SDP Connect: 2024 Teacher Appreciation Issue
Teacher (n.) tee-cher
A multitasking educational rockstar who lives to inspire and loves to encourage. They're kind of a big deal.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
APPLE Teacher Appreciation Night
In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, the Philadelphia Orchestra is hosting an APPLE Appreciation Night on May 18. Join us for a private reception with complimentary beverages and light bites starting at 7 PM. Use promo code APPLE24 to redeem your two free APPLE tickets today! RSVP to anewell@philorch.org by May 13 if you would like to attend the reception. Space is limited.
Donors Choose – Teacher Appreciation Week
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! This week, we’re joining the @DonorsChoose community to raise $8 million for teacher requests! It starts today with matches happening all week long! Let’s take our gratitude for [District] educators and make it LOUD by donating to their classroom requests: https://bit.ly/49Lt2dz
The Philly School Experience Survey for School Staff
The Philly School Experience Survey, formerly known as the annual District-Wide Survey, is open now for teachers, school staff, and school leaders! The Philly School Experience Survey is one of the best tools we have to gather your feedback and assess your perspective on numerous topics that impact school communities. School-based staff can take the survey by clicking the tile in their employee portal. The last day to take the Philly School Experience Survey is June 14, 2024.
Keystone Testing
Reminder: The testing window for Keystone Exams is May 13 – 24. Please see the Keystone Website for complete information and additional links.
Teacher Leader Academy – Applications are still OPEN! DEADLINE EXTENDED
The objective of the Teacher Leader Academy (TLA) is to strengthen the skills of teacher leaders in the District by aligning teacher leader (TL) roles and development structures to competencies and indicators essential for success. This will be done by supporting teacher leaders through intentional learning experiences in a cohort format including both professional development and leadership coaching throughout the 2024-2025 school year.
- Applications are now open on a rolling basis until Sunday, May 19th
- Potential cohort members should follow all directions outlined in the application including
- Letter of interest from the applicant
- Recommendation form – completed by the building principal
Any questions? Please contact: Dr. Amy Summa, Director of Teacher Leadership (asumma@philasd.org)
OUR PEOPLE
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week 2024, and we’re excited to spend this week celebrating our amazing educators! We hope all SDP employees will join us as we honor our teachers throughout the week. Do it in person, or shout out our teachers on social media using #ThankATeacher.
Tenured Teachers
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re honoring the longest-tenured SDP teachers in this issue! Thank you to each and every one of you for your tireless dedication and hard work. Your leadership and commitment to excellence have made a lasting and significant impact in the lives of Philadelphia students, and we are fortunate to have such talented and caring individuals leading our schools.
This week is National Nurse Week and May 8th is National School Nurse Day! We’re thrilled to highlight some of our dedicated school nurses this week in honor of National Nurse Week! Be sure to read their spotlights here.
Andrea McCoy
Stephen Girard School
Dorathea Steele (Annie)
Roosevelt Elementary School
Rodney Abary
Central High School
Christine Stevens-Goldhahn
Academy at Palumbo
Nikki Murray
Thurgood Marshall School
Senior & Teacher of the Month Winners!
Teacher of the Month
Keya Brame
Penn Alexander School
Senior of the Month
Damar Wilson
Hill-Freedman World Academy
Senior of the Month
Octavia Lauderdale
South Philly High (EOP)
SCHOOL OF THE WEEK
The Philadelphia Tribune features “Good News” from The School District of Philadelphia each week in its Learning Key section. In addition to SDP’s “Good News,” every Tuesday the Tribune names a district school as School of the Week. Every week one of our schools is highlighted for the amazing work they are doing with our students. We’re excited to announce William Rowen School as School of the Week in The Philadelphia Tribune’s Learning Key. Read Rowen’s feature article in the Tribune here.
Be on the lookout for more School of the Week features in SDP Weekly and SDP Connect!
MAY FEATURES
Going Green
Congratulations to Watson Comly Elementary, Vare Washington, James R. Ludlow, John Moffett Elementary, Henry Houston Elementary, A.L. FitzPatrick School, Northeast High School, and Bregy Elementary who were each presented with a $2500 check from the Recycling Office’s Green Schools Award Recognition Program to create and enhance projects benefiting recycling and environmental sustainability.
Hard Work Pays Off
Congratulations to A. Philip Randolph Technical High School, South Philadelphia High School, Jules E. Mastbaum High School, Swenson Arts & Technology High School, and Thomas A. Edison High School students on receiving their awards and scholarships for their hard work in the CCAP Philadelphia program.
Grow Through the Trades
Thank you, DEWALT, for recognizing Mastbaum High School and Philadelphia Academies, Inc. as Grow the Trades Grant recipients! Your support in skilling the tradespeople of tomorrow is invaluable. We’re honored to receive this recognition and look forward to continuing our partnership.
TELLING OUR STORIES
Education Leading to Employment and Career Training (ELECT) Program
The elect program is a Statewide initiative that supports pregnant parenting students in achieving their academic personal and post-secondary goals the goals of the program of course are to help students achieve graduation or a high school equivalency.
Health & Wellness
Announcement of Open Enrollment 2024
Our annual Benefits Open Enrollment is an opportunity for you to make thoughtful decisions about your benefits. The Open Enrollment period this year will run from May 1, 2024 through May 31, 2024.
