Educators Day for Lydia Edwards: December 12, 1:00PM
BTU and MTA will be hosting a door knocking event for Councilor Lydia Edwards in her campaign to be State Senator for the First Suffolk and Middlesex district. This district covers Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, and Cambridge, and the primary election will be held on December 14. Come out and help us get Councilor Edwards to the State House!
Community Contract Forum: December 7, 6:00-7:30PM
Calling all students, families, and community members to join our next Community Contract Forum. Find out why BPS rejected all of our affordable housing proposals and most of our facilities proposals, and how you can help. Join us to fight for the schools our students deserve! The forum will be on zoom; see our English flyer here and our Spanish flyer here. Interpretation will be provided. Register at btu.org/engage.
NEW- Solidarity with Chelsea Teachers Union: Rally December 8
Join BTU members in solidarity with our union siblings at the Chelsea Teachers Unionfighting for a fair contract! Please contact Natalia if you can join. Wear red!
December JET Program Info Session: December 8, 4:30-5:30PM
Join the JET Program Staff and learn about the JET Program. The virtual sessions will introduce you to the JET Program and the services it provides. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Zoom meeting.
NEW- Meeting the Educational Needs of Boston Students Learning English: December 13, 4:00-5:00PM
Nearly 60 percent of Boston public school students who are learning English are not getting enough specialized instruction this school year; they have not been assigned the right classes or been placed with a certified teacher for enough time. The Boston Globe is hosting a panel featuring BTU member Ariana Sicairos-McCarthy on the rights and experiences of English learners in Boston schools to determine how the city can reverse this concerning trend. RSVP now!
NEW- Haitian Educators Meeting: December 14, 5:00-6:30PM
Please contact Bianca Pierre for the zoom link.
Telescope Trivia is Back! December 14, 8:00-9:15PM
Join on the 2nd Tuesday of the month for a virtual team trivia game. Join on your own or bring a team. Come every month or drop in when you can. Join us for some fun collaboration and light competition.
NEW- Our City Our Schools Town Hall: December 20, 4:30-6:00PM
How does receivership, turnaround, transformation, and kaleidoscope affect you? Come learn how we are fighting against harmful state threats and takeovers. At this workshop, you will hear stories from educators at schools impacted by state intervention, and we will share information and next steps that you can take back to your school to help in this fight. Together, we will start building a campaign to fight for the stability our schools deserve. Please join us! Register for the Zoom link here.
Para Retirement Seminar: March 1, 4:30-6:00PM
Join us at the Boston Teachers Union Hall for the Para Retirement Seminar, hosted by Michael McLaughlin and Colleen Hart. Register in advance now!
NEW- AFT National Convention Planning Committee
This is a call for committee members. The American Federation of Teachers National Convention will be held in Boston July 2022. As the host city, the BTU is forming a planning committee in conjunction with AFT-MA. If you would like to be part of the planning committee, please email Michael McLaughlin right away.
Build a Contract Action Team!
We’re getting organized at school sites to take action for our Contract Campaign! Build a Contract Action Team (CAT) at your school to enable rapid two-way communication of union actions. A CAT is like a phone tree and allows you to quickly reach every member at your school. See here for a step-by-step guide on how to get started, and let us know who your CAT leader is!
NEW- MFA Art Finders
Let us help you find art for your teaching! Tell us about an upcoming lesson (using a brief online form) and receive a customized slide deck with images from the Museum of Fine Arts collection. Art Finders centers narratives, creative voices, and perspectives that museums have historically suppressed. Slide decks are developed by small teams of volunteers working in partnership with MFA staff and a cohort of six K-12 educators serving as consultants to the initiative—including BTU members! Submit your request to Art Finders.
Fund for Teachers: Design Your Own Passion-Driven Professional Learning
The application for Fund for Teachers is now open! Design your own (often travel-based) professional learning experience for Summer ’22. Individuals may be awarded grants of up to $5000 and teams up to $10,000. Learn more and apply today! The BTU offers support and feedback to members in writing their proposals. Please contact Paul to be connected to a mentor.
SSC/Governing Board Trainings
Empower your school community: SSC/Governing Board trainings are currently scheduled from November – January of this school year jointly run by the BTU & the BPS Office of Family & Community Advancement. To register or for more info, contact Caren Carew. Workshops are open to all elected SSC members including parents, BTU members, high school students & school administrators all of whom are encouraged to attend.
BTU Climate Justice Committee
It’s time to reactivate the BTU Climate Justice Committee! As you know, ensuring that we, collectively as global citizens, act quickly and decisively to limit and eliminate carbon emissions is critical to the survival of our planet. There are many ways we can marshall the power of the BTU and AFT MA membership to be impactful in these efforts. See here for more information.
Lit with Lea: Every Friday to a classroom near you!
From Elementary Rep. Lea Serena: “I hope you all have enjoying my book suggestions in the BTU paper! Please consider signing up to have me visit your classroom and share a read aloud with you and your students! In honor of organizing and activism I am planning on reading Click, Clack, Mo, Cows that Type, Side by Side, and experts from We Rise, We Resist, and We Raise our Voices. I am also always open to a different book as a guest reader!”
2022 AFT-MA Scholarship Program
Every year AFT Massachusetts awards thousands of dollars in scholarships (nine $1500 scholarships) to eligible high school seniors who are dependents of AFT Massachusetts members. The awards are awarded on the basis of a labor history exam administered by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. The student must also attend a college or other post-secondary school in the fall of the following academic year. Scholarship Applications are due by December 17, 2021. Click here and register today! This school year’s Labor History Exam will be administered between January 31 to February 3, 2022 and students are encouraged to contact their school counselor about the exam logistics. Learn moreabout the exam.
JET Program 2022-23 Interest Form
The JET Interest Form for the 2022-23 JET Program Year is now available! Public school paraprofessionals who are interested in JET’s services and wish to participate in the JET program may complete the JET Interest Form, an eligibility survey that is the first part of the application process. We are planning virtual JET Information sessions starting in the Fall and will send details when they become available.
Support BTU Against Breast Cancer
The BTU joined the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer”! Support with a donation here.
Free Identity Theft Protection
All AFT members have AFT-sponsored ID theft protection at no cost to you. Services include an ID theft risk assessment, limited credit restoration and recovery services, and up to a $10,000 reimbursement. Register online to maximize program protections.
Fair Share Amendment Pledge Cards
Building reps: We’re asking you to activate your CAT team to collect Fair Share Amendment pledge cards from every member at your school. You should expect a call from a Member Organizer to bring you cards and support you in getting your school organized!