now, I'm not going to sing. Everybody would stop listening if I did. But “Solidarity Forever” has been sung for more than a century.  Tina: Hey, I’ve got it here. I’m going to play it.   Utah Phillips singing “Solidarity Forever”: When the union's inspiration through the workers' blood shall run/There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun/ Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one/But the union makes us strong Tina: Oh, I love that song.

At Florida Education Association's 2021 Delegate Assembly, we sat down with the newly re-elected leadership of FEA to discuss the challenges facing education in Florida right now and how unions can help to overcome those challenges as well as the officers' vision for what public education should look like in the years ahead. Episode 11 Show Notes: Guests Show resources Transcript GuestsAndrew Spar, FEA PresidentCarole Gauronskas, FEA Vice PresidentNandi Riley, FEA Secretary-Treasurer  ResourcesLearn more about FEA LeadershipCheck out FEA History TranscriptAndrew Spar, President of FEA: Hi, this is FEA President Andrew Spar. To stay on top of all the latest news and issues impacting our public schools, be sure to follow FEA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on this podcast, visit FEAweb.org/podcast.  Sharon Nesvig, Announcer: You’re listening to Educating from the Heart. Thank you for joining our lively conversations with teachers, support professionals, parents and students as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt.  Tina Dunbar, Host: Hello, and welcome to Educating from the Heart. I’m Tina, and I’m here with Luke Flynt.  Luke Flynt, Host: Hello!  Tina: We have been so busy lately because we’ve been involved in a very important event. You know, every fall the Florida Education Association hosts its annual meeting called the Delegate Assembly, or the DA as some call it. At this event hundreds upon hundreds of members unite to discuss important education issues and policies. They elect leaders and set and organizational path for the future. Educators also take time to recognize important events. So, Luke, I’d like to open this episode by saying congratulations for 20 plus one years of merger.  Luke: Congratulations indeed. It really is a big deal. Let me give a little history lesson for the listeners that might not know that FEA used to be two separate unions of educators. Following years of competition between both organizations, the FEA United and FTP, the Florida Teaching Profession NEA, they decided it would be smarter to begin working together instead of against one another. After years of talk, the two unions merged into one much larger and more powerful organization in the year 2000.  Tina: And now 20 plus one years later the FEA is considered the largest labor union in the South, representing public school teachers throughout Florida. We’ve accomplished a lot since 2000, and we firmly stood together through adversity and some challenging times. Our success is directly related to our strong leadership.  Luke: To the newly elected leadership: Congratulations! And I guess where I want to start is at some point, everybody was just an infant in their union journey. Right? But before you even become a delegate or a local leader or a state leader, you make a decision to become involved in your local union. So share with us why did you decide to get involved in your local union in the first place? And President Spar I’ll start with you.   Andrew Spar, President of FEA: First and foremost, I grew up in New York, just outside of New York City. And my mom was a teacher and a member of the Yonkers Federation of Teachers. And so, it was just kind of in me, that when you come into the profession, you join your union. And so that's what I did. Right when we started out in the new teacher orientation, I joined, and about two years later in Volusia, they were offering, the district was saying, “well, all we got money for is a 1% raise.” And the steward, is what we call them in Volusia, the building rep. But the steward at the school, her husband was really ill, and so she was not able to be at school all the time.

