Wednesday, December 28, 2016

BATs Were Busy in 2016

This BATs meme, created by Nancy Osborne, had the
biggest reach in 2016 - shared 75,500 times with an over
7 million reach on Facebook!


JAN 2016
  1. BAT BLOG OVER 1 MILLION HITS
  2. RICK SMITH SHOW ARCHIVE LINK #BATSRADIO EVERY MONDAY
  3. EDUCATION TOWN RADIO HALL ARCHIVE LINKS
  4. TN BAT LARRY PROFFITT RUNS FOR TN HOUSE OF REPS
  5. OHIO BAT JANET GARRETT RUNS FOR OHIO STATE OFFICE
  6. OREGON BAT TOM KANE RUNS FOR OREGON HOUSE OF REPS
  7. BATS TESTIFY AT USDOE ON ESSA
  8. BATs ATTEND FRIEDRICHS VS. CTA ORAL ARGUMENTS
  9. BATS QWL MEETS WITH USDOE ABOUT TEACHER WORKPLACE CONDITIONS
  10. BATS PLACES AD IN THE WASHINGTON DC EXPRESS GIVING THE USDOE A GRADE OF “F”
  11. CA BAT AND ANAHEIM SUPERINTENDENT MICHAEL MATUSUDA LEADS ANAHEIM SCHOOL BOARD CALLING FOR CHARTER ACCOUNTABILITY/MORATORIUM ON CHARTERS IN OP ED

FEB 2016
  1. BAT EXEC. DIRECTOR MARLA KILFOYLE INTERVIEWS FOR NYS REGENTS POSITION
  2. CA BAT AND CO-DIRECTOR OF BAT ACTION TEAM TINA ANDRES AND CA BAT JOSE MORALES SIGN ONTO A COMPLAINT AGAINST GULEN CHARTERS IN CALIFORNIA
  3. HAWAII BAT ADMIN MIREILLE ELLSWORTH HAS OP ED PUBLISHED IN HONOLULU STAR ADVERTISER CALLING FOR MORE FUNDING, END TO “TYRANNY OF TESTING” IN STATE

MARCH 2016
  1. BATS PRESENT AT NYCORE
  2. BATS PRESENT VIA WEBINAR ABOUT PRIVATIZATION TO TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EDUCATION STUDENTS.
  3. CA BATS SIGN ONTO SUPPORT ETHNIC STUDIES CURRICULUM

APRIL 2016
  1. BATS PRESENT AT NPE
  2. BATS PRESENT AT THE SAVING THE SOUL OF EDUCATION CONFERENCE IN NY
  3. BATs purchase ad on Seattle Metro Bus line telling parents to opt children out of testing.

MAY 2016

  1. OHIO BAT BRIANNE KRAMER TESTIFIES IN FRONT OF OHIO LEGISLATURE ABOUT VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOLS.  
  2. AZ BAT CHRISTINE MARSH CHOSEN AZ TEACHER OF THE YEAR USES HER  WHITE HOUSE VISIT OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE PRESS ABOUT THE UNDERFUNDING OF SCHOOLS AND CORPORATE REFORM’S SHADY CLOSED DOOR POLICIES, CALLS FOR A PUBLIC DEBATE ON ED POLICY

