Do you have questions for the State Department of Education (SDE) about distance learning challenges, when school buildings will reopen or other issues related to COVID-19 (novel coronavirus)? Join our live teachers tele-town hall for answers from Commissioner Miguel Cardona and members of his staff:

• WHEN: Wednesday, April 29 from 4:00PM to 5:00PM.
• WHERE: on your telephone or online via “GoToWebinar.”
• HOW: Click here to complete a reservation request (does not guarantee registration)

Jointly hosted between AFT Connecticut and the Connecticut Education Association (CEA), the town hall is open only to union members in good standing and limited to the first 3,000 to register. Be sure to submit your reservation request now — the deadline is Wednesday at 12:00PM.
If space is available and your membership can be verified before then, you will be sent an online registration link and further information via follow-up e-mail. To maximize time, questions are required in advance (verified members will have the opportunity to submit theirs when registering).
Because this is being organized on short notice, the audio and video for next Wednesday’s event will be available at our website to watch online soon after. We know you have many questions, so we hope this is an opportunity to get some answers — and perhaps some peace of mind — in this uncertain time.
More to come, and in solidarity,
Mary YordonVice President for Pre-K-12 Teachers, AFT Connecticut
David HayesSecretary-Treasurer, AFT Connecticut
Jan HochadelPresident, AFT Connecticut
P.S. Click here for our AFT Connecticut website’s PreK-12 teachers page for updates, official information and tools you can use.

Please complete this survey on opinions about returning to school.  AFT CT is eager to represent member views carefully on this subject.

Reopening Schools Questionnaire

or

(Open in Forms)

Below is new guidance from the SDE.

Federal CARES Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund

Let us first thank you for all that you have taken on during this challenging time. You are facing a host of issues related to distance learning and “ed tech” — and we want to hear about them.

That’s why AFT Connecticut has once again teamed up for another survey with our sisters and brothers in the Connecticut Education Association (CEA) and media partners with WFSB-TV Channel 3. This time it’s just 22 questions focused on how things are going for you and your students right now — and the implications for the future of public education.

Click here to complete the brief survey online by this Friday.

Your responses will remain anonymous — unless you specifically choose to be interviewed by Channel 3 (the final question). They are planning to use the results to report on how educators across Connecticut are adapting distance learning while our school buildings remain closed.

We know you are being asked to do a lot online right now. Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your thoughts on how the pandemic is impacting you, your students and public education.

More to come, and in solidarity,

Mary Yordon

Vice President for Pre-K-12 Teachers, AFT Connecticut

David Hayes

Secretary-Treasurer, AFT Connecticut

Jan Hochadel

President, AFT Connecticut

P.S. Click here for our AFT Connecticut website’s PreK-12 teachers page for updates, official information and tools you can use.

The current officers and stewards at each school (see table below). Stewards at each building are holding monthly meetings with your building administrators to address issues at your school and to discuss possible solutions/resolutions. Please contact your building steward or a BFT officer if you have any issues to ensure your voice is heard.  Any teachers interested in filling the open steward positions at BEHS, BCHS, CHMS, NEMS, WB, Southside, Edgewood, or Ivy Drive- please let a steward or officer know. Thank you!

Starting to feel a little rundown, overwhelmed and stressed.

GOOD NEWS! The BFT is hosting a Happy Hour Friday, October 18 from 2:30 to 5:30 at Nuchie’s Restaurant (164 Central Street, Bristol)

Come down to de-stress, socialize with colleagues, talk to the Board of Education Candidates running this November and most importantly relax. Hope to see you next Friday!

As summer comes to an end, in the upcoming days you may experience one or all of the following:

• Frequent back to school nightmares
• Frequent spells of feeling overwhelmed by a growing list of things to do
• Frequent urges to buy school supplies everyday
• Frequent checking your classroom roster on PowerSchool to count how many students you have then texting fellow teachers throughout the district to compare numbers
• Frequently staring at your teacherspayteachers/Pinterest cart trying to delete items only to add a few more 

STAY CALM! This is perfectly normal!

Here are some quotes from the book, No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work by Jon Gordon that will hopefully help you stay positive this school year.

• “Trust in the bigger plan”
• “Find strength in adversity”
• “Failure today leads to success tomorrow”
• “Positive or Negative. The choice is ours”
• “Obstacles and struggles are part of life and only serve to make us appreciate our success”
• “If everything came easy, we wouldn’t know what it felt like to truly succeed”

I hope this school year is your least stressful and most productive. 

At the beginning of July, The Executive Committee (BFT Officers) recommended Mike Reynolds to assume the role of BFT President. Next, the BFT Constitution called for a vote of the Executive Committee (BFT Stewards and Officers) to complete the transition process. Now the vote is official and Mike Reynolds is the new BFT President. The BFT would like to thank David Hayes not only for his exceptional service as BFT President for the past 9 years but also for his several years of service as a BFT steward. He put in countless hours representing Bristol teachers and his work ethic goes unmatched. He will be truly missed, even though David remains a Bristol teacher, and of course will be available for advice and consultation. Hope everyone is resting, relaxing and most importantly enjoying their summer.