A Message from WTU President

Good Morning WTU Members,

I hope you enjoyed a wonderful and safe Halloween last Tuesday! For the WTU staff, this past week has been a whirlwind of advocating activities. Monday started with testimonies before the DC City Council on the urgency of reducing violence in our Washington DC schools and communities. Vice President Bell, Secretary Fuchs, and I testified on the effects of school violence on teachers, students and the community. We consider violence reduction an urgent matter and it is critical that the District work with schools, parents, and the community to deal with this issue. To read my testimony, click here.

On Tuesday, WTU helped to support State Board of Education President Eboni-Rose Thompson’s Ward 7 Trunk or Treat. We gave away treats, a free book of choice to every child and advocated for our Safe Schools petition. Ward 7 community members responded positively, but we need all our members to show their support! If you haven’t yet, please sign the petition and forward it to friends via your social media accounts.

On Wednesday, the WTU, AFT and the New Republic hosted a book reading, allowing students from Dunbar HS, Cardozo HS, and Columbia Heights Education Campus, to ask questions of The New York Times-bestselling author, Elizabeth Acevedo. Her book, The Poet X, won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. It was an exciting event and we’re so happy that Elizabeth Acevedo gave generously of her time. All students were able to take home free autographed copies of this writer’s book. Please remember to support banned books authors. To see a short clip of her answer to student questions, click here.

Although by law we operate in a closed bargaining environment, WTU’s legal team agreed to release this Contract Bargaining Team summary to all WTU members. Please keep in mind that we are releasing this document to WTU’s membership only given the complex and confidential process of contract negotiations.

As we celebrate Veterans Day later this week, I want to thank you, our WTU veterans, for your service, and bravery to our country. Enjoy a Happy Veteran’s Day!

In solidarity,

Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union

Weekly Update - WTU’s Contract Action Team

Thank you to the many WTU members who continue to wear Red for Ed on Fridays! Although it may seem that the negotiations process is slow, WTU’s Contract Action Team sees real progress in the rising levels of support from the community. Please keep emailing selfies and photos of members in red to [email protected]! Re-post your photos along with the petition link to your social media accounts. Look for your photos on our website here.

Also, please consider testifying at one of the two public hearings below:

·       November 14: DCPS Public Budget Hearing (School Yr. 24-25) online @6PM: INFORMATION

• • The registration deadline is 3:00PM on Friday, November 10, 2023.

• November 28: DC Council - Oversight Hearing – Teacher and Principal Retention: INFORMATION

Retirement Session Handouts Available

Read More about Teacher Retirement
Download Handout

In the News

• 10/31/23 – AXIOS DC – D.C. Public Schools Scramble Amid Migrant Student Influx – “D.C. says it faces challenges providing high-quality bilingual mental health services in particular due to staffing shortages”
• 11/03/23 – Channel 7 News – DCPS Team Up with GWU to Shape Future Ed Leaders
  “Teachers can earn either a masters’ degree or ed specialist degree in 18 months.”
• 11/04/24 – The Washington Post – Everyone is talking about D.C. Teens. A new book lets them be heard.

A Message from WTU President 

Good Morning WTU Members,

I hope everyone had an opportunity to enjoy the warm and sunny weather this weekend. Thank you to the WTU members who joined us to pass out a free book of choice and Halloween treats to children this past Friday during Hill-o-ween at Eastern Market. Many of the event participants commented that our table was the best one! Hill-o-ween gave WTU another opportunity to pass out our petition on Safe Schools. The community showed their support by signing our petition, but we still need WTU members to sign! If you haven’t yet, please visit the URL and forward it to friends via your social media accounts.

On Thursday evening, we were pleased to welcome Phil Mendelson, Chairman of the DC City Council to WTU’s Contract Bargaining Team meeting! The Chairman listened to concerns expressed by teachers on DCPS’ long delay in coming to the bargaining table and responding to our contract proposals. We also had an opportunity to discuss with him our proposed MOAs on safety, violence, diversity in schools, the environment, and climate. The WTU is very grateful that Chairman Mendelson took time to meet with the bargaining team. To learn more, please click photo to watch the Contract Negotiating Team’s video.

