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| Stealing this image from Megan Webb's Sunday Bulletin You have welcomed back students in 4-8 this week! Congrats! One more time... for five days/week... |
Words from Grace
Concurrent Lesson Structures - created by Instructional Transformation Coaches - you can adapt any of these to work with the concurrent set up at your school, and we will be adding lesson templates to this document that include space for teachers to plan for their in-person and online students
Concurrent Tech Norms and Setup - created by the Digital Learning Team and Instructional Transformation Coaches - for this one, you could start by thinking about which tech you have access to, and if you have access to multiple devices, you can think about what you hope to make possible for your students in-person and online.
Additional Resources:
Concurrent Teaching Choice Board - created by Belzie Mont-Louis and Meghan Harrington
Concurrent Teaching Wakelet - created by the Instructional Transformation Coach Cohort 2021, Karen White, Sharon Abraham, and Christine Cronin
Elmore finds we often spend too much time worrying about what we are teaching and how it is taught and not enough focus on whether students are interested in, engaged in, and able to explain their thinking about what adults are trying to teach. What predicts performance is not what teachers do, but what the students are actually doing.
Please bring student work:
Choose assignments that involve lots of thinking and that give students some freedom in how they approach the task. Avoid work that consists primarily of answers with little explanation or that involves the application of a well-defined procedure. At times it may be useful to share several pieces of student work that show different approaches to the same assignment.
Bring PDFs of student work. The goal is to dig into what thinking a student engages in to complete the task. How are they expressing their thinking and reasoning?
New More Learning Opportunities on Concurrent Teaching
OIIT, Academics, and Transformation have collaborated to create this one-stop splash page with links to resources, ideas, professional learning opportunities, and other supports.
In addition, The Telescope Network invites all BPS educators to join us for three upcoming teacher-led professional learning sessions. Come learn from and with your BPS colleagues and leave with new ideas and resources to bring back to your own classroom.
03.25.21 Connect & Share Panel Discussions: Join us Thursday 3/25 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. for a panel discussion on the topic of “Meeting Diverse Needs & Hybrid Instruction.” Hear from your BPS colleagues about what’s working in their own classrooms and schools. Connect with peers from across BPS, get new ideas, and earn PD hours as well. (RSVP | More info | Flyer)
03.31.21 Simultaneous Teaching Virtual Edcamp: Bring your questions and your ideas about simultaneous teaching to this virtual “unconference” on Wednesday 3/31 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Register in advance to be entered in a prize raffle (must be present to win). (RSVP | More info | Flyer)
04.07.21 Connect & Share Math Spotlight: Join us Wednesday 4/7 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. for panel discussions on how to bring joy and deep understanding to hybrid math instruction in the hybrid learning classroom. Hear from your colleagues about what’s working in their own classrooms and schools. Connect with peers from across BPS, get new ideas, and earn PD hours as well. (RSVP | More info)
AND BY THE WAY, we’re always on the lookout for “bright spot” teachers and educators who might be interested in presenting as part of these panels. If you have any teachers that you’d recommend as a “bright spot,” please let us know and we’re happy to reach out to them with details. There’s a small stipend for presenters. Upcoming sessions include “Effective Hybrid Practices” (4/29). (Email us at telescope@bostonpublicschools.org or use this form).
Important Dates
April 2 - Good Friday - No School
April 19 - Patriot’s Day - No School
April 20 - 23 - Spring Recess - No School
May 31 - Memorial Day - No School
Division of Academics
IMPORTANT: Updated Reopening Memos
Please review the updated memos regarding mask wearing and PE, Arts, and recess facilities protocols. Updates have been made around singing and sleeping. If you have any questions, contact Jill Carter, Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Health & Wellness.
Physical Activity Series for Students and Families!
BPS Moves Together has launched their Spring Physical Activity Series! Virtual sessions are free to the BPS community. Please share the schedule with students and families for some physically active fun led by PE teachers! Next week's sessions are All About Your Heart Rate, Tabata, & Circuits.
Contact: Sravanthy Gumidyala, Physical Activity Program Coordinator.
