Did you know that A+PEL is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association? As such, and in furtherance of our mission and vision to "create a connected and supported community of all Louisiana educators," A+PEL regularly makes generous donations and investments in Louisiana's educators and students. Check out what we've done in 2022:

• $14,000 in Scholarships & Grants
• $77,000 in providing School Lunches to educators across Louisiana
• $24,000 in School/Event Sponsorships
• $14,000 in Recruiting Rebates- that's money right back into our members' hands!
• $15,000 for New Teacher Stipends
• $75,000 in New Teacher Orientation Sponsorships 

Greetings from the A+PEL Team!

We hope you are having a great start to the 2022-2023 school year. We just wanted to take a moment and say how much we appreciate everything you do and share a little bit about what we’ve been up to since school started.

School Visits:

Our regional directors have been busy bringing lunches, donations, and other goodies to districts and schools around the state, putting almost $100,000 back into the hands of teachers and schools. In just over two months, they have visited a total of more than 95 schools and districts! Check out these photos of some of our school visits here on our A+PEL Twitter page!

We look forward to seeing you at your school soon!

Door Prizes and Stipends for New Educators:

While sponsoring lunches and visiting with educators, our regional directors have been surprising teachers and staff with door prizes and new educators supply stipends. So far, we’ve awarded more than 300 door prizes and supply stipends for new educators.

Law Conference:

Recently our on-staff attorney and a few of our regional directors attended the 2022 Louisiana School Law Workshop to ensure that they are up to date on the laws that impact you as educators. They reviewed pertinent Acts of the 2022 Regular Legislative Session, recent SCOTUS and other court rulings impacting education, pending and closed desegregation cases, secondary schools’ role(s) in Name, Image, Likeness (NIL), investigations into bullying/harassment/discrimination, and social media issues in schools. Our counsel also attended specialized sessions on professionalism and ethics.

Upcoming Scholarships and Grants:

Take a moment and look over available A+PEL scholarships and grants here on our website. We would love for you to apply!

Upcoming Deadlines:

Due October 15th:

Polly Broussard Resident Teacher Scholarship

Professional Development Grant

Due December 15th:

Classroom Teacher Scholarship

Instructional Support Staff Scholarship

Recruitment Rebates:

Recruitment rebates for July-September of 2022 will be processed and in the mail by the end of October, so keep an eye on social media and your mailbox for more information soon.

For more information about how to earn recruitment rebates, please click here.

Not yet a member?
Become a part of the premier educators organization!
Join A+PEL Now!

A+PEL Scholarships and Grants
A+PEL offers a variety of scholarships and grants to educators throughout the year.
Check out upcoming application deadlines here!

If there were ever a year to expect a significant and competitive raise for all educators and school employees, it would be this year, but we are once again facing a proposed state pay raise that does not do you justice.

Every single day you persevere through the physical and emotional tolls of an unprecedented pandemic to fill the dire needs of countless students. During this time, you've diligently done your work while waiting for Louisiana leaders to bring our pay scales to the Southern average, which they have consistently promised and failed to achieve.

What has happened while you've waited for our state to recognize your worth? 

Each year you've seen a dismal state raise quickly consumed by rising insurance costs. Each year you've read the news of Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi awarding pay raise upon pay raise to educators with full support from their governors and legislative leaders of both political parties, while our state throws out an inadequate raise. Each year you've made sacrifices and adjustments to your household budgets, and Louisiana politicians can't find the money in a 38.6-billion-dollar budget with consistent annual surpluses to give you a serious pay increase. 

Everyone at the capitol loves to talk about how much they care and appreciate teachers but refuses to make any significant action mirroring educator raises in neighboring states. Louisiana politicians only offer empty words. Those empty words don't put food on your table, those empty words don't fill your tanks with gas, and those empty words surely won't send your children to college or fund a well-earned vacation.

Once again, in the midst of a challenging year, we are faced with ANOTHER raise that will be devoured by inflation, with the governor's offer of only $1,500 for teachers and $750 for support. Most disappointing is continued shortchanging of our support staff with a lesser raise when these essential workers already make so little.

To be clear, the governor's proposal is inadequate, and we are asking you to work with us in pushing for more.

What can we do right now?

At this point, there is still an opportunity for an even higher raise, and we call upon legislative leadership to do better than the governor. If you want to join with us in that call, please reach out to your senator (Senators | Full Info (la.gov)) or representative (Full Member Info (louisiana.gov)).  If you are looking for your representative or senator, use this tool: Find My Legislators - Louisiana State Legislature 

We must do better than the governor's proposal!

