Dear Members:
 

• I mentioned to someone in an email that if you’re overwhelmed, why don’t you just review material you’ve already gone over, even six months ago?   They said, “We can do that!?!?”  I said, “Yes, you can.”  Remember the teacher has flexibility and authority over what lesson and standard to teach.  Period.  So, if you want to review lessons you went over in September, review away!
• And…just how are the kids supposed to learn new grade level content when they first have to learn how to use Teams and all of the directions on how to use Teams is…on Teams?  And Teams was developed in late 2017, and I know you feel like an expert with Teams just like I do.  
• Said another way… So, how are the students supposed to learn a new app when all of the information being used to explain the new app is on the app?
• In fact, if the district moves to review as we’ve encouraged them to do, that eliminates a good deal of SPED regulations because you’re not teaching new material. You’re reviewing lessons that SPED students have already received accommodations on.
• By the way, #protip…We don’t have to use Teams.  It’s your choice on how the lesson is delivered.  Powerpoint, packets, workbooks, email, Teams, recorded video lessons, live video lessons (discouraged and I’ve explained why).  Maybe you’ll also email the lessons to students and parents like I will. Or, you’ll just send work via email.  Educators’ Choice!   That’s how college online courses operate.
• Tweet one of your simple teaching methods to #MEATEAM.  Best idea each workday receives a Starbucks gift card.  Don’t tweet?  No soup caffeine for you!
• Today, is our second first day of school, and I know the anxiety for some of you is incredible.  Stay strong, my Brothers and Sisters.  MEAStrong.
• And now, on with the funnies…personally, I think the first is the funniest, but that’s just me.

Dear Members:

• Hey there Spunky...Stressed? Overworked? Anxiety got you down? Let me share my morning with you and maybe that will brighten your day and show that you're not alone.  This is because of the stress we are ALL facing.  Anyway, I couldn’t find my reading glasses to work on next week’s lessons. Yes, yes, I retraced my steps…my wife retraced my steps, so I put away my breakfast dishes, and voila…after 30 minutes of looking… there they were….ok, stop laughing...just stop.  No, really.  Stop.  You’ve had your fun.
• In another case of the bizarre and miserable newsworld as it relates to schools, a Pennsylvania school district is being sued because they turned on the cameras of 42 missing laptops as “they were trying to find the lost laptops.”  You know, at this moment, I am REALLY proud to be musd.
• I talked to a teacher recently who is a CTA member I’ve met at meetings. He works for a school that has been doing distant learning for several years.  “It has taken our school several years to get to where they are, and we're still working on it to improve it, and to think you can do it in two weeks is hogwash.”  I know you’re stressed.  You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t.
• Even if you’re not an educator, you’re stressing.  That’s perfectly normal and expected.  I was social distancing yesterday and talking to my neighbor.  He is an IT guy for a company, and his wife is a respiratory therapist at Modesto Memorial and Stanford.  Both are essential employees.   They have a child in elementary.  He was telling me the struggle of having to be a teacher too. I heard the same stories from parents that are at home with their kids.  The memes are funny but only because they are 100% accurate.  A good joke works because…people can relate to it.  And below, are some good jokes.  I posted the dishwasher meme on CTA Facebook about an hour ago, and it has over 200 likes.  Go figure.  People can relate. 
• And now for the funnies…the first is my daughter and the grandkids…and she’s having a wee bit of trouble getting the interest of one of her students.  😊  The next was done by my son-in-law Jim.  Funny or not, that’s what kids will remember about this year.  And in 10-20 years, they probably won’t remember the disappointment of missing graduation, if that is what happens.  And if we have a big birth boom in 9 months, you’ll know why. Plus, we’ll see if any of those children are named Teenie or Corona (means crown, but still), or whatever.  I once taught a girl named ABCDE, pronounced ab-see-dee.  I’m sure you have examples too.  Maybe they’ll be Coronials or Quaranteenies, but we have bigger issues to deal with right now.
• Take a nap today, would you?