Office of Special Education
Action Needed: Special Education Micro-Grant Opportunity
See link here: LEAD BPS: OSE Micro Grant Opportunity for further information.
Alternate Entry to the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) conducts the National Merit Scholarship Program, an annual nationwide academic competition for high school students. The PSAT/NMSQT is the route of entry into the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Due to the COVID pandemic, BPS students were not able to participate in the 2020 PSAT/NMSQT, but they can still enter the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program through the Alternate Entry process by using their SAT scores. See this document for further details.
Office of Leadership Development
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
All Leader Professional Development
Thank you to all school leaders for your engagement and thoughtfulness during Professional Development on March 11th. A huge thank you to all presenters and all those that have engaged during weekly planning meetings and behind the scenes to make these learning events come to fruition. We would love to receive your feedback on the day. Here is the survey if you were not able to complete it and would have 5-7 minutes to do so now.
First and Second Year Induction Programming
Our next support call will be on Monday, March 22nd. We look forward to seeing those who can make it for a bit of Lean on Me time and other support you might need. To learn more about our induction programming for first and second year leaders, take a look at our website here.
SCHOOL LEADER RECRUITMENT
Referrals for School Leadership Positions
Do you know someone who is interested in school leadership? Do you see promise in someone with whom you work? Would you like to learn more about leadership yourself? Please fill out this referral form for folks interested in our pipeline programs or building level leadership.
Applications for School Leaders and School Administrators (Asst. Principal and similar roles) - Hiring Pools (SY21-22) are now open.
If you are interested, the school leader application can be found here, and the school administrator application can be found here. Additional information about the hiring process is available on the Lead in BPS website. For questions, please feel free to contact Megan Reed (mreed@bostonpublicschools.org) or Monica Hall (mhall4@bostonpublicschools.org).
PIPELINE AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Whose Greatness Do You See? Whose Growth Do You Want to Facilitate? PSI/BPS Cohort, Pipeline Program
In partnership with the Perrone Sizer Institute (PSI), the BPS-PSI fellowship is now accepting applications for SY21-22! This is a pipeline designed to prepare teacher leaders to become Assistant Principals. Register for an upcoming information session here. The application deadline is April 26, 2021 and can be found here. Feel free to share this information with your networks. Any questions about this opportunity, please contact Monica Hall, mhall4@bostonpublicschools.org
PAL Support
We are seeking eighteen educators who are interested in completing tasks from the Massachusetts Performance Assessment for Leaders (PAL) to be eligible for principal/assistant principal licensure. The 1st session of the program will begin on Saturday, March 27th at 9 am and will last until 10:30 am. The program will meet virtually for 1.5 hours twice per month on Saturdays. Candidates must be enrolled in or have completed an approved graduate program to participate in the PAL Support Program. We will offer coaching support and technical/writing assistance for the completion of the PAL tasks between March 27th and June 26th. Please note that there will be a fee of $400 for the coaching support program.
Kindly take a moment to complete this Google Application Form by March 22, 2021, if you are interested in participating in the coaching support program. If you have any questions, please contact Monica Hall, mhall4@bostonpublicschools.org.
Panorama Weekly Update - K1 and K2 Grades and Interim Assessments
This week’s update is a doubleheader, featuring key news for both kindergarten grades and interim assessments.
K1 and K2 Grades: Now Available in Panorama!
Report card grades are now available for Kindergarten students, in Panorama. This is the first time that BPS has offered a visualization and user-friendly interface for understanding K1 and K2 grades, outside of report cards! The purpose is to help educators quickly identify which students are progressing, and which students may most need adults to adjust their work.
You can find more details about the K1 and K2 grades format in the newly updated data guide. This new display is a collaboration between the Office of Data and Accountability and the Department of Early Childhood. Important details include:
The platform only includes Trimester 2-3, and will not include Trimester 1 grades.
The platform applies a logic that “Beginning” and “Developing” are not meeting expectations, whereas “Established” and “Going Beyond” are.