Educators believe training students to think critically involves lessons that dive deep to explore all sides of the issue. However, a recent rule passed by the State Board of Education restricts what students can be exposed to. This type of censorship hurts students and educators alike. For this month’s episode of Educating from the Heart, we sat down with Megan Young, a high school English teacher in St. Johns County to talk about the new rule impacts teaching and learning in her classroom. Episode 10 Show Notes: Guest Show Resources Works Mentioned Transcript Guest Megan Young, English Teacher, St. Johns County Resources Florida Statute 1003.42 Required Instruction  Florida State Board of Education Rule 6A-1.094124 on required instruction  1860 Florida census map Ocoee on Fire: The 1920 Election Day Massacre  Sen. Bracy's Push for College Scholarships and a Feature Film on the Ocoee Massacre of 1920 Gets Funded (Apopka Voice) The Truth Laid Bare: Lessons from the Ocoee Massacre (Pegasus, The Magazine of the University of Central Florida) Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Cultural Complex Justice at Last: Brevard School Board Acknowledges Unjust Firing of Civil Rights Leaders (Florida Today) Florida Education Association letter urging Brevard County Schools to adopt resolution recognizing Harry and Harriette Moore as teachers emeritus  Photo of the Moores' house after the bombing  Works Mentioned Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. No Man is an Island by John Donne Anthem by Ayn Rand Transcript [00:00:00]FEA President Andrew Spar:  Hi, this is FEA President Andrew Spar.  To stay on top of all the latest news and issues impacting our public schools. Be sure to follow FEA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on this podcast visit FEAweb.org/podcast. [00:00:17]Sharon Nesvig, Announcer:  You're listening to educating from the heart. Thank you for joining our lively conversations with teachers, support professionals, parents and students, as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt. [00:00:43] Luke Flynt, Host: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. Those are words that all school children learn when studying the history of our nation's founding, but those words have a complicated history and students are right to have questions about them. Even at the time they were written those words certainly did not apply to all men, and forget about them applying to women. Let's consider just some facts from Florida history. The 1860 Florida census shows that 44% of the entire state population was enslaved. Fast forward 60 years, and on November 2nd, 1920, 50 African Americans were killed, and the entire black population of Ocoee was forced to leave the town simply for trying to exercise their right to vote.  Three decades after that on Christmas day, 1951, the home of Harry and Harriet Moore was fire bombed, and they both lost their lives. They were targeted because they were organizing their community to ensure equitable education for black students and equitable pay for black teachers. Their perpetrators were never charged, much less convicted. And all this and the country that was founded on the idea that all men have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? [00:02:20] Tina Dunbar, Host: Well, Luke, we all know the tension between the word is found in the founding documents, and the reality of life in America still exists today. A good example occurred over this past summer. We saw the state board of education pass a new rule relating to the teaching of American history, that many educators fear will have a chilling effect on instruction. While it's quite common for the state board to pass rules on what must be taugh...

Being an educator is always hard work. As we enter the third school year impacted by Covid, being an educator is harder than ever. Before the start of the 2021-22 school year, we sat down with a veteran high school history teacher to discuss the upcoming school year. Filled with equal parts optimism and concern for the year ahead, Elizabeth Rasmussen shares the importance of taking charge, engaging in advocacy and being the change she wants to see. Episode 9 Show Notes: Guests Show Resources Transcript Guest Elizabeth Rasmussen, History teacher Polk County Resources Polk Schools have more than 400 openings (Lakeland Ledger) FL Grapples with Record COVID Surge (NBC News) FEA’s Safe Schools Report Florida Has A Critical Shortage Of Teachers. Here’s Why. (WFME, NPR) featuring FEA VP Carole Gauronskas. Why is FL DOE behind on getting billions of federal dollars to schools recovering from COVID pandemic? Transcript [00:00:00] Announcer: Sharon: You're listening to “Educating from the Heart.” Thank you for joining our lively conversations with teachers, support professionals, parents, and students, as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt. [00:00:27] Tina Dunbar, Host: Welcome back to “Educating from the Heart,” the Florida Education Association podcast for teachers, support professionals, parents, community leaders and students. Together, we engage in monthly conversations, exploring all aspects of education and the impacts of policy decisions on our students and their schools. I'm Tina Dunbar, and with me is my co-host, Luke Flynt. Hey, Luke! [00:00:53] Luke Flynt, Host: Hey, Tina. [00:00:54] Tina: Good to see you again. [00:00:55] Luke: You too. [00:00:56] Tina: Well, after