WTSEA NEWS – Updating Our Members on the Latest in TSE
January 1, 2020
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CURRENT ISSUES BEING ADDRESSED by WTSEA
Alex Hansen, WTSEA President The WTSEA Board of Directors is your voice in Olympia, speaking out for quality TSE policies. We are currently working on two “projects.”
Project-1
Standardized Instructor Training - Beginning in March 2019, WTSEA has been involved in an effort to improve quality and to standardize TSE teacher training in Washington State. The 2016 NHTSA Assessment of Driver Education in WA identified this as one of 12 key issues/recommendations. Currently, training is difficult to access, costly, and not very flexible in terms of location or time offered. Nor is the training uniform among all vendors. CWU offers courses only in the summer, and only if there is sufficient demand. The adjunct pool is lacking available instructors. Existing schools can train their own instructors, but what if a person wants to set up his/her own school? Currently, there is no standardized curriculum or set of standards that all instructors must meet, regardless of where trained. The DOL, OSPI, WTSC, WTSEA, PDSA and other interested parties have been meeting to remedy these problems.
We are currently working on establishing a list of standardized competencies all instructors must meet. (Check our homepage for proposed drafts being considered, one from WTSEA and one from the Driver Development Project) That work should be finished in February. The next step is to decide on the model. Finally, the committee will establish a uniform curriculum and design assessments all instructors must meet. There are currently two models being considered: Plan A is similar to the model Oregon uses, in which all training is offered by one entity (Western Oregon University). Perhaps it would be CWU in WA, or another organization. In Oregon, a grant makes the training affordable, and the courses are offered in multiple locations year-round. We would seek to duplicate this. |
Plan B is similar to the current smorgasbord model in which individual schools can train their own, but instructors would have to meet the new standards.
The Board currently favors Plan A because the training is accredited, standardized, and ensures high quality. It is the only model that meets Washington’s requirements for a TSE endorsement, or the training needs of a new driving school. But, we wish to know what our membership thinks. Please review the document on our Home Page entitled, “Criteria for Evaluating a TSE Instructor Training Model” Then take the survey and give us your feedback. Project-2
Ensuring Uniform Compliance with Continuing Education Requirements – WTSEA has asked DOL and OSPI if ensuring compliance with continuing education requirements will be part of the new DOL audits in the public-school TSE programs. Their answer was that they do not have the authority to do so under the current language. We believe this is a safety issue and an equity issue. All instructors must regularly be updated on new laws, technology and best practices. And, it simply isn’t right if commercial driver training instructors are audited on meeting continuing education requirements, and public-school TSE instructors are not. That goes against the spirit of what ESHB 1481 was all about – Uniformity. So, we are working with legislators and the agencies to remedy this inequity. |
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WTSEA NEWS – Updating Our Members on the Latest in TSE
January 1, 2020
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PROPOSED WTSEA CONSTITUTION CHANGE
Alex Hansen, WTSEA President The dynamic of WTSEA’s characterization is changing due to realities beyond its control. WTSEA was originally created as an association representing the voice and interests of public-school TSE teachers who made up the majority of the membership. However, ever since the funding for public school TSE was cut back in 2002, with the consequent cutback in public school TSE programs, and growth of commercial driver training schools, membership in our Association has been changing. WTSEA is now composed of 50% public school TSE teachers, and 50% commercial driver training school members. Your Board is wondering if it is the right time to make a change to our constitution to reflect this new reality. We wish to know your thoughts.
The WTSEA Constitution designates two types of memberships who pay dues to have a say and be official voting members of our Association: 1) Active Members: Teachers who hold an OSPI certification to teach TSE in the public schools. 2) Associate Members: Teachers wNho hold a DOL license to teach TSE in a commercial driver training school. We have many members who hold both certifications. Several of these are current members of our Board. Three of our current Board members work for a commercial school, and one is an owner. Both types of members can vote for Board Area Representatives, for elected Officers of the Association, and on any proposed constitutional amendments. Both memberships are provided with the benefit of receiving free clock hours offered by WTSEA at approved in-services. But, only Active members, according to our Constitution, may be elected to the Board of Directors or serve as officers on the WTSEA Board. Because of the changing dynamic of our membership, your Board is considering creating a new Member-at-Large Area Representative position on the WTSEA Board, empowered with a vote on Board decisions. This person could be either an Active or an Associate |
member voted by and representing the commercial driver training school members of our association.
We would like your feedback before moving forward with a decision to amend our Constitution. Please respond to our survey question below. A REVIEW OF OUR 2019 FALL CONFERENCE Gerald Apple & Skeet Gaul, Conference Coordinators Approximately one hundred people attended the 2019 Fall TSE conference at the Renton Technology Center on October 11th and 12th. The evaluations filled out by the conference attendees were very good. The evaluations indicated that we improved on last year’s wonderful conference. The facilities at RTC were excellent. The presentations made by James Brooke on Parent Night and the workshop on Impact Teen Driver by Dr. Kelly Browning were especially well received, although all presenters earned “high marks”. Altogether, our conference included 13-excellent presenters. It was a great honor to have Brett Robinson from ADTSEA present three times during the conference. (CONT.) |
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WTSEA NEWS – Updating Our Members on the Latest in TSE
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People enjoyed the new National TSE Curriculum that was laid out by Brett and several of his colleagues- Sheryl Vanderwalker along with Tim Beckham, the director of Paradigm Driving Solutions. Conference attendees also indicated that they were impressed with what ANTSE is doing to improve teacher standards and training throughout our nation. This is an “on-going” quest in our state’s TSE program.
