VIRTUAL Spring 2022 Retirement Seminar: May 3, 4:30-6:30PM
Reserve your space for the 2022 Spring Retirement Seminar, which will now be held VIRTUALLY. Please register HERE to guarantee your seat. Zoom links will be emailed.

BTU Collections Launch at UMass Boston: May 3, 4:00PM
Join us for the launch of the Boston Teachers Union Collections at UMass Boston! Featuring union newspapers, oral histories, and member-donated materials – all digitized and freely available through UMass Boston’s Open Archives – as well as digital exhibits created by UMass Boston MA students in public history. In-person at University Hall, Room 2300 and streaming on Zoom. For more information, email BTUhistory@gmail.com.

Connecting Education Policy to Classroom Reality: May 4, 5:00-7:00PM
Join our 2021-22 BTU Education Policy Fellows and get a view of education policy as it really impacts students and schools. Presentations and breakout discussions will focus on: Inclusive Practices, Multilingual Learners, Enrollment and Budgeting, and State Interventions. See the full list of fellows and presentation topics, and register to receive the Zoom link.

NEW- BTU Community Forum: May 17, 6:00-7:30PM
This month, find out what BPS proposed, including making class size limits unenforceable “targets” and eliminating guarantees for inclusive classrooms. Join us to fight for the schools our students deserve! Register now.

NEW- SEL Social: May 19, 5:00-7:00PM
Join us for our first SEL Social, we know it has been a challenging year and have put together a mini restorative social event to destress you in the final days of the school year. Food, music, dance, and a whole lot of fun will be provided! Link forthcoming.

Important Info for Retiring Boston School Teachers
The Retirement Board will be present on May 13, 2022, between 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Boston Teachers Union hall to file your intent to retire package. It is only intended for those who wish to retire between May 13, 2022, and Sept. 13, 2022. Full info can be found here. In order to schedule your date/time, please fill out the Google Form HERE.

Red Sox Tickets for BTU Members! May 31, 7:10PM
Please join us for Teacher Appreciation Night with the Boston Red Sox! The game will be on Tuesday 5/31 at 7:10 PM. Each attendee will receive a complimentary tumbler as a thank you to our educators! Click here to view the flyer with purchasing details and pricing! Click here to view how many tickets are remaining! Go Sox!

Volunteers Needed for the AFT Convention! July 14 – 17
Volunteers are needed for the AFT 2022 Convention to staff the Boston Hosts booth. The convention will take place from July 14th through the 17th from 8 a.m. tot 4 p.m. at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Sign up here!

AFT MA Delegate and Volunteer Reception: July 16, 6:00PM-10:00PM
Save the date for the reception at the Westin COPLEY. Round Trip will be provided from the Westin Seaport, to the Westin Copley.

BTU Building Reps Reimbursement
BTU Building Representatives can earn their stipend by attending at least 7 membership meetings (70% of the meetings) or by doing a combination of activities and meeting the 1000 point requirement by the end of the school year. If you were unable to attend 7 meetings, but acquired the necessary points to receive this years stipend, please complete and submit this Building Rep TALLY SHEET to Nichole.

Para Pay Frequency Form SY 21-22
Open enrollment for Para Pay Frequency changes begins on April 1 until June 1, 2022. Attached is the form for any Paras/CFCs who wish to their current pay frequency. If no change to the pay frequency is being requested, there is no need to submit a form. Email completed forms to ohcpayroll@bostonpublicschools.org. Fax completed forms to 617-635-9003.

Nominations for 2022/23 BTU Election Committee: Deadline TODAY
Any BTU or RTC member wishing to serve on the Election Committee must complete this form. Click here for more information and a brief summary of responsibilities of members.

Join the BTU Latino Caucus
We are building a Latino Caucus for BTU members. Interested in joining or learning more? Fill out this form. 

BTU Health & Welfare Fund Softball League
It’s that time of year again – time to dig out your cleats and dusty old mitt and join your colleagues on the softball field! League action starts in April. All interested players should contact the League Commissioner, Bruce Collotta, at 617-710-8486 for details.

Alray Scholars Program
The Alray Scholars Program provides 1:1 mentoring, scholarships, and career counseling to graduates of Boston Public Schools who have started higher education but were faced with setbacks on their first try. The program supports scholars who have returned or are returning to school to earn their first college degree. There are two application rounds for scholars each year, and the next due date is June 1.

Teacher Leadership Fund Applications Open
As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Teacher Leadership Fund empowers educators to lead the way toward the learning environments and experiences our students and communities need. Applications for the ’22-23 grant program are now open. Teams of educators within and across schools can apply for up to $15,000 to address a challenge facing students who have been marginalized. Applications due: May 6th.

BE/ACTT Cohort 2023
Apply to the only grow-your-own teacher preparation and licensure program in Massachusetts that centers racial literacy and social justice. This program is for those who aspire to become anti-racist, critically conscious teachers with the tools to interrogate anti-Black racism and to create culturally affirming classrooms so their students experience unprecedented social and academic achievement. Application due June 1.

DESE Flex Information
DESE recently introduced a new MTEL testing policy called MTEL Flex. MTEL Flex allows licensure candidates who took certain subject-area MTELs on or after October 20, 2020 and did not earn a passing score to submit a written assessment instead of re-taking the test. Please review eligibility requirements for MTEL Flex and complete the MTEL Flex interest form to be notified about upcoming information sessions. For more information, contact Justin Norton.

Union Dues
In 2021, teachers paid $1,451.06; paraprofessionals paid $760.10; substitutes paid $760.10; and ABAs paid $943.02 in union dues. Please direct any questions about dues to Secretary-Treasurer Michael McLaughlin.

2022 Unafraid Scholarship
Hundreds of immigrants from all over the world graduate from the Boston Public Schools each year, but many face a huge obstacle: if they’re undocumented, they don’t qualify for federal financial aid. The 2022 Unafraid Scholarship is now open to BPS undocumented seniors. Please share the application with your communities! Since its inception in 2017, the Unafraid Scholarship has awarded more than $280,000 to 105 deserving BPS graduates.

Tremont Credit Union Open
The Bayside Tremont Credit Union Branch is open and fully functional.