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SECURITY & PEACE OF MIND
NWPE members don't have to
worry whether their school district has sufficient coverage or if
the district or union refuses to defend them. Members
are covered by
NWPE's personal $2 million teacher liability insurance policy.
The policy includes assistance with legal fees for a local
attorney's services for job protection issues as well--even for
nontentured teachers on probationary contracts. No other organization
assures this legal assistance.
(Some associations deny services to members unless the teacher's case is consistent with the organization's "goals and core values.") CARING
LEGAL SUPPORT
Members
have easy access to legal counsel on school related issues. Our attorney thoroughly reviews
the member's situation and
provides a nonbiased course of action.
SUPERIOR
PROTECTION
The freedom to choose a completely independent attorney whose only interest is in representing YOU and who is not beholden to any organization agenda
makes NWPE’s liability insurance superior to district, union, and homeowner’s policies. NWPE members
obtain legal advice without going through fellow teachers who may have conflicts of interest related to other agendas with their
employer or union.
The NWPE-AAE policy has some extra protections other organizations don't offer, such as $2,000,000 of protection per occurrence. The plan is provided through Forrest T. Jones & Company, Inc., which has over 30 years experience handling association insurance needs. It is the administrator of the Trust for Insuring Educators (TIE) which was established in June, 1973, specifically for educator groups leaving the umbrella of the unions. Since July, 2000, there are 60 national associations comprising TIE. For more information about the Trust for Insuring Educators, contact Fred Wheeler at 1 (800) 821-7303. The actual coverage terms and full details are contained in the certificate of insurance you will receive. Questions? Call our national office at 1 800-704-7799.
SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON OF
NWPE-AAE AND NEA LIABILITY POLICIES
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: For printer-friendly brochure, click
here.
Why is NWPE's teacher liability insurance and job protection benefit so important?
Entrusting your career to the hands of the district, the union, or a property and casualty underwriter can be risky. You are encouraged to read policies carefully. The bottom line for educators is that NWPE's $2 million liability is policy is reliable as it is on the individual member, not our organization. A personal, individual policy such as NWPE's guarantees the teacher's best interests are attended to no matter what is in the best interest of the organization. NWPE's policy also includes additional guaranteed benefits for legal fees for job protection issues using the attorney of the member's choice. This note from a grateful member says it all:
Dear NWPE:
Teachers should not think for a moment that they are immune to false accusations from students! I should know. It happened to me in my 29th year of teaching—and the accusation came out of the blue! Even my stellar reputation couldn’t save me from patently false allegations!! Following a police investigation which cleared me of any wrongdoing, my NWPE-provided attorney accompanied me to a meeting with administrators. I felt protected knowing the attorney was acting fully on my behalf—not looking out for the district. I was reinstated—but not without some tarnish to my reputation.
My colleagues now know that each of them is expendable and very at risk. All teachers are. I know. I was one of them. Many of my colleagues who heard what happened were very interested in the representation afforded by NWPE. If NWPE hadn’t been there for me with legal advice and the personal liability policy, I’m certain I’d be taking an early retirement now. Thanks for everything!
--Roger, NWPE Member
A NOTE ABOUT HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE
When faced with a lawsuit many turn, as their first recourse, to their homeowner’s policy for protection. Then, often too late, they learn that coverage for such acts fall within a fine print exceptions clause for events that are "work related." Even so-called "umbrella policies" contain similar exclusions for allegations involving willful misconduct—a term which applies to any criminal prosecution.
The advantages to professional liability coverage over a homeowner’s policy are myriad. First and foremost, with the scope of teacher liability on the increase, it is all the more imperative to obtain competent and qualified legal representation from an experienced attorney in order to defend against accusations of professional misconduct. Even if coverage is afforded in your homeowner’s policy, rarely are you allowed any input into the selection of counsel. In close or questionable coverage questions, your insurance company may defend under what is called a "reservation of rights." This means that after providing you a defense, if you are found liable, they may pay the judgment and then sue you for recovery of the amount awarded.
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