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Here's What's Brewing Today
Monday, January 23, 2023
Wishing you a good year, good health and good memories for the new year!
Last month the WTU membership overwhelming voted to ratify a new contract. We continue to monitor the progress of the contract through the ratification process and wait for the Mayor to forward the contract to the Council for approval. The mayor has 60 days to put the contract before the city council and the council has another 30 days to vote on the contract. While the process is not moving as quickly as we’d like, it is moving according to the legal timelines.
We have every confidence contract will be approved and we expect to you to see pay increases within 30 days after the contract is approved by the council. We will share any new information as it becomes available.
US Secretary of Education Visits DC School Awarded Grant
Teacher Certification and Licensing
DCPS is the hiring agency. OSSE is the licensing agency. Please check to ensure your license is up to date and if it is expiring. Contact your Field Representative if you have any questions about your license or license renewal.
WTU Surveys
Please complete this survey if you teach students in k-2.
Please complete this form if you are having problems with pay, FMLA or insurance.
Please complete this form to report facility concerns
AM Brew News and Notices are archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.
Upcoming events
In addition to the events listed below, we encourage you to check out the WTU Members –Only Calendar where you can find a condensed list of upcoming WTU events.
Grading Committee Meeting - Monday January 23, @ 3:45
Via Zoom
Passcode: 188537
Legislative Committee Meeting - Tuesday Jan 24th @ 4:30
Via Zoom
Passcode: 727284
Brainstorming / Planning for next CBA - Wednesday Jan 25th @ 4:30
Via Zoom
Passcode: 857684
ULI (Union Leadership Institute)
Join via Zoom (Same link both days)
Friday, Jan 27 @ 4:30-7:00
Tentative Agenda
LSAT Review
SBMT – Student Behavior Management Team
Safety and Investigation Presentation by former DCPS Investigator
IMPACT
Saturday, Jan 28 @ 8:30-1:30
Tentative Agenda
New WTU Contract – Committees within the new contract
Morning Block
Building Elections
Certification and Professional Development
Retirement Workshop - Monday, Jan 30 @ 5pm
Via Zoom
Meeting ID: 939 669 4583
Passcode: 148566
Communications Meeting - Tuesday, Jan 31st @ 4:30
Passcode: 412550
Save the Date - Shared Vision March 25th
#RedforEd
Please wear red each Friday and post photos to social media. Please tag us @WTUTeacher
Professional Development
Science of Reading – New Course for DC Educators (reminder)
TNTP in partnership with the OSSE has developed a 25-hour asynchronous course to support the development of pre-K through grade 3 educators. This course, designed by educators for educators, offers an equity lens when looking at the science of teaching reading, and outlines the principles of the science of reading and how these principles can be applied in the classroom. In addition to making research around reading acquisition immediately applicable, the course also includes instructional tips educators can use within early literacy instruction to ensure the success of ALL students. School leaders, there is support for you, too. This course will enhance your capacity to support literacy instruction.
Apply to participate in the course here by Friday, Jan. 27. Learn more about this opportunity by viewing the informational flyers here.
For questions, please contact Demetria Clark at [email protected].
Science of Reading Network for Instructional Leadership Teams at DC Schools (reminder)
In conjunction with the Science of Reading course above, OSSE is pleased to announce a new support opportunity for instructional leadership teams. To realize the potential of the course content and create a lasting impact, TNTP will partner with OSSE to select schools to receive a suite of individual and collaborative supports for school leaders on the Science of Reading. The support will include building leader and educator knowledge to diagnose the current instructional practices aligned with the Science of Reading, unearth the systems and policies that are contributing to the current state and plan to refine academic strategies (vision and feedback, curriculum, assessment, intervention, etc.) in support of instructional practices aligned to the Science of Reading. Leaders receiving implementation support will have the opportunity to participate in network convenings and individual walkthroughs and strategy meetings with TNTP, in addition to taking the asynchronous course alongside a portion of their teachers.