our brief summer break, we're back to kickoff season two of “Educating from the Heart.” I am so excited, and I know you are too, because we've got a lot planned for this season. [00:01:07] Luke: Absolutely, Tina. This season, we're going to talk about everything from teaching accurate history and civics in today's K-12 classrooms, to the attack on academic freedom at Florida's colleges and universities. And, of course, during the legislative session, we will keep everybody updated on what's happening in the State Capitol. But let's back up a bit and talk about this month's episode. [00:01:31] Tina: Well, Luke, as you know, back in July FEA held its annual professional development gathering called Summer Academy. It's our largest training for teachers and support professionals from across the state. And it was held in-person and, you know, everybody was looking forward to that. So, we decided to take the podcast on the road. Well, educators generally take advantage of this event and network with their colleagues, and one of the top conversations dealt with the new school year and the unknowns surrounding the virus. Luke, all school employees, regardless of where they work, had been looking forward to a fresh start this year and a return as close as possible to normal for this school year. [00:02:16] Luke: We open season two with a high school history teacher from Polk County who has been in the classroom for 14 years and seen a lot of change during that time. Elizabeth Rasmussen shared her hopes for her students, as well as her fears for what this school year could bring. “Raz” as she is affectionately known, spoke about the importance of unionism and legislative advocacy, but she begins by sharing what inspired her to become a teacher and how her students motivate her to remain in the profession, despite its many challenges. [00:02:50] Elizabeth R.: When I look back at the reason why I do what I do: It's my kids. It's kids like, and these are pseudonyms, because like Veronica and Juan that I've written about that really inspired me to keep educating, and I'm actually getting a PhD right now. So,

Florida keeps trying to increase its national rankings. The Governor recently signed a record high $100 billion state budget that provides $22.8 billion for education and a 50 million increase to raise starting teacher salaries to 5th in the nation. But the pay plan crafted by the legislature still leaves 80% of the state's classroom teachers scraping the bottom of the barrel and lacks the funds to provide equitable annual raises for most school employees. In Show Me the Money, we'll explore how far up the ladder the 2021 state budget will boost Florida teacher salaries in the national rankings and whether districts will again be forced to find creative ways to increase salaries to retain teachers and staff. Episode 8 Show Notes: Guests Show Resources Transcript Guests Cathy Boehme, FEA Legislative Specialist, and former Escambia County School  District Biology Teacher Paul Fetsko, Escambia County School Board and former Escambia County Assistant Superintendent Show Resources Education Week Ranking of the States (Florida has a D+ overall and an F for education spending) 2020-21 Funding For Florida School Districts (PDF, 1.1 MB) Transcript Sharon Nesvig, Announcer: You're listening to “Educating from the Heart.” Thank you for joining our lively conversations with teachers, support professionals, parents, and students, as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt. [00:00:00]Tina Dunbar, Host: Alright welcome back everyone, and Luke it is so good to finally see you! [00:00:34Luke Flynt, Host: Yes! Not just on a computer screen but we’re actually in the same room together! [00:00:00] Tina: Yes, recording, for the first time, our first podcast together. And unfortunately it took until the end of the school year to get to it. Yes, this seems like it’s been the longest school year ever. You notice that? [00:00:55] Luke: Oh god. [00:00:58] Tina: Oh, some of our districts have already ended their classes, but we have others with classes winding down. [00:01:03] Luke: You know, looking back on this season, one of the first episodes we talked about the Educator Pay Plan and how divisive it is, that it really pits especially new teachers against experienced teachers. During the pandemic we heard a lot of talk about how educators are valued, and I’m wondering did we actually see any of that in the budget, did the budget that the legislature passed, that the governor signed, actually show that respect that we heard so much talk about? [00:01:34]Tina: I think we saw the exact opposite this year. It’s kind of confusing the way it happened. Now remember last year’s new teacher pay mandate to increase starting salaries to $47, 500? It was supposed to elevate salaries for first year teachers, making Florida one of the top states in the nation on starting salaries. At least that was the governor’s rhetoric. The legislature allocated $500 million to the budget, now more than a year later we see that pot of money wasn’t enough. It focused exclusively on first-year teachers, as I mentioned, and that divisive mandate left out others, especially experienced teachers; they were left out in the cold, as far as pay goes. [00:02:26] Luke: But DeSantis went across the state bragging about this great job that he’s done funding education and specifically that he’s giving bonuses to teachers. How does that play into this state budget? [00:02:38] Tina: Well, this year, not at all. Actually that’s about federal money, a good chunk of that money really is coming from the federal relief money. Governor DeSantis and the legislative leaders had the opportunity to invest state dollars in meaningful ways to ensure that all educators a fair and equitable salary, but that didn’t happen this year. And don’t let those half-truths fool you. The state budget still leaves behind students and the rest of our educators,