JUNE 2016
  1. BATs Award their 2nd annual scholarship to education activists Tanaisa Brown (Newark Student Union) and Nidalis Burgos (Chicago Student Activist).  
  2. Mississippi BAT Amanda Koonlaba receives Thad Cochran Distinguished Arts Educator for Media Arts' Award from the Mississippi Association for Arts Education
  3. BATs highlighted in the relaunch of Diane Ravitch’s The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education
JULY
  1. NEA BAT CAUCUS DROPS NBI’S 20 and 13 pass (or were referred)
  2. Badass advocate award created at NEA BAT Caucus
  3. AFT BAT CAUCUS LAUNCHED AT AFT CONVENTION
  4. SOS COALITION FOR ACTION IN DC AND CONFERENCE AT HOWARD
  5. BATS QWL HONORED FOR THEIR WORK IN QUALITY OF WORKPLACE AT AFT CONVENTION
  6. BATS SUBMIT RESEARCH GRANT TO IES TO STUDY TEACHER WORKPLACE CONDITIONS
  7. BAT Action TEAM CO-DIRECTOR DR. MICHAEL FLANAGAN ATTENDS DNC AS A BLOGGER FOR MOMMACRAT
  8. BATs MEET WITH REP. HONDA   TO DISCUSS A LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION CONFERENCE; UNFORTUNATELY REP. HONDA  DID NOT GET RE-ELECTED
  9. BATS TROY LARAVIERE (IL) CHUCK PASCAL (NV) AND CHRISTINE KRAMAR (NV) HELP NEGOTIATE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM FOR EDUCATION

AUGUST 2016
  1. WA BAT SUSAN DUFRESNE TAKES CROSS COUNTRY TRIP IN HER OPT OUT BUS, DONATING BOOKS AND PROMOTING OPT OUT

SEPTEMBER 2016
  1. BATS SUPPORTED & TESTIFIED AT JOURNEY FOR JUSTICE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD EVENT

OCTOBER 2016
  1. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARLA KILFOYLE SPEAKS TO PACKED HOUSE ON EDUCATION REFORM AT ADELPHI UNIVERSITY
  2. BATS PRESENT AT NorthWest Teaching for Social Justice CONFERENCE
  3. BATs table at NorthWest Teaching for Social Justice

NOVEMBER 2016
  1. BATS PRESENT AT NJEA
  2. BATS PRESENT AT NCUEA
  4. OHIO BATS PROTEST AT STATE CAPITOL WITH 200 SUPERS IN GRADUATION CRISIS PROTEST; DAWN NEELY RANDALL AND JANET GARRETT TESTIFY
  5. CA BATS WIN BOARD ELECTIONS - RIGOBERTO RODRIGUEZ
  6. BAT DEVOS MEME GOES VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA (7.5 MILLION REACH)
  7. BATS WHO RAN FOR OFFICE
    1. Larry Proffitt - Tennessee
    2. Chris Cindric - Kansas
    3. Jose Moreno - California
    4. Janet Garrett - Ohio
    5. Michelle Lenore-Hagan - Ohio
    6. Meryl Johnson - Ohio
    7. Craig Brown - Ohio
    8. Vickie Briercheck - Ohio
    9. Gloria Johnson - Tennessee
    10. Dr. Rigo Rodriguez - California
    11. Dr. Alfonso Alvarez - CA
    12. Mark McLoughlin - CA
    13. Dr. Jose Moreno - CA
    14. Darcy Addo - Florida
    15. Helen Stoll - Kansas
    16. Vicki Hiatt - Kansas
    17. Cheron Tiffany - Kansas
    18. Tom Kane - Oregon

DECEMBER 2016
  1. IOWA BAT AMY DOAK MOORE HAS OP ED PUBLISHED IN DES MOINE REGISTER EXPLAINING TO DONALD TRUMP WHAT IT MEANS TO BE PART OF A SERVICE PROFESSION
  2. MISSISSIPPI BAT AMANDA KOONLABA WINS MISSISSIPPI ARTS EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR


2017 will be a time to rise up for our children,
their families, and our communities!


BATs Featured in the Following Articles in 2016
DeVos offers false choices for our nations parents so does Duce


Hillary Clinton: Teachers Are Often 'Scapegoats' for Low-Performing Schools  http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2016/03/hillary_clinton_teachers_are_o.html



Badass Teachers Association Vs Education Secretary Betsy DeVos? Nominee Already Getting Backlash  http://www.universityherald.com/articles/52596/20161130/badass-teachers-association-vs-education-secretary-betsy-devos.htm



Sanders Gets Educators' Attention Despite Few Specifics on K-12  http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/03/30/sanders-gets-educators-attention-despite-few-specifics.html



