President’s message: Thanks for A third wave of historic charter History teacher and Louder another year of promises kept to strikes posts big wins, advancing Than a Bomb coach uses our students. Rest up this summer our campaign to change the way hip hop to make poetry in for the fi ghts ahead PAGE 3 the industry does business PAGE 4 the classroom PAGE 2 CHICAGOUNIONTEACHER June 2019 ⁄ Volume 82 ⁄ Number 8 Also in this issue... The sordid history of CPS’ special ed failings and how the Union is fi ghting back Keeping the to protect our most vulnerable students with disabilities PAGES 8 AND 9 promise Educators know learning is diffi cult for students with nowhere to sleep, which is why affordable housing is a key demand of ours PAGE 5 CHICAGO UNION TEACHER CARROLL W. / 1901 AVENUE / CHICAGO, IL 60612 CPS slams educators, school communities with year-end layoffs, but our contract (Photo: Ervin Lopez) provides protections for teachers, staff PAGE 2 We are in the streets and at the bargaining table pushing Mayor Lori Lightfoot to keep her promises to educators and their students who need smaller class sizes, more staffi ng and special ed resources, and a fair pay raise for teachers. PAGE 6 Erik King, King College Prep High School history teacher and coach of the school’s Louder Than a Bomb team. (Photo: CTU Communications) History teacher marries hip-hop and teaching to CPS year-end make poetry for his students layoffs amount to Erik King brings together history a slap in the face and hip-hop to motivate a new generation of Chicago youth. How to protect your rights if you are laid off BY JIM STAROS BY CTU COMMUNICATIONS 312-329-9100. able through a spouse, see if rik Young is a long-serving history teacher and you can enroll. But you must Do not resign your position coach of the Louder Than A Bomb (LTAB) hip-hop espite receiving more • apply within 30 days from the unless you intend to leave the Epoetry team at King College Prep in Bronzeville, but money from the state date of the cancellation of your district permanently. his path to success wasn’t always certain. Dthis year, at the end of CPS insurance. He grew up in the Philadelphia public schools, and, May, Chicago Public Schools Keep all documents received although he had a supportive family, he says his teachers • If you choose COBRA, you announced another round of from CPS, check your CPS email • did not give him much encouragement to go on to higher have 60 days to enroll from the layoffs that, according to the and print any communications education. last day you are insured. CO- district’s own numbers, are “I had a guidance counselor who told me that I proba- in case you lose your school BRA will charge you retroac- higher than last year. The Chi- bly wouldn’t make it in college,” Young says. “That’s what email. tively to the first day you were cago Teachers Union has called initially motivated me to go.” released from your insurance. on Mayor Lori Lightfoot to • If you believe you were laid His grammar school and high school years corre- COBRA is expensive, but it will reverse the cuts and to begin off in error, please notify the sponded with the rise of hip-hop, which immediately be available to you and your keeping her promises of equity Union as soon as possible and drew him in. “I’ve always loved history, poetry and hip- contact your field rep. family for a total of 18 months. hop…kind of going against the grain [and] that’s what and justice to Chicago teachers, attracted me to the style.” parents and students. Apply for unemployment • Medicaid and Illinois Kids He was the first in his family to attend college, enroll- “These layoffs are a slap in benefits First are insurance programs ing in the University of Rochester, where he played foot- the face to the people of Chica- available to some families. Eli- Illinois law prohibits teach- ball and double majored in political science and African go, who voted for equity and ed- • gibility is determined by family American studies. He also earned his Master of Education ucational justice for our schools ers from collecting unemploy- income. this spring, not more cuts and ment over summer break so at Rochester, as well as teaching for six years in the city’s To apply for a job at another austerity,” CTU President Jes- your eligibility will begin on public schools. All the while, he continued to write poetry. school When he moved to Chicago—or as he puts it “married se Sharkey said. “And they are the first day you would have into Chicago”—he put his teaching skills to use at Lincoln a slap in the face to our school returned to work. • Job fairs for teachers will be Park High School and his