WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) President Jacqueline Lyons said that she is worried that DCPS isn’t keeping enough teachers in their classrooms.

“We’ve done our own research… of the 629 that we surveyed, 69 percent said that they’ve considered leaving,” Lyons said. “I was a teacher in Ward 8 for many years, they just don’t feel like they get the support they need.” 

(Watch Channel 7 News story here.)

WASHINGTON (7News) — DC Teachers' Union President Jacqueline Pogue Lyons says the school system loses between 1/4 and 1/3 of teachers every year.

She tells me a recent union survey shows most DC teachers are not happy with their jobs.

"Everyone says they love the teachers, they appreciate their work, but when it comes time to show it, they feel like it's just words and not actions," she said.

Among the survey findings: most DCPS teachers are not satisfied with current conditions.

More than half believe DCPS has not treated teachers with respect, negotiated honestly, or made fair contract offers.

On Tuesday, October 25th, the Washington Post aired the results of a WTU survey of more than 600 teachers. Nearly half said they will likely leave their jobs in the next few years. Four out of five are unhappy in their jobs. As frustrations about the contract or lack thereof rise, teachers cite lack of a raise, rising inflation, increased workloads and teacher turnover as their main concerns. 

“Teachers’ dissatisfaction with their working conditions affects children’s learning conditions,” said Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, the union’s president, in a statement. “Teachers are stressed, overwhelmed and upset that they don’t get the support and compensation they need to do their jobs as well as they’d like to. As a result, more and more folks are leaving these jobs, and we have more vacancies than we can fill.”

The survey, which was conducted between Sept. 21-26 paints a grim picture of the city’s public school workforce. Teachers expressed concerns over a lack of support from principals, insufficient planning time and class sizes.

Here's What's Brewing Today

Monday, October 24, 2022

Teachers Deserve a Fair Contract

ICYMI:

In August, the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) determined that the WTU and DCPS were at impasse in contract negotiations and referred the case to mediation. I am disappointed to inform you that mediation with DCPS was not successful. We will now move to interest arbitration. 

Although this is disheartening news, we will continue to press forward. The WTU will never compromise your interests or those of the students we serve. Teachers deserve a fair contract that will protect your rights and ensure you receive fair wages and benefits as inflation and the costs of living in our nation’s capital continue to rise.

I hope you will continue to stand with the WTU as we demand a Fair Contract. Please watch for updates on upcoming contract events in the weekly Morning Brew.

We will continue to keep you informed. If you have any questions, please reach to your Field Representatives.

Upcoming Events…

Rally at Anacostia Metro on Thursday Oct 27, 7 am.

If you are not able to attend the rally, please wear red as a sign of solidarity, take pictures, and tweet them or send to your Field Rep.

TELL THE MAYOR … Why we need a fair contract now

Sign and share our petition. 

Contact your Building Rep or Field Representative for more information.

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ANY ACTIVITY YOU PARTICIPATE IN TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE YOUR TOUR OF DUTY. DCPS is watching!

Members in the news …

Librarians want a permanent spot in DC Public Schools

Tell the Council to move forward the “Student Right to Read Amendment Act of 2021.”

Tweet to @ChmnMendelson asking him to hold a vote on the legislation.

Sign their petition: https://www.saveschoollibrarians.org/dcschoollibrarian

Council Hearing on Teacher Turnover

The DC Council wants to hear your Teacher Voice! – October 25 at 1PM

We hope that we’ll see many of you speaking to the Council tomorrow. But, if you can’t make it (we know you’re all teaching), we hope you’ll at least consider tweeting to @ChmnMendelson letting him know that Teachers need a #FairContract and that the Council must take action to improve working conditions and pay for DC educators!

Are you a WTU Member?

Check your pay stub on Peoplesoft to see if you are a member of the WTU.

Member benefits

include access to 1000s of lesson plans at Share My Lesson

AFT Student Debt clinics

Deadline to apply for student loan forgiveness is October 31^st

AFT will continue to host a student debt clinic webinar Thursday evenings. Register at https://cvent.me/17XZka Webinar will include information about how to enroll in the free AFT Summer student loan member benefit. Additional information can be found at www.forgivemystudentdebt.org – this website contains all of the information on how to access PSLF in an easily digestible and understandable format.

STUDENT DEBT CLINIC RESOURCE GUIDE

After attending a Student Debt Clinic, we want to make sure you’ve got all the tools and information you need to take the next steps to start reducing how much you pay every month and get on a path towards a debt-free future! See attached for more information.

Pay

Please contact your field rep if you are having any problems getting paid.

#Vote

Early voting has started. Please support for the WTU endorsed candidates.

City Council

• At-Large: Elissa Silverman
• At-Large: Karim Marshall
• Ward 1: Brianne Nadeau
• Ward 3: Matthew Frumin
• Ward 5: Zachary Parker
• Ward 6: Charles Allen

DC State Board of Education 

• Ward 1: Ben Williams  
• Ward 3: Michael Sriqui 
• Ward 5: Robert Henderson 
• Ward 6: Joshua Wiley  

Read more here. And watch for opportunities to help Get Out The Vote for WTU endorsed candidates!

