Sharpener Archives
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"Sharpener" for Teachers
Sharpener: Turnout Tuesday - May 15, Board's Unhealthy Health Plans, Coinsurance Payment Increases, Co-Pay Increace, More Collective Actions
Sharpener: Constitutional Admendments, Important Repeat, Adminstrative Support, Classroom Discipline, Students Who Repeatedly Disrupts
Sharpener: MPS Children's Campaign: Teacher/Community Components, Community Mobilization Component
Recall Walker- Reimagine MTEA, Reclaim Wisconsin Rally, Reclaim Wisconsin Tour, Protecting Your WRS Pension, Action Alert: Special Ed Voucher Bill, Parent/Educator Meeting on MPS Budget Cuts, Contract Articles, Editorial Comments: So Many Reasons to Recall Walker, and Banking Day - March 9
Sharpener: Walker Recall, Reinventing MTEA, Reinventing Our Communications, Voter ID Workshop, Parent Conferences, Have You Been?, School Interview Team
All Units Sharpener: Recall Activities, Released Members, Safety and Discipline, Contract and Policies Interlocked, Safety Basics, Alternative Approaches
What "Walkerworld" Looks Like, Extreme Use of Gov. Walker's Tools, Reclaim Wisconsin, National Boards, Take the PHA, Action Research, Runoff Election
Help Reinvent, Represent Our Local, Don't Transport Students, Our Board Representatives, PD October 28, Aesop Begins
Sharpener: Reinventing Our Union, TEAM Helps, Disability Insurance, Date Book, Leadership Candidates
Sharpener: September 30 Deadline, Wanted: Elementary Leaders, MTEA's Retirement Workshop, Faculty Meetings, Lesson Plans, MPS Input Meetings, Calling For Substitutes
Sharpener: Showing Solidarity, Act 10, Health Insurance Q&A, Enrollment Deadline, Conference Modifications, First Paycheck, PAC, and Attention Retirees!
Sharpener: Sticking Together, Experienced Staff, Staff Changes, New President, PPO Advice, MTEA Communications
Autism Now Covered by Health Plans; "BR+" Is a Plus for Your School; WEAC Convention Stipend Reminder; Please Do the PHA!; Got Disability Insurance?; A Celebration of Teaching!; Date Book Updates; King Writing Contest Deadline - November 17; MTEA Election In-School Voting November 16-18
Milwaukee Opportunity Plan as an alternative to mayoral takeover; insurance open enrollment; disability insurance; Emerging Voices
TEAM Helps Experienced Teachers; Contract Talks Resume; Lesson Plans; Participating as a Delegate to WEAC and NEA RA Meetings; DPI Certification for Driver Education; Faculty Meetings and Inservices
Important - September 30 Deadline; MTEA Leadership Opportunities; Need an Assignment?; Pay Less in Taxes and Have More Money to Spend - Legally!; Got Date Book?
September Enrollment for Insurances; Getting Involved in Your Union; MTEA Retirement Workshop; Mayoral Control: Initial Q & A; Date Book Delivery; Open House Notice; Scheduling Fall Conferences; Celebrate Solidarity!
MPS Sends Firing Warning Letter to Over 300 Unlicensed Teachers; September 30 Deadline; Calling for a Substitute; Date Book Updates; Less Pain, More Gain With a 403(b); Is National Board Certification for You? Who's Your Evaluator?; Transport Students in Your Car? Just Say No!
New Salary Rates; Understanding the Salary Schedule; Clarification on Salary Steps; Salary Division Codes; Step Increases Explained; 191-Day Teacher Salary Schedule; You Are Invited!; Wisconsin Way
Take the PHA; Calling All PDP Reviewers; New Teacher Seminars; YogaKids
Checking Your Retro Payment; Tax Deductions on Retro Pay; Grievance Payment on the December 14 Paycheck; Many Teacher Positions Will Be Added for Second Semester; New Master's Degree Opportunity at MTEC
Contract: Ratification and Implementation; Tax Deductions on Retro Pay; PHA Completion; Action Alert on Legislation; Domestic Partner Benefit Hearing
Two Action Items This October; MTEA Group Disability Insurance: Protection Against Loss of Salary; Help Set the Direction for WEAC and the NEA; Participating as a Delegate to WEAC and NEA RA Meetings; Candidate Nomination Form - MTEA to the 2008 & 2009 WEAC RA and/or the NEA RA; PI-34 PDP Training; Crisis Training - CPI; New Teacher Series; Retirement Workshop on October 11
Ask Not What Your Union Can Do for You; Contract Ratification - Vote Now!; Please Take the PHA, ASAP; Voluntary Programs to Fit Your Needs; Education! Education!
Misuse of EAs Must Stop; Special Education Certification Opportunity; King Contest Reminder; New Teacher Seminars; New Teachers at NEA Focus Schools
Opting to Preserve Sick Leave; Senator Lena Taylor; Easy Access to PHA Web Site; Faculty Meetings and Inservices; Lesson Plans
Contract talks stall; PHA - personal health assessment; calling a sub; retirement workshop; Wisconsin Covenant; MTEA staff job sharing; Leadership Convocation; evaluation
TEAM Helps Experienced Teachers; Critical Insurance Reminders; Elementary Lunch Duty; March on Milwaukee, New Teachers Need Our Help; Family Connection; King Writing Contest; MPS Bowling League
American Education Week: November 16-22; Supporting Public Schools - Two Key Messages; WAA Testing Procedures; Are You Interested in Becoming an Urban UniServ Director?; Thirsty Third Thursday
More Preparations for Bargaining; Listening Forums in Early December; Maintaining Safety in Your School; School Safety and Discipline; Administrative Support in Discipline Situations
An Opportunity to Work for the Change We Need; Your Role in Preparing for Teacher Contract Bargaining; Joint MTEA/NAACP Efforts Help Protect Voter Rights; School Board Adopts "Kids First" Budget; Are You at Risk of Losing $200?; Calling All PDP Reviewers; King Writing Contest Deadline - November 17
Opening Up Communication Within MPS; Support for Improving MPS Student Achievement; Faculty Meetings and Inservices; MTEA Retirement Workshop; For Initial Educators; Political Action Rebate Reminder; Who's Your Evaluator; Calling for a Substitute
TEAM Helps Experienced Teachers; Lesson Plans; "Our Lights Are On" Grievances Resolved with $40,000 in Back Pay; More Spendable Income Avoid Taxes - Legally; Insurance - Important Reminder
Positive Start, Spring Break Change, Vacation and Travel Reimbursement, School Improvement Grant, MPS Literacy Plan, MTEA Executive Director Position
Contract Talks Continue at Slow Pace; Calendar Talks: Spring Break Question; Save the Dates; The MPS "Benefit Rate" Fixation; Grievance Wins: $11,500 in Back Pay; Delegate Openings for the WEAC RA
Tom Morgan - A Leader of Educators, A Man of Extraordinary Compassion; Next Steps for Our Union; Survey Changes Prompt Questions; Grievance Initiation Deadline Reminder; Upcoming Conferences
Layoff: What We Know Now; Responsible Representation; Information/Support for Laidoff Members; Talks Progressing on School Calendars; To Honor Our Retiring Educators
Sharpner: Contract Voting, National ESP Day, TEAM Helps, Layoff Status, Calendar Corrections, Investing 101, King Writing Contest, New Representatives, Technical Difficulites
Sharpener: Contract Votes, Moving Education Forward, Reform Rhetoric, Take the PHA!, BR+, PDP Reviewers, Calling for a Substitute
Sharpner: Moving Wisconsin Forward, Staffing/Layoffs/Recall Update, Insurance Deadline, Lesson Plans, Faculty Meetings, Health Care Reform, M.L. King Contest
Layoffs as Ploy; Considering Retirement; September Checklist; Leadership Vacancies; Recall Report; Solidarity!
Banking Time Vote for 2009-10; Inside Sharpener - Banking Time Details; Banking Time: Questions & Answers; Banking Days and Make-Up Days; Calendar Not Resolved; DPI Hours Requirement Also a Consideration; The Teacher Workday Without Banking Time; Calendar and Contract Bargaining Updates; MTEA Vice-President Runoff Election Results; First Meeting of MTEA Representative Assembly; Report Cards Now?
