Volunteer at the New Teacher Institute August 25 and 26
Every year, we welcome and register new members at the New Teachers Institute. If you can volunteer a couple of hours to help out, please fill out this quick form. Thank you!

Register Today: BTU Summer Organizing Institute August 18-21
Want to better understand education policy? Wondering why our budgets keep getting cut? Want to know what you can do to be an advocate in and out of your classroom? Come hone your skills as a powerful educator-organizer in your school by attending the BTU Summer Organizing Institute from August 18-21! Open to ALL BTU members, including retired teachers! Learn more and register.

Back to School Fair September 19
We’re excited to confirm our Second Annual BTU Back to School Fairfor BPS families! Last year’s event was a huge success with over 800 family members coming to focus on literacy and get resources from our community partners. This year we’ll have more music, activities and fun as well as the distribution of over 40,000 free books directly to families through our partnership with First Books!

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS!

Please sign up to help sort and organize books on September 17 and 18between 3-7 PM. You can sign up to sign up to volunteer. Please consider bringing students to volunteer as a community service project! All volunteers will receive free books for helping out, too.

Back To School Fair Planning Meeting
The Back to school fair is soon approaching and the planning committee will be meeting to further plan this year’s event. Please join us at the BTU office on Wednesday August 12 from 10-11:30 AM to help in this process. To RSVP or for questions please contact Jessica.

Have you signed up for First Book yet? We can’t give away the free books to students without your registration!Sign up TODAY to get FREE and DISCOUNTED BOOKS here.

LAST CHANCE to apply to become a Building Rep Regional Leader!
Have experience as a Building Rep? Looking for an opportunity to expand your leadership in the union? Apply to become a Building Rep Regional Leader today! Details below. In particular, we are looking for reps for Charlestown, JP, Hyde Park, Roslindale, South Dorchester, and Related Service Providers. See here for the Job Description and APPLY HERE.

Prospective Building Rep Info Sessions
Want to learn more about the role of a Building Rep? Interested in running to become your school’s Building Rep this fall? Building Reps play an important role in our schools and union, so come to learn more at one of our BR Info Sessions at the BTU:

  • Tuesday, August 11 from 10-11 AM
  • Monday, August 24 from 3-4 PM
  • Tuesday, September 15 from 4:30-5:30 PM

If you have questions or your school needs help recruiting Building Reps, please contact Jessica.

A. Philip Randolph Institute
Save The Date: APRI The Greater Boston Chapter hosts its next meeting on August 24 from 4:30-6:30 PM (location TBD) to further its efforts to encourage and expand black political activity at the state, local and national levels of government. APRI believes that the development of a union presence in the black community, one that plays an active and constructive role is instrumental to improvements that relate to legislative changes, the communities social objectives and the civil rights movement. Members interested in joining the chapter please email Shanika. Learn more about APRI.

BTU Restorative Justice Committee
The restorative Justice Committee will be meeting on August 17 to plan our efforts to expand Restorative Justice in our schools this upcoming school year. Please join us at The BTU hall from 12-2 PM on Monday, August 17 for our planning meeting. Members interested in joining this committee please email Shanika.

BTU LGBTQ Committee
Save the date! Start the new school year off advocating for LGBTQ issues with the LGBTQ committee. Our next meeting will be held onSeptember 14 at JFK school at 7 Bolster Street in Boston from 4-6 PM. Members interested in joining the committee please email Shanika.

Less Testing, More Learning Event
“TEST THE PARCC” The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will decide this fall whether to replace the MCAS test with PARCC. Come try out the PARCC test and discuss it with other parents, teachers and concerned citizens. Is PARCC the best way to measure what we value in our schools? Test The PARCC on Wednesday, August 12 from4:30-6:30 PM at the Ottoson Middle School Computer Lab, Room 324 located at 63 Acton Street in Arlington.