Sept. 27, 2011

Greetings NCDTSEA Members:

I must begin my comments by informing members that at our September NCDTSEA Executive Board Meeting, Phil McGirt announced his resignation as Executive Secretary of our Association.  For over 25 years, Phil has worked tirelessly in this position and done an outstanding job promoting effective driver education teaching and training in North Carolina.  In addition, Phil has announced that he will step down from his position as Driver Education Coordinator of Cumberland County Schools at the end of the fall semester.  Phil has promised to continue to be involved in the Association and has pledged his help and full support as we transition the position of Executive Secretary.  Phil will truly be missed and we greatly appreciate the many years of his faithful service to the NCDTSEA and over 40 years of teaching driver education. 

I would also like to thank everyone in Cumberland County who has supported and helped Phil accomplish the many tasks assigned to him and “housing” the Association.  I know keeping up with membership, preparing for conferences, packing and unpacking the vehicles for conferences, etc. has not been easy and we are grateful for your support to the Association as well.

Following the by-laws of our Constitution, I appointed Connie Sessoms, Jr. as the new Executive Secretary of the NCDTSEA.  Connie was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors and has begun assuming the duties of the office.  We are certain that Connie will do his best in fulfilling the role of Executive Secretary and I ask that you congratulate and support him as we move forward handling the business of the NCDTSEA.

As we begin a new school year, we face new challenges and many unknowns.  The issue of driver education fees is causing many of us to spend more time being money managers and accountants than driver education teachers.  There is an effort by the NCDTSEA to gather support in the legislature to eliminate the fee and propose fully funding driver education through increasing license tag fees or increasing the cost of the learner’s permit.

There is movement on two fronts that members need to be aware of.  First, there is an Advisory Committee working with DPI to establish a strategic plan for driver education in NC.  Within the strategic plan, specific driver education goals and objectives will be determined based upon the latest information and data available.  Secondly, there is a subgroup of the Child Fatality Task Force meeting to evaluate the latest crash data and current Graduated Licensing Requirements and make recommendations to the CFTF for inclusion in their May 2012 report to the General Assembly. 

I have challenged all Area Presidents to do what they can to increase NCDTSEA membership in their respective areas and invite non-members to attend meetings so they can see what our organization is trying to do to promote driver education across the state.  I am going to visit as many area meetings as possible throughout the year and I have a commitment from JD Everett, Driver Education Consultant at DPI to do the same.   

In closing, please keep working hard to positively impact the lives of our kids and keep emphasizing “make good decisions behind the wheel”.  If you know someone who teaches driver education, but is not a member of our Association, ask them to consider joining us so we can get ideas from all and speak as one loud voice.  Finally, please take a moment to contact Phil and let him know how much you appreciate what he has done for the NCDTSEA.

Respectfully,

Reggie

Reggie Flythe
NCDTSEA President