Black History Month Resources & Black Lives Matter at Schools Week of Action

The Boston Teachers Union is joining cities across the nation to take part in the National Black Lives Matter At Schools Week of Action from February 5-9. Find a helpful collection of teaching resources on the BTU website which can be used during the week of action and throughout Black History Month: btu.org/blackhistory

Follow and use the hashtag #BlackLivesMatterAtSchool for updates and inspiration or visit the Facebook page!

The goal of Black Lives Matter Week of Action in Schools is to spark an ongoing movement of critical reflection and honest conversation in school communities for people of all ages to engage with critical issues of racial justice.


Upcoming BTU Events & Committee Meetings

Inclusion Committee Meeting: TODAY
Please join us from 4:30-6:30 at the BTU. RSVP to Jonathan at jrodrigues@btu.org.

Unafraid Educators Meeting: Thursday, February 1
Please join us from 4:30-6:30 at Fenway High School. Please RSVP by emailing Farah at fassiraj@btu.org.

NEW — Boston Education Justice Alliance Meeting: Thursday, February 1
Please join us from 5:30-7:30 PM at the Bolling Building, 6th floor. RSVP to Ruby atbejaruby@gmail.com.

SELWELL & RJOC Joint Committee Meeting: Monday, February 5
Please join us at 4:30 at the BTU for this important meeting with both committees to share updates and goals for our joint advocacy efforts. Both committees will convene separately after the joint meeting. Please RSVP to Farah at fassriaj@btu.org.

Black Caucus Meeting: Monday, February 5
Please join us on Monday, February at 4:30 PM at the Mattapan Branch Library, 1350 Bluehill Avenue in Mattapan. RSVP to Adrienne at ajordan@bostonpublicschools.org.

NEW — Social Emotional Learning / RJ Meeting: Monday, February 5
Please join us from 4:30-6:30 at the BTU. RSVP with Jonathan at jrodrigues@btu.org.

NEW — Teachers in SPC Roles: Thursday, February 8
The next meeting of the Committee on Teachers in SPC roles (unassigned teachers) will take place on February 8 from 4:30-6 PM at the BTU.

2018 BTU Winter Conference: Saturday, February 10
Please plan to join us from 9 AM to 3 PM at the BTU on Saturday, February 10! Our theme: “Leading the Movement with Equity and BTU POWER.” Read more, register, and download the flyer!

NEW — Jamaica Plain Meet and Greet: Thursday, February 15
Please join us from 5-7 at UNO’s Pizzeria (280 Huntington Avenue), followed by a men’s basketball game at Northeastern. RSVP using this form. Contact Charles Lucas with questions at charleslucas@comcast.net or 617-877-3664. See the flyer.

 


Community Opportunities of Interest

NEW — Beyond MCAS: Excellent and Equity in Public Schools: TODAY, January 30
Hear Jeanette Deutermann, Ricardo Rosa, and Brookline educators address the question of the impact on teaching and learning of MCAS and other high stakes testing. 7-8:30 PM tonight, January 30. Light refreshments at 6:30 PM. All Saints Parish, 1773 Beacon Street at Dean Road in Brookline. RSVP here.

NEW — 826 Boston Seeks Volunteers for Writers’ Room Projects
826 Boston is a nonprofit youth writing and publishing organization that empowers traditionally underserved students ages 6-18 to find their voices, tell their stories, and gain communication skills to succeed in school and in life. One program 826 Boston is expanding is called a Writers’ Room, a standalone classroom within a BPS school that catalyzes a culture of creativity and writing for an entire school community. Writers’ Rooms support classroom assignments and college essays and publish literary magazines and books to elevate students’ stories. If you’re interested in getting involved, email volunteer@826boston.org!

MCIEA Forum — Beyond Standardized Tests: February 27
Over the last 20 years in Massachusetts, we have learned that student and school success cannot be captured by one single assessment. As we look to the future, how can we create a system that measures what our communities most value for our students and schools while empowering teachers? Join the Massachusetts Consortium of Innovative Education Assessment (MCIEA), a partnership of six public school districts and their local teacher unions, to learn about an innovative approach to assessment and accountability that includes performance assessments and multiple measures of school quality. Hear from superintendents, teachers, students, and parents. Join us from 8-10 AM on February 27 at the Omni Parker House Hotel. Register online today.

ASCD Empower18: The Conference for Every Educator: March 24-26
The ASCD Empower18: The Conference for Every Educator will be held in Boston from March 24-26. As education changes to meet new challenges and opportunities, educators are always learning. Join us in Boston as we start building a new day in education. Look into new points of view. Examine innovative and proven practices. Challenge yourself to explore new perspectives. Make key connections and build lasting relationships. Register before January 31 to take advantage of early bird rates.

Boston Educators for Social Justice: Call for Proposals
The 8th Annual Boston-Area Educators for Social Justice Conference will take place on Saturday, April 7. Please save the date! This year’s theme is “Our Stories, Our Future: The Struggle for Self-determination in Education.” Organizers are calling now for workshop proposals. Proposals are due by February 24.