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Matt, you are awesome. Don't let anyone else tell you anything different. 

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Matt, you are awesome. Don't let anyone else tell you anything different. 

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I imagine this situation must be very scary and I am so sorry that in addition to all the work you are doing for us, and your efforts to parent your child, you have to deal with someones' negativity and hate.   We stand with you and value your tremendous work and dedication.  I hope this incident does not taint the joy and satisfaction that this important work can bring you.
Rosina

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Thank you so much for the incredibly difficult and demanding work you do representing teachers. I am grateful for your diligence and proud of our union. I am so sorry, saddened, and angry that you and your family have been unfairly and cruelly targeted for harassment.
-Joanna Petrone

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Sometimes when these clouds roll over a sunny day I get that little feeling sad feeling. But that is just a cloud - and that cloud will pass. There is sun there. Representing this cantankerous lot of disparate minded teachers is its own challenge and good on you for taking on this task. I appreciate your thoughtful and tireless work. Much love and thank for your work!

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Your leadership in BFT has been helpful, responsive, and inspiring.  We know that you have our backs, and we have yours. I am disgusted and enraged by the levels people have stooped to in this uncertain time, and my heart goes out to you and your family. Let us know if there is anything we can do to help ease the burden of leading a union through these tumultuous waters. It is in our solidarity and conviction that we have strength. Thank you  for everything.
-- Adam Bairzin

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Matt, I appreciate your hard work during this really difficult time.  You have so much support over here.  Thank you for representing us.  

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Matt, I appreciate your hard work during this really difficult time.  You have so much support over here.  Thank you for representing us.  

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-Jill Barash

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Matt,  we love you so much.  You have worked so hard for us.  No one deserves what you have been through, especially not someone who works as hard as you do.  My heart hurts for you and your family.  I tweeted my fury to KQED for their irresponsible journalism and the way they amplified this violation of your family's privacy.  We are with you, and the larger community of parents  is with you! See article below.  Love you my friend!  Susannah

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Matt,  we love you so much.  You have worked so hard for us.  No one deserves what you have been through, especially not someone who works as hard as you do.  My heart hurts for you and your family.  I tweeted my fury to KQED for their irresponsible journalism and the way they amplified this violation of your family's privacy.  We are with you, and the larger community of parents  is with you! See article below.  Love you my friend!  Susannah

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Dear Berkeley Teachers and Staff:

On behalf of many, MANY Berkeley parents, I would like to personally thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to our youth this past year. As a parent of a BHS student, I have seen how you have held our students this past year. As a high school teacher in a neighboring district, I deeply empathize with the struggles and anguish you have had to live with.

Like me, I know you care deeply about your students. I know you are a lifelong learner, quickly adapting to new technologies and pedagogical strategies so that you can continue to teach your students during this pandemic. You and I both know that the average teacher works 50 hours a week. But, again, if you're like me, this year you have been working 65-70 hours a week.

I know that you have stayed after class to counsel students, given up your lunch to help students, contributed to student family GoFundMe pages for funerals, stayed late to coax a student to finally turn on his camera so that he can tell you what's wrong (a dying cousin, parent's unemployment, threat of eviction). You have extended deadlines and returned student and parent emails at all hours of the day and on weekends - all to reduce their stress during this pandemic year, to encourage them, to meet them where they are at.

I know that like me, you have experienced as much or more trauma as your students' families. If you are a teacher of color, you have watched your community suffer tremendously this year. And yet you are still showing up to work every day, absorbing the pain of your students, encouraging and inspiring them to not give up. You do this because you are a teacher. You chose to enter this profession because you believe in the power of public education. And you chose to work specifically in Berkeley because you mirror the values of this community: justice, kindness, critical thinking, and the greater good.

I encourage you to rise above the mean-spirited narrative that has spilled into our community. These voices do not represent the majority of Berkeley parents who - like I do - want teachers to be safe, value your health and the health of your families, and feel proud that our community has a strong union making sure that re-entry decisions will be made in a way that respects teachers' well-being.

Teacher appreciation week is in May but I propose that we start that today. I propose that we start a #BerkeleyTeacherLOVEFEST today. Let us as a community embrace you, hold you, and say that WE LOVE YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOU, WE RESPECT YOU, and WE SEE YOU.

