UTL495 Straight Talk Podcast

As a union local, we have many people working on our members’ behalf. When a member reaches out to our local, one of first people you most likely will speak with is Office Manager, Nancy Giblin. Nancy, as you will learn, has been with our UTL495 office since 1992. That means Nancy has invaluable background and knowledge of how things work, who to contact, and can often point members with questions to the answers they are looking for.

Nancy is calm, courteous and always on top of Member requests returning phone calls and making sure that Member messages and enquiries are responded to as promptly as possible.

It is our great pleasure to introduce Members who may not have met her yet, to Nancy. She is at the heart of our union! Nancy Giblin is one of the main reasons that United Teachers of Lowell is UNION STRONG.

• If you need to reach out to the United Teachers of Lowell, you can do so through email ([email protected]) or phone (978-937-9039).

• Nancy suggests that if your inquiry is personal, you may wish to consider using a personal email address when emailing or a cellphone number when calling.

• United Teachers of Lowell’s regular business hours when school is in session are 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. After hour messages can be left confidentially on the UTL’s answering machine or sent via email.

• Summer and school break UTL office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm.

• United Teachers of Lowell maintains strict confidentiality with member conversations and concerns.

The Podcast Twins thank Nancy for joining us today. Nancy is not only GOOD at her job, she is kind too! We are so fortunate to have Nancy here supporting all of us.

We also thank you, our listeners and especially to UTL members for tuning in to this Episode. We welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcasts or if you are aware of a UTL member who might be willing to share expertise and experiences, please email us at [email protected].

And of course, if you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to spread the word - or share with a friend (or two).

Subscribe to UTL495-StraightTalk on Apple Podcasts

And, new this week: You can also listen to our Podcasts on Stitcher.

Lowell has so many talented and dedicated educators working with our students and families. Today we are privileged to chat with STEM Academy Newcomer teacher, Mariana Athayde.

Mariana Athayde is a newcomer teacher for Grades 3-5 at the Rogers STEM Academy in Lowell, MA. Born and raised in Brazil, Mariana has experienced first hand the challenges newcomers face during their first years of education in a second language. Mariana holds a Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Teaching from Fitchburg State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences from University College Roosevelt in the Netherlands.  She has been selected as one of the WGBH Educator Ambassadors for two consecutive years. During her ambassadorship she has collaborated with teachers from other districts, presented a workshop on diversifying English language instruction with digital media at the Massachusetts Computer Using Educators ( MassCUE) 2018 conference, and is scheduled to present again at the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) 2019 conference.  She has creatively implemented technology in her classroom to empower English language learners in expressing content knowledge in an authentic and student-driven manner. She has modeled the implementation of learning stations in multileveled classrooms to teachers and administrators across the district. Mariana is dedicated to differentiated and diversified instruction that engages and empowers immigrant students.

Here with Mariana for today’s podcast are Kara Wilkins, one of Lowell’s outstanding Technology Integration Specialists. Kara, you may remember, was part of our Tech Team podcast, Episode 12 in the Fall of 2018. Recently Kara was also selected to be part of the WGBH Educator Ambassador program for 2019.

And also with us today is Carolyn Jacobs, WGBH’s Senior Manager Training and Educator Engagement. Carolyn fills us in on WGBH’s commitment to educators through the Education Ambassador program and she shares some of WGBH’s many resources for educators.

We are delighted - and excited - to share the spotlight on Mariana Athayde.

• The WGBH Educator Ambassador program is, as we heard, by invitation. Click here to learn more about the program.

• Visit WGBH/PBS’s LearningMedia website to see some of the outstanding resources available for FREE.

• Mariana and Carolyn both mentioned some professional organizations that may be of interest to listeners.

  • ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education)

  • MassCUE (Massachusetts Computer Using Educators)

  • MATSOL (Massachusetts Association of Teachers of Other Languages)

• The STEM Academy at the Rogers School website is found here.

The Podcast Twins thank Mariana Athayde, Kara Wilkins, and Carolyn Jacobs for joining us today. We are especially grateful to Carolyn and Kara for helping us kick the tires on our remote recording capability - and we are grateful to the tech gurus for helping make it all work!

