PGCEA NEWSETTE
Information is Power
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Inside this Newsette:
- Celebrating Black History Month
- Legislative Update
- Black Lives Matter At School Activities
- Why the 2020 Census Matters
- Contact Your Legislators
- Classroom Size Survey
- Upcoming Events
- Join Us for Education Day in Annapolis
- Free Classroom Posters
- Know Your Contract: Teacher Evaluations
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Celebrating the Contributions of African Americans
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"Learning about black history is important for all students, and it’s imperative to help black students learn about themselves.
Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the historian who created “Negro History Week,” wanted more education about the history of black Americans in public schools. Woodson had said his ultimate hope was that a separate time for black history education would eventually become unnecessary and that the country would recognize black history as U.S. history, according to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
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This week was full of activities for PGCEA. At Representative Council meeting on Monday our go team representatives Michelle Clark and Annette Jones gave a presentation on how to engage members in contacting our elected officials on the Kirwin Commissions recommendations, the Blue Print for Maryland's Future and funding education with longterm solutions. If you were unable to attend the rep council meeting, you missed the announcement that on February 24th PGCEA Rep Council will be heading to Annapolis for our lobby night. It is critical that our elected state officials see us in Annapolis on not only February 24th but on other nights engaged in the legislative process....
READ MORE HERE
Please stay abreast with news coming from Annapo
l
is by signing up for the
MSEA Newsfeed
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BLACK LIVES MATTER AT SCHOOL WEEK 2020
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Black Lives Matter At School, is a national coalition organizing for racial justice in education. We encourage all educators, students, parents, unions, and community organizations to join our annual week of action during the first week of February each year.
S
ee Complete list of this weeks events below.
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What is the 2020 Census and
Why Does it Matter to Educators?
NEA #WeCount Campaign$
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We recognize the importance of an accurate census count to ensuring that all our students and their families get the federal support they need. Every 10 years, the federal government aims to provide a complete count of EVERY person residing in the United States. Census numbers help determine the formulas for critical funding for our public schools, social programs, and infrastructure that make our communities thrive.
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Have You Emailed Your Legislators?
In efforts to gain support of legislators and let them know that we are engaged and paying close attention to the issues that will impact our classrooms, we have launched a letter writing campaign. The campaign is a pre-drafted email that you can apply edits to personalize it. The letter congratulated legislators on the beginning of the 2020 legislative session and ask for their support of legislation that improves education outcomes.
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As educators we have to be involved politically.
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Our Elected representatives pay attention when we contact them.
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CLASSROOM SIZE? WHAT SHOULD IT BE?
Each year educators are plagued with unreasonable class sizes that negatively impact teaching and learning. PGCPS and PGCEA have formed a Joint Task Force to establish a mutually agreeable upon measure of class size. Your honest feedback and input is needed to effectuate change that will positively impact teaching and learning. This is an anonymous survey.
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Black Lives Matter In School Community Forum
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Structural Racism
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
LET'S TALK!!
Calling all Villagers, Let's come together to discuss the different forms of racism that continue to plague our communities.
WHEN:
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020
WHERE:
PGCEA CENTER
TIME:
5 PM
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WHEN:
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2020
WHERE:
PGCEA CENTER
8008 MARLBORO PIKE
FORESTVILLE, MD 20747
TIME:
6:00 PM
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Civic Academy on Community Schools
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WHEN:
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020
WHERE:
CASA
8151 15th Ave.
HYATTSVILLE, MD
TIME:
10:00 AM
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Prince George’s County Education Community Roundtable is a group of residents, teachers, and community leaders created to form an alliance to support education in our county.
The group meets monthly to discuss issues surrounding education in our community. Together, we can find solutions and get results on how to address these issues.
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Black Lives Matter At School Week Events
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Important Links for Black Lives Matter in Schools Week
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Black Lives Matter In School Week Activities
The Restorative Practices Committee invites ALL to join us as we celebrate "BLACK LIVES MATTER AT SCHOOL" national event in conjunction with NEA and MSEA. Our committee would like all members to participate in at least one event during the week of February 3-7, 2020. The week of events include but are not limited to:
Monday, February 3- Black Lives Matters at School T-Shirt
All members are encouraged to order your long-sleeve T-Shirts before they run out!! Prices are $10 per shirt
Tuesday-Social Media Campaign with Specialized #Hashtag
Use any of the following #hashtags to promote the movement
#pgceablm
#PGBLM2020
#BLM@School
#BLMendzerotolerence
#counselorsnotcops
#Ethnicstudiesmatter
#Blacklivesmatterinclass
#blackmentalhealthmatters
#BlackinClass
#PGCEAUnapologeticallyBlack
Wednesday-Townhall Community Forum: Internalized, Interpersonal, Institutional & Structural Racism. What's the Difference? Let's Talk!! 5 pm -7 pm, PGCEA Union Hall
Join us as we engage in a brave discussion about some very important issues affecting education today. Hear from a guest panel including NEA Social Justice Organizer, UMD-CP Professor of Criminology, PGCPD, Student Activist leading the work. Trust me, it's going to be BIG!!
