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Add your voice to those of hundreds of other school employees working for quality education and improved pay and benefits. |
(Baton Rouge – May 2, 2012) Despite evidence that charter school teachers have lost their jobs for reporting criminal activities, a legislative committee today rejected a bill aimed at protecting whistle blowers. |
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UTNO is offering a Parent Make N’ Take Workshop to help parents create fun games and academic tools to use with their child(ren). Parents will also learn educational strategies that will help their child(ren) excel. |
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Parent Resource Page Visit the Parent Resource Page now to take our Parent Survey - Tell us what's going on at your child's school! |
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UTNO is proud to offer professional development workshops from the "Strategies for Student Success" series. These workshops feature research-based content on teaching and learning for novice and veteran teachers alike. All workshops will be held on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
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(Baton Rouge – May 10, 2012) The Legislature should reject a proposed $3.4 billion public education budget because it violates the state constitution and could enrich as-yet unidentified private companies at the expense of public schools across the state, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said today. |
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The AFL-CIO has launched its 2012 AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch site—now called CEO Pay and the 99%—which includes the most comprehensive data available on 2011 executive pay. All the data available is searchable by industry, by state and by the top 100 highest-paid CEOs.
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To Innovate, Look to Those Who Educate
 In her latest column appearing in the New York Times, AFT president Randi Weingarten describes how the AFT Innovation Fund is providing an alternative to school reform efforts that ignore the expertise of educators and their unions. The fund supports AFT affiliates that engaged in collaborative efforts that focus on promising ideas and proven programs that can be scaled up. Read the full column. |
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The United Teachers of New Orleans is partnering with Andover Bread Loaf to bring this opportunity to all educators. You are invited to attend an informational session that will include a demonstration lesson, so you can learn more about participating in the Andover Bread Loaf Writing Workshop Summer 2012. This workshop costs nothing to attend and all costs (room, board, tuition, books, meals and trips) associated are free. You may even earn graduate credits or opt for a stipend. Teachers from all disciplines are welcome to attend.
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UPDATED WITH NEW INFORMATION! Politicians believe the Value Added Model is right for Louisiana teachers. LFT isn't so sure. Beginning in 2012-13, Louisiana teachers will be evaluated using a new instrument that incorporates what is known as a Value Added Model. The VAM makes judgments about a teacher’s performance based on student growth as measured by standardized tests. |
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Many studies over the years have documented the need for smoother transitions from prekindergarten to the elementary level. A new AFT report reinforces that conclusion—and does it in a manner that puts frontline voices at the heart of the dialogue.
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The citizens of Ohio took back their state with a historic vote on Nov. 8 to repeal Senate Bill 5. The vote, which marks the first time that the collective bargaining rights of public employees have been upheld on a statewide ballot, sends a clear signal that Ohioans will not sit idly by while politicians scapegoat hard-working public employees for an economic crisis they did not create.
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The United Teachers of New Orleans has made its endorsements for the October 22, 2011 election. Please take these with you to the polls. Your vote is critical!
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President Obama's bold plan—the American Jobs Act—is the right antidote to help solve our persistent economic problems, AFT president Randi Weingarten says.
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Two longtime union activists and education reformers are assuming new roles in AFT's leadership, AFT president Randi Weingarten announced on Sept. 9.
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UTNO hosts a monthly discussion on racial healing in public education, usually in story circle format, among early career teachers, veteran teachers, retired teachers, community members, and college and high school students. Join us the third Tuesday of every month (except in December and February).
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Students at the Center and UTNO offer a writing workshop for teachers of all grade levels and high school students on the second Saturday of every month from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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(Baton Rouge – July 18, 2011) A Baton Rouge District Court judge has ruled that a 2010 legislative act allowing the state board of education to waive laws for local school boards is unconstitutional. The so-called “Red Tape Reduction and Local Waiver Empowerment Act,” which was one of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s signature bills last year, violates the state constitution’s “clear separation of powers,” according to today’s ruling by 19th Judicial District Judge R. Michael Caldwell. |
Every day, educators and other public employees, and the services they provide our communities, are being attacked. From challenging collective bargaining rights, to undermining the quality of public education and higher education, to decimating pensions and trying to put healthcare coverage further out of reach, working men and women across the country are under assault. And if this has taught us one thing, it's that Elections Matter.
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Wrongful Termination Trial Update
On Thursday, June 23, 2011, the trial phase of the Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Case concluded, except for the submission of a deposition from one other educational expert, who has been out of the country and unavailable to testify during trial. He will be returning to the country in July, and they have reserved the right to submit his testimony through a deposition. The date for the deposition has not been scheduled. The attorneys have done a great job by representing OPSB employees and presenting to the Judge. There has not been a scheduled date for the judge to issue her ruling. For further information, please go to www.nopsejustice.com.
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Calling Young Teachers
The AFT is looking for young teachers to join our Generation Y online community. This supportive network of young professionals is a place to discuss issues that affect you and your work. You can interact with other members through the forums and member pages, learn more about what is going on in schools across the nation, and find out about upcoming events and activities you can attend.
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Generation Y teachers—those in their mid-30s or younger—say that to keep them in teaching, schools should be transformed into workplaces that support high-quality teaching and learning, so eager but nearly overwhelmed novices will stay in the profession and can become highly effective, according to a new report by the AFT and the American Institutes for Research.
