For immediate release. Contract: Nat T. Bender, nbender [@] aftnj.org, 908-377-0393
EDISON— Statement from American Federation of Teachers New Jersey President Donna M. Chiera on today’s announcement that State Senator Kryillos seeks to undermine progress to improve quality of instruction and education through peer support and mentoring for teachers.
“In 2012, New Jersey passed legislation raising standards and extending timelines for achieving and maintaining tenure, while mandating professional development, peer review and mentorship for teachers. The current political attack on due process is not a fit for a state that acted in a bi-partisan manner to keep the best interests of students first while maintaining standards of fairness for adults.
“The Vergara decision that Kryillos cites as a basis for proposed legislation is short-sighted and fails to take into account the external factors that impact students’ ability to learn—funding inequities, school segregation, high poverty for example.”
Follow AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera: http://twitter.com/dchieram
