Here's What's Brewing Today

Monday, March 14, 2022

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2022 Shared Vision Conference!

ELECTION NEWS

The Washington Teachers’ Union will soon be conducting internal elections for several positions in accordance with the WTU Constitution and By-Laws.

Click here to view the election notice and obtain nominating petitions.

Sick & Maternity Leave Banks

ICYMI - DCPS failed to withdraw and allocated leave donated to the Sick and Maternity Leave Banks over the past two years. Adjustments were made to your leave balances, a benefit the WTU has negotiated to help members during an illness or having a baby, in your last paycheck. We will continue to monitor the situation and work to ensure that leave was properly deducted. We will update you as the WTU receives further information from DCPS. If you have any questions, please contact your field representative.

COVID CORNER

Starting Wednesday, March 16 -- and consistent with the latest health guidance and the current low levels in DC -- masks will be optional for students, staff, and visitors in DC Public Schools, DCPS offices, and on OSSE-DOT transportation.

The WTU is continuing to push DCPS to:

• Increase the vaccination rate of all students;
• Continue tracking school and community transmission rates and be ready to pivot back to masks if cases go up especially where vaccination rates are low in accordance with the CDC’s latest guidelines.
• Put protocols in place to ensure students are not shamed for wearing or not wearing masks.

The city also remains obligated to continue to adhere to the protocols and procedures outlined in our MOAs, including COVID testing, monitoring HVAC systems in schools, cleaning protocols, and timely reporting of cases in school communities. We will ensure they meet their obligations to you and our students.

We encourage you to contact your Field Representatives if you have any questions.

Report COVID- related issues

Please continue to report COVID related issues to the situation room - http://bit.ly/WTUSafeOpenings
And any testing or reporting issues to OSSE (OSSE Online Complaint Form (dc.gov).

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

WTU Professional Learning - SPRING 2022 Course Offerings

Sign up now HERE for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual spring professional development with the WTU including these upcoming classes (1 FREE class for new WTU members):

• Reclaiming Assessments (new start date: starts 3/19)
• Successfully Integrating the Arts (starts 3/19)

Free WTU PD Workshop:

• Flagway Math League (next session TODAY 3/14)
• Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.

Donors Choose Information Session (April 4 @ 6:30-7:30pm via Zoom)

Register HERE to attend a Donors Choose Information Session with Donors Choose Ambassador & DCPS Teacher Claire Battle who has gotten 87 projects funded!!!

Ignite My Future Spring Global Innovations Project

This spring our Global Innovations Project will focus on Green Infrastructure using the Ignite My Future lesson Resilient Cities as a basis for the project. Students will use computational thinking to design solutions to enhance their communities leveraging green infrastructure. Please reach out if you have any questions. More details and info session meeting links will be shared with teachers that register for the project.

• (Optional) Info session - March 16^th
• Kickoff Meeting for Teachers- March 22^nd
• If you're interested in joining us for this project please register 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.

WTU Memorandums of Agreement with DCPS.

MOA from August 2021

MOA from November 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.

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.