Apply for implementation support here by Friday, Jan. 27. Learn more about this opportunity by viewing the informational flyers here.
For more information, please contact Demetria Clark at [email protected].
Teacher Wellness, Emotional Health and Self Care
OSSE is pleased to announce a new professional learning for teachers and school staff who need an emotional charge. This session is designed to offer proven strategies to help alleviate stress and anxiety, mental burnout, compassion fatigue and to preserve emotional health for the long haul. Participants will reflect on the ways in which personal triggers, pain points and conflict resolution impact instructional practices. Instructional coaches, classroom teachers and specialists are strongly encouraged to participate.
Audience: Grade K-12 teachers, instructional coaches, program specialists and teacher leaders.
This training will take place virtually on Monday, Jan. 23, from 4–6 p.m. Register here.
Participants will receive two PLUs for full participation. For questions, please contact Marcus Hughes at [email protected].
Dyslexia Awareness Module
OSSE is pleased to announce a new three-part dyslexia awareness module that will focus on the characteristics and identification of dyslexia; understanding and recognizing reading difficulties; and implementation of instruction that is systemic, cumulative, explicit, diagnostic, multi-sensory and evidence-based to meet the educational needs of students with reading difficulties as required by DC Code §§ 38-2581.02 and 38-2581.03.
This interactive course is ideal for all educators serving kindergarten through grade 12 who lead and support literacy instruction and language development.
By the end of this course, participants will:
- Learn how to define dyslexia and reading difficulties.
- Gain awareness about characteristics and indicators of dyslexia and reading difficulties.
- Learn the importance of universal screening tools.
- Learn the components of Structured Literacy and evidence-based practices for supporting students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties.
Participants can earn up to 16 professional learning units (PLUs) for completion of all three modules. Please register here. For questions, please contact Charmelle Smith, dyslexia specialist, at [email protected].
WIDA Self-Paced Workshops
WIDA offers free virtual Professional Learning for all educators that can be completed at your own pace. Take advantage of interactive learning and enjoy relevant, practical content you can put into action immediately. These eight on-demand eWorkshops will be available through Aug. 31:
- Home Languages in the Classroom
- Engaging Multilingual Learners in Science: Making Sense of Phenomena
- Classroom Teachers: Engaging Multilingual Newcomers
- Developing Language for Learning in Mathematics
- Social Studies: Engaging Multilingual Learners through Inquiry
- The WIDA ELD Standards Framework: A Collaborative Approach
- Making Language Visible in the Classroom: Explore the Key Language Uses
- Reframing Education for Long-term English Learners (LTELs)
To start, log in to your WIDA Secure Portal account and click on the “Professional Learning” icon. For support or to set up a new account contact the WIDA Client Services Center at [email protected] or 1-866-276-7735.
More from OSSE:
New Community Service Graduation Requirement
For the past three years, to accommodate for the impacts of the pandemic, DC Council has waived the requirement that high school students complete 100 hours of community service to graduate. This year, OSSE is promulgating regulations to stagger the reimposition of the community service requirement over four years. In addition, the regulation will permanently reduce the hours requirement for transfer students new to the District. Find a complete summary of the changes to the graduation requirements here.
For students graduating in the 2022-23 school year, the key requirements are:
- Students must have 12 hours of community service to graduate
- Graduating seniors who transferred into a District public or public charter school from a non-DCPS or DC public charter school this year are exempted from the 12-hour graduation requirement
For questions, please reach out to Andrew Gall at [email protected].
OSSE Looking for Feedback on Newly Revised Social Studies Standards by Jan. 30, 2023
A robust social studies curriculum is an essential component of increasing student agency and literacy, empowering students to combat misinformation, and the key to creating inclusive school spaces.
OSSE is seeking public comment on the draft of the revised Social Studies State Standards. On Dec. 16, 2022, OSSE published the revised draft of Social Studies Standards, and is accepting public comment on the draft up through Monday, Jan. 30.