We also thank you, our listeners and especially to UTL members for tuning in to this Episode. We welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcasts or if you are aware of a UTL member who might be willing to share expertise and experiences, please email us at [email protected].

And of course, if you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to spread the word - or share with a friend (or two).

Subscribe to UTL495-StraightTalk on Apple Podcasts

And, new this week: You can also listen to our Podcasts on Stitcher.

Here in Lowell, Massachusetts, our municipal workers receive health insurance benefits that are procured through the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission.

Last year, as members will remember, the Group Insurance Commission - or GIC - attempted to not only significantly raise insurance premiums for members, but also proposed to limit access to particular insurance plans including some plans that many of our local members subscribed. The cuts to benefits and increases in co-pays, deductibles, and premiums were a clear attempt to shift insurance costs back on to GIC members. Through a series of very well-attended “listening sessions” last year, GIC heard loud and clear that this shift was not acceptable, and ultimately, the Commission was able to negotiate with insurance carriers to keep premiums level, maintain the same insurance providers and insurance products, and impact member pocket-books with less drastic changes to co-pays, benefits, and deductibles.

In December 2018, GIC announced a series of three listening sessions across the Commonwealth intended to provide members with plan proposals for 2019-2020. These updates have not been formally approved the the GIC Commissioners. That will happen at the Commissioners first meeting in early February. The plan recommendations adopted by the GIC Commissioners will then become the basis for GIC Health Plan offerings during the Spring Open Enrollment period and take effect on July 1, 2019.

Mickie Dumont, Martha Leary and Amy Bisson traveled to Boston on January 22nd the learn the details of the GIC proposals at a daytime meeting in Boston. In this podcast Episode, we share what we learned about plan changes for 2019-2020.

• The Group Insurance Commission want to hear from you about planned changes. If you have questions or if you have comments about how the changes will impact you and your family members, please email, write, or phone the GIC using contact information on their web page, https://www.mass.gov/orgs/group-insurance-commission

• UPDATE ON GIC LISTENING SESSIONS: Note GIC has added a session in nearby Lawrence on Jan 30th from 5:30-7 p. Read about that here.

• As Mickie, Martha & Amy describe in the podcast, there is potential cost-shifting and some possible unintended consequences to subscribers and members. Again, please reach out directly to the GIC prior to their Commissioner’s meeting in early February to make your thoughts known.

• The HSA plan mentioned in the podcast is a benefit for municipal employees and retirees in Lowell and is administered by Ultrabenefits. Contact the Human Relations Department for the City of Lowell to obtain plan information on this or any other benefits offered to City employees.

The Podcast Twins thank UTL Executive Board Member and retiree, Martha Leary, for joining us today.

We also thank you, our listeners and especially to UTL members for tuning in to this Episode. We welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcasts or if you are aware of a UTL member who might be willing to share expertise and experiences, please email us at [email protected].

And of course, if you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to spread the word - or share with a friend (or two).

Subscribe to UTL495-StraightTalk on Apple Podcasts

And, new this week: You can also listen to our Podcasts on Stitcher.

We are more than fortunate to have dedicated powerhouses like AFT-MA Director of Organization Brian LaPierre supporting all of us!

One of the most talented and passionate advocates for public education, Brian is a member of the Lynn Teachers Union. He formerly taught at the Thurgood Marshall Middle School and at Lynn English High School. Tireless, enthusiastic, and resolute, Brian’s energy, enthusiasm and support for public education makes him a force to be reckoned with. As a political organizer, and now as AFT-MA’s Director of Organization, Brian is usually found at the forefront of issues and campaigns affecting public schools in Massachusetts.

Brian has twice been elected city councilor-at-large in Lynn, MA. In both 2015 and 2017, Brian topped the ticket in Lynn.

As Massachusetts gears up for our next educational fight, the Fund our Future Campaign, we know Brian will be on the frontlines making sure that our students, schools, families, and educators have the resources needed to support public education for everyone.

• The Fund Our Future Campaign has compiled a one-page overview which includes the Docket Numbers for the Promise Act filed by Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, Rep. Aaron Vega, and Rep. Mary Keefe. That document can be found here.

• As Brian mentioned, Lowell Public Schools are currently underfunded by about $42 million each year. Read more about how this underfunding impacts our community here.

