It’s a great feeling to not only have your ideas published, but knowing they can in turn help other teachers with their class and therefore help students. I’m a big believer of the positive ripple effect. I have learned a lot from reading the UFT NY Teacher newspaper. I have… Continue reading

“Teachers are true heroes in our communities, who through their dedication to children, work millions of small miracles every day. And the vast majority of teachers in the United States are proud to be advocates for children, public education, and their profession. The origins of Teacher Day are murky. Around… Continue reading

The NYC Department of Education is my employer and I do not consider that entity an enemy as many others do. I truly believe that it is a flawed entity, but feel that there is some glimmer of hope to fixing a broken system. Unfortunately to fix something you have… Continue reading

According to Statcounter.com, protectportelos.org will hit 8,000 visits today. Repeat visitors come from all around the world and 600 people are direct following. Twitter follower numbers are increasing as well as the student made facebook.com/protectportelos page Likes. We are the potential wave makers, the movers and the shakers. Regimes have… Continue reading

As I entered the school building, on Thursday April 26, I was met by Principal Linda Hill, Assistant Principal of Security Joanne Aguirre and Safety Agent Gordon. I was asked to step into the auditorium and was handed papers to sign. They stated that I was to report to a… Continue reading

Back in June of 2009, my colleague and I had already known of and used Google Apps (docs, calendar, gmail). We wanted to get a closer look on how a school was using it and visited IS 339 in the Bronx. Our visit only reinforced our notion that this can… Continue reading

It was my 11 month old son, Alexander, that I had on my lap the night I decided to create this site. Earlier that same day, two SCI investigators came to my classroom and later to my house to take my DOE equipment for an investigation the principal called on… Continue reading

The Human Cost of Teacher Bashing: The Christine Rubino Case. Continue reading

I asked the SLT chairperson to add my concern about the new PS 71 to the February agenda and she did not. I had to bring it up as open agenda.The principal was not too concerned. (See Feb 7 minutes) Basically a new State of the Art middle school (PS71)… Continue reading

So they tried to turn some of my innocent Facebook posts against me. You don’t throw stones when you live in a glass house. Posted on Facebook after I won UFT Chapter Delegate position. 3 months later he asked me to resign from that same position. I agree. We do… Continue reading

Visits HERO to VILLAIN IN JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS I am Francesco Alexander Portelos. I am an educator and Ilovemy job. I am a Polytechnic University Civil/Environmental Engineer turned middle school teacher and this is my story on how I went from hero to villain by bringing up the… Continue reading

In an effort to show solidarity, all members are asked to wear something blue on Thursday April 5th. This is not in support of any one person, nor is it to show opposition. We are all in this together for the betterment of the school community. Continue reading