Are You A Badass Golfer?  http://www.golfdigest.com/story/are-you-a-badass-golfer


NEA Representative Assembly 2016: Extremely Careless or Politically Shrewd?  http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2016/07/05/nea-representative-assembly-2016-extremely-careless-or-politically-shrewd/

Teachers Rise Up to Protest Trump Education Secretary Betsy DeVos  http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/teachers-rise-protest-trump-education-secretary-betsy-devos



Nation’s Largest Teachers Union Endorses Teaching 'Climate Justice'  http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/07/19/nations-largest-teachers-union-endorses-teaching-climate-justice


Fighting for a Seat at the Table: Teacher Voice in the Education Reform Debate  http://education-ci.adelphi.edu/au_event/marla-kilfoyle-lecture/?utm_source=Education-CI&utm_medium=Hero&utm_campaign=2016_Finkelstein_Lecture


Hillary Clinton's union problem

Teachers have yet to unite behind Clinton, the latest sign that she is struggling to lock down an important chunk of the Democratic base.  http://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/teachers-sanders-clinton-unions-221661  

Teacher Shortages Are Looming, but It Doesn't Need to Be This Way  http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/38665-teacher



Boycott ExxonMobil Because #ChildrenRNot4Sale  https://popularresistance.org/boycott-exxonmobil-because-childrenrnot4sale/



The DNC Stands With Michael Bloomberg Instead of Teachers  http://momocrats.com/2016/07/28/dnc-stands-michael-bloomberg-instead-teachers/



The Disproportionate Stress Plaguing American Teachers http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/10/the-disproportionate-stress-plaguing-american-teachers/503219/


As Schools See Hate-Fueled Attacks Rise, Millions Demand Trump Speak Out  http://www.mintpressnews.com/schools-see-hate-fueled-attacks-rise-millions-demand-trump-speak/222396/






Politico Cherry-Picks Wisconsin Exit Polling Data To Exaggerate Teacher Support For Sanders  http://washingtonmonthly.com/2016/04/11/politico-cherry-picks-wisconsin-exit-polling-data-to-exaggerate-teacher-support-for-sanders/





Teachers Say No Freaking Way to AFT Endorsement of Hillary Clinton http://universepolitics.com/2016/07/21/teachers-say-no-freaking-way-to-aft-endorsement-of-hillary-clinton/

Privacy Groups Stand Against Federal Student Information Database https://www.meritalk.com/articles/privacy-groups-stand-against-federal-student-information-database/

Standing Up for Students: A Conversation with Melissa Tomlinson  http://www.teachercast.net/2016/11/03/njea-20-podcast/



A Teacher’s Case For Hillary Clinton http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danielkatz/a-teachers-case-for-hilla_b_11326706.html



Border Network rejects Donald Trump support by the National Border Patrol Council  http://bnhr.org/border-network-rejects-donald-trump-support-by-the-national-border-patrol-council/


Michael Sentance Is Exactly What the BCA Ordered http://leftinalabama.com/michael-sentance-is-exactly-what-the-bca-ordered/



Common Core Critics Slam Confirmation Of John King As U.S. Education Secretary https://www.longislandpress.com/2016/03/15/common-core-critics-slam-confirmation-of-john-king-as-u-s-education-secretary/


“Resistance against corporate education reform”: Noam Chomsky ...

Look this up

Utah’s Plan to Recruit Teachers: Help Wanted, No Experience Necessary  http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/06/21/utah-plan-recruit-teachers-help-wanted-no-experience




If Not Us, Who? https://reallearningct.com/2016/08/26/if-not-us-who/



Finding Balance as a Human Being and Educator http://inservice.ascd.org/finding-balance-as-a-human-


BATs Speaking up and Speaking Out all Over the Nation! 
NY BAT Luz Christina Mooney speaking up
in her BAT shirt at the NY AFL-CIO Convnetion

