6/7/11 Speak out against cuts to Counselors and Adult Ed!

Speak out against cuts to

Counselors and Adult Ed!

Tuesday, June 7, 2010, 3:00 pm

In front of Skyline High School (on the steps in front of Counselors office/ music room)

Click on the flyer below to enlarge and print

Wednesday, May 25, 2011


Press conference Wednesday, May 25
at 4:30pm 1025 2nd Avenue
Attend the School Board meeting afterward at 5:00pm to speak out against
ALL cuts to our programs!

What's Happening?
Oakland Unified School District plans to reorganize the entire department for school counselors, turning over most counseling functions to administrators and overworked teachers, and centralizing transcript audits. Our counselors, already stretched thin in ratios of over 700:1, serve a vital need for middle and high school students. Using staff without counseling credentials to fill the gap may violate California Ed Code, and certainly shortchanges students. Next year Skyline High School, Westlake and Frick Middle Schools will be without site counselors.

Some concerns that remain unaddressed by OUSD are: 1) how will school counselors be able to provide quality assistance to students with such complicated processes as the UC/CSUS A-G requirements when they are no longer housed on the school site? 2) How will school counselors be able to form trusting bonds and relationships with middle and high school students when they are potentially traveling to multiple school sites? OUSD has no concrete answers to these questions.

The Oakland Education Association is also opposed to the almost complete elimination of the Adult Education program in Oakland. With high unemployment rates and a high student drop-out rate, for many adults the Adult Education program offers a second opportunity to earn a GED certificate, or to learn basic English skills so they can improve their livelihoods.

Come let the our elected School Board representatives know that in the interests of our students and their families, we need to preserve counseling services and Adult Ed!

Betty Olson-Jones
President
Oakland Education Association

6/22/11 : Know Your Rights!

Know Your Rights!

OEA Wants to Keep You Informed

This Summer

Special Informational Meeting


Wednesday, June 22 @ 11 a.m.

OEA Center

272 East 12th Street

(upstairs at 3rd Ave.)

5/31/11 Alliance Academy informational

May 31^st, 2011

The faculty at Alliance, led by site rep Jeffrey Hilliard, are conducting an informational picket on Tuesday morning, May 31 from 7am to 8am in front of the Alliance campus on 98^th Avenue to call attention to the unsafe campus climate all year about which OUSD has been dragging its feet.

“The OUSD Alliance Academy Administration has created an

UNSAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

on The Elmhurst Campus, and in The Elmhurst Community!”

THE FACTS:

After the exit of the beloved original Alliance Academy Principal Yvette Renteria, OUSD assigned an inexperienced Principal, and an inexperienced Assistant Principal who have done the following since September 2010:

· Multiple violations of the OEA/OUSD Teacher Contract Terms, violated multiple OUSD District Safety Policies, and have violated the California State Education Code regarding safety and school climate.

· This School-Year, The New Alliance Academy Administration made The Elmhurst Campus unsafe by allowing Gang Activity (colors, posturing, & recruiting), Sexual Harassment/Hate Language, and Habitual Harassment/Bullying & Violence of students & staff with few consequences, and undermining teachers’ authority.

· Since September 2010, The OEA Union Site Representative has had to file over 7-Grievances related to safety and school climate concerns, Contract & Ed Code Violations, and to protect the rights of all Teachers, Staff, & Students of Alliance Academy.

· In what the OEA views as ‘Retaliation’ for his Activism & Advocacy, in late March 2011, we believe that The Alliance Academy Administration began directing some parents to write complaints against a well-respected and long-time teacher at Alliance, who is also the OEA Union Site Representative.

· Lastly, in April & May after almost a whole year, Teachers began to feel all the effects from all the stress attributed to verbal profanity, sexual harassment, hate language, open disrespect, defiance, and disruption from some students; lack of disciplinary support from the site Administration; and the Alliance Administration constantly undermining Teachers’ Classroom Authority, despite many attempts by the Alliance teachers to address the issues for the good of the entire school community.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Contact OUSD Superintendent - Tony Smith at (510) 879-8200 or at tony.smith@ousd.k12.ca.us and tell him to resolve the Teacher Safety & School Climate Concerns at Alliance Academy.

Summer 2011 Professional Development for Secondary Math Teachers (PAID!)

Dear Secondary Mathematics Teachers --

There was very positive feedback from the All-City Secondary Mathematics Conversation last week. Huge appreciation to all participants and organizers.

We agreed to next steps:

1. share information (summarized below and attached) with math colleagues
2. initiate sign-ups for summer leadership and professional learning opportunities
   
   • facilitating course / grade-level teams
   • participating in course / grade-level work groups
   • participating in math PD opportunities
     

Below is a listing (thanks, Cass!) of up-coming and summer teacher leadership and professional learning opportunities with contact info. We need widespread participation to make good on the promise of quality instruction and a full-scale transition to Common Core State Standards in the coming years. Please forward widely.

