We are delighted to post this, our latest podcast, as our opener for Season 3 of the United Teachers of Lowell’s Straight Talk podcasts. In this episode, Mickie and Amy, AKA the Podcast Twins, sat down to chat with one of Lowell Public School’s exemplary educators, Nancy Chakarian. Nancy, a second grade teacher from the Shaughnessy Elementary School in Lowell, retired this past June after a 50 year career in Lowell. As one of Lowell’s most accomplished and respected educators, we were delighted ...
Jul 26, 2020•30 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Our podcast has been on a hiatus for a number of reasons over the last weeks; however, today we were able to sit down albeit remotely, with Tom Raiche, AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison, Merrimack Valley Central Labor Council. Tom, as our regular listeners will remember spoke with us about the United Way’s commitment in the Merrimack Valley in particular on our Season 2, Episode 12 podcast . As we negotiate our new version of normal throughout the outbreak of Corona Virus, it is comforting to k...
Mar 19, 2020•16 min•Season 2Ep. 23
In our advocacy role, we’ve met some tremendous public school advocates from, across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Working together in collaboration is essential to raising awareness of the issues that impact our public schools, our students and our families. Clearly the success of the Fund Our Future campaign which ultimately resulted in the passage of the Student Opportunity Act, relied upon a broad coalition of partners from every corner of Massachusetts. One of those partners is Citizen...
Feb 19, 2020•24 min•Season 2Ep. 22
We had the pleasure of speaking with Lowell’s Chief Equity and Engagement Officer, Latifah Phillips, about School Site Councils. The Councils, which are required by Massachusetts Education Law, are experiencing something of a rebirth as their responsibilities and decision-making are an essential part of the Student Opportunity Act. The School Site Councils are not only governed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts law, there are policies in place through the Lowell Public Schools policy manual. ...
Feb 11, 2020•18 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Lowell High School has a great academic program, but the school also has outstanding opportunities for students to excel in extra-curricular interests. Our spotlight today is on Lowell High’s Indoor Track program. The Girls’ and Boys’ track teams have been successful and that is a testament to the excellent coaching by Boys’ Head Coach Scott Ouellette and Girls’ Head Coach Nate Kraft and their coaching staff. However, the most impressive aspect of the LHS Track program, regardless of the season,...
Feb 05, 2020•14 min•Season 2Ep. 20
“The primary function of adults involved in the Lowell Public Schools should be to remove impediments to children learning and teachers teaching. Often Lowell has not lived up to that commitment fully.” — Paul Georges, UTL President With the passage of the Student Opportunity Act last November, state funding, or Chapter 70 monies, will be increasing for Lowell Public Schools. That is good news, and of course, we are thrilled, but this infusion of restored funding over the next seven years requir...
Jan 27, 2020•13 min•Season 2Ep. 19
The Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Inc. (MVFB) has been transporting, storing and distributing food to disadvantaged members of the community since 1991. Founded as a program of the Middlesex Shelter in Lowell, MA (now known as Lowell Transitional Living Center), the food bank continues to respond to the increased need for emergency food in greater Lowell. Today we’re speaking to MVFB’s Executive Director, Amy Pessia, about an essential and critical program addressing food insecurity for our studen...
Dec 17, 2019•21 min•Season 2Ep. 18
We love the opportunity to learn more about Members working at every level in the Lowell Public Schools, and so, when we spotted a shout-out to Lowell High School AP Teacher, Patrick Smulligan, we reached out to learn more! Each and every day extraordinary educators like Pat ensure that students’ are being challenged. Recently Pat was recognized by Mass Insight Education and Research for a Partner in Excellence Teacher Award for his work in LHS’s STEM and English program. Pat is one of only 25 M...
Dec 11, 2019•14 min•Season 2Ep. 17
We had a chance to sit down with AFTMA Secretary-Treasurer Brant Duncan this past week to learn about the upcoming Member Benefits Workshop for members living and working on the 495-North beltway. We were amazed by some of the programs afforded to Union members and we know you will be as well. FOR MORE INFORMATION Members - and their partners - are invited to the Member Benefits Workshop to be held on DECEMBER 17 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the “Establishment”, 75 Princeton Blvd in North Chelmsford. Co...
Dec 02, 2019•17 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Recently, we were with United Teachers of Lowell colleagues when President Paul Georges was speaking to the group about the Health Insurance Mitigation and Trust funds, and the history behind how using those funds provides our Members with some relief from the spiraling cost of health care. It’s a fascinating aspect of our Union history, and one that might be a surprise to most active members. The UTL has been working for ways to lessen the effect of changes to GIC from our previous health insur...
