June 1 is next week, and we are in the homestretch! With evaluations due Tuesday, I hope you make time to enjoy this long weekend to rest up before the final weeks of school. Thank you for all you have done to keep focus on teaching and learning, while managing assessment, operational issues, closeout, moving on ceremonies, hiring, planning for next year, region meetings, and school leader calls.
Region Meetings
This leads me to express my appreciation about your engagement with content during our region meetings. I know it's challenging to take the time, so thank you! This Tuesday, we will closely read and discuss the mathematics section of the instructional core following the same protocol. Candice Whitmore, Hale's future principal, will be joining us and will spend the afternoon with Karen Loughran at the Hale.
There is much content to cover still... that will have to wait until next year. If we had time we would closely read the following articles that reframe "learning loss." These may be openers to use with your ILT and/or staff to unpack the narrative that our students are "behind" or have "lost" something they never had access to to begin with. Most of all, as The Atlantic article says - a student's circumstance does not define them; the plea is: "I need teachers to believe in me."
- Learning Loss: Are We Defining the Problem Correctly? Silver & McTighe
- Our Kids Are Not Broken The Atlantic, Ron Berger [Thank you, Mary Driscoll]
Tidbits
- I am working with the Orchard Gardens Governing Board to select and recommend an interim leader to Dr. Cassellius for next year. We hope to announce the week of June 7th. Stay tuned!
- On Wednesday night, the School Committee voted to approve the future grade configuration at the new Carter to be PK-12 or age 22. The Carter is in the process of looking for swing space for this fall in order to break ground at the current site. Barring delays, the new Carter will open in 2024-25. Mark has been steeped in planning with architects, district, and city departments to design a building that has never been built before to ensure student needs are being met in an optimal space. This is cutting edge work he and his staff have been engaged in.
- Karen Loughran made a request to School Committee to approve naming the renovated Hale library the George Cox Memorial Library. This was approved unanimously. The dedication will take place on June 11. Great job, Karen!
- ESSER Commission met yesterday evening to determine criteria for recovery funding. Paul Reville said we need to consider how we can "systematize" meeting students and families where they are. To you, what does that look like?
- On June 1 and 2, I will become familiar with LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) is a flexible literacy professional learning solution for preK–5 educators. LETRS provides teachers with the research, depth of knowledge, and skills to make a significant improvement in the literacy and language development of every student. This is a training on foundational reading/science of reading.
- LETRS training is available to school leaders on June 22 and 23.
- I have been asked to participate on the screening committee for the posted senior positions at central office.
- To do: I will conduct check-ins with you during the next few weeks. I will create appointment slots for check-ins and for evaluation conferences - coming soon.
- To do: Please send me invitations to your SSC/Equity Roundtable, EOY moving on ceremonies, ILTs, PDs. If I can make it, I will drop in!
- Please call/text/g-chat if you need anything!
May 31 - Memorial Day - No School
June 18 - Last Day of School
July 6 - August 6 - Summer School
August 16-18 - August Leadership Institute
September 9 - First Day of School - Grades 1-12
Division of Academics
Updated Guidelines on Singing and Playing Wind Instruments
As school communities begin to organize end of year celebrations, we are excited to share updated guidance on singing and playing instruments located in this memo. Please reach out to Anthony Beatrice, Executive Director for the Arts, at abeatrice2@bostonpublicschools.org or (617) 470-9303 with any questions.
Summer Removal of Pianos
The BPS Visual and Performing Arts Department is partnering with the Facilities Department to remove unusable pianos from school buildings over the summer. Please fill out this google form by Friday, June 4th.
DESMOS Math Pilot for Middle School Grades
The district is offering schools the opportunity to pilot the DESMOS Middle School math curriculum for grades 6th-8th. Please find information about this technology-based curriculum below, including feedback from BPS SY20-21 pilot users. The cost of materials and stipends for professional development will be covered by Academics and Professional Learning. If you would like more information click on the links below and reach out to Stacey Solomon, K-8 Math Program Director.
OpenSciEd for Middle School!