Dear Members:

• Click here to see our MEA COVID19 secret weapon.  Super Funny goes first tonight!
• Click here to see our Weston Ranch High Rock Stars in yesterday’s Car Parade.  I’m hurt, I’m devastated, and I’m shattered by not being invited to this parade.  And Joshua Cowell, I heard you had one today as well with our Pink Friday fire truck brigade.  Boy, I guess I’m not on the VIP guest list anywhere.  Hey site reps, please let me know if your school is having a car parade so I can join in.  And I’ll try to invite my good friend, and your CTA President, Toby Boyd to the parade as well.  Many of you have met Toby, a kindergarten teacher from Elk Grove, and know what a great guy he is.  We’ll put a throne in the back of my truck so Toby can ride in style.  #keninjail
• Some of you might be holding live meetings with students.  If you do, and I don’t recommend that you hold live meetings, make sure you record these meetings.  Our district MOU does not allow a teacher to hold one-on-one virtual meetings with a student.  Please.  I’m busy as it is with meetings.  Now, video messages or pre-recorded video lessons that are planned out are one thing.  I don’t care what your admin says and neither should you if they are putting you in an unsafe situation.  It’s your tushie on the line if something goes wrong during a virtual meeting.  And if it is recorded and something goes wrong, it is still your tushie on the line.  Your reputation let alone your job.  And just ask yourself this question, if something does indeed go wrong, will your site admin back you up just like they did when you sent kids to the office?  Rhetorical question there.  Our new language allows you flexibility on lesson delivery so use it.  Packets, workbooks, pre-recorded lessons, sending assignments via email, etc... And frankly, online classes rarely use virtual teaching.  I post a very simple 3-4 hour weekly word document lesson plan with activities for my seniors on Friday.  It’s due the next Friday.  They read, they take a test, they watch a video, they write an essay.  Ding, done.  And…every so often I send video messages to my charges.  They need that emotional connection still.  Plus I connect with them via feedback on Teams.  I am really getting to know my students and their dreams, their passions, and their fears this way.  You know, our k-12 students are not college kids.  Our students really ARE kids.  And kids do stupid things while hiding behind their screens.
• Attached is a SPED Questions and Answers about our changing times.  And if anything needs updating during changing times, it’s SPED.
• Need additional graduate credits so you can move up the pay scale?
• Summer Institutes now has a NEW option allowing teachers to study the exact focus of their choice through our newest Independent Study Course #2.  Teachers can design a personal tailor-made course focusing on any specific targeted area, follow the guidelines listed, and earn 1,2 or 3 semester graduate credits now.  
• Also check out their traditional online courses taught by the experts:
  1. Effectively Teaching in Today’s World – 3 semester graduate credits – Dr. Mathew Kincaid

 

1. Unleashing the Power of Personal Narrative – 3 credits semester graduate
2. In June, “Live Courses” return to your back yard for an additional 3 units. 
3. Look for all the details on the Summer Institutes website today.

Dear Members:

• I thought oh, that subject heading will get people to read an email.  😊
• So, read the MOU first (Memorandum of Understanding), and I’ll go through the major pieces of the agreement and try to explain the gobbledygook.  Deal?

1. There are words like encouraged, may, and can and those are terms making the activity optional.
2. There are words like will, shall, and should and are not optional words.
3. Our calendar schedule is our current calendar schedule including minimum days.  That was not touched. If it is a flex day like next Thursday, your work day is completed at end of school IF all professional responsibilities are completed.  Is an IEP a professional responsibility?  Yes, it sure is.
4. Some of your admin want a schedule of your day.  Do you see schedule in that agreement anywhere?  Let me answer that for you.  NO!  You’re a professional.  We pushed back on that big time.  I swear, I have never worked so hard as these past few weeks.  I’m hearing that from so many of you.  And, you want a schedule from me?  Don’t you already know what kind of teacher I am already?
5. Grades.  Can we talk about that tomorrow please so this isn’t too long so we can all get some sleep.
6. This MOU is what we use!  This MOU supersedes that thing that was posted on the district website on Monday.
7. Working conditions
   1. You can choose work remotely or at school until this agreement expires.  You may choose to bring your child to school if interested.
   2. You’re encouraged to use District platforms like Teams but aren’t required to.  Teams is just one district digital platform.
   3. K-5 will post direct instruction lesson daily
   4. 6-12 encouraged to post direct instruction lessons daily or will post daily lessons once a week.  For me, I gave my students a lesson with all of the work for that week.
   5. Direct instruction is defined and agreed to by both teams as “Direct Instruction lesson means a lesson the teacher develops that is directly related to the standard which is being taught.  The direct instruction component can be in a variety of formats including packets/consumables that has guidance with them.”
   6. Members will have flexibility in the lesson format.  You decide how the message is delivered.  Powerpoint, worksheet, recorded or live lesson, etc…
   7. You’ll include some independent work as it relates to the lesson(just like regular school!)
   8. Develop and communicate your office hours to parents, students, and admin.
   9. Office hours are during your regular work hours.  You have to be available to your admin during this time for a phone call or email, but not your students.  You can limit that time at your discretion.
   10. K-5 encouraged to connect with all students daily.
   11. 6-12 encouraged to connect with all students daily and at least, weekly.
   12. The teacher will contact admin if teacher can’t connect with students.
   13. Educators in specialized areas will provided supports as deemed necessary.
   14. Evaluations are done for this year and summatives will be issued shortly.  If your admin never did any evaluations this year, (LOL), they cannot put you on the evaluation cycle next year.
   15. Members will not be subject to any formal disciplinary writeups as it relates to preparation, delivery, and grading of lessons.

