Welcome to the website of the Beacon Teachers’ Association, NYSUT local 13010 and AFT local 2490. We are a union of professional educators employed by the Beacon City School District located in the Hudson valley region in New York State, approximately 90 miles north of New York City. Our members are teachers, social workers, school psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, library media specialists and guidance counselors. Our local is part of the 600,000 member New York State United Teachers (NYSUT). We are nationally affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the AFL-CIO. We are dedicated in maintaining a fair and professional relationship with the Beacon City School District with the goals of ensuring the most productive instructional conditions for teachers and the best possible learning opportunities for our students. We value the need to build and maintain a healthy and meaningful relationship with the community we serve.
Welcome
Back! As we begin a new school year, it is important to remember that
as a Union, we are organized
to protect and uphold our Collective Bargaining Agreement, serve as a
resource to our members, support our members and neighboring locals, and
work towards improving and enhancing the educational process for our
students and staff. Each
of you should know your building reps, attend monthly meetings held in
each building, follow your contract
and maintain open lines of communication with your building reps and
officers. It is crucial that the BTA, along with the brothers and
sisters of other locals, stand in unity and not waiver in the face of
adversity. I am confident that united, we will meet
the challenges that lie ahead and continue to deliver a quality
education to each of our students. There
has and continues to be many changes that will alter the direction of
Education as we know it. Race
to the Top, new Teacher/Principal evaluation procedure (APPR- Chapter
103 of the laws of 2010), health insurance reform, social security,
unemployment, anti-teacher media, State Education mandates, teacher
pension scrutiny, and the list goes on. As I stated on September 2nd,
we must all pay close attention to the information surrounding
us, Please be sure to read all of your emails, newsletters and memos
and check the BTA website for important information. Refer to your
contract and know your rights and obligations and be sure to always
check your paystub. When you have a question make sure
to ask your building rep. No question is too big or small!
Regardless
of our challenges, we must strive to set high standards and levels of
excellence for ourselves
and the students we teach. We also have a duty and obligation to
support, encourage and guide our new colleagues and help them to grow
professionally as they strive for success. I welcome our new colleagues
and invite them to become involved, to assume a role
in the union, and partake in positive activities that will shape,
influence, and improve our schools. Have a successful and rewarding school year and remember we are the
Beacon of light for the children we teach and the community we serve.
