Words from Grace
It goes without saying that these weeks have been challenging - know that you are appreciated for your leadership. Thank you for sharing your artifacts this week. đź’•
On Tuesday, we will have our final region meeting for the year. Please read the mathematics section of the instructional core (pages 7-12) in advance and be prepared for small group discussion. Ideally, we would have an arc of learning ready for region time next year - I will make a proposal to you all for your feedback.
I attended LETRS training for central office staff on Tuesday and Wednesday in order to gain additional knowledge about how children learn to read- the foundational skills plus the proven instruction older students need in order to advance in deciphering challenging content area language. The neurology was extremely beneficial, so I highly recommend this professional development that will be offered for school leaders on June 21-22-23. (See below to sign up.)
I am still working on finding blocks of time to have our end of year conference. Stay turned for an email with appointment slots to sign up.
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 by/in!
DESE Teacher and Administrator Evaluation Focus Indicators 2021-22
The DESE has identified six focus indicators that feature high priority practices for supervision/coaching for next year. as we return to 100% in-person teaching and learning. Descriptors are included for each indicator. The school superintendent team will be reviewing these to determine alignment with the work of next year. I am sharing these so you can preview these with your teams. Defining these for all staff in August/September will set you up for greater success.
Administrator Focus Indicators
DESE Resource Page for more information
District Focus for next year: Literacy and Leveraging Teams
The Professional Learning Tools in this folder from the work introduced by Christine Cronin are essential for creating the structures/cadence for the work that needs to happen in ILT, CPT, and PD.
District Assessment: MAP Fluency/Growth - Required at the beginning of the year and mid-year. We have 18 years of data showing us that as a district, our fourth graders are not reading proficiently as we saw in last Tuesday's School Leader Call. This is a district problem that all of us need to make a priority. We must change how we do business in order to change the results we've gotten for the past two decades.
We will have unfinished work that we can pick up in August. Ours is probably one of the only professions where we have a new start every year - let's make the best of it - after - you have some rest!
Important Dates
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
Bring Computer Science to K-8 Students!
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!
BPS Staff Language Fluency Survey
School leaders: please share the following memo with your staff for educators to report their language fluency as part of the implementation of the Language Opportunity for Our Kids Act (LOOK ACT) and the district’s Strategic Plan 2020-2025. The direct link to the survey is here. For questions about the survey, contact Adriana Hernandez at ahernandez3@bostonpublicschools.org. To learn more about the LOOK Act and the initiatives this campaign will support, contact Ibrahim Byiringiro at ibyiringiro@bostonpublicschools.org.
[Reminder] 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 have received a pre-populated FY21 Title I EL Budget Monitoring Checklist. By June 11, please review and confirm that all information is accurate and complete. For more information or individualized support, contact the district’s Title I EL Coordinator, Nicole Mendoza, at nmendoza@bostonpublicschools.org.
Weekly Nearpod Tip: PhET Simulations on Nearpod
PhET simulations are a great way to engage ELs--and all students--in science and math concepts through an intuitive, game-like environment. Students learn through exploration and discovery. Developed at the University of Colorado – Boulder, these simulations are a perfect way to incorporate inquiry into your science or math classroom. They are great as no-prep labs! Learn more here.
UnboundEd Virtual Summit (aka Standards Institute)
The Office of Schools and the Office of Academics are sponsoring school leader participation in the UnboundEd Virtual Summit again this year. In alignment with our emerging district focus on equitable literacy, we encourage principals and heads of school to take the ELA course to continue to develop their understanding of research-based instruction with a particular focus on instruction in the post-Covid context. Please complete this form if you are interested in attending.
LETRS for Administrators June 21-22
The Equitable Literacy Implementation Team is offering LETRS for Administrators. This is a two-day course. Day 1 focuses on the science of how the brain learns to read. Day 2 focuses on the conditions that need to be present in schools to support research-based literacy instruction. We encourage leaders to have a teacher leader or coach join them for this training. The full LETRS training for teachers will be available starting in August. If you are considering having your teachers participate in LETRS training, this is an excellent opportunity to get an overview of the content. Click here to register. Enrollment is limited to 40.
ESSER Equity Roundtable
As discussed during the All School Leader Call, please remember to schedule your School Equity Roundtable on the federal relief funding before the end of the school year. Here is the ESSER Equity Roundtable Powerpoint to support your discussion. If you have any questions or need support, please contact Serena La Rocque <slarocque@bostonpublicschools.org>.
