The bigger the base, the stronger the structure. Given the challenges we confront this school year, we were thrilled to see more than 170 members (many of whom were first time attendees) gathered in Providence this weekend for two days of learning, unity building and workshops as a part of our Fall Leadership Conference. Our goal was to have members walk away feeling energized about their role in the union, unified with their siblings and learn new skills on how to be strong union leaders at their schools. Our members are the building blocks of a strong union!
Over the course of the weekend, members worked together to organize data from our BTU contract surveys to support our goal of having a proposal ready for this winter that represents the priorities of all of our students, schools and educators. Our staff also led sessions on contract enforcement, support systems for educators facing discipline, charter school engagement, inclusive education rollout, political activism and organizing within your school communities. We organize these conferences to bring together educators of different roles and from different communities to learn from each other and to reinforce the fact that we are all in this fight to ensure our students and colleagues have the resources they need to thrive.
Check out our Facebook album for photos and attend our next membership meeting to catch a highlight reel!
If you were unable to attend our leadership conference, our state affiliate AFT-MA is holding a Leadership Conference on November 4 at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School (215 Fitchburg Street, Marlborough). This is a great opportunity to connect with educators and activists from across the state.
Last week at the 2023 AFT Civil, Human, and Women’s Rights Conference, AFT awarded grants to two of our local partners through its Powerful Partnerships Institute. Through its collaboration with the BTU, the Boston Education Justice Alliance and St. Stephen’s Youth Program received grants to continue to support the establishment of Hub Community schools and empowering parent voices. The Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance also received a grant to continue its work in supporting school communities under receivership as well as Thrive Act advocacy.
Boston is holding its municipal elections two weeks from today. Our Political Action team and our members are door-knocking, holding signs and phone banking for our endorsed candidates as the general election approaches! Sign up to join our City Council candidate phone banks. Contact BTU Political Director Johnny McInnis to join our BTU Electoral Action Team. Be sure to check out the last two special bulletins the next two Thursdays to see where you can get involved. If you missed one, you can find them alongside our regular bulletins on our website.
We’d like to introduce you to Lee Nave Jr., our new political organizer, who just started yesterday! Lee has been an activist and a community and political organizer in Boston for nearly a decade. He previously worked as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Juveniles for Justice, and has served as the Chief of Staff for two Boston city councilors. He can be reached at lnave@btu.org.
As you may have heard, the BPS inclusion implementation plan was submitted to DESE earlier this month. The plan is organized by four shifts, with goals and timelines for the multi-year rollout and was presented to the School Committee last week. We are working on a simplified document with the key facts from the plan and will share this very soon. The BTU has been working in partnership throughout the development of this plan and continues to regularly offer input and feedback. We will continue to collaborate with our stakeholders and represent your voices in service to students and their families.
Speaking of which, we are hosting an Inclusion Done Right Committee forum tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the BTU Hall where educators, community members, district inclusion coaches, and district leaders will be present to share and discuss this plan in more detail. You can still RSVP here. There is a hybrid option for those who register. We hope to see you to there.
Our Executive Board is meeting tomorrow, October 25. The E-Board meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month unless there is a holiday. We’d like to congratulate Danielle West, a teacher at the K-8 Curley School, on becoming our newest member.
Our Back to School Party and Breast Cancer Benefit is scheduled for Friday, October 27 at the BTU Union Hall from 3 to 8 p.m. Join your union siblings for a night of socializing and relaxation or stop by before heading out to other events! See our flyer below for details and make sure to register ahead of time for planning purposes.
Finally, we’d like to remind you that every year ONE building rep can be the point person to check on work orders at your school facilities. Please fill out this form to let us know who your one Building Rep, or designee, checking on work orders will be.