Dear Members:
 
As you probably know, a painful decision was made today by Governor Newsom to close California’s schools.  Painful to make that call, but painful for all of us as educators, and most importantly, painful for our students and their parents.  But, we will persevere and thrive.  We have to.  We have no choice.  And, we will.  And now more than ever, we have to set the good example for our students.  You know, 19 days ago, CTA recommended the closure of California schools because of COVID-19. Since then, communities up and down the state are learning to shelter in place, protect ourselves and our families, and meet the needs of our students remotely. In only 19 days!  You have met these challenges head on, making sure that - especially during these unpredictable times – parents and children can count on their educators.  California took the bold step to close schools unlike other states to protect our citizens, primarily our youngest and oldest, especially those with pre-existing health conditions.
 
Major California education organizations, sometimes at odds with each other, closed ranks behind the Governor and the State Superintendent to endorse the closing of schools to protect our health, and stop the spread of COVID-19.  CTA was joined by the Association of California School Administrators, the California School Boards Association, and others in endorsing the Governor’s proclamation. 
 
Talking to you over the past two weeks has shown me what true grit and courage is…it’s you.  It’s YOU.  I know all of you are stepping up, with mere days of training, to ensure students continue to get the learning opportunities they need.  MEA members are working their magic to meet their students wherever they are academically and emotionally.
 
And every day, I hear stories that make me tear up.  I heard today that over 400 nursing homes across our country have at least one COVID-19 patient in their facility.  And just like in a hospital, some of these people will die, chosen randomly by fate, and they will die alone without their love ones by their side for no one is allowed in the emergency care facilities except patients and hospital personnel.  A nurse hasn’t seen her six-year old daughter in weeks because she doesn’t want to risk exposing her family to COVID-19, so she stays in a hotel room off shift. A man walked into a hospital last week, barely able to breathe or talk, and asked the nurse to call his wife.  He wanted the nurse to tell her where he was, and that he loved her.  He died within three days.  Alone.
 
Love more, care more, and keep pushing forward.  Tomorrow, I will sign our new agreement that specifies our working conditions until the end of the school year.  I will send that legal document out to you for transparency, but I will also provide an explanation of your duties and responsibilities.

No funnies tonight.  But how about these…

Dear Members:
 