We are extremely grateful for our ten sponsors/exhibitors, as for the fine luncheon hosted by RTC student catering. There were many good suggestions made by conference attendees. We will use these as guides for our 2020 Fall TSE Conference that will be held again at Renton Technology College. Several of the top suggestions included:
RECENT AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE (AV) LINKS
Skeet Gaul The following include AV links forwarded by Debi Besser, Program Manager for the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Debi and Doug Dahl opened our Fall Conference addressing the topics of “Automated Vehicles and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems” and “Sobriety Checkpoints and Automated Speed Enforcement”.
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shared recommendations regarding common naming for driver assistance technologies.
For additional AV- links, please select the following WTSEA RESOURCE PAGE link. 2020 WTSEA BOARD ELECTIONS – Call for NOMINATIONS
Skeet Gaul It’s election time again! We are asking for volunteers or nominees to serve on our WTSEA Board of Directors. Our board consists of the following: President (elected, 2-years) President-Elect (elected, 2-years followed by 2-years as president) Member-at-Large (appointed, 1-year) Coordinating Secretary (appointed, 1-year) Treasurer (appointed, 1-year) Membership Secretary (appointed, 1-year) University Representative (appointed, 1-year) Representatives for our 9 Educational Service Districts The nine ESD areas are: 101, 105, 112, 113, 114, 121, 123, 171, 189. Your ESD area is based on your place of residence. (If not sure, Google the ESD for your resident address) The President, President-Elect, and Member-At-Large form the “Executive Committee”. The member-at-large is usually a past-president. The Executive Committee is in charge of elections and can make certain decisions without board approval. (CONT.) |
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WTSEA NEWS – Updating Our Members on the Latest in TSE
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This year, we need to elect a President-Elect and all 9-ESD Area Representatives.
The President-elect is the only board member that serves for 4 years. Two years as president-elect, followed by 2 years as president. The main responsibility is to attend all 5 board meetings, assist the president as needed, and be ready to preside over any meetings in which the president is unable to attend (almost never). As president, the person chairs the annual conference and all board meetings, and is WTSEA’s chief representative and spokesperson. ESD Area Representatives serve for 3 years. Their main jobs include attending 5 meetings per year, as well as regularly communicating with WTSEA members in their respective ESD area. They also assist at the annual conference. At least once in that term they should be a presenter or co-presenter at a conference, or a contributor to an article in the WTSEA Newsletter. Our meetings can either be attended in-person or digitally, from the comfort of your own home via ZOOM, our meeting software program. Nominations will begin on January 1st and end on March 27th. Elections will begin on March 30th and end on May 29th. Election Results will be announced on June 1st. Terms of service will begin on September 1st, 2020. All newly elected board members are encouraged (but not required) to attend our August Board Meeting (Saturday, August 8th, 2019). We encourage you to get to know your Area Representative. Expect a greeting email from him/her in the New Year. Then you can contact your representative directly with your questions or concerns. Forward questions or comments to the Executive Board members through our webmaster’s email, below. |
Please volunteer or forward nominations
to Alex Hansen (President) [email protected] Mike Hahn (Pres-Elect) [email protected] Mike Shephard (Member-At-Large) [email protected] 2019 FALL CONFERENCE AWARDS Gerald Apple Two annual awards were given to two outstanding candidates during our 2019 Fall Conference at the Renton Technology College. The Cliff Boyce Award, granted to an exemplary TSE teacher currently teaching in the classroom, was presented to Jack Coburn, who is the manager of The Freedom Driving Schools in Pierce County. He was presented this award for his strong belief in parent involvement and holding students responsible for their actions. He also believes in the importance of teacher standards and a statewide TSE curriculum. The award was given by James Brooke who was last year’s recipient of this award. The Distinguished Service Award, granted to someone who has demonstrated outstanding service in TSE, went to Dr. Greg Baker, who is the superintendent of the Bellingham School District. He had a vision that all high school students in his school district should have the opportunity to take TSE because it is a lifelong skill that will save many lives on our highways. The course is offered for credit, and at no-charge, in keeping with the “Bellingham Promise” that education should be free and equally accessible to all students. Stu Soderquist, who is the TSE coordinator for the Bellingham SD, presented the award to Dr. Baker. SENIOR DRIVING CLASS Gerald Apple WHEN: JANUARY 14TH WHERE: The class is currently be taught at the Lewis County Senior Center in Chehalis, next to the fairgrounds. (CONT.) |
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WTSEA NEWS – Updating Our Members on the Latest in TSE
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REQUIREMENT: Must be 55 years old or older to take this class
COST- $10.00 BENEFIT: 5 to 10 % discount on car insurance over a two-year period. The participants will receive a certificate at the end of the course. LENGTH OF COURSE: 8-hour class- 9:00 AM to 5:00 INSTRUCTOR: Gerald Apple (Taught driver education in the public schools for the past 48 years. Currently teaching traffic safety education at Freedom Driving School in Dupont and Lakewood. Taught the senior driving class for the last twenty years throughout the state). SPONSORED BY: Department of Licensing, Washington Traffic Safety Commission and the Washington Traffic Safety Education Association GUEST SPEAKERS: Washington State Patrol and Operation Lifesaver (Railroad Safety) TOPICS COVERED:
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Need for instructors: We need more instructors so that we are able to reach out to senior citizens throughout the state of Washington and offer this much needed program.
For more information if interested in becoming a Senior Driving Program Instructor, Contact [email protected] |
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