• Who represents you? You can look up your state representatives and state senators using this link from Massachusetts Legislature. We encourage you to also contact legislators from school districts in which you work as well. Click the icon of the human in the top right corner of the blue banner for a pull down search by zipcode/address.

• The docket number for the Senate version of the Promise Act is SD.101 and you can read more here. The House version is HD.434 (information coming soon).

• Looking to get more involved in this issue? Contact United Teachers of Lowell at [email protected] and/or Lowell Education Justice Alliance ([email protected]).

Thank you to AFT-MA Director of Organization, Brian LaPierre for speaking with us today. As the Fund Our Future Campaign gets underway, we will be sure to have Brian back to update us on how all of us can help ensure that this vital legislation is passed! We also thank you, our listeners and especially to UTL members for tuning in to this Episode. We welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcasts or if you are aware of a UTL member who might be willing to share expertise and experiences, please email us at [email protected].

And of course, if you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to spread the word - or share with a friend (or two).

Subscribe to UTL495-StraightTalk on Apple Podcasts

And, new this week: You can also listen to our Podcasts on Stitcher.

The United Teachers of Lowell continues to press City and School officials about facilities issues that continue to impact our students and our members. In today’s podcast, Mickie and I update members about what has transpired since Paul, Mickie and several of our UTL Executive Board members attended a Lowell Board of Health meeting on December 5, 2018. We have had some subsequent contacts and today, we are asking UTL members to help us continue to collect data that will provide School and City officials with some critical data.

While we realize that the issues with HVAC in our school facilities have developed over a long period of what Paul calls “benign neglect”, we want to hear about contingency plans for when the heating and cooling systems create difficult learning environments.

Today, we’ll bring you up-to-date with what UTL has continued to advocate for, some new developments and some news our members can use as we enter 2019.

• Interested in reading the recommendations from the Collins Report? Click here.

• A link to the UTL members-only Survey Monkey about temperature issues within our facilities is available via the UTL closed Facebook group or was published in the December 28 and January 4 Five for Friday E-blasts.

• If you are not part of our GetActive network and would like to be, submit a non-work email address to us through [email protected].

Thank you to all of our listeners and especially to UTL members for tuning in to this Episode. We welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcasts or if you are aware of a UTL member who might be willing to share expertise and experiences, please email us at [email protected].

And of course, if you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to spread the word - or share with a friend (or two).

Subscribe to UTL495-StraightTalk on Apple Podcasts

And, new this week: You can also listen to our Podcasts on Stitcher.

-Darcie Boyer, LEJA

As a result of the successful “No on 2” Campaign here in Massachusetts, parents, students, educators and community members came to the realization that through collaboration and partnership among community members, important educational issues could be brought to public attention. While stakeholders from each of these groups view education through different lenses, the grassroots coalition that grew from No on 2 saw that through working together, we were stronger and more effective agents of change and protection for our public schools.

Darcie Boyer, a parent of an elementary-age student here in Lowell, has been a catalyst for forming partnerships and is one of the founding members of Lowell Education Justice Alliance, or LEJA, here in Lowell, Massachusetts. LEJA members meet regularly to continue their advocacy for students, families, and educators across the Lowell Public Schools. LEJA also is aligned with the state-wide coalition, Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance or MEJA. In the coming months, this partnership will continue to focus on local issues impacting our public schools and will collaborate on a new statewide effort to reform the foundation budget.

• To read more of what Lowell Education Justice Alliance (LEJA) is doing, visit the group’s Facebook page by searching for Lowell Education Justice Alliance.

• To be included on the LEJA mailing list, send an email message to [email protected].

• This group meets monthly and is open to interested community members - parents, educators and community allies. There is a student LEJA group as well. Send an email message to LEJA at [email protected] for details.

Thanks again to Darcie for speaking with us today and for her powerful advocacy for Lowell public education. We encourage listeners to contact Lowell Education Justice Alliance and join other like-minded community members in advocacy of our public schools.

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in to this Episode. We welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcasts or if you are aware of a UTL member who might be willing to share expertise and experiences, please email us at [email protected].

And of course, if you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to spread the word - or share with a friend (or two).

Subscribe to UTL495-StraightTalk on Apple Podcasts

And, new this week: You can also listen to our Podcasts on Stitcher.

