Summer Book Group Registration OPEN

[Tag Philly]

Good morning and happy last week of school.  

The summer is a time for rest and relaxation, and also a time for reflection and study.  Conditions continue to be full of challenge and opportunity.  Being connected will be critical for navigating this moment, so that we can be sharp in the classroom, and show up outside it to take effective collective action.  Joining a book group is a great place to start.

TAG 2025 Summer Reading Series. REGISTER HERE

The Teacher Action Group Summer Reading Series  offers an opportunity to build community while reading about issues you care about in small groups. Everyone is invited to join -- not just educators!  This registration form includes facilitators, dates and times for all book group meetings.  Please complete it even if you filled out an interest form!  Then spread the word using the flyer below.

Some other opportunities shared with TAG that we are passing along below:

Our City Our Schools Coalition, Final Quarterly Meeting, June 11, 5:00 @1727 Snyder Ave.

OCOS is working on a campaign against school closures.  In this meeting, they will break out into parent track and youth track groups, share updates and requests, and look ahead to the next year. 

Pennsylvania Education Diversity Consortium's Educator Diversity Virtual Summit, June 24 - 26

The 2025 Pennsylvania Educator Diversity Consortium (PEDC) Summit is a free, live, virtual event. This year’s theme is: The Power of Solidarity: Diversifying the Educator Workforce. Across 3-days, educators, parents, advocates and administrators across Pennsylvania will come together to explore ~ 40 Concurrent Sessions with strategies aligned with state priorities and Act 48 requirements, including:  Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education (CRSE), Inclusive practices for diverse learners, Ethical leadership and educator retention.  Act 48 credit available to attendees

Invitation:  be a Classroom Mentor for Student Teachers next year

Penn's Urban Teaching Apprenticeship Program (UTAP) is seeking to grow their pool of prospective secondary classroom mentors and coaches! Each year they work to match incoming students with mentors and coaches who are excited to support the next generation of transformative educators.  Consider playing one of these important roles.

 

About the program: Apprentices spend a year student teaching, starting with 3 days/week in the Fall and moving to 5 days/week in the Spring. Classroom mentors serve as models, coaches, and collaborators from August-May and receive regular program support. Coaches serve as wrap-around support and also receive regular program support. Here is a link to the mentor job description and the coaching job description for more details.

 

If you are interested in serving as a mentor, please complete this form, and if you would like to learn more before expressing interest, please reach out. If you are not currently in the classroom and have flexibility in your schedule, you may be interested in serving as a coach! Application instructions for coaching can be found on the job description.  Please reach out to Melissa Donner at mdo...@upenn.edu if you have any questions.

 

In solidarity,

TAG

(If you don't want to receive these emails, write back and we'll remove you from our list.)

Check out a video of TAG's Education for Liberation 2025 Mini Conferece here.

--

TAG Philadelphia works to strengthen the influence of educators within schools and over policy decisions.

While partnering with parent, student, and community groups, TAG is committed to fostering positive school transformation, environments where students and teachers can thrive, and community ownership and influence within education.

[Tag Philly]

Good afternoon. Happy summer!

We hope you will rest, relax... and also read with us:  TAG 2025 Summer Reading Series. REGISTER HERE.  

The Teacher Action Group Summer Reading Series offers an opportunity to build community while reading about issues you care about in small groups. Everyone is invited to join -- not just educators!  This registration form includes facilitators, dates and times for all book group meetings.  

Two book spotlights:

-- Genocide in Palestine continues:  we cannot look away.  Drop Site News reported that, just yesterday, "Israeli forces massacred 70 Palestinians and wounded over 300 more as they gathered for food and aid in Khan Younis.... Nearly 400 have now been killed in aid massacres since the U.S. and Israeli-backed "distribution" system began in late May. American physician Dr. Saeed Rehman, speaking from Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza...pleaded with the Western world to wake up: “What we’re seeing here is an absolute annihilation of humanity — of children, of pregnant women. What we’re seeing here is an execution.”  Check out Teaching Palestine and connect with other educators committed to not being silent.

-- Also yesterday, PFT members authorized a strike.  This is the first authorization vote since the district regained local control in 2018, ending a ban on striking. The union's demands include addressing the staffing shortage that has required members fill roles far beyond their duties.  Check out We Are the Union to connect with other educators thinking about how to build effective, broad and deep union power. 

We're excited about all 8 books this summer, and hope you will join one -- or multiple! -- groups to connect, sharpen skills and build power.

Some other opportunities shared with TAG that we are passing along below: