BTU SCHOOL MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT
THE BTU PILOT SCHOOL’S MISSION IS TO CULTIVATE AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT IS JOYFUL, CULTURALLY SUSTAINING, ANTI-RACIST, COLLABORATIVE, AND INSPIRING FOR EVERY CHILD AND FAMILY WE SERVE,
We strive to offer instruction that empowers children by nurturing their joy, their empathy, their criticality, their creativity, and their connections with their communities inside and outside of their school
Work together in ways that reflect the reality we are trying to create
We seek to engage and affirm all members of our community
Employing a shared leadership approach that values the diverse perspectives of children, families, and faculty
HISTORY OF THE BTU SCHOOL
In 2005, the Boston Teachers Union and the Boston School Committee negotiated an agreement under which the Boston Teachers Union would open a new, teacher-run school to showcase their commitment to educating Boston’s children. Both the Union and the Boston Public Schools were excited about this unprecedented partnership, and worked hard to make it a reality. A committee of educators and union officers met regularly during the 2008-09 school year to plan and design the school. The first lead teachers were hired in February 2009, a partnership with Simmons College was formalized later that spring, and the Boston Teachers Union School opened its doors in September 2009, with 150 students in grades K1-2 and grade 6. By September 2011, we were a full K-8 school with approximately 340 students.
ABOUT THE BTU SCHOOL
We are a shared leadership school. We do not have a principal, but instead direct the operation and development of the school through our committee structure, and our weekly faculty meetings. Our decision making is intentional and many decisions are made by consensus. Two lead teachers with a reduced teaching load perform many of the daily administrative tasks. We are part of a national network of teacher-powered schools.
For more information please go to http://www.teacherpowered.org/