AM Brew - December 6, 2021

Here's What's Brewing Today

Monday, December 6, 2021

Renaming Wilson High School

On December 7^th the DC Council will decide on a new name for Woodrow Wilson H.S. Please take a moment to contact Mayor Bowser, Chairman Mendelson, your ward council member and the four at-large council members to ask them to support renaming Wilson to Edna Burke Jackson HS. Learn more about Edna Burke Jackson, the first female Black teacher to be hired at Wilson following the ruling of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, here.

All are welcome to the WTU IMPACT meeting – December 7 at 4:30

We’ll be discussing the pros and cons of the Danielson and Marzano frameworks for teaching and the teacher observation process. Via Zoom. Meeting ID: 873 0146 8847; Passcode: 755793

WTU/Empower Ed Survey on Educator Morale and Retention

The WTU has joined with EmpowerEd to learn more about your hopes as well as the challenges that you are facing this year. I hope you’ll complete our joint “Educator Morale and Retention Survey” to help us understand whether or not you're considering leaving the teaching profession and what is driving your decision-making.

Thank you in advance for taking a few minutes to complete our short survey.

OSSE is offering LETRS training

LETRS, Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, a new science of reading training. ELA educators invited to participate include: instructional coaches, reading specialists, classroom teachers, special education teachers, English Learner (EL) teachers and instructional leaders. Applications are due December 16th. Please follow the link to this Google Folder to see the relevant information: 11.2021 LETRS Info Session

Report COVID Health & Safety Concerns

If there is a problem with COVID health and safety provisions, please report it to OSSE and the situation room

OSSE Online Complaint Form (dc.gov)

WTU/DCPS Situation Room: http://bit.ly/WTUSafeOpenings

Professional Development Hours on PeopleSoft

All teachers should have 8 hours of HO (Professional Development) listed on PeopleSoft. Contact your Field Representative if you have questions.

Dental and Vision Open Enrollment - CLOSING SOON

DC government has announced its open enrollment to run from 2022 for Monday, November 8 through Monday December 13, 2021. This is an annual opportunity to review your current benefits elections and make changes. This is also an opportunity for you to make any changes to your dental and vision benefits. Click here for details on your dental and vision coverage or if you have any questions regarding these benefits, contact Valerie Kilby at [email protected]. If you have questions regarding enrollment into the plans, contact DCPS benefits at [email protected].

AM Brew News and Notices will be archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.

Professional Development

Additional PD highlights are posted to the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog

Join the Flagway MATH League!

We launched the Flagway Math League on Monday, October 25 led by coordinator Raphael Bonhomme. Our next meeting is TODAY December 6 @ 5pm-once you register, you will receive a calendar invitation from our league coordinator.

"The goal of The Flagway™ Game is to create environments where students can practice and celebrate learning math. There are many different ways to create a cultural context in which mathematics emerges naturally from students’ experience. One method used by the YPP and the Algebra Project is to create mathematically rich games and experiences." Find more info about the game here: http://www.typp.org/flagway.

Strategies for Student Success (FREE!)

Instructor: Laurine Kennedy

Last Session in Series; TOMORROW December 7; 4:15-7:15pm

The following modules will be offered in this section: Dimensions to a Better Life; Navigating the Journey Between Stress and SEL, Electrifying Online Learning, The Game Factor. Participants will receive 4 PLU’s for each session. RSVP HERE: https://www.wtulocal6.net/fall_2021_strategies_for_student_success

WTU Tech Tuesdays Are Back!!!

Next session is Tuesday 12/14 @ 5:30-6:30pm, with PD Instructor Tameshia Henry for a session on Zoom. Register HERE.

Upcoming Events

C.O.P.E., Monday, Dec 6 at 5pm

Join VIA Zoom. Meeting ID: 828 4392 2846 Passcode: 462246

Council Hearing -- Register to Testify about teacher and principal turnover in DC. Thur. Dec 16th, 1 pm

Sign-up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHNnzH4QfA3KGISnwl7vDoAlVXlMDX3zsG81hjraEbnl2Wwg/viewform

Partner events and other upcoming events of interest are also posted to the AMBrew Blog.

Reminders:

Report unsafe conditions at http://bit.ly/WTUSafeOpenings

As part of the MOA, the WTU and DCPS teams will meet weekly to review and find solutions to any violations of the #ReopenStrong: School Building Readiness Checklist. If you see something out of compliance, please report it at http://bit.ly/WTUSafeOpenings. As you click on an area of the form, a drop-down box will appear to allow you to enter comments. Or simply complete the text box at the end of the form. All reports will remain confidential and no identifying information will be provided to DCPS.

IMPACT

Thank you to everyone who completed the IMPACT survey. The WTU is working with the AFT to create a teacher development and evaluation system that is fair to teachers and good for students. We are looking for members who would like to be part of a team that is writing the strands for Teacher Observation, Student Performance and Professional Growth. If you would like to help with this effort, please email Regina Bell at [email protected]

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.

We’re continuing to update our database.

Please help us ensure we have your current personal contact information on file. Email [email protected] to provide us with updated information.

Be sure to follow the WTU on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to keep up on the latest from your Union.

Do you like this post?