ADVOCATING FOR TEACHERS
As the only candidate with actual teaching experience running for North Carolina’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Michele Morrow understands the needs of North Carolina’s educators.
Teachers in North Carolina are underpaid, disrespected, and victims of classroom violence. They have been denied necessary support in overcrowded classrooms riddled with disruption. While administrators collect six figure salaries, teachers are using part of their paychecks for basic classroom supplies and working second jobs. The Administrator's primary goal is to equip teachers to educate students and help them reach their full potential.
Establish a Teachers Bill of Rights
Michele wants to work with teachers and the North Carolina General Assembly to enact a Teachers Bill of Rights. Our state must start treating our teachers professionally. Below are basic tenets of a Teachers Bill of Rights Michele would like to establish.
Safety
Teachers deserve to feel safe in their work environment. In no other profession are employees expected to tolerate being assaulted and verbally abused at their workplace. Violence in the classroom includes students throwing furniture, using foul language, threatening and attacking students and teachers. Students who use violence and intimidation should be removed from the classroom and not be readmitted without a discipline and safety plan in place. Teachers should have the right to accept or deny re-admittance of the offending student into their classrooms. Teachers should feel safe in their classrooms and schools.
Professional Salary and Advancement
Teachers are professionals, and deserve higher starting salaries with opportunities for career advancement. Michele will work with the General Assembly and advocate for higher teacher pay and adequate paid sick leave.
Ample Funding for Classroom Supplies
Neither teachers nor parents should be paying for classroom supplies. Although public education receives over half of state and local tax dollars, enough money isn’t allocated to provide very basic classroom supplies. When elected, Michele will request an audit of how public education dollars are being spent and ensure classroom supply purchases are given top priority.
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Practical Trainings and Professional Development
The North Carolina school system should provide professional development training for teachers, but free of political agendas. Teachers should not be politically pressured during training, which should solely focus on improving education for all types of learners, and tools for managing the classroom. Beginning teachers will have the appropriate and relevant mentoring needed to become successful educators in their classroom.
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Additional Support
Many classrooms all across North Carolina are overcrowded. Instructional Assistants should be provided to teachers and students in every Kindergarten-2nd grade classroom and available in high need classrooms. With a variety of learners who need special attention, classroom disruption and restroom breaks, teachers need support more than ever before.
For years politicians have been promising to improve the working conditions for teachers, but their promises have fallen flat. We need a State Superintendent of Instruction like Michele Morrow with teaching experience who understands and will advocate for the needs of North Carolina educators.
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