Back to School Book Fair: Another Great Success!

BPS students and families enjoyed a day of reading, fun, and community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Sunday for BTU’s 13th Annual Back to School Book Fair! We welcomed students and families from across Boston for a day of books, resources, community, and fun. We’re especially proud to have distributed more than 40,000 free books to students and educators.

A huge thank you to the many volunteers who gave their time to make the day possible, including members of our Retired Teachers Chapter. We also want to send a very special shoutout to Brenda Chaney and Wednesday Romero-Klevisha, whose hard work and dedication brought together a really special day. We’re also grateful to our community partners for helping make this beloved BTU tradition another great success!

One more thing about the Book Fair: if you were unable to attend this weekend, we still have books! Books are available for pickup in Room 3 at the BTU until Friday morning. Take as many as you’d like!

BTU Hosts Event in Support of Question 9

Also on Sunday, members joined Governor Maura Healey, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, community leaders, and gun violence prevention advocates at the BTU Hall for a press conference in support of Question 9. BTU is proud to have endorsed the campaign to uphold Massachusetts’ 2024 gun safety laws, and we encourage our members to vote YES on Question 9 on November 3rd.

As we marked the 25th anniversary of September 11 this month, we should have take a moment in the bulletin to remember the lives lost and acknowledge what this anniversary means for so many in our community.

Our thoughts remain with the families who lost loved ones, the first responders and survivors, and everyone who still carries the grief of that day. We remember alongside you and are committed to honoring the memory of those we lost 25 years ago.

Sick Bank update

If you donated to the sick bank in the past and are receiving an error message — we have asked BPS to fix this and give a more clear message about whether you are in the sick bank or not. In the meantime, please email Lea Serena ([email protected]) or your field reps to ensure you are part of the bank. If you are eligible and did not donate last year, you should be able to donate, but if you are having issues please reach out to us. Remember you only have to donate once for the entirety of your career unless the sick bank empties.

The City of Boston Retirement Board election is underway, and we ask for your vote for Karen Cross and Sean Kelly for the City of Boston Retirement Board. More information about the election is HERE.

The election closes on September 25, 2026 at 5:00pm. Please remember to cast your vote before then if you haven’t already!

Thanks to all members who have been sending us updates on their credit situation. The first day of arbitration hearings is scheduled for Friday. We appreciate the members who are coming to testify and will keep everyone updated as the process moves forward.

DESE End of Course Assessment Feedback Request

The MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is recommending the use of end-of-course (EOC) assessments as one component of a new statewide graduation framework.  These new tests raise many potential concerns for teachers, and may go against the removal of tests as a graduation requirement.  Before key decisions are made, DESE wants to hear from the educators and leaders who will be implementing this work. Please take 10-15 minutes to share your feedback via this survey by September 23rd.

BTU Events and Announcements

If you live or teach in Hyde Park, Roslindale, Mattapan, Readville, or anywhere else in Boston City Council District 5, join us for a Town Hall on Thursday, September 24 with Enrique José Pepén! We’ll talk everything education and how we can make sure Boston Public Schools serve their students, families, and educators! You can RSVP for the event here.

Please consider walking this year under the umbrella of the BTU, you may sign your team up on the BTU Walkers Team page.

When you support with a donation or join the BTU Walkers team, the American Cancer Society will be able to help more people in more communities touched by breast cancer by funding groundbreaking breast cancer research, providing free comprehensive information and support, and helping people take steps to reduce their breast cancer risk or find it early when it is most treatable.

Every step taken and every dollar raised will help finish the fight against breast cancer, so please consider either walking with the BTU or making a donation.

You can donate or sign up to participate in the walk here. Thank you so much for your support!

Back to School: Know Your Rights for Educators

This Zoom presentation on Monday, September 28 from 3:30-5pm covers basic Know Your Rights information and reviews existing guidance to K-12 schools issued by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, the protections offered under the PROTECT Act, and reviews best practices with regard to data sharing, responding to ICE presence or requests for information, and navigating conversations with immigrant students and their families. Register here to attend.

The BTU Racial Justice Committee is meeting on zoom at 5:00 on Tuesday. If you would like to join this committee or for more information, please reach out to Lea Serena at [email protected].

BTU Black Caucus Meeting: Tuesday, September 22nd at 5:30pm

The BTU Black Caucus will be meeting in-person from 5:30pm – 6:30pm on Tuesday, September 22nd at the BTU.

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.

In this free course for BTU members, learn and practice concrete strategies to prevent burnout and support your own well-being. See our flyer to learn more and apply. Applications close at midnight tonight — we have a few spots remaining!

“Thank you for creating this course. It helped me have a better year and thinking through the things that are important to me and really did help me change my mental state while at work. Things are still stressful and there’s always too much work, but it helped me prioritize, and keep my life in order.” – BTU Member

This professional development training is about building a community of paras knowledgeable about their rights and aware of the support and strategies they can use to build stronger relationships with students and teachers in the classroom.

