Please come to the last Retirement/ Financial Planning Seminar of the year, next Thursday, April 10, from 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM. This session will be in person, at the PAT office, (345 NE 8th Ave, Portland). A light meal will provided. RSVP HERE. This seminar is a benefit to PAT members and will focus on educators who are newer to PERS (but all educators are welcome!). The seminar will be given by Ed Foster (of Foster & Associates, Inc). Topics will include: How does your state-sponsored retirement plan work? Where does the I.A.P. account fit in? How is it invested? How much money do you need to retire anyway? What happens if you change careers? What can you do to maximize your retirement savings? Don't miss out on our LAST retirement seminar this year! Information provided is general and non-proprietary in nature and is not a recommendation for a specific product or investment. Securities and advisory services offered through Cetera Advisors LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, a broker/dealer and a Registered Investment Adviser │Foster & Associates, Inc. is not affiliated with Cetera Advisors LLC Cetera Advisors is under separate ownership from any other named entity.

Recruiting, supporting, and retaining educators of color is crucial, for our students and for our profession. We are excited to award two scholarships to Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) seeking a rewarding future career in education.  Deadline to apply is Friday, April 11, 2025. Click one of our flyers to learn more and start an application.     

Table of Contents President's Message: Happy 2 Week Winter Break! Committee and PAT PAC Updates Run for a PAT Elected Position! Executive Board, OEA RA and NEA RA Executive Board Bulletins Portland and Oregon Solidarity Community Spotlight Political Updates PAT Events Upcoming Events and PPS Board & Committee Meetings  President’s Message: Happy Holidays Hello Educators, Congratulations, you made it to Winter Break! This year already feels different: A longer break, planning AND grading days, 2 full weeks for winter break AND a rosier forecast for the state budget. However, there is still more to work to do to ensure we have safe schools for all. We know post election that many of our communities feel a sense of fear and anxiety about the future of our schools, our funding, our safety. This is especially true for those who are a part of or perceived to be part of immigrant communities, communities of color, women and femmes, and our LGBTQIA+ (our Trans and non-binary siblings specifically).  I have been in conversation with our superintendent, our school board chair, our Social Justice and Community Outreach committee, parents and our PPS LGBTQ+ Program Manager about next steps. We are working on statements to put out affirming our support of our entire community with PPS, and our committees are working on language to assert our support of our immigrant community. See the statement PPS sent via Remind HERE, and a letter written by caregivers in the Cully community. Please check with your school admin to make sure you receive Remind messages from the district. Cell phone policy feedback needed: The PPS Board would like feedback on the new changes to their recommendation for a district wide cell phone policy. They changed their recommendation from “off and away during the day except for lunch and passing” to "off and away all day”. The Board chair has assured me the survey is anonymous; You will have to login to your PPS account to access the survey, but it will not record your email. Please share your thoughts below to help inform the School Board before their vote in January: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrWl0eQR_SLuCPUbo5ZwtOYSBcOhAqWFDqXgLNd-vzYD6tzw/viewform  Solidarity Forever Greater Albany Educators have a settlement and return to work agreement, but the Greater Albany Public Schools (GAPS) Management is refusing to bargain with the GA Classified Educators (GA-ACE) over the additional days. What GAPS is doing is illegal, and our classified siblings need our solidarity. Please sign their petition that GAPS not add additional days if they cannot guarantee classified staffing for a safe school day. Petition link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsHTZ9rU6JXZhDxSmwf_VKnKSAJAoA6ex8KmN90wzPkUd_VA/viewform?fbzx=2907320237477905411  In Solidarity,Angela BonillaPAT President Committee and PAT PAC Updates: Social Justice and Community Outreach Committee (SJCO): SJCO and CAT are partnering to provide an accountability and growth space through BARWE- Building Anti-Racist White Educators. Join the movement to build an antiracist union in culture AND practice. We’re not waiting on PPS to provide racial equity training…sign up now! Communication Task Force: NEEDED: WEB DESIGNERS please reach out to [email protected] if you have this awesome skill!  IPD/IPC: Click here for a November IPC UpdateTHANK YOU to the 52 educators who responded to the survey and a BIGGER THANK YOU to the ten mathematics educators who gave their time and expertise to this council meeting: Carmen Beals, Ann Button, Alison Ellsworth, Monica Estrada, Beth Gardner, Hilary McKinney Heiney, Michael Mansour, Julie Wright, Laurel Swift, and Amy Tilt.  ELA Survey for K-12 Educators: You may have received an email with the subject “Input Needed by 12/27: ELA Educator Survey & Upcoming Meeting”. The dude date is actually January 10th! Please fill out the survey to support our understanding of the impacts of the ELA curriculum! For Updates from Committees, check out their websites here! Run for a PAT Elected Position! (Executive Board, OEA RA, & NEA RA)   PAT’s General Election is now open. The positions open for nominations include:  PAT Executive Board Directors (4 positions) PAT Delegates to the NEA RA (approx. 27 positions) PAT Delegates to the OEA RA (approx. 40 open positions) Nominations CLOSE on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the PAT January RA: Nominations CLOSE at 5:30 p.m. for Executive Board candidates; Nominations CLOSE at 7:00 p.m. for NEA RA Delegate and OEA RA Delegate candidates. How to Nominate Yourself for a Position: Nomination Form: for ALL positions (Executive Board, OEA RA, and NEA RA positions); email form to [email protected] by the dates and times listed above Quick Online Sign-Up Form for OEA RA positions only; sign-up by the date and time listed above To learn more about the responsibilities of these positions and the election timeline, please refer to the Letter to Members (11/13/24), and the PAT Nominations and Elections Handbook found on the PAT website: www.pdxteachers.org/pat_elections  PAT is a democratic organization, and our leaders are elected by you and all our members. Any PAT member in good standing may run for elected position. (But you can become a member HERE in order to run, and to vote, in the election.) Executive Board Bulletins Angela Bonilla and Alisha Chavez, President and VP: We held our first Zone Listening Sessions with Superintendent Dr. Armstrong this past week for Zone 1 and folks whose job classifications have been cut down. Reps have been asked to sign up (1 per ES, 2 per K-8/6-8, and 3 per HS/k-12 programs) and solicit feedback from their buildings. In these sessions, Dr. Armstrong has made it clear that she is there to listen and maintain confidentiality; “The stories stay but the lessons leave”. Please reach out to your reps if there are issues you want to make sure they are aware of before they attend.We will host Zones 2-9 when we return from break! Our Executive Board and our amazing Associate Staff, Jennifer Dixon, have completed the second survey on communication! Please check your PPS email for the individualized survey link, this survey will close on January 9th.  Grievances of Note: Overage Payments-- Filed Questions for the Executive Board? Email us at [email protected]  Portland and Oregon Solidarity--NEA and OEA Updates Greater Albany EA has won a tentative agreement after a 12 day strike! Check out a summary of their wins! Support the Classified educators of Greater Albany by signing their solidarity petition here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsHTZ9rU6JXZhDxSmwf_VKnKSAJAoA6ex8KmN90wzPkUd_VA/viewform?fbzx=2907320237477905411  Community Spotlight If you have awesome things to share about other PAT members, please email [email protected]  Political Updates:  Contribute to the PAC!  Be a decision maker in who we endorse in state & national government! OEA PAC is OEA’s political action committee (PAC) – the tool that Oregon educators can use to help financially support pro-public education candidates who earn the endorsement of OEA members. The OEA PAC only exists because OEA members like you have chosen to make voluntary contributions to help educators build power and improve public education in Oregon.  PAT Events Upcoming Committee Meetings PAT Representative Assembly: Wednesday, January 8th 5:00pm-8:00pm, PAT Office RSVP here Advocacy Committee<<: Wednesday, January 15th 5:00pm-8:00pm, PAT Office Membership Committee: Wednesday, January 15th 5:00pm-8:00pm, PAT Office Instruction and Professional Development (IPD): Wednesday, January 15th 5:00pm-8:00pm, PAT Office RSVP for Committees HERE << Closed committee. Please email [email protected] for more info.*Racial or cultural affinity space ** Interested in being a CAT Zone Lead: Please email [email protected]  For all upcoming events, please see the PAT Calendar and OEA Calendar.   Upcoming Events, PPS Board & Committee Meetings The PPS Racial Equity and Social Justice (RESJ) team is thrilled to offer an in-person training focused on racial equity themes tailored specifically for PAT educators. This training is an excellent opportunity to deepen your understanding of bias, power, privilege, and oppression while reflecting on your own identities and their impact in the classroom. Training Details Session Format: 3-hour standalone training (not a series) Audience: PAT (limited to 40 participants per session) Location: Marshall Campus, Library (3905 SE 91st Ave, Portland, OR 97266) or Prophet Education Center (501 N Dixon St, Portland, OR 97227) Available Dates and Times: January 10, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here) February 7, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here) February 11, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here)  February 25, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here)  March 7, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here)  April 8, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here)  April 22, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here)  May 2, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here)  May 6, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Prophet Education Center (Room: Wy’east) (Register Here)  May 16, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Prophet Education Center (Room: Mazama) (Register Here)  Substitute Coverage: RESJ will cover half-day substitutes for participating teachers; however, participants are responsible for submitting their own sub requests. Sign-Up: Secure your spot on Pepper. Please note this is not a series—choose one date that works best for you in collaboration with your building administrator. PPS RESJ team is excited to host this important professional development opportunity and look forward to your participation! For any questions or concerns, please contact: Will Fernandez, [email protected]  PPS Board Meetings and Committees: Board Meeting | Tuesday, January 7th, 2024 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM @ MPE Join our Portland Community at the School Board meetings and committees! We will add upcoming meetings to The Advocate! See full Board Calendar HERE.  Find out more and sign up for Public Notices of these meetings HERE. Watch the Live Stream HERE. See live Board Calendar HERE Solidarity,https://www.pdxteachers.org/

Table of Contents The Advocate, December 20, 2024 President's Message: Happy 2 Week Winter Break! Committee and PAT PAC Updates Run for a PAT Elected Position! Executive Board, OEA RA and NEA RA Executive Board Bulletins Portland and Oregon Solidarity Community Spotlight Political Updates PAT Events Upcoming Events and PPS Board & Committee Meetings

Table of Contents The Advocate, December 10, 2024 President's Message: We've Been Busy! Committee and PAT PAC Updates Know Your Contract: Representation Pay and Probationary Evaluation Timelines Executive Board Bulletins Portland and Oregon Solidarity Community Spotlight Political Updates PAT Events Upcoming Events and PPS Board & Committee Meetings