Florida parents are being inundated with marketing calls, flyers, and advertisements that promote new schools opening in their communities. Private schools that accept taxpayer funded vouchers are popping up all across the state in strip malls, rundown office buildings, vacant car dealerships, abandoned factories, and church basements. Most are in small religious schools with no affiliation to an established church or denomination. They have limited state oversight. Many of these pop-up voucher schools don't even meet basic academic standards. Numerous studies have shown the students perform no better in reading or math than their public school peers. In Part 2 of Vouchers for All: Buyer Beware, you'll hear why some parents regret pulling their child out of public schools for a chance to grab a private school voucher. Episode 7 Show Notes: Episode 6: Vouchers for All, Part 1 Guests Show Resources Transcript Guests Angel Pittman, education advocate Rebecca Forbes-Levy, parent in Miami-Dade County Resources Angel Pittman's website Pastors for Florida’s Children Vouchers and Tax Credit Scholarships in the U.S., a 3-minute video by the Southern Education Foundation about how the growing trend of sending public money to private schools through vouchers and tax credit scholarships threatens public education. Private school vouchers as civil rights? Baloney! (Baptist News Global, Opinion by Charles Johnson, July 14, 2020) Florida’s voucher programs: Evidence of academic success is limited (Orlando Sentinel, February 28, 2020) Former lobbyist details how privatizers are trying to end public education (Washington Post, April 16, 2021) How School-Voucher Lobbyist John Kirtley Buys Florida Lawmakers’ Votes (Flagler Live, May 22, 2011) Back to Top Transcript [00:00] Announcer: Sharon Nesvig: You're listening to “Educating from the Heart.” Thank you for joining our lively conversations with teachers, support professionals, parents, and students, as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt. [00:27] Tina Dunbar: Hello everyone. And welcome back to the second part of our series “Vouchers for All.” Well, Luke, wouldn't you agree that far too many parents believe accepting a private school voucher will automatically lead to the best educational opportunity for their child, at least better than in public schools? [00:47] Luke Flynt: Tina, I think you're right. There are many parents who think that because these voucher schools are supported by the state, they're also regulated by the state, but the numbers are truly staggering. If we look at Dade County alone, there were 713 private schools: only 113 of them are accredited. That means there were 600 private schools, again, this is just in one county, that have no oversight from the state, from any agency or any regulatory body. It's no wonder that the majority of students who use private school vouchers flee their voucher school within two years. As we'll talk about with our guests today, a lot of damage can be done to students during their short stints in Florida's voucher failure factories. [01:40] Tina: That's because we're talking about schools that aren't accredited. The students are taught by adults who aren't even certified to teach, and the curriculum could be considered substandard. I've actually heard that from parents outraged that private schools don't have to follow the same high standards as public schools. Also, in this episode, we're going to explore those government-dependent taxpayer-funded private schools, the same pop-up voucher schools that we mentioned in our last episode. [02:12] Luke: It's heartbreaking. We sit down with a parent, Rebecca Forbes-Levy, who used a voucher to send her son to a private school in Miami, only to find out the school couldn't offer a high school diploma.

Florida’s private school voucher program was first enacted in 1999 for the McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities. It was one of the nation’s first school voucher programs for students with special needs. Over the past 2 decades, the taxpayer funded program has grown exponentially. The state serves approximate 185,000 students in five school choice programs: Episode 6 Show Notes: Guests Show Resources Transcript John McKay Scholarship Gardiner Scholarship Program Hope Scholarship Program Family Empowerment Scholarship Program (FES) Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program (FTC). Most K-12 students in Florida attend a public school, but Florida lawmakers continue to approve programs and policies that allow vouchers to drain billions of dollars from public education. Wouldn’t your tax dollars go further to help all children if the funds were directed to update and enhance traditional public school classrooms and facilities? The 2021 Legislative session ends with the Florida Legislature asking the Governor to sign into law  the largest school choice expansion effort in Florida history. This is part one