Greg Sampson- Got this into my city's alternative press: http://folioweekly.com/PINK-SLIPS-Ready-to-Go,16397
A version was also run in the city's newspaper as its lead letter on October 31. When a conservative leaning and a progressive leaning media outlet both think that the issue will interest their readers, why won't the school district rethink what they are doing?
Debbie Braithwaite Anderson - Attended the SOS conference, ESSA trainings & presentations, legislative hearings on education, BOE meeting testimonies, NEA & HSTA Conventions, etc. and appreciate our UCORE national conversations to encourage and support current actions!
Amy Bahaynah- Together with retired teachers, concerned parents and community members, started a public education advocacy group. We have interviewed candidates for school board and local/state legislative positions. We hosted showings of Education, Inc around the city and are looking to engage more members in the coming year.
Janine Schuster Kristen, Konrad Mendoza, Marsha Phillips ...and so many others in Buffalo, NY! Buffalo schoolteachers, in particular, have the bat courage to speak up on important issues at every board meeting. Kristen Konrad Mendoza and Marsha Phillips are champions for early childhood education and don't let our board get away with foolishness! Developmentally appropriate practices are repeated by these super lady bats at the dais at bimonthly BOE meetings to combat standardized and/or excessive testing; school receivership; student health and welfare (hunger, lead poisoning, physical education); returning play and exploration back to PK and Kdg.; you name it--they are there to talk it up! Most of all, they get others to get off their badasses to spread the word, get involved and CARE--before it's too late. This includes members of our Buffalo Teachers Federation who are not aware of the issues at hand.
John McTigue- I have participated in many & helped organize some raliies for public education in Buffalo.  In my home district of Amherst, NY, I have spoken at BoE meetings questioning their flawed policy approach & unsuccessfully ran for a seat in that Board.  I have directly confronted Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz & Senator Schumer literally on the streets of Buffalo calling them out for their collabation with those who I perceive to be enemies of public education. (Poloncarz actually listened and engaged in discourse. Schumer was an apologist & a putz.) In my own unions (Buffalo Teachers Federation, NYSUT & AFT), I have been constructively critical as well as unflatteringly critical of their complicity with bad, anti-student & anti-public education stances.  Drs. James Avington Miller, Mark Garrison & Reed Taylor have spoken in my class in defense of public education &/or civil rights. Mrs. Irene Taylor McVay-  a litigant in Brown v. BoE (and dear friend & former colleague) has also met with my students.  Many of those students have participated in &/or simply attended public forums & protests for public education.  I am currently working with my former Professor Dr. Georg Iggers (refugee from the Holocaust, renowned historian & lifelong advocate for human & civil rights) on a project analyzing the historical narrative of African Americans in our history textbooks. That project has morphed into the early stages of another campaign to defend our schools.  I am a self-proclaimed Facebook loudmouth.  I am a proud member of BATs.  My classmates in the Educational Leadership Program at Buffalo State College have informally dubbed me as a "curmudgeon with a big heart" because of my unrelenting questioning of everything from faux ed reform to Marzano to the trajectory of teaching at Buffalo State to our Dean herself.  I've traveled to Albany & Washington DC to rally in defense of our schools.  Pardon my boasting, but my proudest accomplishment has been to successfully challenge my students to take up the mantle of protecting our schools. Although the majority have not, those precious few who have responded favorably inspire a great sense of confidence in the future of our collective struggle.  Honestly, after Trump's election I seriously contemplated quitting everything altogether. I felt defeated. My heart ached for my students.  After a respite and reflection, I decided that we - the advocates for public education & democracy itself - are not defeated & our efforts have not been futile. I also admitted to myself that our plight has suffered a considerable setback.  I have now concluded that our efforts have actually been a sort of boot camp for what is to come and the lessons learned along the way will prove invaluable.  I know many of us have already rolled up our sleeves and fought a good but exhausting fight. Now we must lower our shoulder and go forward.  I'm tired but I'm still fighting.