The Advocate, December 10th, 2024 Table of Contents President's Message: We've Been Busy! Committee and PAT PAC Updates Know Your Contract: Representation Pay and Probationary Evaluation Timelines Executive Board Bulletins Portland and Oregon Solidarity Community Spotlight Political Updates PAT Events Upcoming Events and PPS Board & Committee Meetings  President’s Message: We've Been Busy! Hello Educators, There is a lot going on! A full advocate will come out next week, but we wanted to give you a few timely updates as we get our bearings after an eventful November! Our Greater Albany siblings have finally ratified their contract and ended their 12 day strike. Our staff went down to support their efforts, and we are glad they were able to witness and lift up the organizing and work GAEA did in their contract campaign. They won hard class size caps for their kindergarteners, a win we will be able to build on in our next bargain! We are glad to have John, Jacob, and Joanne back in the office after the many weeks they spent down in Albany 🙂 We’ve been holding organizing meetings for Core Enrichment educators (FKA “Specials” teachers) and Neighborhood schools! We have another meeting coming up this Thursday to finalize their plans to advocate for more support and respect in the workplace. We’ve attended School Board meetings and Bond meetings to get a better understanding of the conversation around the Bond Measure being proposed by PPS to rebuild Cleveland and Ida B Wells High schools. In follow up conversations with School Board Chair Wong, it is clear there will be NO reduction in EdSpecs or funding for the schools, but an assessment of how much “bang” we can get for each “buck” we invest in these high schools. IF there are any funds left, the new bond language will allow for those funds to be used for deferred maintenance and facilities improvements for Elementary and Middle schools. Those funds are not guaranteed and will only come to fruition if the HS builds come in under cost for the current plans. We are working on building up our PAT PAC funds for the upcoming school board elections, where there will be 4 seats available. PAT PAC is also figuring out our democratic endorsement process for the School Board endorsements. If you want to be involved in who we endorse, make sure you are a PAT PAC Contributor! Solidarity Forever Educators showing up for the New Seasons Labor Union one day picket! We hosted the Portland Youth Climate Strike group this Sunday and Community and Parents for Public Schools for their Advocacy Training on Saturday! We had almost 50 educators, parents, and community members in attendance! The Governor has released her budget, putting a much needed spotlight on Education funding and the Current Service Model that does not meet our reality on the ground. Opening our basement to support groups advocating for Quality Education Model- level funding from the state, and advocating for that in tandem with PPS leadership and families will change the conversation this long session on the State School Fund. In Solidarity,Angela BonillaPAT President Committee and PAT PAC Updates: For updates from committees, check out their websites here! Bargaining Committee:  Your bargaining committee was hard at work diving into district contracts nationwide looking for strong language that would be beneficial and appropriate for our next round of bargaining.  We are still looking for people willing to join the committee and help support the bargaining team.  If you are interested please email Julie at [email protected]. Social Justice and Community Outreach Committee (SJCO):  Your Social Justice & Community Outreach Committee has been busy! Here are the highlights and invites for your participation: SJCO and CAT are partnering to provide an accountability and growth space through BARWE- Building Anti-Racist White Educators. Join the movement to build an antiracist union in culture AND practice. We’re not waiting on PPS to provide racial equity training…sign up now! SJCO has agreed to support solidarity actions organized by the Pacific Coast Coalition for Seafarers. Show love and support this season for the essential workers who keep Portland thriving! Follow PCCS on Instagram and Facebook to learn more, and in the meantime, check out Justice for AJ Communication Task Force:  NEEDED: WEB DESIGNERS please reach out to [email protected] if you have this awesome skill!  Instruction and Professional Development Committee (IPD)/Instructional Practices Council (IPC):  Click here for a November IPC Update THANK YOU to the 52 educators who responded to the survey and a BIGGER THANK YOU to the ten mathematics educators who gave their time and expertise to this council meeting: Carmen Beals, Ann Button, Alison Ellsworth, Monica Estrada, Beth Gardner, Hilary McKinney Heiney, Michael Mansour, Julie Wright, Laurel Swift, and Amy Tilt.  Coming soon: a survey for ELA educators to prepare for an ELA-focused Council meeting on January 21, 2025. For Updates from Committees, check out their websites here!  Know Your Contract: Representation Pay and Probationary Evaluation Timelines REPRESENTATION PAID DURING THE WORKDAY OR AS EXTENDED HOURSHB2016 states that per section 3H, union reps (building reps) have reasonable time to conduct contract administration without loss of pay or benefits. That means that if you are an elected building rep and are representing a member during any meeting with the employer, you and the educator being represented should get a paid substitute or extended hours if it is during your planning time. Please reach out to your Zone Liaison if you have any questions. PROBATIONARY TEACHER MID-YEAR EVALUATION TIMELINESProbationary teachers are formally evaluated at least two times during the school year. By the last work day before Winter Break, all probationary teachers should have received their first evaluation report. This mid-cycle evaluation must be based on at least one formal observation cycle, which requires a pre-observation conference, the observation, and a post-observation conference. In addition to the formal observation cycle, the mid-year evaluation may include evidence from informal observations, artifacts, assessments, and other evidence collected throughout the first half of the school year. The mid-cycle formal evaluation requires a Mid-Cycle Summative Evaluation Meeting, separate from the post-observation conference. Prior to that meeting, the evaluator must give the educator a draft of the Mid-Cycle Summative Evaluation Report (Form 5) at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Any rating given in the evaluation report must be based on direct evidence that is written in the evaluation report. Review Article 27 of the PAT/PPS contract and the PPS Handbook for Professional Growth and Evaluation to determine whether the required procedures have been followed regarding your evaluation. Both are available on the PAT website. If the evaluator has stated that they “DO NOT RECOMMEND” you for continued employment if your performance continues as it is, contact your PAT Rep ASAP. You also have the right to submit a written objection/rebuttal that is attached to the evaluation report in your personnel file if you feel the evaluation was incomplete or unjust. The written objection should normally be made within 30 days of receipt of the evaluation. A template to assist you is provided here: Rebuttal Evaluation Template Executive Board Bulletins Angela Bonilla, PAT President: Our Executive Board and our amazing Associate Staff, Jennifer Dixon, have completed the second survey on communication! Please check your PPS email for the individualized survey link; this survey will close on January 9th. Grievances of note: Incorrect or missing Overage Payments: Grievance filed last week. Questions for the Executive Board? Email us at [email protected]  Portland and Oregon Solidarity--NEA and OEA Updates Greater Albany EA: Greater Albany EA has won a tentative agreement after a 12 day strike! Check out a summary of their wins Community Spotlight Have you seen our very own Darshanpreet Gill (McDaniel HS) featured in an NEA TODAY article about Saying Goodbye to Teacher Guilt? Check it out HERE.  If you have awesome things to share about other PAT members, please email [email protected]  Political Updates:  Contribute to the PAC!  Be a decision maker in who we endorse in state & national government! OEA PAC is OEA’s political action committee (PAC) – the tool that Oregon educators can use to help financially support pro-public education candidates who earn the endorsement of OEA members. The OEA PAC only exists because OEA members like you have chosen to make voluntary contributions to help educators build power and improve public education in Oregon.  PAT Events Upcoming Committee Meetings Bargaining Committee: Wednesday, December 11th 5:00pm-7:00pm, PAT Office  Social Justice and Community Outreach Committee: Wednesday, December 11th 5:00pm-7:00pm, PAT Office PAT Executive Board: Wednesday, December 18th 5:00pm-8:00pm, PAT Office PAT Representative Assembly: Wednesday, January 8th 5:00pm-8:00pm, PAT Office RSVP here RSVP for Committees HERE << Closed committee. Please email [email protected] for more info.*Racial or cultural affinity space ** Interested in being a CAT Zone Lead: Please email [email protected] For all upcoming events, please see the PAT Calendar and OEA Calendar.   Upcoming Events, PPS Board & Committee Meetings The PPS Racial Equity and Social Justice (RESJ) team is thrilled to offer an in-person training focused on racial equity themes tailored specifically for PAT educators. This training is an excellent opportunity to deepen your understanding of bias, power, privilege, and oppression while reflecting on your own identities and their impact in the classroom. Training Details Session Format: 3-hour standalone training (not a series) Audience: PAT (limited to 40 participants per session) Location: Marshall Campus, Library (3905 SE 91st Ave, Portland, OR 97266) or Prophet Education Center (501 N Dixon St, Portland, OR 97227) Available Dates and Times: January 10, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here) February 7, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here) February 11, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here)  February 25, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here)  March 7, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here)  April 8, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here)  April 22, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here)  May 2, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Marshall Campus (Register Here)  May 6, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Prophet Education Center (Room: Wy’east) (Register Here)  May 16, 2025 | 8:00-11:00 AM | Prophet Education Center (Room: Mazama) (Register Here)  Substitute Coverage: RESJ will cover half-day substitutes for participating teachers; however, participants are responsible for submitting their own sub requests. Sign-Up: Secure your spot on Pepper. Please note this is not a series—choose one date that works best for you in collaboration with your building administrator. PPS RESJ team is excited to host this important professional development opportunity and look forward to your participation! For any questions or concerns, please contact: Will Fernandez, [email protected]  PPS Board Meetings and Committees: Policy Committee | Monday, December 16, 2024 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM @ MPEC Audit Committee | Monday, December 16, 2024 | 6:15 PM - 9:15 PM @ MPEC Join our Portland Community at the School Board meetings and committees! We will add upcoming meetings to The Advocate! See full Board Calendar HERE.  Find out more and sign up for Public Notices of these meetings HERE. Watch the Live Stream HERE. See live Board Calendar HERE Solidarity,https://www.pdxteachers.org/

The Advocate, November 18, 2024 Table of Contents President’s Message: Community Schools Learning Lab Visit Committee and PAT PAC Updates Know Your Contract: Required Trainings and Educational Credits Executive Board Bulletins Portland and Oregon Solidarity Community Spotlight Political Updates PAT Events Upcoming Events and PPS Board & Committee Meetings

Table of Contents President’s Message: Community Schools Learning Lab Visit Committee and PAT PAC Updates Know Your Contract: Parent Teacher Conferences (PTCs) Executive Board Bulletins NEA and OEA Updates Portland and Oregon Solidarity Community Spotlight Political Updates PAT Events Upcoming Events and PPS Board & Committee Meetings  President’s Message: Community Schools Learning Lab Visit Hello Educators, Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a two day Learning Lab at the Anaheim United High School District (AUHSD) with PPS Superintendent Dr. Armstrong, Community Schools Director Dr. Karmin Williams, Executive Board Members Ricardo Alonso and Mike Carlip (our liaisons to the Bargaining Committee and the Instruction and Professional Development committees) and two of our Social Workers, Mayra Capistran and Yaneira Romero. Outside of PPS, we were also joined with member leaders from the Portland Metro Area and Central Oregon (Phoenix Talent EA, David Douglas EA, Gladstone EA, Centennial EA, Rainer EA, and Woodburn EA), representatives from the ODE Statewide Community Schools Steering Committee and Oregon School Based Health Alliance. Solidarity ForeverThe purpose of the learning lab was to visit a Community School that implements the pillars of community schools as shared by NEA, specifically shared governance, high quality instruction, community partnerships, and expanded learning opportunities. It was remarkable to go to a district that has improved student outcomes in all traditional metrics while having removed standardized testing from their school (they use Performance Tasks Assessments at least twice a year) and without a standardized curriculum (they have an approved book list, but no adopted curriculum.  Parents and community partners were deeply involved in the work, where the steering committee for community schools was co-facilitated by the District Community Schools Director and the ASTA union President and required participation of all 5 education partners (what we often hear referred to as “stakeholders”): Students, Educators, Community Partners, Parents, and Administrators. It gave me a lot of hope for a different approach to our schools, one that moves us away from standardized testing and curriculum from private companies and towards a school system that works for all our students! As we move into bargaining around the Community in Schools contract that Former Chief of Staff Jonathan Garcia signed during our strike, we have more knowledge and expertise to support us in building a strong community schools program at PPS. In Solidarity,Angela BonillaPAT President P.S. Want to learn more about Community Schools? Check out these resources: Twenty Years, Ten Lessons: Community Schools as An Equitable School Improvement StrategyCommunity Schools: Transforming Struggling Schools into Thriving SchoolsCommunity Schools: An Evidence-Based Strategy for Equitable School ImprovementCommunity Schools as an Effective School Improvement Strategy: A Review of the Evidence Committee and PAT PAC Updates: For updates from committees, check out their websites here!   Social Justice and Community Outreach Committee (SJCO):  Trans Justice, Trans Joy, November 21st: RSVP RACIAL EQUITY COMMITTEE:  Racial Equity Karaoke Social, December 6th: RSVP SUBSTITUTE COMMITTEE:  Substitute educators, check out the awesome substitute newsletter!  Substitute Party **Postponed**--New Date to be Announced It’s a new school year, we won a great new contract, and we want to celebrate with you, our fellow substitutes! We know substitute teaching can be a little strange. With the irregularity of jobs, inconsistency of schedule, and rotating work environment, substitutes can get isolated, so come connect! We’re going to party it up, share district gossip, make new friends, build organizing power, play games, and share about our new contract! This is also a great opportunity to meet your reps and the PAT staff that works for you, discuss contract issues, and learn more about union membership. The party is happening at Upright Brewing (240 N Broadway) from 4:00-7:00 on Wednesday, November 20th. We’ll provide dinner for everyone who RSVPs! All substitutes are welcome! Come through! We can’t wait to see you!  Know Your Contract: Parent Teacher Conferences (PTCs) Family Conferences are one of the many tools we have to boost student success. It’s a chance for us to talk to families holistically about their child—including their curiosity, love of learning, and critical thinking skills. These two days are long and exhausting, but they’re also filled with meaningful conversations, personal connections, and other opportunities to build community. This year, conferences are scheduled right before Thanksgiving. Some families may not be able to attend due to travel. Our Superintendent made it clear that make-up conferences do not need to be scheduled when families can’t attend because of travel. Instead, they may want to schedule a video-conference, phone call, or email contact during the time period designated for conferences. As educators, we try to be flexible, doing whatever it takes to meet with families, especially those whose work schedules or other obligations make it hard to meet during the designated conference time. Just remember, we don’t need to schedule make-up conferences because families are on vacation. You deserve to enjoy your holidays just as much as your students and their families. Evening conferences shall last no longer than three (3) hours and conclude by 8:30pm. A duty-free lunch of at least thirty (30) continuous minutes and a dinner break of at least sixty (60) consecutive minutes shall be scheduled prior to evening conferences. (Article 6.7.2 and 7.9.1) Executive Board Bulletins Angela Bonilla, PAT President: New Member Survey coming out this week! Our Executive Board and our amazing Associate Staff, Jennifer Dixon, have completed the second survey on communication to go out to members. Please check your PPS email for the individualized survey link! Questions for the Executive Board? Email us at [email protected]  NEA and OEA Updates Greater Albany EA:  Greater Albany EA went on strike Tuesday, November 12th and are currently holding the line, stronger than ever! They are fighting for:  Safe Schools (policies to keep our classrooms safe, comfortable and minimize learning disruptions) Staff recruitment and retention Reasonable workload (prioritizing time for teachers to prepare engaging lessons as well as setting class size thresholds conducive to learning) Health and Wellness Sign their petition to show your support!  You can also change your profile image to show your support or participate by doing their solidarity strike bingo! Hillsboro EA: Blue Wave for Stronger Schools Hillsboro EA is also in bargaining and may potentially head to mediation soon! They are holding a rally to support a fair contract. Wear your PAT Blue and show up if you can! Where: Admin Center - Parking lot, 3083 NE 49th pl Hillsboro, OR 97214When: Thursday, November 21st at 4:00pmSign the HEA Bargaining Platform Petition to support them as they bargain! They are fighting for a lot of the same issues we fought for: Class Size and Caseload that support student success Safe learning environment for students and staff Compensation that helps recruit and retain Educators Appropriate planning time to meet student needs Time to manage IEPs and 504s that allows for fully supported students Beaverton EA:  Sign their petition to show solidarity and change your social media profile pictures to one of the graphics below.   Portland and Oregon Solidarity: Lesly Muñoz, OEA staff running for State Representative for District 22, is 104 votes ahead of her opponent! As ballots continue to be counted and cured, send her positive messages and reach out to your friends in the district to make sure their ballots were counted and don’t need to be cured. Fred Meyer BoycottThe Fred Meyers Boycott is over! UFCW 555 ratified their contract at the end of October for Oregon and SW Washington! Learn more: https://www.ufcw555.org/fm-qfc-ratified/  Community Spotlight: Don't Shoot PDX Art Contest Don't Shoot Portland is holding an open call for a community collection of work that pays homage to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream while addressing todays' global fight for human rights and justice. Submitted works will be processed into screen prints to be used as protest art during our annual March in January 2025, coinciding with Inauguration Day.  Reclaim MLK is a community focused event that supports our Children’s Art and Social Justice Council, a youth led movement for social change.  People of all ages are welcome to submit work and 5 winners under 21 years old will be selected to encourage youth participation! Art must be submitted by November 30th! Winners will be chosen by Don't Shoot PDX and will receive up to $1,000 in cash and gift cards to Black Owned Business and art supplies stores. If you have awesome things to share about other PAT members, please email [email protected]  Political Updates:  Contribute to the PAC!  Be a decision maker in who we endorse in state & national government! OEA PAC is OEA’s political action committee (PAC) – the tool that Oregon educators can use to help financially support pro-public education candidates who earn the endorsement of OEA members. The OEA PAC only exists because OEA members like you have chosen to make voluntary contributions to help educators build power and improve public education in Oregon.  PAT Events Upcoming Committee Meetings Advocacy Cadre Zoom (OPEN to all Members): Monday, November 18th 4:00pm-5:30pm, GRANT HS Advocacy Committee<<: Wednesday, November 20th 5:00pm-7:00pm, PAT Office  Membership Committee: Wednesday, November 20th 5:00pm-7:00pm, PAT Office  Communications Task Force: Wednesday, November 20th 5:00pm-7:00pm, Zoom  Substitute Committee: Wednesday, December 4th 5:00pm-7:00pm, PAT Office  Racial Equity Committee: Wednesday, December 4th 5:00pm-7:00pm, PAT Office Legislative Committee: Wednesday, December 4th 5:00pm-7:00pm, PAT Office  PAT PAC: Thursday, December 5th 5:00pm-7:00pm, PAT Office  RSVP for Committees HERE << Closed committee. Please email [email protected] for more info.*Racial or cultural affinity space ** Interested in being a CAT Zone Lead: Please email [email protected] Other Upcoming PAT Events Trans Joy, Trans Justice: Thursday November 21st, 5-7pm PAT Office RSVP HERE For all upcoming events, please see the PAT Calendar and OEA Calendar.   Upcoming Events, PPS Board & Committee Meetings PPS Board Meetings and Committees: Special Meeting | Tuesday, November 19, 2024 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM @ MPEC Join our Portland Community at the School Board meetings and committees! We will add upcoming meetings to The Advocate! See full Board Calendar HERE.  Find out more and sign up for Public Notices of these meetings HERE. Watch the Live Stream HERE. See live Board Calendar HERE

