Good morning,

While the end of the school year is on the horizon, the BTU contract campaign continues full steam ahead. We need all hands on deck in the coming weeks as we have multiple actions planned to support our fight to secure the schools our students deserve.

First and foremost, members at more than 30 schools across the district are gearing up for our first Walk-in Wednesday tomorrow on International Worker’s Day. A walk-in is a 15-20 minute rally before the start of the school day where educators, community allies and parents can gather and show their support for our contract proposal. Members can then “walk-in” together in unity. Check out our toolkit for guidance on how to organize a walk-in and other action steps-it’s not too late to get one organized!

Here are some other tangible ways you can get involved:

• Wear you BTU Blue shirts every Thursday as part of our #ThrowdownThursday solidarity campaign. Take pictures and submit them to photos@btu.org to show your support. Let your Building Rep know or call the office if you need a shirt!
• Host a walk-in at your school tomorrow on International Workers Day and to commit to organizing future walk-ins.
• Attend a bargaining session on one of the Thursdays listed in the form.
• On Fridays, check out our social media accounts and reshare our posts as part of Fun Fact Fridays.
• Be sure to join our June 5th Rally scheduled for 4:30pm at the Bolling Building. CAN YOU BE THERE?!

Don’t forget to send photos of all of the action above to photos@btu.org or be sure to tag the BTU and BPS if you share it out on your social media accounts!

Another date to keep in your calendar is May 14th. BPS students are organizing their own rally in front of City Hall from 4:30 to 6:30p.m. to call for Clean and Renovated Buildings, Fully Funded and Resourced Schools and Mental Health/Career/Life-skill Counseling. Please let the youth organizers know if you can attend.

Speaking of International Worker’s Day, our union siblings have organized a workers’ march starting in East Boston, through Chelsea and ending in Everett. The event starts at 3:30 in Central Square Park. Contact our Director of Organizing Natalia Cuadra-Saez (ncuadrasaez@btu.org) if you would like to join our contingent!

We are looking forward to seeing you all at the BTU Hall next Wednesday for our monthly membership meeting. You can register for childcare if you need it. We’d like to make you aware of a few resolutions that the Executive Board voted to support which will be presented to the full membership for ratification. The E-Board passed a resolution voicing its support of students exercising their right to protest in light of recent decisions by college administrations to use police force to break up student demonstrations. The resolution supports their right to express their opinions without fear of physical harm or retaliation and echoes statements made by AFT President Randi Weingarten.

The E-Board also voted in support of two climate-related resolutions that will be considered at the National AFT Convention in July. The resolutions call on local chapters to advocate for the transition away from fossil fuels via the Inflation Reduction Act and add an amendment to the AFT’s endorsement of President Biden. You can read them in full here.

We also encourage you to attend the next bargaining session with BPS and the city of Boston at the Bolling building (NOT BTU!) on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. Last week BPS shared a comprehensive wage proposal that included only a 2% wage increase for all bargaining units. The wage proposal for paraprofessionals lacked concrete details and is far below what educators need to afford to live in the communities they serve. You can read a summary of the session below and find more details at btu.org/bargaining/.

We are calling on our members to support their union siblings in Lawrence, who are now confronting an attempt by the city’s mayor to further consolidate control over the city’s school system. We stand in solidarity with the Lawrence Teachers Union in opposition to Mayor DePena’s attempt to create an appointed School Committee that will dilute the voices of students, parents and educators and grant the mayor the power to install a superintendent even if they don’t have support from stakeholders. Join the Lawrence Teachers Union tonight night at 6:00 pm ahead of a Special Public Meeting at City Hall scheduled for 7:00 pm!!

On the political front, Political Director Johnny McInnis testified yesterday about inclusion needs on behalf of the BTU at City Hall budget hearings, and President Tang was elected as a delegate to the DNC in August for CD7. Thank you all who came out to be a part of these democratic processes!

Last, but definitely not least, we have some breaking news! More than 60 educators at Codman Academy will announce today that they are joining our union. More information will follow in next week’s bulletin and at our membership meeting, but, meanwhile, we wanted to say congratulations to the Codman Academy staff for taking this important step!

While May is shaping up to be extremely busy, it is important to still take the time to celebrate, acknowledge and appreciate each other. May marks the beginning of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month , Mental Health Awareness Month and Haitian Heritage Month. Next week is also the national appreciation week for Nurses and Teachers. Make sure to check our social media accounts for resources and details about events celebrating these cultures and professions!

 

 

At last week’s negotiating session, representatives from BPS and the City of Boston introduced a wage proposal that the BTU knows falls far short of what our members need and deserve.

 

BTU Events and Announcements

Join the BTU Electoral Action Team

Help make a difference and strengthen democracy with the Boston Teachers Union. The BTU is looking for members to get involved with our BEAT(BTU Electoral Action Team) to organize and take action in the upcoming elections. WE NEED YOU to win this fall! Please sign up here. Right now we are looking for activists to help collect signatures for Warren and Pressley!