WTU’s Contract Action Teams’ next outreach event will be Ward 7 TRUNK OR TREAT tomorrow, October 31^st from 6-8PM @ Benning Rd & Oklahoma Ave, NE RFK Lot 6, Enter on Oklahoma Ave NE. Please contact [email protected] to volunteer!

We wish everyone a festive and safe Halloween with your students, friends, and families!  

In solidarity, 

Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union 

Weekly Update - WTU’s Contract Action Team

Pass out our Safe Schools Petition, Halloween treats, and one free book of choice to children at the Ward 7^th Trunk or Treat on Tuesday, October 31^st, 6-8PM @ Benning Rd & Oklahoma Ave, NE RFK Lot 6, Enter on Oklahoma Ave NE.

In the News

• 10/24/23 - WAMU Radio – DCPS Student Learns About Gardening/Healthy Eating
• 10/26/23 – FOX News – 3 DC Schools on Lockdown During Shots Fired Investigation 

A Message from WTU President 

Good Morning WTU Members,

I’m excited to report on Wednesday, Oct. 18th, the representatives of the D.C. State Board of Education unanimously ratified Ward 3 Representative Eric Goulet’s resolution to urge DCPS to immediately prioritize negotiations with WTU to get a multi-year contract approved prior to January 1^st & the FY2025 budget. Thank you to the WTU members who showed up to testify and/or support our goal of getting DCPS back to the bargaining table! (Click pic to view testimony or click here: https://youtu.be/sdX5X04u-fA)

As mentioned in my testimony before the DC State Board of Education, when DCPS stalls, they aren’t just stalling on negotiations, they are stalling on safety, stalling on mental health supports, stalling on supports for high-quality instruction, stalling on fair and equitable compensation to retain and recruit the best staff. They are stalling on real solutions for DCPS students and families.

Although gaining the D.C. State Board of Education’s full support of the resolution is a win to be celebrated, we need YOU to send a message to DCPS. Thus far, we only have 1,043 WTU and community members who have signed our Petition for Safe Schools. Show the District you won’t wait another three years for a contract. Sign WTU’s petition for Safe Schools and forward it to friends via your social media accounts. Each signature gets us closer to the goal of getting as many teachers, and community members to sign no later than November 1^st.  

As we continue to work toward our goal of a new contract, I want to encourage you to remain vigilant about taking care of your physical and mental health. A recent Washington Post article showed “weathering stress” happens more often in marginalized populations and causes premature aging, disease, and even early death. “It isn’t just living in an unequal society that makes people sick. It’s the day-in, day-out effort of trying to be equal that wears bodies down.” To learn more, please read the full article here.

Thank you for your support! I wish you a peaceful and stress-less week.

In solidarity, 

Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union 

In Memoriam – Pam Gardner

Pam Gardner, DCPS alumna and librarian with DCPS for over 30 years passed last week. Pam was a beloved librarian and colleague. Her library was just as warm and welcoming as she was. Students loved her poetry club and affectionately called her Momma G. Read more about Pam’s amazing life. It all began with Nancy Drew: the adventures of Pamela Lipscomb-Gardner – The Beacon (thejackson-reedbeacon.com)

Weekly Update - WTU’s Contract Action Team

• Sign up to testify DC Council Committee’s Public Safety Hearing - Violence Reduction in DC Monday, October 30^th @10AM
• Pass out our Safe Schools Petition, Halloween treats, and one free book of choice to children at the Hill-O-Ween at Eastern Market @ Friday, October 27, 2023, 5-8PM
• Pass out our Safe Schools Petition, Halloween treats, and one free book of choice to children at the Ward 7^th Trunk or Treat on Tuesday, October 31^st, 6-8PM @ Benning Rd & Oklahoma Ave, NE RFK Lot 6, Enter on Oklahoma Ave NE

It’s never too early to plan for your retirement.

The DC Retirement Board and DCPS will host an in-person, joint retirement session on Wednesday, October 25, 5 pm at 1200 First St NE, room 1012A.

