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/

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

Dear PAT Colleagues,

The ballots have been cast and counted. We are pleased to congratulate the individuals who have been elected to represent PAT members in various positions.

The new members of your PAT Executive Board, serving a two-year term beginning July 1, 2021, are:

• Angela Bonilla, Instructional Specialist, Scott Elementary School
• Tina Lamanna, 2^nd Grade Teacher, Markham Elementary School
• Beyoung Yu, ESL Teacher, Rosa Parks Elementary School
• Shannon Foxley, Counselor, da Vinci Arts Middle School

These members are elected as your delegates to the July 2-6, 2021 National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly:

These members will join the group of previously-elected delegates to serve as PAT delegates to the spring 2021, 2022, and 2023 Oregon Education Association (OEA) Representative Assemblies:

Write-in candidates with two or more votes for NEA RA Delegate and OEA RA Delegate will be contacted by PAT in March. Please contact Nominations & Elections Committee Chair Ailien Tran if you have any questions ([email protected]).

Thank you to all PAT members who participated in our democratic process by running for office and/or casting a vote in this election!

PAT Colleagues:

As PPS plans for next school year, changes in enrollment, funding, or programs may result in a reduction of staff in a particular building or program area.  If that occurs, your PAT/PPS contract (Article 18) provides a process for determining which educator(s) will be “unassigned” from their current worksite, as well as procedures for their transfer to another site/program.  

An unassignment does not mean that the educator loses a job at PPS.  It simply means they will be transferred and assigned to a different position. 

In general, the least senior educator licensed in the affected subject area will be unassigned.  There are some important exceptions:

• The administrator must first ask for volunteers. Volunteers will be unassigned and transferred instead if they are appropriately licensed in the affected grade level or subject matter area (and are not on a Program of Assistance).
• The administrator may request an exception to retain educators of color to maintain a racial balance of educators to students at the site.
• The administrator may request an exception to maintain a gender balance of educators at the site.
• The administrator may request an exception to retain an educator with bilingual or multilingual ability relevant to the assignment.

Unassigned educators are eligible to apply for vacant positions during the internal transfer process.  All unassigned educators in a subject area must be assigned before PPS may consider any outside applicants.

Find more information here: FAQ: Unassignments and Transfers, FAQ: Applying for Positions 

Here is the timeline:

• PPS Informational Meeting for Unassigned Educators (details to follow) - March 18 & March 19, 4:30-6:00 p.m.

• Internal Phase Vacancies Posted - Apply Now - March 29 - April 2
• Interviews - April 5 - 7
• Remaining Unassigned Educators Notified of Assignments - Mid-April
• External Phase Opens – April 20

Find more information on our Know Your Contract page.

Many of you have noticed the tension that has developed between the understandable desire to have children return to school, and the sensible insistence on safe working environments under COVID-19 conditions. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, health experts have advised that individuals avoid the “Three Cs” – Close Contact, Closed Spaces, Crowds. Thankfully, there is a way that some in-person instruction can still take place while meeting health and safety guidelines; ODE calls it LIPI (Limited In-Person Instruction).

According to the Oregon Department of Education, LIPI is when schools operating in the Comprehensive Distance Learning instructional model bring a limited number of students, for limited hours and with specific conditions, on-site. 

Per ODE Guidelines:

• LIPI cohort groups are limited to no more than 20 students.
• Students cannot be part of more than two cohorts (including transportation) in any given week. 
• Any one staff member (even in multiple roles) cannot interact with more than three cohorts in a given day and five in a week. 
• LIPI cannot take the place of any CDL instruction. 

You can read the full Guidance for Limited In-Person Instruction During CDL HERE. 

Your PAT bargaining team has worked over the last three sessions to negotiate the fine points of LIPI activities in PPS. Key to our conversation:

• LIPI instruction will be provided by educators on a voluntary basis. If the District cannot find a volunteer from the regularly employed PAT membership, PPS will open the positions to PAT substitute educators. 
• Volunteers who agree to provide LIPI during teacher-directed time in their regular schedule will be paid at their individual per-diem hourly rate for all lost teacher-directed time, plus for an additional hour per week for time spent planning LIPI sections.
• Educators who volunteer can rescind their volunteer offer if they do not feel safe once they inspect the space provided for LIPI.

We reached conceptual agreement on all points last week and you can look for the final copy of the language attached to the next Bargaining Brief.

Join a PAT Committee!

PAT is known around the state and country for being a strong and powerful union.  Part of what makes this possible is the strength of our committees within the union.  Our committees give members a way to be involved based on their own interests.  Most of our committees are open to all members. We want you to get involved.  Your voice will make a difference. 

RSVP for any PAT Committee Meeting here. 

Those who RSVP will be sent a Zoom Link.

Most Committees meet about once a month in the evening.  Committee meeting dates and start times are available on our calendar. Committees with an * are open committees, and all PAT Members are welcome to attend.