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Here's What's Brewing Today
Monday, November 15, 2021
ICYMI: The Washington Teachers' Union was hopeful that by now we would have been close to a final agreement with DCPS on language regarding the impact and effects of the Mayor’s vaccine mandate on teachers. Unfortunately, we are still at odds over the final wording on testing. We want to make sure that all teachers, including those already vaccinated, have access to COVID-19 testing. Although the overall number of COVID-19 cases is decreasing, there may be a surge with the approach of the holiday and winter season. Including all teachers in testing ensures that we are doing everything possible to keep students, teachers and staff safe. Please make sure to go to Peoplesoft and declare your vaccination status.
DCPS will have the Office Depot cards prepared and ready for distribution to all teachers this week. We did ask, but DCPS is not able to reimburse teachers for purchases already made.
A DCPS Teacher Who Helped Create RCTs Speaks Outs
IMPACT
WTU Testing Survey
The WTU has received numerous complaints from teachers regarding the number of tests that they have been required to administer since the start of the school year. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey on excessive testing to give us an idea of how many tests you are required to administer, the duration, and your thoughts about the impact on student learning.
Click here to take the survey.
Pay for coverage
If you are required to substitute for an absent teacher, you may be entitled to additional compensation in the form of administrative premium:
If you lose your planning period due to providing coverage for another teacher, you must be compensated
If you lose your planning period because a special subject teacher is absent, you must be compensated
For elementary teachers: if you are required to accept additional students in your class because of another teacher's absence, and those additional students place your class size over the contractual class size limit, you must be compensated for each day of coverage
Any additional compensation owed to you must be paid on a biweekly basis. Contact your business manager or your WTU Field Services Specialist if you need the DCPS Administrative Premium Pay Authorization Form.
Advocate for Community Schools!
Please take the following actions this week to advocate for community schools:
- Complete this AFT action alert and share with your networks to encourage others to complete it.
- Sign on to our letter to the Hill: Review letter attached and sign on here.
Dental and Vision Open Enrollment
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
Strategies for Student Success (FREE!)
Instructor: Laurine Kennedy
Tuesdays: November 16, 23 and 30; 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 11/16 @ 5:30-6:30pm, coordinator Sarah Elwell for a session on Integrating Discovery Education Resources.
Register HERE.
Upcoming Events
IMPACT Meeting - Mon, Nov 15 at 4:30PM
Join IMPACT Zoom Meeting. Meeting ID: 825 8557 4894; Passcode: 711334 If you have further questions, please email Regina Bell at [email protected]
Thursday, November 18 at 7pm DC Public Library Live-Stream
Nikole Hannah-Jones, the acclaimed author, journalist, and Pulitzer prize-winning, Howard University professor discussing her book The 1619 Project. To live-stream the event from home please register using this link. You will be sent details for how to attend by email the day of the event.
Register To Testify about teacher and principal turnover in DC. Thur. Dec 16th, 1 pm
Free webinar hosted by The Freedom School Project Monday, Nov. 15th @ 7pm EST
Click here to learn more. Register here: https://rutgers.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-bHJ-yeWRj--ju4Obedt1w
The WTU Legislative committee will meet next month.
Watch here for more information.
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.
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.