2018-2019 BTU Building Rep Regional Leaders Directory and Schools
Lea Serena: North Dorchester and South Boston
School: Mather Elementary School
My name is Lea-Antoinette Serena and I am a 2nd grade teacher at the Mather Elementary. I have been a Boston Teachers Union representative for three years and am a new member of our negotiation team. I am a leader of the steering committee for the Department of Education's Teacher Advisory Board and part of my school's Instructional Leadership team. I see teacher voice as a catalyst of change and believe in empowering teachers to empower students.
Tim Maher: North Dorchester and South Boston
maher.tr@gmail.com, 973-903-6521
My name is Tim Maher and I'm a Special Education teacher. I'm entering my fourth year as a Building Rep at the Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School and third as the Regional Rep for North Dorchester and South Boston. I hope to encourage rank-and-file members to discover an active role for themselves within our union. Further, I'd like to empower members at autonomous and non-traditional schools to collectively fight for many of the rights they've been stripped of.
- See the schools in Lea & Tim's North Dochester/South Boston BRRL region
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North Dorchester schools:
- Clap
- Dever
- Everett
- Lilla G Fredrick
- Mather
- McCormack
- Russell
South Boston schools:
- Condon K-8
- Excel HS
- Perkins
- Perry K-8
- Tynan
- UP Academy Boston
Christine Choukas: East Boston & Charlestown
christine.choukas@gmail.com, 617-763-1951
School: McKay K-8 school
Hello, my name is Christine Choukas, and I teach third grade at the McKay K-8 school in East Boston. This is my twenty second year teaching in Boston. I have been a building representative for nineteen years. I am also part of my school’s instructional leadership team as well as a teacher leader for my third grade team. I am an elected delegate for our Boston Teachers Union and have been a Building Regional Leader for the past four years. I believe that together our union is stronger and we need to be involved in as many ways as we can to continue to grow as a union.
- See the schools in Christine's East Boston/Charlestown BRRL region
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East Boston schools:
- Adams
- Alighieri Montessori
- Bradley
- East Boston EEC
- East Boston HS
- Guild
- McKay K-8
- O’Donnell
- Otis
- PJ Kennedy
- Umana Academy
Charlestown schools:
- Charlestown HS
- Edwards
- Harvard/Kent
- Warren Prescott
Garret Virchick: Allston-Brighton
garret@btu.org, 617-872-0425
School: Retired
My name is Garret Virchick. I’ve been a teacher in Boston since 1986 and in the Boston Public Schools since 1989. Most of my work has been at the high school level including ABCDs University High School (7 years), Fenway High School (6 years), as a New Teacher Developer (3 years), and Brighton High School (7 years). I recently retired after working my last year at the Urban Science Academy.
During the last 32 years I’ve dedicated myself to being the best teacher for my students and to building a union that defends the rights of its members while fighting for the rights and needs of the broader community. I believe in putting teachers and others who work in the classroom at the center of any school reform initiative. And I believe in a fully involved rank and file that helps give direction to the union.
Over the years I have been active in various committees, as a building rep, a member of the negotiating team, the co-editor of our newspaper The Boston Union Teacher, and as an elected delegate and member of the Executive Board. This will be my first year as a Building Rep Regional Leader.
My goal for this year is to learn from other building reps and share these best practices to build an active membership that has and uses their collective voice to make their school and community a better place to live, work, and learn.
- See the schools in Garret's Allston/Brighton BRRL region
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- Baldwin ELPA
- Brighton HS
- Edison K-8
- Gardner K-8
- Green Academy
- Horace Mann School for the Deaf
- Jackson Mann
- Lyon K-8
- Lyon 9-12
- Winship
Vanessa La Rocque: Fenway/Kenmore, North End, South End
avlarocque@gmail.com, 617-777-7099
School: McKinley South End academy
My name is A. Vanessa La Rocque. I work at Boston Community Leadership Academy as the Leadership Coordinator. Prior to BCLA I dedicated the 16 years preceding to supporting Special Education students in Boston Public Schools at McKinley South Academy and it's satellite class at Madison Park TVHS. I have had the pleasure of serving my colleagues as a Building Rep, a Regional Building Rep Leader supporting Building Reps in the Back Bay/South End, Fenway and North End, an appointed COPE committee member, Delegate, co Chair of the BTU Social Committee, APRI Member and active union member.
My goal this year is to increase member involvement, get members more excited about all the wonderful things we as a union are doing and to have all of our members in our region recommitted to the union. Feel free to reach out avlarocque@gmail.com.
Gina Sheehan: Fenway
ginasheehan2@gmail.com, 617-555-5555
School: Fenway High School
Gina Sheehan is a 5th year math teacher at Fenway High School. She has found her passion for equitable school funding as well as the state accountability system through the BTU teacher leader program. She hopes to use this experience to learn how to organize around educational issues that she is passionate about. In her spare time she likes to travel, cook new recipes, and exercise.
