Unafraid Educator Grant Lead (Stipended Position)
We are hiring three BTU members to be Grant Leads for this project. Upon completing the project, each Grant Lead will be paid a stipend of $1,795. Please apply here and reach out to unafraideducators@btu.org with questions.
BPS paraprofessionals are invited to a professional development series that consists of four courses. All sessions are offered as part of a joint BTU/BPS collaboration to provide professional development and professional growth opportunities for all BPS paraprofessionals. Learn more here and make sure to register before February 20.
Boston Oracy Project: February – June
Join the Boston Oracy Project to make your classroom a place where oral language thrives. This exciting in-person and self-guided cohort experience runs from February through June.
Restorative Justice Practices ALC Course: February 24 – June 15
Join educators from across the Boston Public Schools to deepen and expand our use of Restorative Justice practices! This course is facilitated by Jess Madden-Fuoco, Instructional Coach at the English High School. The course is a combination of 8 in-person sessions and online learning. The in-person sessions are on Mondays at English High School from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.: February 24, March 9, March 23, April 6, April 27, May 11, June 1, and June 15. Earn 4 ALCs or 48 PDPs – if you successfully demonstrate competency in course competencies. ALCs can be used toward a salary lane change for BTU and salary differentials for BASAS members. The cost of the course is $320 ($80/ALC). This course is designed to support the learning of those who are new to Restorative Justice practices and those who are experienced practitioners. For information and to sign up, visit leadwithlovelovetolead.com.
National Board Certification Deadline: February 28
The deadline to register for National Board Certification components is approaching February 28, 2020. Be sure to register soon for NBCT and sign up for at no cost drop in candidate support for both new and renewal candidates. Learn more about National Board Certification here. Register for candidate support here.
Pathway Programs: February 29
Applications for the winter/spring ESL, Severe Disabilities, and Moderate Disabilities Pathway Programs are now open. The programs will begin on February 29. The deadline for submission of applications is Wednesday, February 26, 2020. Program details and registration are available on TeachPoint. Questions, email pathwayprograms@bostonpublicschools.org or call (617) 635-9036.
Digital Well-Being Course: March 2 – April 27
How do you spot cyberbullying? Are students on phones too much? Does it seem like social media is listening to you sometimes? Join BPS’s Digital Well-Being course in March & learn effective digital citizenship strategies for schools/classrooms.”
Consortium Educator Learning Grants Deadline: March 6
The BU Wheelock Consortium Educator Learning Grants Program application is open. Completed applications are due March 6th. Educators can apply for grants of up to $5,000 for the 2020-2021 school year. Read more about the grant program on the BU Wheelock Consortium website and contact Theresa Garcia de Quevedo (tgarciadequevedo@bostonpublicschools.org) with questions.
Teacher Leadership Fund Deadline: April 1
We are excited to announce the call for proposals for year three of the Teacher Leadership Fund a feature of our contract which grants teams of educators up to $15,000 to create and share solutions which improve the learning and well-being of our most marginalized students. This year, we have two types of grants available: Action Grants will support teams interested in designing and implementing an intervention to address a challenge impacting marginalized students. Study Grants will support teams interested in learning more about the various dimensions of an identified challenge impacting marginalized students and developing an action plan based on that learning. For complete information about the program see here. Contact tlf@bostonpublicschools.org with questions. Writing supports are available. Applications due April 1st.
BTU Paraprofessionals & School-related Personnel Annual Conference: April 4
Save the date for the annual conference! Planned workshops include why building positive relationships matters, OSHA protections, survival tips for PSRPS and member benefits. Learn more here!
The Perrone-Sizer Institute for Creative Leadership (PSi) Application Deadline: April 27
The Perrone-Sizer Institute for Creative Leadership (PSi) is a one-year graduate certificate program for educators who want to build skills, capacity and confidence to lead innovative, equitable, democratic schools and organizations that prioritize student agency and community partnership. Participants can also pursue the MA Performance Assessment for Leaders and UMass credit if they choose. Learn more at www.artistryandscholarship.org/psi. Applications are now being accepted for the 2020-2021 PSi Cohort at fpls.in/ko5h-g.
Studying Genocide to Encourage Decolonizaton: August 2 – 7
This year’s Upstander Academy is based in Boston and promises to be a powerful and transformational 6-day experience for teachers interested in genocide. We will spend our first two days learning at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum on sacred tribal land and then come to Boston for the remainder of our week, where we will continue to focus on genocide against Indigenous peoples and post-genocide Rwanda. You can read about our hopeful outcomes, guiding principles, outstanding faculty, as well as program information here: https://upstanderproject.org/academy
Updates from the Telescope Network
What’s a Planning Group? A planning group is a hybrid professional learning experience. It starts with an in-person session where participants have a chance to share resources and make connections. It also includes monthly virtual check-in sessions. Participants are eligible to earn an academic ladder credit (ALC) if they create a portfolio of their work. Two groups are starting soon.
- Project Based Learning (PBL) Planning Group: Join colleagues on January 30 at Roxbury Innovation Center (Bruce Bolling Building 2nd floor) for a PBL teacher planning group. The topic for this group is, “How do we create authentic project-based learning (PBL) tasks that increase student engagement and ownership?” The first session will be facilitated by Katherine Petta (Burke High School) and Chris Madson (EMK Academy). Follow-up virtual sessions (via Zoom) also available. Best for Secondary Teachers (PBL novice to expert are welcome). (Flyer / RSVP)
- If you have ideas for other planning groups, contact us at telescope@bostonpublicschools.org.
Differentiation Edcamp: Save the Date: BTU and BPS will be hosting an Edcamp on Saturday February 29. The theme of this Edcamp is differentiation: “How do we differentiate instruction for diverse learning needs without wearing ourselves out?” (flyer/RSVP)
Learning Site @ McCormack Thank You: Thanks to all who joined us for our Learning Site in Neema Avashia’s Grade 8 Civics Class. One participant quote: “I was really impressed with this learning session. The piece before the observation was well planned and thought through, the observation was excellent, and the time spent w/ the teacher after lunch was so powerful. I think this is an extremely effective way to do PD. Thank you for having me.” Check out bostonpublicschools.org/telescope in the coming weeks for more Learning Site sessions.