#RedforEd

Please wear red each Friday and post photos to social media. Please tag us @WTUTeacher

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

How we can build safe spaces in our classrooms to help our scholars be more expressive and feel welcomed? Join us this coming Saturday, October 22 to learn from each other as we chat about strategies, we can utilize in our classes for the 2022-2023 school year! Register online here!

Here's What's Brewing Today

Tuesday, October 17, 2022

Teachers Deserve a Fair Contract

Many thanks to the teachers, parents and public who came out to support our need for a new Teachers Contract at the Teachers Voice Festival on Saturday. We hope you have a moment to view this short clip from our supporters!

And check out this great coverage of teachers advocating for a new contract as well:

• WTU's March for DC Teachers Contract!
• DC Deal MS Walkout
• ‘It's Difficult': DC Teachers Rally to Mark 3 Years Without Contract, Pay Raise

Save the Date:

• Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 7:00 am - March for the Washington D.C. Teachers Contract at the Anacostia Metro Station

TELL THE MAYOR … Why we need a fair contract now

Sign and share our petition. 

Contact your Building Rep or Field Representative for more information. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ANY ACTIVITY YOU PARTICIPATE IN TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE YOUR TOUR OF DUTY. DCPS is watching!

Student Debt Clinic

Debt clinic at Ballou High School on October 20^th – Click here for more details and to register!

Virtual Student Debt Clinic

AFT will continue to host a student debt clinic webinar Thursday evenings. Register at https://cvent.me/17XZka Webinar will include information about how to enroll in the free AFT Summer student loan member benefit. Additional information can be found at www.forgivemystudentdebt.org – this website contains all of the information on how to access PSLF in an easily digestible and understandable format.

STUDENT DEBT CLINIC RESOURCE GUIDE

After attending a Student Debt Clinic, we want to make sure you’ve got all the tools and information you need to take the next steps to start reducing how much you pay every month and get on a path towards a debt-free future! See attached for more information.

#RedforEd

Please wear red each Friday and post photos to social media. Please tag us @WTUTeacher

Member Emails

The AM Brew is distributed as a benefit to members of the WTU. In the coming weeks, we’ll be updating our database removing non-members from the distribution for the AM Brew, as well as other important Member –Only emails.

To ensure that you’re not inadvertently removed from the distribution list, please update your member information by clicking here.

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

Here's What's Brewing Today

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Representative Assembly Meeting – Tuesday, Oct 11 at 4:30PM

All members are invited to attend the representative assembly meetings. However, only building reps and delegates may participate and vote at the meetings.

Join via zoom.

Passcode: 864128

Teachers Deserve a Fair Contract

Upcoming Events:

Oct 11, 7 am at Tenleytown Metro – See flyer

Oct 15, 10:30-2pm – Teacher Voice Festival at the African-American Civil War Memorial (U St Metro)
WTU will have a table and campaign flyers at the African American Civil War Memorial Plaza. Register to volunteer

TELL THE MAYOR … Why we need a fair contract now.

Sign and share our petition. 

Contact your Building Rep or Field Representative for more information. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ANY ACTIVITY YOU PARTICIPATE IN TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE YOUR TOUR OF DUTY. DCPS is watching!

WTU in the news

• WUSA - 'I feel like this should be an emergency' | DC school teacher frustrated by broken HVAC systems, lights
• Maestros de DC denuncian retraso de un mes en el pago de salarios
• Can DCPS Change its Toxic Work Environment?
  
  

Student Debt Clinic

Debt clinic at Ballou High School on October 20^th – Click here for more details and to register!

Virtual Student Debt Clinic

AFT will continue to host a student debt clinic webinar Thursday evenings. Register at https://cvent.me/17XZka Webinar will include information about how to enroll in the free AFT Summer student loan member benefit. Additional information can be found at www.forgivemystudentdebt.org – this website contains all of the information on how to access PSLF in an easily digestible and understandable format.

STUDENT DEBT CLINIC RESOURCE GUIDE

After attending a Student Debt Clinic, we want to make sure you’ve got all the tools and information you need to take the next steps to start reducing how much you pay every month and get on a path towards a debt-free future! See attached for more information.

Congressional Black Caucus’ 51^st Annual Legislative Conference (ALC)

As part of AFT’s Professional Development series, the WTU team participated in conversations on critical issues currently facing our community and how we can collectively advance the Black agenda. We watched the documentary currently airing on Netflix entitled “The Who We Are Project,” which challenges the dominant narrative of our nation’s founding, demonstrating how slavery’s legacy has led to persistent and abiding racial inequality. The attached documentary overview offered all who attended the opportunity to process what we had watched privately and make meaning from it.

Following the film, the AFT hosted a panel discussion featuring Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps; Kean College President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. and Lezli Baskervielle, J.D., president of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education to discuss building a pipeline to boost the number of Black teachers across the country.

Click here for a short video, capturing the highlights of what was discussed. Captions to the video were added for the hearing-impaired. Alternatively, a transcript is available for reading here.

