In this issue:
Melrose: The Strike that Almost Was
On Friday, January 13, the members of the Melrose Education Association voted to authorize a strike beginning on Tuesday, January 17 if their negotiations team was not able to reach an agreement with the Melrose School Committee and Mayor before then. On Saturday, January 14, the Melrose Public Schools and Melrose Education Association announced that they had reached a tentative agreement. From the joint statement: "The contract will provide cost of living and market adjustments of 10% over the contract's term, as well as increased preparation and planning time for teachers across the district, which will enable Melrose to recruit and retain high-quality educators who serve all students. "The term of the contract runs retroactively from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025." Congratulations, Melrose educators! Oh, and are those hats cool or what?
Newton Override Campaign The Newton Override Campaign is looking for volunteers. If you would like to give a testimonial/quotation for the campaign, please click here to volunteer. If you would like to participate in other ways--doing stand outs, putting a lawn signs in your yard (if you live in Newton), click here to volunteer. The absolute BEST PR for the override campaign is the support of Newton Educators!
MTA Winter Workshops for PDPs The MTA invites you to register for its 2023 Winter PDP Programs at 4 pm on Tuesday, December 20th! Learn with the MTA and Earn PDPs to use toward your license recertification! Choose from seven different online courses where you can earn 15 PDPs towards either English as a Second Language/Sheltered English Immersion or Special Education requirements for renewing your professional license. All courses are FREE to MTA members. Space is extremely limited for these courses to ensure an enjoyable and effective learning experience for participants. Registration will open on December 21st at 4 PM. Set a reminder now for your best chance at securing a seat in the program of your choice! Winter PDP Workshops Online Asynchronous Courses:
Fine-Tuning Phonics Instruction for Students with Dyslexia (K-5) 1/21 - 3/4
Teaching with the New Dyslexia Guidelines 1/30 - 3/13
Universal Design for Learning: Reaching All Students 2/1 - 3/15
Online Synchronous Courses: Zoom Meetings
Social Emotional Learning: Using SEL to Inspire Success In All Students. 2/21 & 2/23 (9am-3pm)
Authentic Family Engagement in Literacy 1/28 & 2/11 (9am-12pm)
Collaborative Model for Multilingual Learners with, or Suspected of having, a Disability 2/8 & 3/1 (4-7pm)
Educational Kaleidoscopes: Inclusive Strategies for Multi-lingual Learners 2/2 & 2/16 (4-7pm)
For more information, visit: massteacher.org/pdps
MTA New Member Trainings CREDIT COUNSELING AND LOAN FORGIVENESS: New members often have student debt. This up to 75-minute training provides guidance on how to handle debt while qualifying for loan forgiveness. Ongoing webinar link from MTA Benefits: https://www.mtabenefits.com/student-loan- webinars PROFESSIONAL TEACHER STATUS (PTS): 45-minute training on how teachers acquire PTS, and what their rights are before they get PTS. ESPs: RIGHTS ON THE JOB: This is a 30-45 minute training on the rights of ESPs both before and after they may pass a probationary period. It covers anti-discrimination laws, union rights, contractual rights, the evaluation process, and whistle-blower protections. CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE: 90-minute training explaining the sometimes labyrinthian process of getting a teaching license in Massachusetts. Provisional and Initial License Training Thursday, January 12, 4:00 PM via Zoom, summary and registration here: http://bit.ly/3VB8C03 Acquiring and Renewing Your Professional License Thursday, January 26, 4:00 PM via Zoom, summary and registration here: http://bit.ly/3VB8C03 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: The MTA sponsors a few all-day sessions of Professional Development such as the Summer Conference in August, Winter Union Skills on February 4 and the Early Career Educator Conference on March 4th - save the date found here.