ARTICLE I:  Name

The name of this organization shall be The Special Interest Group on the Lives of Teachers.  The organization shall be commonly referred to as “The Lives of Teachers SIG.”

ARTICLE II:  Affiliation

The Special Interest Group on the Lives of Teachers shall be affiliated with the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and subject to all AERA rules and regulations.

ARTICLE III:  Purposes

The Lives of Teachers SIG has been organized 1) to bring together individuals who share a common interest in the lives of teachers and 2) to support scholarly activities (research, writing, discussion, dissemination) in this area.  Teachers shall be defined as those working with students in classroom and tutorial settings, from pre-school through university.  Among the topics that fall within the scope of this SIG are the following:
(a)    Teacher narrative (personal accounts, autobiography)
(b)    Biography of teachers’ lives
(c)    Research on teacher development, including career trajectories
(d)    Research on teacher characteristics, beliefs, and attitudes
(e)    Research on teaching as a profession
(f)    Accounts of teachers’ lives in different times and in different
    countries
(g)    Portrayal of teachers in written literature, film, and television.

ARTICLE IV:  Membership

Membership in the Lives of Teachers SIG shall be open to all individuals who share an interest in the study of teachers’ lives.  There shall be two kinds of membership, regular and associate.

Section 1: Regular Membership:  Regular membership shall consist of individuals who are current members of the American Educational Research Association and dues-paying members of the Lives of Teachers SIG [See ARTICLE V: Dues.].  All officers of the Lives of Teachers SIG shall hold Regular membership.

Section 2:  Associate Membership:  Individuals who are not members of the American Educational Research Association may hold associate membership in the Lives of Teachers SIG.  Associate members are entitled to participate in all activities of the special interest group, including voting, but may not hold office.

ARTICLE V:  Dues

Section 1:  Setting of Dues:  Dues for the Lives of Teachers SIG shall be established each year by majority vote of the membership at the business meeting, which shall be held during the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Proposed changes in dues shall be recommended by the Executive Committee, and the membership shall be informed of the proposal at least 15 days before the annual meeting.

Section 2:  Payment of Dues:  Regular members shall pay their dues at the time they initiate or renew their membership in the American Educational Research Association.  Members of AERA who wish to join the Lives of Teachers SIG shall send their dues directly to AERA.  Individuals who are not members of AERA should send their dues to the Secretary Treasurer of the SIG.

Section 3: Period of Dues:  In accordance with AERA procedures, the period of regular membership in the Lives of Teachers SIG shall be coterminous with membership in AERA, which shall be for one or two years.  Dues for associate members shall be for one or two years and the membership period shall begin when the dues are received by the Secretary Treasurer of the Lives of Teachers SIG.

ARTICLE VI:  Officers

Section 1:  Officers:  The officers of the Lives of Teachers SIG shall be 1) the Chairperson of the SIG, 2) the Secretary/Treasurer, 3) the Program Chairperson, and 4) the Immediate Past President.  (See Article XI: Duties of Officers and Article VII, The Executive Committee.)

Section 2:  Qualifications:  All officers shall be members in good standing of the American Educational Research Association and the Lives of Teachers SIG.  The Chairperson of the SIG shall have been a member of the SIG for at least one full year before assuming office.

Section 3: Terms of Office:  The term of office for Chairperson of the SIG, Immediate Past Chairperson, and Program Chairperson shall be two years.  The term of office for Secretary/Treasurer shall be three years.  In accordance with AERA regulations for special interest groups, no person may serve more than three years in succession in the same office.  Newly elected officers and appointed chairpersons shall assume their duties on the day after the annual business meeting.

Section 4:  Orientation of New Officers and Appointed Chairs:  It shall be the responsibility of outgoing officers and chairs to orient new officers and chairs about the responsibilities of their office.

Section 5:  Method of Selection:  With the exception of the Immediate Past Chairperson, the officers shall be elected by majority vote of members present at the annual business meeting.  Voting may be done by proxy. (See Article IX: Election Procedures.)  The Immediate Past Chairperson shall assume that office as soon as his/her term as Chairperson of the SIG has ended.

Section 6:  Vacated Offices:  Whenever any elected office is vacated before the term has been completed, the Chairperson of the SIG shall appoint a replacement until new elections are held.  If the office of Immediate Past Chairperson becomes vacant before the term has been completed, the Chairperson of the SIG may appoint a replacement, who shall be approved by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VII:  Executive Committee

Section 1:  Membership:  The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the SIG. Upon the recommendation of the Chairperson of the SIG, additional members of the Executive Committee (e.g., chairs of standing committees) may be appointed by the membership at the annual meeting for a period of no more than one year.