Banking Vote by Friday, June 12; For Your Good Health, This Summer; Start Now to Complete Voluntary Programs; Last Paycheck Will Be Mailed; Updating Your Contact Data; Record Day Use; Thanks to BRs; District Refuses to Work Out Classroom Packing Issues, Again; Retiring at Age 65?; WRS Service Break Required; Planning Ahead for King Writing Contest; Financial Tune-Up WEAC Seminars; Free Fun, & Fulfilling; PDP Training at UWM; Health Care Reform Event; "Walk on the Child's Side" #10; Correction of End-of-Year Dates
Here Comes Summer, But..; Staying Connected This Summer; Tentative Parameters for Planning; Summer School Hiring Problems; Professional Growth With a Stipend; Two Important Points; Future of Collaborative Planning?; Notify MPS If Resigning; First Paydate?; MTEA Summer Hours
Still No Calendar Agreement; Banking Time Vote Reminder; Moratorium on Interviews; Especially for Excessed Teachers; Insurance Coverage If You Resign; Information for Permit Teachers; Teacher Evaluation: Your Rights as a Professional; Salary Schedule Advancement: What You Need to Know; Congratulations! Dennis Oulahan
Grievance Wins Over $57,000 in Pay; Requiring Residency: Affecting Students?; MTEA Leadership Candidates; Agreement Reached on Job Sharing; Legislative Priorities; TEAM Program; MTEA Movie Night - March 19; Interested in Montessori?
Earned GoodHealth Incentive? Got Card?; HRA Briefing; March Morale Magic; EA Contract Not Settled; Four MTEA Contracts
Calendar Survey Online Now!; Cycle 1 Interviews Underway; Got ESTCS?; Legislative Breakfast - Saturday, May 2; Delegate Openings for the WEAC RA; Tailgate Party and Brewers Game
MTEA Leader Election Results; Vice-President Runoff Election; Board Rejects Teacher Proposals; Good Faith Bargaining; Calendar Proposal - More of the Same
Renewing Your DPI License; License Renewal with College Credits; Contract Steps Prior to a Layoff; Expand Your Areas of DPI Certification Now; Interiew Cycle 4; Freedom of Residency Committee Update; To Honor Our Retiring Educators
Let Your Legislator Know; National (ESP) Day - November 18; Saving for Retirement; MTEA Leaders Election; Banking Days (Plus) Agreement; PHA Deadline; In Special Education and Need a Bilingual License?
For Your Good Health - and the Greater, Collective Good; Financial Incentives; Key Clarification; Health Reimbursement Account; How GoodHealth Will Save Costs; Examples of Voluntary Programs; Great First Step!; Spouse and Dependent Children; How to Start a Voluntary Program; Collaboration: Is the Superintendent for Real?; We Need Your Feedback
Contract Enforcement - Key to Safe and Orderly Schools; School Interview Team Elections; WAA Testing - Significantly Changed; Claiming a Tax Deduction for Union Dues; Scheduling Spring Parent Conferences; Join the MTEA Book Club; Record/Staff Planning; Workshop's Planned for Art Educators; Listening to Your Faculty's Concerns; Early Childhood Save the Date; Initial Educators Save the Date; "Our Lights are On" Reminder
Security Breach Alert for MTEA Group Disability Insurance Participants; Important: Monitor Your Credit Reports; Teacher Contract on Our Web Site; Interview Training - Date Correction; NEA RA Delegate Voting - By February 6; NAACP Hosting Education Summit; Upcoming Workshops
Last Two Paychecks Will Be Mailed; Collaborative Planning Survey; Sooner Is Better!; No Assignment for 2008-09?; Moratorium on Interviews; Contract Steps Prior to a Layoff; MTEA Summer Hours; Summer Communications
Important Reminders; For Your Good Health, This Summer; Got Contract?; Notify MPS If Resigning; Record Day Use; Friend of Public Education Nominations; Thanks to BRs
Summer School Hiring Dispute; Mail Your Ballot by March 20, Please; Interview Rights Violated at Engleburg; MTEA Grievance Wins Teachers $20,000 in Tuition Reimbursement; Security Breach Letter Clarified; MPS Spring Online Courses; Looking Ahead; Social Events - Save the Dates