The Advocate, October 30th, 2024 Table of Contents President’s Message: $40 million in cuts, unless... Retirement Planning Seminar- Thurs, Nov. 14 Committee and PAT PAC Updates Know Your Contract: Required Trainings and Educational Credits Executive Board Bulletins Grievance Updates NEA and OEA Updates Portland and Oregon Solidarity Community Spotlight Political Updates PAT Events Upcoming Events and PPS Board & Committee Meetings

The Advocate, October 30th, 2024 Table of Contents President’s Message: $40 million in cuts, unless... Retirement Planning Seminar- Thurs, Nov. 14 Committee and PAT PAC Updates Know Your Contract: Required Trainings and Educational Credits Executive Board Bulletins Grievance Updates NEA and OEA Updates Portland and Oregon Solidarity Community Spotlight Political Updates PAT Events Upcoming Events and PPS Board & Committee Meetings  President’s Message: $40 million in cuts, unless... Hello Educators, Imagine a school district that has small caseloads for SLPs, Learning Center and focus room educators, School Psychs, or other specialists.  Imagine a school district that can fully staff paraeducators as required by student IEPs for in our schools with a thriving wage. Imagine a district that has enough to support funding and resources to support the services promised to our students with IEPs and so that previous allocations go to support smaller class sizes, core enrichment, wrap around services, and the services we need in our schools. By now most, if not all, of you have read the email from our Superintendent, Dr. Armstrong, about the additional need for $40 million in cuts to our budget for the 25-26 school year. We know those cuts would be devastating to our schools and students, as we work in understaffed and under-supported sites due to the last round of cuts. These cuts have been forecasted since last year in THIS board presentation, as the district takes from our reserves to make up for their operating costs (somebody’s gotta pay for all those fancy contracts with The New Teacher Project, amirite?!).  However, there is some hope: Gov. Kotek has recalculated the Current Service Level calculation which will bring millions into our district. If we can be funded, at minimum, at the level we currently spend, we can avoid the majority of these cuts. But we all know the current funding level is still not enough. One way we combat these potential cuts is by organizing and speaking up for the removal of the Special Education cap on school funding in Oregon. Special education services are not optional, they are legal requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  This unfunded mandate makes districts siphon funding from other programs that are not legally required or mandated in order to make up the gap between what our students with disabilities need.  The cap of 11% per district allows the state to continue to underfund our schools and harms all students. Keep an ear out for our more information on next actions from your CAT and your reps as we start to develop a game plan with OEA and other locals in the area to put pressure on our legislators to fund education at QEM levels. Solidarity ForeverThe one year anniversary of our strike (our strike-aversary, if you will), is coming up on Friday, November 1st. Looking around at the cuts and harm caused by the previous superintendent and interim superintendent is a reminder that our strike was not the end of our fight, but the beginning of the next chapter. Now is the time to hold our state accountable in providing adequate funding for our students and ensure our school leadership uses that funding appropriately. Let’s work with our new superintendent, our families, our metro area local unions and community to fight for great public schools for all! In Solidarity,Angela BonillaPAT President Retirement Planning Seminar- Thurs, Nov. 14 Thinking about retiring? Please come to our Retirement Planning Seminar on Thursday, November 14th from 5:00 PM-6:30 PM. This session will be in person, at the PAT union hall, at 345 NE 8th Ave, Portland. A light meal will provided. RSVP HERE. Click here to see and share this event’s flyer This seminar is a benefit to PAT members and will have information tailored specifically for educators planning to retire in the next 1-5 years. Topics include the following: How is your pension benefit is calculated? What does "buying back waiting time" mean? What pension options are available to you when you retire? What about the IAP? Where does your 403b fit in this? An overview of the PERS retirement paperwork. Working, moving, the "bubble", and other considerations. Things to consider regarding when to take Social Security. Committee and PAT PAC Updates: For updates from committees, check out their websites here! Instruction and Professional Development Committee (IPD):  MATHEMATICS EDUCATORS, we need your feedback and participation please! Click here to complete our Mathematics Educator Survey by Wednesday, November 6. Our November 19 Council meeting will focus on mathematics curricula and professional development. PPS and PAT are looking for volunteer math educators (respond to the survey to volunteer) to attend the council meeting across 3 grade bands: K-5, 6-8, and 9-12.    You are also kindly invited to join our next PAT Instruction and Professional Development (IPD) Committee meeting on Thursday, November 7 from 5-7 pm at the PAT hall. Dinner will be provided. RSVP here for a headcount or to receive a Zoom link to join the committee meeting remotely. Visit https://www.pdxteachers.org/ipd_committee to read the long and detailed version of our report from our meetings with district management at Instructional Practices Council (IPC). Membership:  Exciting opportunity! Discover this women-owned, full-body indoor spin studio in SE Portland. They’re offering PAT members a free class! Date: Nov 17th at 12:15 PMLocation: SE MLK Jr. Blvd & SE Washington St., Portland RSVP here! Space is limited!  Social Justice and Community Outreach Committee (SJCO):  Mark your calendars for this awesome event, RSVP here!   Know Your Contract: Required Trainings and Educational Credits COMPETE YOUR REQUIRED TRAININGS BY OCTOBER 31st Don’t forget, Article 7.13.3 of the PAT/PPS contract states that “Professional educators will be responsible for completing District mandatory online training during any administrative directed time. For high school educators, there will be no staff meetings on at least two (2) Tuesdays between the start of the school year and the due date of the mandatory online training.”  The due date for completion is OCTOBER 31st!  All educators will be automatically assigned the 2024-25 courses under “My Current Courses” in Pepper, the District’s Professional Learning Management System. You can access Pepper at pepper.pps.net. REMEMBER TO TURN IN YOUR EDUCATIONAL CREDITS BY OCTOBER 31ST If you have earned educational credits over the summer, or if you are a new hire and have yet to submit your educational background, you must submit the official documentation to HR no later than October 31st  if you want the credits to count from the start of the year. The CBA states in Article 12: “12.2.1.3  In order to receive a salary adjustment retroactive to the beginning of the current school year, a professional educator must, by October 31st, provide the Human Resources Department with proof of completion of coursework. Adjustments based upon proof received after October 31st will be made effective the first day of the next pay period.” If you submit the credits to HR after October 31st, they will move you on the salary schedule but the credits will not be counted retroactively to the start of the school year. Executive Board Bulletins Angela Bonilla, PAT President: Communications survey is almost complete. A small group of Executive Board members will be meeting to give a final review of the survey before it is sent out! Questions for the Executive Board? Email us at [email protected] Grievance Updates Please see the level 2 grievances we have recently filed below. If you have any additional information to support the grievance, please reach out to your reps who can share that information along. NEW School Psychologists workload: Grievance filed NEW Evaluations and informal observations through Mosaic: Grievance filed and updated MS 5pm end time on early release days: Grievance filed Neighborhood Schools: Request to bargain has been filed (last Spring) Communities in Schools: Request to bargain has been filed (last Spring) Approved for/moved to Arbitration: SLP workload increase  NEA and OEA Updates Greater Albany EA:  Greater Albany EA declared impasse on Friday, October 4th. Their bargaining proposal priorities include:  Safe Schools (policies to keep our classrooms safe, comfortable and minimize learning disruptions) Staff recruitment and retention Reasonable workload (prioritizing time for teachers to prepare engaging lessons as well as setting class size thresholds conducive to learning) Health and Wellness Sign their petition to show your support! Your PAT Executive Board has voted to send solidarity funds of $5000 to support them. We stand with Greater Albany Educators in their fight to make their district better for all staff and students.  You can also change your profile image to show your support!  Hillsboro Education Association:  Sign their bargaining platform to show your support! Their open articles include: Safety, Class Size, Caseload, Fair Compensation, Planning Time, and SpEd Support!  Beaverton EA:  Sign their petition to show solidarity and change your social media profile pictures to one of the graphics below.   Portland and Oregon Solidarity: Providence Strike Fundraiser and Celebration:  Following the largest nurses strike in Oregon history, nearly 6,000 Providence nurses, doctors, providers, and healthcare professionals, may be on the cusp of yet another, unprecedented state-wide strike. We're taking this important step in our years-long campaign to better protect our patients and our colleagues from the corporate takeover of healthcare at Oregon’s largest healthcare corporation. Naturally, we decided to have a party! Facebook event page here! Please join us, our allies, and community members for a strike fundraiser and celebration of our struggle. Who will be there: DJ Grievant – Portland Association of Teachers Building Rep  – will supply the tunes. Roger Peet of Justseeds Artists' Cooperative & Portland DSA will supply the artwork. Hayden Rook-Ley, a nationally recognized healthcare expert will provide the expertise on corporate healthcare. The ONA Providence bargaining team members will provide the inspiration. You! (and your friends) The event is 21+ with outdoor heaters and a fire pit. The suggested donation for admission for this strike fundraiser is $20.Saturday, November 2 from 6:30 - 8:30pmWhite Owl Social Club (1305 SE 8th Ave) Community Spotlight:  Moira Finnegan, a Speech and Language Pathologist at Franklin High School was awarded the 2024 Oregon Speech and Hearing Association's Professional Advocacy Award. The award honors a person who has contributed to the advancement and visibility, viability, or vitality of the speech-language pathology profession in Oregon. Moira was honored in recognition of her efforts to help with the school board, district administration, our local union, the Oregon Board of Examiners, the American Speech-Hearing Association, as well as state legislators understand their responsibility to Oregon school-based SLPs and the students we serve.  Additionally, Moira's efforts towards protecting her colleagues and students and families as a union representative have included writing contract language, supporting bargaining, lobbying the state, working with lawyers on historic unfair labor practice claims, teaching union leaders about SLP service and supports, supporting individual SLPs in worrisome situations, and more. She's adept at union advocacy in complex and technical ways -- and, she's also the person who texts SLPs and educators just to check in, see that they're staying hydrated or getting a moment to rest and reset. She cares deeply about her colleagues and it shows in her genuine concern for our wellbeing in and out of the classroom.  In a time of historic and unprecedented burnout in education (and all caring-focused professions), Moira's drive and initiative and compassion seem endless. It's often a tough sell to encourage already overwhelmed educators to take on union representation responsibilities -- and, yet, Moira makes the (important and essential) work look effortless and joyful. Every one of her 100+ Portland Public School SLP colleagues are better and safer thanks to Moira.  If you have awesome things to share about other PAT members, please email [email protected]  Political Updates:  Get involved by volunteering for Portland Association of Teachers PAC Endorsed Candidates: Portland City Council-District 3 Teacher Tiffany: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/687992/Angelita Murillo: https://www.angelitaforportland.com/get-involvedJesse Cornett: https://www.cornettforportland.com/get-involved Portland City Council-District 4 Mitch Green: https://www.mobilize.us/mitch4portland/Sarah Silkie: https://sarahsilkie.com/volunteer Chad Lykins: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScmI2kjlKHdaEG9tOXV2nTjsjcPABwaAgAmd-qkss_XvLexvQ/viewform Portland City Council-District 2Marnie Glickman: https://www.marnieglickman.org/sign-upTiffani Penson: https://secure.ngpvan.com/aBuOG6z5A0Ovl8yAYHVrTQ2Jonathan Tasini: https://www.jonathantasini.com/volunteer Carmen Rubio for MayorVolunteer for Carmen Rubio for Mayor: https://www.mobilize.us/carmenforportland/  PAT Events Upcoming Committee Meetings Bargaining Committee<<: Wednesday, October 30th  5-7pm at PAT office RSVP here SJCO Committee: Wednesday, October 30th 5-7pm at PAT office or Zoom RSVP here Executive Board Meeting: Wednesday, November 6th 5-8pm at PAT Office Campaign Action Team (CAT) Task Force**: Thursday, November 7th 5-8pm at PAT Office IPD Committee: Thursday, November 7th 5-8pm at PAT Office or Zoom RSVP Here PAT Representative Assembly (RA): Wednesday, November 13th 5-7pm at PAT Office. RSVP here RSVP for Committees HERE << Closed committee. Please email [email protected] for more info.*Racial or cultural affinity space ** Interested in being a CAT Zone Lead: Please email [email protected] Other Upcoming PAT Events Trans Joy, Trans Justice: Thursday November 21st, 5-7pm PAT Office RSVP HERE For all upcoming events, please see the PAT Calendar and OEA Calendar.   Upcoming Events, PPS Board & Committee Meetings PPS Board Meetings and Committees: Regular Meeting | Wednesday, November 6, 2024 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM @ MPEC Policy Committee Meeting | Monday, November 13, 2024 | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM @ MPEC Join our Portland Community at the School Board meetings and committees! We will add upcoming meetings to The Advocate! See full Board Calendar HERE.  Find out more and sign up for Public Notices of these meetings HERE. Watch the Live Stream HERE. See live Board Calendar HERE Solidarity,https://www.pdxteachers.org/

