Thread by @TeriMooring

Colleagues,
I want to thank you for all your incredible work this spring. A lot was asked of you! First to move to emergency remote learning so quickly, and then to return on June 1 to a blended model of in-class and remote teaching. 1/ #bced

I recognize that you have worked many additional hours since March, in order to meet the needs of your students. This is appreciated, but not sustainable. 2/

As a result, I wanted to let you know that planning is already under way to ensure teachers, students, and their families are better prepared and informed for the September start-up. The BCTF strongly advocated for careful planning. 3/

Therefore, we are pleased the government listened and that our members, who have been working under these difficult conditions for the last few months, will inform the process moving forward. 4/

On June 25, 2020, the BC government announced the formation of a multi-stakeholder steering committee to help guide planning for the September start-up. You can read more about the announcement here: 5/ news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020E…:

Gov’t has let us know that they will communicate to teachers and the public by August 20 about the stage schools will resume under in September. @bctf is advocating for time for teachers to plan, prior to students' return to school, regardless the stage or model is implemented.6

The government’s new steering committee also includes several working groups that will look at all of the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted teaching and learning. 7/

There are a lot of lessons to be learned from how we moved to emergency remote learning and then back into the staged reopening. The @bctf will be well represented in this process to ensure the professional voice of teachers is loud and clear.8/

We want to make sure the start-up is more organized, safe, and maintains workable workloads. We will be working with our Federation’s advisory committees and Provincial Specialist Associations to help inform the work of the steering committee and working groups. 9/

This is an excellent opportunity to raise our voice in the decision-making processes and improve conditions for our members.
Over the summer, we will also report out on the results of our member survey about teachers’ experiences over the last few months. 10/

Thousands of you have already taken the survey. If you haven’t, the survey is open until 5:00 p.m. today, June 26, 2020 and has been emailed to you. 11/

The anonymous survey asks about three things: how you are doing, what you think about the return to teaching in schools, and what shifts you have seen in your workload and the use of technology. 12/

We want the return to school in September to be safe and manageable for the entire school community. A strong, collective voice of teachers on these questions can help make that happen. 13/

A strong, collective voice of teachers on these questions can help make that happen. We will be using the results to inform gov’t, school districts, &this new steering cmtee about ways to improve #bced pandemic, protect teachers’ workload, support students &keep everyone safe.14

The @bctf will continue to work throughout the summer to keep you informed of developments.
From a tough round of bargaining to a pandemic, I know it’s been a hard year for everyone. 15/

I’m very proud of our strong union and all of the amazing work of our members during difficult times. You were creative, caring, and committed. Your efforts helped keep kids engaged and made a real difference. 16/

TY for all of your dedication & hard work. Please take time this summer to enjoy some much-needed time off with friends and loved ones. It’s important that we look after ourselves. Let’s all continue to be kind, calm, and safe.
In solidarity,

Teri Mooring
@bctf President