In service and solidarity,

Dr. Keith Courville
Executive Director
A+PEL

Did you know that A+PEL can get you certified to be an educational leader in 14 months for $199 per month?! Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL) is a BESE-Approved program for the fulfillment of the nontraditional educational leadership certification pathway 3. TEL is a leadership development program resulting in the Educational Leader Level 1 Certification. The philosophy of TEL is to develop equity-minded educational leaders who focus on the inclusion of all students while improving upon the academic progress and achievement of the school.

Our next cohort is set to kick off September 1, 2022. Applications are due August 1 and financial support is available. Those interested can sign up here: www.louisianaprincipals.com

Call for Officers

Are you interested in becoming more involved with A+PEL? We are continuously seeking to add to our dedicated, talented, and diverse leaders. We have various leadership opportunities at both the local and state levels that will become available during 2022. No matter your level of experience in education or your familiarity of everything that A+PEL has to offer, we  know that our members each have important unique skills and experiences that can make our already great organization even better! Training and support are provided. Email Dr. Courville today if you are interested! 

Congratulations to Recent Scholarship and Grant Winners!

 Professional Instructional Resources Grant  
  Jenna Patout--Iberia Parish
  Maggi Moreau--Rapides Parish
  Angela Lacey Hoosier--Rapides Parish
  Tracie Edwards--St. Tammany Parish

  First Year Teacher Grant  
  Megan Juneau--EBR Parish  

 Student Teacher Scholarship  
  Hannah Gunter--Rapides Parish

A+PEL Chapters Celebrate the Upcoming Holiday Season

Check out a few highlights from our East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Lafayette, East and West Feliciana, and Baker Christmas parties! 

Upcoming Important Dates

2/15/2022
Professional Development Grant Deadline  - This grant is intended to assist professional educators in paying the fees associated with the registration, travel, and/or attendance at a professional development conference, seminar, or workshop.

3/15/2022
Student Teacher Scholarship Deadline- These scholarships are given in honor of Polly Broussard and the late Deborah Nelson for their years of service and dedic ation to both the students of Louisiana and A+PEL.The scholarship is given as a flat amount: $500.

 Not yet a member?
Become a part of the premier educators organization!  
Join A+PEL Now!

A+PEL Scholarships and Grants 
A+PEL offers a variety of scholarships and grants to educators throughout the year. 
Check out upcoming application deadlines here!

I am proud to send this note as my first communication to the membership as A+PEL State President. First, I wanted to emphasize that each and every member is extraordinary and appreciated! Together, we have all survived one of the most trying years in education. As one of our local chapter presidents noted, you have helped the students learn and thrive during these difficult and uncertain times. We hope you have a restful and restoring summer and can welcome the new school year with a renewed motivation to keep doing the hard work of educating Louisiana students.

After COVID-19 prevented A+PEL from hosting our usual Camp A+PEL Summer Conference, we were thrilled with the participation at Virtual Camp A+PEL this June. Our members, fellow educators, and collegiate students were able to learn, network, and enjoy topics such as Anti-bias Teaching 101 and Making it Stick with Blooket. Over $1,000 was given away in cash and prizes as well. We are tentatively looking forward to an in-person Camp A+PEL in 2022!

Please be sure to follow us on social media so you can be the first to know about upcoming meetings and events. Starting this month, we will be traveling across the state to new teacher orientations, professional developments, and other events for the upcoming school year, so if you see us in your area, please stop by our table and say hi! We'd love to get to know you and how A+PEL can continue to serve our members. (And to remind you that you get recruitment cash rebates for each new member you recruit to join A+PEL!)  

Finally, please remember that A+PEL is always here to support you with legal concerns, grants or scholarships, or professional development! At the end of this email you will find details of programs offered and upcoming deadlines. Be sure to check out our website benefits page to get more details! 