The Advocate, October 07, 2024 Table of Contents President’s Message: Elections are Just Around the Corner Committee and PAT PAC Updates PAT PAC Instruction and Professional Development (IPD) Racial Equity Social Justice and Community Outreach (SJCO) Know Your Contract Overage Pay Parent Teacher Conferences Salary Adjustment & Mandatory Training deadlines Sick Leave Bank Grievance Updates Executive Board Bulletins NEA and OEA Updates NC Relief Fund I HEAR Conference Portland and Oregon Solidarity Beaverton EA Greater Albany EA Community Spotlight 2025 Oregon Teacher of the Year: Bryan Butcher, Jr.! NW Teaching with Purpose Conference PAT Events Upcoming Events and PPS Board & Committee Meetings

Table of Contents President’s Message: Elections are Just Around the Corner Committee and PAT PAC Updates PAT PAC Instruction and Professional Development (IPD) Racial Equity Social Justice and Community Outreach (SJCO) Know Your Contract Overage Pay Parent Teacher Conferences Salary Adjustment & Mandatory Training deadlines Sick Leave Bank Grievance Updates Executive Board Bulletins NEA and OEA Updates NC Relief Fund I HEAR Conference Portland and Oregon Solidarity Beaverton EA Greater Albany EA Community Spotlight 2025 Oregon Teacher of the Year: Bryan Butcher, Jr.! NW Teaching with Purpose Conference PAT Events Upcoming Events and PPS Board & Committee Meetings  President’s Message: Elections are Right Around the Corner! Hello Educators, We are 29 days away from the November election. Usually, there is a huge focus on national races, which often leaves folks in the NW feeling disenfranchised by the time our ballots are counted. The place your vote has the most impact is at the local level. Please double check your registration and that your address is up to date HERE. If you want to know who PAT PAC endorsed for local races and who OEA endorsed for statewide races, check out our website here: https://www.pdxteachers.org/pat_pac  Portland residents will use ranked choice voting (for the first time) for our new City Council structure and Mayoral race. You will have the option to vote for up to 6 candidates and rank them as your 1st-6th choice. If you do NOT want a candidate to win, regardless of who else is running, DO NOT RANK THEM; Any vote, even if it is your 6th place vote, is still a vote! Still confused? Join us for a Ballot Party at PAT on October 24th! Bring your ballot, learn more about ranked choice voting, and join in food and fellowship. PAT is near the Multnomah County Elections office, so you can drop off your ballot right after! RSVP here to join us. Solidarity ForeverDon’t forget to learn more about ranked choice voting at your next 10 minute meeting AND using the videos from Multnomah County (find a multilingual playlist HERE). Share that knowledge to support your neighbors and your school community. You cannot endorse a candidate in conversations during the workday, but you CAN discuss and educate about issues of public interest, like ranked choice voting! Lastly, make your voice even louder by donating $20/month to the PAT PAC. We will be using those funds to help identify and elect strong pro-public education and pro-union school board members this Spring. Join the PAT PAC by clicking HERE and scrolling to the bottom for the PAT PAC. In Solidarity,Angela BonillaPAT President Committee and PAT PAC Updates: For updates from committees, check out their websites here! PAT PAC Updates:  Join us for an upcoming PAT canvass for PAT PAC Endorsed candidates for City Council:  Thursday, Oct. 10th, 4-7 pm: Join Team Tiffany and the Portland Association of Teachers to knock on doors and visit different neighborhoods on Tiffany's last day of school before the election.  https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/687992/ Get involved by volunteering for Portland Association of Teachers PAC Endorsed Candidates: Carmen Rubio for MayorVolunteer for Carmen Rubio for Mayor: https://www.mobilize.us/carmenforportland/ Portland City Council-District 3 Teacher Tiffany: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/687992/Angelita Morillo: https://www.angelitaforportland.com/get-involvedJesse Cornett: https://www.cornettforportland.com/get-involved Portland City Council-District 4 Mitch Green: https://www.mobilize.us/mitch4portland/Sarah Silkie: https://sarahsilkie.com/volunteer Chad Lykins: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScmI2kjlKHdaEG9tOXV2nTjsjcPABwaAgAmd-qkss_XvLexvQ/viewform Portland City Council-District 2Marnie Glickman: https://www.marnieglickman.org/sign-upTiffani Penson: https://secure.ngpvan.com/aBuOG6z5A0Ovl8yAYHVrTQ2Jonathan Tasini: https://www.jonathantasini.com/volunteer Instruction and Professional Development Committee (IPD) Hey SpEd Educators & K-12 Mathematics Educators, The Instruction and Professional Development (IPD) Committee wants to hear from you!  We are looking for SpEd educators impacted by staffing changes and/or the “Neighborhood” schools model. We want to know how your instructional practices have been impacted and how this model is serving students (or not). K-12 Mathematics educators, we would love to hear your perspective of how adopted curriculum and assessment requirements are impacting your classrooms.  Please bring your experiences and ideas to the Instruction and Professional Development Committee Meeting on Wednesday, October 16 from 5-7 pm at PAT. Dinner will be provided.  Please make sure to RSVP for committee meetings (dinner headcount). Thanks! -Your IPD Committee Co-Chairs: Geoff Stonecipher, Woodmere IC; Valerie Turner, Mt. Tabor ELA/SS; & E-Board liaison Ricardo Alonso, Jefferson Mathematics Racial Equity Committee:  We want to share this upcoming event hosted by BEAM Village on October 18th. See the flyer for more details or contact [email protected] Social Justice and Community Outreach Committee (SJCO) Mark your calendars for this awesome event, RSVP out soon!  Know Your Contract: Overage Pay, Conferences, Salary Adjustments, and Sick Leave Bank Overage Pay: Calculated on third Monday in October: 10/21 (8.3.2.1). Remind educators to save a copy of student load/unique preps from Synergy. Oct. 31st: Deadline for proof of  Coursework completion to be submitted to Human Resources (HR) for salary adjustment retroactive to the beginning of the current school year. (12.2.1.3 and 12.3.3) Completion of required trainings (7.13.3). Evening conferences shall last no longer than three (3) hours and conclude by 8:30pm. A duty-free dinner break of at least sixty (60) consecutive minutes shall be scheduled prior to evening conferences. (6.7.2) Sick Leave Bank donations: Members can donate up to 40 hours of sick leave annually. Find the Application and Guideline forms on our website: For Members: Forms and Resources. Grievance Updates:Please see the level 2 grievances we have recently filed below. If you have any additional information to support the grievance, please reach out to your reps who can share that information along. Evaluations through Mosaic: Grievance filed MS 5pm end time on early release days: Grievance filed Neighborhood Schools: Request to bargain has been filed (last Spring) Communities in Schools: Request to bargain has been filed (last Spring) Executive Board Bulletins Director at Large, Catherine Tucker, Zone 6: In collaboration with CAT,  we are excited to have our Core Enrichment (FKA “Specials”) educators join us on Monday 10/7/2024 for a listening and strategizing session! We had the opportunity to invite PPS Superintendent Dr. Armstrong to the meeting and look forward to having our members share the real concerns with our current Core Enrichment staffing model directly with her. We will report out from the session in the next Advocate! Interim Director at Large, Mike Carlip, Zone 5: In collaboration with CAT and VP Alisha Chavez, we will be hosting a listening and strategizing session with the impacted staff of the Neighborhood Schools program rollout on October 22nd, 2024 at the PAT Office. We have directly reached out to reps at the schools impacted and look forward to collaborating and organizing to improve our schools. Questions for the Executive Board? Email us at [email protected]  NEA and OEA Updates NEASupport for North Carolina Members impacted by Hurricane HeleneWe understand that natural disasters can be destabilizing for the entire community. One way to support is to donate to their Disaster Relief fund through the North Carolina Foundation. Donate and check out more at the link: https://ncfpsc.org/disaster-relief/ OEAI HEAR Conference | Saturday, October 19th, 2024 | 8 AM - 3:45 PMSummit Highlights: Inspiring keynote speakers who are leading experts in their respective fields Engaging panel discussions and interactive workshops on various topics related to inclusion, healing, equity, access, and rights Networking sessions to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations Resource information showcasing local initiatives, services, and resources available in the community Opportunities for personal growth, learning, and skill-building Learn More and RSVP HERE: https://oregoned.org/I-Hear-Summit Portland and Oregon Solidarity: Beaverton EA: PACK the Beaverton school board meeting on Tuesday (10/8) starting at 7pm at the district office (1260 NW Waterhouse Ave). BEA bargaining chair, Suzanne Albrich, has asked that folks come in RED to the school board meeting as a clear indication that management has ignited the fire of BEA members.  Sign their petition to show solidarity and change your social media profile pictures to the graphic below. Greater Albany EA: Greater Albany EA declared mediation on Friday, October 4th. Their bargaining proposal priorities include:  Safe Schools (policies to keep our classrooms safe, comfortable and minimize learning disruptions) Staff recruitment and retention Reasonable workload (prioritizing time for teachers to prepare engaging lessons as well as setting class size thresholds conducive to learning) Health and Wellness Sign their petition to show your support! Your PAT Executive Board has voted to send solidarity funds of $5000 to support them. We stand with Greater Albany Educators in their fight to make their district better for all staff and students.   Community Spotlight:  2025 Oregon Teacher of the Year is Beaumont's own Bryan Butcher, Jr.! Congratulations to Bryan Butcher Jr.! He is a Beaumont Middle School math teacher and was named and celebrated as Oregon’s 2024-25 Teacher of the Year! Bryan’s commitment to building a sense of community and rapport with his students, including starting a Black Student Union, has been recognized by the Oregon Teacher of the Year Program. Learn more about his work and nomination here: https://oregonteacheroftheyear.org/winners/bryan-butcher-jr-2/ Sign up for the Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference! 17th Annual Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference | Saturday, October 26, 2024Registration is now open for the 17th Annual Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference – held this year on Saturday, October 26, at Chief Sealth International High School in Seattle. Please join us for this festival of wisdom, conscience, and idea-sharing. Register here.  PAT Events Upcoming Committee Meetings Advocacy Cadre (in person- open to all members): October 7th, 4:00pm- 5:30pm at Jefferson High School PAT Representative Assembly (RA): Wednesday, October 9th 5-7pm at PAT Office. RSVP here Advocacy Committee<<: Wednesday, October 16th 5-7pm at PAT office Membership Committee: Wednesday, October 16th 5-7pm at PAT office RSVP here IPD Committee: Wednesday, October 16th 5-7pm at PAT office RSVP here RSVP for Committees HERE << Closed committee. Please email [email protected] for more info.*Racial or cultural affinity space Other Upcoming PAT Events Core Enrichment Listening and Strategizing Session: October 7th, 5:00-7:00pm at the PAT office --RSVP here Neighborhood Schools Listening Session: Tuesday, October 22nd at PAT Office RSVP here PAT Election Ballot Party: Thursday, October 24th 5-7pm at PAT office RSVP here For all upcoming events, please see the PAT Calendar and OEA Calendar.   Upcoming Events, PPS Board & Committee Meetings PAT Election Ballot Party: Wednesday, October 24th at 5pm at the PAT Office (345 NE 8th Ave). There will be music, refreshments, and a good time of filling out your election ballots with friends! RSVP here!  PPS Board Meetings and Committees: Monday October 7th | Policy Committee Meeting | 4:30pm-6:00pm @ MPEC Tuesday, October 8th | Regular Meeting | 6:00pm-9:00pm @ MPEC Join our Portland Community at the School Board meetings and committees! We will add upcoming meetings to The Advocate! See full Board Calendar HERE.  Find out more and sign up for Public Notices of these meetings HERE. Watch the Live Stream HERE. See live Board Calendar HERE Solidarity,https://www.pdxteachers.org/