Nov 20, 2019•28 min•Season 2Ep. 15
One of the ways United Teachers of Lowell keeps in touch with members is through email. Basically, the UTL sends out two types of email: a GetActive Message with time-sensitive and critical information or Five for Friday, our weekly bullet-list of items to keep Members updated. Of course in order to receive our email messages, a Member needs to subscribe to ActionNetwork, our email list provider. How does one do that? In today’s FAQ about email we’ll explain. If you are a dues-paying United Teac...
Nov 13, 2019•10 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Twice a year, the United Teachers of Lowell’s retirees gather to share a meal and socialize with each other. This past Tuesday, October 29, we met for our annual Fall Brunch. We look back at our times as colleagues and educators fondly. We, most of all, know and remember the incredible work being done by our active members is sometimes challenging, but comes with an incredible feeling of satisfaction. And, as the saying goes, “once a teacher, always a teacher”. So today, we asked some of incredi...
Oct 30, 2019•9 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Regular listeners to Teacher Voice Labor Matters* may be familiar with Tom Raiche’s voice, but do you know how Tom’s work connects to all of us at the United Teachers of Lowell? Tom, whose official title is AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison, Merrimack Valley Central Labor Council, is a not only an advocate for Labor, he is a staunch advocate for public education. For 21 years Tom was a member of IAM Local 1726, serving as a Chief Steward and Safety Committee Chair, and in addition to his union ...
Oct 23, 2019•18 min•Season 2Ep. 12
FACT : The Student Opportunity Act as approved by the Massachusetts Senate would add $1.4 Billion to Chapter 70 Funding by 2027. FACT : The Student Opportunity Act as approved by the Massachusetts Senate adopts ALL of the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) recommendations - and makes some critical adjustments. FACT : The Student Opportunity Act as approved by the Massachusetts Senate defines and addresses the needs of our low-income students, Special Education students, and English Langu...
Oct 16, 2019•19 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Raise you hand if you have not yet heard about the National Park’s Teacher-Ranger-Teacher program? The Podcast Twins had not either and we are more than delighted to shine a spotlight not only on the Teacher-Ranger-Teacher (T-R-T) program but on Lowell National Historic Park’s first T-R-T, An Wang Middle School Teacher, Kathy Clark. As a T-R-T, Kathy had the opportunity to research and develop some pretty amazing teaching resources that will soon be available to teachers across the U.S. Our conv...
Oct 09, 2019•20 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Whether it’s through the local radio program, Teacher Voice, Labor Matters, or our weekly podcasts on UTL495-StraightTalk, or Five for Friday email blasts, we strive to keep you updated with information that keeps us all union strong. The United Teachers of Lowell has been working hard to create a variety of formats for keeping our members informed and up-to-date. Amy and Mickie want to let our members know about some of these communications pathways and how to access them. We also want to assur...
Oct 02, 2019•17 min•Season 2Ep. 9
UTL’s Chief of Operations Marianne “Mickie” Dumont is one of the United Teachers of Lowell’s greatest assets and a wealth of information. She has been a strong Union advocate and involved in much of what makes things work for all of us. Today we are turning the tables on Mickie to ask about how salary steps and salary lanes or columns work. Remember, if you think your salary is incorrect, the first person to contact is Deb Jarvis in Central Administration, but members can also contact the UTL by...
Sep 25, 2019•28 min•Season 2Ep. 8
What are Weingarten rights and why are those rights important to all unionized employees? When a member is called to a supervisor’s office for an interview, that meeting request alone can be somewhat stressful. When the purpose of the interview is to investigate an event that could lead to disciplinary action or dismissal, the union member has the right to invoke “Weingarten rights”. However, those rights are not, as Caryn explains, automatic and it is incumbent upon the member to ask for them w...
Sep 18, 2019•18 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Last Wednesday, September 4, the Joint Committee on Education held a hearing and invited testimony on about 40 pieces of Legislation referred to the Committee for their recommendation. Among the bills for which citizen input was being solicited were four bills regarding mandating a minimum of 20 minutes recess for Grades K-5. Unfortunately, this public input session was scheduled on the first day of school for many communities across the Commonwealth - and actually the 4th day of school for Grad...
Sep 11, 2019•13 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Photo courtesy of Andrea Regina, Abraham Lincoln School The Abraham Lincoln School, a PreKindergarten through Grade 4 elementary school in Lowell’s Lower Highlands, has been a 21st Century School programming site for the last three years. This past spring, the school received great news that grant funding to continue this program had been renewed for three additional years! One of the most engaging programs that the Lincoln School 21st Century Schools program offers is a chance to engross studen...
