Jun. 24, 2015
HARRISBURG – On Monday, Rep. Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Dauphin) joined the majority of his House colleagues in voting in favor of the “Protecting Excellent Teachers Act,” a bill aimed at keeping Pennsylvania’s best teachers right where they belong – in the classroom.
Tobash supported
House Bill 805, legislation sponsored by Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland), which seeks to make performance the primary factor when determining any teacher layoffs.
“Most children do not learn what they need to be successful from books or standardized tests,” Tobash explained. “They learn from great teachers in classrooms that are geared toward their interests and capabilities. House Bill 805 is a step in that direction.”
Bloom’s bill strives to strengthen the teaching profession by ensuring that school districts use teacher performance to guide furlough and reinstatement decisions. Performance ratings would be based on the comprehensive statewide educator evaluation system adopted in 2012.
“It is wrong that we currently operate under a system where the ‘teacher of the year’ could potentially be laid off simply because he or she was the last teacher hired,” Tobash explained. “That is why I am supportive of this commonsense, forward-thinking legislation, and I commend Representative Bloom for his work on this issue.”
Tobash said House Bill 805 gives school districts more flexibility in focusing their resources on programs and classes important for the future of our students.
“We depend on having quality teachers in our classrooms educating our kids – our future generation,” Tobash added. “This bill isn’t about getting rid of tenured teachers; it’s about making the process fair for all teachers, regardless of how long they’ve been serving our students. By establishing a system that rewards outstanding performance, I hope to continue to partner with our best educators and the valuable work they do to provide all of our children with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful. I will continue to focus my efforts on giving our great teachers the tools and resources they need to best educate our students.”
The measure has been sent to the Senate for its consideration.
For more information about this legislation, or any other state-related issue, contact Tobash’s district office in
Schuylkill Haven located at 988 East Main St., by calling 570-385-8235. Information can also be found online at
RepTobash.com or
Facebook.com/RepTobash.
Representative Mike Tobash
125th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Krisinda Corbin
717.705.2032
kcorbin@pahousegop.com
RepTobash.com /
Facebook.com/RepTobash