A Message from Rich

Thanks to all of you who joined me for the first Middle School Conference a few short weeks ago. From an amazing rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner to Carmen Fariña's keynote address, the conference was, by all accounts, a huge success. Almost 500 participants attended the event and thoroughly enjoyed 11 different workshops covering a range of topics, including social and emotional learning, reaching English language learners, using Apple technology to transform classroom learning, the DOE’s special education reform, LEGO in the classroom, and the Common Core in literacy and math.

If you attended, it is my hope that you found the conference enjoyable and informative. Please help us spread the word as we make this conference an annual event. If you were not able to be there, I encourage you to join us next year!                           

Sincerely,

Richard Mantell
UFT Vice President for Middle Schools

2014 Proposed Contract At a Glance

Pay

• Salary: 18 percent rate increase spread over the life of the contract; an additional $1,000 ratification bonus for ALL titles.
• Retroactive: A complete retroactive package that will be paid out over a five-year period.  See below for owed retro monies if the contract is ratified.
  1. 1. A teacher who started in September 2013 (this school year!) is owed approximately $13,000 in retro monies.
     2. A teacher currently on salary step 6b MA is owed approximately $31,000 in retro monies.
     3. A teacher currently on salary step 8b MA +30 with longevity of 10 years is owed approximately $41,000 in retro monies.
     4. A teacher currently on salary step 8b MA +30 with longevity of 15 years is owed approximately $45,000 in retro monies.
     5. A teacher currently on salary step 8b MA +30 with longevity of 22 years is owed approximately $54,000 in retro monies.

Evaluation

• No more use of teacher artifacts.
• Focus on eight of the 22 Danielson components. 
• Teachers of nontested subjects will now have the option of being rated only on the test scores of students they teach.
• Fellow educators, instead of consultants, will serve as peer validators.
• Specific feedback must be given to teachers within 15 school days and an observation report must be given to a teacher within 45 school days.

Paperwork

New rules and new rights call for the elimination of duplicative and unnecessary paperwork, both written and electronic. A newly created joint UFT-DOE central paperwork committee will establish system-wide standards for the reduction and elimination of unnecessary paperwork, including electronic forms.

Curriculum

Another new right: Teachers of core subjects will be supplied with a curriculum by the DOE.

Workday

Educators will now have more options to use their time to do the things they need to get done, plus more time for parent engagement--without adding any additional time. The time has been repurposed, NOT increased. The workday remains the same length. Every school now has the right to repurpose time to meet their school’s needs, subject to an SBO vote except for the default options.

Career Ladder and School Innovation Opportunities

• Teacher Leadership: Teachers who want to advance their careers and model effective classroom strategies for others can now apply for a number of new professional leadership positions and earn an additional $7,500 to $20, 000 a year.
• Innovative Schools: Collaborative school communities that want to pursue creative new initiatives may engage in a process for greater contractual and regulatory flexibility to support innovations under a new program called PROSE - Progressive Redesign Opportunity Schools for Excellence.

Pension and Healthcare

• Pensions: Protected at current levels.
• Health care benefits: Preserved at current levels.  You will still be able to keep your current insurance plan and your network of doctors and hospitals will remain the same.
• Personal days: Educators will now be able to use three of their sick days (instead of two) to care for a sick family member.

More Details on UFT.org

Find out more about the contract proposal »

Middle School Conference Testimonies

The conference was very informative. Listening to our chancellor made me remember why I became a teacher. The workshops gave me insight in how to better hone my skills. Thank you for caring about your teachers. 
~W. Gold-IS 237Q

Congratulations on a most successful Middle School Conference. It was clear that all participants were thrilled to have a conference all their own. Every workshop was packed and the chancellor's keynote was enlightening. Your emcee rivaled Jimmy Fallon any day.
~D. Grant-Nonpublic Schools

I just want to thank you and let you know how much I enjoyed the first Middle School Conference yesterday. The workshops were very  informative and I learned  a lot. Your presentation was inspiring to me and it is obvious that you are passionate about improving middle school. 
~B. Nahoum (A former Oreo cookie who is now an ATR)

Participating in the first annual Middle School Conference was a great experience. The workshops provided great teaching ideas, videos and instructional strategies. I attended the math and differentiated instruction workshops and I must say I was really excited to share what I learned and implement the strategies for teaching and learning in my math classroom. The differentiated instruction workshop provided a plethora of information from grouping students to planning and instruction. Overall, the conference was great and I look forward to attending annually.
~W. Morales-IS68K

To see photos from the conference, see the photo gallery »

Celebrating our own

Let us know of any great happenings in your school so we can highlight them in our upcoming edition.

Cheers and jeers

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