Tennessee is a unique state, not only because we have the greatest citizens, but because of our geography. We border eight states. That can be an advantage and a disadvantage at times. When economic times are good, people want to relocate to our state. When economic times are difficult, it allows residents to move to a neighboring state and pursue more money in their chosen occupation. In education, we lose teachers to our border states on a regular basis.
Read MoreAuthor: JC Bowman
JC Bowman Commentary: The Looming Changes in Student Teaching
As educators, we are concerned about the quality and quantity of applicants entering the field of education. Our members have often been catalysts for innovative solutions to the many challenges facing education. That is why we take an interest in the next generation of educators and why our focus is on how to improve their experience and support as they transition from teacher candidate to classroom teacher.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Better Thinking Equals Better Results
As Chairman of SCORE, Senator Bill Frist should be commended and honored for his tireless advocacy and passion for making education a priority in our state.
Read MoreImprovise, Adapt, and Overcome in Education
Teachers simply cannot give up on themselves, nor can we ever give up on our students. We have to improvise, adapt, and overcome both our personal and systemic challenges.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Union Politics Hurt Public Education
Union politics often hurt public education and educators with an agenda that many parents and taxpayers are baffled by, and members are left to explain.
Read MoreA Primer on Collaborative Conferencing
The Tennessee General Assembly was clear in 2011 that they wanted to get politics out of our public schools while supporting teachers’ rights to fight for higher wages and better working conditions. Professional Educators of Tennessee fervently supports the right of educators to discuss working conditions and salary with their employers.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Walking Point on Independence Day
Our nation, our republic, is unquestionably dependent upon the active and informed involvement of our citizens.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Virtue Is Still Needed to Change Culture
Children, the next generation, and the hope for a better future in our society need men and women of the highest moral standards to embrace teaching them. Ethics still matter.
Read MoreA Reflection on Father’s Day
Let’s be honest, being a dad is actual work—and it is difficult yet rewarding work.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: The Importance of Mentors for Teachers and Administrators
Our suggestion is to ensure that money is included in the future Basic Education Program (BEP) to allow for mentorship to occur, either by utilizing highly effective retired educators or granting stipends to experienced classroom teachers with a proven track record in classroom management.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Looking at Next Steps for Public Education
We must make sure public education is viewed as a significant part of the choice that parents will make for their children moving forward. People, working together, can shape it for the better.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Selecting New School Superintendents – Dance of the Lemons or Parade of Favorites?
No matter who your district hires—whether from within or bringing in an experienced educator from outside—give that new leader a chance. Don’t be afraid to hold them accountable.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Everybody Loves Their Mama
We could never set aside enough days in a year, or hours in a week to honor the women that shape and inspire our lives daily.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: ESA’S Have Passed – What’s Next?
In the end, just like magnet schools, community schools, and charter schools, ESA’s will be viewed as another reform effort. Its success or failure will largely be defined by the students who participate in the program.
Read MoreCommentary: Celebration of Easter and Passover
This weekend marks a Holy Week for many citizens across Tennessee and the world, as we celebrate Passover and Easter. In America, religious beliefs are critical to many of our founding principles. There is no denying the significant impact that faith has had on our nation, from the Puritans to…
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Strike Out in Tennessee
In education, strikes are detrimental to children, parents, the community, and the profession. A strike is a throwback to an archaic factory model of governance. Public education in Tennessee wins when we all work together through civil discourse to address our considerable issues, not with outworn strategies from the industrial age.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: State of the State Expectations 2019
The State of the State will signal to the state the administration’s priorities for the immediate future. It is where campaign promises, either become realities or go to die.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Student Discipline Is Out of Control
It would be awesome if every educator had a positive and supportive working environment where they could thrive personally and professionally, and where they were free to exercise their expertise and explore the full limits of their talents.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Suicide is Not Painless
Suicide prevention has to be a priority for everybody. We must destroy the societal imposed shame placed on those who seek help.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Legislation That Hurts School Discipline
Lack of student discipline, inadequate administrative support, and lack of respect are frequently cited why teachers leave the profession. The continued barrage of top-down legislation by the Tennessee General Assembly does not help.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Hail to the Chiefs
The third Monday of February is recognized as Presidents’ Day in the United States. Established in 1885, the day was originally intended to celebrate the birthday of the first president of our country, George Washington. Today we use it to commemorate all 45 Presidents of the United States. However, no…
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Helping Our Children with Dyslexia
Data shows that one in five students or more than 200,000 in the state have characteristics of dyslexia. Dyslexia affects you regardless of race, gender, or political affiliation.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Let the Committee Decide
How did a system designed to provide government of, by, and for the people devolve into a system in which bureaucrats unaccountable to voters produce masses of law that was never voted on by an elected official?