The platform designates an outcome level for each student (for individual subject areas and for academics as a whole), based upon the percentage of standards for which a student met expectations.
We also know and affirm that course grades are just one of many important data points, and schools and classrooms may have distinct ways of applying them. The platform help site and data guide include numerous data points, showing you can put them in context together and paint a complete picture of children's learning and development.
The data guide includes several details to explain this new visualization.
Division of Equity, Strategy, & Opportunity Gaps
Office of Recruitment, Cultivation and Diversity Programs (RCD)
We STRONGLY encourage you to HIRE EARLY to have access to the best candidates who will only be available now!
DIVERSITY CAREER FAIR FOR EDUCATORS, Friday, March 26, 5:00-8:00pm Want a chance to meet with talented and diverse teacher candidates via Zoom? RSVP here NOW so we can put your info in our booklet!!
Looking 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 Talent Ed, or this spreadsheet: Early Hiring Pool.
Signing Bonuses: Through a grant with DESE, there are 50 $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.
Emergency Licenses: DESE has extended Emergency licenses validity from June 30, 2021 to June 30, 2022. Any teachers you currently would like to retain on Emergency Licenses should apply in the Educator Licensure and Renewal (ELAR) system. Additionally teachers who do not have a current license, may apply for the Emergency License. See: Update on DESE Emergency Licensure - February 12, 2021 for additional information.
Affinity Recruitment Advisories: The RCD team is excited to launch the development of Affinity Recruitment Advisories to increase recruitment in diverse populations including from HBCU’s and Latinx, Asian and Deaf & Hard of Hearing teachers. If you would like to join an advisory to support this work, we will be meeting monthly...please see flyer for more info.
Pipeline Programs
Accelerated Community to Teacher (ACTT)
Are you seeking a provisional license in Early Childhood, Elementary and/or Secondary in 2022? RCD’s Teacher Pipeline Programs will soon open applications for the 2022 ACTT Cohort. ACTT is BPS’ community-based program, and it is open to paraprofessionals, Bolling staff and career-changers who have a passion for teaching in our schools. This is a great, no-cost opportunity to be mentored by expert BPS teachers and receive MTEL support. In 2022, BE ACTT, our bilingual educators’ program will be launched. Our students’ need culturally and linguistically diverse teachers. Bachelor’s degree required; see flyer for more information. Link to apply coming soon to TalentEd.
Retention Updates
Wednesday, March 31, 3–6 pm and Thursday, April 1, 8:45 am–1:30 pm
Join BU Wheelock and the BU Center for the Ecology of Early Childhood Development (CEED) for an exploration of the impact of social justice and equity on young children’s early learning and healthy development. Researchers, advocates, policy makers, practitioners, alumni, students, community partners, and others interested in early education are welcome. Together, we will explore the impact of social justice and equity on young children’s learning and development in the Greater Boston area, Massachusetts, and beyond. Register here! A Zoom link will be sent to you upon registration
Our featured speakers include:
Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Superintendent, Boston Public Schools
Tanya Nixon-Silberg, Founder, Little Uprisings
Amy O'Leary, Director, Early Education for All, Strategies for Children
Michelle Wu, City Councilor At-Large, City of Boston
Seeking Representatives for the Kaleidoscope Community Council
The Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning, a pilot program out of DESE, is seeking applications from Massachusetts public school students, family members, educators, and interested community members to serve on its new Community Council. The Community Council will meet on four Wednesdays this spring starting on April 7 and will advise Kaleidoscope on its developing work around Deeper Learning by examining the tools, resources, and strategies being developed by the pilot. Kaleidoscope is specifically seeking to center the voices of applicants from historically marginalized communities. Please apply online, and email kaleidoscope@mass.gov with any questions.
