OVERVIEW OF Officers and Staff | Executive Board | Committees
BTU Officers and Staff
Richard Stutman, President
- [email protected]
Patrick Connolly, Vice-President
- [email protected]
Charles R. Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer
- [email protected]
Michael McLaughlin, Elementary Field Rep.
[email protected]
Caren Carew, Secondary Field Rep.
[email protected]
Josefina Lascano, Para/Substitute Field Rep.
[email protected]
Angela Cristiani, Political Director
[email protected]
Brenda Chaney, Parent and Community Liaison [email protected]
Jessica Tang, Director of Organizing
- [email protected]
Jonathan Rodrigues, External [email protected]
Shanika Houlder, Internal Organizer
[email protected]
Paul Tritter, Director of Professional Learning
[email protected]
Michael J Maguire, Co-Editor, Boston Union Teacher –
[email protected]
Colum Whyte, Co-Editor, Boston Union Teacher:
[email protected]
BTU Executive Board
Includes BTU Officers above and 12 members elected at large
every two years:
Erik R. Berg, Philbrick School
Brenda B. Chaney, O'Bryant High School
Cheryl L. Kelly, R.N., Edwards Middle
Michael J. Maguire, Boston Latin Academy
Sheryl Pedone, Mildred Avenue K-8
James "Timo" Philip, Retired Teacher
CasSandra Samuel, Young Achievers
Paul Tritter, Snowden/BTU
Mary Ann Urban, Retired teacher
Garrett Virchick, Brighton High School
Colum Whyte, Lee School
Alice Yong, Higginson Lewis
BTU Committees, Elected Bodies, and Appointed Bodies
Campaign Activist Network*
Collective Bargaining Committee (2010-2014 Contract)
Community Advisory Board / Community Outreach Committee*
Committee on Political Education (COPE)
Election Committee
ELL Committee (NEW)*
History & Social Studies Committee (NEW)*
Inclusion Committee (NEW)*
Less Testing, More Learning Committee (NEW)*
LGBTQ Committee (NEW)*
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer*
Mediators Committee
New Member Engagement Committee*
Women's Rights Committee
Nurse Faculty Senate
Paraprofessionals Council
Parent Advisory Committee (NEW)*
Pre-Paid Legal Services Fund Trustees
Professional Learning Advisory Board*
Rapid Response Team*
Retired Teachers Chapter Executive Board
Restorative Justice Committee (NEW)*
Scholarship Committee*
Sergeant-at-Arms Committee*
Social Committee*
Special Ed Faculty Senate
Steering Committee
Some of our committees are standing and their membership coincides with the two-year term of officers or the terms are merely in place
(indefinitely). Other committees need — and are open to —volunteers on a regular basis. These committees are starred (*) above.
Here's what each does:
Campaign Activist Network
The Campaign Activist Network builds a proactive, good working relationship with those who make the laws specific to all that
encompasses public education in Massachusetts. Whether you're interested in volunteering on an endorsed ballot initiative, with a BTUendorsed candidate, or with retirees specific to increasing the COLA, to name a few, we can match your volunteer interest with a volunteer
activity that works with your schedule. The beauty of the Campaign Activist Network is that as opportunities come in, you will be notified via
email and, if you're interested in the volunteer opportunity, it's yours. E-mail Angela Cristiani ([email protected]) to join!
Community Advisory Board / Community Outreach Committee
The Community Advisory Board / Community Outreach Committee (CAB) reaches out to organizations and individuals in the Boston
community who are active in building a better Boston and great public schools to develop a strategy for how our union and the community
can work together. Are you active in a youth group, a neighborhood council, religious organization, or any organization that concerns
itself with the well being of our students and/or the quality of our schools? Are you interested in helping our union build better community
partnerships and parent engagement? If you are, consider becoming active in the CAB and bringing the perspective of your organization
to the CAB and of the work of the committee back to your community organization. If you are interested in becoming active you can email
Jessica Tang ([email protected]).
ELL Committee Members of this committee are ESL/SEI teachers concerned with advocating for better English Language Learning
(ELL) student education. Recently there has been much media attention on the district’s lack of services for ELL students, many times with
the blame placed on educators. Members aim to advocate and clarify misinformation, including lack of appropriate staffing, resources and
barriers to opportunities for ELL students. The committee has compiled concerns to present to decision makers and will testify at
upcoming hearings and meetings on the district, local and state level. Contact Jonathan for more info ([email protected]).
History & Social Studies Committee The group is working with community partners and educators across the district to
advocate for fully funded, comprehensive, and meaningful social studies and history instruction in BPS. Contact Jonathan for more info
([email protected]).