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Losing Our Brightest Students
Have we pushed some of our best and brightest students, including students of color, aside in the name of equity? JC Bowman identifies why that answer is yes.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Parent Dress Up
Every time we see legislation that adds to the teacher workload, we look very cautiously at it. —JC Bowman
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Parent Dress Code and Inappropriate Behavior
Legislation is being suggested by Tennessee Representative Antonio Parkinson on a parental dress code. Passing legislation is not necessary, if we simply enforce the indecent exposure and other laws already on the books.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Beauty in Broken Places
As educators we must build a system that gives students the educational foundation to succeed, despite whatever dire circumstances our students may come out of personally.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: A Bright Future in Workforce & Education
One of the challenges we face in Tennessee moving forward is the need to further develop and align the education-to-career pipeline. Governor-elect Bill Lee probably expressed this better than any candidate on the campaign trail, and his potential as governor in this arena offers great hope for a brighter future for Tennessee.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: New Year, New Leaders
A new year is a time for reflection and more importantly a time for hope. It will require ethical leadership and tireless advocacy for issues that you care about, but the promise of a new year brings the best hope for mankind.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: The Best Gift of All
Lasting relationships are perhaps the key to a happy life.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Open Enrollment is a Choice
As the focus on education choice is elevated by Governor-elect Bill Lee, maybe the easiest place to find initial consensus is with open enrollment. We must expand open enrollment policies in our public school districts.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Time to Address Teacher Morale
There is no one size fits all strategy that will work in every school or district. This is a recurring theme among those who believe in local control in public education. Together, we can work to address teacher morale issues. Once a plan is in place, it is very important to examine, evaluate, and adjust as necessary.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: A K12 Education Agenda We Should Embrace
Lee has stated his three major priorities: 1) Getting our students ready to enter the workforce; 2) Strengthening the foundations of a quality system; and 3) Encouraging innovation. It is a K12 education agenda we should embrace.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Blueprint for Transition in Education
Bill Lee ran as a conservative, and should govern as a conservative. He stressed the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong education system.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Avoiding Holiday Conflict
Conflict is inevitable, whenever humans live together. However, it can be set aside for a greater purpose, such as fellowship, thanksgiving, worship, and helping others.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: What I Didn’t Say About the Departure of TN Dept. of Education Commissioner Candice McQueen
Tupac Shakur said, “Behind every sweet smile, there is a bitter sadness that no one can ever see and feel.” I spent time with Commissioner McQueen as more than a casual observer. Her heart and passion were always for the children and teachers in Tennessee. She fought battles which nobody knew about and which, despite the lofty title in front of her name, she had little control.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Thoughts on Veterans Day 2018
Tennessee is the Volunteer State. It is called the Volunteer State because in the times of crisis that our nation found itself, whether a natural crisis or in defense of our country, our citizens were the first to respond. Members of my family have fought, and some even died, for…
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Collaborative Conferencing Limits Educators
Professional Educators of Tennessee fervently supports the right of educators to discuss working conditions and salary with their employers. There are flaws in the current Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act (Public Chapter 378). Are there other options? We believe so and toward that end, Professional Educators of Tennessee has begun to establish Education Leaders Councils in some districts to accomplish more for teachers. It will help us cultivate true consensus building and address more critical issues.
Read MoreProfessional Educators of Tennessee to Conduct Legislative Survey
Professional Educators of Tennessee is conducting a legislative survey of educators across the state. Frequent areas that we hear from educators: School Safety & Security, Teacher Compensation and Recruitment, School Funding, and Assessment. We believe policymakers need to address these issues in 2019,
Read MoreEducation Policy: 9 Issues to Address in 2019
Public education is not “broken.” Public education policy is “broken,” and neighborhood public schools are suffering the consequences. Here are nine of the most critical and challenging issues in public education we should address in 2019 in Tennessee.
Read MoreCommentary: Changing the School Culture
His biggest piece of advice is to “get out of the office, get in the hallways, in the classrooms, in the community. No school in Tennessee has changed its culture more than ‘The Mount’. This school culture is an example of a strategy that other schools and districts can duplicate.
Read MoreCommentary: School Culture and Chronic Behavior Problems
We need to address some of the more critical issues many educators in our public schools face: chronic discipline issues with students with behavior issues that cannot be easily addressed in a classroom setting, with a non-supportive school climate
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Celebrate Constitution Day
Our founding principles are critical as our country moves forward, if we are to survive as a nation. It is one area in which Americans are likely to find agreement. We celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th every year.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: We Remember September 11
We must remember September 11th in our homes and in our classrooms and engage in this important dialogue. Never let it be said that the flame of freedom was extinguished on our watch. That can be summed up in two words: We Remember.
Read MoreCommentary: Thanking Those Who Built America
Labor Day has many meanings, but one meaning is that we must recognize the incredible effort and work it took to build this great country.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Tone Deaf School Districts
“If you don’t understand — from the school district to the superintendents — that we want our teachers held harmless, then I’m sorry, you’re tone-deaf.” —-State Representative Eddie Smith (Knoxville). That message was heard and understood statewide, right? Apparently not. We are receiving reports from across the state that some districts are denying their teachers their justified and earned bonuses, which harms the educator.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: A Few More Thoughts on Testing in Tennessee…
All stakeholders want to get testing right. However, the emphasis on testing misses the bigger issue: student academic growth measured by flawed testing. Then the results being used in educator evaluations. This is certainly more problematic to educators than the actual tests themselves.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Testing is Open for Debate
Professional Educators of Tennessee raised the issue on Testing, with a hard-hitting editorial called the Trouble with Testing. Professional Educators of Tennessee did NOT support the use of that data on teacher evaluations, nor did they sign a support letter on the original grant submission., which the Tennessee Education Association did.
Read MoreJC Bowman Commentary: Time to Separate PACS from Lobbying
Professional Educators of Tennessee will continue to lobby for public education. However, we will never endorse political parties or candidates as an organization on behalf of our members. We also do not have a PAC, nor do we plan to ever start one. It would harm our effectiveness. We must advance public education without the divisive tribalism of partisan politics, and we will only get involved in education related issues.
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