poetry talents to work at Young communities, which rely on • If you are working as a day- held: June 25, 26, July 1, 2, 9, Chicago Authors, the non-profit organization that hosts these workers, mostly Black and to-day substitute, your eligi- 10 (register at cps.edu/talent). Louder Than A Bomb, the largest youth poetry festival Brown women, as critical sourc- bility will vary from week to Job fairs for PSRPs will be in the world. es of support in their schools.” • week depending on how much held June 27, July 2, July 18, Young coached the LPHS poetry team for most of the Despite inadequate staffing you earned in that period from decade he taught at the school. When he moved to King and large class sizes, CPS con- Aug. 15 (for the July 2 event, reg- CPS. At this point, benefits are ister at cps.edu/talent, for others in 2008, he began a very successful team there as well. tinues to disrespect our educa- payable for a 26-week period. More than 120 schools participate in LTAB each year, tors and students with layoffs. more information will be avail- and King’s team reached the quarterfinals this past year. But thanks to our contract, laid • Begin your application on- able on the CPS Facebook Page). He begins working with the team in October every year, off teachers have rights. If you line at www.ides.illinois.gov • Go to the CPS Careers Page, and by early spring, they meet daily to prepare for the com- have been laid off, refer to the or call the Claimant Services https://cps.edu/careers/pages/ petition in March. Young says he loves spending time with CTU-Board contract and con- Center at 800-244-5631 or careers.aspx and “Build Your the students, developing their voice, as he did when he was tact your field representative use Teleserve at 312-338-IDES Teacher Profile.” This takes you in the public schools back in Rochester. He says his teach- for additional information. (-4337). You can also visit your to a page where you will pick ing and his life are just like his poetry and his rhymes. local IDES office. one or more subject areas you “I live and teach that way, against the grain…always What to do if you are laid off Secure medical insurance are certified to teach. Then, fill seeking out new avenues, things that are a little different Protect your rights out the information requested. than most,” he says. Laid off educators will keep Contact your field represen- • If you run into problems, you Young’s teaching and commitment to his students has • their health and dental insur- • tative. Find his or her contact can email talentoffice@cps. certainly made a difference to them and to his colleagues. ance through August 31. info at www.ctulocal1.org/ edu or teacherrecruitment@ Jim Staros is a history teacher at King College Prep. reps/ or call the CTU office, • If you have insurance avail- cps.edu. 2 June 2019 ∕ Chicago Union Teacher CHICAGO UNION Promises made, TEACHER EDITED BY THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT promises kept CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ⁄ Jim Staros, Jesse Sharkey, Mihir Garud, Raul Figueroa, Katie Osgood, Mark Sidarous Sisters and Brothers, in the fall—an action we do not want CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS ⁄ I know you promised to do the best to take, but will take, if needed. May- Chris Baehrend, Raul Figueroa, for your students when the school year or Lori Lightfoot ran on a platform Timotheus “Pharaoh” Gordon began in September. You have not only that broadly mirrors ours. Will she ADVERTISING MANAGER ⁄ Lupe Coyle been educators, but nurses, social work- deny Chicago’s public school students, ers, counselors, and mediators. Many of teachers, clinicians and paraprofes- DESIGN AND PRODUCTION ⁄ Eric Ruder you have not only educated your stu- sionals the resources and teaching and dents, but also fed, clothed, protected learning conditions that unaccountable and found housing for them. charter operators have agreed to? We the OFFICERS Throughout the year, you kept your intend to hold our new mayor to prom- Jesse Sharkey ∕ PRESIDENT promise to our students, despite the ises she made during her campaign, in- president’s Stacy Davis Gates ∕ VICE PRESIDENT many challenges faced in school build- cluding her support for a fully elected Christel Williams Hayes ∕ RECORDING SECRETARY message ings every day. My heartfelt thanks representative school board. Maria Moreno ∕ FINANCIAL SECRETARY goes out to you, and I am extremely I know it is hard to think about the The Chicago Union Teacher is proud of the work you do every day in next school year as the clock is ticking published eight times a year (three our schools.