The Advocate, September 23rd, 2024 Table of Contents President’s Message: Move at the Speed of Trust Committee and PAT PAC Updates Know Your Contract: Parent Teacher Conferences Executive Board Bulletins OEA Updates I HEAR Conference Portland and Oregon Solidarity Community Spotlight PAT Events Upcoming Events and PPS Board & Committee Meetings  President’s Message: Move at the Speed of Trust Hello Educators, As you all know, the first 6 weeks of school are spent building systems and community. The goal is to create a community of trust in order to move the learning forward. If that means that curriculum pacing needs to take a backseat so you can adapt the instruction to address the needs of students present in your classroom, so be it (thanks, Article 10)! PAT leaders have been working to also rebuild that trust with PPS leadership, including our new Superintendent, Dr. Armstrong, and our new PPS School Board Chair, Eddie Wang. Superintendent Armstrong has shared multiple times that she believes she needs to “walk the talk” to rebuild our relationship. Chair Wang has shown a commitment to doing things differently than previous chairs, as evidenced by his new expectations for policies during the last School Board Meeting. Alisha and I now have regular meetings with Dr. Armstrong to talk about issues impacting our schools and she has shown a commitment to addressing the real issues created by the rushed roll out of the Neighborhood Schools program (inclusion without enough support). To that end, keep an eye out for a Class Size Survey coming from PAT to get a sense of the actual class sizes across the district. Solidarity ForeverVoting and engaging in the political process is not the end of our engagement, but the beginning. Make sure you have checked your voter ID information and that it is up to date. Ballots go out on October 16th, with ballots due to a ballot box or postmarked by November 5, 2024. In addition to voting, make sure you learn how ranked choice voting will work this upcoming election. Check out this short video from the Multnomah County Elections office: Ranked Choice Voting (Short) and the playlist with these videos in multiple languages. Lastly, make your voice even louder by donating $20/month to the PAT PAC. We will be using those funds to help identify and elect strong pro-public education and pro-union school board members this Spring. Join the PAT PAC by clicking HERE and scrolling to the bottom for the PAT PAC. In Solidarity,Angela BonillaPAT President Committee and PAT PAC Updates: For updates from committees, check out their websites here! September 15-October 15 is Latine/Hispanic History Month. Find materials here to uplift, illuminate, and activate critical thinking all year long:  NEA: Hispanic Heritage Month: many lesson plans including: Sí, se puede!": Chávez, Huerta, and the UFW, Esperanza Rising: Learning Not to Be Afraid to Start Over, and Five Artists of the Mexican Revolution. National Museum of the American Latino: many virtual exhibitions, including: Thriving in Diversity: Latinas and Latinos with Disabilities, Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective, and Sí se puede! A Latino History of Voting Rights in the United States​. Facing History & Ourselves: 5 resources including: Latino Americans: The 500-Year Legacy That Shaped a Nation (documentary), Latinx Rights in 1960s California (multimedia resource collection), and Schooling for Critical Consciousness: A Conversation with Scott Seider and Daren Graves (on-demand webinar). PAT PAC Updates: PAT members are invited to join Meghan Moyer and Shannon Singleton for a joint canvass on Saturday, Sept. 28th, from 10 AM to noon in inner NE and SE, co-hosted by The Mother PAC. We’d love to have your members out there with us! Sign up here. Join us for an upcoming PAT canvass for PAT PAC Endorsed candidates for City Council:  Saturday, Oct. 5th, 11am-2pm: Knock Doors with PAT for Mitch Green, Sarah Silkie & Chad Lykins: https://www.mobilize.us/mitch4portland/event/694941/ Thursday, Oct. 10th, 4-7 pm: Join Team Tiffany and the Portland Association of Teachers to knock on doors and visit different neighborhoods on Tiffany's last day of school before the election.  https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/687992/ Get involved by volunteering for Portland Association of Teachers PAC Endorsed Candidates: Carmen Rubio for MayorVolunteer for Carmen Rubio for Mayor: https://www.mobilize.us/carmenforportland/ Portland City Council-District 3 Teacher Tiffany: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/687992/Angelita Morillo: https://www.angelitaforportland.com/get-involvedJesse Cornett: https://www.cornettforportland.com/get-involved Portland City Council-District 4 Mitch Green: https://www.mobilize.us/mitch4portland/Sarah Silkie: https://sarahsilkie.com/volunteer Chad Lykins: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScmI2kjlKHdaEG9tOXV2nTjsjcPABwaAgAmd-qkss_XvLexvQ/viewform Portland City Council-District 2Marnie Glickman: https://www.marnieglickman.org/sign-upTiffani Penson: https://secure.ngpvan.com/aBuOG6z5A0Ovl8yAYHVrTQ2Jonathan Tasini: https://www.jonathantasini.com/volunteer  Know Your Contract: PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES Your building may already be creating a schedule for Parent/Teacher Conferences in the fall. Evening conferences shall last no longer than three (3) hours and conclude by 8:30pm. A duty-free dinner break of at least sixty (60) consecutive minutes shall be scheduled prior to evening conferences. (Article 6.7.2) Executive Board Bulletins: New Section with Announcements from Your Executive Board! From Director-at-Large Catherine Tucker (Zone 6): Join us for our first Core Enrichment Educator Listening Session! We know core enrichment educators have a lot of questions and concerns about their workload this year and we want to hear from you. Join us on Monday, October 7th from 5pm-7pm to talk about your experience and figure out how we can organize to create conditions that support you as professional educators. RSVP HERE Questions for the Executive Board? Email us at [email protected] OEA Updates I HEAR Conference | Saturday, October 19th, 2024 | 8 AM - 3:45 PM Summit Highlights: Inspiring keynote speakers who are leading experts in their respective fields Engaging panel discussions and interactive workshops on various topics related to inclusion, healing, equity, access, and rights Networking sessions to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations Resource information showcasing local initiatives, services, and resources available in the community Opportunities for personal growth, learning, and skill-building Learn More and RSVP HERE: https://oregoned.org/I-Hear-Summit Portland and Oregon Solidarity: Stand with Fred Meyer Workers – Shop Somewhere Else!: UFCW 555 is calling on the community to support them by not shopping at Fred Meyer until a fair agreement is reached and Fred Meyer’s admitted price gouging has stopped. As a community of workers, allies, and consumers, let's uphold the previous picket lines with our dollars and shop somewhere else! Don't Shop Fred Meyer! Pledge here to shop somewhere else! Philippine Solidarity Event with SEIU 503: Join SEIU 503 and community on Sunday, Sept 29 from 5-7pm in person or on zoom to learn more about the conditions and struggles of Filipino workers both locally and in the Philippines and why our solidarity is so important. Open to all, not just 503 members! There will also be a potluck if you are able to bring a dish to share. Masks will be required when not eating. Register Here  Community Spotlight: Sign up for the Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference 17th Annual Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference | Saturday, October 26, 2024 Registration is now open for the 17th Annual Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference – held this year on Saturday, October 26, at Chief Sealth International High School in Seattle. Please join us for this festival of wisdom, conscience, and idea-sharing. Register here.  PAT Events Upcoming Committee Meetings Bargaining Committee: September 25th, 5:00pm-7:00pm at the PAT office  Nominations and Elections Committee<<: September 25th, 5:00pm-7:00pm at the PAT office  SJCO Committee: September 25th, 5:00pm-7:00pm at the PAT office  Legislative Committee: October 1st, 5:00pm-7:00pm at the PAT office  Advocacy Cadre (in person- open to all members): October 7th, 4:00pm- 5:30pm at Jefferson High School RSVP for Committees HERE << Closed committee. Please email [email protected] for more info.*Racial or cultural affinity space Other Upcoming PAT Events Core Enrichment Listening and Strategizing Session: October 7th, 5:00-7:00pm at the PAT office --RSVP here For all upcoming events, please see the PAT Calendar and OEA Calendar.   Upcoming Events, PPS Board & Committee Meetings PAT Disability Activist Watch Party!  What: Private Virtual Screening of The Ride Ahead followed by a live Q&A with film co-producers Dan and Samuel Habib.  When: Saturday, September 28, 2024, 11:00-1:15 PM PST  Where: Online- register for virtual screening, hosted by NEA (REGISTER HERE) Special Q&A: After the screening, we will have an exciting opportunity to engage with the film’s co-producers and star, Dan and Samuel Habib, who will discuss their experiences, the inspiration behind the film, and answer your questions.  Join your fellow PAT disability activists afterwards from 1:15-2:00 for a virtual mini share-out about this film followed by a raffle sponsored by the Social Justice/Community Outreach Committee! Click here to receive the zoom link. PPS Board Meetings and Committees: Monday Sept. 23rd | Canceled to be Rescheduled- School Board Policy Committee Meeting | 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Tuesday Sept. 24th | School Board - Special Meeting | 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM Join our Portland Community at the School Board meetings and committees! We will add upcoming meetings to The Advocate! See full Board Calendar HERE.  Find out more and sign up for Public Notices of these meetings HERE. Watch the Live Stream HERE. See live Board Calendar HERE