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In a March 28 speech sponsored by the Commonwealth Club, AFT president Randi Weingarten challenged those who have blamed public employees and their right to collectively bargain as a cause of their states' fiscal problems.
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AFT Members Will Stand Together for 'We Are One' Week of Action
Workers' fundamental rights are under attack in a growing number of states. But as we have seen in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and elsewhere, those attacks have inspired and motivated tens of thousands of union members to stand together for their rights. The challenge now, as AFT president Randi Weingarten put it in a recent e-mail to more than 1.5 million AFT members and allies, is to take this moment and turn it into a movement. One step in that direction is a "We Are One" Week of Action, starting April 4, that will bring together members from the AFT and other unions, along with our allies, to participate in events around the country. First, take the pledge to help make a difference. Once you take the pledge, you'll see lots of ideas for how to join in the week of action.
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AFT president Randi Weingarten on Feb. 24 proposed a new way to align teacher development and evaluation to due process for tenured teachers. Weingarten laid out a three-step process consisting of clear standards for what teachers should know and be able to do, a time-limited improvement and support plan for teachers deemed to be unsatisfactory according to the evaluation standards, and a hearing process that can take no longer than 100 days, which in many cases would be even more expedient.
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On Jan. 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy captured and crystallized a moment in history when he told America, "the torch has been passed to a new generation." To mark the 50th anniversary of this landmark inaugural address, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum has created a new website filled with groundbreaking multimedia that invites young visitors to explore the JFK legacy through such core themes as public service, civil rights and innovation.
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KEEP TRACK OF YOUR ATTENDANCE! Under Louisiana law, teachers and other school employees are entitled to ten (10) sick leave days at the beginning of each school year. Both the Recovery School District and the Orleans Parish School Board closely monitor employee attendance. Upon the 11th “occasion” you will likely be directed to attend a conference or hearing, at which time you will required to explain each occasion that you were absent, tardy, or when you left early. |
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UTNO Job Help Center Job search resources are available to UTNO members 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday |
Submitted for Publication to OUR OPINIONS Recent National News: Yet locally, our public schools continue to be handed over to charter operating organizations without any oversight, review, or parent input into this process. No one seems to know even what the process is. Who decides what schools will become charters? And where is the accountability for a charter school’s performance? |
ISSUE BRIEF: March 2010 The New Orleans Model: |
Submitted for Publication to The Times Picayune and other local and national media: Educators Demand Quality Reform United Teachers of New Orleans and its state and national affiliates (Louisiana Federation of Teachers and American Federation of Teachers) have always stood for reform; Quality reform. But education reform in New Orleans has become less about the quality of education and more about cost cutting measures in the name of privatizing public education. It’s time to find the money to fund experience and stop firing experienced teachers... |
Louisiana Supreme Court is allowing the class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of New Orleans Public School employees fired after Katrina flooded the city to go forward. |
New Orleans music is known throughout the world as part of our unique heritage and local culture. But our musicians, along with our educators have suffered from direct attacks on education budgets and on the professionalism of teachers and other school staff who we rely on to help our children succeed. Several nationally known local musicians are speaking out to voice their support for our teachers and other school personnel. Musician Charmaine Neville, Deacon John Moore, President of the American Federation of Musicians, and founders of the Rebirth Brass Band Phil and Keith Frazier are adding their images and words to UTNO’s citywide ad campaign titled “We Are With UTNO.” These large ads are on display in several bus shelter locations around the city: Charmaine Neville: North Broad and Esplanade; Deacon John: S. Carrolton and S. Claiborne and also in the shelter at MacArthur and General DeGualle on the Westbank; and the Rebirth: Elysian Fields and Filmore. (Read their words of support...) |
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Sabbatical Sick Leave UPDATE
UTNO has been receiving many phone calls asking when checks will be distributed from the sabbatical/sick leave class action settlement.
As of Monday, December 7, all eligible class member participants who filed a claim form by the October 15, 2009 deadline, will receive a letter in the mail within 7 to 10 business days from the mailing date of December 7. For further information, please call the Sabbatical hotline number at 1-877-864-2199. |
Do you know how to communicate what you and your colleagues need in the workplace? Are you aware of health and safety issues nobody is taking care of at your school? Wish you could participate in a workshop that gave you the training you really need to do your job better? Maybe you know who the next mayor should be. |
The Visual Arts room at Eleanor McMain Secondary School was buzzing with anticipation earlier this month... |
EdLog: News commentary and analysis
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United Teachers of New Orleans and the American Federation of Teachers receive a variety of questions from charter school faculty and staff. The most frequently heard questions are below. If you have a question and you don’t see it below, please feel free to call AFT-UTNO or email your question to our Communications Director, Sherri Wilder, at swilder@utno.org. Thank you. |
On May 26, 2009, Civil District Court Judge Sidney Cates gave preliminary approval to a settlement of United Teachers of New Orleans’ (UTNO) class action against the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB). This lawsuit claimed that OPSB failed to distribute savings from amendments to the sabbatical leave and sick leave laws in 1999. Notices will be sent out by June 15, 2009. Persons who wish to file a claim to participate in the settlement must complete the Claims Form and return it postmarked not later than October 15, 2009. If the Court grants final approval to the settlement on December 1, 2009, and if there are no objections to the settlement, checks should be mailed prior to December 31, 2009. |
Photographs and illustrations, as well as text, cannot be used without permission from the AFT.