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Episode 6 Overview:In this episode, Dr. Jeck sits down with two FCPS teachers to talk about the value of teachers and teacher compensation.
Guests:
- Lauren Brill is a kindergarten teacher at Pierce Elementary and President of the Fauquier Education Association (FEA).
- Jen McIntyre is a 4th-grade teacher at Ritchie Elementary and the co-leader (along with Sharon Mellon) of the Advocating for Change group.
Questions for Guests:
Bucket Question Chosen by Jen: What is your favorite candy bar?Bucket Question Chosen by Lauren: What is a saying do you say a lot?
Q1: What is your best elevator speech regarding your organization, what it is you want to accomplish, and what message do you want to get out to all stakeholders in Fauquier County?
Q2: What is your why? Why did you become a teacher and why do you stay a teacher?
Q3: Why do you think it is that our society does not look upon the teaching profession the way they do other professions?
Q4: What is it you wish every non-teacher understood about the teaching profession?
Q5: Beyond salaries, how else are our schools impacted by losing teachers to counties to the north?
Q6: Do you have any last comments?
Episode Sponsors: Thank you to our sponsors for their support of this program, FCPS, and education in general:
Dr. Jeck, I've been trying to find information regarding how the state of VA determines the allocation of funds for education to each county. If the sources I've found are correct, each county gets a very different amount, and more importantly, if you look at it from a per student basis (apples to apples), each county STILL gets a very different amount per student. Do you have any insight into a formula that is used by the state? I have not been successful at finding an adequate explanation. Thank you. Julie Richards, parent with two children in FCPS.
ReplyDeleteWorksheet for State Funding Amounts for All School Divisions:
Deletehttp://www.doe.virginia.gov/school_finance/budget/calc_tools/2018-20/1820-calculation-template.xlsm
State Composite Index (LCI) for the Local Ability to Pay for Education Costs:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/school_finance/budget/compositeindex_local_abilitypay/index.shtml
State Overview of K-12 Education Funding in Virginia:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/school_finance/budget/funding_stds_quality/soq_funding_presentation.pptx
State Lottery Funding Summary:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/school_finance/budget/lottery/lottery_pmts_to_divisions.xls
State Teacher Salary Reports:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching/workforce_data/index.shtml
State Finance Department Contacts:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/about/finance/index.shtml
Thank you. I will check out these links. Trying to wrap my head around the entire picture, which appears to me more complicated than I thought.
DeleteWednesday, October 17th, we need EVERYONE at the School Board meeting! I will take 2 hours out of my month (despite whatever weather may come, the tiredness, the one hundred reasons why it is more comfortable for me to stay home) and show up IN RED to show our School Board that APPROPRIATE FINANCIAL COMPENSATION comes FIRST. We need YOU. Parents, teachers, students, tax payers, everyone. If you want your children to have access to great education, they need access to great teachers. We need great teachers to stay in this county. We need YOU to show up on October 17th, 7:00 at Fauquier High School. Walk in the front doors, turn left into the Falcon Room and walk down to the front. You will find US!
ReplyDeleteDr. Jeck,
ReplyDeleteThank you for wearing red and supporting your teachers and staff in these difficult and vital conversations. We have an incredible community and culture here in FCPS1, which is why I moved here, work here, and plan to remain here. I hope that our wider, outer stakeholders, those in Fauquier County who may not think they feel a direct impact from our schools, will stand with you and with us in demanding not only equity for our students, but for our staff by showing respect for our profession through tangible benefits. We have an opportunity to take the LEAD in elevating the profession as a whole. It must start by making sure all our employees not only have the intangible benefits that come with working here, but the tangible benefits that allow them to truly thrive here. As Shakespeare said, "Though she may be little, she is fierce." We may be a small county but that doesn't mean we can't take a fierce stance in the issues on the table and create real change. It's going to take the entire county standing together to do what's best for it's future. Let others look to us as innovators in what is going to be the next education revolution in this country. -Erika Kersey, teacher, parent of 6 and step-parent to 4, all educated, currently educated, or will be educated in FCPS1.
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ReplyDeleteAppropriate financial compensation needs to be a priority in Fauquier County. Invest in our teachers and our children will reap the benefits!
ReplyDelete