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Community Contributions
Community Contributions are leadership opportunities for MTII+ (teachers in their second, third, or fourth Master Teacher Fellowship) to deepen their connections within the MƒA community by becoming involved with admissions, recruitment, communications, facilitation, supporting new MƒA teachers, and other leadership activities. Please review each contribution for its unique structure and requirements.
Community Contributions
2023 MƒA Summer Think Planner
Coordinated By: MƒA Director of Professional Development Courtney Ginsberg and MƒA Manager for Events & Programming Sherry Yang
WEDNESDAYS, DEC 7, JAN 11, FEB 15, MAR 15, APR 19, MAY 17, JUN 14 MƒA & ONLINE COMMUNITY + PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A HYBRID COURSE. SESSIONS 1 AND 2 WILL TAKE PLACE IN-PERSON AT MƒA. SESSION 3-7 WILL TAKE PLACE VIRTUALLY.
If you’re a creative and passionate teacher, have innovative ideas about conference programming, possess time management and organizational skills, have an open and collaborative spirit, and have attended at least one MƒA Summer Think, then this community contribution is for you! Planners meet monthly to design, plan, and lead the 2023 MƒA Summer Think from December 2022 through July 2023. They are also expected to complete work in between sessions, including reading proposals, emailing teachers, and brainstorming ideas. Additionally, all Planners are expected to attend the 2023 MƒA Summer Think, which will take place in July 2023.
Equity Advisory Committee p Coordinated By: MƒA Staff
THURSDAY, OCT 6 TUESDAYS, NOV 1, DEC 6, FEB 7, MAR 21, APR 25, MAY 9 MƒA & ONLINE COMMUNITY + PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A HYBRID COURSE. SESSION 1, 2, AND 7 WILL TAKE PLACE IN-PERSON AT MƒA. SESSIONS 3-6 WILL TAKE PLACE VIRTUALLY.
How might we ensure that learning opportunities are equitable for all teachers at MƒA? As a member of the Equity Advisory Committee, you will have opportunities to advise MƒA leadership in our efforts to prioritize and build on diversity within the MƒA community. This team will consider the different perspectives on equity espoused by MƒA teachers, help to refine a shared definition for MƒA, and provide feedback and input on action plans designed to foster an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all teachers at MƒA.
Equity Webinar Series Facilitator p Coordinated By: MƒA Chief Academic Officer Eileen Murray, Ph.D.
THURSDAY, SEP 22 ONLINE COMMUNITY + PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR AT LEAST ONE OF THE FALL EQUITY WEBINARS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION: 10/12 - MEGAN BANG, PH.D. 11/30 - MARÍA GONZÁLEZ-HOWARD, PH.D.
The MƒA Equity Webinar Series brings nationally recognized educators to MƒA to share ideas that support equity within STEM education. Each webinar includes an engaging talk from the invited speaker, followed by an opportunity for teachers to discuss in small groups how the ideas can be applied in their school environments. As an Equity Webinar Series Facilitator, you will assist in emceeing one webinar this fall including introducing the speaker and facilitating the second hour of discussion using an open space or similar protocol. Equity Webinar Series Facilitators will attend an introductory session to learn more about the series and the fall 2022 speakers, as well as best practices for introducing speakers and facilitating group discussions. Then, Facilitators will be connected with an Equity Webinar Speaker to learn more about the focus of the talk and how best to coordinate the discussion portion of the event.
Information Session Host
THURSDAY, OCT 27 ONLINE COMMUNITY + PLEASE NOTE: INFORMATION SESSION HOSTS MUST BE AVAILABLE FROM 5:30 - 7:30 P.M. ON AT LEAST TWO OF THE FOLLOWING DATES: 11/7, 12/7, 1/11, 2/8
Current MƒA teachers are essential in encouraging and supporting prospective applicants through the application process. A great way to do this is by being an Information Session Host this fall! We are looking for teachers interested in helping to create an MƒA community built on diversity and excellence, and for those looking for a meaningful way to share their MƒA experiences with others. All Information Session Hosts will prepare by attending a virtual orientation meeting to become familiar with their roles and responsibilities. They will then be required to help facilitate two virtual Information Sessions this fall/winter.
