4. Apply to Join the Teacher and Principal Advisory Cabinet:
The Department is seeking a diverse group of Massachusetts educators and school leaders for the 2021-2022 Teacher and Principal Advisory Cabinet. Cabinet members will serve as key advisors on updates to the Educator Evaluation Model System’s Classroom Teacher and School-Level Administrator Rubrics, with the purpose of centering culturally responsive teaching.
The Department seeks educators and school leaders who share a commitment to culturally responsive practice and particularly hopes to amplify and center the voices of Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and multiracial educators. Cabinet members earn 15 PDPs for their participation. Learn more about the opportunity and apply by Sunday, August 22 or nominate a fellow educator by Sunday, August 15. Please email educatordevelopment@mass.gov with any questions.
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5. LearnLaunch’s Prepare Educators Workshop:
LearnLaunch’s Prepare Educators workshop is designed to help school and district leaders prepare to support educators at the start of this school year and throughout the year. This workshop will outline the critical steps to ensure that the return to school is holistic and inclusive. This workshop is free for Massachusetts educators and will be offered at 10:00-11:30 a.m. on Friday, August 20; at 2:00-3:30 p.m. on Monday, August 23; and at 10:00-11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 24. A full list of LearnLaunch’s upcoming workshops is posted online.
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6. Civics Project Jumpstart Workshops:
The Civics Project Jumpstart is an introduction to the student-led civics projects and is aimed at educators who are new to the projects or looking for a refresher as they begin the school year. Participants will gain an understanding of the components of high-quality projects by looking at examples; identifying the supports, structures, and systems that can contribute to successful projects; examining resources and tools to draw on; and planning for implementation.
The four-hour virtual workshop will be offered three times:
- 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25;
- 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 13 and Wednesday, September 15; and
- 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 30.
Register here for any of the three options, and email Kathryn Gabriele with any questions.
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7. Supporting Civil Discourse in Social Studies: Best Practices for Leaders:
Classroom discussions about controversial topics in the past and present are a critical part of social studies instruction, but they are also particularly difficult in this politically polarized moment. From 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 26, DESE, in collaboration with Facing History and Ourselves, will offer a virtual workshop for school and district leaders to introduce them to best practices for helping teachers and students have conversations about difficult or controversial topics in social studies. Participants will learn about tools teachers can use to support students’ ethical reflection and emotional engagement in these conversations, as well as how leaders can foster a school environment in which civil discourse can flourish. Register here, and email Reuben Henriques with any questions.
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8. Apply to Join the InSPIRED Fellowship:
The Department, in partnership with TNTP, is accepting applications for the fifth cohort of InSPIRED Fellows! This highly selective opportunity is for current educators with close connections to their school communities and the ability to leverage their backgrounds and personal connections to communicate stories and calls to action to educational leaders, helping them understand the impact of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and multiracial educators.
The fellowship has four goals: increase the racial diversity of the teaching workforce in Massachusetts; increase the retention rates of Black, Indigenous, and other educators of color (BIPOC educators); create a stronger sense of community and support via an affinity network; and elevate the voices of fellows so that the work done in districts and at DESE better centers the lived experiences of BIPOC educators.
Click here to learn more and apply. Applications are due Tuesday, August 31.
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9. Call for AAAC Nominations:
The Department is seeking nominations to fill several at-large seats on the School and District Accountability and Assistance Advisory Council. The 15-member council advises the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on matters pertaining to the development and implementation of the Commonwealth’s district and school accountability and assistance system. The council includes eight at-large members with a demonstrated record of achievement or academic expertise in an education-related field, one business/industry person with a proven commitment to education, and six members nominated by specific entities. The Department encourages diverse candidates to apply. Interested individuals should email their resume to Erica Gonzales, AAAC liaison, at erica.m.gonzales@mass.gov by Wednesday, September 1.
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