- See the schools in Vanessa and Gina's Fenway/Kenmore, North End, South End BRRL region
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- Blackstone
- Boston Arts Academy
- BATA
- Boston Latin School
- Carter Center
- Eliot K-8 (2 sites)
- Fenway
- Hurley K-8
- Kennedy HCA
- McKinley South End Academy
- McKinley Prep HS
- McKinley Prep MS
- McKinley Elementary
- Quincy Lower
- Quincy Upper
- Snowden HS
Joel Richards: South Dorchester
joelgrichards@gmail.com, 404-839-3265
School: Young Achievers K-8
My name is Joel Richards. I have been teaching for 11 years. I have taught in Atlanta, Memphis, Cambridge, and now Boston. In Boston I have taught at the Dever, Mattahunt, Tobin, and now Young Achievers.
This is my second year as a Regional Representative. I believe in active representation and collective bargaining. A worker can only truly realize their potential and impact when they are united with others. I am excited to actively cultivate that unity and help the Dorchester region be more impactful for its students and its community. Twitter: @Kingjoel4
- See the schools in Joel's South Dorchester BRRL region
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- CASH
- Dorchester Academy
- Henderson
- Up Holland
- Holmes
- Kenny
- Lee Academy (K0-1)
- Murphy K-8
- S. Greenwood
- Tech Boston
- UP Academy Dorchester
Rob Carroll: West Roxbury/Roslindale
8128rob@gmail.com, 617-480-3421
School: Sumner
Hello, my name is Rob Carroll. I've been a proud Boston Public School teacher for over 35 years. I currently teach 4th grade special needs children at the Charles Sumner School in Roslindale.
I have been an active union member serving on various committees for over 30 years. I have been a building representative for over 25 years (Holland, Sumner), an elected delegate and Executive Board member (currently serving) and a Building Rep Regional leader for five years in the West Roxbury/Roslindale area. I am a lifelong resident of the Parkway area, having grown up in West Roxbury and lived in Roslindale (30 years) and now residing in West Roxbury.
As a BRRL I look forward to continue serving the schools in the communities where I have lived and taught for many years. My goal is to support the building reps and their staff in any way I can. In particular I would like to get newer members engaged in our union activities, as well as providing our more seasoned members with current information to better inform them with their career and professional opportunity choices. I will continue to work with the building reps in my W. Roxbury/Roslindale schools so they can provide the necessary support for their colleagues.
Matthew Ruggiero: Roxbury
mwruggiero@gmail.com, 617-555-555
School: W. Roxbury Academy
Matt grew up in Brighton, and currently lives in Roxbury. He attended BPS, and has taught English as a Second Language to middle and high school students for the last five years. He believes that unions and schools are important institutions, both with power to resist injustice and support communities. Matt likes burritos.
Maryclare Flores: Roxbury
maryclare.flores@gmail.com, 617-555-555
School: W. Roxbury Academy
Maryclare Flores is a second year 5th grade Inclusion teacher who is passionate about quality, public education and social justice. She hopes that by learning how to best organize her colleagues and our communities, that we can create a more equitable society through education and engagement. She is originally from Chicago, recently lived and worked in México, and loves to dance salsa and sing classical music.
- See the schools in Rob, Maryclare, and Matthew's West Roxbury/Roslindale BRRL region
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West Roxbury schools:
- Beethovan
- Kilmer K-8 Lower
- Kilmer K-8 Upper
- Lyndon K-8
- Ohrenberger 3-8
- W. Roxbury Academy
- Urban Science Academy
Roslindale schools:
- Bates
- Conley
- Haley
- Irving MS
- Mozart
- Philbrick
- Sumner
Katie Mallon: Jamaica Plain
kvmallon@gmail.com, 301-767-7233
School: Tobin K-8
My name is Katie Mallon. I have been in BPS for a short time, during which I have been lucky enough to work at: the Tobin, where I am currently the cluster substitute; the Dever, where I was a visual arts teacher; and at Orchard Gardens, completing a year of service with a partner organization. I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know the building reps in the Mission Hill and Jamaica Plain area, especially as a resident of the neighborhood. I have loved growing through my various roles, and I am hoping to help make the BTU feel accessible to all—a feeling I didn’t always have as an early career educator without my own classroom. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve and learn from you all.
- See the schools in Katie's Jamaica Plain BRRL region
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- BTU Pilot School K-8
- Community Academy
- Curley K-8
- English HS
- JF Kennedy
- Muñiz Academy
- Mission Hill K-8
- Manning
- Tobin K-8
- West Zone ELC/Hennigan
Maritza Agrait: Mattapan and Hyde Park
magrait@comcast.net, 617-529-0519
School: Retired
After working as an occupational therapist for 40 years, I retired this past June 2018. I have worked for several school systems: BPS for 27 years; Brockton Public Schools for eight years and Cambridge Public schools for one. I also worked in the private sector.