NEW – Boston Community Hub Schools Info Sessions May 2nd-10th

Last month at our membership meeting, we shared a presentation on our advocacy for Hub Schools. The Boston Community Hub Schools Collaborative is holding 4 virtual info sessions for school communities interested in applying to become Community Hub Schools in SY24/25. School leaders must apply on behalf schools, but all are welcome to learn more about the strategy and application process. BTU faculty input will be sought as part of process. Please register for one of the following opportunities by clicking on the bolded date.

• Thursday, May 2, 7:30-8:30am
• Tuesday, May 7, 6-7pm
• Thursday, May 9, 12-1pm 
• Friday, May 10, 3-4pm 

NEW – Community Schools State-wide Summit June 8th, 9am-3:30pm at the BTU!

Join us for the first state-wide summit on Community Schools! Featuring guest speakers CTU President Stacy Davis Gates and Jitu Brown from Journey for Justice! Join us for a day exploring this evidence-based nationally recognized strategy for transforming school climate and academics. Learn more about Boston Community Hub Schools at btu.org/boston-community-hub-schools

Educators on the Hill Day: June 11 

June 11 will be our annual Educators on the Hill Day! The event will start at 10am with a rally on the State House steps, followed by a legislative briefing in the Member’s Lounge at 11:20 and then end with door knocking from 1-3pm. We will send out more information on the event and on opportunities to support and engage. Please reach out to lserena@btu.org

NEW – OHC Reps will be at the BTU May 8 to answer licensure questions

On May 8 from 4:15-6:00pm, before and during the BTU monthly membership meeting, members of the Office of Human Capital will be at the BTU to answer licensure questions related to additional license notifications, upcoming notifications regarding expired/expiring professional, initial, preliminary licenses, the Moderate PreK-2 license, emergency license extensions, or any other issues related to licensure. Please stop by if you have questions.

NEW – Investigate the question “How do we provide access to Tier 1 science curricula to multilingual students?” with colleagues through a peer observation and debrief with the host teacher, Angela Palo, about the hows and whys of her teaching practice at the Horace Mann School on Monday 4/29 or Wednesday 5/1. Hosted by the Telescope Network. Participants will receive PD hours and there is also an option for follow up peer coaching sessions for an ALC.

NEW – Climate Resilient Schools Coalition meeting on May 9! 

Register for the next Climate Resilient Schools Coalition Network meeting on May 9 from 4pm-5pm! This regular series supports locally organized district teams through the process of introducing and winning climate action resolutions in their school districts. You can catch up on previous meetings here.

NEW – Free Program for Paras and Others Who Want to Become Teachers

Applications are open for the Bilingual Education/Accelerated Community To Teacher (BE/ACTT) program, which is a free, one-year pre-practicum program that is designed for paras, subs, career switchers, and others looking to become teachers of record in BPS. There is no requirement to be bilingual to participate. Application to apply (deadline is May 31).

NEW – Free BPS Initial Licensure Program: May 31 DEADLINE

Applications are open for the BPS Teaching Fellowship, which is a free, one-year practicum program designed to support novice teachers on waivers, emergency license, or provisional license to complete an ed prep program to secure initial licensure in either ESL or Moderate Disabilities (note: this would also allow for initial licensure in one’s subject area pending any other requirements from DESE, which are subject-dependent). Deadline is May 31, 2024; application here.

NEW – Double Deduction for 10-month Employees

The Health Benefits office has provided the schedule for the double deductions for health insurance for the 10 month paid employees. First check for double deductions will be 4/26/24 for the pay period ending 4/19/24. See the schedule.

NEW – Para Informational Meeting: May 15, 5PM

Please join us at the Para informational meeting! Come ask questions and learn about any updates. RSVP here.

NEW – MEJA Statewide Education Justice Convening!

May 18th Join us May 18th, 8:30-4pm at Worcester Tech! MEJA’s convening is a space for parents/caregivers, educators, students, and community activists to come together to collaborate, build power, strengthen relationships and amplify issues facing public education. Register here.

Teacher Day at the Isabella Gardner Museum

Experience a day of peace and inspiration at the Gardner Museum, free of cost. This special event, co-sponsored by the Boston Teachers Union, is specially designed for Boston Public Schools teachers of all ages and subjects, and offers interactive gallery visits, mindfulness experiences, and a delightful breakfast. Relax, connect, and rejuvenate yourself. Please RSVP to let us know that you will attend.

Next Dates: Saturday, May 18, or Saturday, June 1.

Technology Series for Paraprofessionals/ Libraries / Library Paras and Substitutes: June 3, 5-7pm

This tech training session aims to familiarize beginners with the fundamentals of basic navigation and the Google Workspace, and for those with more experience, a higher level look at these systems. The content of the session aims to familiarize educators with BPS systems and tools available to them as educators at BPS. Beginner and advanced sessions are from 5-7 PM on June 3rd at the BTU. Sign up here!

