geralda thompson & candace fryer

Summary This session is for both veteran BTU members who have signed up to be BTU Buddies, and the Early Career Teachers they are supporting. Participants will attain core strategies to support and enhance daily educational practices for new teachers.

The BTU Buddy program is a "Baltimore Teacher’s Union" initiative. It provides new teachers and others requesting assistance the opportunity to pair with an experienced colleague. The program utilizes a unique process for matching mentors and mentees who do not work at the same school, but have similar job descriptions. A mentoring BTU Buddy will act as a guide on navigating through the first year, the school system and as a resource you can reach out to for professional guidance and support during the school year.

Geralda Thompson is an elated twenty-two-year veteran educator who serves an IST at “The Great Dickey Hill EMS” #201 and co-facilitator for “The Amazing BTU Buddy Program ''. She believes nothing is more powerful than helping other people by providing them with meaningful and heartfelt support. She mentors because she enjoys helping others and being there as a resource when needed. Mentoring provides an opportunity to help others see their true potential, while learning from others. What drives her is ensuring that every educator and student she encounters has someone to empower them and believe in all the great they can do. She thinks a lot of beautiful and great things can happen when individuals find what they really love to do, and it’s an honor to be part of that process. Her positive attitude towards helping and supporting others is infectious. She takes great pride in teaching our AWESOME Scholars. Supporting our FANTASTIC "Educators and New Educators/RSP'' is at the HEART of what she does! She also serves as the ULR for #201 for the 2021-2022 school year. She is joyously dedicated to all members of her learning community, City Schools and BTU. During her down time, she enjoys visiting Senior Citizens and making them look beautiful by doing their hair and nails and helping them stay current with the events of the day.

Candace Fryer is a High School AP Computer Science Teacher who holds a Bachelor's Degree from University of Central Florida in Education, Master's Degree from University of Central Florida in Nonprofit Management and Public Administration and Educational Leadership Certification (Admin 1) from Towson University. Before coming to Baltimore City schools, she taught for 4 years in both Orange County Florida School System and Buffalo Public School System. For the last 8 years she has taught in BCPSS, at Monarch Academy and now Digital Harbor High School. She currently sits on the Baltimore Teachers Union Executive Board as the Teacher Chapter Treasurer. She is also the Co- Facilitator of The BTU buddy program and serves as the Union Learning Representative for #416- Digital Harbor High School. She brings enthusiasm and energy every day to her Computer Science classes. She believes that supporting new and early career teachers is foundational to a healthy school environment and to the future of public education. Serving others is her passion. When she is not teaching Computer Science or supporting staff at her school, she is organizing with the rank and file of the BTU on behalf of students, families, and educators in the city.