• Don’t expect yourself to be an expert right away. Focus on one thing every day.  Just like the classroom. You almost have to think of this as the beginning of the school year.  I teach my procedures one at a time.  That’s how I’m looking at it.  Let's not overwhelm them every day.  Let’s not overwhelm yourselves either.   And if you’re unsure, ask your department, grade level, or one of the trainers for help. That’s what we tell our students to do.  Remember, it is hard to focus because it is an unsettled time.  Just one thing.  If you need more clarification on what the one thing is, watch Jack Palance as Curly in the movie Cityslickers on YouTube.  He’ll explain what the one thing is.
• Faith Romero converted the paper-based Grades 4-6 Wonders Vocab and Selection quizzes into a user-friendly digital format using Forms. They’re attached if you’re interested.  Teamwork!  Thanks Faith!
• On Friday, April 3, and for the next six weeks, you may work from home.  That’s a change.  Of course, you could also work from school.  Stay away from each other!
• So, click here for a better link to State Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond announcement that schools prepare for schools to close for the rest of the  year.  The State Superintendent of Schools is largely ceremonial.  As the leader of the Department of Education, he can only make recommendationsto the Governor and legislature on public schools.  He doesn’t have the power to close schools, unlike local school disricts or the Governor and the legislature.  Personally, Newsom has already said this, and I think coming from his office, Thurmond is providing support for that issue.  We shall see.
• Click here for a link that actually works for a video starring some of our very own MEA peeps!  Sorry for the techno foul up yesterday, but I am not only Microsoft Teams challenged, I am also Tik Tok challenged.  😊  Starring Members Kellyann Guevara, Chelsea Herrera, Rick Inderbitzin, Melanie Silva, Willie Herrera, Carolyn Johnson, Ken Johnson, Gina Alegre, and Lachysha Holloway.  Thanks to Member Melissa Snaer for donating the talents and time of her husband Demitrius Snaer rather than making him do the night’s dishes.  Special guest appearance by lead singer Joe Elliott of Def Leppard.  If you don’t get the reference, I am really, really devastated.
• Hopefully, I’ll be able to sign the new agreement and release the details today.  I know many of you are being told this and that by your admin.  There is a LOT of good language in that document that clarifies and correct things that you might be told now.  Many of you are asking about admin being added to your Teams.  We discussed that during negotiations today and had a lot of good give and take.  Bottom line, they can do it.  But, legally, we can negotiate the effects on your working conditions.  So, these “observations” are just like classroom walkthroughs.  They can’t be used for evaluations as evaluations are done for the year.  These walkthroughs cannot be punitive either.  They are meant to be supportive in case a student misbehaves or someone claims something happened.  That way, your admin will have access to your chat log and files.  If it turns punitive or evaluative, then let me know, and I will hold them to our language.

• It is heartbreaking, and frankly, it is morally reprehensible the richest country in the world can’t provide the resources and the protection health care workers need and deserve to help people during this crisis.  I saw a nurse on the news today stapling her face mask together to finish her shift. We are more worried about toilet paper than producing more face masks, gowns and face shields.  There is no reason why health care workers are being sent into battle without the weapons they need to fight this crisis including proper protection for them. We should be pulling out all stops to get the resources to the people that need it so we have their backs because they certainly have ours.  But they’re still showing up for work and getting the job done.  And this reminds me of all of you.  YOU.  You’re all doing EXACTLY the same thing.  Do public schools have enough resources when there is NO crisis?  No.  But you still show up for work and get the job done.  You give your students the public education they all deserve.  You make up for the inequities of funding and resources.  And I love you all for it.  I am so proud of all of YOU.

 

• I took some time for myself today, worked out, planted some flowers, and took a nap.  And yesterday too.  Remember what I said yesterday?  Take some time for yourself and RELAX.  And yesterday, I took some time to help my wife in her classroom.  Yes, things are very fluid indeed.  My wife was told Friday they could send workbooks home. So I said, “I  guess we’re doing this on the weekend when we’re supposed to be “with our loved ones” according to the district.”  We had to rummage through each of the student desks (see photo below) with no protective gloves and take out all of their workbooks.  And, then, we had to go buy paper bags at Raley’s and label each with the child’s name(see photo below).  Oh, but the district will say this was optional.  Really?  It’s optional when you say to teachers can help their students?  When has a teacher ever turned down to help a student?  So, we spent four hours of our Saturday putting all of the workbooks into bags, labeled with their names, and hauled them to the cafeteria so parents can have more resources.  This had to be done by 745am Monday.  If I wasn’t there, it would have taken my wife 8 hours which would have been time she could have spent with her loved ones…that’s me by the way in case you were wondering.  😊

 

• Frankly, and yes, I am going to say this…this is what happens when people make decisions, who haven’t been in the classroom for years, without the input of people on the front lines, the classroom teachers.  I get it.  I TOTALLY get it.  I really do.  We are going by the seat of our pants during this crisis, just like everyone else, but in a crisis, people want direction.  Not mission statements.  Not ever-changing directives.  Not hashtags.  We need to tell the troops what we want them to do, give them the training and the resources to win the battle, and the troops will get it done.   I know you will. 

 

• And you know what…all they have to do is ask for our input, and I can get my team together on a moment’s notice, and we’ll draft a plan.  I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I have some pretty damn smart people on my team.  Gonna give a shout out to our bargaining team of Carrie Doyle, Steve Grant, Chair Kris Hensley, Blaine Hipkins, and James Ward.  And make sure to give a shout out to your site reps too.  

