Teacher panel meets for first time

The Teacher Advisory Committee, appointed by Gov. Pat McCrory, began discussing its yearlong exploration into education issues plaguing the state last week, amid outcries about teacher pay and education quality.

The 24-member committee, made up of all educators, was announced by McCrory in early September to tackle teacher pay, retention, performance measures like the Common Core State Standards Initative, career pathway and continuous improvement, testing and technology in the classroom. The Nov. 5 meeting was the first of four in-person meetings.

“You are not here for show,” McCrory told the teachers at the meeting. “Your input is critical to moving education forward because you are on the frontline every day. Only you can provide classroom-based experience about what works with students and what doesn’t.”

Committee chairwoman Elizabeth Jones, a science teacher in New Hanover County, said the committee members represent the teachers’ voice and concerns on long-term goals.

“I feel confident that this is a for real committee and not just for show,” she said. “You could feel the passion in the room for teaching and for education.”

Diana De los Santos, a math teacher at a charter school in Durham County, said the committee will draw from the different teachers’ perspectives. The committee was created to represent all types of teachers in North Carolina.

“I really hope that we can come up with some concrete action steps for the governor and North Carolina to take, specifically around teacher and student preparedness and the shift to the Common Core,” she said. “I think we’re in crisis mode.”

Terry Stoops, director of education studies at the John Locke Foundation, a right-leaning think tank, said he is hopeful that the committee will provide the governor and the N.C. General Assembly with specific recommendations.

“Their success will depend on whether this committee will have a vision that aligns with the policymakers in the legislature … if it’s not in alignment with the legislative leaders, it doesn’t stand a chance,” he said.

Stoops said McCrory seems to be taking steps toward improving education policy by creating this committee and reinstating an education cabinet.

“I think he’s still getting his feet under him — he has some policy issues that he is trying to learn about (and) get good advice about,” he said.

Jones said she hopes to address technology and teacher morale.

“I can see how the few kids who don’t have computers at home are at a real disadvantage,” she said. “Teacher morale is down because we haven’t gotten a raise in five years.”

Stoops said he hopes to hear teachers’ feelings towards the Common Core — which he says is unpopular with teachers but popular among politicians. He also expects the committee to focus on teacher compensation.

“I expect the teachers to all want a raise, obviously,” he said. “But what I hope comes out of the committee is a commitment to changing the way that teachers are paid, a real move to try to fix our ineffective, inefficient teacher salary schedule.”

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