Learning Materials Screener
Coordinated By: MƒA Chief Academic Officer Eileen Murray Ph.D., and MƒA Master Teachers Jeffrey Lowenhaupt and Michelle Sims
WEDNESDAY, NOV 16 TUESDAY, DEC 13 ONLINE COMMUNITY
Once a PLT ends, what happens with the materials that teachers co-created? Are they destined to live in a Google Drive collecting electronic dust, or are there ways they can be shared with the wider MƒA community? MƒA Master Teachers have worked to create an organized database of excellent resources developed by MƒA teachers. The goal is to create more spaces where teachers can talk about what is and is not working in their classrooms, have an impact on each other while doing so, and demonstrate the power of a community. In this community contribution, Screeners will have the opportunity to review materials submitted by MƒA
Community Contributions
teachers, add these materials to a repository found on the Small-World Network, and influence discussion and shape practice of MƒA teachers across the city. As a Screener, you will continue the work of expanding our repository of materials created by and for MƒA Teachers.
MƒA Connector
COMMUNITY + PLEASE NOTE: REGISTRATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE A MATCH. YOU WILL BE EMAILED IN AUGUST WITH THE STATUS OF YOUR MATCH. FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN READ THE MƒA CONNECTOR FAQ.
Become an MƒA Connector and help welcome new teachers into the MƒA fellowship community! In this community contribution, you will help a teacher new to MƒA navigate the early months of their fellowship. From giving insight into course selection and providing registration tips to answering questions and discussing ways to get involved, MƒA Connectors share information and insight from their own time at MƒA to help teachers get the most out of their new MƒA fellowship. MƒA Connectors will be matched to a teacher based on similar subject areas and/or boroughs. Upon being matched and introduced via email, the MƒA Connector and partner teacher may communicate as often and through whichever format works best for them. The goal of this community contribution is to facilitate connections between current and new MƒA teachers in ways that are flexible, informative, and rewarding.
Praxis Prep Session Facilitator
THURSDAY, OCT 27 ONLINE COMMUNITY + PLEASE NOTE: PRAXIS PREP SESSION FACILITATORS MUST BE AVAILABLE FROM 5:30 - 7:30 P.M.ON THE PRACTICE SESSION DATE ALIGNED TO THEIR CONTENT AREA: 12/8: BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS, AND ELEMENTARY SCIENCE 12/14: GENERAL SCIENCE, PHYSICS, EARTH SCIENCE, AND MATHEMATICS 1/17: BIOLOGY AND MATHEMATICS
Praxis Prep Session Facilitators play a key role in helping prospective MƒA applicants prepare to take the Praxis test in their content areas. Additionally, the facilitator often serves as a person on the frontline of recruitment, not only answering content-related questions, but also responding to general questions about MƒA fellowships. As part of this community contribution, Praxis Prep Session Facilitators will attend a virtual orientation to learn about their roles and responsibilities, and will later lead a two-hour virtual Praxis Prep Session with prospective applicants in the subject area they teach.
TUESDAYS, OCT 18, NOV 29, JAN 10, FEB 28, APR 4, MAY 23 MƒA & ONLINE COMMUNITY + PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A HYBRID COURSE. SESSIONS 1 AND 6 WILL TAKE PLACE IN-PERSON AT MƒA. SESSIONS 2-5 WILL TAKE PLACE VIRTUALLY.
Restorative justice is a set of principles and practices based on the values of respect and accountability. These practices, with roots in Indigenous communities, can be used to build and maintain relationships, be used to repair harm when necessary, and become transformative for a community. In this community contribution, we will explore the foundations of restorative and transformative justice, community accountability, and strategies for addressing how we can make MƒA a safer space personally and structurally. Join us as we collaborate to establish a restorative justice program and help nurture MƒA as a space that supports and respects the inherent dignity and worth of all teachers and staff.
Small-World Network Community Mobilizer
Coordinated By: MƒA Director of Data Systems Miriam Ignatoff
WEDNESDAYS, SEP 21, NOV 30 ONLINE COMMUNITY
Are you interested in sharing your knowledge with the MƒA community and connecting with your colleagues online? Join us as we help initiate discussions and respond to questions on the Small-World Network (SWN). Mobilizers will be asked to log into the SWN at least once per week to respond to posts or ask questions of their own. Mobilizers will also be responsible for selecting at least one post per week to highlight in the community digest email.
*Community Contributions are opportunities for Master Teachers who have completed more than one fellowship.