The Advocate, September 23rd, 2024 Table of Contents President’s Message: Move at the Speed of Trust Committee and PAT PAC Updates Know Your Contract: Parent Teacher Conferences Executive Board Bulletins OEA Updates I HEAR Conference Portland and Oregon Solidarity Community Spotlight PAT Events Upcoming Events and PPS Board & Committee Meetings

Table of Contents President’s Message: Starting the Year Strong PAT General Survey #1: Results at Your 30-Minute Meeting! PAT General Survey #2 Coming Soon Committee and PAT PAC Updates Know Your Contract: Class Size Committees, Heat Mitigation, Check Your Schedule Executive Board Bulletins: New Section with Announcements from Your Executive Board! OEA Updates Portland and Oregon Solidarity PAT Events Upcoming PPS Board & Committee Meetings  President’s Message: Starting the Year Strong Hello Educators, Welcome back for the 2024-2025 School Year! Last week, many of you started your in-service training and preparation for students. For our Teacher Librarians and Counselors, thank you for the work you’ve already done starting two weeks ago. This is an exciting and anxiety provoking time: There is never enough time to do what we need to do to welcome back our students. However, that first day with students comes and y’all create amazing experiences for our students every day. Here at your PAT union hall, we held our Executive Board and Committee Chair three-day retreat, training for our new Advocacy Cadre, our first Representative Assembly, and our two-day Building Representative training. We also signed up dozens of your new colleagues during the two-day New Educator Orientation at Roosevelt HS with amazing member volunteers!  This new year offers many opportunities to see real, impactful change: It is a long session year for the Oregon Legislature, so we can continue the fight for fully funded public education and revenue reform with OEA locals across the state Our new PPS Superintendent, Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong, is willing to listen to union partners and build collaboration. In fact, she has already communicated directly with me more times in a few months than Guerrero did the entire two years I have been PAT President Our school board has 3-4 seats up for election this May, and we are organizing to ensure we have a pro-public education, pro-union, pro-student school board majority (great reason to give $20/month to the PAT PAC) Solidarity Forever We are also keeping an ear out for the challenges the district has chosen to turn into Neighborhood Schools (AKA Inclusion without Support) and Communities in Schools “Community Schools”. We want inclusion for students- with support. We want Community Schools- in the NEA model, with Active Family and Community Engagement; Integrated Student Supports; Collaborative Leadership and Practices; and Expanded and Enriched Learning Time and Opportunities. Our Community Organizer, Joanne Shepard, has reached out to your reps to schedule times for leadership and staff to come visit. We want to hear what needs have popped up and support y’all with advocacy and problem solving. In Solidarity,Angela BonillaPAT President PAT General Survey #1: Results at Your 30-Minute Meeting! Thank you to all the members who attended last Monday’s RA. We want to extend a special thank you to the nearly 40% of members who participated in our summer survey. That is wonderful participation in the summer! We hope to continue to hear from many more of you. In the coming year we are focusing on building more democratic and transparent processes in order to get direct feedback and input from our membership. The largest concern we heard in our survey results across several different responses this summer was that members do not feel heard by PAT leadership and there is a need for improved communications between our members and leadership of the union. We also heard the need to build and strengthen transparency, democracy, and communication both to and from members, an ask to focus on and communicate more about local and immediate issues, and that folks who had positive comments and trusted leadership still didn’t, “know what we are doing." As our own PAT Treasurer Tina Lamanna shared, “We cannot get historical data to compare to the past, but we can create the historical data for our future leaders." Your reps received copies of the survey data and presentation, as well as the actions we will take moving forward to address these concerns. Some of the actions we are taking include: Instituting regular member surveys for direct feedback to PAT leadership Instituting a regular email group of the PAT Executive Board that members can contact directly: [email protected] (please share your name and site so the appropriate director can respond!) Building a member led communications task force that is focused on internal membership communication and research. This is in addition to OEA support with external communications and press requests Holding an all member Bargaining and Strike debrief and town hall through our Bargaining Committee Creating a PAT vision, strategic planning, and PAT goals through our board, committees, and to be voted on by our Representative Assembly For more information on the survey data and the identified next steps, attend your PAT 30-minute meeting during your in-service. Reps were sent with a hard copy of the results and presentation in their envelopes or they picked it up at the RA. We know we have a lot of work to do this year to enforce our contract and build a strong union. We heard y’all and we apologize for the lack of communication and input. We will move forward in a way that ensures stronger systems of communication & more input from members, provides a sense of connection and belonging to our union, and makes us stronger. PAT General Survey #2 Coming Soon Our next survey is about modes of communication as well as how connected you feel to your union. Our Executive Board will be working on and finalizing this survey at our next meeting at the end of August. We hope to have the survey out by early September. The survey will be sent to your PPS email. Click the link to leave the PPS servers and answer the questions on your own unpaid time (lunch, before or after the work day, for example). Committee and PAT PAC Updates: PAT Campaign Action Team (CAT): PAT CAT (Campaign Action Team) is a task force designed to help educate, mobilize, organize and inspire a disciplined PAT membership to collective action for our Union, our sibling Unions and the communities we support. Learn the skills to organize through an awesome training opportunity called Skills to Win. We will be focusing on workload specifically around special education caseload and class size, so if you want to learn more sign up here!  ALL CALL for Bargaining Committee- Do you have experience in bargaining? The Bargaining Committee needs YOU! Please fill out this form. IPD: The Instructional and Professional Development (IPD) Committee meets roughly monthly on Wednesdays from 5-7pm at the PAT Office. Our goal is to work as equal partners with PPS in education program planning. Current priority issues include: SpEd Learning Center caseloads, district-mandated curriculum and testing, and continuing to monitor/participate in the district ESL/ELL/MLL services audit. We meet as a PAT committee first, then the committee chairs and invited members meet with our PPS Superintendent and leadership monthly as the Instructional Program Council (IPC) to discuss instructional issues and priorities. Come join us at PAT on Wednesday, September 11th from 5-7pm (please RSVP) if you want to help us explain to the district how their policies, mandates, and cuts impact our work as educators - and hopefully, create solutions to issues that are impacting our students. Legislative Committee: Want to elect teacher friendly candidates on Portland’s new City Council? Work to get the State to fully fund education? Ensure we have Pro-teacher candidates running for School Board this spring? If any of these sound interesting to you, then please join Legislative Committee. We will be meeting over zoom on September 5th, then at the PAT office on September 19th. Please fill out this form if you want to get updates on meetings and actions this school year!   Know Your Contract: Class Size Committees, Heat Mitigation, Check Your Schedule Class Size Committee It’s time to start taking screenshots of your synergy lists and rosters! Overage is calculated on the second Monday of October. However, our contract states that “schools will form a class size committee on an as needed basis” (8.3.7.3), so you can start organizing now if your class list or caseload is above the thresholds under Article 8.2. Reps received training on this language during the rep training, so reach out to your rep team and review Article 8 of the contract if you have questions. Heat Mitigation We can expect some 80+ degree days in the coming weeks. Under Article 9.12, we have new language around how the district is expected to deal with heat indexes above 80 degrees. Check with your reps, as we sent out thermometers that measure temperature and humidity (little white thermometers with a magnet and stand) last year and they may still be at your site. Use your hottest rooms to check the heat index when students are in the room. Article 9.13.3 explains what to do when “temperatures reach below sixty (60) degrees and/or the heat index reaches above eighty (80) degrees in a professional educator’s work setting (for example, classroom or office)”. The first step is recording and informing your administrator and reps of the conditions in writing. Find the rest of article 9 and the rest of your contract HERE. GIVE YOUR SCHEDULE A CHECK-UP! Article 7 (Workday) of the PAT/PPS contract includes language to ensure a fair work schedule that allows you to support your students. Using the Schedule Check worksheets linked further down, review the contract and your schedule. Select the worksheet appropriate for your assignment (position/grade level/building and full-time or part-time). You should also receive a copy of the worksheet from your PAT Building Rep.  Special Education Case Management time: All SPED case managers should have a case management period each day for due process paperwork, evaluation work, and IEP work (30.6.2). At the elementary level, the case management period will be at least 40 minutes per day, and no less than 320 minutes total per week. At the middle school and high school levels, the case management period will be not less than the equivalent of one standard class period per day. High school SPED educators will receive a substantially equivalent amount of case management time as other SPED educators. School Psychologists and Speech Language Pathologists are also entitled to self schedule a period of time each day equivalent to a standard class period (or at least 40 minutes per day, and no less than 320 minutes total per week, for those at the elementary level) for due process paperwork, evaluation work, and IEP work. These periods of time for SPED case managers, School Psychologists and Speech Language Pathologists reserved for SPED paperwork will be in addition to planning time already guaranteed under Article 7.10.   Advisory/Homeroom Overage: Advisory, homeroom, or other similar periods that require attendance-taking, delivery of content, and tracking student performance and/or participation, count for the purposes of student load and unique preparation in a prorated relationship (based on minutes per week as described in the example) to a standard class period.  Schedule Check links: Elementary- Full Time Elementary- Part Time High School Core Enrichment- Full Time High School Core Enrichment- Part Time High School- Full Time High School- Part Time K-8 Core Enrichment- Full Time K-8 Core Enrichment- Part Time K-8- Full Time K-8- Part Time Middle School- Full Time Middle School- Part Time SpEd High School- Full Time SpEd High School- Part Time SpEd K-8- Full Time SpEd K-8- Part Time An important part of our union’s ongoing work is making sure the terms of the contract are honored. All educators are responsible for checking their schedule to confirm it provides the contract hours, planning time, duty and lunch periods which the contract requires. If your schedule needs adjustment, raise the issue now. If you have concerns about your schedule, talk to your administrator. Your PAT Building Representative is available to help. Executive Board Bulletins: New Section with Announcements from Your Executive Board! From Catherine Tucker, Zone 6: Keep an eye out for a communication from PAT for a Listening and Strategy session for our Core Enrichment (FKA “Specials”) Educators. We want to hear about your workload with the new district FTE distribution and strategize/organize to protect and enforce our contract. From Angela Bonilla, President: The Advocate will now come out every other week. We will be working on communication through our new communications Task Force! Questions for the Executive Board? Email us at [email protected] OEA Updates Beaverton EA is in Bargaining! Check out their Instagram (@beavertonea) and learn more on their website: https://beavertonea.org/bargaining/ Portland and Oregon Solidarity: Strike Fundraiser - New Seasons Labor Union TOMORROW, Tuesday, August 27, 7:00-8:30pmLucky Lab Brew Pub - 915 SE Hawthorne All Eleven Union Stores could Walk - Williams, Arbor Lodge, Seven Corners, Slabtown, Woodstock, Grant Park, Concordia, Cedar Hills, Hawthorne, University Park, SellwoodDonate to strike fund: https://www.nslu.org/donateMore info: https://www.nslu.org/RSVP: https://actionnetwork.org/events/nslu-strike-fundraiser/  PAT Events Executive Board Meeting: August 28th 5:00pm-8:00pm at the PAT office  Representative Assembly (RA) : September 4th 5:00pm-7:00pm at the the PAT Office Legislative Committee: September 5th 5:00pm-7:00pm via Zoom  Advocacy Cadre (in person-open to all members): September 9th 4:00pm- 5:30pm at Roosevelt High School <<Advocacy Committee: September 11th 5:00pm-7:00pm at the PAT office  Membership Committee: September 11th 5:00pm-7:00pm at the PAT office  Instruction and Professional Development (IPD) Committee: September 11th 5:00pm-7:00pm at the PAT office  << Closed committee. Please email [email protected] for more info For all upcoming events, please see the PAT calendar and OEA calendar.  Upcoming PPS Board & Committee Meetings Join our Portland Community at the School Board meetings and committees! We will add upcoming meetings to The Advocate. Tuesday, September 10th – School Board Regular Meeting Tuesday, September 24th – School Board Work Session or Special Meeting See full Board Calendar HERE. For all upcoming events, please see the PAT calendar and OEA calendar. Find out more and sign up for Public Notices of these meetings HERE. Watch the Live Stream HERE. See live Board Calendar HERE Solidarity,

The Advocate, August 26th, 2024 Table of Contents President’s Message: Starting the Year Strong PAT General Survey #1: Results at Your 30-Minute Meeting! PAT General Survey #2 Coming Soon Committee and PAT PAC Updates Know Your Contract: Class Size Committees, Heat Mitigation, Check Your Schedule Executive Board Bulletins: New Section with Announcements from Your Executive Board! OEA Updates Portland and Oregon Solidarity PAT Events Upcoming PPS Board & Committee Meetings

