Click on a question below to reveal the answer.
[DDET What does RIF stand for?]
Reduction In Force
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[DDET What is the STAR program?]
It’s a mentoring program for new teachers and struggling teachers done by experienced teachers. You can read more about the program on the Seattle Public Schools’ website.
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[DDET What is SERVE Seattle?]
SERVE stands for Support, Empower, Recognize, and Value Educators. It is the school district’s proposal to create a professional development and evaluation program for teachers. It would be a voluntary program that would require teachers who sign up to to tie their evaluations to student growth outcomes and peer and student feedback. Those teachers would receive a 1% pay increase. Read more about the program here.
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[DDET What is a demonstration teacher?]
In the SERVE proposal, teachers who receive an “exemplary” rating on their evaluation would be eligible to apply for a “demonstration teacher” position. Demonstration teachers would provide in-building support to colleagues. These teachers would be eligible for a $2,500 annual stipend in 2011-12.
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[DDET What is a mentor teacher?]
In the SERVE proposal, teachers who receive an “exemplary” rating on their evaluation would be eligible to apply for a “mentor teacher” position. Mentor teachers would provide in-building support to colleagues. These teachers would be eligible for a $3,500 annual stipend in 2011-12.
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[DDET What is a master teacher?]
In the SERVE proposal, teachers who receive an “exemplary” rating on their evaluation would be eligible to apply for a “master teacher” position. Master teachers would provide in-building support to colleagues. These teachers would be eligible for a $5,200 annual stipend in 2011
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[DDET What is a service teacher?]
In the SERVE proposal, the term “service teacher” would apply to teachers who receive a “strong” rating on their evaluation and work in one of the district’s lowest-performing schools. These teachers would be eligible for a stipend beginning in 2011-12.
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[DDET What are ESAs?]
ESA stands for educational staff associate, and is the term used to categorize non-teaching certificated staff in schools. Examples of ESAs are school counselors, psychologists and social workers.
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[DDET What is TRI pay?]
Program that allows the district to give teachers money beyond their base bay, depending on Time, Responsibility and Incentive. For example, a teacher who comes in for an extra training day may receive TRI pay.
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[DDET What is MAP?]
MAP stands for Measures of Academic Progress. It is a diagnostic test for students. The district is proposing to use the MAP test to help determine teacher effectiveness. The union is against this proposal, saying that is not the role of the test. There is no agreed-upon test or measurement to determine teacher effectiveness.
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[DDET How are teachers evaluated now?]
There are two possible results in a teacher evaluation: satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Principals conduct the reviews.
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[DDET How many teachers are ranked unsatisfactory each year in Seattle?]
Just 16 of Seattle’s 3,300 teachers were ranked unsatisfactory in 2008, according to a study done by the nonprofit National Council on Teacher Quality, a research and advocacy group.
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[DDET How many hours does the current contract require Seattle teachers to work? ]
Secondary teachers are required to be in the building for at least 7.5 hours each school day, including one 30-minute lunch period and one period for preparation-conference-planning time. Elementary teachers are required to be in the building for at least 7 hours each school day, including one 30-minute lunch period and preparation-conference-planning time (150 minutes per week).
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[DDET Aren't teacher contracts usually private?]
No, they are public documents, but the negotiations are private.
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[DDET What will happen at the Aug. 18th school board meeting? ]
It’s tough to say for sure, but we wouldn’t be surprised if there was a general conversation about the board’s guidelines for contract negotiations and a general update as to how things are progressing so far.
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[DDET How much do school board directors make?]
Nothing; they receive a small stipend for meetings.
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[DDET What’s the timeline on the contract negotiations?]
The union general membership meeting is set for Sept. 2. The general membership meeting is typically where union members would vote on a contract.
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[DDET What are the executive directors?]
The executive directors serve in roles similar to assistant superintendents in other districts. For example, there is an executive director for curriculum and instruction. This position oversees professional development, curriculum, advanced learning, career and technical education, early learning, new teacher support (STAR program) and school coaching. To find an organizational chart of senior district staff, including executive directors, go here: http://www.seattleschools.org/area/m_aboutus/spsorgchart.pdf.
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[DDET How much do teachers make?]
In 2009-10, the average Seattle Public Schools teacher earned $51,628 in base salary and $15,413 in supplemental pay, for a total of $67,041. Teachers can earn between $42,347 and $82,351 in annual base salary plus supplemental pay for extra days, depending on years of experience and education level.
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[DDET How much do principals make?]
In 2009-10, the average Seattle Public Schools principal earned $108,153 in base salary and $284 in supplemental pay, for a total of $108,437.
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[DDET How much does the superintendent make?]
In 2009,10, the superintendent of Seattle Public Schools earned $264,000 in base salary.
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