A Message from WTU President

Good Morning WTU,

Happy Hanukkah! During this holiday season and always, we wish you peace, joy, and happiness! We, as a Union, have a lot to be hopeful about! We received word last Wednesday that DCPS has finally agreed to join us at the contract bargaining table on Tuesday Dec. 12^th. This marks the start of the WTU’s Negotiating Teams’ first in-person contract bargaining session. Given this new development, we will move our previously scheduled membership meeting from Tuesday to Thursday, Dec. 14^th. Please come down to The Negotiations Center from 4:15PM-5PM to cheer on our hardworking bargaining team as they enter the Negotiations Center (441 4^th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001). We are very grateful for their steadfast support alongside that of the larger membership. Every little bit counts whether it’s a teacher testimony, selfie in red, petition signature, reporter interview or a cheering crowd. Together, we are sending the message that we want a new contract, and we want it now!

In anticipation of our first negotiating team meeting, WTU’s bargaining team met last Tuesday to prepare. An update of what they accomplished can be viewed here. Last week, we released additional videos on the causes of teacher retention issues as described in testimonies from DCPS teachers Ashley Boyle Schiraldi, Dylan Craig, Michael Haller, Crawford Bennett, Siedae Culbreath, and Andelgo Parodi. The Hillrag also published an expose on the repercussions of widespread malfunctioning classroom door locks here. In related news, Channel 7 interviewed me on the impact of high rates of chronic student absenteeism on DCPS teachers. I explained how this hinders learning and makes a teachers’ job even more challenging. All news stories help us to communicate the urgency of our plight to the public as well as to DCPS.

We ask for your support in showing up to cheer on our team this Tuesday. Thank you, as always, for your support! I wish you a week filled with hope and the strength to bring that hope to your students who may not believe in themselves.

In solidarity,

Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President

Washington Teachers’ Union

Weekly Update - WTU’s Contract Action Team

Watch the December 5^th Contract Negotiating Teams’ weekly update here or click on photo above. The prior week’s video update can be found here. All other updates from CAT can be viewed on the playlist here.

Please share our petition for safe schools! We also need your beautiful photos wearing red on Fridays! Email photos to [email protected] or text them to 202-957-1782.

AM Brew News and Notices are archived at https://www.wtulocal6.net/AMBrew.

December 5th, 2023 - WJLA Channel 7 News - New Report details startling statistics on chronic absenteeism in DC public schools - This week, The Office of the D.C. State Superintendent of Education issued startling statistics on absenteeism during the last school year. The statistics show that 40% of D.C. students missed 10% or more school days. WTU President, Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, said chronic absenteeism hinders learning.

“You start a lesson or theme of the curriculum on Monday, you have half your kids there,” said Lyons. “And if they come on Tuesday, you have to not only consider the kids who came Monday, you have to consider the kids that weren't there on Monday." Watch the full story here or click on picture above.

December 5th, 2023 - WUSA Channel 9 News reported on biases in IMPACT - DCPS' teacher evaluation system - as one cause of DC's loss of 25% of teachers yearly - a rate higher than other of urban cities. Watch the full story here or click on photo above.

December 2nd, 2023 - WTOP Radio Interviews DCPS teacher Dylan Craig on why teachers are leaving the classroom. To learn more, please click here or click photo above.

December 1st, 2023 - The Washington Post - DC Teachers are leaving their classrooms. Here's why. - Dozens of D.C. teachers are sounding the alarm as many of their colleagues continue to leave the classroom, a trend reflected in data that show teacher turnover — after dipping during the pandemic — has spiked again. Read the full story here or click on picture above.

November 29th, 2023 - The Washington Post - Julius Becton, Army general who led FEMA and DC schools, dies at 97: He became one of the military's highest-ranking Black officers before launching a second career as a public administrator. Read the full story here or click on photo above.

November 28th, 2023 - The Washington Examiner - DC Teachers Union enters third month without contract with public schools - Read the full article here or click photo above. 

DC-ist - November 27th, 2023 - The Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) says timely negotiations on a new contract are needed to address issues of teacher retention and other after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. To read more, please click here or picture below.

November 22nd, 2023 - Channel 9 News: From the seemingly incessant carjackings, robberies, and murders -- we know, it has been an extremely violent year in the District. Watch the news story here.

November 22, 2023 - The Washington Post - DC Teens, now new authors celebrate book launch: The high school students wrote books about climate change, extreme weather and grief. Click here or picture above to read full article.

November 21st, 2023 – The Washington Informer - D.C. Infrastructure Academy to Continue Mission at Spingarn High School

The Washington Post - November 15th, 2023 - Onstage and Off a Musical takes on DC's Gun Violence