Superintendent Fails to "Walk the Walk" of His Collaboration Talk; MTEA Proposal on Record Day; Agreement on Snow Days Make-Up
Education Reform: Where We Stand - Your Feedback Is Needed!; What's the Point?; Our Union's Position on the Role of Teachers in Education Reform
Before You Vote on Banking Time; What Banking Time Means - Contractually; Bargaining Strategy: Just Say No!; Other Questions Have to Wait; Teacher Day Pre-Banking Time; More Information to BRs
Stand Up for Our Students; Why Bother? We Must!; Another Public Hearing on June 12; School Board to Vote on June 19; Looking Ahead to April 7, 2009
What's Next for MPS?; Legislative Alert!; MTEA Legislative Breakfast - May 1; MTEA Tailgate Party
Sharpner: Layoffs/Recalls, Getting Involved, Leadership Vacancy, 1st Paycheck, Political Action Rebate, Why Get Involved, Multi-Media
Next Paycheck, Teacher Lump Sum, Special Edition Again, Recap of Meeting With Dr. Thornton, Leadership Key, MTEA Holiday Hours
MTEA Leader Election, School Interveiw Team Elections, Scheduling Spring Conferences, Expulsion Recommendation, National Certification, Union Dues and Tax Deductions
Special Edition - Today's Sharpener is for members in all 4 MTEA units. Sharpner: Discuss Discipline, Positive Solutions, Contract and Policies Interlocked, Systemwide Monitoring, 1 Union - 4 Units
Excessing: Timeline and Key Points; TEAM Program Referrals - March 15; Interview Applications Must Be Filed Online; Sign-Up Glitch
Seeking the Facts Behind the Draconian School Budget Cuts; MPS Budget Overview on February 9, MTEA Organizing Workgroup - February 18; Briefing Planned for RA Meeting; Pre-Registration Required for February 24 Workshop; Claiming a Tax Deduction for Union Dues; Summit on Milwaukee Graduation Project; MPS Teachers Earn National Certification; Teachscape's Teacher as Hero Event
Election of NEA Delegates
Contract Talks Going to Mediation; Elementary Lunch Duty Is Paid; Safety and Discipline; Results of the MTEA Runoff Election; Correction; Save the Dates
Members Speak Out for Real Reform; Scheduling Spring Parent Conferences; $mart Move Financial Workshop; School Interview Team Elections; Save Your MPS Paycheck Statements; Record/Staff Planning
LaborFest; tuition reimbursement; negotiations update; paychecks; political action rebate; "Learn Good Health, Live Good Health"
Collaborative planning; parent conferences; retirement planning; health insurance open enrollment; and MTEA group grievance award.
Final Reminder to Complete the PHA Saturday, December 15; Interested in Becoming a UniServ Director?; Extra $128.68 on December 14; Business of Members; BR Meeting on December 12; If You Call Us, We Will Come; MTEA Open House; Healthy Women Sought for Research Project
Congrats on Your Healthy Start; Join the MTEA Book Club; Tax Note on 2007 Dues; WAA Inservice Video: Know Your Rights; Action Research Fellows; Unique Master's Opportunity; MTEA Audit to BRs
A special Sharpener for all MTEA members on the new health and productivity management program: "Learn Good Health, Live Good Health."
Great Schools Lobby Day; collaborative planning survey; bargaining update; first paycheck; retirement; record day; summer communications.
Constitutional Amendments for Action at the Annual Delegate Assembly - May 20
Vote Now for MTEA Leaders; Teacher Vacancy Interviews - Cycle 2; Serious Analysis and Discussion Needed on the McKinsey Report; PDP Goal Approval Event - April 30; Action Research; April 29 Textbook Fair; MTEA Legislative Breakfast
MTEA Grievance Secures Incentive Days for Interns; Status of Contract Talks; BR Elections - Key Points; Bay View Tragedy; TNE Summer Academy - June 22-26; Summer Job Fair; PDP "How-To" Workshop; PDP Goal Approval Event - May 28
Informed and Involved in 2009-10; Contract Talks "Un-Stalled"; Sharpener Via E-mail? Why Not!; Perspective on Mayoral Takeover; First Paycheck; Banking Day Reminder; Retirement Investment Options Vastly Improved; Celebrate Solidarity!
