BTU VOTES:

Congratulations

to our endorsed candidates!

What better way to spend these beautiful Boston September days than celebrating Community Hub School Coordinator Week! Thank you to all of our members serving in this role and dedicating your time to trying to create a BPS system that meets every need of every student!

Boston’s voters delivered a clear statement last Tuesday: this city wants leaders who are unequivocally committed to protecting democracy and our diverse communities. We are pleased to announce that every single one of the BTU’s endorsed candidates gained enough votes in last week’s preliminary elections in Boston to progress to the general election on November 4th. Although Josh Kraft ended his campaign for mayor, there are multiple city council races on the ballot and we encourage all members to vote in the final election. On that note, we are excited to announce that the BTU voted last week to endorse City Councilor at large Henry Santana and city council at-large candidate Marvin Mathelier. Both of these candidates would be strong supporters of the schools and the BTU.

As always, we welcome any time you are able to commit so we encourage you to fill out this form to join the BTU Electoral Action Team and receive updates on how you can get involved!

BTU Database Update

The BTU is rolling out a new database and member portal, called Sirius, that will improve union-wide communication, strengthen our organizing efforts and streamline various processes for members. One of those processes is filing a membership application to join the BTU. You can now submit your union membership application (card check) through the Sirius database. BTU Researcher and Organizer Ashley Houston compiled this digital guide in case you run into any trouble! Please also look out for an email to create an account in Sirius in the coming weeks.

ICE Activity in Boston

We have heard from BTU members about concerning activity by ICE agents near schools. Federal immigration agencies have taken at least two BPS parents into custody on their way to school in recent weeks, and other BPS family members have been detained in other locations. ICE has been seen near schools in East Boston, Brighton, and Dorchester.

Please be sure that you have the phone number for the advocacy organization LUCE in your phone and notify them if you see ICE in our City.

BPS has compiled guidance for employees to follow during potential interactions with federal ICE agents which you can find here. AFT MA is also holding a webinar this evening at 5pm which will provide guidance on our rights and on how we can make a difference on behalf of our students and our communities as well as in-depth explanations of what ICE can and cannot do. You can sign up for the webinar here.

Come kick back and relax with your colleagues and fellow BTU members at the BTU Union Hall this Friday evening from 4:30 to 8:30 for our annual Back to School Party. There will be music, dancing, food and refreshments, and more!

The BTU’s Women’s Rights Committee will also be there to fundraise for the BTU’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walkers. The WRC will be selling T-shirts for $20 as well as pink ribbons for $1. Members can bring a photo of a BTU survivor or someone who has passed away from breast cancer who they want to honor and have the photo affixed to a pink ribbon in their honor. Check out the events section below for more information!

BTU Events and Announcements

AFT MA Paraprofessional Committee

One of the key lessons learned from the 2023 AFT MA/BTU Paraprofessional and Related Service Personnel (PSRP) Regional Conference is that the PSRPs AFT MA want a place to connect and collaborate. We’re excited to announce the launch of the AFT MA PSRP Working Group! This group will hold regular meetings to connect PSRPs across Massachusetts so they can share their expertise and organize together! Please fill out this form if you are interested!

AFT Black Caucus, Boston Chapter Meeting: TODAY

The AFT Black Caucus Boston Chapter, led by BTU Political Director Johnny McInnis, will meet in person at the BTU Hall on September 16th at 5:30.

BTU Back to School Kickoff Party: September 19th, 4:30-8:30pm

Join us for the BTU Back to School Kickoff Party being held on Friday, September 19th from 4:30-8:30pm at the BTU (180 Mt. Vernon St. Dorchester, MA 02125). RSVP here!

Greater Boston APRI (A. Philip Randolph Institute) meeting

The Greater Boston A. Philip Randolph Institute will be meeting via zoom on September 23rd at 6pm via zoom. You can join the meeting with this link

BTU Back to School Book Fair: Saturday, Sept. 27th

Our 12th annual BTU Back to School Fair for BPS families will take place on Saturday Sept. 27th, 2025 at the BTU Hall. We’re still looking for volunteers! Come by for a day full of music, face-painting, snacks and story time with local authors. We have over 40,000 FREE books for students, families, and educators as well as dozens of representatives from local community organizations.

Haitian Educators Committee Meeting: September 29, 5:00-6:30 PM

Join us to discuss issues and concerns in our community and to go over the committee’s leadership structure! Please email Bianca Pierre at bpierre74@gmail.com for the zoom link to our next meeting!

2025 Annual BTU Fall Leadership Conference: October 17-19 at Sea Crest Beach Resort in North Falmouth

Spots are already filling up for our annual fall conference, make sure to register ASAP! Building Reps and other member leaders are highly encouraged to register and attend. Learn more and register at btu.org/fallconference.

Teachers as Scholars: Make Time for YOUR Learning. Application Due Sep. 16th

BTU members are eligible to win one of 30 full scholarships to learn with experts in their fields, from Literature, History, AI and more. Review the lineup of courses, and then enter the drawing. Deadline September 16th! Winners will be selected at random in September.  Check out the Course Catalog and APPLY HERE!

Prioritize YOUR Well-being with Educators Thriving & the BTU: Due 9/17

“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.”

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. Application due Wed. 9/17. Earn 3 ALCs for completing all course requirements. Space is limited.

Unafraid Educators Meeting: October 6th at 4:30

Please join us at Fenway High for our September/October Unafraid Educators Meeting! We are the BTU’s Immigrant Rights Organizing Committee, and work to support our students and families. We will discuss goals for the upcoming school year, and share what we accomplished last year. We’ll have pizza, salads, and snacks for everyone.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk: Join the BTU Team on October 4^th!

The BTU is once again organizing the BTU Walkers for another year of walking and fundraising in support of the effort to eradicate breast cancer. Each year, the BTU provides a shuttle bus from the BTU Hall to the Hatch Shell so volunteers can participate in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on the Esplanade. Check out more information here and search for the BTU Walkers Team to register with our group!

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.

• Nuestros Niños Professional Development Program
• Early Childhood Co-Planning Drop-In
• Supporting Classrooms through a Trauma-informed lens
• Bullying Intervention Specialist Training
• Early Childhood Learning Cohort: September 24, 5:30-7:00 on Zoom
• Welcome Boston Educators! Join the Massachusetts Marine Educators!

Community Events

Boston Busing in Chinatown: 50 Years Later Panel Discussion September 13th at 1pm

Join the panel discussion reflecting on 50 years since Chinatown mothers organized around busing and education equity on Saturday, September 13th from 1-3pm at the Josiah Quincy Elementary School auditorium (885 Washington St, Boston). RSVP at tinyurl.com/busing50.

In Memoriam

Rev. Denise Ann Myers, a retired educator who dedicated 37 years of service to BPS students, passed on September 4th. Following her retirement, Rev. Myers continued to assist Boston’s students by serving as a Homework Helper tutor at Boston Public Libraries. For more information on her life and memorial services, please read more here. Her services are scheduled for Friday, September 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Jamaica Plain.

Mary K. Stoddard, a retired special education teacher who most recently worked at the Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, passed this week. Mary is remembered by loved ones as a devoted educator who saw the potential in others and was a fierce advocate for her students, colleagues, and friends. A wake is scheduled for this Thursday, Sept. 18, at Murphy’s Funeral Home in Dorchester from 4-7pm. A funeral mass will be held Friday, Sept. 19, at 10am at St. Margaret’s Church, 800 Columbia Rd.

Thank You for Reading

Please send your comments and questions to us at bulletin@btu.org, or call the BTU at 617-288-2000.