Panorama Weekly Update - Please Ask Staff to Complete Open Plans by the End of the Year
BPS staff have successfully closed out 8,800 plans in Panorama Student Success this school year! However, there are still 16,200 due for completion by the end of the school year.
This week, we share a reminder about the key steps for closing out the year in Panorama Student Success. Staff will also receive this information via LeadBPS and AroundBPS. Plan “Champions” will also receive a direct email from Panorama, with instructions for completing their plans.
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 in Panorama 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.
Reminder - Closing Plans in Panorama is Separate from Logging Summer Plans:
Separate from Panorama, all students should have a summer plan recorded in the “Summer 2021 Student Prioritization and Plans” sheet located in your school Data Folder.
Division of Equity, Strategy, & Opportunity Gaps
Recruitment & Cultivation Team Updates & Events:
(TIME SENSITIVE) 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!
(TIME SENSITIVE) 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).
(TIME SENSITIVE) 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)
(TIME SENSITIVE) 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.
UPDATED: 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. NOTE: Principals that need Candidates to be dual licensed in Moderate Disabilities and their primary license such as elementary early childhood or secondary can apply for two emergency licenses as long as they do not hold a prior license. Candidates can apply for multiple emergency teacher licenses if they do not currently hold a Temporary, Provisional (Preliminary for Vocational), Initial, or Professional teacher license.
(NEW) Latinx Cadet Recruitment Event: The BPS Latinx Recruitment Advisory team is planning an event for current middle school and high school Latinx students to learn more and potentially become one of our BPS Cadets. These students will work closely with Wensess Raphael and the Teacher Cadet Program and we work to build our future Leaders in BPS. If you know any strong middle school or high school student(s) who can benefit from this high level mentoring. Please share this flyer with your middle and high school students for our event happening on Thursday, June 8 from 4:30-5:30pm. STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE WELCOME!!!
(NEW) Asian Cadet Recruitment Event: The BPS Asian Recruitment Advisory is also planning an event with Wensess Raphael of the Teacher Cadet program to learn about careers in education and making change through careers that promote social justice. Please share this flyer with your middle and high school students for our event happening on Thursday, June 10 from 4:00-5:00pm. Contact: rcd-asianrecruitmentadvisorycouncil@bostonpublicschools.org
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 are committed to using available RCD support 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 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. More information here.
BPS Teacher Pipeline Programs
BPS Teaching Fellowship: As you are considering new colleagues to join your school community, please consider our candidates who are graduates of our ACTT and MTEL programs! View BPSTF Candidates and the benefits of hiring these candidates. Retired BPS teacher and a friend to ACTT, Dr. Amika Kemmler-Ernst writes about one of our current candidates, Ayesha James, who is realizing a life-long dream of becoming a teacher.
We are committed to having all our candidates in the BPSTF hired as full time teachers. Our candidates started with us in July of 2021 and will continue through the end of next year, when they earn their Initial License in Elementary, Moderate Disabilities or ESL. This year, we provided them with MTEL support, and with a pre-practicum seminar that meets 2-3 Saturdays per month. We have expert BPS teachers providing them with support and coaching in CLSP and culturally responsive teaching, in partnership with the MIT Teaching Systems Lab. Once hired, we will provide CAP support and regularly scheduled practicum seminars and site based observational rounds conducted by school-based supervising practitioners, and our own BPSTF Specialist, Ailis Kiernan, and Dr. Abdi Ali, Director of Teacher Pipeline Programs.
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).
Questions and requests for additional information, please email: diversity-ACTT@bostonpublicschools.org.
Sign up for our Teacher Pipeline Programs newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/BPSpipelinenews1
Retention Services Updates
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, but there are only a few spots left. If you have any additional questions about the program or the application process, please contact Margery Sokoloff at msokolof@brandeis.edu
$500 grants available for BPS Employees who enroll at Southern New Hampshire University with Duet this summer
Join your colleagues who have already taken advantage of our NEW partnership with the local non-profit Duet to gain exclusive access to project-based Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) degrees that are designed to be completed quickly while working full time. Duet Coaches will help you every step of the way - with enrollment, completing your coursework, and even achieving your career advancement goals. Tuition is ~50% less than any other college option in New England and financial aid applies. Learn more about pricing here.
