The Bellevue Reporter sat down with Bellevue Education Association (BEA) president Michele Miller to discuss her goals and concerns for the district, as well as 97 percent of teachers voting “no confidence” in schools Supt. Amalia Cudeiro.

This 97 percent figure was based on 623 voting members present at an Aug. 31 meeting, Miller said. The BEA has about 1,100 members.

Miller also said prior to the meeting that 849 of the BEA’s total members completed a job action form and that 83 percent of them indicated no confidence in the superintendent

“No Confidence” vote and bargaining:

REPORTER: You and 97 percent of the BEA voted “no confidence” in the superintendent. What went into the decision to put that up for a vote?

MM: First of all, I want to clarify that this is not my vote. This is the vote of the professional educators in Bellevue. In survey responses, one on one conversation and during the discussion which took place at our general membership meeting, these educators have expressed their concern that Amalia Cudeiro does not have the long-term best interest of the district foremost in her mind. Additionally, she charges ahead with policies without any acknowledgment of the background work that must be accomplished in order to make them workable and successful in our schools.

I have a bakery analogy which might help: She may be amazing at making fondant flowers. That is what her skill set has been as a consultant, coming in and decorating after the underlying structures have been put in place. She doesn’t know where to shop for the eggs. She thinks it is OK to substitute salt for sugar. And, by not providing adequate time for the cake to bake, the underlying structure of the final creation is weak.

REPORTER: What could the superintendent do to improve?

MM: Listen. Take the time to think of Bellevue, not the agenda she has. Even last week, the superintendent sent a message to the public misrepresenting the outcome of the bargain. Her statements reflected what she hoped she would achieve in the negotiations, not the actual outcomes.  How can we respect her as a leader if she cannot respect the recently ratified contract and the intent behind its language?

REPORTER: Unlike many districts in the region, including Seattle, Bellevue is known for its high-performing students, excellent teachers and award winning programs. Do you feel that reputation has been maintained under Cudeiro’s leadership?

MM: I think Bellevue’s reputation is beginning to struggle. We had a very difficult time filling the multitude of administrative openings this year. Eva Collins worked all summer just to get a few candidates worthy of an interview; this at a time when many educators around the country are out of work.

We built a strong reputation with the college boards because of the participation of our secondary teachers in AP Exam scoring. This professional development builds on itself each year, more experienced scorers become leaders within the process.  Because of a lack of understanding of the benefit of this opportunity, the district is limiting participation of our secondary teachers despite the fact that we eliminated all financial responsibility for the district.

REPORTER: What was the most challenging part of the bargaining process?

MM: To be honest, we are beyond that now, and I would rather concentrate on the road ahead.

The school board:

REPORTER: Cudeiro’s contract is up in the spring, and in the past, you’ve stated you hope the school board considers the “no confidence” vote when it comes time to decide whether to renew her contract. However, the board recently released a statement affirming their confidence in Cudeiro’s performance. None of the school board members would speak with you in light of the vote except Christine Chew. What is your reaction to the board’s conduct and how will the BEA proceed in future communication with them?

MM: I hoped that the board would, at a minimum, be concerned enough about such a strong opinion being expressed by the staff that they would seek to understand the issues. Instead, they seem determined to ignore the call for dialogue coming from both educators and parents throughout the district.

They are seemingly trying to convince themselves and others that this is an issue of sour grapes. Again, a 97 percent ratification vote is not a case for sour grapes. We will continue our work in educating the board and the community about our concerns. I hope that the parents expressing dissatisfaction are comfortable talking with me or the teachers at their school.

REPORTER: Do you think the school board will take the vote of no confidence to heart?

MM: Given the recent condescending email to staff from board president Chris Marks, it doesn’t appear that they are interested in the opinion of the staff. This attitude isn’t new. The board does little to communicate with staff outside of presentations at School Board Meetings. That said, I can only have hope that my conversation with Christine will help to move us in the right direction. I truly want to acknowledge her willingness and interest in having a discussion with me.

REPORTER: Have you had the conversation with Chew and if so, do you feel as if you made any progress?

MM: It is scheduled for today (Wednesday, Sept. 14).

More on Miller and the BEA:

REPORTER: With a sensitive and controversial topic, information can get skewed. Are there any misconceptions about the “no confidence” vote or the BEA you’d like to clear up?

MM: First of all is the misunderstanding that BEA is a union run by outsiders. I am a teacher. The bargaining team members are teachers throughout the district. The voting members are the staff in your schools.  We have affiliations with WEA and NEA, but BEA is comprised of the professional educators you see every day.

As I have stated before, the board and superintendent continually tie our vote to changes in the new contract. This is simply not true. The evaluation language is aligned with state law, and provides for the timelines and development guidelines we wanted. While we have given the district time for some meetings, we also said that this must include meetings formerly occurring in schools, so in the end it provides as much of a limitation on such activities as it does an opportunity. We achieved a huge goal on our part, defining class averages as students to classroom teachers so that they more accurately portray the reality of the classroom, and providing $500,000 annually to the Title I schools.

REPORTER: Tell me more about your background in education.

MM: I have a BA in Elementary Education from Western Washington University and a MA Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Seattle University. I have worked in education for 23 years. The majority of my experience has been as an third and fourth grade teacher at Cherry Crest Elementary. While teaching, I have also worked to provide staff development in math and technology to teachers in Bellevue and throughout the state. I was elected by my colleagues to serve as their president in 2008.

REPORTER: What issues in the district are you most passionate about?

MM: My daily goal is to help educators feel they have the opportunity to reach their particular group of students in the manner most appropriate for that unique group. Schools are not businesses, we are not about the product, we are about the individuals. What excites and motivates a class one year may not even interest a class a few years later. We talk about the teachable moment all of the time, but if an educator feels they are so tied to what has to happen next, he or she may not feel they can take advantage of that teachable moment.

REPORTER: What are some of the unique challenges for public education in Bellevue?

MM: Keeping parents and community members invested in the big picture when there is not a crisis event to rally behind.

REPORTER: What are some of the unique strengths?

MM: Bellevue has resources, both human and financial, which allow us to provide opportunities for students other districts only dream about. Our seven-period day allows students to pursue arts, language and CTE opportunities that fit their interests instead of choosing just one path. Parents and community volunteers generously share their time, experience and skills with students at all grade levels.

REPORTER: What advice do you have for parents as their kids go back to school this year?

MM: Assume positive intent. Teachers, counselors, psychologists, OT/PT, SLP, social workers and curriculum department members are all here, every day, because they believe in public education and want to do the best job they can for your child.

REPORTER: What advice or suggestions do you have for students?

MM: Everything in school is not going to fascinate you every moment of the day. Find that topic that really excites you, and see if you can find a way to relate those other things to your passion. Some of the best math people I know are musicians because one is an inherent element of the other.