 

• But now, sharing decision-making isn’t something MUSD seems proud to do. Yet, they ask ME and YOU to help THEM pass Measure R.  That’s more like let’s be teammates when it serves us.  And yes, you can tell I am not a happy camper right now.  But, that attitude doesn’t serve our work, our mission, our calling.  We need to focus on helping you so you can help the kids.  Tuesday, we bargain working conditions for the time period between April 6 and May 15.

 

• You’ve read already quite a bit, but I want to encourage you to read the article.  It will empower you, lower your stress, and make you feel appreciated.   Click here to read it. 

 

• Maybe you saw it online already.  I would encourage you to visit the Facebook pages that CTA has set up for teachers.  It has a WEALTH of resources, but it’s mostly teachers venting and supporting one another.  What you’re feeling…WE ARE ALL FEELING IT.  Do you think you’re more compassionate and sensitive than me?  Come on now, don’t answer that.  I thought you were compassionate.  😊  Click here for that CTA Facebook page.

 

Dear Members:
 

• Number 1 question last night was…”April 3rd is still a non-flexible teacher prep day, even with the extended closure?  It’s still mandatory to show up for work?”  Actually, about fifteen of you had that question…and anyone with childcare issues would have that issue.  My issues are much different.  So my answer is, “We negotiate on Tuesday. We meet on a regular basis now as the situation remains fluid.  My goal is to fix that so you can work remotely. The only reason we made it a non-flexible teacher prep day in the first place was because we were going back on April 6 which has now changed of course.”

 

• Oh and yes, you can do written packets of work for students. For more details on that, read the FAQ.   Frankly, I don’t see how kids in Grades k-4 will do the online thing very well.  Yes, yes, I know.  Kids are more techie than we are…speak for yourself!

 

• Read through the attached FAQ.  It’s also available on mantecaeducators.org and will be updated as needed. You might want to favorite that on your devices.

 

• No funnies!  You just had some last night.  But, I’m preparing some of my own for later.  As an extra bonus offer, I have a guest columnist with a special message for you later!  

 

• Have a great day!

Dear Members:

• Students can use Xfinity Hotspots free. To find one, visit:  https://xfinity.com/wifi/#find-a-hotspot
• What an interesting day!  So, by now, you’ve heard that we will be doing distant learning from April 6 until May 15.  That’s due to the Governor’s statements that we need to shelter in place to slam the door on this COVID-19.  Do we want to open up too early, then close, then open again, and ooops, close again?  So, that’s why MUSD is going farther than County Superintendent James Mousalimas’ recommendation to stay closed until April 17.  Remember, it is up to each local school district to decide the best course of action.
• We are TENTATIVELY going back May 18 because we might be able to squeeze in high school finals and high school graduation and elementary promotion ceremonies.
• Remember, you CAN teach next week if you want to, but this week and next week is for PLANNING.  It’s up to you.  Nothing assigned this week or next week should be graded.  But, what I’m going to do is assign some work, and I’ll grade it later as extra credit.  That’s me.  I just don’t think kids should be penalized for learning a new system, especially those kids that don’t have access to internet.  Did you know kids without internet will have to drive to school and download information to their device there?  Or they can go to a business or park with a free Comcast hotspot. Look at the attachment if you’re confused as I am.  😊  And yes, Virginia, there are kids without internet access.
• Did you watch my video message to you yesterday?  If not, here is the link again. 
• Looking for a good k-4 PE program for distance learning?  Try Gonoodle.com
• Want another one?  Click here to try Joe Wick’s PE program on YouTube
• I have posted the FAQs on our website, but also included it here.
• You’re calmer because I’m getting fewer emails.  😊  For awhile there, I was getting 150-200 a day.  That’s okay!  Better than 150 phone calls!  It just takes awhile to get used to changes and these are DRASTIC  and SUDDEN changes to instruction.  Remember my main message in my video message was take care of YOU and please watch over EACH OTHER. 
• I love the Ken Buck social media post.  A lot of people have loved this South Carolina School Board Member’s post…over 90,000 times.  Then you have what I call…Plunger Protection.  Then, you have a post dedicated to all of our Activity Directors and some travel tips.  That’s all I got…tomorrow is a new day, full of challenges and smiles.  I hope you have mostly the second.