Oct. 18, 2017
Art teacher Alison Fowler smiles with a student during an art lesson at Doull Elementary.
This Week's Top 5 Things to Know
Resources Available for Oct. 26 Teal Day
The Oct. 26 Teal Day is fast approaching! Make the most of the day by finding a session that fits your needs and helps you connect with other teachers. Find a comprehensive list of all Teal Day offerings here.  K-5 literacy teachers: View a list of professional learning options designed specifically for you here .  If you're struggling to find a session that meets your needs, email [email protected] for support.
Teachers to be Automatically Enrolled in Sick Leave Bank, plus Other Changes
In support of our teachers' well-being, starting this year, all teachers will:
  • Be automatically enrolled in Sick Leave Bank (SLB).
  • No longer need to use their personal days before they can access the SLB.
Sick Leave Bank offers eligible teachers additional sick days when they are on an extended personal illness leave and have exhausted their accumulated paid leave.

Previously, teachers were required to opt in to SLB and would donate one sick day per year. Because we're automatically enrolling teachers in the sick leave bank this year, no sick day will be deducted to donate to the sick leave bank. In 2018-19, however, one sick day will be deducted to donate to the sick leave bank unless you opt out of the sick leave bank during Open Enrollment.  If you have questions, please contact HR Connect at 720-423-3900 or [email protected] . 
Review Updates to 2017-18 LEAP Fairness Guide
Click here to review the 2017-18 LEAP Fairness Guide -- Evaluation Expectations and Rights for Teachers, which has been updated. Please take time to review this guide as it includes the requirements that DPS is committed to following when it conducts the LEAP teacher evaluation process.
Review Important Social Media Guidelines
Do you use social media such as Twitter, TeamSnap, Instagram or Facebook either in your personal or professional life? Have you thought about using social media in the classroom?
It's critical you know our district policies, which are based on federal and state laws regarding personal and professional accounts, and how to use social media safely as an educator. 

Review these resources, which include important Do's and Don'ts (In the latter category, communicating with DPS students through personal social media): 
Earn Equity and Inclusion Leadership PD with Equity Boot Camp: Real Talk on Race
Register for the Nov. 7 or Nov. 8 session of Equity Boot Camp: Real Talk on Race -- a one-day program that brings together educators from across DPS to unpack institutional bias and racism while learning strategies to break down the black/brown divide and create bridges to make change. This event is designed to build knowledge and skills to understand the racial divide in Denver and build purposeful conversational capacity with race, equity/inclusion within DPS in our roles as teachers, teacher leaders and other school leaders.
 
TLC teacher leaders: Attendance will fulfill your professional learning requirement for Equity and Inclusion Leadership.  This opportunity is an additional choice to what you can access during Leadership Development Weeks and Saturday Symposiums. Guest teacher support is available for this opportunity. Click here for more information and to register through SchoolNet.  
Other Resources and Information
Click here to learn more about these resources and opportunities:
  • Certain Functions to be Deactivated in SchoolNet
  • CMAS Test Scores Now Available on Parent Portal
  • Bring STEM to Your Classroom with STEM Pathways Grant Opportunity
  • Register Your Class for a Free Agri Field Trip Opportunity
  • Interested in Becoming a Teacher Leader? Register for a Full-Day Workshop
  • Register for Saturday Leadership Symposium: Opportunity for All Teacher Leader Roles
  • Attend a Deep-Dive Session with Istation 201 and ISIP Español
Connect with Us
Note: We send many DPS communications via this platform. Please do not unsubscribe from these messages or you will not receive future and important messages. If a specific message doesn't interest you, simply delete it and stay tuned for a future communication that will be of more interest. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].