Here's What's Brewing Today

May 24, 2021

ICYMI: DC Educator Wellness Center

In partnership with EVERFI, a social impact educational technology company, the WTU is pleased to share with you the DC Educator Wellness Center. The funding for the DC Educator Wellness Center is provided by Johnson & Johnson. In the DC Educator Wellness Center you will find access to a prevention-forward, self-guided, digital microlearning experience designed to provide you with on-demand content related to mental health. The growing list of topics includes Mental Health Basics, Managing Mental Health Challenges, Developing Resilience, Supporting Loved Ones With Mental Health Challenges, and Mindful Living. You can read more here.

Budget Advocacy!  Support our Students!

‘Read-In’ to Save School Libraries, June 2, 4-5pm

Join DC Public School Librarians, Family and Friends to Save School Libraries and Librarians

Join us as we kick off School Budget Week, prioritizing literacy and working to prevent staff cuts across our schools. Receive free books, prizes, treats and learn how you can support our students. Watch your email for more information on how you can get involved!

Sign-up to Testify on the FY2022 School Budgets

The Committee of the Whole will be holding an Oversight Hearing on the School Year 2021-2022 budgets on June 3, 2021 at 9am. Sign-up to testify: www.ChairmanMendelson.com/testify

Council’s Special Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery will hold a hearing on May 26 focused on what the District’s public education system should look like coming out of the PHE. Email Malcolm Cameron at [email protected] before 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 24, 2021 to sign-up to speak.

We Need Your Input

School Year 2021-22 Budgets. Let us know if your School Year 2021-2022 Budget has been cut and what positions are being eliminated. Click here to take our short survey.

Educators - Report your Certification and Recertification Concerns. Click here to let us know about your troubles obtaining your teaching credentials.

Class Coverage Survey. Are you being pulled from your regular duties? Click here to take our quick survey.

SICK LEAVE & MATERNITY LEAVE BANKS.

Click below to read more news and updates.

Which Internet Program is Right for your Students?

iDC Institute 2021 is a knowledge sharing conference on best practices for integrating technology.  DCPS is gathering educators and staff from around the District to collaborate, network, and learn together.  Join us for a virtual conference where you can connect, experience, and create!

Register Here: bit.ly/thriDC21

Sign up to Present: bit.ly/pstiDC

Participants will receive 7 PLUs for attending the full day. 

In partnership with EVERFI, a social impact educational technology company, the WTU is pleased to announce the launch of the DC Educator Wellness Center. The funding for the DC Educator Wellness Center is provided by Johnson & Johnson.

In the DC Educator Wellness Center DC Educators will find access to a prevention-forward, self-guided, digital microlearning experience designed to provide you with on-demand content related to mental health. The growing list of topics includes Mental Health Basics, Managing Mental Health Challenges, Developing Resilience, Supporting Loved Ones With Mental Health Challenges, and Mindful Living.

Check out these great professional development opportunities and REGISTER NOW.

Summer Professional Learning!!!

Register TODAY for these exciting, engaging and informative summer professional development courses and workshops HERE. Early Bird Discount Expires 5/21!

2021 WTU Teacher Leader Symposium

Thank you so much to those who were able to attend the 2021 WTU Teacher Leader Symposium...the presence, engagement, and questions from the audience are such key elements of this event's success. We are so proud of the immense dedication of our elite group of SY2020-21 teacher leaders. We hope you enjoyed the symposium and that it was thought-provoking and inspiring for you as well. Teacher leaders and their research papers are available at https://www.wtulocal6.net/2021_teacher_leaders

Part 1 Recording; Access Passcode: 5L$#=Zi2

Part 2 Recording; Access Passcode: f%MpT5%n

Part 3 Recording; Access Passcode: 9J@Za9dM

Click to read more...

The Gun Violence Memorial Project, a moving tribute to the many lives taken by gun violence, is now open to the public at The National Building Museum in Washington D.C through September 25, 2022.  

Local survivors are invited to contribute your loved one’s objects to be a part of this meaningful memorial. Objects can be delivered to the Building Museum (401 F St NW, Washington, DC 20001), Saturday, June 5th 11am-4pm (RSVP here) and Sunday, June 6th 11am-4pm (RSVP here). 

What to bring: Selecting an object is a deeply personal choice. Please take your time in selecting a remembrance object. Because of the public nature of the exhibit, the physical constraints in brick size, and the commitment to generating productive and healing dialogue, remembrance objects will only be accepted if they meet the specified criteria. Click here for the criteria and instructions.

There will be three additional collection events over the course of the next year, so this isn't the only option - but we are certainly excited to resume collection after more than a year's delay!

Please share this with your network - this is for anyone to contribute to. 

If you have any questions. Or would like to discuss selecting a remembrance object, please do not hesitate to reach out to Pastor Jackie Jackson at [email protected]

Reopening Schools.

Last week, AFT President Randi Weingarten discussed her commitment to reopening the nation's classrooms in the fall. Click here to watch her speech. Read more from the New York Times.

The WTU is working to develop our list of priorities for a safe reopening. To learn more, please contact WTU's Legislative Committee Chair, Regina Bell at [email protected].

