NEW- Telescope Trivia Game: April 12, 8:00-9:15PM
Join us for our monthly Telescope Trivia game tonight for a virtual team trivia game! Come on your own or bring a team. Last month, our quiz topics included Female World Leaders, and TV Actress Pie Charts. RSVP to join us! 2nd Tuesdays each month.
NEW- April New Teacher Development Meeting: April 12 & 14
The April New Teacher PD will take place on April 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. and April 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. NTDs should choose which meeting to attend. Zoom link is in the NTD Google Classroom and the April NTD newsletter.
VIRTUAL Spring 2022 Retirement Seminar: May 3, 4:30-6:30PM
Reserve your space for the 2022 Spring Retirement Seminar, which will now be held VIRTUALLY. Please register HERE to guarantee your seat. Zoom links will be emailed.
NEW- Important Info for Retiring Boston School Teachers
The Retirement Board will be present on May 13, 2022, between 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Boston Teachers Union hall to file your intent to retire package. It is only intended for those who wish to retire between May 13, 2022, and Sept. 13, 2022. Full info can be found here. In order to schedule your date/time, please fill out the Google Form HERE.
NEW- Red Sox Tickets for BTU Members! May 31, 7:10PM
Please join us for Teacher Appreciation Night with the Boston Red Sox! The game will be on Tuesday 5/31 at 7:10 PM. Each attendee will receive a complimentary tumbler as a thank you to our educators! Click here to view the flyer with purchasing details and pricing! Click here to view how many tickets are remaining! Go Sox!
Volunteers Neede for the AFT Convention! July 14 – 17
Volunteers are needed for the AFT 2022 Convention to staff the Boston Hosts booth. The convention will take place from July 14th through the 17th from 8 a.m. tot 4 p.m. at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Sign up here!
Para Pay Frequency Form SY 21-22
Open enrollment for Para Pay Frequency changes begins on April 1 until June 1, 2022. Attached is the form for any Paras/CFCs who wish to their current pay frequency. If no change to the pay frequency is being requested, there is no need to submit a form. Email completed forms to ohcpayroll@bostonpublicschools.org. Fax completed forms to 617-635-9003.
NEW- Nominations for 2022/23 BTU Election Committee: Deadline April 25
Any BTU or RTC member wishing to serve on the Election Committee must complete this form. Click here for more information and a brief summary of responsibilities of members.
Join the BTU Latino Caucus
We are building a Latino Caucus for BTU members. Interested in joining or learning more? Fill out this form.
BTU Health & Welfare Fund Softball League
It’s that time of year again – time to dig out your cleats and dusty old mitt and join your colleagues on the softball field! League action starts in April. All interested players should contact the League Commissioner, Bruce Collotta, at 617-710-8486 for details.
Alray Scholars Program
The Alray Scholars Program provides 1:1 mentoring, scholarships, and career counseling to graduates of Boston Public Schools who have started higher education but were faced with setbacks on their first try. The program supports scholars who have returned or are returning to school to earn their first college degree. There are two application rounds for scholars each year, and the next due date is June 1.
Teacher Leadership Fund Applications Open
As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Teacher Leadership Fund empowers educators to lead the way toward the learning environments and experiences our students and communities need. Applications for the ’22-23 grant program are now open. Teams of educators within and across schools can apply for up to $15,000 to address a challenge facing students who have been marginalized. Applications due: May 6th.
Reconnect to Your Purpose with the BTU and Educators Thriving
This has been a hard year. Reconnect to your purpose, clarify your core values, rediscover your strength, and finish the year strong with our spring workshop series. Free for BTU members – register here!
BE/ACTT Cohort 2023
Apply to the only grow-your-own teacher preparation and licensure program in Massachusetts that centers racial literacy and social justice. This program is for those who aspire to become anti-racist, critically conscious teachers with the tools to interrogate anti-Black racism and to create culturally affirming classrooms so their students experience unprecedented social and academic achievement. Application due June 1.
NEW- BTU Members Publish Article on Feedback for Student Writing
Congratulations to Elizabeth Peters (ELA Teacher) and Julie Sloan (Transformation Coach) from Madison Park! Their article “Reimagining the Writing Cycle” which focuses on improving feedback for student writing while lightening the load on teachers was published this month on ASCD.
DESE Flex Information
DESE recently introduced a new MTEL testing policy called MTEL Flex. MTEL Flex allows licensure candidates who took certain subject-area MTELs on or after October 20, 2020 and did not earn a passing score to submit a written assessment instead of re-taking the test. Please review eligibility requirements for MTEL Flex and complete the MTEL Flex interest form to be notified about upcoming information sessions. For more information, contact Justin Norton.
Union Dues
In 2021, teachers paid $1,451.06; paraprofessionals paid $760.10; substitutes paid $760.10; and ABAs paid $943.02 in union dues. Please direct any questions about dues to Secretary-Treasurer Michael McLaughlin.
2022 Unafraid Scholarship
Hundreds of immigrants from all over the world graduate from the Boston Public Schools each year, but many face a huge obstacle: if they’re undocumented, they don’t qualify for federal financial aid. The 2022 Unafraid Scholarship is now open to BPS undocumented seniors. Please share the application with your communities! Since its inception in 2017, the Unafraid Scholarship has awarded more than $280,000 to 105 deserving BPS graduates.
Tremont Credit Union Open
The Bayside Tremont Credit Union Branch is open and fully functional.