College Access Workshop: March 28, 5:30-6:30PM
“Yes, You Can Go To College” is a workshop hosted by Unafraid Educators to provide information to undocumented students and the adults who work with them about their options for applying to and financing college. Please invite your students and join us to learn more about how to support undocumented students who want to go to college. Please register here to attend.
Educators of Color Night: March 29, 5:00-7:00PM
Join us for an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet other educators of color in the BPS. We’ll have resource tables, food and a DJ. This event is co-sponsored by the BTU and the Office of Recruitment, Cultivation & Diversity Programs.
AFT MA Latino Caucus Meeting: March 30, 5:30-7:00PM
Join us for the first meeting of the full AFT-MA Latino Caucus in 2023! It will be a space to build relationships, community and power with fellow Latino educators across the state. RSVP now!
Professional Development Series for Paraprofessionals
All sessions are offered as part of a joint BTU/BPS collaboration to provide professional development and professaional growth opportunities for all BPS paraprofessionals, CFCs and Family Liaisons. Please join us!
NEW- City of Boston Expands Chiropractic Benefits
Effective July 1, 2023, a Chiropractic benefit will be added to BCBS HMO and Mass
General Brigham HMO plan (there is already coverage under the BCBS PPO plan).
The Teacher Leadership Fund: What challenge do you want to solve?
Grants of up to $15,000 are available for teams of educators who want to learn about, create and/or share solutions to improve student learning and well-being. You will also have the benefit of working in community with other educators and with support throughout your project implementation. For complete information about the program including application and guidelines, see here. Application deadline is April 26.
Paraprofessional Mentors
Paraprofessionals, we want to make sure you are aware of the wonderful Para Mentors that we have to assist you. If you are struggling with your evaluation, or needing assistance with your role as a paraprofessional, the mentors can help. Please reach out to Colleen Hart at chart@btu.org if you are in need of a mentor or have any questions.
Para Pro Assessment Prep Classes
BPS is offering support in preparing candidates to take the ParaPro Assessment and start their journey to becoming paraprofessionals in our classrooms. Join to learn more about the test and how best to prepare! Five separate sessions of online test prep courses will be offered. Register now!
NEW- City of Boston Open Enrollment for Health Care
The annual Open Enrollment for City of Boston employees is May 1-19 for coverage effective July 1, 2023.
LAST CHANCE- Red Sox Tickets!
Red Sox tickets are available for sale at the Union office for the Sunday, April 2 game against the Orioles. Payment is acceptable in cash or check. Tickets are $32 each and are e-tickets only. Once paid, you will receive your tickets by email within 48 hours.
Please see Michelle Frank at the office or email her for questions.
Rollins Griffith Memorial Classroom Library: Mini Grant Application
The goal is to keep the legacy of Rollins Griffith present in BPS and to promote Black authors that share the vision of antiracism, the culture of Black people through art and music. Thirty $250 mini grants are being offered to teachers in the BPS. The Mini-Awards are open to ALL BPS teachers. All teachers are encouraged to apply.
Unafraid Educators Meetings
Unafraid Educators, BTU’s immigrants’ rights committee, is meeting the second Monday of each month from 4:30 – 6 p.m. on Zoom. Please join us!
Important Dates for Paras
Please see here for important dates for excessing, pools and assignments.
SY23-24 BPS Teaching Fellowship Program
Are you currently working under an emergency or provisional license? We are currently accepting applications for the BPS Teaching Fellowship (BPSTF) for SY23-24. BPSTF is designed to support teachers through DESE’s CAP Cycle and to ensure they secure initial licensure in Elementary, Moderate Disabilities, or ESL, while also providing teachers with on-the-job mentorship throughout the year. Teachers with an emergency or provisional license who need to enter an approved educator preparation program for initial licensure should apply on TalentEd. Deadline to apply is May 31, 2023, but we encourage candidates to apply ASAP. Please contact: bpsteachingfellowship@bostonpublicschools.org with any questions.
Paraprofessional Housing Survey
The Housing Justice Committee has put together a survey for paraprofessionals to help understand some of the housing challenges they are facing. Please fill out this quick survey so that the HJC can know better how to advocate for our members and build policy that will help paraprofessionals.
