Special Edition- A Year in Review
In the News
Have you taken the PGCEA Bargaining Survey?
PGCEA needs your feedback before we open bargaining in the Fall. IF we are to fix what’s broken, we need to know our members priorities. Your participation in this survey is completely voluntary. All of your responses will be kept confidential. They will only be used for statistical purposes and will be reported only in aggregated form when negotiations begin.   
School Shout-Out SY 2017-2018
  • Staff at Suitland HS, members who signed the class action grievance PGCEA filed in October that ultimately got the telework day for watching the videos.

  • Educator, community members and students at International HS-Langley Park rallied around the county decision to change the schools start time for next school year. Their voices were heard and the school start time will remain the same for the 2018-2019 school year. 

  • Congratulations to the following school for achieving 100% Union Full Dues Membership during the 2017-2018 school year.
2017-2018 PGCEA Committee Reports
Social Committee
Social Committee was very busy this school year. We look forward to another year of soirees.
  • Back to School Get Together at Dave and Buster's
  • Costume Party at PGCEA
  • Fitness Fair at PGCEA
  • Holiday Party at Dave and Buster's
  • Jamming Cabaret at PGCEA
  • Spring Fling at PGCEA
  • End of Year Cook Out at PGCEA

The Social Committee members are planning for next year. If you would like to be present at the Fitness Fair or interested in a Game Night and/or Bazaar, please contact Marguerite Morman-Matthews at den_mar@verizon .net
Membership Committee
The Membership (and Organizing) Committee worked diligently in trying innovative strategies to reach more members. A teacher townhall in the north and south part of the county engaged members who have not typically been involved. The plan is to continue this dialogue and create a space for members to have a say in the direction of PGCEA.
Membership Expansion Program
In May, PGCEA's new Membership Expansion Committee visited with peer teachers, at their work sites, to re-energize, organize, inform and discover members' concerns.
Public Relations Committee
Occupy Sasscer on June 7 th
The outcome of Occupy Sasscer was a force meeting date between the Board Of Education's President, Vice President and members of the PGCEA Executive Board. That was schedule for Monday at 4pm.

Come join other PGCEA member, as Occupy Sasscer continues on June 28 th at 5pm.  
PGCEA Media Round Up
With a year that has seen PGCPS in the news for its lack of accountability and questionable checks and balances, PGCEA has taken the lead in promoting a fair, safe and transparent school system for all students. Multiple media outlets and platforms have covered our advocacy over the past, few months, highlighting the essential work PGCEA does with, and for, it’s members, our students and our community.
Government Relations Committee
This year has been an extremely busy and productive for the PGCEA Government Relations Committee. The year started out with candidate endorsement interviews, where members of the GR Committee were part of the Endorsement Committee where they screened and interviewed over 100 candidates, and made endorsement recommendations. As the year continued, the GR Committee hosted a successful Legislative Reception in December, where over 150 elected officials, candidates, and community members came to hear the PGCEA Education Legislative Priorities. We also lobbied in Annapolis and was a big participant in MSEA’s Fix The Fund Rally. Our combined efforts led to big wins in Annapolis this year, with the passing of the Fix The Fund Act and increased funding for schools.

 In the last part of this year, the Committee has been working hard to support our PGCEA Teacher Recommended candidates by phone banking and working with the Social Committee to recruit volunteers during this year’s cookout. Although weather events throughout the year proved to be a challenge, the dedicated members of the GR Committee pushed forward to ensure our Government Relations efforts were extremely effective. Please consider joining the GR Committee next school year, as the important work continues!
Members at the Polls
Poll workers play such an important role in our elections – they can inspire confidence in our election system. 
Restorative Practices Committee
August 2018- Four day Peace Circle Training was hosted by PGCEA. There were 18 members in attendance plus a member from the local, CCEA.

February- Black Lives Matter in Schools. February 5-9. PGCEA and PGCPS collaborated to celebrate BLM in Schools Week. Each day was themed to represent the principles of Black Lives Matter. On Wednesday, NEA hosted a Social Justice Workshop for members at PGCEA. On February 9th, the week ended with a Poetry Slam hosted by Bryan Trueblood and Robin McNair. The Slam featured DrewStarr Productions and youth from around the DVM and educators from PGCPS spitting knowledge through the spoken word.  Poems and artwork from several middle schools were on display for the audience.

April 21- Restorative Justice Practices in Schools Community Forum- Community partners and educators attended a forum and panel discussion on Restorative Justice Practices in Schools hosted by NEA Executive Director, Dr. Kelvin Gilbert. The panelist included members and students who uses RJP in their school environment to build community and repair harm.

June 14- Circle Keeper's Reunion- All members trained in Restorative Practices gathered together for dinner and to sit in Circle to share their success stories of using RJP in schools. It was a time for celebration, support, and fellowship.
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Community Partnership & Committee
We Won!
Kudos to the Community Partnership Committee Work:

Facilitated & led by Amity Pope, Mentor Teacher in the Office of Talent Development and PGCEA Board of Director, At-Large we recently reported that out of a collaborative effort between the members of the PGCPS School Board and the PGCEA Community Partners Committee, a Community Schools policy has been established to create a process for schools to become Community Schools. The 2018 – 2019 school year will see this work move forward, as the county will hire a community schools director (CSD), who will serve as administrative leader to coordinate the work with system. A Community Schools Steering Committee of multiple stakeholders will be established to oversee the initiative. Individuals a part of this committee will be nominated to serve. The CSD will work with the school system to begin drafting the Administrative Procedure for implementation. Schools selected will complete an application that will be under the direction of the Community Schools Steering Committee. All schools will have a needs assessment of site so that services and programs implemented are appropriate and fair.   
The Community School Strategy should offer greater teacher, parent, and community voice and leadership at the school site and surrounding community. The initial schools will help inform the work going forward; particularly how we can productively and timely scale up the work to other sites. 
A Community School is a learning hub that brings together academics, health and social services, youth and community development. Thus the design is to foster improved learning, stronger families, and healthier communities.     
Candidate Endorsement Spotlight:  
Legislative Delegate:
District 24

Maurice Simpson
Legislative Delegate:
District 24

Jazz Lewis
Legislative Delegate:
District 24

Erek Barron
Legislative Delegate:
District 24


Joanne C. Benson
Board of Education:
District 2 


Joshua Thomas
County Council At Large



Juanita Culbreath-Miller  
MSEA Day at Hershey Park
Join MSEA members from across the state for a day of fun at Hershey Park on Saturday, September 8! Take advantage of deep discounts only available to MSEA members and your family members, including 40% off regular admission ticket prices. Click here to get tickets and use the attached flyer to promote the event with your members.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
  • The deadline is still being figured out to send a formal letter of intention to resign in order to get the 3% COLA next year.

  • The new PGCEA Policy Handbook is now on our website. 

  • The Board of Ed Meeting is Thursday, June 28 members are encourage to speak at all public board meetings and hearings regarding any agenda items and on education in general.
Message from President Dudley  
A letter to teachers as Summer Begins.
Stay Connected
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We are the county Educators' union. We represent certified instructional educators. PGCEA represents more than 10,000 certified employees that include classroom teachers, school counselors, speech pathologists, media specialists, and other non-supervisory educators in the Prince George’s County Public School (PGCPS) system.

www.pgcea.org

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