Channel 9 News: Keeping Teachers in DC Classrooms
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.
WTOP Interview with DCPS teacher Dylan Craig on Teacher Retention
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.
DC Teachers are Leaving Their Classrooms - Here's Why
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.
Julius Becton, Army General who led FEMA and DC Schools, dies at 97
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.
DC Teachers Union Enters Third Month without Contract with Public Schools
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.
D.C. Teachers Union Urges DCPS To Come To The Table On Contract Negotiations
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.
Channel 9 News: Teens Work to Promote Peace in DC
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.
Washington Post: DC Teens, Now New Authors, Celebrate Book Launch
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.
The Washington Informer: DC Infrastructure Academy to Continue Mission at Spingarn High School
November 21st, 2023 – The Washington Informer - D.C. Infrastructure Academy to Continue Mission at Spingarn High School
Channel 9 News WTU President Calls for Independent Audit of DC Finances
November 19th, 2023 - Channel 9 News covered DC Council budget meeting where WTU President called for independent review of DCPS' finances saying top administrators outspend 10X the national average. Click here or picture above to watch news.
AM Brew - December 4, 2023
A Message from WTU President
Good Morning WTU Members,
I hope you enjoyed some well-deserved rest this weekend after what can only be described as an action-packed last week! The WTU wants to express our heartfelt gratitude for the more than 40 WTU teachers who testified on DCPS’ failing teacher retention policies at the D.C. Council hearing on November 28th, spoke to reporters, and signed our petition for safe schools. Your testimonies and those that followed on a second teacher and principal retention hearing on Wednesday November 29th, triggered an avalanche of support from D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and other councilmembers who cited teacher testimony verbatim in a grueling grilling of DCPS administrators. The powerful testimonies from teachers confirming their personal experiences with IMPACT, an evaluation system proven to be bias and racist by American University, seemed to strike a chord with D.C. Council members.
In my Wednesday, November 28th testimony to DC Council, the WTU called for the DC Council to change the law that does not allow our union to negotiate evaluation policies with DCPS. Several WTU teachers reinforced the need for a new evaluation system when they spoke with reporters from the DC-ist, WAMU radio, and Washington Examiner. Channel 9 News followed up with a news story on how DCPS has failed to replace IMPACT with a fair and non-racist evaluation system and The Washington Post reported on teacher turnover.
Last week, the Contract Bargaining Team did receive an initial response to the proposals and MOAs sent to DCPS starting in June. We will keep you in the loop as we continue to insist that DCPS come to the table to negotiate with us. We ask for your support in SIGNING OUR PETITION FOR SAFE SCHOOLS, wearing red for ED on Fridays, and sending us your group shots and selfies. It is working!! As always, I cannot thank you enough for all you do to support this union, the children of DC, and their families. I hope you enjoy a safe, and intellectually engaging week with your students!
In solidarity,
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union
Weekly Update - WTU’s Contract Action Team
Watch the November 28th weekly update from WTU’s Contract Bargaining Team and other WTU videos 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.
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