ATLANTIC CITY — It was a change in tone: Acting state Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf came to the teachers union convention Friday and told educators that he appreciated and valued them and wanted to listen to their concerns.
Cerf also praised the leadership of the New Jersey Education Association, telling the teachers twice that they were “well represented.”
“Let’s agree to put children first,” Cerf said near the end of his hour-long address that was attended by some 200 teachers and union officials. “Let’s find areas where we agree and work on them.”
Later Cerf added: “I really would love to engage the NJEA much more substantially.”
Afterward, a top NJEA official proclaimed that the union’s relationship with Cerf had improved.
It was a sharp contrast to the first two years of Gov. Chris Christie’s term, as the governor, his education leaders and NJEA leadership exchanged political broadsides over pension and benefit reforms and Christie’s proposed changes to teacher tenure and other education policies.
Cerf did not back down on the administration’s proposal to change tenure laws that would force teachers to demonstrate proficiency to earn and keep the job protections. But he said he was open to delaying a state-wide evaluation system for a year.
“We need to have a discussion, which I look forward to having with your leadership, about how to do this,” Cerf told the convention. “We can have the discussion about whether to use another year to refine it, to improve the system, to generate collaborative buy-in.”
Cerf was greeted with polite applause before and after his address. During his remarks, there were scoffs, catcalls and some murmuring, but mostly the crowd just listened.
Despite the much-publicized battles, the political landscape appears to have shifted since the state’s unions lost a key battle over pension and benefit reform in June.
The NJEA has been holding a series of private meetings with Cerf and has also met with Democratic leader George Norcross, who has said he favors education reform. Norcross is believed to hold strong influence among Democratic legislators from South Jersey.
News By:
app.com
Cerf also praised the leadership of the New Jersey Education Association, telling the teachers twice that they were “well represented.”
“Let’s agree to put children first,” Cerf said near the end of his hour-long address that was attended by some 200 teachers and union officials. “Let’s find areas where we agree and work on them.”
Later Cerf added: “I really would love to engage the NJEA much more substantially.”
Afterward, a top NJEA official proclaimed that the union’s relationship with Cerf had improved.
It was a sharp contrast to the first two years of Gov. Chris Christie’s term, as the governor, his education leaders and NJEA leadership exchanged political broadsides over pension and benefit reforms and Christie’s proposed changes to teacher tenure and other education policies.
Cerf did not back down on the administration’s proposal to change tenure laws that would force teachers to demonstrate proficiency to earn and keep the job protections. But he said he was open to delaying a state-wide evaluation system for a year.
“We need to have a discussion, which I look forward to having with your leadership, about how to do this,” Cerf told the convention. “We can have the discussion about whether to use another year to refine it, to improve the system, to generate collaborative buy-in.”
Cerf was greeted with polite applause before and after his address. During his remarks, there were scoffs, catcalls and some murmuring, but mostly the crowd just listened.
Despite the much-publicized battles, the political landscape appears to have shifted since the state’s unions lost a key battle over pension and benefit reform in June.
The NJEA has been holding a series of private meetings with Cerf and has also met with Democratic leader George Norcross, who has said he favors education reform. Norcross is believed to hold strong influence among Democratic legislators from South Jersey.
News By:
app.com
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