Sincerely,

Timmy Jones
A+PEL State President
Acadia Parish- Church Point Elementary

Legislative Update

The 2021 Legislative Session is a Fiscal Session. This means that each legislator can only file five bills unrelated to finance. There have been near 1,000 bills filed, and A+PEL is monitoring those that are important to members and educators in Louisiana. A+PEL remains dedicated to fighting for higher pay, greater benefits, and rights for teachers and educational staff. A+PEL is proud to support and connect members with legislators and policymakers and to keep membership updated on important bills this session. To contact members of the House Committee on Education, click here. To contact members of the Senate Committee on Education, click here. To find your personal Louisiana and U.S. Legislators, click here. Read on below to find some of what we are monitoring:

Educator Pay

SCR 2- Each year, BESE recommends a Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) formula to the Legislature for the next school year. BESE’s recommendation for the 2021-2022 SY includes a 1.375% increase in base per pupil funding, provides a pay raise of $400 for certificated employees and $200 for support workers, and adds a new allocation category which provides a $2,000 stipend for certified mentor teachers. This concurrent resolution has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education. 

Teacher Rights

SB 128- The current law provides that, if state funds are available, each teacher shall be provided a minimum of forty-five minutes of planning time and a minimum of thirty minutes for lunch each day duty-free and provides that the school day shall not be lengthened to accommodate the provision of the planning time and lunch period. This bill removes the contingency making implementation subject to the availability of state funds. This bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education.

SB 86- This proposed law requires the governing authority of each public school, including charter schools, to adopt policies relative to the installation and operation of cameras that record both video and audio in classrooms, upon the written request of a student's parent or legal guardian. This bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education.

Evaluations

SB 35 and SB117 both would prohibit measures of student growth from being used to evaluate teacher performance or effectiveness for the 2020-2021 school year. Currently, there is a provision on using VAM to evaluate teacher performance or effectiveness for the 2020-2021 school year. These bills (individually) would expand the current prohibition. They have both been referred to the Senate Committee on Education.

Funding and Expansion of Public Education

SB 10- This proposed law requires, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, a child who turns five years of age on or before Sept. 30th to attend full-day kindergarten and to pass a readiness assessment prior to entering first grade. This bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education. 

Other Education Bills

SB 51- authorizes a $1,000 annual individual income tax credit for certified public school teachers, laboratory school teachers, nonpublic school teachers, and early childhood certificated teachers. Joint filers will each be allowed to claim the credit if both meet the definition of teacher. 

SB 22- This bill would change the retirement age for those educators participating in TRSL and hired on or after July 1, 2021. This proposed law provides that such members are eligible for retirement at age 67 or the age of retirement set by the Social Security Administration, whichever is greater, after five years of service. This bill was heard and passed favorably out of the Senate Committee on Education. It was then introduced to the Senate and referred to the Committee on Retirement. 

HB 175- Currently, each school principal is to be appointed by the local superintendent. This bill would make that appointment subject to the approval of the school board at a meeting that was properly noticed and where public comment will be allowed. This bill has been referred to the House Committee on Education. 

SB 216- This proposed law requires each teacher who teaches kindergarten through third grade and each principal and assistant principal of a school that includes kindergarten through third grade to successfully complete a foundational literacy skills instruction course that is approved by the state Department of Education. This bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education. 

2021 A+PEL Summer Conference 

Stay tuned for important emails and announcements coming soon about A+PEL's Summer Conference and Leadership Academy. Leadership Academy is hosted by Louisiana Educators of Color Collective (LECC) and is open to all current leaders or those interested in becoming educational leaders! 

A+PEL Makes Motion to Increase Teacher Pay by $4,000 and Support Staff Pay by $2,000

Today the MFP Task Force gathered to discuss funding and make a recommendation for the MFP Formula for the 2021-2022 school year. During that meeting, on behalf of A+PEL, our Executive Director Dr. Keith Courville made a motion to increase teacher pay by $4,000 and support staff pay by $2,000 for the 2021-2022 school year. "This is our vision and this is our goal....this is where we need to be. We need the promise of further funding now...there's an immediacy to the need for this."

Unfortunately another MFP Task Force Member made a substitute motion that reduced teacher and support personnel pay raises back to the levels recommended by the Governor with some additional increases for school funding. This motion ultimately passed. The recommendation will go to BESE next week. 

Throughout the fight for higher educator pay A+PEL has remained the ONLY organization with a consistent record of holding all politicians accountable. We remain dedicated to being non-partisan and advocating for our members! 

Next Steps...

A+PEL will continue the fight for increased Louisiana educator pay by advocating to both BESE next week and with legislators throughout the year. To join us in this fight and make your voice heard, click here. 