Bettie Gaylor Saccardo - A group of Texas BATS is holding meetings with parents, teachers and any interested party to get a plan of action to fight the voucher issue and a transgendered bathroom issue in our upcoming legislature. I'm proud of our Texas BATS.
Jesse Curtis Twice - Called a board member. Went to capital and argued in the reps office.
Alicia Woody Evans - I've spoken at multiple hearings at NMPED and spoke against Standardized testing, Right to Work (for less), and the putative evaluation system. I've spoken at school board meetings speaking against combining high schools.
Joanne Spaziano -  I have spoken at local and state level board meetings. When you have something to say write out the points you want to make but don't be disappointed if you end up speaking from the heart. Those words matter most.  I have called out mayors commissioners of education school board members and other elected officials. They hate to see me come to the microphone because they know the truth is coming. Don't be afraid to say the emperor has no clothes
Mary Reed - Went to NEA RA with BAT Coalition, March for Public Education at Lincoln Memorial, OEA Summer Leadership Training,
Tracy Leigh - Yes! More times than I can count at school board meetings to advocate for students, parents and educators!!!
Cheryl Brisendine-Pavkovich -  Have spoken many times at school board meetings.
Kathleen Hagans Jeskey  - Working with Oregon Save Our Schools to fight standardized testing in our state ESSA plan. Served for OEA on the state workgroup all year to help implement a house bill aimed at improving programs for English Learners in Oregon. Oregon had at least 13 BATs representing at the March for Public Ed. this past summer! Oregon BAT Tom Kane ran for Oregon legislature. Tom also helped pass an NBI requiring that OEA make available for up to four teachers to attend state board meetings.   This too. http://pamplinmedia.com/.../336212-216209-canby-citizens...  Canby citizens speak out on their concerns.  Canby citizens speak out on their concerns, Local News, Canby local News, Breaking News alerts for Canby city.
Ann MacAbee -  I've spoken at plenty of BOE meetings but they won't listen to teachers, citizens, or especially me. Front page of the newspaper gets their attention. Calls/letters from NYSED gets action. Calls from lawyers get immediate action.
Kristen Brodie -  I got a 25 minute audience with the Texas Education Commissioner and discussed several concerns.
Brianne Kramer -  Testified in favor of Ohio Senate Bill 298 during a Senate Finance Committee hearing in May.
Susan DuFresne  - Spoken at a school board meetings, met with lawmakers, written letters to lawmakers, marched for schools and social justice, took 8,000 mile road trip for schools and social justice. Participant in #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool
Tory Wright Vine I am not a teacher just married to one- I ran and I was attacked and lost I relish my chance to be on the other side - I love my role BATS gives me a lot of info- my BOE is stuck in the dark ages thanks Marla Kilfoyle for giving me hope.
Susan Loftus -  Testified at BOE meeting regarding ES physical education, art, and music. Hosted showing of "Defies Measurement." Attended SOS rally and conference.
Amy Cross Cate -  Spoken at school board meeting, Helped and campaigned for school board members, Lobbied state legislatures in the Spring, Met with several legislatures this Fall, Met individually with school board members to share educational concerns, Met with Central Office supervisors to discuss issues in school, behaviors in schools, and stupidity of teacher evaluations, Attended NEA In DC in July
Jose Maria Herrera - Played a role in the Texas textbook controversy this year.
Christine Kuebler -  I have spoken out at a school board meeting and shared my story, among others of what it's like raising kids after 12 years on a terrible salary. We filled the room that night. It was powerful and people had some pretty terrible things to share. We did get a 10% increase the next year.
Amy Wolpin -  I spent a day with other Western Massachusetts activists lobbying our state legislators in Boston on social justice, public education, prison reform, and climate change issues. Many BATs including myself campaigned across Massachusetts with our union MTA against the state ballot question 2 that would raise the cap on charter schools and we defeated the initiative!!! In addition, I was elected as a delegate from my ward's Democratic Committee and I use every meeting to talk up support for public education.
