The Advocate, November 13, 2019

1. President’s Message: On the Brink of Something Big
2. Become a PAT Leader! Run for Union Office
3. Universal Pre-K is Coming to Portland!
4. No Make-Up Conferences When Families Are on Vacation
5. Teacher for a Day: Classroom Hosts Needed
6. Native American Heritage Month
7. Do You Have a Student Loan?
8. Donate to the Sick Leave Bank!
9. OEA Webinar on Trauma-Informed Practices
10. Overage Pay Determination
11. Updates to the TELL Survey

Download the PDF

Last week, more than three-quarters of Portland voters cast a ballot for the Portland Teacher Levy.

They overwhelmingly support what educators already know—our students deserve smaller class sizes.

Every time we talk to students, families, and communities, like our amazing Student Success Act community forum October 28^th, this message comes through loud and clear.

PAT members have also made it clear to the District where Student Success Act dollars should be directed.

Eighty percent of all respondents to our recent survey with the District rated smaller class sizes or social emotional supports for students as their top priority for new SSA funding. (You can view the full survey results here).

The PAT Nominations & Elections Committee announces that nominations will open on November 13, 2019, at the November PAT Representative Assembly for election to several PAT positions. 

The positions are: PAT President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, PAT Executive Board Directors (5 positions), PAT Delegate to the Oregon Education Association or National Education Association Representative Assemblies.

Any PAT member in good standing may run for any of these positions.  Non-members are not eligible to run for an elected union office.  Detailed information about the terms and duties of the positions and the Nomination Form may be found here.

Nominations close on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.  

The Voters’ Pamphlet and Ballots will be sent electronically to members on February 10, 2020.  Votes must be cast by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 24, 2020.

For more information, you can refer to the PAT Nominations and Elections Handbook.

As educators, we understand and can see the difference a quality preschool can make for a student's education. It's only right that every child has access to same educational opportunities and advantages.

Please click here for more information on the Universal Preschool Now! campaign.

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.

One of the most important events that PAT hosts is Teacher for a Day.

We invite policy-makers, community leaders, and other partners to see our classrooms first hand.

This year it will take place on Thursday, December 12th.

If you are interested in hosting a guest teacher in your classroom, please sign up here or contact Madeleine Allen at [email protected].

PAT members are invited to attend a Student Loan Debt & Basic Financial Planning Workshop on Monday, December 2, 2019, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., at the PAT office.

Learn about the various types of federal student loan forgiveness programs and how to use the new NEA Student Loan Forgiveness Navigator Tool (SAVI) to determine your eligibility for a federal forgiveness program and the potential reduction in your loan debt.  Information on basic financial essentials and financial planning will also be provided. 

Find additional information here and RSVP online.

Join the Oregon Education Association for a webinar on Trauma-Informed Practices.

The session will cover behavior intervention strategies for educators and paraprofessionals. It will cover root causes of disruptive behavior and a number of proactive and reactive strategies educators can begin using right away.

Date: December 2^nd 
Time: 4:00 - 5:00 PM

This workshop is exclusively for PAT members and you can register online with the OEA.  

The PAT Sick Leave Bank (see PAT/PPS contract Article 17.2.1.2) provides aid for colleagues who have exhausted their accumulated leave balances but are unable to work due to extended or recurring personal illness. With the help of the Sick Leave Bank, they are able to avoid the additional hardships of lost salary and lost insurance coverage during their illness. 

The Sick Leave Bank is funded completely by voluntary contributions of sick leave days from PAT educators. PAT may solicit voluntary contributions up to 4000 hours each year. Thanks to your generosity, in school year 2018-19 the hours you donated allowed us to help twenty-two colleagues in need. 

Beginning this year, the number of hours one may contribute has been increased from 24 hours to up to 40 hours of sick leave annually. Employees who have submitted notice of resignation are exempted from this maximum limit and may contribute more. 

It’s a new school year with a new Sick Leave Bank to fill. Help us reach the maximum of 4000 hours.  Please donate here and thank you!