Teacher Weekly
Mr. Jermaine Mason and his student practice letters at Cole Arts and Science Academy.
May 1, 2019
How Spring 2019 PDUs Impact Your New Salary
As you know, we are working to implement the new compensation system for our teachers and specialized service providers (SSPs) that will go into effect beginning in August. We wanted to provide an update about how spring professional development units (PDUs) will impact your placement on the new salary schedule. 
 
In collaboration with the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA), we have developed the following guidelines for each type of PDU: 
 
ELA PDU
You will receive one credit, effective Aug. 1, for each ELA class (104, 105A or B, 201 or 202) completed this spring. This means you will start the 2019-20 school year with ELA credits. For example, if you are completing 201 and 202 this spring, you will start the 2019-20 school year with two credits that can be applied towards a future grade change on the new salary schedule .

ELA credits that were completed before Jan. 19 have already been applied to your current base salary or have been banked as PDUs and will be paid out in November 2019. Spring 2019 credits will not be reflected on your individual initial salary placement letter because those credits have not yet been completed. 
 
Non-ELA PDU :

  • If you are completing your first non-ELA PDU in the 2018-19 school year and you have more than 14 years of service, you will receive a lump sum of $855 on your June 22 paycheck. The PDU must be completed and approved for payment by May 31.

  • If you are completing your first non-ELA PDU in the 2018-19 school year and have fewer than 14 years of service, $855 will be added to your current base salary effective July 31. This change will be made prior to any adjustment you are receiving for placement on the new salary schedule. The PDU must be completed and approved for payment by May 31. 
 
All PDUs banked as of Jan. 19
These PDUs will be paid out at $1,700 per PDU on the Nov. 7 paycheck. You must be an active employee (not terminated or retired) on Nov. 7 in order to receive payment. The only exceptions are for those individuals who have six or more banked credits and may be choosing to use them for a grade change. If you have more than six banked PDUs as of Jan. 19, you should have already received a letter explaining your options.
 
All other spring PDUs
DPS and DCTA agreed to invest in higher base salaries in the new salary schedule, and made a joint decision that compensation for all other spring PDUs will be embedded in the average 11.7% increase that teachers and SSPs will earn, rather than paying out individual PDUs.
 
Please stay tuned for additional PDU guidelines and processes for the 2019-20 school year. As a reminder, if you have questions or need to provide additional information after receiving your individual salary letter, please submit that information through the Salary Placement Review Form within 30 days of receiving your letter. Sending information through this form is the best way to receive a response to your question. Human Resources will respond as quickly as possible. However, due to the volume of requests, please allow up to 30 days for a response.
Share the Paraprofessional Hiring Event with Your Network
Do you know anyone interested in working in one of our schools? On May 14 from 4:30-6 p.m. at Bruce Randolph School , we are hosting a job fair for all paraprofessional, before- and afterschool care and summer camp openings. These positions are all important and critical supports for our students, teachers and schools. Schools will be offering on-the-spot interviews and members of our Special Education team will be there to talk to candidates about jobs in Special Education as well as paid summer training we will be offering to new paras in autism and affective needs classrooms. Refer someone and you may be eligible to earn a $125 referral bonus!
Teacher Tidbit Response: Teacher Memes
Thanks for sharing your teacher memes!

The top meme was submitted by Lauren Bailey, a third-grade ELA-S teacher at Knapp Elementary.
Teacher Tidbit Callout: Learning from Students
Teachers lead students' learning in classrooms, but sometimes the roles are reversed when we get to learn from our students. What is the most important thing your students taught you this year? Share your story through this form, and we'll include the top pick in the next edition of Teacher Weekly!
This Week's Top 5 Things to Know
Complete the Impact Survey
Make your teacher voice heard. This morning, you should have received an invitation from the deputy superintendent to take the Impact Survey. This 10-minute survey helps us understand whether current DPS strategies are achieving impact and will also help prioritize future strategies. Please take a moment to access the invitation and complete the survey.
Assessment and Translations Support Needed
The Assessment Resource and Support Team is looking for three teachers to help upload assessments into the Illuminate platform and three teachers to help translate math, science and social studies assessments into Spanish. Beginning June 4, teachers can earn up to 40 hours of extra pay for this work. If you are interested, please complete this form . If you have questions, email Sara Dinser .
Share Your Feedback on How to Improve LEAP
The LEAP Collaborative Committee (LCC) is seeking teacher feedback on ways to improve our LEAP system. The LCC is comprised of DPS and Denver Classroom Teacher Association (DCTA) members and focuses on how we can build trust into the system while ensuring that LEAP is about growth, not just evaluation. Recently, the committee was able to make a joint decision in creating the second administration of the Student Perception Survey.

Click here to share your feedback on how we can improve your experience with LEAP. For more information, visit the LCC Google page . Want to join the committee? Be sure to check future editions of Teacher Weekly for potential openings.
SSPs: Complete End-of-Year Appraisal Process with Your Manager
End-of-year conversations with managers should take place between April 9-May 18 . During this conversation SSPs should:

  • Reflect on performance using behaviors at the indicator level and evidence collected throughout the year.

  • Discuss ratings assigned at the expectation level from the SSP framework based on evidence collected.

  • Review and finalize two SLO outcomes in the SLO application.

  • Discuss assigned overall rating for the year.

  • Reflect on strengths and growth areas for SSP development and actionable steps for future professional development.

Review the SSP Appraisal Process and SSP User Guide for completing a self-appraisal in Infor HR . Appraisals should be finalized by May 31.
Register Now for Required Math Summer Professional Learning
In preparation for math becoming a DPS Instructional Improvement Priority in 2019-20, all elementary teachers scheduled to teach K-5 math in the 2019-20 school year are required to attend a two-day elementary math professional learning session this summer . The deadline for registering for one of the elementary two-day sessions is May 24. Additionally, teachers new to Bridges in Mathematics should register for Bridges Getting Started on Aug. 2 . All Secondary math teachers who have not participated in CPM training are also required to attend CPM professional learning this summer.  Please encourage all math teachers to register now for required and optional math summer professional learning sessions. A full listing of the math professional learning opportunities is available in the 2019 Summer PD Session Guide . If you have questions, email Curriculum & Instruction .
BONUS: Encourage Students to Register for a Latinx Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Current juniors and seniors are invited to a special screening of the "Turns in the Road" film directed by Alan Dominguez -- a DPS film teacher at CEC Early College. The film focuses on Alan catching up with several of his former students to find out where their road to college and career has taken them. The screening will be held from 7-8 p.m. on May 14 , at the Robert & Judi Newman Center for Theatre Education, 1101 13th St., third floor. Free transportation is available for students. Buses will depart at 6:15 p.m. from four high schools -- South, MLK, Lincoln and North -- and will return students to the same locations after the event. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students can find more information and register here .
Additional Important Resources and Information
Click here to learn more about these resources and opportunities:

  • Digital Transportation 1066 Form for Students with Disabilities Now Available

  • Elementary Literacy Summer Professional Learning; Updated August Dates

  • Invite Families to the Superintendent Parent Forum on May 7

  • Invite Students to Attend the African-American Young Ladies Summit

  • Register to Attend The Student Experience: Building Relationships Event

  • Sign Up for Growth Through Connections

  • Earn a Teaching for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Graduate Certificate this Summer
DPS Myth Busters
Have A DPS Myth Buster Question?
Have a question about new curriculum, district resources or how you can get more supports as an educator? Share your DPS myth buster question through this form and the answer may be featured in an upcoming edition.
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