We continue to hear from our members about facility concerns that impact student and staff health. Despite raising these concerns over and over on behalf of our members and students in the Lowell Public Schools, after decades of what UTL President Paul Georges terms “benign neglect”, building environment concerns continue to impact our students and staff in ways that are not conducive for learning. The Collins Report offers an accounting of facility concerns throughout the city and specifically details city-owned school buildings. That report can be found here. The City of Lowell Board of Health also has been following these concerns through their monthly meetings.

At the Board of Health December 5, 2018 meeting, UTL President Paul Georges spoke before the board to again raise awareness and concerns about school facilities. In this Podcast Episode, Paul talks to us about the concerns raised and what we all need to do to continue to advocate for buildings that will provide our students and staff with a suitably safe physical learning environment.

• Link here for the Board of Health agenda and meeting documents from December 5, 2018. The prior meeting. The Board of Health meets the first Wednesday of each month.

• The referenced Collins Report is an attachment to this memorandum issued in July 2018. The report documents facilities issues for all City of Lowell buildings, including school facilities.

• If you are a member of the United Teachers of Lowell OR a staff member at a school here in Lowell, please respond to this quick Survey which collects observational data about rodents using a personal (non-work) internet connection. We are collecting more specific data about the types of rodent evidence observed and specifics as to which schools continue to be affected. We would also like to pinpoint where in the building the rodent evidence was observed. The survey will remain open until December 24 so that we can compile information as needed for the next Board of Health meeting.

• Heads up to members that we will ask for your input regarding air temperatures in January 2019 when school resumes.

• If you notice and report a building maintenance issue that is a concern, please contact the UTL as well as building administration. That contact can be made via your Building Rep, a direct phone call to the UTL office (978-937-9039) , or email USING A NON-WORK EMAIL ADDRESS to [email protected].

Thanks again to Paul Georges and Mickie Dumont for continuing to bring some much-needed attention to the health and safety concerns impacting our students and staff members.

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in to this Episode. We welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcasts or if you are aware of a UTL member who might be willing to share expertise and experiences, please email us at [email protected].

And of course, if you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to spread the word - or share with a friend (or two).

Subscribe to UTL495-StraightTalk on Apple Podcasts

And, new this week: You can also listen to our Podcasts on Stitcher.

Today, we start a series of December Member Meet-Up podcasts so that you can meet and learn a little about some of the hard-working leaders in the UTL and how they support members. In this episode, we introduce our UTL VPs.

The United Teachers of Lowell’s Vice Presidents are a tireless group advocating for grade level bands of educators across the Lowell Public Schools. Our UTL VPs bring attention to some of the unique issues that affect a specific grade level band Susan and Kristen also serve as AFT-MA Vice Presidents and attend monthly AFT Massachusetts meetings. This is a great benefit to all of us as we find commonality and strength with locals across the Commonwealth.

Today, we are speaking with Susan Uvanni, Molly Kelley-Muon, and Kristen Schultz. Susan advocates for Elementary teachers, Molly advocates for Middle School teachers and Kristen for the High School.

As you will hear in this podcast, all three Vice Presidents have deep and varied educational experiences empowering them to be passionate promoters for members. They are eloquent advocates not only for educators, but also for all Lowell Public School students and families.

Should a member need to be in touch with either of the Vice Presidents, you can reach them via the UTL Offices (phone 978-937-9039 or [email protected]). Susan’s UTL email address is [email protected]; Kristen’s UTL email address is [email protected] and Molly’s address is [email protected].

Thanks again to Susan Uvanni, Molly Kelley-Muon, and Kristen Schultz for speaking with us today.

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in to this Episode. We welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcasts or if you are aware of a UTL member who might be willing to share expertise and experiences, please email us at [email protected].

And of course, if you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to spread the word - or share with a friend (or two).

Subscribe to UTL495-StraightTalk on Apple Podcasts

And, new this week: You can also listen to our Podcasts on Stitcher.

In this week’s episode, Episode 21, Mickie and Amy are joined by Lowell Teacher Academy Facilitator Pina Maggio as we take a close look at the Educator Evaluation cycle especially as it applies to those educators who are in Year 1 through Year 3. Today’s discussion is focused upon the definitions and expectations in the evaluation process, including, but not limited to, the four types of Educator Plans, proposed goals and the Evaluation Cycle up through January 15th, 2019. We will be back again after the new year to discuss the next parts of the cycle for educators on both Developing and Self-Directed plans.