The Advocate, April 1, 2024 Table of Contents President’s Message: The People's School Board Meeting New This Week! Know Your Contract--Contract Exceptions Bargaining--Early Childhood Article Bargaining PAT Committees Scholarship Opportunities--Aspiring Educators of Color (Racial Equity Committee) SJCO (Social Justice & Community Outreach) Committee FYIs OEA Member Relief Fund- Natural Disasters Anti-Bias Training is Finally Here! Portland Solidarity DCU Solidarity during Bargaining! OEA Solidarity & Events Congratulations to Salem Kaiser educators who won a TA. When we fight, we win! Political News PAT PAC May Primary Endorsements Community Spotlight VERSELANDIA! Youth Poetry Slam Championship Other Upcoming Dates and Events

Table of Contents President’s Message: The People's School Board Meeting New This Week! Know Your Contract--Contract Exceptions Bargaining--Early Childhood Article Bargaining PAT Committees Scholarship Opportunities--Aspiring Educators of Color (Racial Equity Committee) SJCO (Social Justice & Community Outreach) Committee FYIs OEA Member Relief Fund- Natural Disasters Anti-Bias Training is Finally Here! Portland Solidarity DCU Solidarity during Bargaining! OEA Solidarity & Events Congratulations to Salem Kaiser educators who won a TA. When we fight, we win! Political News PAT PAC May Primary Endorsements Community Spotlight VERSELANDIA! Youth Poetry Slam Championship Other Upcoming Dates and Events President’s Message: The People's School Board Meeting Hello educators, We hope you all had a restful spring break. As we approach the end of the year we have 2 key fights that will shape our school district’s immediate future, and help us prepare for longer term gains. We have the opportunity to build up our political organizing muscle in talking to Portland voters about extending the levy that funds our schools, asking Portlanders to vote YES. At the same time, we want to join families and our PPS union siblings in demanding the PPS administration make different decisions in next year's budget that will reverse proposed cuts to school counselors, librarians and special education staff. These two fights are parallel- we want to build trust and transparency with the PPS administration and the elected school board, but that only comes with real input from families, educators and school staff. At the same time, we need funding from the city and state. Winning an extension of the levy is a step towards our statewide fight to fix the funding formula to give our schools and communities what they need. We hope you will join us April 2 at 5:30 PM for the People's School Board meeting- to bring our message to the school board: They must make decisions that put schools, students and families needs first as they finalize next year's budget. Our schools and students can’t afford more cuts, especially our most vulnerable students. If there must be cuts, make them from the areas of increasing contracts, administration and central office management that have grown for years.  This is just one of many actions developed with our CAT lined up to show our unified voice advocating for what our schools need. In Solidarity,Angela Bonilla Know Your Contract: Contract Exceptions The Association has a process for contract exceptions to allow professional educators at a worksite to apply for an exception to the terms and conditions of the Agreement (Article 1.9).  Contract exceptions are due Friday, May 10th, 2024 and must be approved by the PAT Advocacy Committee and the District prior to implementation. A contract exception is valid only for the school year for which it was approved. You can find the Contract Exception Form with details on the process and a handy FAQ for Contract Exceptions here. Contract Exceptions - due May 10th, 2024 The Advocacy Committee will be available to offer support with the process on April 8th, 2024 during the regularly scheduled Advocacy Cadre Hotline Monday Virtual Meeting. Article 1.9 allows for exceptions while protecting the integrity of our contract PAT Member initiated (not admin) Valid for one year only (must renew) Requires 75% approval from members (not voting = NO!) and admin signature, Advocacy Committee approval, and district approval to implement Submit complete application by May 10th, 2024 FAQ/Application/Checklist and Template for Evening Conference change on PAT Website & in your rep packets! Please note that a contract exception is no longer needed at non-high schools to start a staff meeting 15 minutes after the end of the student day and shift planning time to after that meeting (Article 7.13.1). The Advocacy Committee is also providing a template contract exception for those schools who would like to move the second night of conferences on the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week to a different night (Article 6.7.2). You can find the Contract Exception Form with details on the process and a handy FAQ for Contract Exceptions here. Early Childhood Article Bargaining Please see the Bargaining Brief sent by the Early Childhood Bargaining group! Your PAT Head Start/PreK Teachers (Leslie, Chelsea, Lissa and Carrie) have met with PPS/HS Admin. 3 times--2 sessions after school and 1 session all day on 3/13). Our next scheduled all-day meeting is April 4. We are working hard to represent our members' needs!  The following topics will be addressed in Article 31 for PreK Educators:  Professional Growth  Grading Time and Non-Instructional Days Work day (including planning minutes) Classroom Ratios and Staffing Transfers and Vacancies Special Education Resources Staff Access to PPS PreK Programs Student Elopement and Physical Harm Home Visits and Parent-Teacher Conferences Note: The ECE Bargaining Briefs will be sent to Early Childhood Educators directly, and updates will be sent via The Advocate to the larger membership. Committee Updates: Aspiring Educators of Color Scholarships--Application Deadline April 19th Recruiting, supporting, and retaining educators of color is crucial, for our students and for our profession. We are excited to award two scholarships to Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) seeking a rewarding future career in education. One $6,000 scholarship will be awarded to a Portland Public Schools graduating senior who plans on enrolling in a college or university program to begin their journey towards becoming an educator. One $6,000 scholarship to a Portland Public Schools employee (not PAT eligible) currently enrolled in a university program to become a certified educator. Any classified or non-represented employees, such as bus drivers, para-educators, community agents, custodians, and nutrition services workers are eligible to apply. Scholarship applications will be accepted through Friday, April 19th, 2024. Please see the links below to our website to download an application and criteria to apply. PPS Employee Scholarship Application PPS High School Senior Scholarship Application Committee Updates: SJCO (Social Justice & Community Outreach) Committee Heritage/affinity months: Have resources to share? Use this form to reach out! SJCO Interest form: https://forms.gle/WK5TJDqULfYExtiK7 Does JROTC belong in PPS? Scan or click the QR code below & tell us what you think! OEA Member Relief Fund- Natural Disasters OEA has a Relief Fund locals can access to support members when the Oregon Governor declares a State of Emergency. Gov. Kotek declared a statewide emergency due to the severe Ice Storm that closed our schools and impacted our communities. OEA will provide assistance grants in response to the January 15-19th Ice- and Snowstorm for disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance. Expenses must have been incurred by the member or a dependent of their immediate household, such as a minor child. The expense(s) can be related to a household cost, like replacing food used by household members who are not OEA members. How much is available per member? Grants from the OEA Relief Fund are a maximum of $300 per member for costs incurred due to the January 15th-19th Ice- and Snowstorm. What qualifies as a “disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance”? Some examples of disaster related expenses are: Medical co-pays Insurance Deductibles Items not typically covered by insurance, such as: Gas for a generator Permits for removing trees Your child’s backpack and supplies left in a flooded school Household costs like replacing food This is NOT an exhaustive list. How do I access the Relief Funds? Fill out THIS SURVEY (bit.ly/oearelief2024) by 11:59pm on Friday, March 29th to let PAT know that you are in need of financial assistance. We will continue to accept applications as they arrive until April 15th on a first come, first served basis. Prepare any documentation to submit: Photos, bank statements, insurance policies, receipts, etc. The PAT Financial Assistance Committee will reach out for documentation and next steps during the first week of April.   Anti-Bias Training is Finally Here! Thanks to the tireless advocacy from PAT member Leaders, PPS will begin Anti-Bias Training for PPS Teachers this spring, with the training available to all members next school year! Please see below for information on how to join one of the 3-hour sessions below. The PPS Racial Equity and Social Justice (RESJ) team is excited to offer an in person RESJ training. This  training will specifically focus on racial equity themes and is for PAT educators. Please know that space is limited (40 participants per session) and at this time we are prioritizing classroom teachers. The training will be available on multiple days at the following dates and times:  April 17th 8:30-11:30 @ PEC- Mazama- Option 1 April 24th 8:30-11:30 @ PEC-Mazama- Option 2 May 7th 8:30-11:30 @ PEC- Mazama-  Option 3 May 14th 8:30-11:30 @ Rice Gym 6433 NE Tillamook St, Portland, OR 97213- Option 4 May 21st 8:30-11:30 @ Rice Gym 6433 NE Tillamook St, Portland, OR 97213- Option 5 Please work with your building administrator to ensure a date that works for you to attend the training. RESJ will be providing half day subs for teachers that attend. Please sign up on Pepper to reserve your spot. This is not a series, please pick one of the 5 dates. In this three hour long training, participants will demonstrate awareness of their own identities and bias to evaluate relationships to power, privilege, and oppression. Teachers will also gain practical tools to disrupt hate speech, bias, and barriers to student belonging.  Reach out to Will Fernandez [email protected] with any questions or concerns.  Portland Solidarity DCU, the District Council of Unions, is in Bargaining right now!  Show them your support by: Wear Black on Wednesday, April 10th Union shirts on Tuesday, April 16th Let's show our union siblings we've got their back!  OEA Solidarity Congratulations to Salem Keizer educators who reached a TA after a long fight, including 94% of members voting to strike! When we fight, we win!!!   Tag @salemkeizerea and @Pdxteachers Use any of the following Hashtags: #SKEA  #SKEAItsAboutTime  #SKEAUnionStrong #SKEASolidarity  #SKEAClassSizeMatters Salemkeizerea.org(Instagram) #skeaitsabouttime Political News--PAT PAC Endorsements for May Primaries PAT PAC has released their endorsements for the May Primaries. View them on our website HERE.   Community Spotlight VERSELANDIA! YOUTH POETRY SLAM CHAMPIONSHIP (2024) Thu, April 25 from 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm PDT Verselandia! is the annual high school poetry slam presented by Literary Arts. It is the Grand Slam for the winners from individual school slams hosted by public high schools. High school poets compete for five great prizes. Celebrate Portland’s youth poets during Literary Arts’ annual Verselandia! Youth Poetry Slam Championship. Cheer on students from Portland and East Multnomah County public high schools competing for poetic glory at this energetic and inspiring event. Please note that HS poets may have poetry containing mature themes. Tickets are Free tickets available for Youth 17 and under or 18 with High School ID// $5 Arts for All tickets // Adults just $15: BUY HERE Upcoming Dates & Events (Live PAT Calendar): PAT Committees Membership Committee: Wednesday, Bargaining Committee: Wednesday,  Substitute Committee : Wednesday,  Legislative/PAT PAC Committee: Thursday,  *Racial or cultural affinity space All committees are from 4:30-6:30pm at the PAT Office, 345 NE 8th Ave.  RSVP FOR ALL COMMITTEES HERE  Please email [email protected] for more infoFor all upcoming events, please see the PAT calendar and OEA calendar.                                                          PPS Board & Committee Meetings Join our Portland Community at the School Board meetings and committees! We will add upcoming meetings to The Advocate. Board of Education - Policy Committee MeetingTuesday, April 2, 2024 | 6:00 PM School Board - Student Success CommitteeMonday, April 8, 2024 | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM School Board - Special MeetingTuesday, April 9, 2024 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Board of Education - Policy Committee MeetingThursday, April 11, 2024 | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM Watch the Live Stream HERE. See full Board Calendar HERE. For all upcoming events, please see the PAT calendar and OEA calendar. In Solidarity,Angela Bonilla

The Advocate, February 26, 2024 President’s Message: PAT is fighting cuts to students-facing jobs and services. Join us. PAT Committees The PAT Bargaining Committee is now OPEN! SJCO (Social Justice & Community Outreach) Committee Know Your Contract: Internal Transfer Process & Overload Pay Determination Instruction and Professional Development Committee Celebrate Black History Month! FYIs OEA Solidarity & Events Portland Solidarity Political News Community Spotlight Upcoming Dates and Events