We are excited to announce that we will be expanding access to OpenSciEd(OSE) units in 6th, 7th, & 8th grade beginning in the fall of 2021. The adoption will take 2 years. There will be two 4-day trainings offered this summer, June 22 - 25 and Aug. 17 - 20. Teachers new to OSE will need to register for one of the 4-day sessions. Stipends will be provided. We are working on the logistics with regard to the specific times each day and if the PL will be hybrid or all remote. We are very excited for your students (and you) to increase their science understanding with the OSE instructional approach and materials!
Below are links for teacher registration, school commitment, and a FAQs document & informational slide deck.
Teacher registration for June or August Foundational Training
School Commitment form to implement OpenSciEd
OpenSci Ed FAQs Document & Informational Slide Deck
Request a 30-min presentation for your MS teachers, click here.
Teacher Leadership Fund: What Challenge Do You Want to Solve?
Applications for the 2021-22 Teacher Leadership Fund are now open. Teams of educators within or across schools may be awarded up to $15,000 to design and implement solutions to challenges affecting students who have been marginalized. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Full program information and application materials. Applications accepted on a rolling basis:
For more information please attend one of our drop-in info sessions, or email tlf@bostonpublicschools.org with questions or for assistance.
Drop-in Info Sessions
May 27th 3-4pm (Zoom Link)
June 1st 3:30-5pm (Zoom Link)
June 2nd 10-11am (Zoom Link)
June 2nd 3:00-4pm (Zoom Link)
Annual BPS Wellness Summit: Registration Open
Join members of the BPS community as we come together to share resources, success stories and inspire one another to create safe, healthy, and sustaining learning environments. We are excited to welcome Dr. Brian Culp for a keynote address on Space, Place, and Justice: An exciting new frontier for health and physical education as well as the School Wellness Awards Ceremony. More information and the link to register can be found here!
Contact: Ali Ettis, Assistant Director of OHW Operations
Vaccination Lesson for Middle/High School
To improve health literacy and provide students with the most up-to-date reliable information on the COVID-19 Vaccination, the Office of Health and Wellness has just released a Vaccine Lesson for middle and high school teachers. This lesson is aligned with both the National Health Education Standards and Transformative SEL practices. Through engaging activities, students will:
Learn how vaccines & the immune response prevent disease and protect the community at large
Understand the benefits & risks of vaccines as well as the societal impact of this public health action
Analyze influences of family, peers, culture, media, technology related to the COVID vaccine.
Contact: Cheryl Todisco, Director of Health Education
Due by June 11: FY21 Title I EL Budget Monitoring Checklists
Per the federal META consent decree, schools are required to report annually how they spent their Title I EL monies. School leaders will receive a pre-populated FY21 Title I EL Budget Monitoring Checklists. By June 11, please review and confirm that all information is accurate and complete. It should only take about 15-30 minutes. For more information or individualized support, contact the district’s Title I EL Coordinator, Nicole Mendoza, at nmendoza@bostonpublicschools.org or sign up for office hours.
Weekly Nearpod Tip: Using a Whiteboard during a Live Nearpod Lesson
If you haven’t tried using Nearpod’s new whiteboard feature, give it a go! When facilitating a live Nearpod lesson with students, teachers can launch a whiteboard at any time in the lesson, and the students will be able to see what the teacher is doing in real-time. This feature is great for teacher modeling, responding to or addressing a misconception, and more. More information here.Teacher and Family Surveys
BPS is administering the annual Family and Teacher Climate Surveys from through Friday, June 18. These surveys ask parents/guardians and teachers to tell us about this year to inform plans to return, recover and reimagine for the 21-22 school year.
Communications are being sent centrally, however, school based outreach makes the difference for many families! School leaders and coordinators have access to family response rate tracking and completion lists via Panorama's platform. In addition, see the short presentation here that contains all the information you need, as well as a few tips for increasing participation.
Thank you in advance for the work you'll do in supporting your school during the survey administration. If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to reach out by contacting Panorama at support+bps@panoramaed.com or the BPS survey team at surveys@bostonpublicschools.org.
