How do I get support from more senior teachers?
First, be sincere. Are you really looking for their support and suggestions or are you trying to "wow" them with your ideas and enthusiasm? Second, don't assume because their style may be more subdued than yours that there isn't real learning going on in their classrooms. They may not wear their dedication on their sleeve, but that doesn't mean they don't share your commitment to teaching. Third, if you want support, give support. If you want constructive criticism, make sure your comments are constructive. Whether the teacher is a veteran or fairly new to the profession, the greatest threat to a nongrowing teacher is a teacher who is growing. At work as in life, do not listen to cynical, nongrowing people. Move on. Find yourself a mentor who will inspire you and who will serve as a role model for your continued growth. It's a good idea to look for support and input from more experienced teachers. When teachers learn together, test ideas together, and solve problems together, everyone in the school community benefits.
Are my dues dollars spent for political purposes? What is PAC?
NJEA PAC is the New Jersey Education Association Political Action Committee. It is a legal mechanism through which our Association provides financial support to political candidates for state office. PAC is power! NJEA PAC provides us with the power to shape our profession, protect our benefits, and promote public education. All NJEA PAC funds are raised from the voluntary contributions of our members. NJEA cannot use dues money to support PAC. Therefore, it is up to you to turn on the power!
What is tenure?
Teacher tenure is an employment security device by which the teacher attains permanent status and protection against dismissal except for just cause. You must successfully complete a probationary period of three full years plus one day. For more information on this topic, contact your Uniserv director.
Where can I get information about the school employee retirement system?
Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund - the TPAF was established to provide retirement benefits to all "full-time" certificated employees employed by local school districts or the State Department of Education. Membership is mandatory for these employees. Vesting occurs after ten years of service credit. Members are generally eligible for retirement at age 60 or after 25 years of service credit.
Public Employees' Retirement System - the PERS was established to provide retirement benefits to most employees of the State, local governments, certain employees (ESP) of local school districts, vocational schools, accredited evening schools, county colleges or public agencies who are not required by law to become members of another State-administered retirement system. Membership is mandatory for most employees. Vesting occurs after 10 years of service credit. Members are generally eligible to retire at age 60 or after 25 years of service credit.
The TPAF and PERS are managed by the Division of Pensions and Benefits. For more information, contact the Division?s client services office at 609-292-7524 or visit their internet site at: www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions
Certain employees of county colleges (full-time faculty) are eligible to participate in a defined contribution retirement program called the Alternate Benefit Program (ABP). Participants in the ABP provide for their future retirement benefits through the purchase of fixed or variable annuities underwritten by private financial companies. Employees contribute, through payroll deductions, a flat five percent of their base salary and the State contributes an eight percent "match". Vesting occurs after one year of service credit. For more information about the ABP contact the Division's defined contribution plans unit at 609-292-2914 or visit their internet website at: www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions
Can I purchase additional service credit?
Public employees enrolled in PERS or TPAF may be able to increase their future retirement benefits or qualify for additional benefits by purchasing additional service credit. PERS and TPAF members are eligible to purchase temporary, provisional, certain intermittent, certain types of leaves, former membership, certain out-of-state service, U.S. Government service, military service and former service in a New Jersey local government retirement system. For those who plan on buying service credit, the cost increases as your salary increases. For more information, go to the Division of Pensions internet site at www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions. From there click on Publications. Then click on Fact Sheet # 1 "Purchasing Service Credit".
What is a 403(b) tax-deferred savings program?
A 403(b) plan is a type of tax-sheltered annuity plan for tax-exempt organizations and public schools, often referred to as a tax-sheltered annuity plan or "TSA plan". 403(b) plans permit eligible school district and county college employees to supplement their future retirement benefits. 403(b) plans permit employees to tax shelter a portion of their current income by entering into salary reduction agreements through their employer. The employer then contributes these "elective deferrals" on a pre-tax basis into a tax-deferred savings account. For more information about tax-sheltered annuities, see your school business office.
What is the Alternate Benefit Program? (ABP)
The Alternate Benefit Program (ABP) is the pension plan adopted by the State of New Jersey for faculty and certain administrators of higher education. It is similar to programs in place in most private and public institutions of higher education throughout the United States. The ABP is a defined contribution retirement program that allows participants to self-direct their own retirement account. The ABP provides retirement benefits, life insurance and disability coverage. For more information contact the Division of Pensions and Benefits at 609-292-7524 or go to www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/abp1.htm
Do I have the proper certification?
Most new teachers in New Jersey are hired with either a Certificate of Eligibility (CE) or a Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS). Once hired, they must apply for and get a Provisional Certificate. During their first year, they are evaluated three times on state forms which are copied and sent to the Department of Education. This applies to new classroom teachers but not to most non-classroom practitioners such as social workers or guidance counselors.
It is very important that the district register all new classroom teachers who hold either the CE or CEAS for the provisional program and that the teachers apply for and receive their provisional certificate. The teacher is prohibited by statute from teaching until they have the appropriate certificate. Their required year of provisional service and mentoring begins only after they are registered with the State. Visit The New Jersey Department of Education for more information.
What is my PIP?
Under the teacher evaluation regulations, the "individual professional improvement plan" (PIP) is a written statement of actions developed by the supervisor and the teaching staff member to correct deficiencies or to continue professional growth, timelines for their implementation, and the responsibilities of the individual teaching staff member and the district for implementing the plan." [N.J.A.C. 6:3-4.3 (h) (3)] The PIP was instituted in 1978 as part of the regulations governing New Jersey tenured teacher evaluation regulations and the evaluation's annual summary conference. It was subsequently mandated for nontenured teachers as well.
What is the 100-hour professional development requirement?
On May 6, 1998, the New Jersey State Board of Education adopted a plan requiring all school personnel - tenured and nontenured alike - who hold instructional licenses or educational services licenses (guidance counselors, nurses, school psychologists, etc.) to complete 100 hours of continuing education every five years, starting Sept. 1, 2000. Your Professional Improvement Plan (PIP) must cite all professional development (PD) experiences in order for those experiences to count toward your 100 hours. For detailed information on professional development, visit An Educator's Guide to Professional Development. (You will need the PIN # on your membership card to access this page in the Members Only area.)
If you have a question that has not been answered here, please ask. An NJEA staff member will get back to you with an answer.