Teacher Weekly
Jan. 27, 2021
Update on COVID-19 Vaccines for DPS Team Members
Dear Educators, 

DPS is doing everything we can to make COVID-19 vaccines available to our school-based staff as soon as possible. So far, more than 3,200 team members have been offered the opportunity to receive the vaccine, thanks to partnerships with Children's Hospital and Salud Family Medicine!

Please know that the state determines who is eligible to receive the vaccine in each phase. DPS is continuing to work with state officials to determine which job titles are eligible at this time. Currently, staff who are 70 and older, those who have daily, hands-on exposure to bodily fluids, and those who work with medically vulnerable children are eligible. We have reached out to these team members to let them know they will be contacted with the opportunity to schedule an appointment. 

As team members become eligible to receive the vaccine and are able to sign up for appointments, please work with your supervisor to ensure coverage during your appointment time. It’s very important that individuals keep their appointment time, so please cancel your appointment if you can’t make it or no longer need it (such as if you receive the vaccine elsewhere) to ensure there is access to others who are eligible.

We understand you may have questions about who is eligible at this time, and when others will also have the opportunity to get the vaccine. 

  • If you have questions about an email you received about making an appointment to receive the vaccine, please contact HR Connect at Connect_HumanResources@dpsk12.org or 720-423-3900. Those with questions about the vaccine itself should contact their health care provider.

  • If you believe you should be eligible but have not yet received a notification, please reach out to your school leader. Please do not reach out to Children’s Hospital or other DPS partners, as they will not have information about an employee’s eligibility. 


Thank you for your continued support as we navigate this process. We hope to share more information as soon as possible about what to expect when the state officially opens access for all educators (estimated for early March) and when we’re able to offer this opportunity to even more team members.

Many thanks, 
Tamara and Mike
This Week's Top 5 Things to Know
READ Act Required Training for K-3 Teachers
Per the READ Act, by Jan. 31, 2022, all K-3 teachers, including classroom teachers, special educators, ELD teachers, and interventionists, must complete evidence-based training in teaching reading. Click here to learn about all of the avenues through which K-3 teachers can meet this requirement. For more information on the CDE asynchronous online course, which is the district-required training option for most teachers, click here. If you have any questions, please contact your school leader.
Complete New Requirements for CDE Licensure: Trauma Informed Practices
The CDE is now requiring all educators -- as part of their licensure recertification process -- to have 10 contact hours related to special education/student behaviors. In their brief, the CDC states that one contact hour related to behavioral health that is culturally responsive and trauma-evidence-informed must be included as part of the requirement. DPS' online Trauma 101 course is available asynchronously and can be submitted for this license recertification requirement. As a trauma-informed district, it is critical that all staff engage in the shift toward trauma-informed practices. If you have not yet completed this requirement, please do so as soon as possible. Reach out to tip_training@dpsk12.org with questions or concerns.
Register for February Teal Day by Feb. 11
Teal Day professional learning supports the success of every student by building educators’ capacity to deepen their understanding of content and best practices with a focus on the district cornerstones and crisis priorities. This year’s content is additionally focused on third quarter support. Secure your spot for the Feb. 16 virtual Teal Day sessions. Find session descriptions and more in this Session Guide. Note: Registration will close at 5 p.m. Feb. 11 prior to Teal Day.
 
As a reminder, DPS launched a new login process when accessing Learning Space. Please ensure you have enrolled in the new login process prior to registering for Teal Day.
CollaboRATE is Coming Soon
On Feb. 8, make your voice heard and strengthen your team by participating in the CollaboRATE survey. At this time, team members will only be receiving the engagement portion of CollabRATE with a focus on equity and well-being. Team members will have an opportunity later in the spring to give feedback to their leaders. We have worked with our LGBTQ+ Belong group and team members throughout the district to create a more inclusive and effective survey. This includes -- for the third year -- the addition of voluntary and confidential self-identification questions. For an overview of the survey, please visit thecommons.dpsk12.org/collaborate.
Updated Quarantine Guidance Video for Secondary Educators
Secondary educators, please take a few minutes to watch this video on updates for how secondary students and staff will quarantine, as well as some helpful hints that will help you organize your classroom accordingly. As a reminder, this video and other health and safety resources can be found in the Resource Library on The Commons.
Additional Resources and Information
Click here to learn more about these resources and opportunities: 
  • Discovery Link Summer Camp Registration Opens Feb. 8

  • New DPS/CCD Partnership for Most Concurrent Enrollment

  • Encourage Students to Virtually Attend the 10th Annual Ninth-Grade College Expo

  • Complete the Sustainability and Environmental Justice Education Survey by Feb. 19
Contact Us
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