Dear Members,

As the world has grappled with COVID-19 and Louisiana’s Department of Education, local school districts, and educators have worked tirelessly to ensure that Louisiana’s students are able to receive instruction, A+PEL has supported each and every educator both in the classroom and working remotely- and those that do both! We know that our teachers, principals, paraeducators, secretaries, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, and others in our schools are on the front lines and are risking health and safety in the name of education. You are essential, important, and seen.

At this time educators are not part of a priority tier for access to the COVID-19 vaccine being distributed to Louisiana. In the past months, A+PEL has met with many leaders and policy makers to advocate for priority access to those Louisiana educators that want to receive the vaccine. Louisiana State Superintendent Cade Brumley officially made a request to the Louisiana Department of Health that educators be prioritized for voluntary vaccination. A+PEL joined a coalition of educator and stakeholder groups in a letter to Dr. Courtney N. Phillips, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, supporting Superintendent Brumley’s request.You can read our letter here.

A+PEL will continue to support and advocate for members throughout this holiday season as many of you prepare to return to the classroom in the new year. Our efforts include demanding and providing PPE/sanitizers, bolstering safety standards, meeting with leaders, participating in the policy discussions, and helping our members safely be a part of the decision making process.

On behalf of the entire A+PEL state office team, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season. Please let us know if we can be of more service to you during these times.

In solidarity,

Dr. Keith Courville
Executive Director

Read the latest updates here.

Read helpful FAQ's here. 

By now many of you have heard the news that Gov. Edwards’ recently released budget excluded an increase in teacher, educator, and support pay.

As educators, we know the value of keeping promises to those who depend on us, and we are extremely disappointed in the governor’s dismissal of Louisiana’s hard working educators. Gov. Edwards promised for years that we would reach the southern regional average, and he went back on his word during the very first year of his new term. Instead of giving hard working educators the funds that were promised, the governor’s office has passed the mandate to district leaders and claimed that teacher raises could come locally- but they did not give districts enough money to support raises.

Be confident that this proposal will not stop A+PEL from fighting for you! Last year, A+PEL’s own Dr. Keith Courville led a proposal to give educators a $3,000.00 raise during the MFP Task Force Meeting. The two Louisiana teacher unions, LFT and LAE, refused to support A+PEL’s fight to get teachers this money. Instead, those unions threw their support behind Governor Edwards’ reelection campaign and used the organization’s time and money to endorse, promote, and get the vote for a governor who betrayed teachers.

Instead of fighting for the governor’s re-election, they should have been fighting for their members, for all educators and support staff, and for school funding. Specifically, LAE has bragged that they supported Gov. Edwards’ re-election campaign by completing over 20,000 phone calls to voters, knocking on more than 12,000 doors to have one-on-one conversations with voters, and sending over 16,600 text messages to supporters of public education- including to their own members!

A+PEL is here to support you. We are led by teachers. We are politically independent and non-partisan. We will never tell you who to vote for. We will never text you or your family insisting you vote the way A+PEL wants you to. We are a diverse coalition of education professionals from across the state. We know you have a choice when it comes to your professional organization, and we thank those who have chosen to allow us to serve you. Time and time again, we and our brave teachers went to the capitol weekly last session to speak directly with legislators. With the direct efforts of our members, we were able to secure a raise.

But now it’s time to fight again. We don’t want to know why some unions betrayed their own members. We don’t want to know why the governor betrayed his own words. We aren’t interested in the excuses and lies. Excuses won’t put food on our tables. Excuses won’t put gas in our vehicles. Excuses won’t pay for daycare, student loans, or help fill our classrooms with much needed supplies.

If you read this and feel like we do, then join us in fighting for more!

You can sign up here to join us at the capitol this Spring.

One of the best things about A+PEL is its capacity to support Louisiana educators. This fiscal year alone, A+PEL has awarded more than 30 grants and scholarships, donated to over 50 schools, rewarded member-recruiters with almost 300 reimbursement checks, and provided breakfast or lunch to faculty and staff at countless schools across the state. 

It is our pleasure to serve Louisiana educators!

TELL YOUR STORY: A Petition to Local and State Officials in Support of Higher Pay and School Funding

Tell your community, lawmakers, and state leaders the sacrifices you have made as an educator. Whether it’s the number of years we’ve gone without a raise, the amount of materials you’ve had to purchase for your classroom, or the amount of overtime work you’ve had to do during the week, let your voice be heard!

Check out highlights of our travels here, and make plans to join us on this journey next year!