Section 2:  Responsibilities:  The Executive Committee shall advise the Chairperson of the SIG and be generally responsible for the conduct of SIG business between the annual business meetings.
(a)    The Executive Committee shall see that an annual review of the financial
    records of the SIG is conducted.
(b)    The Executive Committee shall make recommendations to the membership
    on proposed changes in dues.  Such recommendations will be voted on by
    the membership at the business meeting.
(c)    The Executive Committee shall meet at the annual meeting of AERA
    following the business meeting of the SIG.  Between meetings, members of
    the Executive Committee will stay in contact with each other through
    electronic communication.

ARTICLE VIII:  SIG Meetings

Section 1:  Annual Business Meeting:  The Lives of Teachers SIG shall have an annual business meeting each year in conjunction with the annual meeting of the AERA.   An alternate meeting date and site or additional meetings may be established by a majority vote of those present at the business meeting.  The Program Chair, in consultation with the Chair of the SIG, shall be responsible for arranging the day and time of the business meeting.

Section 3:  Conduct of Meetings:  Issues of procedure that are not covered by the Bylaws shall follow current Roberts Rules of Order.  The Chairperson of the SIG shall act as parliamentarian or shall appoint a SIG member to serve in that role.

ARTICLE IX:  Election Procedures

Section 1:  Nomination & Election Committee:  Each year, the Chairperson of the SIG shall appoint a Nomination & Election Committee of at least three members, including a chair, to identify a slate of candidates for offices that will be vacant at the end of the next business meeting. The Committee shall submit its slate of candidates to the Chairperson of the SIG at least 30 days before the annual business meeting.  The Chairperson of the SIG shall circulate the slate of candidates to all membership through electronic mail at least 15 days before the annual meeting.

Section 2: The Election:  The election shall by conducted at the annual business meeting of the SIG.  The Nomination & Election Committee shall place into nomination its slate of candidates.  Additional nominees for each office may be made from the floor or may be submitted through a written proxy (see Section 3: Proxy Votes) received by the Chairperson of the Committee at least one week before the annual meeting of AERA.  Officers shall be elected by majority vote of the members present at the business meeting, including legitimate proxy votes. The Nomination & Election Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that all AERA election regulations are observed

Section 3:  Proxy Voting:  Any SIG member may submit a proxy vote for any individual on the slate of candidates for office or may nominate his/her own candidate(s) for one or more offices.  The proxy vote and/or nomination(s) must be enclosed in a sealed envelope, with a valid signature of the voting member on the envelope, and must be received by the Chairperson of the Nomination & Election Committee at least one week before the annual business meeting.  Valid proxies (i.e., in a sealed envelope with the signature of SIG member) are also acceptable to vote on proposed changes in the bylaws and proposed changes in dues.

ARTICLE X:  Standing Committees

Section 1:  The Lives of Teachers SIG shall have the following standing committees: Program, Nomination & Election, Communication, Membership.  The Chairperson of the SIG shall be an ex officio member of all standing committees.

Section 2:  The Program Committee:  The Program Committee shall be chaired by the elected Program Chairperson.  Members of the Committee shall be appointed annually by the Chairperson of the SIG in consultation with the Program Chairperson.  The Program Committee shall be responsible for advising the Program Chairperson on all aspects of planning for the SIG presence at the annual AERA meeting, including, but not limited to:
(a)    arranging for the call for proposals for program sessions;
(b)    establishing procedures for reviewing conference proposals;
(c)    reviewing and accepting proposals for conference sessions;
(c)    determining composition of sessions and recommended days and times;
(d)    determining, in consultation with the Chairperson of the SIG and members present at the business meeting, who shall be presenters at invited sessions;

Section 3:  The Nomination & Election Committee:  The Nomination & Elections  Committee shall consist of at least three members, including a chair, appointed by the Chairperson of the SIG.  The Committee shall be responsible for identifying a slate of candidates for offices that will be vacant at the end of the next business meeting.  In developing a slate of candidates, the Nomination and Election Committee members shall consult with each other and with other members of the SIG as needed.  The Committee shall submit the slate to the Chairperson of the SIG at least 30 days before the annual business meeting and shall make a report of its work at the meeting.  The Committee shall be responsible for ensuring that all AERA election regulations are observed.

Section 4:  The Communication Committee:  The Communication Committee shall be responsible for publicizing the work of the SIG internally, i.e., to its membership, and externally, to interested teachers, professors, teacher educators, and researchers within and beyond the American Educational Research Association.  The chair of the Committee shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the SIG.  When a newsletter and a website are established, the editor of the newsletter and the webmaster, who shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the SIG, shall be ex officio members of the Communication Committee.

Section 5:  The Membership Committee:  The Membership Committee shall have responsibility for efforts to increase and shape the membership of the SIG.  The chair of the Committee shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the SIG.