The BTU is special to me and to my department as we have worked hard to include more contract items that serve the Related Service Providers and the students they service. My colleagues do not hesitate to call me with concerns in their buildings or with administration. I have been a building representative for the OTs for 21 years but do not limit representation to only that department. Other reps and BTU members from the buildings I worked in (Lyndon and Blackstone, just to name 2) reached out frequently for assistance in resolving building-based issues for supplies, working conditions or individual issues. One of the toughest roles as a BTU member was serving as one of the BTU panelists on PAR, where BTU members come to receive support and be evaluated in a fair and transparent manner. I have also served on the SPED Faculty Senate, Professional Leadership Projects, Intervention team, Superintendent BPS/BTU Panel, Election Committee, Collective Bargaining Committee and currently am active in COPE, Puerto Rican Educators Committee.
What do I bring to you, the building reps? I hope to be able to organize the group for monthly meetings, sharing strategies and issues in respective buildings, assist with filing grievances and building capacity in building reps to negotiate before it gets to grievance. I want to hear first what the reps need in their buildings! Let’s start there!
- See the schools in Maritza's Mattapan/Hyde Park BRRL region
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Mattapan schools:
- ACC
- BIHS/Newcomers Academy
- Ellison/Parks ELC
- Lee School
- Mattapan Early Elementary School
- Mildred Ave 4-8
- P.A. Shaw
- Taylor
- Young Achievers K-8
Hyde Park schools:
- Channing
- Chittick
- Grew
- Hyde Park EC
- New Mission HS
- Roosevelt Lower and Upper
- BCLA
Ilene Carver: Roxbury
ilene.carver@gmail.com, 617-680-1755
School: Dudley Street Neighborhood School
Hi. I’m Ilene Carver. I have worked as a teacher in the Boston Public Schools for more than 20 years. I currently teach second grade at the Dudley St. School in Roxbury. I have served as a building rep for a number of years, and am active in Unafraid Educators. Prior to becoming a teacher, I worked as both a union and community organizer. I am a co-author, along with Karen Mapp and Jessica Lander, of the recently published book Powerful Partnerships: A Teacher’s Guide to Engaging Families for Student Success, and I have led many professional development workshops for teachers and pre-service teachers on family engagement. My goal this year is to strengthen the presence of the BTU in our schools and in the community.
Natalia Cuadra-Saez
ncuadrasaez@btu.org, 857-267-1469
School: Internal Organizer, BTU
Before entering my new role as Internal Organizer, I was a BPS history and social studies teacher. As a new teacher in BPS I first became involved with the New Educator Committee and the Teacher Activist Group of Boston. In each of these groups I helped organize teacher gatherings, including an annual back-to-school BBQ and the annual Boston-area Education for Social Justice conference. Other BTU organizing committees I was involved with as a teacher include the History/Social Studies Committee, COPE, Unafraid Educators, and Puerto Rican Educators. As a history teacher I was passionate about developing culturally relevant curriculum and elevating student voice through debate, Model UN, and Student Government. As the new Internal Organizer for the BTU, I'm looking forward to supporting you all in reaching and engaging every single BTU member in your buildings!
- See the schools in Ilene and Natalia's Roxbury BRRL region
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- Boston Day/Evening Academy
- Boston Latin Academy
- Davis A. Ellis Elementary
- Dudley Street Neighborhood School
- Ellis Mendell Elementary
- Greater Egleston High
- Haynes Early Education Center
- Henry Dearborn STEM Academy
- Higginson Elementary
- Higginson Lewis
- James P. Timilty, Middle
- Jeremiah E. Burke HS
- John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics & Science
- John Winthrop Elementary
- Madison Park Technical Vocational High
- Martin Luther King, Jr K-8
- Nathan Hale Elementary
- Orchard Gardens K-8
- Rafael Hernandez K-8
- Samuel Mason Elementary
- William Monroe Trotter Elementary
Jaqueline Rodriguez: Related Service Providers and other non-school based members
jr1226jr@gmail.com, 617-347-5242
School: Mildred Ave K-8
My name is Jacqueline Rodriguez and I am a bilingual School Psychologist at Mildred Avenue K-8 and the Sumner Elementary School. I have been a Boston Teachers Union representative for five years. I have been a member of the Social Emotional Learning Committee, Puerto Rican Educators Committee and the negotiation team. I am an internal coach for the Comprehensive Behavioral Health Model (CBHM) at the Sumner Elementary School and co-chair the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) Committee. Our students deserve access to the services they require in order to achieve academic excellence.
- See the services areas in Jacqueline's BRRL region
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- Adaptive P. E.
- Vision Rep.
- Adult Education
- Speech Therapist
- Behavior Specialist
- Physical Therapists
- Nurse Rep
- Psych Services
- Career & Technical Ed
- Ostiguy High
- Carter Dev. Center
- Literacy Dept.
- COSESS Reps
- Occupational Therapist
- Counseling & Intervention Center
- New Comer Assessment & Counseling Center
- Early Childhood
- Institute for Professional Development
- Hearing/Appeal/Attendance
- Home & Hospitals