of a two-part series. Part 1 explores the impact of vouchers on public schools Part 2 explores how parents are navigating the school choice landscape and the unintended consequences behind a bad fit for a child. Part 2 will air on May 10th. Guests Angie Gallo, a parent, member of the Orange County School Board, former president of Florida PTA Adora Obi Nweze, president of the Florida Conference of the NAACP Resources Step Up For Students Step Up for Students Preliminary Investigative Report, League of Women Voters of Florida (March 2021). PDF (563 K) download. Schools Without Rules, 2017 three-part Orlando Sentinel investigation Troubled Orange school gets millions in vouchers. State investigates after a teacher’s arrest and does nothing. Again. (Orlando Sentinnel, March 21, 2021) Legislators’ ties to charter schools a conflict of interest, by Karla Mats, President, United Teachers of Dade FLDOE School District Report Card Back to Top Transcript [00:00:00] Sharon Nesvig: You're listening to “Educating from the Heart.” Thank you for joining our lively conversations with teachers, support professionals, parents, and students, as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt. [00:00:31] Tina Dunbar: It’s said there are two things in life that are certain and that's death and taxes, but I think we can add another item to the list: vouchers. You know, when the Florida Legislature convenes its 60-day session, one of their main priorities every year is the expansion of private school vouchers. You know, those state-sponsored scholarships paid for with textbooks. [00:00:54] Luke Flynt: That's the truth. The House and Senate both passed legislation that will massively expand the vouchers. A family of four with an income of $100,000 is now eligible to receive taxpayer funds to send their children to unregulated, unaccountable, private and religious schools. We are one step closer to the ultimate goal, which is universal vouchers. [00:01:21] Tina: Yes. Vouchers for all. We're talking about giving private companies your taxpayer dollars, money that should be used on our local schools. Even worse, those taxes, those dollars, would come from the same pot set aside to pay for public schools. This shift could certainly have a negative impact on public school classrooms, students and the staff in them today. We'll explore this issue in the first part of our two-part series on private schools. [00:01:50] Luke: We'll talk with Angie Gallo, an active and concerned parent, past president of the Florida PTA, and current Orange County School Board Member. Along with her is a Adora Obi Nweze, President of the Florida Conference of the NAACP,

Read the transcript from Episode 4 The debate over statewide standardized assessments continues following the decision by the U.S. Education Department (USED) to continue its annual testing required under the Student Success Act. The ruling has left some Florida parents and educators, who had hoped the feds would give states a pass on this year’s tests due to the pandemic, feeling dismayed and disappointed. The USED Covid testing guidance provides considerable flexibility to states. Florida would not be required to use its student performance results for 3rd or 12th grade retention, school grading, or teacher evaluations. States have been given the option to shorten the assessment and eliminate its in-person testing requirement. The federal modification has those opposed to testing questioning how the Florida Department of Education would interpret the ruling, but some parents believe the testing relief won’t matter because they the push for assessments during Covid reveals something much bigger other than the need to help students succeed. Guests Karla Mats: Parent, ESE Teacher, and the president of United Teachers of Dade Ceresta Smith: National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) and Co-Founder of United Opt-Out National Marie-Claire Leman: Parent and advocate for Title 1 schools Show Resources The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. NAEP results help to inform decisions about how to improve the education system in our country and states. Read NAEP’s planned response to the pandemic. View Florida NAEP results at https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ Diane Ravitch is a historian of education, an educational policy analyst, and a research professor at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Previously, she was a U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education. In 2010, she became "an activist on behalf of public schools" and since 2012 has written thousands of posts on her blog, which she calls "a site to discuss better education for all." Just Say No to Standardized Tests: Why and How to Opt Out, Fair Test's  response to student assessments during the pandemic Testing and Opt-Out Provisions in ESSA — Updated guidance from the Council of Chief State School Officers  United Opt-Out National Overtesting of Florida Students, Part 4 of FEA's series Bad Policy and Low Pay: How Florida is Undermining Student Succes Network for Public Education (NPE) New Mind-Boggling Evidence Proves SAT Bias, by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi which explores racial bias in standardized testing. The Racist Beginnings of Standardized Testing, NEA Today article that looks at how students of color, from grade school to college, have suffered from the effects of biased testing.