ARTICLE XI:  Duties of Officers

Section 1: Duties of the Chairperson of the SIG:  The Chairperson of the SIG shall be responsible for the general administrations of the SIG.  S/he shall serve as the principal liaison between the SIG and the American Educational Research Association and as the contact person of the SIG.  S/he shall preside at all business meetings and Executive Committee meetings and report to the membership, at least once a year, on the state of the SIG.  Upon consulting with the Executive Committee, s/he shall:
(a)    appoint chairs and members of standing committees;
(b)    establish ad hoc committees as needed and appoint their chairs and
    members;
(c)    fill vacancies among officers until such time as a new election is held;
(d)    disseminate the slate of candidates to the membership at least 15 days before the annual business meting.
(e)    appoint a SIG member to take minutes at each business meeting and
    Executive Committee meeting;
(f)    at least 15 days before each business meeting, distribute an agenda as well
    as minutes from     the previous business meeting;
(g)    facilitate the orientation of new officers and committee chairpersons.

Section 2:  Duties of the Secretary/Treasurer:  The Secretary/Treasurer shall maintain all financial records and membership lists of the SIG.  Accounts shall be kept in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  Each year at the annual business meeting, the Secretary/Treasurer shall present a financial report to the membership.  The Secretary/Treasurer shall have the following additional responsibilities:
(a)    communicate with AERA headquarters as necessary to maintain accurate records current files;
(b)    establish procedures governing the payment of SIG expenses, such
    procedures to be approved by the Executive Committee or the membership;
(c)    establish procedures for maintaining accurate files on Associate Members.
(d)    pay organizational expenses of the SIG, including reimbursement for
    legitimate out-of-pocket expenditures made by officers or standing committee
    members.  If expense is less than $30.00, pay on his/her own authority; if
    expense is $30.00 or more, pay after receiving an additional authorization,
    as delineated in established procedures.

Section 3:  Duties of the Program Chairperson:  The Program Chairperson, in consultation with the Program Committee, shall be responsible for arranging SIG sessions at the annual meeting of the AERA.  These responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a)    serve as a liaison with the AERA Program Committee;
(b)    establish fair, objective, and professional procedures for reviewing proposals
    for conference sessions in order to ensure the quality of the SIG's conference
    presentations.
(c)    distribute the procedures to all SIG members;
(d)    consult with Program Committee members and other reviewers in selecting
    proposals for conference sessions;
(e)    communicate with individuals who have submitted proposals and ultimately
    providing them with feedback on their proposals;
(f)    in consultation with the Program Committee, assign accepted proposals to
    sessions and determine recommended times for the sessions;
(g)    determine a recommended day and time for the business meeting, in
    consultation with the Chairperson of the SIG;
(h)    complete all forms and procedures required by the AERA for SIG participation
    at the annual meeting;
(i)    report to the Program Committee and the Chairperson of the SIG about the
    final disposition of the conference sessions;
(j)    make a report to the membership of the SIG at the annual business meeting.

Section 4:  Duties of the Immediate Past Chairperson:  The Immediate Past President shall advise the Chairperson of the SIG and the Executive Committee on all matters related to the organization and operation of the SIG.  In the absence of the Chairperson of the SIG, the Immediate Past Chairperson shall preside at the annual business meeting and at meetings of the Executive Committee. The Immediate Past Chairperson shall, at the discretion of the Chairperson of the SIG, represent that Chair on designated committees, standing or ad hoc.

ARTICLE XII:  RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENTS

Section 1:  Ratification:  The bylaws of the Lives of Teachers SIG shall take effect upon ratification by a two-thirds vote of the total number of 1) members who are present at the business meeting and 2) members who have cast proxy votes; or by a two-thirds vote of the members voting in a mail ballot.

Section 2:  Amendments:  The bylaws of the Lives of Teachers SIG may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members present at a business meeting or by two-thirds vote of members voting in a mail ballot.  In order for proposed bylaws amendments to be considered at the annual business meeting, they must be submitted in writing to the Chairperson of the SIG at least 60 days before the annual meeting of AERA.  The Executive Committee shall review the proposed amendment(s) and present it (them) to the membership with a recommendation for its (their) approval or disapproval.  The membership of the SIG shall be notified about proposed changes in the bylaws at least 15 days before the annual meeting.

Section 3:  Distribution of Bylaws:  A current copy of the bylaws of the SIG shall be distributed annually or as needed to each member of the SIG.

ARTICLE XIII:  DISCONTINUATION

Section 1:  Voluntary Termination:  Should it be determined that the Lives of Teachers SIG is no longer meeting the needs for which it was founded, the SIG may be discontinued by a two-thirds vote of the total number of 1) members who are present at the business meeting and 2) members who have cast proxy votes; or by a two-thirds of the members voting in a mail ballot.

Section 2:  Dissolution of Assets:  Should the Lives of Teachers SIG voluntarily terminate or should it be forced to terminate under AERA regulations, all assets of the SIG shall be used to pay outstanding bills, debts, and obligations incurred in its operation.  Any remaining funds shall be donated to the AERA Foundation.

Approved by SIG Membership at Business Meeting, Seattle, WA, April 11, 2001.
  
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