BTU Events and Announcements
Inclusion Done Right Community Forum: TONIGHT
The BTU Inclusion Done Right Committee is hosting a Community Forum on tonight, October 24th at the BTU Hall from 6-8PM. Please join us as we learn from district leaders, coaches, and BTU members working on school inclusion planning teams, and to ask questions and contribute to the conversation on the Inclusive Education rollout. Check out our flyer. Food will be provided.
AFT MA Fall Leadership Conference: November 4
Not able to make the BTU Leadership Conference? Join our state level union siblings for a convention that offers training for building reps on grievance handling, training for bargaining and organizing committees, creating a contract campaign, and training from our legal department and meet fellow AFT-MA activists from across the state!
Homework Helper
The Boston Teachers Union has co-sponsored the Homework Helper Program with the Mayor’s Office and the Boston Public Library for 19 years. We have a BTU member at each library that is open late, one or two nights a week (Copley four nights), to help any child who is need of help with their homework. See the full schedule of locations.
NEW- Para 101 Training Sessions
Para 101 is about building a community of paras who are knowledgeable about their rights and are aware of the support and strategies that they can use to build stronger relationships with students and teachers in the classroom. You can register on the flyer.
Bruins Tickets
We have a limited number of tickets for the Bruins vs Toronto game on November 2nd at 7:30 pm. Seats are located in Balcony 321 and the tickets are $125.00 each. The tickets are available to our members and are on a first come fist serve basis. In order to accommodate as many of our members as possible, we are starting with a 2 ticket max. Please register here if you would like to purchase tickets.
Professional Learning & Development Updates
Each week, we have many new and exciting Professional Learning & Development opportunities to share with you.
You can find a full description of each listing on our Professional Learning & Development Updates Page.
- AFT Member Benefit Virtual Workshops
- Asynchronous Spanish for BPS Educators: Fall 2023
- ERAFANS Outdoor Teacher Retreat
- NAEP 2024 Job Opportunity
- Mentoring For Professional Licensure
- Secondary Open Up Math Unit Virtual Previews
- Fall Telescope Learning & Leading Survey by 10/20
- Secondary ESL Planning Cohort: Grades 6-12
- Become a Wellness Champion
- Degree Completion
- Collaborative Problem Learning Site (K-12)
- Pathway Programs: Deadline October 25
- Paid Inclusion and Anti-Racism Consultant for MFA Learning Programs
Community News & Events
Boston Public School Green New Deal Decision-Making Rubric
BPS is holding virtual and in-person meetings to gather community input on how it should “grade” school buildings in order to identify the facilities that have the greatest needs. This is a chance to shape how BPS decides where to invest its money! BPS is holiding multiple meetings throughout October, November and December. Make sure to register.
18th Annual Schools on the Move Prize Ceremony: November 8
Each fall, Edvestors awards a $100,000 School on the Move Prize to a Boston Public School that has made significant strides in improving its culture and education. This ceremony will celebrate one of the three finalists.
Boston Partners in Education Mentorship
The BPIE has matched students with mentors for more than 50 years. Mentors meet with students in-person or online – for one hour a week – to help with classwork and homework. Any BPS student in grades K0-12 is eligible to be matched with a mentor in any school subject. Students can be nominated for a mentor on their website.
Boston Partners in Education: Raise your Glass
Tonight, October 24, the BPIE is holding a fundraiser to support its mission of connecting BPS teachers to mentors who offer training and educational resources to guide student success. Tickets are still available.
Governor’s Youth Advisory Council: November 13
This Council will give young people from across the Commonwealth the opportunity to advise the Healey-Driscoll Administration on issues such as climate, education, mental health, gun violence, housing and more. Applicants must be between 16 and 21 years old.
In Memoriam
We’re sorry to share that Mary Jane Drinkwater, a BPS elementary teacher and school psychologist, passed away earlier this month. A lover of travel, art and music, Drinkwater was also an attorney and member of the Massachusetts Association of Woman Lawyers. In 1993 she was awarded School Psychologist of the year by the Boston Public School System. Our thoughts are with Mary Jane’s loved ones at this difficult time.