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Declines invite to attend teachers' convention

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

As the war of words and insults between Gov. Chris Christie and the New Jersey Education Association rages on, state Acting Education Commissioner Rochelle Hendricks has told the state teachers' union president she will not attend the union's annual convention in Atlantic City this week. It is first time in the 156 year of the convention that a state education commissioner has declined to attend.

It is traditional for the education commissioner to address the thousands of teachers who attend the convention, but Hendricks sent an email to NJEA President Barbara Keshishian on Monday informing her she would not be attending.

Hendricks cited as the reason for not attending what she sees as the NJEA's failure to work with her and Christie on their attempt to reform public education and the union's opposition to the governor's proposal to base seniority on a teacher's ability and not longevity.

"Governor Christie has put forward a bold reform agenda to accomplish the sweeping changes necessary to fix a system that has failed too many of our children," Hendricks wrote. "The New Jersey Education Association has failed to step up, identify the problem and be a partner with the Obama and Christie Administrations in fixing it. As Acting Commissioner of Education, I strongly support Governor Christie's call to evaluate teachers' performance based on how well their students are learning."

The convention is the largest professional development gathering for educators in the world. Thousands of New Jersey educators attend to take part in more than 300 professional development seminars. They also hear from highly regarded keynote speakers and take advantage of opportunities to learn from colleagues in settings such as High Tech Hall, where educators and other education experts present workshops on integrating technology into education.

Keshishian said Hendricks "apparently learned from her predecessor, Bret Schundler, that collaboration with educators on education reform issues is a fire-able offense in the Christie administration..."

Keshishian said, "Acting Commissioner Hendricks' refusal to engage in a discussion with professional educators in a professional development setting is astounding. The tone of her email is consistent with prior statements from the Christie administration --- filled with political rhetoric and inaccurate characterizations of NJEA.

When Christie was campaigning for governor last year, he also refused to meet with NJEA leaders.

Hendricks also wrote, "Consistently, the New Jersey Education Association has shown it is unwilling to accept reforms that put results for our children first and use them as part of our metrics for evaluating teacher performance. Over and over the NJEA has only been interested in protecting the status quo that continues to fail students, particularly in our urban schools. Governor Christie believes that every child has a right to a quality education, and his reforms

challenge a system that has failed to meet that standard.

"I do agree with the NJEA on one important fact: New Jersey schools are led by some of the finest, most talented teachers in the nation," Hendricks said. "However, at this time, I write to respectfully decline your invitation to address the NJEA convention. We need fundamental change, and the need is urgent. When the NJEA is willing to work with the Christie administration as a true partner in an effort to reward good teachers instead of protecting bad teachers, when the NJEA is willing to modernize the tenure system and improve the quality of education in our urban districts, I look forward to working with you."

Keshishian said, "Her claim that NJEA refuses to be a partner in bold education reform is simply untrue, and I find it highly ironic that she makes that claim on the eve of the NJEA Convention, which is the largest and most exciting professional development event in the world for educators. She should come and see for herself, rather than parrot the anti-NJEA, anti-teacher vitriol of the Christie administration."

Keshishian said the NJEA has a record of involvement in reform and improvement of instruction. She said the union launched the Hipp Foundation 17 years ago to support educational innovation, and since then, it has awarded $1.4 million to 272 curriculum projects created by educators - and which are shared with colleagues around the state.

"We also founded the New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, governed by an independent board made up of leaders in education, business and philanthropy, that is empowering teachers to be leaders in the transformation of public schools," Keshishian said. "Its Progressive Science Initiative has already quadrupled the number of newly-minted physics teachers each year in New Jersey, and our new Math Initiative will break similar ground.

"That's what makes this latest snub by the Christie Administration so upsetting to our members, who take great pride in their work," Keshishian said. "Once again, the administration thwarts any attempt on our part at cooperation and collaboration because of the governor's larger political agenda that insists that teachers and their union are the enemies of public education. To say, as she does, that NJEA ‘is unwilling to accept reforms that put results for our children first' is an insult to every teacher in New Jersey."

The NJEA and Gov. Christie have been at war politically virtually since the day the governor took office. Christie cut the NJEA out of the federal "Race to the Top" unsuccessful and controversial application that sought at least $400 million in education aid.

"Still, the acting commissioner's refusal to meet with professional educators at the NJEA Convention is a new low even for this administration, and further demonstrates that Governor Christie does not respect or value the work that New Jersey's teachers and school employees do to make New Jersey's public schools the finest in the nation," Keshishian said. "In fact, more than a year ago, candidate Christie refused to meet with NJEA, but said he would welcome the opportunity to meet directly with NJEA members. Apparently, that was then."

Here is Hendricks' email to Keshishian:

"Ms. Keshishian,

"New Jerseyans have much to be proud of in their public schools; we are home to some of the highest-achieving schools and students in America. Sadly, we also have some of the consistently worst schools that fail generation after generation of students. Despite some of the highest levels of education spending in the entire nation, New Jersey's public schools continue to confront a critical achievement gap that shortchanges our children.

"Leadership and recognition of that fundamental truth must come at every level if we are to meet this challenge with the necessary reforms to combat the crisis in our education system. President Obama, Education Secretary Duncan and Governor Christie have all recognized the incompatibility of being committed to a high-quality education for every child, while standing up for the status quo. As such, Governor Christie has put forward a bold reform agenda to accomplish the sweeping changes necessary to fix a system that has failed too many of our children. The New Jersey Education Association has failed to step up, identify the problem and be a partner with the Obama and Christie Administrations in fixing it.

"As Acting Commissioner of Education, I strongly support Governor Christie's call to evaluate teachers' performance based on how well their students are learning. Although many New Jersey students score well in NAEP, 40 percent of our African American students, and 32 percent of our Hispanic students, lack proficiency in basic skills.

"As with any other profession where performance is evaluated, educators should be held to high standards when it comes to ensuring our children receive the best possible education. Teachers who are highly effective should be rewarded for the progress made by their students with higher pay, expanded roles and access to career paths to increase their influence in their schools and communities. Likewise, those who consistently perform below our expectations, even after receiving assistance to improve performance, must be removed.

"Consistently, the New Jersey Education Association has shown it is unwilling to accept reforms that put results for our children first and use them as part of our metrics for evaluating teacher performance. Over and over the NJEA has only been interested in protecting the status quo that continues to fail students, particularly in our urban schools. Governor Christie believes that every child has a right to a quality education, and his reforms challenge a system that has failed to meet that standard.

"I do agree with the NJEA on one important fact: New Jersey schools are led by some of the finest, most talented teachers in the nation. However, at this time, I write to respectfully decline your invitation to address the NJEA convention. We need fundamental change, and the need is urgent. When the NJEA is willing to work with the Christie administration as a true partner in an effort to reward good teachers instead of protecting bad teachers, when the NJEA is willing to modernize the tenure system and improve the quality of education in our urban districts, I look forward to working with you.

"Whenever you are ready to consider a real discussion about pursuing bold education reform, my door is open.

Sincerely,

Rochelle Hendricks

Acting Commissioner of Education"