Sep 04, 2019•21 min•Season 2Ep. 5
If you are finding it hard to believe that 10 short weeks ago, we were getting ready to recharge during summer break, you are not alone! Here we are at the beginning of a new school year filled with anticipation of great things ahead. This week, the Podcast Twins chatted with United Teachers of Lowell 495 President Paul Georges about some developments over that summer break, some things that UTL is continuing to monitor and the importance of staying in touch with each other. We have lots to look...
Aug 28, 2019•29 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Last January, education activists across Massachusetts renewed efforts to implore the Massachusetts Legislature to (finally) address the 25-year old school funding formulas that allow all students across Massachusetts to receive and adequate and equitable education no matter the socio-economics of their community. Throughout the spring, educators, parents, community members, and even students, strongly advocated for this long-overdue update to school funding. Many of our Legislators heard this p...
Aug 21, 2019•28 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Last week, we sat down with Lowell Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joel Boyd and heard about his personal story and how his early experiences influenced his passion as an educator and as an administrator. This week we return to our conversation with Dr. Boyd to learn more about his path to Lowell Public School’s Superintendency. We’ve asked Dr. Boyd to chat with us today and to share his professional journey which is also fascinating. As a middle school educator, wrestling coach, principal and su...
Aug 14, 2019•23 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Last May, the Lowell School Committee unanimously selected Dr. Joel Boyd as the next Superintendent of Lowell Public Schools. Dr. Boyd’s biography will sound familiar to some of our students as well as some of our staff. His is a story that is relatable to many of our students here in Lowell. Dr. Boyd’s path forward serves as a reminder and a model of the influence each one of us as educators and school staff can have to redirect students to a more productive path in life. Photo courtesy of Adri...
Aug 05, 2019•13 min•Season 2Ep. 1
The Podcast Twins, AKA as Mickie Dumont and Amy Bisson, are taking a moment to reflect on our adventures in podcasting. We are both grateful that the United Teachers of Lowell 495 and the Executive Board and Leadership of the UTL have given us the opportunity to talk to some incredible educators and advocates for public education. As we close out our first season of podcasting - because, yes indeed, we are planning a Season 2 - we are appreciative of everyone who has taken a few moments to liste...
Jun 28, 2019•19 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Not only is the end of the 2018-19 Academic Year a time to reflect on what has happened throughout the last 10 - or really 12 - months, it is a time for all of us to look forward. Despite some complications and major challenges, you - our United Teachers of Lowell members - have much to be proud of. The education and academic experiences of our students is among the best in the country because of your never-wavering professionalism and commitment. We have accomplished great things because we sti...
Jun 05, 2019•24 min•Season 1Ep. 44
We are closing out 2019’s Teacher Appreciation Month with an acknowledgement of the inspiring work done by Lowell Public Schools educators each and every day. Our UTL495 members working in the Lowell Public School take great pride in accommodating the needs of all of our students. No matter what the academic or mental health and behavioral needs, our educators work with colleagues, specialists, therapists and families to ensure each child receives the support needed for success. That extraordina...
May 29, 2019•18 min•Season 1Ep. 43
In 1993, Massachusetts passed landmark legislation, the Education Reform Act, which was intended to equalize access to education for children living in every community in Massachusetts. As we’ve explained in several podcast episodes, the funding formulas resulting from this 1993 legislation have not been updated and some of the formulas are based in 1993 economic factors. As you can imagine, funding based upon 1993 economic factors can only mean that in 2019, our public education system is sever...
May 19, 2019•13 min•Season 1Ep. 42
If you weren’t already aware, Lowell High School has an outstanding Fine Arts Department. Visiting the “basement”, the area of Lowell High where the Fine Arts classrooms are located, one can’t help but notice the rooms and hallway spaces buzzing with activity, especially around the times when performances are scheduled. Lowell High School has produced a musical for many years and each year it seems as if the productions just get better and better. Talented casts of students sing, dance, act - an...
May 13, 2019•18 min•Season 1Ep. 41
As the Lowell School Committee begins budget deliberations, we are hearing about a second year of very painful cuts to services our students need and deserve. Lowell’s schools are grossly underfunded; in fact Mass Budget and Policy Center estimates that Lowell is short $42 million in State Education Funding every year. If you have been following the Funding issue or attended one of the two Foundation Budget Forums held in the City, you know that this is a “perfect storm” that is precipitated. by...
May 08, 2019•20 min•Season 1Ep. 40