Speak Out – Sign-up to Testify on the FY2022 School Budgets

The Committee of the Whole will be holding an Oversight Hearing on the School Year 2021-2022 budgets on June 3, 2021 at 9am. Sign-up to testify: www.ChairmanMendelson.com/testify  

Council’s Special Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery. On May 26, the Special Committee will hold a joint hearing focused on what the District’s public education system should look like coming out of the PHE. Sign-up to testify by emailing Malcolm Cameron at [email protected] before 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 24, 2021.

We Need Your Input

School Year 2021-22 Budgets. Let us know if your School Year 2021-2022 Budget has been cut and what positions are being eliminated. Click here to take our short survey.

Educators - Report your Certification and Recertification Concerns. Click here to let us know about your troubles obtaining your teaching credentials.

Class Coverage Survey – Are you being pulled from your regular duties? Click here to take our quick survey.

AM Brew News and Notices will be archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew. Please bookmark the site and check back for regular news and notices as well as to find items from past editions of the AM Brew.

2021 WTU TEACHER LEADER PROGRAM SYMPOSIUM

The 2021 Teacher Leaders have looked at a number of critical issues that will impact you. Please join us to learn more about their research.

Learn more about the 2021 Teacher Leaders Program Symposium and Register Here.

WTU 2021 Trainer Search

The WTU/AFT Educational Research and Dissemination (ER&D) Program represents one of the union’s major efforts to improve student achievement by making a difference in practitioners’ performance and professional growth. The WTU ER&D Program is unique because it provides solid, research-based content and is created and delivered by classroom teachers and school personnel. The WTU ER&D Program validates existing practice while encouraging professional growth and building a sense of pride in the quality of union service. Training will be held July 2021 in the Summer Educator Academy (SEA) organized by the American Federation of Teachers, our parent union. You may apply HERE by May 17, 2021.

Join Moms Demand Action to end violence in our communities.

Tue, June 1, 2021

12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Learn more -- full schedule, virtual and in-person options, zoom link, and more!

Click here: https://endgunviolencedc.eventbrite.com 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

• May 11, Tuesday @ 4:30pm – May Representative Assembly Meeting
• May 13, Thursday @ 5:00pm – WTU Teacher Leader Symposium
• May 15, Saturday @ 10:00am – WTU Teacher Leader Symposium
• May 18, Tuesday @ 5:00pm – WTU Teacher Leader Symposium
• May 18, Tuesday @ 4:30pm – WTU Legislative Committee. 
• May 20, Thursday @ 5:00pm – WTU Organizing Committee. 
• May 24, Monday @ 5:00pm – COPE Budget Advocacy Training. 
• May 25, Tuesday @ 4:30pm – WTU Communications Committee. 
• June 3, Thursday @ 4:30pm – Building Reps. Monthly Meeting with the President. 
• June 5, Saturday @ 10:00am – WTU Executive Board Meeting. 
• June 7, Monday @ 5:00pm – WTU C.O.P.E. 
• June 8, Tuesday @ 4:30pm – June Representative Assembly. 

*Check the Weekly AM Brew for log-in information for all events.

Check out these upcoming professional learning opportunities.

2021 WTU Teacher Leader Program Symposium

The 2021 Teacher Leaders have looked at a number of critical issues that will impact you. Please join us to learn more about their research.

Learn more about the 2021 Teacher Leaders Program Symposium and Register Here.

WTU Professional Learning - Summer 2021 Course Offerings

Click here for Summer 2021 course descriptions and registration links.

WTU Wellness Series with Kaiser Permanente

Register here.

Ignite My Future in School Virtual TECHademy.

Tata Consultancy Services has partnered with Discovery Education to host a 2.5-hour immersive virtual Professional Learning session that focuses on engaging students in real world problem solving by leveraging computational thinking. You will receive a Digital Swag Bag with: GooseChase EDU, Breakout EDU Digital access, PearDeck Premium and an official Certificate of Participation upon completion of the TECHademy.

Register HERE

WTU National Board Certification Support Classes- May 11, Tuesday, at 5-6 pm

It's exciting that DCPS is finally with the WTU in proclaiming that it is imperative to sustain a teaching workforce defined by accomplished practice through National Board Certification. Our WTU members can develop their instructional practice by becoming NBCT candidates, and after 10 years of advocating for this, DCPS will now pay all component and renewal fees for up to $2,000.

REGISTER HERE

WTU Tech Tool Tuesdays

Register HERE for future PD workshops in this series.

Upcoming Opportunities from the National Math Alliance

Equity Inclusion and Anti-blackness in Mathematics Education - A conversation with Danny Martin - Wednesday, May 12th, 4-5pm EDT. This will be a talk, a discussion with Earl Center staff, and a public conversation.

Register for Zoom room here or via the QR button on the flier:

https://bostonu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUkdeipqD0oHtcfDcv81zaZcdfoef-MBqEa

Read the article here (or QR button below):

https://www.academia.edu/38975519/Equity_inclusion_and_antiblackness_in_mathematics_education

Structures for Success: Supporting, Developing and Retaining Black Male Educators. Free webinar 5/19/21, 6-8pm ET. 

Event info and FREE event registration.

MSRI online Workshop on Mathematics and Racial Justice - June 9-11 & June 16-18, 2021 - Sessions will explore the role that mathematics plays in today’s movement for racial justice.