Since 2011, the evaluation of educators has become much more data driven and focused. DESE, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, outlines the requirements for both developing educators, or those in the beginning stages of their teaching careers, and professional status educators (PTS). Within the evaluation cycle, educators and their evaluators focus on goals that are set by individual educators, grade level teams, by the Evaluator, by departments, or groups of Educators who have the same roles.

• Here are a few facts for educators who need to upload evidence of progress toward goals.

  • Evidence must be uploaded no later than December 15th. No exceptions.

  • If your evaluator should reject the evidence you provide, your recourse is to re-submit the artifact or evidence. A suggestion in this case is to share your evidence with your evaluator prior to uploading it to be sure it will be acceptable. A re-submission should take place as soon as possible.

  • Required evidence includes an artifact of the educator’s choosing for both Standard 3 & Standard 4. This is a case where QUALITY of the artifact is of greater importance the than QUANTITY. One artifact or piece of evidence should be submitted for each standard.

  • Evidence should also reflect progress toward the goals the Developing educator stated in the Goals submissions in October..

• A document explaining and summarizing the Educator Evaluation process in Lowell is available from the UTL Office. Please call and leave a message for Mickie Dumont if you need a copy.

• United Teachers of Lowell outlines the Teacher Evaluation process and required documentation as negotiated under the current contract. The Joint Committee on Educator Evaluation (JCEE) regularly reviews LPSD requirements. UTL members should refer to current contract language throughout the evaluation process. Contact your school building representative or the UTL office for clarifications as necessary. The UTL office can be reached via email at [email protected] or via telephone at 978-937-9039.

• DESE’s website for Educator Evaluation is found here. The website describes the cycle of evaluation in detail. Note to UTL members that some aspects of the Evaluation Cycle as outlined by Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, namely the use of DDMs (District Determined Measures) and Student Feedback Surveys, have not been negotiated or agreed upon for use as evaluation data for United Teachers of Lowell members. Please let the UTL know immediately if you are asked to include either of these items as part of an Educator Evaluation.

Apologies in advance for the selfie we used as an Episode image. Thanks again to both Pina and Mickie for clarifying the requirements and process for uploading artifacts and evidence for the Teacher Evaluation process. Thanks also to all of our listeners for tuning in to this Episode. We welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcasts or if you are aware of a UTL member who might be willing share expertise and experiences, please email us at [email protected].

And of course, if you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to spread the word - or share with a friend (or two).

Subscribe to UTL495-StraightTalk on Apple Podcasts

Educators know how valuable collaboration can be. As Bartlett School Math/Science teacher Laura Schofield shares

…for me, one of the biggest take-aways was how much collaborating with colleagues keeps me fresh as a teacher.

In this 20th Episode of our podcast, we hear how powerful collaborations between two seemingly unlike disciplines can foster student engagement and make for a curriculum that is both rich and deep.

The collaboration between Laura and Rachel is not only a collaboration between two educators within a school, it is an example of the partnership between University of Massachusetts Lowell and the Bartlett school. By collaborating with UML’s Dr. Gena Greher, Rachel and Laura make connections between music and mathematics that enable students to deepen their understandings of both subjects.

For those interested, both Laura and Rachel are willing to answer questions or provide more information through their school email. Rachel can be reached at [email protected] and Laura at [email protected].

• Bartlett Community Partnership School website

• Laura and Rachel spoke about these websites in their interview. Be sure to check them out!

  • The College Music Society

  • ATMI-Association for Technology in Music Instruction

  • MathScienceMusic.org

  • Groove Pizza App also read about this app at NY Music Experience Design Lab here.

  • Chrome Music Lab

Thanks again to both Rachel & Laura for speaking with us today. Thanks also to all of our listeners for tuning in to this Episode - Number 20! We welcome your general comments and feedback. If you have suggestions for future podcasts or if you are aware of a UTL member who might be willing share expertise and experiences, please email us at [email protected].

And of course, if you enjoy our podcasts, be sure to spread the word - or share with a friend (or two).

Subscribe to UTL495-StraightTalk on Apple Podcasts