Recruiting, supporting, and retaining educators of color is crucial, for our students and for our profession. Starting this spring, 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 April 23rd, 2021. Please see the links below to download an application and find instructions to apply.

PPS High School Senior Scholarship Application

Please contact [email protected] with questions about the application process. 

Get the flyer to share with students

Get the flyer to share with PPS employees

This Friday, March 12 at 3:00 PM, come to Woodmere Elementary (7900 SE Duke St, Portland, OR 97206), and rally with SEIU nutrition services and custodians in demanding that the district prioritize the health and safety of their staff. See their flyer for more information.

This Saturday, March 13 at 3:00 PM, join us in supporting Mxm BLOC at BESC (501 N Dixon St, Portland, OR 97227) in making a call to action that centers BIPOC educators, students, and communities for a safe return to school. Details in the flyer here.

OEA is still organizing a “Lobby Day” this year- they will be hosting a week of virtual town halls between our members and legislative leaders. The new concept is called Virtual Advocacy Week. Register here!

Each evening from March 29 – April 2, OEA will host a Zoom session at 5:30 PM. The town hall style meeting will last for 45 minutes. Each night will have a specified discussion topic, and as they confirm themes and legislative guests, they will make those announcements. If registration exceeds capacity on any given night, they will add a second session at 7:00 PM. 

We encourage all members to register. OEA will reach out to all registrants to select their preferred night of attendance as we get closer to the event. All those who register by March 12th will receive a cool swag box with some fun lobbying props.

March 8, 7-8pm ET 

Hy-What? Teaching & Learning in (all kinds of) Hybrid Models  

This live panel of NEA teacher-leaders will discuss what works for them virtually, in-person, both at the same time, (a)synchronously, and everything in-between. These PK-13 educators will share strategies and reflect on the challenges and opportunities faced with their varied hybrid models of classroom instruction. 

https://www.mobilize.us/nea/event/376341/

Want to get better at organizing your fellow educators in your building but not sure where to start? How do we overcome fear, hopelessness, confusion, and division? The first step is talking to the people you work with to find out what they care about. Think about signing up for this essential training from the guidebook "Secrets of a Successful Organizer" and practice useful skills to unite your co-workers at your school and in your community. Register here.

February Committees Meeting, RSVP Here

• Bargaining Committee, February 24th, 4:30-6:30 PM
• Racial Equity, February 24th, 4:30-6:30 PM
• Social Justice and Community Outreach, February 24th, 4:30-6:30 PM
• Membership, February 25th, 4:00-5:30 PM
• Legislative, February 25th, 5:00-7:00 PM

Rep Assembly, March 10th, 4:30-6:30PM

Teach Climate Justice: “An Environmental Justice Tour of the Willamette River”, February 25th, 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

OEA Webinar Series: ODE Promising Practices Idea Exchange, March 3rd, 4:00-5:00 PM: Building and Maintaining Student Relationships

OEA Webinar, March 4th, 4:00-5:00PM: Building Slides for Accessibility: Why and How

OEA Webinar, March 4th 4:30-5:45PM: Online Licensure Workshop

For all upcoming events, please see the PAT calendar and OEA calendar.http://www.pdxteachers.org/

PAT is a proud member of Portland Jobs with Justice (JWJ), which organizes support for labor and community struggles at rallies, on picket lines, in educational settings, as well as at meetings and hearings. Fundamental to the work of Portland JwJ is a solidarity pledge from individuals to turn out to support other people’s struggles at least five times a year. Sign the pledge and ask 5 of your colleagues to join you. 

Please regularly check out the JWJ Solidarity Calendar for information on actions, rallies, and events where you can participate and build solidarity with other workers in struggle around the Portland metro area.