Welcome back to Educating from the Heart. Episode 3 has two segments: Annual Contract Dilemma A Shot in the Arm     Read the transcript from Episode 3 Annual Contract Dilemma It was the first bill signed into law by former Gov. Rick Scott in 2011 shortly after assuming office. The Student Success Act altered several aspects of teaching, including removing the ability for a newly hired teacher in Florida to be awarded a renewable multi-year employment agreement by a county school district. Currently, a teacher is placed on an annual contract after completing one year of probationary employment with an evaluation that is satisfactory or above. Each annual contract teacher can have their contract non-renewed at the end of the school year without cause and regardless of how well they perform. Prior to the law, educators worked three years to achieve a non-probationary status and would then become eligible for a multi-year employment agreement. Lawmakers have maintained that annual contracts help school districts identify and remove bad teachers and attract and retain quality teachers. But since the inception of annual contracts, Florida school districts have been left struggling with escalating staff shortages and a culture of trepidation. Segment Guests An annual contract teacher in Florida who asked to remain anonymous Kevin Daly, former ESE teacher and president of the Teachers Association of Lee County Dr. Angela Pruitt, Lee County Schools, Human Resources Victoria Smith, high school geometry teacher and president of the Citrus County Education Association Segment Resources Annual Contracts: An Attack on Teacher Professionalism (FEA Frontline blog) As Teacher Morale Hits a New Low, Schools Look for Ways to Give Breaks, Restoration (EdWeek, Jan. 6, 2021) Teachers blindsided after being let go at end of school year, union says (St. Augustine Record, June 1, 2019) How Due Process Protects Teachers and Students (PDF, 639 KB; American Educator, Summer 2015) Bad Policy and Low Pay: How Florida is Undermining Student Success (FEA Frontline blog) A Shot in the Arm Florida schools entered the second semester with local districts urging parents to return their students to in-person learning. As the Covid-19 positivity rate continues to climb and school buildings and classrooms overflow, Florida educators are questioning when they’ll be prioritized to receive their shot in the arm. Gov. DeSantis has ignored the CDC guidelines for vaccine distribution by not including teachers with other frontline workers in the initial rollout. Florida educators age 65 and older are eligible to receive an inoculation, but long lines and limited supplies have made it difficult for them, even those with serious medical conditions, to obtain their shot. The situation has left many teachers and school support professionals anxious, weary and frustrated over lack of protection. The FEA, school district leaders, principals and parents have urged the governor to reconsider reprioritizing teachers and school staff professionals. Those requests have fallen on deaf ears. Segment Guests Anthony S. Colucci, Ed. S., NBCT and president of the Brevard Federation of Teachers Traci Stiles, high school math teacher Segment Resources FEA's letter to Gov. DeSantis on educator vaccinations (PDF, 198 KB; Dec. 16, 2020), which begins: On behalf of the 150,000 members of the Florida Education Association (FEA), I am writing to encourage you to prioritize prekindergarten-12 school and higher education employees in the state vaccination plan. We believe this action is necessary to decrease community spread and to better ensure instructional continuity by reducing the number of education staff who are unable to work because of COVID-related illness. ... Read the full letter. Where Teachers Are Eligible for COVID 19 Shots (EdWeek;  As of Jan. 25, at least 23 states have made some or all teachers ...

p { margin-bottom: 0.95em; font-size: 1.2rem; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'franklin-gothic-urw', sans-serif; } Additional resources for this episode: Glossary for this episode An overview of school funding News from around Florida related to the TSA Read a transcript of this episode How would you feel about working a job for 10 -15 years and a new employee without comparable experience is hired to work the same job at your current salary? Florida’s experienced teachers find themselves in just that predicament. HB 641, also known as the Teacher Salary Allocation — or TSA — was passed by the Florida Legislature in 2020. The law was purportedly established to recruit and retain newly hired teachers by providing $500 million for local school districts to increase the starting salary of new teachers — some of which were as low as $38,000 — to $47,500. The TSA designated 20% of the funds to be used to provide a raise for experienced teachers, who compose the larger share of instructional staff. But the effort to distribute the funds has generated confusion and frustration from teachers who say the state’s pay plan creates huge inequities, leaving some teachers feeling undervalued. The Governor has repeated his desire to continue funding the TSA, but at what level? On this episode we're joined by educators from three school districts who share the pros and cons of the TSA and what actions they say state legislators need to take to make all teachers whole: Michelle Dillon, President, St. Johns Education Association (SJEA) Justin Vogel, Teacher, St. Johns Schools and SJEA Bargaining Committee member Dave Galloway, President, Jackson County Education Association Stuart Klatte, President, Lake County Education Association Kathy Smith, Vice President, Lake County Education Association Additional Resources Definitions Base Student Allocation (BSA) — This is the portion of school district funding where school boards have discretion on how to spend the funds. Among other things the BSA is used to fund employee salaries and benefits which are determined through collective bargaining. When adjusted for inflation, the 