Inclusion Committee Members of the Inclusion Committee address concerns related to special education and inclusion
implementation in the district. Committee members -- teachers and parents -- advocate for adequate inclusion strategies and resources
that foster success in developmental growth and learning. Contact Jonathan for more info ([email protected]).
Less Testing, More Learning Committee
It seems like over-testing is now the growing trend, where our students are bombarded with continuous tests. This trend has kept
educators from educating the whole child. If it is not tested, it is not valued. Classes like art, music, shops, home and career and others
have been severely limited because of testing. Every child deserves an opportunity to shine during the school day, and when students are
interested in something like these courses, they can also be a pathway to reading, writing, math and science. BTU’s Less Testing More
Learning Committee advocates to end the testing mania that is driving our schools to become testing prep sites and away from
comprehensive education of the whole-student. This committee is made up of parents, teachers and community members all invested in
addressing concerns of the negative impact of over-testing. We need meaningful, appropriate assessments that help our teachers and
students. Contact Shanika to join ([email protected]).
LGBTQ Committee Members of this committee work with Fenway Health and Connect to Protect to advocate for the needs of LGBTQ
students in the district. This is a new committee and members are still forming goals. Contact Shanika to join ([email protected])!
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Committee The BTU is a flagship sponsor of Making Strides Against Breast
Cancer. If you want to work on our Making Strides event, please email Brenda Chaney ([email protected]).
New Educator Committee The New Member Engagement Committee is run by and for new members. It plans events such as the
New Teacher Underground and finds ways to support new members in the BTU. If you are an early career teacher interested in engaging
new members of the BTU, please email Jessica Tang ([email protected]).
BTU Parent Advisory Committee The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) was created to improve parent-teacher relationship
and advocacy. The BTU PAC provides a space for parents to seek resources and help understanding and translating materials. It allows us
to unite the efforts of parents and teachers to create successful learning environments for students. The BTU PAC tackles issues
surrounding student discipline and rights in school, equity, the opportunity gap, student safety, SPED rights, dual language and much
more. But most importantly it is a safe space for parents to obtain resources outside of school. Contact Jessica for more info
([email protected]).
Professional Learning Advisory Board The Professional Learning Advisory Board (PLAB) is a working group of BPS
educators dedicated to the advancement and improvement of professional learning in the district in order to improve the learning and
well-being of our students. This group will help direct the work of the Professional Learning Initiative. Members of the PLAB (teachers and
non-teachers) are jointly appointed by the President of the Boston Teachers Union and the Office of Educator Effectiveness. For more
information, contact Paul Tritter ([email protected]).
Rapid Response Team Media monitoring and rapid response is commonplace in all political campaigns and the BTU has an
established Rapid Response Team (RRT), which engages in proactive preparation and response. The BTU RRT is grassroots and changes
the conversation with strategy, outreach, and response. When advocacy is needed for key political issues on those occasions or when the
BTU receives little notice of a legislative hearing or vote, members of the RRT will be notified. Email Angela Cristiani ([email protected]) to
become involved!
Restorative Justice Committee Members of the BTU have convened to advise the district on the implementation of the new
Code of Conduct and to promote Restorative Justice. The BTU has collaborated with the BPS and Code of Conduct Advisory Committee to
bring professional development on restorative practices to BPS educators. The Restorative Justice Committee continues to develop
support systems to promote education and practices of restorative justice in the BPS. Open to all interested parties! Contact Shanika for
more details ([email protected]).
Scholarship Committee The Scholarship Committee reviews the applications for the BTU scholarships given to high school seniors
to support continuing higher education. Contact Denise ([email protected]) to join!
Sergeant-at-Arms Committee The Sergeant-at-Arms Committee keeps order and helps out at the regularly
scheduled membership meetings which take place once a month, on the second Wednesday. If you want to join the Sergeant-at-Arms
Committee, please email Kristen Pinto ([email protected]) or Charles Johnson ([email protected]).
Social Committee The Social Committee plans a series of well-attended social events at the BTU. The Social Committee holds a
fundraiser for Rosie's Place/Pine Street Inn annually. If you want to join our Social Committee, please email Michael McLaughlin
([email protected]).
Women's Rights Committee The Women’s Rights Committee organized the second annual Women’s Rights Breakfast this past
year and honors people who advance the cause of women and girls rights with The Glass Ceiling Award. Most recently, the committee also
planned an educational panel about girls, women, and education in Afghanistan. If you are interested in joining this committee, please email Sherry Pedone ([email protected]).