Save the date!

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Rob Callaghan

Differentiating instruction

Instructor Valerie Braman leads a workshop in Brooklyn on Dec. 3

Our students come to the classroom with a variety of experiences and interests, learning at different rates and in different ways, demonstrating different levels of motivation, and representing multiple language groups. How can we meet the needs of all learners, and support students’ academic growth?

This workshop will identify key elements of differentiation instruction and how to use them in lesson design. The session will provide teachers’ opportunities to reflect on current instructional practices and develop new strategies for effective teaching of academically diverse students.

UPDATE: Due to overwhelming response for the Jan. 28 workshop, we’ve added an additional session of the professional development workshop on differentiating instruction on Feb. 11.

Register today!

Continue reading…

Opportunity is Harlem’s success: parents, teachers, and students rally for their school

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Rob Callaghan

OCS parent speaks out during Dec. 8 rally

By Rob Callaghan

Recently, Opportunity Charter School (OCS) of Harlem has been targeted by the Department of Education (DOE) for closure. The school’s charter is up for renewal and the DOE has placed the school on its “early engagement” list. The news came as a shock to parents, teachers and the school’s administration given the school’s success with students with special needs. Some parents and teachers expressed concern that OCS has been put on this list to create more space for Eva Moskowitz’s Harlem Success Academy 4, which shares space in the same building. Opportunity is one of three schools, along with Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing Arts and Frederick Douglass Academy II, which are co-located with Harlem Success schools and are on the closure list. Continue reading…

Fahari Academy recognizes teachers’ union

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Rob Callaghan

All Smiles as teachers anticipate what a union can do for their school. "Our union will give teachers strength to be able to help students soar to new heights," as Tiffany Jones put it.

By Rob Callaghan and Dan Gursky

Management at the Fahari Academy Charter School in Brooklyn has agreed to voluntarily recognize the United Federation of Teachers as the educators’ exclusive collective bargaining representative.  The agreement comes just weeks after teachers at the school organized a union.

Fahari educators at the school announced they had organized a union on Oct. 4 A majority of the educators signed union authorization cards, and the UFT filed a formal petition on their behalf for recognition with the school’s board.  On Nov. 2, the board agreed to voluntarily recognize the union.

The school’s educators say they look forward to working with the administration to create a contract that will solidify their mutual commitment to providing the highest quality education for the students and a professional environment for the staff.  Continue reading…

Professional development

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Rob Callaghan

Differentiating instruction

When: Saturday, December 3, 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Where: Long Island University • Brooklyn Campus

Humanities Building • Room 607

This Saturday, Dec. 3, the Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff will host a FREE professional development workshop on differentiating instruction designed specifically for charter teachers.

The conference is FREE and open to all charter educators.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Certificates of participation will be available to all participants; these can be applied to the professional development requirement for teacher certification.

Click here to register.

First contract ratified at Queens charter

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Rob Callaghan

Photo by Rob Callaghan. Standing at the ballot box are Merrick teacher Christine Hernandez (left); Miles Trager, UFT coordinator of charter school services; and teacher Susan Randel. Signing in to vote is teacher Crystal Boyd.

By Cara Metz

Teachers at the Queens Village school faced harsh retaliation from administration when they joined the union, with 11 teachers summarily fired. They responded with protests, and the union filed unfair labor practice charges with the Public Employment Relations Board. The teachers were vindicated when PERB issued an injunction and educators who wanted their jobs back were rehired while others chose a settlement.

Under the new contract, history won’t be able to repeat itself. The new contract contains a due-process system with arbitration for terminations overseen by a tripartite panel with a representative from the board of trustees, a union representative and an arbitrator mutually chosen by both parties. Continue reading…