Series 2558: Constituent Correspondence, 2000-2003
36124
From: Jill Rousseau <rousseau@southernpage.net>
To: RM.GOV_PO.GOV_MAIL
Created: 12/9/2001 9:16 PM
Subject: Comments to the Governor
Message:
Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted by
Jill Rousseau (rousseau@southernpage.net) on Sunday, December 9, 2001 at 21:16:00
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Issue: National Board Certified Teachers- 2001-2002
Street_Address: 3321 Smiley Honea Road
City: Magnolia
State: MS
Zip_Code: 39652
Phone: 601-783-3942
Message: Governor Musgrove,
I have recently moved to Magnolia, MS from Houma, LA due to my husband's job relocation. This has been an extremely hard move to swallow. As a certified teacher with a master's degree and twelve years of previous experience, I expected to aquire a teaching position without difficulty. My only difficulty has been in the HUGE drop in pay that I have taken. I literally had to take more than two year's pay reduction as compared to a contract for the 2001-2002 year in Houma, LA. This in itself is very disappointing, however, now I have been thrown another blow. I have just recieved National Board Certification in the area of Early Adolescent Generalist. Since the NBPTS website clearly states that MS offers a 6,000 incentive, I TURNED DOWN a teaching position in LA along the state line because the NBPTS incentive would almost cover my loss considering the new raise that LA has again received (In one lump sum, as opposed to over several years). This was done for the sak!
e of my children, a kindergartener and second-grader. I wanted my kids to be a part of the local community. Well, to my great disappointment, I have just found out that I have been fooled. According to a form that I have received at North Pike Middle in Summit, MS, I will not be getting the stipend. The Mississippi legislature decided in 1999 to penalize National Board recipients beginning in the year 2001 by refusing to allow NBCTs a proper amount of time to submit their scores. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards sets the release dates for scores. This year, they released scores on Nov. 20, 2001. With the Nov.- March deadlines for score release by NBPTS being public knowledge, the legislative body of this state purposefully set an October 15 deadline for scores. NO ONE could possibly submit scores by this deadline. As a result, MS publically advertises an incentive of 6,000, but MS does not publically advertise the penalty for noncompliance to an !
impossible task. I read your quote on the NBPTS website. "...We are committed to our teachers here in Mississippi. It is in our best interest to pay them like the professionals they are, and keep them at the front of the classrooms..." I do not believe that the legislative decision to punish current NBCs is very professional. It doesn't coincide with your quote. The decision to hurt new NBCs is not mentioned in Senator Thad Cochran's nor in Representative Chip Pickerin's qoutes that can be found on the same NBPTS website. As Sen. Chochran stated, "Teachers in my state receive financial incentives for seeking as well as obtaining National Board certification. The reason is that this experience makes them better and happier." Well, Sir, I am not happier. A 28-minute drive south of Magnolia would not only increase my base pay by approximately $8000, I would also receive the $5000 incentive from LA. This is a big difference for just a 28 minute drive to a school that !
I turned down just because I wanted to be a part of the community that my husband chose for our family. Sincerely, Jill Rousseau
North Pike Middle
Summit, MS 39666
Submit: Submit
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