TONIGHT- Haitian Educators Meeting: May 18, 5:00PM
Please contact Bianca Pierre for the Zoom link.
Virtual City Council Candidate Forums: May 18 and May 25
Join us for a series of virtual forums to hear from your city council candidates. This series includes a District 4 forum and at-large forum. Contact rjimenez@btu.org with any questions.
Community of Interest Training for Trainers: May 19, 6:00-8:00PM
Join the Drawing Democracy Coalition to learn about redistricting and how you can help ensure your community has the power to elect representatives of choice for the next decade. These workshops will empower you to communicate about this issue, learn to map communities of interest, and support the Drawing Democracy Coalition’s goals of empowering immigrants, people of color, and low-income voters.
Housing Justice Committee Workshops: Through May 27
Boston is experiencing a housing crisis that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Come to the BTU Housing Justice Committee’s training to learn more about current housing justice campaigns and legislation in Boston, how to talk about housing insecurity with students and families, the do’s and don’t’s on how to be sensitive about housing insecurity, supports for undocumented families, and how to connect our students and families to resources. Register at bit.ly/FacingHousingCrisis.
Mental Health Lunch & Learn Series: May 19, 12:00-1:00PM
Co-sponsored by Brookview House, The Massachusetts Women of Color Network and Community Labor United, the topic of this lunch and learn is “Enhancing & Promoting Resiliency in Black & Brown Youth During A Pandemic.” Use this link to join.
Paraprofessional Coffee Hour: May 19, 4:30-5:30PM
Join Early Childhood Staff and your colleagues to share thoughts and hopes for your classrooms as we start to wind down. Use this link to join.
Paraprofessional Virtual Break Room: May 19, 5:30-6:30PM
Come in to say hello, play some games and have a casual social conversation… just remember, no work/union talk allowed! Please register HERE if you are interested. A link will be sent to you in the days prior.
Education Equity for East Boston Families: May 19, 5:30-7:30PM
The purpose of this event is to amplify the East Boston parent and teacher voice regarding their educational experiences, challenges and needs in the spirit of refining/modifying policies and practices that aim to improve those experiences. See the flyer in English here and Spanish here, and register for the event here.
NEW- Education Now and Then: Projections on Post-COVID Learning: May 20, 6:00PM
Join WBUR senior education reporter Carrie Jung for a conversation with students and educators to discuss hopes and fears for learning after the pandemic. Panelists include inclusion kindergarten teacher and BTU member Ulana Ainsworth. Register now!
NEW- BPS STEM Town Hall: May 20, 5:00-6:30PM
What do you want your student’s STEM experience to be like in BPS? What technology and equipment would you like to see in BPS classrooms? Join us for a Zoom webinar. Translators will be available – register now!
DATE CHANGE- Paraprofessional Informational Meeting: May 24, 4:30-6:00PM
Please join us on Thursday, May 20th at 4:30PM for the Paraprofessional Informational Meeting. Some of the topics being discussed will include: Para PD; Para Contract; Updates on evaluations; and Para JD. Please click HERE to register. A link will be sent to you in the days prior to the event. We hope to see you there!
BTU Open Discussion Space: May 25, 5:00-6:30PM
This is a space for BTU members only, all are invited and encouraged to join this open space to talk to each other, to debate issues, to share challenges and to struggle with each other as we process and think together. You must complete this form by 3:30 p.m. the day of the meeting to receive a zoom link to participate. If you have any questions, contact Khalida Smalls.
End of the Year Light Social: June 5, 10:00-11:30AM
AFT Black Caucus Boston Chapter (BTU) invites you to an End of the Year Light Social. All BTU members are welcome to attend!
NEW- National Board Certified Teacher Info Session: June 10, 5:00-6:00PM
Are you interested in becoming an NBCT next school year? Please join a virtual information session using this link, and please complete this interest form. For more information, please email the BPS/BTU leadership team at nationalboard@bostonpublicschools.org.
NEW- End of the Year Party: June 12, 11:00AM-2:00PM
Join us for well-deserved collective care for BTU members! Activities include a photo booth, DJ, food, chair massages, and Four Corners Wellness and Yoga. Adults only! Register before June 1.
NEW- AFT Teach Virtual Conference: BTU Members Can Attend Free!
This year’s AFT TEACH, the AFT’s national professional development conference will be held virtually July 6 – 10. Because of this special circumstance, the BTU is altering our usual policy. This year, any member who registers for the conference and attends a minimum of 5 sessions will have their registration fee reimbursed by the BTU. ($50, $25 for members in their first five years). See the incredible lineup, and register to attend.
Hiring for an Internal/External Organizer
The BTU is seeking applicants for an Internal/External Organizer. To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@btu.org; position open until filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply ASAP.
EL Summer Job Postings
Summer EL job postings are live. Please see each posting for more information.
ILT Survey Reminder for Building Reps
Thanks to those building reps who have completed our survey on the current status of ILTs across BPS. We would like each school to complete this survey at least twice, at least once by a teacher who is an ILT member, andat least once by a teacher who is not on the ILT. It’s ok if more complete it. If you have questions, concerns or suggestions about this survey, please send a note or contact Paul Tritter.
Accelerated Community to Teacher (ACTT) Program: Deadline Extended to June 1
This program is a part of an overarching strategy to increase the diversity of exemplary educators in the district’s teacher pipeline. Apply now! Additionally, the Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant Program provides financial assistance to Massachusetts residents who are currently employed as paraprofessionals in Massachusetts public schools, but wish to become certified as full time teachers.
NEW- OpenSciEd Curriculum Adoption for Middle School!
It has been over 15 years since BPS Science has adopted and implemented high-quality standards-aligned middle school science instructional materials. We will be adopting and implementing OpenSciEd (OSE) units in the 6th, 7th, & 8th grade beginning in the fall of 2021. The adoption will take 2 years. There are two 4-day training sessions. Teachers new to OSE need to register for one session.
DATE CHANGE- George B. Cox Memorial Scholarship Awards: Deadline Extended to May 21, 5:00PM
The Black Educators’ Alliance of Massachusetts (BEAM) is pleased to announce the George B. Cox Memorial Scholarship Awards. Seven awards in the amount of $1,000 will be given to successful applicants. Application and instructions here.
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) Convention: August 5 – 8
The sixteenth biennial APALA Convention, Rooted in Legacy: Reimagining a New World Beyond Borders & Across Ocreans, will be hosted vitually from August 5-8, 2021. If you are interested in attending the APALA Convention and/or becoming an APALA member, please contact Matt Bouvier, mbouvier@btu.org.