Shannon McCormack - I spoke at a school board meeting against our new Salary schedule because it was not giving teachers credit for months or years of work they had done. If we had stayed on our old schedule we would have been more fairly compensated.
Mitchell Robinson I've been involved with Michigan Department of Education efforts on education reform. Met with lawmakers at the State Capitol. Have been invited to speak on panels on educational diversity, inclusion, and equity at several conferences. Articles on ed policy at Eclectablog: http://www.eclectablog.com/author/mitchell-robinson
Mitchell Robinson | Eclectablog Mitchell Robinson is associate professor and chair of music education at Michigan State University. His…ECLECTABLOG.COM
Mitchell Robinson Panelist for a mentoring session at 2016 NAfME Conference in Atlanta, GA; Speaking Up for Music Education. Keynote address at the Michigan School Vocal Music Association, Lansing, MI, August 2016; Invited Panelist for CIC Music Education Conference Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Maryland, Oct. 2016; Tempo: Manitoba (Canada) Music Educators Conference, October 21, 2016:; Keynote address, “The Power and Promise of Music Education in the Reform Era”; From the Bandroom to the General Music Classroom: Why Instrumentalists Choose to Teach Elementary General Music’ Making the Grade: Current Trends in Music Assessment; University of Florida Residency, November 14-17, 2016: The (Mis)Uses of Data in Music Teacher Evaluation; Developing a Music Teacher Identity; Current Issues in Music Ed Policy; Other Residencies and Ed Policy presentations scheduled for 2017: Wayne State University (MI); Duquesne University (PA); University of Denver (CO); University of Missouri, Kansas City)
Tina Andres -Canvassed neighborhoods in my city along with my local to elect two new school board members and deny another privatizer a seat. Watched and supported Jose F. Moreno as he took on big money to win a City Council seat in Anaheim, CA. Started a new Charter School Task Force for my local. Added my name to a complaint against Magnolia Charter Schools (Gulen) in CA. We are working hard for public education in California!
Nancy Roberts Ocampo - I ran and served on my local school council.
Carol Borg - I have spoken at a school board meeting. After my comments, no response from other teachers at meeting - just crickets! Don't know if they are just clueless or scared to "speak" publicly.
Amy-Nicole Heintz-Roat  - I have spoken at our school board (an appointed entity called the School Reform Commission), I have spoken on panels about harmful standardized testing and the right to opt out. I have gone on the record with reporters about terrible working/learning conditions in our schools. I have run for office in my union. I have spoken to undergrad ed majors and graduate pre-service teachers about the importance of advocating for social justice in and outside of schools. I have had letters to the editor published, have spoken on the radio and on television. Yes, I am a full time teacher and mother. If it is not me, then who? If it is not you, then who will it be?
Donna Yates Mace - FL BATs have actively supported opt out parents in several districts. Trudy Jermanovich They, along with many BATs around the nation, continue to support the 3rd grade parents lawsuit against the state financially. FL BATs have spoken with state legislators and run for school board positions or worked on campaigns this legislative session.


Kim Cook -  Susan Bowles and I testified in the Citizens for Strong Schools vs. FL DOE and legislature lawsuit.
Trudy Jermanovich - I've enjoyed speaking at almost every school board meeting and many of the "Workshops" for over two years. Luckily, I had many other great teachers (I'm retired) also speak out forcefully. Anna Marie Pierpont, Terry Preuss, Anna Fusco (now working within our union). We actually changed many minds on the board with regards to high stakes testing, VAM, and we're working on scaling back Marzano in the evaluation process. One of our greatest successes was getting the board to stop participating in a lawsuit which was brought because they held back students from matriculating to Fourth Grade because they had refused our state test in Third Grade (Opted Out.) Most recently we got the board to finally hold the time for public speakers at 5pm so that teachers could speak out. For years the time for public speakers was held at Noon when no teachers and many parents were unavailable.

FL BAT Trudy Jermanovich speaking out at a Broward County Board Meeting
Stephanie Sagely McPherson -  Spoke in school board meeting, with backing from the superintendent, about why A-F grading is bad for Texas schools


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