BTU Members, including members at the Up Holland Academy pictured above, from across the district participated in Throwdown Thursdays last week in support of our contract proposal. Check out our Facebook album for photos from last week and future actions!!

Professional Learning & Development Updates

Each week, we have many new and exciting Professional Learning & Development opportunities to share with you. You can find a full description of each listing on our Professional Learning & Development Updates Page.

• AFT Member Benefit Virtual Workshops
• Degree Completion
• Rules-Based Reading Virtual Edcamp 5/1, 5:30-7:00PM
• Elementary IM Math Learning Site: May 2, 2024, 10:30am-3pm
• Implementing EL Learning Site, May 8th
• Focus Literacy Stations Learning Site at Haynes: May 9, 8:30-1:30
• Telescope Spring Survey: Share Your Leading & Learning Needs
• Critically Disciplinary Literacy Course: Weekly from May 7-June 11
• August 2024 MIT Climate Professional Development Workshop (paid) for high school educators
• Aspire & Inspire Educator Symposium: May 30, 4:30-7:30PM

Community News & Events

BTU Member Featured in new PBS Documentary! 

Darlene Prado, K2 teacher at the Rafael Hernandez School and a BTU appointee to the Educator Supports Panel, is featured on a new Road Trip Nation documentary, premiering tomorrow, May 1 on PBS. The series follows Darlene and two other teachers as they travel the US in a big green RV and explore how to engage with students, their families and caregivers, and the communities they come from.

K-3 Teachers: Opportunity to participate in research!

We are seeking BPS educators to participate in a national research study to understand the barriers and facilitators schools face when implementing ongoing professional learning. Complete an anonymous survey on professional learning needs and receive a $20 Visa Gift Card. You must be 18 years old and above, be a BPS employee and currently working as a K-3 classroom teacher. Please access the survey via this flyer.

Generative AI and Social Science Summer Program by Stanford Alumni

Inspirit AI is a 25-hour project-based AI program taught by Stanford graduates that introduces middle and high school students to fundamental AI concepts to build interdisciplinary AI projects across domains. In 2024, the team is excited to announce new projects such as Generating Language Safely with ChatGPT. No CS experience is necessary to apply and priority applications are due soon.

A Night of STEM and College Prep Immersion: May 4th

The MIT Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) invites all middle and high school students in Boston schools to join us for Noche de Ciencias, a night of STEM and College Preparation immersion. Students and their families will be able to interact with a variety of clubs at MIT. Check out the flyer for more information!

NEW- Sunday Funday for a Cure: May 19 

This summer, Jillian O’Neil Geraghty will join thousands of bike riders in the Pan-Mass Challenge fundraising event. Jillian will be riding for Camila Hernandez de Obi Tabot, a fellow BTU member, whose son was diagnosed with leukemia last year. On May 19, from 12-3, their team will be hosting a fundraising event at Roundhead Brewing in Hyde Park. Please visit their event page for tickets and any donations.

NEW- Supporting Our Colleague Danielle

A teacher at the Joseph Lee K-8 School is in need of support. Danielle Garry, a paraprofessional at the Lee, has been facing significant health challenges recently, requiring intensive medical treatments and surgeries. To support Danielle during this difficult time, her colleagues have set up a GoFundMe campaign to help alleviate some of the financial burdens she’s facing. Danielle is a vital part of the team, bringing kindness, strength, and positivity to the workplace every day. Now, it’s our turn to show her our support and solidarity.

Aspire & Inspire Educator Symposium: May 30

Celebrate this school year with BPS’s Office of Educator Development and Leadership (OEDL) on May 30th from 4:30-7:30 (location TBD) by honoring the work of educators who are leaders both in and outside of the classroom. There will be a variety of ways for attendees to engage– join a presentation, talk to a teacher leader 1-on-1, and explore the OEDL programs! Food and beverages will be served. bit.ly/AIES24

FREE Summer Middle School Science Program, July 1 – August 2

The Arnold Arboretum runs a free, science and nature based summer program intended for current 6th and 7th graders from BPS, called Arboretum Young Scientists. We are actively recruiting students who are interested in furthering their learning and growth in science and love being in nature for our 5 week program, July 1 through August 2. The application form can also be found on the AYS (Arboretum) webpage, and it is in both English and Spanish.

In Memoriam

We are deeply saddened to share the untimely passing of two in-service BTU members. On Friday, we unexpectedly lost Charlestown special education teacher Gerald Wellman, who also has multiple family members in the BTU. Yesterday, we were also heartbroken to learn that Andrea Wyche, longtime K0/K1 teacher at the Kilmer School passed away.

We’d also like to acknowledge that the O’Donnell, Grew High School and Muñiz communities have also been mourning the loss of beloved colleagues and students. Please refer to some useful resources on helping students during this difficult time.

We will share more information about memorial services when it becomes available as we continue to keep all of their colleagues, friends and family in our thoughts.