Fall 2021
Dear Educators,
Welcome to the 2021 - 2022 school year! I hope you are starting the year feeling well rested, inspired and ready to go. If you are anything like me, you are probably feeling like another week or two is what you need to feel ready to go and asking yourself what being well rested feels like. Well, ready or not, here we go and you will be great!
I never would have imagined a virus would change the way teaching and learning happens in schools but we have all witnessed the impact that COVID 19 has had on schools the past couple years. We are beginning the year with a state mask mandate as well as some additional safety measures put in place by the district. I will acknowledge that many educators would like to see more done to ensure everyone’s safety and many others feel that too many mitigating factors are being mandated. I ask that everyone adheres to the mask mandate and takes reasonable measures to limit the spread of viruses to others. Most importantly keep yourself in the best health possible. If you need help getting in better health, either physically or mentally there are many options. FREA, FRPS, and your primary care physician would be happy to connect you with the services you need.
I want to say that FREA is here to support you but more accurately we are here to support each other. With over 800 members we have the expertise, experience, and strength to make great things happen for our students. Look for opportunities to impact change in our district through involvement on your school’s Instructional Leadership Team(ILT) or on one of the Joint Labor Management Committees. There may also be open positions at your school to represent membership on the FREA executive board and many schools could use another building rep. Please email, freapresident175@gmail.com if you are interested in taking on any of these roles.
It feels funny not having rosters of students to prepare lessons for this year but I have a roster of great educators that I’m honored to represent. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help support you this year!
In solidarity,
Keith Michon Jr.
FREA President
In this issue...
- Safe school opening survey results
- Contract Updates
- Expanded teacher leader initiative
- State and national updates
Safe School Opening Survey Results (Summer 2021)
297 Respondents
YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
Surveys tell us how best to represent your interests and it's difficult to do that when we don't know where the membership stands on individual issues. Please take the time to be involved and share your opinions on the next survey.
Contract Updates
Teacher Leadership Expands
Now, in the fall of 2021, almost every school has added teacher leader positions! Administrators are embracing distributed leadership and shared responsibility. Across the district, teachers have a seat at the decision-making table! Its certainly an exciting time to be a teacher in our schools.
In contract negotiations, FREA normed teacher leader stipends across the district, raising the stipend for teachers who teach full-time to $6,000 and $4,000 for teachers who teach one-less class at the secondary level.
About Us
Email: freaoffice@gmail.com
Website: https://www.fallrivereducators.org/
Location: 178 4th Street, Fall River, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 679-4392
Facebook: facebook.com/fallrivereducatorsassociation