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Here's What's Brewing Today
Monday, January 10, 2022
I hope you were able to read my full message last night about the return to school this week. I know that many of you are nervous about the surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by the spread of the Omicron variant. We continue to fight DCPS to turn “what to do if” concerns into policies that you can count on. I invite you to read more about the concessions we’ve obtained from DCPS – including being one of the few jurisdictions that implemented a “test to return” policy for students and staff, a key demand of Chicago Teachers that they have failed to achieve (read more here) – and our on-going efforts to improve notifications and contact tracing, ensure more students are tested weekly, and ensure our schools are prepared should they have to switch to remote instruction. Again, read the full message here.
We’re working to hold DCPS accountable for their COVID-19 promises and to learn more about the return to school after the Winter Holiday.
Please complete our short survey by clicking here.
Representative Assembly Meeting
Please join us for the January 2022 Representative Assembly Meeting on Tuesday, Jan 11 at 4:30 PM. All members are invited to attend. Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 939 669 4583; Passcode: 148566
Meeting to discuss exemptions to vaccine requirement
On Thursday, Jan 13 at 5PM, President Pogue Lyons will meet with WTU members who have been denied exemptions to the vaccine mandate. To register for this conversation, please complete this form.
Memorandums of Agreement
We’ve received requests for the August 2021 and November 2021 Memorandums of Agreement. They are available via the links below and we’ll be updating the WTU website to make them more prominent.
As part of the WTU’s agreements with DCPS, DCPS is required to publish monthly reports on the air-quality of DCPS buildings. The November Air Quality Report is available here.
Additionally, the WTU has received requests to republish the results from three recent surveys:
Update on IMPACT
The IMPACT writing team will start to draft a new teacher development and evaluation framework. The draft of the framework will be reviewed by the IMPACT committee. If you’d like more information contact Regina Bell at [email protected].
REMINDER: Please report any COVID related problems to the Situation Room and OSSE
OSSE Online Complaint Form (dc.gov)
Situation Room: http://bit.ly/WTUSafeOpenings
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
Upcoming Certification Deadline???
Many educators received an extension to March 2022 to submit recertification materials. Please begin the process now. Attached is an infographic that can help guide you.
Also, there is an upcoming tech support session on 1/19.
WTU Educators’ Guide to Best Practices in Socially Distant Teaching
Please take 5 minutes to provide suggestions and resources HERE to be added to a WTU guide for what really works pedagogically in a socially distant classroom.
WTU Professional Learning - SPRING 2022 Course Offerings
Sign up now for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual fall professional development with the WTU including these classes which start this month ($125 early bird registration fee through 1/12/21; 1 FREE class for new WTU members):
English Language Learners 101 (Started 1/8)
BRAND NEW: Reclaiming Assessments: Using a Balanced Classroom Assessment System to Strengthen Student Learning (starts 1/15)
Thinking Mathematics, Grades K-2 (starts 1/15)
FREE WTU Workshops starting this month:
10 Trauma-Informed Strategies to Help Students Heal (starts 1/15)
Conversational Spanish (starts 1/19)
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (2 Part Series: 1/25 and 2/12)
Dimensions of Wellness (1/22)
Flagway Math League (continues TODAY 1/10)
IMPACT PD Workshop (2 Part Series: 1/29 and ⅗)
Strategies for Student Success (starts 1/15)
Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.
Upcoming Events
Mon, Jan 10, 2022 at 7:00 PM- Ward 3 Education Network.
Ward 3 Education Network (W3EdNet) is meeting on Monday, January 10 at 7pm via Zoom. The W3EdNet will be hosting At-Large Council Member Christina Henderson, who will share her vision for education in the city and take questions. Register in advance for this meeting here.
Tues, Jan 11 at 4:30 PM – Representative Assembly Meeting
Please join us for the January 2022 Representative Assembly Meeting. All members are invited to attend. Join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 939 669 4583; Passcode: 148566
Thurs, Jan 13 at 5:00 PM - Meeting to discuss exemptions to vaccine requirement
On Thursday at 5PM, President Pogue Lyons will meet with WTU members who have been denied exemptions to the vaccine mandate. To register for this conversation, please complete this form.
Thurs, Jan 20, 2022 – Hearing on Proposed School Budget Formula
DCPS is planning to unveil new school level budgets for FY2023. Chairman Mendelson has scheduled a hearing on his proposed legislation on school budgets for January 20th. There is a limit of 50 witnesses. Read more and Sign-Up to Speak here.
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.
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