Panorama Weekly Update - Please Ask Staff to Complete Open Plans by the End of the Year
Ask: As the end of the school year approaches, please ask your staff to close out open plans in Panorama Student Success. This new slide deck walks through the steps your team can take to prepare for the end of the year.
Why: Completing plans and leaving notes about how a student progressed, even if a goal was not met, is a key way to ensure that the students' future teachers will have the information necessary to support them.
Division of Equity, Strategy, & Opportunity Gaps
Office of Recruitment, Cultivation and Diversity Programs (RCD)
Recruitment & Cultivation Team Updates & Events
(NEW) External Hiring Closed beginning June 8th at midnight for: Physical Education, History, Guidance, Computer Science/Instructional Technology, Social Worker, Music, and Visual Art. This will apply to all current vacancies as well as vacancies that arise in the future. School leaders who have already selected a candidate must submit them in TalentEd before then. Any incomplete hires (ex. those missing waivers, interview competencies, etc.) will not be approved. Please use the following resources to get candidates of your choice now!
(NEW) BPS Teaching Fellowship (BPSTF) Candidates: This is an incredible opportunity to hire highly vetted candidates who will be Fellows in our BPSTF. Each Fellow will receive coaching and professional development throughout the entire 2021-2022 school from a veteran BPS Teacher/Coach. The Fellowship will support candidates in getting their Moderate Disabilities and/or ESL Licenses. Please see these candidates who are graduates of our ACTT and MTEL programs! View BPSTF Candidates and the benefits of hiring these candidates. If you hire 2 or more BPSTF candidates, RCD will prioritize admittance for your staff into the (highly successful) BPS MTEL prep courses for ESL (MTEL for ESL License) and Foundations of Reading (MTEL for Moderate Disabilities).
High Priority & Priority Candidates: These candidates have been vetted and assessed as the most talented candidates available. Please be sure to scan the list for potential candidates for your positions. Link to High Priority & Priority Candidates of Color. View Resumes and Talent Ed application in last column. You can find all of these candidates in Talent Ed (go to Closed jobs, and click on Early Hiring Pool 21-22) NEW: added the Priority candidates of color - those who are recommended in 2nd tab.
Support Meeting your Diversity Hiring Goals: We are very excited to see the results of your commitment to diverse hiring thus far. Preliminary numbers are showing a significant increase over last year!! Many of you committed to using available RCD supports to help you reach your goals. As a reminder, here they are. If you have not yet been able to meet your goals, please be sure to refer back to this sheet to access the tools and supports available to help you to find diverse candidates (see row 3 for links).
Promising Candidates of Color: Have a great teacher of color you can’t retain? Met a great candidate you didn’t hire, but think someone else should? Share their info using this form. See your colleagues’ recommendations on this sheet.
Reminder: Signing Bonuses for Latinx (new to BPS) Teachers: Through a grant with DESE, there are 40 $1000 Hiring Bonuses available for the hiring of new to BPS Latinx teacher candidates and BPS MTEL prep program completers. Complete this referral form for candidates you want to recommend to receive the bonus. Priority given to Latinx candidates (to close our largest teacher/student diversity gap), and our BPS MTEL prep completers. More information here.
Reminder: Searching for Diverse Teacher candidates? Please complete this request form for leads to candidates for your open and difficult to fill positions. We will respond within 48 hours! Or search the Early Hiring Pool accessible through TalentEd, or this spreadsheet: Early Hiring Pool.
BPS Teacher Pipeline Programs
New deadline to apply to the Accelerated Community to Teacher (ACTT) Program: The Accelerated Community to Teacher (ACTT) program application deadline is now extended to June 1, 2021. This is our exciting and transformational community-based teacher preparation program (97% candidates of color during SY20-21) for paraprofessionals, career-changers and community workers who are seeking a no-cost MTEL prep support for Provisional Licenses, bilingual educator preparation, and coaching to become a critically conscious teacher in the Boston Public Schools. Impassioned and expert BPS teachers coach and mentor our ACTT candidates. ACTT's pre-practicum is a requirement for selection into the BPS Teaching Fellowship (BPSTF). Upon successfully completing the ACTT program, candidates are recommended for the BPS Teaching Fellowship for Initial Licensure. In 2022, BE ACTT, our bilingual educators’ program will be launched. BE ACTT has been awarded a DESE grant to launch in July 2021. Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree by June 2021; see flyer and apply now. Extended deadline for ACTT is now June 1, 2021. TalentEd link to the application is here.
