October 31, 2021
NEWSETTE
Information is Power
Inside this Newsette:

  • Student Debt Support
  • Petition to Reduce Workloads
  • Grants Deadline: Nov 1
  • Member Benefits
  • NECC Self Nomination Form
  • Need PRAXIS Prep Support?
  • Parent Involvment
  • Mental Health Assistance
  • MSEA Merchandise
  • Big Year, Get Involved
  • Know your UniServ
  • Upcoming Events
  • MLK Essay and Poster Contest
  • Online Retirement Planning and Investment
  • Join a Committee
Concurrent Instruction Important Pay Dates From PGCPS

Please reach out if you have not received concurrent teaching stipend. Complete the linked form https://forms.gle/2MHZ7156nxJ24kf69
 

First Bi-weekly Concurrent Payment - Friday, October 29, 2021
Retro payment for bi-weekly Unit I - Friday, November 5, 2021
First Semester Lump Sum Payment - Friday, December 10, 2021
Second Semester Lump Sum Payment - Friday, June 10, 2022
Petition to Reduce Crushing Workloads for Educators
Educator workload intensification is a primary factor in educators’ choosing to leave the profession early, contributing to workforce shortages that are reaching a critical tipping point. Many educators are buckling under workloads that cause high levels of stress and burnout. Educators experience a lack of definition or boundaries around the workday. Decisions to pile onto educators’ workloads are being made without educator input and without regard to how it impacts them, their students, and their families. What we are asking for are manageable workloads that let us focus on our students and their success while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Student Debt Support
From national advocacy to individual support, NEA is working to ensure that education is affordable and accessible to all.

BREAKING NEWS
Thousands of educators from across the country have taken action to demand that the U.S. Department of Education fix the broken Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. We have been heard: The US Department of Education has announced they are overhauling the PSLF program. 

TAKE ACTION: CANCEL STUDENT DEBT
We can make sure students don’t have to choose between basic living expenses or their education, and that families who do attend college are not forever weighed down by a lifetime of crushing student debt.  Join us: ask Secretary Cardona to cancel the student debt of longtime public service workers, and $50,000 in student debt for all other federal loans.

Hear from our experts as they decode what the new changes mean for you:
Grants Available for Educators!
The Maryland Retired School Personnel Association, through its MRSPA Fund, is offering 6 Mini-Grants to classroom teachers across Maryland. The grants may be used on special projects or activities that are not funded through the school system or Parent Teacher Organization. We are asking for your support in sharing the flier and application with the classroom teachers of your school system. 
Get Valuable Educator Perks Just for Union Members
Whether you’ve joined your education association at the local, state or national level, you belong to the NEA and have access to educator perks through NEA Member Benefits. Watch this video to see how it works.
 
Why NEA Member Benefits Is Dedicated to Serving Educators
NEA members are at the core of everything we do – from negotiating on your behalf to offer valuable benefits with trusted partners, to supporting your personal needs in each stage of your life and career. Find out more about why you inspire us and how we can help you.
 

2021-2022 NECC GENERAL SELF NOMINATION FORM
 

2021 EARLY CAREER EDUCATOR'S (ECE) CONFERENCE: SKILLS & RELATIONSHIPS FOR ANY NORMAL

For our new educators, these “unusual” times have been a large part of their career. That’s why this year’s ECE conference focuses on skills and relationship building for ANY normal with two tracks. Track one is for educators with three or fewer years of experience in the profession with an emphasis on helping transition their skills from the virtual/hybrid world they have inhabited to their in-person classroom. Track two is designed for educators four through six years of experience and will focus on higher level skills for challenges they may be facing around equitably engaging their students, lesson planning, and parent communication. That’s not all, during the keynote session we will hear the student perspective on racial justice from student scholars taking part in the Minority Scholars Program.
Audience: MSEA members with six years or less in the profession
Date: October 30, 2021      
Where: Virtually (link will be sent out)
Times: 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Registration Closes: Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Contact: Chelsea Akibo-Betts [email protected]

Do You Know Any Parent Leaders at Your School? 
We have some great initiatives and sessions lined up for parents this year, but to be successful we need your support! 
 
Help PGCEA increase our parent engagement efforts this year by identifying people who are involved in Parent Teacher Associations and Organizations at your schools or individual parent leaders who are not affiliated with a formal organization. We greatly appreciate your support!
➡️Complete this brief form
For immediate mental health assistance:
PGCPS Employee Assistance Program:
By phone: 1-800-346-0110 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
    Username: PGCPS
    Password: PRINCE
Get your MSEA Merchandise Today!
Big Year and Lots of Ways to Get Involved!

As most of you know, this is a big year for PGCEA because we have the opportunity to renegotiate our contract with the county, while members of the school board and county council are up for re-election! Let’s demonstrate our power by winning big improvements in our contract on safety, workplace benefits, and pay scale while simultaneously putting people in public office who will work accountably with us on education policy and resource allocation. #TeachingConditionsAreLearningConditions

It’s time for us all to officially GET. IN. FORMATION. Throughout this fall, PGCEA members all have the opportunity to join one of our Contract Action Team (CAT) committees or our Political Action Go Team. To read more and sign up now for one of the CAT committees or the Go Team, click here. Once we have a critical mass of members signed up, we will follow up with upcoming committee meetings and action dates for this fall.

We will be offering a series of virtual information sessions about how open negotiations work, aka Bargaining for the Common Good (B4CG), where members will have the opportunity to dialogue directly and ask questions with experienced PGCEA organizers and contract negotiators. These information sessions are open and available both to PGCEA members who definitely know they want to join a CAT committee and to those who are curious and questioning the right role for them. Click on one of the following dates and time links to register for that virtual information and discussion session:




If you have questions about any of the trainings or committee sign up form, please email PGCEA Uniserv Director Nikki Cole at [email protected]. Sign up today and tell a colleague to do the same. We are powerful when we come together.
Do you know your UniServ Director?

Our UniServ directors (UD's) are here to assist you with any of your school-based issues or contract compliance needs. To find out what UD is assigned to your school click the button to see their school assignments.
EARLY CAREER EDUCATORS COMMITTEE!

PGCEA Early Career Educators Committee is recruiting new members. Join the ECE Committee every first Thursday of the month at 5:00 pm. Scan the QR code or join the meeting at https://bit.ly/3ahVbN9

If you have any further questions please contact the Committee Chair at [email protected]
Other Upcoming Dates:

October 25th, 2021: Representatives Council
October 26th, 2021: Chat & Chew- The ECE Committee
October 28th, 2021: AROS Listening Session
October 30th, 2021: New Teacher Open House
Nominations Elections and Credentials Committee (NECC) upcoming election calendar for members to review in case you want to run for office.
PGCEA Member Appreciation Days and Online Retirement Planning and Investment Sessions