Thursday-Bulletin Board Competition
Post your bulletin board using any of the PGCEA BLM 2020 hashtags for a chance to win a prize.
Friday-Poetry/Lyricist Slam/Happy Hour PGCEA Union Hall
-This event will be cabaret aka BYOB/F style
-Members will receive one drink ticket on us!!
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Join Us for a Lobby Day at the State Capitol February 24
Join other PGCEA members from across the county for our grassroots Lobby Day in Annapolis Feb. 24! We will discuss priority issues for education in the 2020 legislative session. You will have a chance to meet your senators and delegates.
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Get FREE Posters for the 2020 Census
NEA partnered with artist Marka27 to create special edition “I Count” posters to help educators increase awareness of the 2020 Census and encourage students and their families to participate in the safe and easy process.
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Special Education Announcement
If you are a special education teacher in a co-teaching assignment, please take a moment to complete the attached brief survey. This survey is to solicit input on how these co-teaching assignments are working, and what issues can be identified with these assignments that need to be addressed. The information you provide will be very important as we look at what is working well with this service model and what challenges remain with this model. We thank you for your time in completing this short survey and providing your valuable feedback on this important teaching model. (
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Are you in PTA or PTO?
Help us to identify people who are involved in Parent Teacher Associations and Organizations. Complete this
brief form
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What to do if you are accused of abusing a student?
Here is a
document
for your reference should you or a colleague be accused of abusing a student.
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Assault Leave
What is Assault Leave:
PGCEA/Unit I Members “may be entitled to receive paid leave time for employees for an assault occurring within the scope of employment. Employees of the Board of Education of Prince George’s County whose absence is due to a physical disability resulting from an unprovoked assault occurring within the scope of their employment, may be entitled to full pay status, instead of sick leave or Sick Leave Bank participation, provided they comply with all of the procedures cited hereafter.”
https://www.pgcps.org/risk-management/cards/Disability-and-Assault-Leave-(For-Employees)/
If you are assaulted while working by a student, parent, etc., you can apply for Assault Leave. In addition to contacting your principal or immediate supervisor immediately, please be certain to do the following:
• File a Workers Compensation Claim by contacting the Injured Employee Hotline / 1-800-774-2447 prior to seeking medical attention (if possible). Be certain to obtain a Workers Comp Claim Number.
• Seek medical attention within twenty-four (24) hours of the incident. Be certain to report it as a Workers Comp Injury and provide the Workers Comp Claim Number during intake.
• Complete a Security Incident Report Form (available at your school).
• Complete the Request for Assault Leave Form (available at your school). You have the option of stating “See Security Incident Report Form” in the fields that ask for duplicate information.
• Ensure the initial report of injury or physician’s statement has been sent to Risk Management/Workers Compensation (this will be done when you provide the Workers Comp Claim number when seeking medical attention).
When complete, submit the forms to your school for processing. The Assault Leave Administrative Procedure has changed, and it is no longer required to contact a law enforcement agency and file a complaint or warrant against the accused. If you have questions after completing these steps, please feel free to contact PGCEA and ask for a UniServ Director, and someone will provide assistance.
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GET INVOLVED
JOIN A COMMITTEE
This school year will be great for educators, students and communities but only with your support. The union is only great when you are involved. Take a moment to let us know what committees you are potentially interested in joining or share this quick survey with a colleague.
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Prince George’s County Six Pillars of Community Schools
Prince George's County Community Schools:
A community school is a community hub — both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and other community resources. Its integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development and community engagement leads to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities. Community schools offer a personalized curriculum that emphasizes real-world learning and community problem-solving. Schools become centers of the community and are open to everyone — all day, every day, evenings and weekends.
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Know Your Contract
ARTICLE 9- TEACHER EVALUATION AND RATING
a. 9.B:
Whenever it appears that any aspect of a tenured teacher’s classroom performance is less than effective the principal shall notify the teacher in writing, shall follow such notification with a conference to suggest necessary improvement, and shall make at least one classroom observation which shall be announced to the teacher at least two days in advance. Additional classroom observations may be made without advance notice. No less than an effective evaluation may be given
to a teacher without prior notification and conference. All evaluations which are less than effective must be given to the teacher on or before June 10th and all other evaluations must be given to the
teacher before the last duty day for teachers.
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Get involved! Join a committee.
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PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
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