We regret to inform you that, to our knowledge, the first IFT member passed away from complications from COVID-19. We send our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of Carmelita Cristobal. Carmelita was a beloved employee at Wilbur Wright College in the City Colleges of Chicago and a proud member of the Federation of College Clerical and Technical Personnel (Local 1708). With that somber news comes a reminder: please be safe. Stay at home as much as you can (join the official campaign to do so here). When in public or reporting to work, practice social distancing to help flatten the curve. We have a long road ahead of us, and much of it is still uncertain. In a recent letter to members, IFT President Dan Montgomery highlighted the ways our staff is working to advocate for members and keep you informed during the COVID-19 health crisis, from making sure school staff is paid, to putting in place standards for online learning, to offering resources that will help you get through this. We appreciate all the work our members are doing right now and please know: the IFT remains here for all of you. For information and resources, go here.
#IFTSTRONG: Coronavirus Edition
It's hard to keep up with all the posts on #IFTSTRONG: Coronavirus edition, where we recognize the tremendous things our members are doing during this difficult time for their students, colleagues, and communities. Visit the page regularly to see more great stories from our members like the one below. Tell us how you're staying #IFTSTRONG by tagging @iftaft on social media or sending photos and anecdotes to info@ift-aft.org.
New Professional Development Opportunities Available
The IFT Union Professional Issues Department has identified union-sponsored, professional learning opportunities for preK-12 teachers and PSRPs:
AFT's Share My Lesson held a virtual conference last week. The workshops from that are now available on demand and free to anyone who registers. Participants will receive a certificate of completion after participating in each webinar that can be submitted to their school or district for approval.
We teamed up with the Illinois Education Association and the Illinois State Board of Education to offer a variety of free workshops that can earn you up to 35 Professional Development Hours. Click here for more information.