Cheers,

Phil Tucher
Team Manager for Mathematics, Science, and Technology
OUSD Leadership, Curriculum, Instruction
(o) 510.336.7561
(m) 510.381.5287
philip.tucher@ousd.k12.ca.us
Community Schools, Thriving Students



INTERVENTION PEDAGOGY, FOCUSED ON MISCONCEPTIONS
Introductory session. Focus on fractions [Grades 4-9]
Thurs, May 19, 3:45-5:30 @ Tilden
Free- 20 teacher limit
Contact: Robin.Lovell@ousd.k12.ca.us

MEANINGFUL GROUPWORK IN THE MATH CLASSROOM: APPLYING THE COMPLEX INSTRUCTION FRAMEWORK
Tools and strategies to optimize participation, learning and accountability for diverse students working on group-worthy mathematical tasks.
Weds-Thurs, June 29-30, 9-3:30 @ the Urban School in SF
$360 (by May 15), $400 after (funding for district slots pending; please communicate your interest asap!)
http://centerforinnovativeteaching.org/page.cfm?p=365#groupworkmath
Contact: philip.tucher@ousd.k12.ca.us

GRADE/COURSE-LEVEL WORK GROUPS (for Core Curriculum Task Force and Oakland Mathematics Leadership Network)
Work with colleagues and specialists to develop course scope and sequence, performance assessment tasks and other curricular documents.
(Geometry work group is already getting started!)
June 27- July 1 OR Aug 8-12 OR By Arrangement, 8:30-3:30 @Bret Harte
Paid $30/hour
Contact: phillip.grebe@ousd.k12.ca.us or philip.tucher@ousd.k12.ca.us

ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING AND INTRO TO COMMON CORE STANDARDS
For Secondary math teachers on using formative assessments and learning about Common Core Standards.
June 27- July 1 OR Aug 15-19, 8:30-3:30 @Bret Harte
Paid $22.99/hour
Contact: Joanna.Sperber@ousd.k12.ca.us

ACADEMIC LANGUAGE AND LITERACY (Similar to QTEL pd from WestEd)
June 27- July 1 OR Aug 15-19, 8:30-3:30 @Bret Harte
Paid $22.99/hour
Contact: Joanna.Sperber@ousd.k12.ca.us

SECONDARY MATHEMATICS 1-DAY INSTITUTE
Grade 6-12 teachers, leaders and coaches to learn about OUSD Math Initiatives, to learn different lesson structures and instructional strategies, and to have paid grade-level planning with other colleagues in the district.
Aug 17, 8:30-3:30, location TBD
Paid $22.99/hour
Contact: Joanna.Sperber@ousd.k12.ca.us

SILICON VALLEY MATH INITIATIVE
- Lesson Study (ongoing throughout year)
- Problem of the Month Performance Tasks (once a month during school year)
- Coaching Institute for a coach and team (Aug 1-5, $500 stipend)
Contact: Erik.Moll@ousd.k12.ca.us or Phillip.Grebe@ousd.k12.ca.us

TEAM-MATH
Mentoring and math-specific new teacher support by teachers. Mentors still needed for next year.
Summer and induction dates TBD.
Stipends provided.
Contact: Philip.Tucher@ousd.k12.ca.us

OEA May 2011 Events: CTA STATE OF EMERGENCY!!

We are in a State of Emergency and we need every one of you to be informed and involved!

May 9-13 State of Emergency Week of Action

Rep Council is Monday, May 2. We will spend most of the meeting preparing for the Week of Action May 9-13, so be sure you are informed! We encourage members to go to Sacramento on Monday, May 9th to set the tone for the week-long occupation - OEA is scheduling a bus, and there will be sign-ups at Rep Council, so let your Rep know if you want to be on the bus. CTA will pay for your release time. If you can't go Monday, go another day with a few others from your site - CTA will pay for release time and transportation. You need to register online at www.regonline.com/capitolinsiders

Much more information will be available at Rep Council on May 2nd.

Go HERE for more events during May 9 - 13

5/8/11 A's vs. Orioles Saturday,

ALCOSTA DAY WITH THE OAKLAND A'S! A's vs. Orioles Saturday, May 28, 2011 Tailgate 4:00 PM in the B lot Game time 7:05 PM

Dear Rori, It's not too late to order your tickets for what's always a fun event -- meet colleagues from other ALCOSTA (Alameda Contra Costa) locals at a pre-game tailgate (we provide the food and beverages), then watch the A's beat the Orioles! Post-game fireworks!!

Get Your Tickets Soon -- Deadline Extended! · $20 discounted Lower Box tickets (reg. $30) · Reserved Alcosta seating in the first 20 rows from the field · Watch the post-game fireworks show right on the field · Place your order with your Site Representative or call directly to OEA at 763-4020 no later than Friday, May 20. · Pay by cash or check made out to OEA. · Pick up your tickets at OEA the week of May 23rd or at the tailgate on game day. · For more information, call OEA or check the website at www.oaklandea.org

Place your order now! There aren't many tickets left!! Go A's!

Betty Olson-Jones, President Oakland Education Association

4/13/11 Oakland Board of Education Special Meeting

Thank you from Oakland Education Association for showing up in big, spirited numbers for last week's "Special" Board of Education Meeting!
For the many who couldn't get into the main chambers or Hunter Hall and who provided a steady backdrop of chanting for 1 1/2 hours, don't forget to come back to the School Board meeting tomorrow, April 13, at 5 pm. Because this is not a "special study session," public comment will be at the beginning of the meeting. Come make your voices heard!

We've asked that the meeting be held in Hunter Hall to accommodate more people, and we've been assured that there will be Spanish translation available. Let's keep the pressure on -- WE WANT THE LAYOFFS RESCINDED!