Here's the ACTT - Recommend a Candidate Form.
Questions and requests for additional information, please email: diversity-ACTT@bostonpublicschools.org.
Retention Services Updates
Father's Day is around the corner, and ALANA wanted to bring something special. Come join us as we create a space to celebrate all the Fathers and Father Figures. Our host "Carl Alleyne, from Dads Parenting Boldly facebook group and Podcast host" will be dropping some valuable gems to help enrich dad's connection with their kids. Register and we will see you June 1st at 6pm for Fathers and Father Figures.
Excerpt from the groups page: "This group is for dads who want to better connect emotionally with their child(ren) on a deeper level. It is also for dads who want to experience more growth on a personal level ie: take more risks. These risks can be taking that ultimate family vacation, creating more of a dynamic environment in the home, starting a new business, excelling in their jobs or community." Please share with your networks for anyone interested...
P.S. The host asks that participants kindly fill out this survey (https://bit.ly/2QPQ6FC) prior to attending the event.
Exit Interviews for Educators of Color
We continue to offer an Exit Survey to any school-based educator or central office staff of color who has or will be leaving the district at the end of the SY20-21 with an optional virtual interview. If you know any educators of color who would like to participate in our exit interview process, please have them contact Rashaun Martin, at rmartin2@bostonpublicschools.org. They can complete the survey here.
In a recent interview, an ESL teacher who is departing the district due to a family move, had nothing but great things to say about the level of support she received from the school leadership at the EMK.
Teacher Leadership Opportunity (Public School Teachers Actively Being Sought)
Brandeis University’s Teacher Leadership Program, prepares experienced classroom teachers to work with administrators and colleagues to improve instruction and strengthen school culture. Now more than ever, our schools need teachers who can work collaboratively with their colleagues and lead initiatives to address instructional challenges in the classroom--whether virtual or in person.
In pre-COVID times, this hybrid program combined face-to-face coursework during two 3-week summer sessions at Brandeis, online coursework during the school year, and one-on-one coaching throughout the program to allow emerging teacher leaders to study and practice essential leadership skills while working full-time in their schools. Due to the pandemic, the Summer 2021 session will take place online over 4 weeks (July 5 - July 30), but Summer 2022 should be back in person.
The Teacher Leadership Program offers two courses of study: a thirteen-month (4-semester) Advanced Graduate Study (AGS) credential or a two-year (6-semester) EdM program. And, this year we are excited to announce that graduates of both the AGS and the EdM at Brandeis are now eligible to earn a CAGS and MA administrative certification from Salem State University with just one additional year of required courses and related activities.
Scholarships are available. All of the information about the application process can be found here. The application for Cohort 7 (beginning in summer 2021) is still open; there are only a few spots left you have any additional questions about the program or the application process, please contact Margery Sokoloff at msokolof@brandeis.edu
Division of Human Capital
Division of Operations
Are you interested in incorporating coding into your classes? Research shows that introducing students to computer science as early as elementary and middle school grades can encourage students to see themselves in this evolving industry. As part of the DLCS@BPS initiative, BPSTechnology and Early Childhood departments are offering three initiatives to help schools and teachers bring computer science to K-8 students in the upcoming school year. Attend our virtual session on June 7 from 5:30-6:30p to learn more or see our information page for more details and fill out the form to be considered. No coding experience necessary!
Division of Student, Family, and Community Advancement
Upcoming Community Engagement Events:
Family Liaison Hiring Process and Summer Professional Learning
The Priority Pool list is being updated daily with new candidates. Anyone on the list is ready for hire. The summer professional learning series will take place August 9-20, 2021. The PD will be differentiated by experience and skill. The Arc of Learning will be available by the end of June. Please contact Cyntoria Grant with additional questions.