Session One: 2 parts

Part 1 – October 1, 2026 (5:00-7:00pm, remote)

Part 2 – November 5, 2026 (5:00-7:00pm, in-person at the BTU)

Session Two: 2 parts

Part 1 – November 19, 2026 (5:00-7:00pm, remote)

Part 2 – December 10, 2026 (5:00-7:00pm, in-person at the BTU)

The link to register is HERE. You only need to complete one session, but you must complete both parts of that session.

Start your math instruction strong with a collaborative cohort for effective planning. Guided by expert BPS teachers, you will work alongside peers to design high-impact lessons integrated with proven instructional routines that increase access for multilingual learners and students with IEPs. A significant portion of our session time is dedicated to collaborative peer coaching and supported planning so you can pool resources and leave with classroom-ready lessons. This course fulfills the BPS 12-hour inclusive education requirement (or can be taken for an ALC). Click here to RSVP.

In partnership with UMASS Boston and the Boston Writing Project, the Boston Teachers Union is proud to offer a year-long school and classroom-based research fellowship to all BTU members. In the Boston Teachers Union Writing and Research Fellowship, we create a collaborative intellectual community in which BPS educators support one another to: develop their research and writing skills, including working toward publication in professional journals and at conferences. Earn graduate credit from UMASS Boston and a $600 honorarium. Learn more here or APPLY TODAY — the deadline is October 30th. Contact [email protected] to show interest.

Educator stipends are still available for teachers to participate in The Examined Life’s graduate and professional development program. Created for teachers, three graduate credits can be earned through Fitchburg State University. The Examined Life is a DESE approved professional development program, and 75 PDP’s will be awarded for your participation and completion of requirements. Check out the program at www.teachgreece.org or reach out to [email protected] for more information.

Advanced Learning Site: Embedding ESL in StudySync

This learning site explores a central question: How can ELA educators embed ESL instruction in ways that support language development and meaningful access to rigorous ELA content?

Telescope Network Advancing Learning Sites center on collaborative peer observation, coaching, and improvement cycles. Participants observe a live classroom and debrief with the host teacher to unpack the “how” and “why” behind instructional choices. Participants then identify and implement a change idea in their own classroom, using student work and peer feedback to examine its impact on instructional practice and student learning.

In this learning site, we will explore language demands and high-leverage practices in reading, writing, and discourse that support MLLs, with a focus on embedding ESL within rigorous ELA instruction.

This course includes an in-person peer observation and virtual Zoom sessions and fulfills the BPS 12-hour Inclusive Education course requirement. The link to register is HERE.

Right now more than 1,000 union members of UNITE HERE Local 26 and Teamsters Local 25 at EncoreBoston Harbor are on strike, fighting for job security, union-standard wages, and funding to guarantee their benefits.

They’re asking allies to show up in force at their solidarity rally THIS WEDNESDAY, 9/23 at 5:30pm. If you can join us, please wear your BTU swag to make our presence & support known. If you can’t be there, please encourage others to join and share the flyer below widely.

What: Solidarity Rally for Striking Encore Workers

When: Wednesday, 9/23 at 5:30pm

Where: Encore Boston Harbor, 1 Broadway, Everett

Details: Please use public transit if possible as there is no parking on site. From Sullivan Square, take the 109 towards Linden for 1 stop.

Our first meeting of the year will be on Monday September 28th, at 5 pm to 6:30 pm on Zoom. Please join us to discuss issues and concerns of our community and to plan for the year ahead. If you would like to attend, please reach out to Bianca Pierre at [email protected] for the Zoom link.

Love, Joy, and Power: Tools for Liberation Documentary Screenings

Follow the founders of Black Voters Matter as they empower African American voters to turn out in record-breaking numbers, flipping Georgia blue in 2020 despite dangerous threats. In the face of today’s powerful attempts at voter suppression, their vital, brave story sheds keen light on the work that still remains to be done for America to make good on its promise of democracy for all.

There’s one more screening in Boston (tomorrow, September 23) followed by community conversation. Admission is free, and registration is recommended at the link HERE.

BPS Cabo Verdean Educators Meetup: Friday, September 25 at 3pm

Join fellow Cabo Verdean Educators on Friday, September 25 at Cesaria’s Restaurant for an opportunity to connect and expand your professional network. You can RSVP for the event HERE.

The BTU offers condolences to the family of Richard Lally, a retired BTU member and Boston Public Schools teacher, who passed away in August. Richard taught for 38 years at the William B. Rogers Middle School in Hyde Park. A memorial gathering will be held at Keohane Funeral Home in Quincy, MA on Saturday, October 24, 2026 from 1-3pm. Richard’s full obituary is here.

Thank You for Reading

Please send your comments and questions to us at [email protected], or call the BTU at 617-288-2000.