TONIGHT- Haitian Educators Committee Meeting: June 16, 4:30PM
The last Haitian Educators Meeting of this school year will take place tonight. The meeting will give everyone an opportunity to reflect on our work over this past year and how we are going to move forward. In addition, it will be a safe space for discussing the murder of George Floyd and its impact on our community. Please RSVP to Bianca Pierre.
TONIGHT- Virtual Student Debt Clinic: June 16, 4:30PM
Register for the clinic ASAP.
AFT-MA Nurses Discussion Group: June 18, 4:30PM
The first online discussion of this new group will focus on how to safely reopen our schools. The group will meet throughout the summer and be led by BTU nurse Jonathan Haines.
Intent to Retire Fair at BTU: June 20 – June 27
The Retirement Board staff will be present at the Union Hall to file your intent to retire (ITR) package. See here for more info and link to scheduling.
NEW- AFT’s Summer Benefit
The AFT’s Summer benefit allows members to enroll for free in Summer’s web-based student loan management platform. It helps our members enroll in and manage the paperwork for income-driven repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, find other debt relief programs, and tailor student loan repayment options to their individual needs. If you are interested in receiving an invitation to Summer, please fill out this brief contact form.
NEW- Apply to be a Summer Organizing Union Leader!
The BTU seeks up to 15 Summer Organizing Union Leaders (SOULs) to take virtual/remote action this summer in engaging members and defending education funding. SOULs receive training and coaching in effective organizing practices, including how to build community, share stories, and escalate a campaign. Hours are flexible and SOULs are compensated $20/hour for their work. Learn more and apply now!
NEW- Virtual Summer Organizing Institute: June 29 – June 30
This year’s Summer Organizing Institute will be virtual! Join for one session, two, or all three. Open to all members. First 200 members to register will receive a free book and t-shirt in the mail! Learn more and register today.
NEW- Students Help Students
Students Help Students is a newly formed tutoring organization dedicated to providing fun enrichment classes for middle schoolers this summer. Their goal is to reach out to students and schools all across Boston in order to provide support and opportunities to any middle-schooler who needs it, regardless of their economic background or neighborhood.
SEL & Welcoming Communities Paraprofessional Professional Development: September 8 & 9
Join this professional development session to build your understanding of the SEL Competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social-Awareness, Relationship Skills and Decision Making and to learn strategies and skills to deepen relationships with students.
NEW- Unafraid Educators’ Relief Fund for Boston Students & Families
The Unafraid Educators Committee is partnering with Boston Educator’s Justice Alliance (BEJA) to establish a Relief Fund for Boston Students & Families. Please donate and share with your networks. All BPS students and families are eligible to apply. Immigrants are welcome to apply, regardless of legal status. Students and families may complete the application for themselves or with the support of a school staff member or student advocate.
NEW- The Status of Teacher Leadership in Boston Public Schools
The Teacher Leadership Working Group, a 23-member team of teacher leaders, school administrators and central office personnel is proud to release our report 2020 Teacher Leadership Inventory: The Status of Teacher Leadership in Boston Public Schools. We invite you to read the report and recommendations and to share your feedback.
Educator Supports Program
The Educator Supports Program (ESP) is available to support teachers who are having difficulty with their evaluation, and a newly updated website can provide more details. If you have been rated less than Proficient, this joint BTU/BPS program can provide important supports for you.
Take the Teacher Climate Survey Today!
The Teacher Climate Survey is now open. It is completely anonymous and designed to learn more about teachers’ perceptions of the remote learning environment.
Telescope Network: What do you need to learn next?
We last asked about what educators need to learn back in March, when we were all remote-learning novices. What do you and your colleagues need now. We’ll also be raffling off $25 Amazon gift cards for people who complete the survey. We’ll use your responses to help us plan for PD in the summer, fall, and beyond. Take a minute to complete our June survey and share it with your colleagues.
Trivial Pursuits: June 16, 8:00PM
So far, we’ve had 200+ teachers from 44 different BPS schools drop in and join our weekly Tele-Trivia game. If you’d like to play, visit this link for more info.