For convenience, all forms and requests can be sent electronically. You can access enrollment materials and directions on the Benefits Website. Many questions are addressed in the Open Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document. If you wish to make a change, you must complete enrollment materials and submit the required documentation no later than May 31, 2024. Medical changes are effective as of July 1, 2024. If you do not request a change, your current coverage or benefits waiver will continue. No Action is required unless you would like to change your benefits.
For additional questions, please refer to the Open Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document. If you don’t see your question answered, please email: benefits@philasd.org.
2024 Healthy Lifestyle Tips & Recipes
The Office of Employee Wellness would like to remind you that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Please click here for some healthy tips and recipes. For questions or to learn more about the SDP’s wellness programs contact Steffanie Makarewicz at smianulli@philasd.org.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Important Dates
- 5/10 – Staff Professional Development (Half Day); Three Hour Early Dismissal for Students
- 5/27 – Memorial Day (Schools Closed and Administrative Offices Closed)
Additional Important Dates:
13th- 24th: Keystone testing window
TRIVIA
We recognized 14 tenured teachers in our Tenured Teachers Video. Who is the 10th Teacher and at what school do they currently serve?
National School Nurse Appreciation Day
May 8 is National School Nurse Appreciation Day. School Nurses protect and promote student health, facilitate optimal development, and advance academic success. They are the leaders who bridge health care and education. On this day, we honor all school nurses who care for our children in our schools every day. Thank you, school nurses!
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Each year, May presents an exciting opportunity to learn about and pay tribute to the enormous and diverse contributions that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made throughout American history. Visit the District’s Cultural Celebrations Website to learn more about how our district is celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Jewish American Heritage Month
May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM). JAHM is an annual recognition and celebration of American Jews’ achievements and contributions to the United States of America during the month of May. In 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month. This was a result of a concerted effort by American Jewish leaders to introduce resolutions in both the U.S. Senate and the House urging the President to proclaim a month specifically recognizing Jews in America and their contributions to the United States.
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the U.S. since 1949. Every year during the month of May, many join the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Together, we fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support the millions of people in the U.S. affected by mental illness.
OFFICE SPOTLIGHT
THE OFFICE OF PREVENTION & INTERVENTION
The Office of Prevention and Intervention assists schools with supporting the mental health needs of students. This includes connecting students to appropriate mental and behavioral health supports. In addition the Office of Prevention and Intervention partners with the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbilities Services (DBHIDS), Community Behavioral Health (CBH), behavioral health providers and other community partners for access to behavioral health services.
Vision
Every student is able to access education in a learning environment that meets their mental, behavioral and social-emotional health needs.
Mission
Focusing on mental, behavioral and social-emotional health needs, the Office of Prevention & Intervention increases access to education by:
- Decreasing barriers through responsive, trauma-informed practices
- Promoting a holistic and inclusive approach to supports
- Validating students through person-centered practices and partnerships
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this year’s theme “Look Around, Look Within” encourages us to examine our world and how it can affect our overall health and well-being. In an effort to provide support to students, family and staff, the Office of Prevention and Intervention is providing resources that can be utilized to access services, event information and important tools. It’s time to raise awareness about mental health and reduce the stigma. Let’s help make mental health a priority EVERY DAY!! To learn more about the helpful programs and services the District offers, visit OPI’s website.
Kooth: An Online Mental Health Resource for Students
Kooth is a leading digital mental health platform that provides accessible counseling and mental health support for high school students. The service has been made available to the District at no cost to students, parents or schools thanks to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Please be sure to share this amazing resource with families.
District high school students have 24/7 access to us.kooth.com/philasd for help and support with whatever is on their minds – no matter how big or small. This includes peer support, self-help tools, and even counseling sessions with licensed mental health providers. Kooths’ pre-moderation process provides a completely safe online environment. Click here for resources for teachers & counselors and here for resources for school leaders.
DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTERS
Check out what's going on in other departments around the District
Check out the Equity Coalition newsletter for upcoming events, podcasts, professional development opportunities and more!
RESOURCES
Feeling Perky
As a district employee, you have access to various deals and discounts. Check out our Employee Perks here.
Get a Little Extra
See the Office of Grant Development’s list of grant opportunities on its website. View the newsletter for more information.
Observe & Report
Your help is essential in ensuring the School District runs efficiently and fairly. Report suspected wrongdoing within the district to the Office of Inspector General here.
Spread the Word
We’re hiring. Everywhere! Know someone who’s searching? Send them to workinphilly.com for our school-based support roles & teachinphilly.com for our instructional roles.
Keep Track
Follow the District’s progress towards the Goals and Guardrails and stay up to date through research reports and webinars from our Office of Research and Evaluation.
Stay Sharp
Cornerstone has PD for all employees, some specific to Central Office.
Climate & Culture
Need Climate & Culture Resources for your school? See what’s available here.
Evaluation, Research, & Accountability
Read ERA News here.
Communication's Corner
The Office of Communications strives to make news, information, and resources easily accessible. Every month we will provide information and reminders to help keep you connected.
Working on a project or campaign in your office? The communications team provides helpful resources like branding and color guides, presentation templates, and photo catalogs, to help you keep your project stylish and on-brand. Just click here.
Have a story to share or someone to celebrate? Submit your story idea click here.