2020-21 BSA is $770 less per student than it was in 2007-08. Categorical — This is the portion of school district funding that is heavily regulated by the state, providing little or no local control for school districts on how these funds are spent. Categoricals include safe schools, transportation, mental health and the newly created teacher salary allocation (TSA). Over the past decade, the number of categoricals has almost doubled. The result of this is the state has taken greater control over how school districts can spend funds while disinvesting in the base student allocation. Compression — Also referred to as wage or salary compression, this is when there is little difference in pay between employees regardless of differences in their experience, degree attainment or abilities. Policies passed by the Florida Legislature have led to significant wage compression over the past decade, and the recently passed Teacher Salary Allocation is making the issue worse. In many areas of the state veteran teachers with over a decade of experience will be earning essentially the same salary as a first-year teacher. Collective bargaining — This is the process through which the school board and the local union negotiate terms and conditions of employment including working conditions and compensation. The results of these negotiations are voted upon by all members of the bargaining unit, whether or not they are members of their union. Salary schedule — A listing of annual salary based on years of experience and other considerations such as advanced degrees. The salary schedule is negotiated through collective bargaining. Step — Movement from one salary on a salary schedule to another. Prior to the Great Recession,

p { margin-bottom: 0.95em; font-size: 1.2rem; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: 'franklin-gothic-urw', sans-serif; } The global pandemic has impacted all aspects of life but perhaps none more so than the teaching and learning. In our inaugural episode, co-hosts Tina Dunbar and Luke Flynt sit down with a Cristal Atlas, a teacher from Broward County and Alachua County school bus driver Tarfanisha Phillips. Anna Fusco, president of the Broward Teachers Union (BTU), and Carmen Ward, president of the Alachua County Education Association (ACEA),  join the conversation as well. You’ll hear firsthand how educators are working against all odds to keep students safe and healthy while also providing the best education possible. All that, and more as we tackle how to grapple with this Covid Conundrum. Show Highlights 7:05 | “People have a right to know. They should have a choice to come back to work or go get tested. Or if they really had close contact to be quarantined. It's, it's not fair to everyone else. And how about the parents? Don't they have a right to know that the child in her class tested positive and their child was next to them.” — BTU President Anna Fusco 15:03 | “I'm exhausted. I'm tired. I don't sleep through the night because I'm worried about what's going to happen the next day or what I'm going to do. What's going to happen to my children. What's going to happen to my mother-in-law. What can happen to my husband? We each have our own health issues.” — Cristal Atlas, teacher 19:32 | “Nobody tells us anything. We have to find out either from the person that transportation that was positive or, you know, gossip, or, you know, just. Other people, the news, I found out, uh, several cases for me, the news, and I'm like, Hey, wait, I transported them to the football game. If the whole JV and varsity and the coaches are out. What about the bus driver that took them to the game? You understand what I’m saying.. Uh, I'm, I'm always on pins and needles. I'm scared. I'm always stressed out about going to work and it's never, ever been like this.” — Tarfanisha Phillips, bus driver 26:17 | “We've lost many, many employees too, to this pandemic. Because they have in their own safety over there, their jobs, and we've lost many educators from teachers to support staff, to bus drivers. Many people have stepped away from there, from their career.” — ACEA President Carmen Ward Additional Resources COVID-19 ADA Denial Legal Relief Program. The FEA Legal Department is pleased to introduce its legal representation program for Covid-19 related accommodation denials. FEA Legal previously developed an ADA toolkit for locals to use. Locals have expressed that due to the nature and extensive impact of Covid-19, additional support is essential. In addition to the toolkit, we will now provide support in terms of legal representation. To learn more about the program, please click here. Self-care looks different for every educator. It’s vitally important for everyone to find the best approach to managing anxiety and maintaining good emotional health during stressful moments. Here are some useful resources from our national affiliates: Taking Care of Self During a Difficult Time (PDF) Dealing with COVID Mental Health (PDF) Using Meditation to Mitigate Stress Importance of Self-Care as a Teacher FEA’s Safe Schools Report is an effort to collect and display important, factual information surrounding the opening of school campuses across the state. Learn how to build a positive classroom. The FEA Professional Development and Educational Research Department is hosting a statewide virtual professional learning community (PLC) focused on NEA's "Building a Positive Classroom Community with Affective Language." In this micro-credential, you will work on a project designed to directly help you in your professional practices. Please join us on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m.

Educating from the Heart, the Florida Education Association's monthly podcast, is your source for lively discussion from educators, parents and students on the issues that matter most to public education in Florida. Each episode you will hear the struggles and the successes in our schools directly from rank-and-file educators as well as local union leaders from around the state.