Happening Today- SEL & Welcoming Communities Paraprofessional Professional Development: September 8 & 9
Join this professional development session to build your understanding of the SEL Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social-Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Decision Making, and to learn strategies and skills to deepen relationships with students.

NEW- Returning Boston Strong Professional Learning Series: Through September 18
For paraprofessionals: join us for this professional learning series. Please see this video tutorial on registering with Cadence. 

NEW- National Board for Professional Teaching: September 10, 5:00PM
Curious about becoming a candidate? Let our BPS/BTU National Board Support Program know by filling out an interest form here and joining us for an informational session on September 10, 2020 (Thursday) from 5 – 6 P.M. An email with the Zoom link will be emailed to you once you fill out the interest form.

NEW- Apply to be a BTU Member Organizer! 
Deadline to apply: September 25. Member organizers receive training, coaching, and a stipend. Learn more and apply at btu.org/member-organizers.

NEW- Family Outreach
Last week, 50 BTU members participated in training by the BTU Family Outreach Action team on making initial phone calls to families and building strong partnerships. Here is the link to the slide presentation and the recording of the session. We are eager to support you as you embark on reaching out to families this year! For more information or to get involved in the BTU’s Family Outreach work, please contact Katie Mallon or Chantei Alves.

In-Person Services In Safe Spaces Rally: September 10, 5:30PM
The Boston Teachers Union, the Special Ed Parent Advisory Council, Boston Education Justice Alliance, City Life, Mass Advocates for Children, and more are co-sponsoring a socially-distanced rally this Thursday, outside the Bolling Building to call for in-person services in safe places for our students with the highest needs. See the flyer for more info. Join the rally or participate in the Car Caravan (meet in the Haley House parking lot around 5:00 p.m. to decorate your car.)

NEW- East Boston Strategy Meeting: September 11, 4:00PM
Attention East Boston BTU members: Please join us this Friday afternoon 9/11, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. for a strategy meeting to plan for how we amplify our concerns about the high COVID rates in the neighborhood of East Boston and what that means for the restart of school. Please RSVP here and we will send you a Zoom link. 

NEW- BLM @ School Commitment
Interested in getting involved in the Black Lives Matter at School movement? This year’s national theme is “Year of Purpose.” Our goal is to get 300 BTU members to commit to taking action. Help us reach our goal by making the commitment today.

Unafraid Educators Kickoff & Social: September 14, 4:30 – 5:30PM
The Unafraid Educators Organizing Committee will be holding their first chapter event of the year. We look forward to reflecting on the summer’s work together, getting caught up with current members, and meeting new members!

Get Involved with CLVU!
The City Life/Vida Urbana (CLVU) coalition is working in support of housing justice and eviction defense. Sign up to be a part of this important coalition!

Teach Point Tutorial
Please see these tutorials for paraprofessionals on how to access TeachPoint to sign up for professional development. You can access the tutorials in a step-by-step guide or an interactive video.

Back to School Fair: September 24-26
Join us for the 7th annual Back to School Fair, where we’ll be giving over 40,000 free books to Boston Public School families. Please also sign up to volunteer!  Don’t forget to sign up for Firstbook for free.

AFT/BTU Teacher Leader Program 
Now more than ever, we must understand how education policy works and how we can take action to advocate for our students, schools and profession. This year-long fellowship has a $1500 stipend. You can apply for this fellowship here.

New Educators Thriving 
Being an educator is hard, especially early in your career. In this course, understand the pitfalls of working educators and learn strategies to avoid burnout. Free to BTU members, and grad credit available for a small fee. Open to all with priority to members in their first three years. You can apply for this course here.

BTU Inquiry Project
In this graduate course from the BTU and the Boston Writing Project, we create a reflective community to conduct research into an aspect of your practice important to you and your students. Graduate credit is available for a fee. You can apply to this course and find answers to frequently asked questions here.

Parent Support Group 
Parenting while teaching is harder than ever. We will continue our successful parent support group with meetings every other week beginning in late September, exact dates to be determined. If you’re interested in joining this group, complete this interest form.

Due Today- Teachers as Scholars
Up to 15 BTU members can win scholarships to attend a course of their choice (space permitting). See the 2020-21 course offerings and the TAS website for more information. To enter to win a free course, please complete this form.

Professional Learning Steering Committee
BPS is forming a Comprehensive Districtwide Professional Development Steering Committee to determine the framework, standards, priorities, guidance, and process for the professional development of all staff in the district (educational and operational). We seek two teachers to serve on the committee. You can apply here from your BPS account.

Join a Cohort to Pursue National Board Certification
Cohorts by grade level, subject area, and other affinity groups are now forming for the upcoming school year. Receive support from through the process from skilled facilitators. Show your interest here and email the National Board for more information and other available supports.

The Status of Teacher Leadership in Boston Public Schools
The Teacher Leadership Working Group has released its report 2020 Teacher Leadership Inventory ⁠— The Status of Teacher Leadership in Boston Public Schools. Read the report and recommendations and share your feedback.

NEW- WIDA Professional Development Update
Many educators are being asked to complete the WIDA 15 hour self-paced Language Objectives and Differentiation PD. Educators must be afforded contractual time to complete this PD. If contractual time is not provided and you are required to complete it, you may do so on your own time and be compensated at your real pro-rata rate.