MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The first public education focus group was held in Morgantown Tuesday.
The sessions are entitled “Solutions for Success” and are facilitated by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the West Virginia Education Association (WVEA).
Three questions posed to the audience, primarily of teachers, were designed to determine what local schools do well, where they can improve and what resources are needed to help teachers educate effectively.
The most common impact areas cited were educational attainment, proper staffing, teacher salary, training, student motivation and parental involvement.
AFT President in Monongalia County and teacher, Sam Brunett said teachers face a lack of respect on a daily basis and some teachers even face physical abuse. In some cases, Brunett said there is a feeling that building administrators console parents rather than support teachers in classrooms with behavioral issues.
“It starts at home, it starts with good parents who are willing to read to their kids and provide a stable base for these kids to come to our schools,” Brunett said. ” Then, those kids need the support of those parents throughout their educational career.”
Eighth-grade teacher in Monongalia County and president of the local West Virginia Education Association Chapter, Heather Deluca Nestor talked about a concept called a “loop teacher.” The “loop teacher” would be assigned to work with a third grader, but would also help the student with some second-grade subjects like reading. DeLuca-Nestor said that plan could help prevent skills gaps and continue to push students into grade levels they are not prepared for.
“We could have it at the end of third/fourth, you’d have it at the end of sixth grade and the end of eighth grade,” DeLuca-Nestor said. “So, if they are going to high school we know they are ready.”
This was the first of five in-person meetings and one virtual meeting planned for December 15. Registration for all meetings is at 5: p.m. and comments begin at 6 p.m. Here is the schedule for the remaining meetings:
Wheeling – Wednesday, Nov. 30
Charleston – Monday, Dec. 5
Beckley – Thursday, Dec. 8
Martinsburg – Tuesday, Dec. 13
WVEA President Dale Lee said once the meetings have concluded the summary of all concerns and potential solutions will go to Charleston.
“We’re going to take these findings and go out and present it to Governor Justice, legislature, West Virginia State Board of Education and the West Virginia State Department of Education,” Lee said. ” And we hope we can find some beginning solutions to this.”
The newly elected state senator from District 13, Mike Oliverio will not begin his service until the first of the year. Oliverio came to listen and made it clear that lawmakers have concerns they would like to address as well.
“But, I also think it’s important for the teachers to hear from legislators and the things we think are important to the citizens that we serve,” Oliverio said. “So, I think there is some give-and-take tonight that will produce some effective legislation in the future.”
AFT President, Fred Albert hopes lawmakers will attend the Monday meeting in Charleston that coincides with Interim Legislative meetings.
“Be there with us and listen to teachers, educators, service personnel, and parents about what we need in our schools,” Albert said.