In Solidarity,

Caren McDonald

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A Love Letter to Berkeley Teachers and Staff

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On behalf of many, MANY Berkeley parents, I would like to personally thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to our youth this past year. As a parent of a BHS student, I have seen how you...

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I appreciate all the work you have done to represent teachers. Thank you for all you do.
-Joshua Paz

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Matt, we love you and appreciate your hard work. As someone who has seen what the district comes with and how much work it takes to negotiate and to get to a place that makes sense for actual students and teachers, I know you must be working around the clock! As a colleague, I am outraged to think people would just record us and put it on the news and call us hypocrites. As a Mathematician, I’m with you, this is irrelevant because there are no public school options to take a toddler to anyway! The argument makes no sense. Also, when that little person is at that school, I’m gonna guess that’s when you do the important job of trying to get the schools safely opened. SMH. As a parent, I am completely and utterly disgusted someone had the audacity to record your child! I can’t even. I am so sorry. These people have gone too far. We all need to follow Michelle Obama. “When they go low, we go high!”

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Matt, I am incensed about what you had to go through. You and BFT have been doing an amazing job in the most challenging circumstances the union has ever had to go through. You have my full support. Jimmy Tran

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Matt, I am incensed about what you had to go through. You and BFT have been doing an amazing job in the most challenging circumstances the union has ever had to go through. You have my full support. Jimmy Tran

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Hi Matt, all this twisted talk and scapegoating... try not to let it get to you. You're doing the right thing. You honor us and our lives. Thanks you!!

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Hi Matt, all this twisted talk and scapegoating... try not to let it get to you. You're doing the right thing. You honor us and our lives. Thanks you!!

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Ananda Esteva

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I empathize with what you recently experienced. You are not alone, and it will be ok. 💜💛💚💙

CJ

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So much love to you and your family. Thank you for following your heart.

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Thank you for representing our interests.  Mr. Pollak

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Thank you for all you do to support teachers and the BUSD community. You are appreciated.
--Nina Ziskin

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Thank you for all that you do in order to help support the school community. Thank you for the dedication in such a difficult time. Thank you for supporting me as a teacher.
-Ryan Soe

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May we all learn that the behavior you received is one we must speak out against! You leadership is much appreciated and must never come at the expense of your family. Thank you for all you do. Miriam Straus

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Thank you for providing level-headed and informative leadership through this completely unprecedented time!  I am sorry that the entitled and unreasonable few have stooped to new lows and violated your family’s privacy.  I want you to know that I support you and truly appreciate the work you do in the best interest for ALL. - Lori Hersey

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Matt - You are much appreciated by those who know and respect you for doing your job.  I'm sorry that you and your family experienced such a public display of ugliness.  

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Matt - You are much appreciated by those who know and respect you for doing your job.  I'm sorry that you and your family experienced such a public display of ugliness.  

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Ayesha

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You've been working tirelessly to support Berkeley's teachers and students. I'm so sorry you're being harassed too. You don't deserve it. All of us at Longfellow stand with you and appreciate you. -Marlo

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I am sorry that your family has experienced this violation of privacy.  Wishing you all the best, Michael

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Cathy Campbell - Thank you so much for all you are doing for our members, our community and our students right now. Thank you for your grace, humor and dedication in this very difficult time. 

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Cathy Campbell - Thank you so much for all you are doing for our members, our community and our students right now. Thank you for your grace, humor and dedication in this very difficult time. 

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Dear Matt, We appreciate you and stand with you and your family in this frustrating situation. Thank you for all that you do for our ENTIRE school community.

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Dear Matt, We appreciate you and stand with you and your family in this frustrating situation. Thank you for all that you do for our ENTIRE school community.

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Matt - Words cannot express how grateful we are for BFT and your leadership. Under no circumstances should anyone be attacking you personally. Thank you for representing all of us in such a challenging time.

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Matt - Words cannot express how grateful we are for BFT and your leadership. Under no circumstances should anyone be attacking you personally. Thank you for representing all of us in such a challenging time.

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In solidarity, Juliana