Insurance Coverage for Adult Children; Legislative Contacts; Snow Business News; If Your Car Is Vandalized
Would Mayoral Control Improve MPS?; Professional Concerns and Questions; Come to Our PDP Goals Approval Night; Contract Talks Continue - Slowly; Results of Special MTEA Election
What About My Pension?; SFN - We Are Not Alone!; The Next MBSD; New Legislature, New Possibilities; Claiming a Tax Deduction for Union Dues; Introducing PBIS
Snow-Day Make-Up Required - DPI Denies Waiver Request; Got PDP Approval?; Record/Staff Planning; Scheduling Spring Conferences; Collaborative Planning Survey
Snow Day Means School Day on January 26 Banking Day, Unless; E-Mail Updates on Contract Talks; MTEA Leadership Election Steps Begin; School Interview Team Elections; Union Dues and Tax Deductions; What If There's Another Snow Day?
School Calendars for 2009-10; Less Paper But More Information, Sooner; PHA & Voluntary Programs = Good Health and $$$ (Tax Free); Sal Gonzalez In Memoriam; MTEA Staff Vacancy; Political Action Rebate; Join the Fun on Labor Day; 2nd Annual MPS/Run Back to School
Snow Day Letter from Andrekopoulos
We Hear You!; Frustrated With...; Initial Educators - Got PDP Questions?; Tailgate Party and Brewers Game; Legislative Breakfast - April 26; MTEA Legislative Priorities; Superintendent's Position on Snow Day Make-Up
Banking Days, Make-Up Days: Agreement Reached for 2008-09; Back-to-School; New Teachers Need Our Help; First Paycheck; Action Research Fellows Openings
Welcome Back!; Know Your Contractual Rights: School-Based Professional Activities; Why a 4-Day Paycheck?; Important Updates on MTEA Staff; Date Book Delivery; Open House Notice; Scheduling Fall Parent Conferences; Retirement Planning Workshop Dates
Contract Negotiations Coming - Please Sign Up for Updates; Salary Adjustments for New Teachers; MPS Teachers Earn National Certification; Take One! It's Free; Thirsty Third Thursday; Wanted: A Few Curious Members; Winter Conference - Register Now; Make-It, Take-It on February 18; Winter Break - MTEA Schedule
Please Complete the PHA!; Pension Benefit Concerns Rise As the Stock Market Plummets; Pension Amount Is Not the Only Factor; Context Caution!; The Best Advice
Let's Be Fair! How About $1,000,000 to Promote Milwaukee Public Schools; PHA Participation - Phenomenal!; Update on the Security Breach; Wanted: A Few Curious Members; Calendar Survey Starts February 20; Healthy Women Sought for Research Project
Reminder: February 29 Deadline; Retirement Notice Due by March 1; March 14 Due Date for Student Art; TEAM Program Referrals - March 17; PI-34 Opportunities; Understanding Your Contractual Sick Leave Benefits; Summer Jobs
Job Sharing for 2008-09; Retirement Notice Date – Moved to March 1; Special Education – Compensation for Extra Duties; MPS Teachers Earn National Certification; Summer Employment; Brewers Tailgate – May 9
Election of NEA RA Delegates; Candidate Statements; Ballot Mailed to Your Home?; MTEA Delegates: Funded and Unfunded
Shapener: Make-up and Record Days, Why Record Day Is Unpaid, Electing Strong Leaders, Runoff Election, Election Results, Honoring Retirees, Keep Visiting
Sharpener: Constitutional Amendements, Budget Battle, Brewer Game, Considering Retirement?
Sharpener: April 4 Activities, April 5, School Board, School Interviews, mtea.org, Health Insurance Changes
Sharpener: Health Plan Changes on April 1
Sharpener: Just Begun, Must Attend, Leadership Candidates, Makeup Days, TEAM, "E" Transformation, Patience
Sharpener: PPO Plan Starts April 1, Excessing, Contractual Rights, Layoffs: Preventing, Contract Steps Prior to Layoff
Sharpener: School Board, Summer Grievances, Union Dues Tax Deductions, Planning Ahead, Winter Conference, 4th Grade Poster Contest
Sharpner: Banking Day Changes, Spending Changes, Retirement Health Insurance, Record Planning