Teachers union launches survey on hybrid schooling

The Albuquerque Teachers Federation is calling for feedback from certified educators about getting back into the classroom.

The union recently launched its “Hybrid Schooling: What do you want to do?” survey, asking educators in Albuquerque Public Schools whether they prefer to keep working from home when schools are able to move from remote learning to hybrid, which is a mix of in-person and online class. And it asks when people would feel comfortable working on site with students, among other questions.

“We want safe working conditions for all of our educators, students and families. Your responses to this survey will help us establish our position and guide the district toward a safe return,” the union wrote in an online announcement.

The survey, which is open to union members and nonmembers, is at atfunion.org.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: John Adams Middle School is getting creative about incentivizing students to attend virtual school, which kicked off Aug. 12.

Principal Kenneth Merhege told the Journal he’s reaching out to restaurants in the area for food donations. If kids consistently participate in online school, they get the chance to win the meals through a raffle.

“We want our incentive program to be something that provides a boost for the whole family. This will encourage all our students to attend each period every day, because they will have the opportunity to support their entire family,” Merhege wrote in a letter to the restaurants.

The goal is pick three students per grade level for each raffle.

KIDS COUNT GOES ONLINE: Child advocacy group New Mexico Voices for Children will host its annual Kids Count conference online this year. There will be three virtual sessions over the next five months.

The event will “address anti-racist policy reforms to improve child wellbeing, and the impacts of COVID-19 and the current recession on children and families in New Mexico,” according to a news release.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is a keynote speaker.

More information and registration details are at nmvoices.org/kcc.