Last week the School Board released a report detailing their investigation into the Mitch Whitehurst case. I’ve read the entire 322-page document, and there’s a lot to digest. I’m shocked and saddened by how many times principals and other high-level administrators failed to act on reports from female students and employees.  As a woman, and an educator, I can’t help noticing that it wasn’t until an adult male was victimized that serious action took place.

I’m left wondering if PPS may finally be having its own #metoo moment.

The Advocate - May 23, 2018

1. President's Message: A #metoo Moment for PPS
2. Leaders Needed: Run to Be a PAT Building Representative
3. Take Action Against School Gun Violence
4. Compensation Review: Deadline June 1st
5. Retroactive Credit for Master's Degree: Deadline June 1st
6. As Teacher Walkouts Spread, The Fight For Funding Comes to Oregon
7. National Board Certification Workshop: Thursday, May 31^st

Every year, PAT members at each site elect Building Representatives. Please consider running to be a Rep! Your site can elect 1 Rep for every 9 members. Any PAT member can run to be a rep, and all PAT members can vote in Rep elections.

What do Building Reps do? Our union works because Reps do a lot! That’s why it is important to have a full team of Reps to share the load. Here are some of the responsibilities Reps take on:

On May 18, 2018, 10 people died and at least 10 others were injured at a school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas. This is the 22nd U.S. school shooting since the beginning of the year.

To date, more students and staff have been killed in school shootings this year than soldiers killed in active combat.

We, as a society, must do better to protect our students from gun violence both inside and outside of schools. Here are three things you can do right now:

On Monday, April 16^th, you should have received an email from to your PPS account from “PAT Salary Review”. If you think you might at all qualify, please fill out the link.

You do not need to email the PAT office to let us know or ask us if you should fill out the form, just go for it!

It’s also important to be aware that sending the info to PAT does not fulfill the requirement to submit your request for salary placement review to the District.

Here is the content of the email:

In their April 16^th email addressing compensation review, the District also spelled out how educators can get credit for Master’s degrees earned prior to licensure. If you think you might at all qualify, please fill out the link below.

The email states:

In an inspiring display of solidarity and commitment, teachers across the country have been walking off the job to protest cuts in education funding, and corporate tax breaks driving them.

Just last week 26,000 teachers in North Carolina stormed the state capitol demanding more funding for public education. This action followed week-long teacher strikes in West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Arizona, as well as shorter strikes in Kentucky and Colorado.  

National Board Certification in Oregon is on the rise. Provisions in our contract and TSPC provide incentives and support for teachers who earn their National Board Certification. For more information on National Boards, the State Bill that provides funding for NBCT Candidates, incentives offered in PPS for National Board-Certified Teachers, or supports available for NBCT candidates, there will be an info session open to PAT members at the PAT Office (345 NE 8th Ave) on Thursday, May 31^st from 4:30-5:30 PM. If you have questions, please contact Sara Daley, NBCT at [email protected].