The DC Retirement Board will provide participants a copy of your individual retirement record (IRR – 2806) if you register and provide your name and DCPS email address by Friday, October 20th.  

REGISTER NOW.

Take a moment to check out some of WTU's fall 2023 professional development courses below. Click on each picture to learn more.

Washington City Paper reported on DCPS' lack of urgency in returning to the bargaining table, thus allowing the DC Teachers contract to expire on September 30th, 2023. Read the full story here.

Wall Street Journal reported in 2023 DC saw the largest spike in homicides compared to major cities (24% in Los Angeles, 19% in Houston, 18% in Philadelphia, 12% in Chicago, and 11% in New York City.) Read the full article here.

Washingtonian Magazine named WTU President Jacqueline Pogue Lyons as one of the most powerful women in education in DC. Read the full story here.

The Washington Post reported on the killing of a bystander/16-year-old student, Maurice Jackson Jr., a junior at Dunbar high school. Read the full story here. 

Channel 7 News reported on Staunton ES locked down after bullets struck kindergarten and 5th grade classroom. Watch the full story here.

Washington Post reported on the death of a 17-year-old Antonio Cunnington, a DC student, shot on his way to work. Read the full story here.

Here's What's Brewing Today

Monday, October 16, 2023

A Message from WTU President 

Good Morning WTU Members,

WTU would like to congratulate the DCPS Teacher of the Year, Beth Barkley! We’d also like to give a shout-out to the other finalists, Chad Harris, a music teacher at Stanton Elementary School; Kena Allison, a biology teacher at Washington Latin Public Charter School; Rabiah Harris, who teaches physical science and robotics at Ida B. Wells Middle School; and Aneesah Blount, a kindergarten teacher at Van Ness Elementary School. You are amazing teachers! Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and unending willingness to make an impact on the lives of our students.

Thank you to those who helped WTU distribute free books and the Stop the Violence petition at the Teachers Voice Festival this past Saturday! We would also like to thank EmpowerEd for giving WTU and our WTU Teacher Leaders an opportunity to participate in this exciting event.

The WTU Stop the Violence petition urges DCPS to stop stalling and come to the bargaining table. Please, if you haven’t signed it or forwarded it to your social media accounts, do it now! We need every WTU member to show their support for getting DCPS to the table. Our goal is to get teachers and community members to sign the petition no later than November 1^st. 

As mentioned in last week’s AM Brew, DCPS has not confirmed dates to return to the bargaining table. Thus, our Contract Bargaining Team did not meet this week. However, WTU’s Contract Action Team did meet and solidified plans for the following upcoming events:

• Wear a red shirt to the in-person SBOE meeting where our District State Board Representatives will vote on a RESOLUTION urging DCPS to give WTU a timely contract - October 18^th @5:30PM at the Public Session of the State Board of Education (SBOE) (441 4th Street NW, Washington D.C., 20001) 
• Sign up to testify October 18^th @5:30PM at the Public Session of the State Board of Education (SBOE). All those interested must sign up by 5:30PM on Monday, October 17^th via this link Meeting Information | sboe (dc.gov)
• Pass out our Safe Schools Petition, Halloween treats, and one free book of choice to children at the Hill-O-Ween at Eastern Market @ Friday, October 27, 2023, 5- 8:00 pm
• Pass out our Safe Schools Petition, Halloween treats, and one free book of choice to children at the Ward 7^th Trunk or Treat on Tuesday, October 31^st, at The Fields in Ward 7. (More details to come.)

If you missed the Oct. 11^th Washington City Paper article titled “Fresh Off a Three-Year Contract Fight, DCPS and the Teachers’ Union Seem to be Headed for Another Long Impasse,” please read it. It captures DCPS’ history of delayed contracts and WTU’s concerns over their current lack of urgency. Finally, please make sure [email protected] has your personal email address. WTU communications/voting needs to be done via personal emails.

Thank you for your support! I wish you a peaceful and productive week.

In solidarity, 

Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President
Washington Teachers’ Union