Professional Educators of Tennessee

The 8th and 9th of June found a good group of leaders from across the state gathering in the Holiday Inn Resort Hotel for the Leadership Training Conference and the Professional Educators of Tennessee Annual Meeting.  Both days meetings were begun by Tracey Bailey, National Teacher of the Year, with optimistic projections of education in our nation and the future of our association.  On Saturday, we were treated to the introduction of Tracey's wife and his seven children.

The bulk of the morning session on Friday was a detailed explanation of the benefits of our association and a comparison to those of our competitors.  PET staff and officers have worked hard to insure that we not only offer competitive members benefits, but those which are better than our competitors.  Executive Director, Walter Jewell, and Director of Legal Services, Larry Crain, explained how striving to offer the best, especially in our educator's liability package and in legal services, has been successful.

The afternoon session was broken into three parts.  Association of American Educators Executive Director, Gary Beckner, and AAE Director of National Projects, Tracey Bailey, led the group in the new look of leadership in our time pressed society.  Members from successful locals then shared ideas with the group on those things that have worked well in their local associations.  Lastly, the necessary communications and forms between the state and local associations were explained and any questions answered.  The 5:00 PM adjournment was a necessity to allow for a meeting with local Sevier County members and for a state PET Board of Directors meeting that evening.

Saturday started with a bountiful breakfast sponsored by VALIC/ American General Finical Advisors.  (American General Financial Advisors has recently been selected to offer PET members complete financial planning services.) 

Congressman Van Hilleary, Fourth Tennessee Congressional District, spoke to us briefly and then took an extended period of time to answer our questions and give us the chance to tell him what our problems are in education and how we think that things can be improved.  We definitely did not hold back on our suggestions.  We will remain optimistic on the outcome of our suggestions.  [Phil Bredesen was also invited to address the members, but was unable to attend.  We were informed that he would be interested in meeting with our leadership later in the campaign year.  Both Mr. Bredesen and Congressman Hilleary are aware that PET does not endorse candidates for public office.]

Mike Speich, PET volunteer lobbyist and professional member from Cumberland County, gave an inspiring and detailed presentation of the place of our locals units and individual members in a campaign for positive education legislation.  Mike has the background and the drive to lead our effort in dealing with the legislature to improve the situation of educators in Tennessee.  We are looking to Mike for the leadership to make a difference with the Tennessee legislature.

Larry Crain reported on the educational issues that were legislated and decided by the courts in the past year.  Larry also reported on several cases where PET had been able to represent our members in extraordinary situations during the past year.  We are pleased with the service we have been able to offer these members and the good outcomes that have been obtained for them.

Lunch for those present was provided by Paul Copeland of Paul Copeland & Associates (our agent of record for insurance and benefits) and Terry Skinner of Myron Steves Insurance (who services our professional liability insurance package.)

Dedrick Briggs from the Charter School Resource Center of Tennessee explained the history of Charter Schools in the United States and explained the bills that have been presented in Tennessee dealing with charter schools.  Several members expressed interest in how to form a charter school, if a bill is ever passed in Tennessee allowing them.  [PET currently has no position on charter school legislation.  Our membership was split on the last questionnaire.]