View the revised standards here. For more information about the standards revision process and timeline, and to provide comments and input on the new standards draft, please visit the OSSE Social Studies website. For questions, please contact the OSSE Division of Teaching and Learning at [email protected].
Dyslexia Approved Screener List and Universal Screener Guidance
The OSSE Dyslexia DC landing page offers an overview of DC Law 23-191. Addressing Dyslexia and Other Reading Difficulties Amendment Act of 2020. You can now find the most recently published 2022-23 School Year Approved Kindergarten - 2nd Grade Universal Screeners and the Universal Literacy Screener Guidance on the dyslexia landing page.
For questions, please contact Dyslexia Specialist Charmelle Smith at [email protected].
Strengthening School Behavioral Health Survey 2023 (reminder)
The annual Strengthening School Behavioral Health Survey is approaching. The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) has partnered with Child Trends, a nonprofit research organization, to learn about school behavioral health (SBH) services and supports at all public and public charter schools in DC. From Feb. 1 through March 31, schools will be asked to administer brief, online surveys of students, parents and school staff about their perceptions of school behavioral health services.
Each participating school that achieves at least 10 responses on at least one of the three surveys will receive a data report from Child Trends. Last year, more than 100 schools received a tailored data report. Schools will receive survey links mid-January 2023. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to Dr. Brandon Stratford at [email protected].
Opportunity: Receive Praxis Fee Voucher for Select Subject Area Exams
OSSE is pleased to announce that individuals seeking an initial or standard credential in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or Special Education, may receive a Praxis Fee Voucher to cover the cost of the Praxis II subject area content exam. To qualify, all teachers must be currently employed by a DC LEA. Please see below for full instructions and requirements:
Apply for a Praxis Fee Voucher by completing the OSSE Praxis Voucher Application
Ensure that all fields are accurately completed to match your current employee status
Within your application, you must indicate your current subject area as either:
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary Education
- Special Education
Once you have submitted your application, it will be reviewed to ensure accuracy within 10 business days of completion.
Upon approval of your application, you will receive an email to the address listed in your application, containing a unique Praxis Exam Voucher Code. Note that this is a unique code that can only be used once; individuals should not share or distribute this code.
Once you have received your passing exam scores, submit or update your OSSE application for an OSSE teaching credential within 30 calendar days.
For additional questions regarding this opportunity, please email [email protected].
Opportunity for high school students with the US Holocaust Memorial Museum
Bringing the Lessons Home: Holocaust Education for the Community (BTLH)
Through a 14-week course, DC-area youth are introduced to Holocaust history and are trained to become Ambassadors for the Museum. Through BTLH, we have developed long-term partnerships with more than 125 high schools, enabling over 900 students to complete internships at the Museum and serve as docents for their peers.
Applications are open for our 2023 BTLH program. Please share this opportunity with your peers and children: Bringing the Lessons Home Online Application
Trainees in the BTLH program will:
- Study the Holocaust in Saturday classes
- Learn to serve as tour guides for the Museum’s Permanent Exhibition
- Earn up to 50 hours of community service
- Become eligible to participate in the Stephen Tyrone Johns Summer Youth Leadership Program
We count on our local community members and organizations to recommend students to apply to become BTLH ambassadors and help us inspire future generations of leaders. We have extended the application deadline. The new date for completion and submission of applications is Wednesday, February 8th, 2023.
Additional BTLH Program Information: Bringing the Lessons Home: 20th Anniversary Video
If you have questions, please get in touch with Program Coordinators Jamil Miller at (202) 230-6107 or [email protected] and Jolomi Mode at (202) 230-6448 or [email protected].
Reminders:
Open Positions
Looking for a new position? Check out the November listings of instructional and non-instructional vacancies posted here: https://www.wtulocal6.net/open_positions
We’re continuing to update our database.
Please help us ensure we have your current personal contact information on file. Email [email protected] to update your contact information.
Be sure to follow the WTU on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to keep up on the latest from your Union.