LOGIN
SEARCH
Here's What's Brewing Today
Monday, November 8, 2021
Representative Assembly Meeting
Join us on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 04:30 PM Eastern Time (Via Zoom) for our monthly Representative Assembly. The meeting is open to all members of the Washington Teachers’ Union. Please click here to register.
Proposed Agenda:
- President’s Report, Jacqueline Pogue Lyons
- Professional Development, Sarah Elwell
- Committee Reports, Committee Chairs
- WTU Financials and Vote on WTU Budget for FY2022, Nadia Torney
DCPS Librarians are featured in the November edition of School Library Journal
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 Professional Development opportunities are available on the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog
FREE WTU PD Workshops in November:
Strategies for Student Success.
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
Transforming Teacher Identity: Who Am I as an Educator?
Instructors: Tiffany L. Brown and Donald Thompson
November 13; 9am-12noon
Using a variety of interactive strategies, educators will explore how various aspects of their personal and social identities uniquely form who they are as professionals and affect their teaching and learning. Participants will receive 4 PLU’s. RSVP HERE: https://www.wtulocal6.net/fall_2021_transforming_teacher_identity
Upcoming Events
Friday, November 12 at 12pm - DC Council will hold a confirmation hearing on Dr. Christina Grant
The Committee of the Whole will hold a Public Hearing on PR 24-393, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Christina Grant Confirmation Resolution of 2021. Those who wish to testify must register at http://www.ChairmanMendelson.com/testify by 5:00 p.m. on November 10, 2021.
Thur. Dec 16th, 1 pm - DC Council Hearing on Teacher & Principal Turnover
Teachers are the foundation of a quality education. They are vital to the success of our students and our schools. The goals of excellence and equity in education in the District of Columbia cannot be achieved without a thriving, highly effective teacher workforce. In 2018, the DC State Board of Education released a report on teacher and principal turnover in the District of Columbia finding that teacher turnover is significantly higher in the District of Columbia than in other comparable American cities and than the national average. Across DC, schools with the highest percentages of at-risk students tend to suffer from the highest rates of teacher turnover.
We know that our students and school communities need stability. We encourage ALL members to sign-up to speak to the Council about teacher and principal turnover in DC.
Register here.
Partner Announcements
Digital Equity inDC Education would like to gather interested students from DCPS high schools to discuss current technology challenges facing students and opportunities for student advocacy. Interested students can e-mail them at [email protected] so that they can invite them to our kickoff meeting for TeensTalk edTech.
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 personal contact information.
Be sure to follow the WTU on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to keep up on the latest from your Union.