Hello educators, Like many of you, as  we learn more about PPS plans to cut student facing staff and services, we grow more and more concerned. Educators, paraeducators, librarians, special educators, behavior specialists all provide essential services to Portland students, and all are operating short staffed already. Our students can’t focus on learning if their needs aren’t being met and so we must unite to protect these essential jobs. We all agree that our fight is on many fronts: In our district and in Salem. Right now, our state union is lobbying during a short session over small adjustments to the budget, that means summer school and special education weight funding. We have made our voice loud and clear that Portland Schools need to be funded to the QEM, as do schools across Oregon, and that fight is high on our long term goals. Meanwhile, we can’t be silent while PPS makes cuts that affect our most vulnerable students including cuts to special education feeding teams, and libraries. We must ask PPS to show us, where else can you make cuts?  Remember: The 2019 State audit warned: “PPS has more money to spend per student than many of its state and national peer districts, but the district is spending proportionately LESS ON INSTRUCTION and more on support services than many of its peers.” The PPS Community Budget Reform Committee warned in 2023,  “The board [must] closely review the added administrator positions, specifically those that are not school-based nor student-facing daily. We question why more administrators are being added to support and manage fewer licensed staff, especially during this period of declining enrollment.” PAT’s examination of PPS financial filings shows that:  Between 2018-2022, budgeted general fund administrators increased by 17% and central office professionals increased by 38% in 5 years! Meanwhile, licensed staff decreased by 4%. The district cut 268 licensed and 46 classified full time employees from the 2023-24 budget while adding 31 professional, central office staff and administrator full-time employees. The cost of additional FTE in central office management and administration for 2023-2024 is $12 million.  PPS Comms team costs $2.8 million, more than double what the second and third largest school districts spend. Those are areas where PPS can make millions in cuts if district leaders must find savings.  Because we led a powerful strike, we were able to squeeze out some more funding for educators in our new contract and bring statewide attention to our underfunded schools, but the fight continues as PPS makes its budget for next year. So let’s talk to our co-workers, parents and families. Talk to your building leaders who will be working together on a plan and a timeline to make our voices heard and urge the district to make choices that prioritize students in the upcoming budget process. In Solidarity, Angela Bonilla The PAT Bargaining Committee is now OPEN! After reflection with member leaders and the Executive Board, it became clear that folks felt there was not a clear and consistent way to get feedback between the bargaining table and the general membership. Four Executive Board Members and one of our Substitute Committee co-Chairs went to observe Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) bargaining and receive training, along with representatives from 3 other Oregon locals.  One take away was the importance of a large bargaining team of “barganizers” who are reflective of our membership. SCTA had about 50 people in the room for bargaining and 30 members on zoom which, they described, was a low turnout. That way, communication about the bargain as well as decision making is made by the large team with the guidance of their experienced staff. After seeing that and reviewing our systems at PAT, we are changing our Bargaining Committee from a closed committee to an open committee. In order to join the Bargaining Committee, please fill out THIS FORM for a description of the expectations and a commitment to follow the expectations of our bargaining committee members. The next meeting is Wednesday, February 28th at 4:30pm. RSVP for our committees HERE! SJCO (Social Justice & Community Outreach) Committee RESCHEDULED RELEASE DAY: HERITAGE/HISTORY/AFFINITY/PRIDE MONTH RESOURCES MARCH 15th AT THE PAT OFFICE We have capacity for about 20 educators to participate in this collaborative work time. We hope you’ll join us! Please be sure to RSVP! Q: Where are the PAT Heritage/Affinity Month resources on the PAT website? A: Go to pdxteachers.org. Enter “heritage/affinity month” in the search bar. Q: Why are there only 5 identities represented? A: Because we need YOUR help to research, create, and vet additional resources!  Q: How can I participate? A: Sign up for a paid half day of release time to work with RE & SJCO, March 15. Also, sharing is caring…if you have resources that you would like considered, please email [email protected] or [email protected].  What is being offered: a half day (a.m./p.m.) PAT work release (meaning PAT covers your substitute- it doesn’t come out of your personal leave) to help expand our Heritage/History/Affinity/Pride Month educator resources. These resources are updated every year, to the extent our volunteers have capacity to do so. Members who sign up for this event can help with updates, get a totally new resource started, or work on something they already have in progress. The SJCO and Racial Equity chairs will be present all day to support and collaborate with participants. Interest/RSVP Form UPDATE: Know Your Contract: Internal Transfer Process & Overload Pay Determination INTERNAL TRANSFER PROCESS The District is now required to post the vacancies for the internal transfer process no later than March 1st of each school year. Within the next week, administrators will be receiving information about their available FTE for next school year. PAT and PPS will meet this week to review the procedures and timelines for the general staffing process as updated by our new CBA. We will continue to provide you with additional information and concrete dates as soon as the specific phases of the process are finalized. Please reference Articles 18.6.4-18.6.6 for contract language on this process. This year we will have an optional All-Day Internal Job Fair where applicants can meet with principals with internal vacancies and do an informal interview: When: Saturday, March 16 from 9am-4pm (closed from 12-1pm for lunch)Where: Benson at Marshall High School - 3905 SE 91st Ave If you are unable to attend the job fair, you can indicate that in the form sent with the vacancies and email the supervisors your resume directly.  UNDERSTANDING THE UNASSIGNMENT PROCESS PAT representatives will meet with the District on March 8th to review unassignments. Each year PAT staff review every unassignment in PPS to ensure they are done in compliance with the contract. Please keep in mind that an unassignment is NOT a layoff. Unassignments happen when an individual building has a reduction in FTE, and the educator who is unassigned is reassigned to another site for the next school year. That is accomplished by having unassigned educators apply to available vacant positions. At this time, vacancies and an Interest/Job Fair RSVP form will be shared with educators on or before March 13th.  Contract educators, 3rd year probationary educators, and unassigned educators (regardless of probationary or contract status) are eligible to apply for vacancies in the Internal transfer process. No external applicant may be considered for a subject area until all unassigned current educators are assigned. Temporary educators who apply for their exact position are eligible to apply during the internal round. Any concerned educator should review the two Unassignment FAQ’s: Unassignments- FAQ #1 Unassignments- FAQ #2 PPS is also holding two meetings for unassigned PAT members as follows: Thursday, March 7th, 2024 | 4:30pm-5:30pm | Virtual  Monday, March 11th, 2024 | 5:00pm-6:00pm | MPEC Mazama 2nd floor PAT reps will be on hand at both of these meetings to answer your questions. You will receive information and links to your email as the dates approach! Instruction and Professional Development Committee A few events coming up from our monthly PAT/PPS Instructional Practices Council:  PPS is putting on another Summer Acceleration Academy. The dates are: Student Dates: July 1st to August 1st Staff Dates: June 24th to August 2nd For Early Kindergarten Transition (EKT), the dates will be finalized soon. PPS’ Parent University has an event called “Raising Readers: A Family Workshop” When: Saturday March 2nd, 2024 from 9:00am-12:00pm Where: Roosevelt HS, 6941 N Central St “Focus on enhancing literacy skills and nurturing a lifelong passion for books” Childcare, refreshments and interpretation will be provided! RSVP HERE Celebrate Black History Month!   Check out this awesome issue of Black Student Magazine, featuring contributions from Black middle and high school students across the country. Let’s celebrate young, Black excellence! Featured in this edition, you will find articles and poetry written by talented Roseway Heights Middle School and McDaniel High School students.  Pictured: Lillie Calvert, Roseway Heights MS 7th grade student, with her brother, Danny Cage, Grant HS graduate & the youngest member of the MESD School Board. Check out: 5 Black Leaders that Shaped the Labor Movement  Black History Month in Portland And Black History Movie Night! This Wednesday, February 28.     OEA Solidarity & Events Check out Salem-Keizer’s student led presentation on their bargaining proposals & status! Follow along for bargaining update and send some love on social media #skeaitsabouttime                                                    Student Loan Debt Stressing You Out? Now is the time for you to take charge of your student loan debt and make certain you don’t miss out on the opportunities available to have their loans forgiven. This OEA webinar will provide you the latest information about the Federal Loan Forgiveness Programs, both Teacher Loan Forgiveness and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.  We will cover all of the latest updates and important dates you need to be aware of in order to fully take advantage of these federal programs. For members of OEA, we will also introduce an online tool that provides you support and advocacy as you move towards forgiveness. Thousands of members have had their loans forgiven and saved thousands of dollars by using the NEA Student Debt Navigator. Please register at www.neamb.com/start prior to the webinar to gain access to your member benefits and this specific tool. Tuesday, February 27- 4:30 PMClick Here to Register for the Workshop https://neamb.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0tce-tpjMsGtPv9GK5bYBbgj5gqnqsab9P After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.                                                          I HEAR Summit Hosted by OEA’s Committee on Racial Equity (CORE) & OEA’s Human & Civil Rights Committee (HCRC).Saturday, March 16th, 9am-3pm. Learn more & RSVP here Portland Solidarity Learn more and support NSLU and SWU! Starbucks Workers Solidarity Teach-In- Wed, February 28, 5pm – 7pm Join the Starbucks Worker Solidarity Teach-In 8pm ET / 5pm PT on Wednesday, 2/28 held over Zoom for a deep dive into more ways to support Starbucks Workers and participate in upcoming actions. Register here! Respect Oregon Public University Classified Staff Despite the importance of their work, far too many classified staff struggle with paychecks that don’t allow them to support themselves and their families. Over 25% of classified staff at Oregon’s public universities make less than the food stamp eligibility level for a family of 2. The resources to address these problems exist: in 2023, Oregon’s legislature made a historic investment in the Public Universities, allocating more than $1.1 billion. We call on the presidents of Oregon’s seven public universities to agree to a contract that lifts up classified staff, lets them support themselves and their families, and allows them to continue to provide the services students need.    Show your support for Oregon Public University staff! Political News Political News OEA PAC Convention is March 8th-9th! Contribute to the PAC to be eligible to attend!  PAT will cover one night hotel at The Graduate in Eugene (half occupancy-shared double queen room) and a gas stipend for the first OEA PAC contributors Want to attend? RSVP HERE TODAY! Be a decision maker in who we endorse in state & national government! OEA members like you, will be voting to endorse candidates in the following Federal & State wide offices for the May 21st Primary: U.S. President, & U.S. Congressional Representatives, Oregon- Secretary of State, State Treasurer, & Attorney General. Be a decision maker in who we endorse in state & national government! OEA PAC is OEA’s political action committee (PAC) – the tool that Oregon educators can use to help financially support pro-public education candidates who earn the endorsement of OEA members. The OEA PAC only exists because OEA members like you have chosen to make voluntary contributions to help educators build power and improve public education in Oregon. Community Spotlight Community Events Still Life of Lives Made Still at The Black Gallery-Open through Feb. 26th at The Black Gallery, 916 NW Flanders St.  Schedule your appointment here: https://theblackgallery.as.me/schedule/28fc26d4/appointment/45321189/calendar/8295210 Policing Justice exhibit at PICA- open through May. 19th Opening Reception & Panel for the Policing Justice exhibit at PICA-Feb. 24thFree to the public. RSVP: https://pica.org/events/pj-opening/tickets Field trip Opportunity! Group and class tours can be scheduled for both the Policing Justice Exhibit at PICA and the Black Gallery through May 19 by emailing [email protected] in advance!  Centering Palestinian Experiences: Thursday, March 7th, 5-7pm- RSVP HERE   Upcoming Dates & Events (Live PAT Calendar): PAT Committees Wednesday, Feb 28th, Bargaining Committee Wednesday, Feb 28th, Racial Equity Committee * Thursday, Feb. 29th, Legislative Committee Thursday, Feb. 29th, PAT PAC  All committees are from 4:30-6:30pm at the PAT Office, 345 NE 8th Ave.  RSVP FOR ALL COMMITTEES HERE *Racial or cultural affinity space  << Closed committee. Please email [email protected] for more info                                                          OEA Events OEA PAC Conference- March 8th-9th at The Graduate in Eugene, OR. RSVP HERE PORTLAND-OEA I HEAR SUMMIT DINNER - March 15th, 5-8pm at OEA HQ. RSVP HERE OEA- I HEAR Summit: Hosted by OEA’s Committee on Racial Equity (CORE) & OEA’s Human & Civil Rights Committee (HCRC).- Saturday, March 16th, 9am-3pm. Learn more & RSVP here OEA Region 1 PRAM (Pre-RA Meeting)- Saturday, March 16th, 9am-12pm at the PAT Office, 345 NE 8th Ave. This Meeting is for OEA RA delegates. Portland Specific-OEA I HEAR Summit Meeting - March 15th, 5-8pm at OEA HQ. RSVP HERE                                                          PPS Board & Committee Meetings Join our Portland Community at the School Board meetings and committees! We will add upcoming meetings to The Advocate. PPS Board and Committee Meetings: Wednesday, February 28th @ 501 N Dixon 1. Board of Education - Audit Committee Meeting, 5-6 pm2. School Board- Facilities & Operations Committee meeting, 6-8 pm3. School Board Special Meeting (Agenda and Materials) Find out more and sign up for Public Notices of these meetings HERE.Watch the Live Stream HERE. See full Board Calendar HERE For all upcoming events, please see the PAT calendar and OEA calendar. Solidarity, https://www.pdxteachers.org/