#mtea

On January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration rescinded protected area policies that protected certain areas like churches, hospitals, and schools from immigration enforcement. The rescission is a fear tactic to make immigrant communities feel less safe even in spaces that families and children rely on for basic services and survival.

MTEA believes that public schools must be safe, welcoming, and accessible to all children and families. The United States Supreme Court Plyer v. Doe decision guarantees access to K-12 public education for all children regardless of immigration status.

MTEA is committed to our ongoing work with students, families, community members, the Administration and the Board to ensure safety for our students. In 2017 MTEA collaborated with MPS and community groups to develop the MPS Safe Haven resolution. Members should familiarize themselves with the resources available on the MPS Safe Haven page which was shared with families and staff on Friday, January 24.

The MPS Safe Haven toolkit provides the following information for students, families, and staff:

Community Partners Contact List 

A Guide to Your Rights When Interacting with Law Enforcement - English

Guide to your rights regarding contact with immigration officers or the police - Spanish

Know your Rights a Resource for Students, Parents and Guardians - English

Know Your Rights: A Resource for Students, Parents, and Guardians - Spanish

How to act in case of immigration detention - Spanish

Avoid Immigration Scams - Spanish

Voices from the Border - Immigrant Rights

Red Cards / Red Cards

Milwaukee Area Guide to Community Resources - English

Milwaukee Area Guide to Community Resources - Spanish

MTEA will be meeting with Interim Superintendent Galvan later this week to insist on the following:  

Meet and confer with MTEA to develop MPS ICE Safety Plan for all schools to be shared with staff

Provide written confirmation that MPS will not assist ICE in any enforcement action

Provide written confirmation that Administration will not share student records with ICE

Give dates certain when appropriate MPS staff will be trained on how to respond to ICE agents requesting access to schools

MTEA members remain committed to do all in our power to make every child, family and worker feel valued, welcomed and protected in our public schools. 

Since 2018, Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association members have participated in the Black Lives Matter at School week of action with lessons and activities based on the principles of Black Lives Matter at School.

All students and educators are invited to participate in the days of action. The Milwaukee Public Schools events can be found on the MPS website.

Step 1: Preparing for the Week of Action

The Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association has resources at your fingertips to support instructional activities for the week and well into February.

We encourage educators to spend January familiarizing themselves with Learning for Justice, Facilitating Critical Conversations with Students. 

The National Education Association (NEA) has a critical Teach Truth Know Your Rights resource for NEA members that gives some background and legal information that educators should consider when participating in this action.

Step 2: Planning Your Actions

A resource to explore the PLANNING TEMPLATE with various lessons based on the principles.

Step 3: Week of Action

During the first week of February, Milwaukee Public Schools will host nightly Black Lives Matter at School events for students, families, staff, and communities. Check the linked page for updates as we get closer to the date.

Additional Instructional Resources:

● Select a lesson from

○ Facilitating Critical Conversations with Students

○ Black Lives Matter at School Curriculum Guide

○ Week-long lesson plans

○ Teaching About Youth Activism

○ National Education Association Racial Justice Resources

○ #TeachTruth Syllabus, from the Zinn Education Project

● Plan a virtual field trip (Examples below)

○ National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) Digital Archive

○ Equal Justice Initiative - The Legacy Museum and the National Museum for Peace and Justice

○ Research other virtual options for historical sites (Local and National)

NEW RESOURCES- NEA Black Lives Matter at School Demands

Across race and place, educators, parents and allies are coming together to ensure that every Black student and educator can live, grow and thrive with support, love and joy. The goal of Black Lives Matter at School is to spark an ongoing movement of critical reflection and honest conversation and impactful actions in school communities for people of all ages to engage with issues of racial justice. Find stories, resources and ideas highlighting Black Lives Matter at School from across the country.

Create supportive environments where all students can learn, grow, and thrive

Empower Black Educators to Strengthen Our Schools

Upholding the Freedom to Learn Black History and Ethnic Studies

MTEA BLM Week of Action t-shirt ordering instructions:

There are a limited number of Black Lives Matter at School shirts. The current supply includes the student-designed Black Lives Matter at School shirt.

Cost: $12, All items can be purchased with cash or check only.

To place an order, fill out this form.

Please fill in a quantity of 1-10 under the shirt/size you are ordering. You will be contacted by email when your order is ready for pick up. Payment is required at time of pick up in form of cash, check, or money order. Unfortunately, we cannot accept credit cards. If a size isn't listed, we are out of stock, and it will not be reordered.

Pick-up:

You will be emailed to your home email (no MPS emails) that you provided. You will be asked to schedule a pick-up time. Orders will only be held for two weeks. If not picked up, the order will go back into stock.

If you have any questions, contact the MTEA by emailing us here.

ASSAMA 

Lowland Speciality