Application Open for 2023-24 BPS Bilingual Education Accelerated Community to Teacher Program (BE/ACTT) Cohort
Do you have staff members, paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, or career changers who need provisional licensure in teaching and SEI endorsement by June 2024? Send them this flyer to check out BE/ACTT from Boston Public Schools. The BE/ACTT Program prepares racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse educators to become teachers with a provisional license in Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; or Middle/High School Math, Science, or English/Humanities and/or with a Bilingual Education endorsement. Deadline to apply is April 7th, 2023.
BTU/AFT Para/PSRP Conference: April 1, 8:30AM-2:30PM
Please join us for a day of collaboration and learning with fellow paraprofessionals from around the state. The deadline for registration is March 30. Register now!
Movement Break Training: April 11, 5:00-6:00PM
The Movement Break Training is a fun-filled hour where staff have an opportunity to experience first hand the value and joy of incorporating movement into the school day. Staff will leave the training feeling more empowered to implement their own movement breaks to enhance student relationships and overall academic success. Register now!
Blood Drive: April 12
Join us for for a Blood Drive at the BTU. Use the registration link on the flyer to schedule your donation.
2023 BTU Scholarships: Deadline April 14
This year, there will be 16 scholarships in the amount of $2,000 awarded to high school seniors who are dependents of BTU members. Learn more here.
NEW- Earth Day Week of Action: April 16-22
Several teachers unions across the country are organizing for a Earth Day Week of Action (April 16-22) demanding a just transition away from fossil fuels and towards a Green New Deal for our schools and communities. To support this effort, the Labor Network for Sustainability has created this toolkit with lots of valuable ideas for lifting up this issue in our schools and with our students. Check it out! We will have stickers available at the April membership meeting. To be added to the BTU Climate Justice google group, email Betsy Drinan.
NEW- Secrets of a Successful Organizer Workshop: April 22, 9:30AM-5:00PM
We are happy to partner with Labor Notes to bring this workshop to the BTU! Learn how to identify the issues in your workplace, bring your coworkers together, and make a plan to solve them. Register now!
Inclusion Done Right Open Meeting: April 24, 6:00-7:30PM
The time is now for us to listen AND act! The Inclusion Done Right Committee invites all to attend an Open Meeting. Here you can share concerns, ask questions regarding your school, share action ideas and collaborate with others! Reach out to Kafunda Banks and Chantei Alves with any questions.
Tech Goes Home for Paras and Subs: April 24 – May 16
This is a program that delivers 15 hours of instruction focused on fundamental digital skills. You get a Chromebook of your own after you complete the 15 hours. This is a first come first serve basis. Click HERE to register!
BTU Retirement Seminar: May 5
Save the date! The BTU will be hosting a retirement seminar on Thursday, May 5, 2023. More info will be provided soon.
BTU Legislative Mini-Conference: May 6, 9:00AM-12:30PM
Members are invited to attend this morning program to learn more about our legislative priorities and help determine how we will advocate for these in the current legislative session. Particularly, we will have an in depth discussion about how we are supporting the Thrive Act (S.246), which would eliminate the state’s power to put school districts under receivership, and regarding a number of retirement issues affecting current and future retirees. We will also be joined by some of the legislators who have filed these bills. Join us as we come up with strategies to protect our members and our schools!
Attend the 2023 AFT TEACH Conference in Washington July 21-23
The BTU seeks up to 40 members to attend TEACH, our national union’s biannual professional development conference. Join thousands of educators from across the country to learn about professional issues, policy challenges, and classroom strategies. Members of the BTU’s delegation receive conference registration, shared hotel room in Washington, D.C. and reimbursement for travel. Priority is given to members who have not attended in the past. For more information, see the conference website. Apply Today!Deadline April 12.
BTU Housing Justice Committee Meetings
The BTU Housing Justice Committee has begun meeting every other Monday at 5 p.m. If you have any questions or would like to be added to the mailing list, please reach out to Emma or Shakeeda. You can access the Zoom via this link.
Building Rep Stipends
Building Reps receive a $1,000 stipend for attending (and signing in) to 75% of the monthly membership meetings. The stipend can be earned in other ways too. The BTU BRep app is going through redevelopment along with our website, so reps can complete the BTU BRep Tally Sheet and submit it at the end of the school year if 75% attendance (and sign in) is not possible. All BReps must submit a W-9 and will receive a 1099 at the end of the tax year.