NSF Noyce Master Teaching Fellowship Program @ Boston College
Boston College is offering this program to support secondary mathematics teachers in content, equity and leadership. The program is organized by Boston College faculty in Education and Mathematics, and in partnership with the Education Development Center. This 5-year program offers teachers a chance to participate in a unique professional learning community to support development as a teacher and a leader, with explicit focus on content and equity pedagogy. Benefits include $13,500/year stipend and no-cost coursework at Boston College. The attached file contains information about the application process, a description of program benefits and a brief description of the program components. The website bc.edu/noyce has complete details. We are especially interested in working with BPS secondary mathematics teachers, given the fruitful partnerships in the past and the wide reach of the district!
NOTE: Teachers with initial licensure will be considered provided that they plan to obtain their professional license by the end of the program. Furthermore, this may be earned using graduate credit obtained through the no-cost one course/year provided by the program. Applications are due March 31st, 2021 and should be sent to Prof. Albert at albertli@bc.edu
Paid Opportunity: Academic Mentoring and Tutoring
The Division of Academics and the Division of Equity, Strategy & Opportunity Gaps continue to seek applicants for the Academic Mentoring and Tutoring opportunity. See the Call for Applications for more information.
Division of Finance
Reminder: SY21 Inclusion Buy Back Stipends
Please submit stipends for any inclusion teachers required to receive an ESL"buyback" stipend for SY20-21. Inclusion teachers providing ESL services to 4s and 5s in inclusion classrooms are required to receive an ESL buyback stipend. During last year's Budget Collaborative, these teachers would have been identified as "buybacks," and you would have been required to budget $6,895 per educator. These teachers would have agreed at the time to provide these services. Stipends should be submitted before the work is completed and must be submitted before the spending deadline. Consult with your Financial Analyst if you have any questions or concerns.
Reminder: SY21 Inclusion Buy Back Stipends
Please submit stipends for any inclusion teachers required to receive an ESL"buyback" stipend for SY20-21. Inclusion teachers providing ESL services to 4s and 5s in inclusion classrooms are required to receive an ESL buyback stipend. During last year's Budget Collaborative, these teachers would have been identified as "buybacks," and you would have been required to budget $6,895 per educator. These teachers would have agreed at the time to provide these services. Stipends should be submitted before the work is completed and must be submitted before the spending deadline. Consult with your Financial Analyst if you have any questions or concerns.SY21-22 Hiring Resources
TalentEd 101:
All vacant positions are posted on the TalentEd website platform, where school leaders will go to review posted positions, review applicants, record interviews and submit candidates for hire to OHC. Please refer to the TalentEd Admin Guide for a step by step guide to navigating this tool, and see here for a helpful slide deck on TalentEd 101. And for a helpful reminder on how to log interviews on TalentEd (required for submitted candidates and excessed teachers), please refer to How to Log Teacher Interviews in TalentEd.Personnel SubCommittees:
Deepening partnerships with families is one of the key strategies for strengthening student learning and closing achievement gaps in the BPS Acceleration Agenda. Consistent with the principles of school-based management, School Site Council engages parents and students in shared decision-making as a lever for school improvement. The intention of the Personnel Subcommittee is to actively involve members of the school community in the teacher hiring process, as these decisions will have a significant impact on instructional practice and the lives of students. For more guidance, see the Best Practices Document.Demo Lesson Rubric:
Remember to pay particular attention to the interview competencies when you are viewing a demo lesson. Use this helpful rubric to ensure you are screening for all of the areas you will be asked to report on.Virtual Hiring Resources:
We are aware that you may want to continue to hold virtual interviews during this hiring season. Virtual interviews do not need to lack in quality or substance! See this resource to help you decide on a format, and choose the best virtual platform for video conferencing and sample video lessons.Social Worker and Family Liaison Posts:
These positions are not ready to post yet—the job descriptions are still being updated. These positions will be posted as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience!Division of Student, Family, and Community Advancement
Reimagining Multilingual Learning - Office of English Learners
The BPS Office of English Learners is engaging in a series of community dialogues as we work to reimagine multilingual learning (SEI, ESL, Dual Language, SLIFE) for English Learners in BPS. You are welcomed to join our conversation by registering here.
If you are not able to attend a meeting, please use this survey to give us your input on what kind of changes you would like to see. For more information on the work please read our charter for this work. See flyer below:
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