TONIGHT- BTU Family Forum on Supporting Students with Special Needs: January 26, 7:00-8:30PM
This forum is looking to build educator/family partnerships to support students with disabilities and their families during the pandemic. Please register here. The format will include listening circles, Q & A with BTU Special Educators and Related Service Providers, and mini-presentations by representatives from City Life/Vida Urbana and Community Labor United on their respective campaigns for housing and childcare justice and access. The flyers are in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Vietnamese and Chinese. Interpreters will be available at the Family Forum with registration in advance.
NEW- BEJA-BSAC Town Hall: January 28, 4:30-6:00PM
The Boston Student Advisory Council is hosting a School Reopening Town Hall in conjunction with BEJA. Students will lead breakout rooms, helping to facilitate conversations on a variety of topics related to school reopening. The Town Hall will also feature a short panel that will highlight the experiences of a BPS parent, educator, and student.
NEW- Building Reps Special Meeting: January 28, 4:30-5:30PM
Join us for a special Building Rep meeting on enforcing the Agreements we have and the continuing fight for safety, equity and transparency in our schools. Register here.
POSTPONED- New Educators Committee Social: New Date TBD
Are you a new (or new-ish!) teacher, substitute, para, RSP, librarian, nurse, ABA, or psychologist in BPS? Would you like to meet other educators in their first three years in BPS and find out that it’s not just you? Would you like to learn more about your union, the BTU, and how it works? Would you like to connect with other people who know what it’s like to teach online and celebrate that 2020 is over? Join the BTU New Educators Committee for a virtual kickback! You deserve it.
Grassroots Campaign Virtual Training Event: January 30, 10AM-4PM
Join Mass Alliance, AFT Mass and BTU for a training event to introduce future campaign leaders, activists, and candidates to the theory and practice behind successful grassroots campaigning. Sessions will include field organizing, message development, working with the press, and other time-tested tactics for winning campaigns. Register here!
NEW- Planning Parties Remote Edition: January 31, 2:00-4:00PM
Looking for a routine to create boundaries between home and school? Feeling that dreaded Sunday feel? Wish you could have a quick “on-call” support to get your planning done enough? Missing that hallway-chat and supportive community feel? Join us for a Planning Party – Remote Edition. See our flyer for more on what to expect and the Zoom link.
NEW- BTU Family Forum for All Families: February 9, 7:00-8:30PM
Please join us for the next BTU Forum for ALL BPS families. We want to hear your needs, concerns and ideas, and we will share an update on school reopening in BPS and what families should expect. We have flyers in English, Spanish, Haitian-Creöle, and Vietnamese. Please register here and share these flyers widely with families at your school and in your community networks.
NEW- Google Docs for Organizing Training: February 23, 4:30-6:30PM
The focus of the training is using Google tools to offer some tips and best practices for communication, organization, and mobilization. It is best suited for folks in initial stages of understanding of how to use these tools and their role in committee work. To register, please click here.
NEW- Our Future for Public Education Winter Conference: February 27, 9:30AM
Join BTU members and leaders to help create our plan to win a new master contract and build a stronger union. Workshops and discussions will focus on our contract fight, understanding the changing political landscape and how we will work with our community allies. We know we are stronger together – now, let’s build on our common goals and create a strategy to win. Register here!
NEW- Journey into Education and Teaching (JET) 2021-2022 Recruitment
JET provides a pathway to help you complete your Bachelor’s degree, at little cost, and your Massachusetts teacher licensure. JET supports the goals of building local teacher pipelines and developing an educator workforce that reflects the racial, cultural and linguistic diversity of students. Registration is now through March 15.
Please use this link if you are interested!
Last Call: Apply to be a BTU Negotiator
We thank Melanie Allen of the Hernandez School for her many years of service on the six-member BTU Negotiating team! Members of the negotiating team are appointed by the President and work significant hours on nights, early mornings, weekends and as needed to negotiate our contracts. If you are interested in joining the negotiating team, please email Matt at mbouvier@btu.org by January 26. Educators of color with experience teaching EL’s, who have a strong work ethic, are familiar with the contract and are detail-oriented are strongly encouraged to apply.
UPDATED- BTU Election News
Thanks to all who have begun the candidiate nomination process! Nominations are due on or before March 10. Here is a step-by-step guide to using the new electronic nominations on the member portal. This is a new system and we are resolving any glitches as quickly as possible. To get help with the online portal or to report a problem, please contact Regina Obe by email, or 617-227-3636. Please note: when you are nominating a candidate on the member portal, it is important to have the correct spelling of their name as listed in the BTU membership list. Candidates can help this process by including that spelling in any email or texts that they send to solicit nomination signatures. If you are thinking of running for office, the election committee has a number of helpful documents and contact information to answer any questions. A great place to start is this poster that lays out the facts, figures, and timeline of the election. Also, please take a moment to familiaize yourself with our policies on campaigning. Be aware that membership mailing lists will not be available for purchase until after nominations are verified in early March. Voting in May (primary, if needed) and June will be by mail-in ballot with an option to vote in person at the BTU.
Grassroots Campaign Virtual Training Event: January 30, 10AM-4PM
Join Mass Alliance, AFT Mass and BTU for a training event to introduce future campaign leaders, activists, and candidates to the theory and practice behind successful grassroots campaigning. Sessions will include field organizing, message development, working with the press, and other time-tested tactics for winning campaigns. Register here!
Join our Parent/Caregiver Educator Support Group
This group is for BTU members seeking a supportive community to deal with the challenges of balancing work and parenting responsibilities in this unprecedented year. Join our Facebook group or RSVP here for more information.
NEW- Comedy Night for AFT Members: February 5, 7:00PM
It’s been a tough year, and after all we’ve been through, we could all use a laugh. On February 5, join President Beth Kontos and AFT Massachusetts for a night of comedy and solidarity. Devin Siebold, a professional comedian and union teacher, will lead a night of laughter for AFT members.
UPCOMING DEADLINE- Teacher Leadership Fund Mid-Year Grants: Open Until 2/26
The Teacher Leadership Fund is happy to announce a new midyear grant opportunity for this year only. We know that now more than ever educators are innovating and creating to address the immense challenges that our students and schools are facing, especially those that have been created or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until February 26. Email tlf@bostonpublicschools.org with questions.
NEW- Virtual Paraprofessional Retirement Seminar: May 3, 4:30-6:00PM
Save the date! More information to come. Hosted by Michael McLaughlin and Colleen Hart.