Earning credits from SNHU with Duet will move you up the pay scale and is a pathway to becoming a classroom. Summer break is a great time to focus on your own goals and advance your career. That's why Duet is offering a $500 grant to any BPS employee who signs up to enroll in our term starting on June 28th. Interested? Have a family member or friend who might be? Fill out an interest form or join Duet's standing weekly Zoom info session Wednesdays from 6-7p: register here.
Northeastern’s MacFarland Fellows Scholarships
Becoming an elementary or secondary school teacher requires passion, energy, and drive to positively impact Boston schools. We see those qualities in teachers across the Boston Public School system, especially as educators step up to the challenges of today’s ever-changing educational landscape. Dedicated educators are invaluable, and Northeastern wants to help you achieve your educational goals. If you want to earn your initial teaching license—and are committed to teaching in urban areas—you may be eligible for Northeastern’s MacFarland Fellows Scholarship and receive up to $20,000 to help you earn your graduate degree and endorsement for a Massachusetts' Initial Teaching license. For more information, click here.
Division of Human Capital
Eval Reminder: Less-Than-Proficient Next Plan Notifications (EOY 2021)
School Leaders and Evaluators: The memo linked HERE is a reminder that educators who received an overall rating of Unsatisfactory or Needs Improvement must be issued letters in writing designating next year's plan type and length within one calendar month of issuance. For educators who receive their overall rating in May or June, the new plan length shall be designated on or before the last day of school.
Please contact your school’s assigned Performance Management liaison (listed here) with questions and for guidance on specific cases. Thank you for your work on evaluations!
Program Area Closures
After careful analysis of the current district-wide vacancies and number of excessed educators by subject area, we have determined that we will need to limit external hiring for the following program areas effective June 8th: Physical Education, History, Guidance, Computer Science/Instructional Technology, Music, and Visual Art. This includes any position that requires certification in these selected program areas, such as Inclusion History or SEI History. (Please note: We have removed the Social Worker program area from the list of closures.)
What this means:
You have until midnight on June 8th to recommend your hiring team’s chosen candidate for any vacancies within these program areas without restrictions on which applicants are available to you. Any incomplete requests for hire (ex. those missing waivers, interview competencies, etc.). Please review Hiring Approval Guidance here.
Beginning June 9th, we will only approve the hiring of excessed educators for positions at traditional schools for vacancies in these program areas.
Autonomous schools and those with hiring MOUs, e.g. Innovation, Pilot, Horace-Mann, and Level 5 turnaround schools will still be able to hire externally, though they are strongly encouraged to hire from our pool of strong excessed educators.
July 1 Deadline for Lateral Transfers
In order to prevent unanticipated vacancies late in the hiring season, BPS will not approve the lateral transfer (hire) of BPS educators who hold current positions after July 1.
SY21-22 Excessed Educator Cost-Sharing Program
For the SY21-22 hiring season, OHC will accept applications from schools to pair qualifying part-time vacancies with Suitable Professional Capacity (SPC) positions, provided the school hires an excessed educator. See here for more information and the application. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rdmMyL5j1bW4KmA1yW_LDDjgaxV1Q5YuxwMnhs2_F-c/edit
Provisional and Managerial Non-Renewal Letters (6/15)
Notifications to Provisional Teachers and Managerial Employees who have not yet secured positions for the SY20-21 school year will be sent no later than June 15th.
If you are rehiring one of these staff and the process is not completed fully in TalentEd by the time these letters are generated, they will receive a non-renewal letter. Please help us out by giving these folks a heads up that they may receive a non-renewal letter from their previous position, while they are still in the hiring process for their new position.
Information Session for Educators Holding an Emergency License
(Please share with your teachers today!)
From 5:00-6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 4, InSPIRED Fellows, all of whom are current educators, will hold an information session for educators currently working under an emergency license who are interested in obtaining provisional or initial licensure. The resources and panel discussion will center on how to best support all emergency licensed educators, especially those who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and multiracial.
There will be a brief panel of DESE licensure staff followed by a Q&A discussion in which participants can ask questions and provide feedback to DESE. Participants can expect to learn about pathways to obtaining a Provisional or Initial license, resources available to help people pass the Massachusetts Tests of Educator Licensure (MTELs), and resources to help people navigate the licensure process. Registration for the information session is open online.
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