#RedforEd

Please wear red each Friday and post photos to social media. Please tag us @WTUTeacher

Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year. 

The AM Brew is distributed as a benefit to members of the WTU. In the coming weeks, we’ll be updating our database removing non-members from the distribution for the AM Brew, as well as other important Member –Only emails.

To ensure that you’re not inadvertently removed from the distribution list, please update your member information by clicking here.

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

Here's What's Brewing Today

Monday, October 3, 2022

Teachers Deserve a Fair Contract

Upcoming Events:

Oct 11, 7 am at Tenleytown Metro – See flyer

Oct 15, 10:30-2pm – Teacher Voice Festival
WTU will have a table and campaign flyers at the African American Civil War Memorial Plaza
Register to volunteer

Contact your Building Rep or Field Representative for more information. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ANY ACTIVITY YOU PARTICIPATE IN TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE YOUR TOUR OF DUTY. DCPS is watching!

Student Debt Clinic

Debt clinic at Ballou High School on October 20^th – Click here for more details.

Virtual Student Debt Clinic

AFT will continue to host a student debt clinic webinar Thursday evenings. Register at https://cvent.me/17XZka Webinar will include information about how to enroll in the free AFT Summer student loan member benefit. Additional information can be found at www.forgivemystudentdebt.org – this website contains all of the information on how to access PSLF in an easily digestible and understandable format.

STUDENT DEBT CLINIC RESOURCE GUIDE

After attending a Student Debt Clinic, we want to make sure you’ve got all the tools and information you need to take the next steps to start reducing how much you pay every month and get on a path towards a debt-free future! See attached for more information.

FoodPrints

WTU staff partnered with parents, teachers, and local community in support of Watkins Elementary School’s FoodPrints program on Friday, September 30th. The program aims to integrate hands-on learning about healthy, nutritious eating into DC elementary schools. As you can see from the short video, we learned quite a bit from our young tutors thanks to their amazing teachers!

DCPS Strategic Planning

DCPS is currently hosting a series of listening sessions for communities, students, and DCPS staff to develop DCPS’ new 5-year strategic plan. DCPS hired Give Better Group to facilitate this process. Give Better Group is interviewing government officials and decision makers as part of this work. The founders’ bios are on their website (additionally, co-founder Jessica Rauch worked at DCPS under then-Chancellor Kaya Henderson during the first planning process). We encourage teachers to participate and share with their communities.

• DCPS strategic planning process for the next 5 years: https://dcpsstrong.com/strategic-plan/
• Community engagement sessions: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/dcps-strategic-plan-engagement-events-1114269
• Existing Capital Commitment Plan for 2017-2022: https://dcps.dc.gov/capitalcommitment
• Give Better Group: https://www.givebettergroup.com/

#RedforEd

Please wear red each Friday and post photos to social media. Please tag us @WTUTeacher

Update your member email 

The AM Brew is distributed as a benefit to members of the WTU. In the coming weeks, we’ll be updating our database removing non-members from the distribution for the AM Brew, as well as other important Member –Only emails.

To ensure that you’re not inadvertently removed from the distribution list, please update your member information by clicking here.

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

Here's What's Brewing Today

Monday, September 26, 2022

Teachers Deserve a Fair Contract

Join us on October 1 at the East End Market in Ward 7 to get out and explain that Teachers do not have a contract to the public. Click here for details and to sign-up.

A big shout-out to those who attended last Saturday’s H-Street Festival and agreed to be interviewed. Below please find a podcast representing the voices of many Union members. For the hearing impaired, we’ve a transcript available here. Thanks, again, for your participation last week and we hope to see you next Saturday, October 1!

WTU Podcast – Contract Campaign Outreach

Stay tuned for other campaign events. Contact your Building Rep or Field Representative for more information. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ANY ACTIVITY YOU PARTICIPATE IN TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE YOUR TOUR OF DUTY. DCPS is watching!

WTU - In the News

DC Public School teachers report issues getting paid (fox5dc.com)

Student Debt Clinic

The WTU will host only 1 in person debt clinic on October 20 at Ballou Stay High School. Click here to download a flyer with additional details.

Virtual Student Debt Clinic

AFT will continue to host a student debt clinic webinar Thursday evenings. Register at https://cvent.me/17XZka Webinar will include information about how to enroll in the free AFT Summer student loan member benefit. Additional information can be found at www.forgivemystudentdebt.org – this website contains all of the information on how to access PSLF in an easily digestible and understandable format.

STUDENT DEBT CLINIC RESOURCE GUIDE

After attending a Student Debt Clinic, we want to make sure you’ve got all the tools and information you need to take the next steps to start reducing how much you pay every month and get on a path towards a debt-free future! See attached for more information.

Member Survey -- Check your spam folder if you did not receive a survey

The WTU is conducting a survey to gather member input on their concerns and contract priorities. The survey will only be sent to personal email addresses. The survey will NOT be sent to a DCPS email. Each member will receive a unique link. We encourage everyone to participate. Please compete this form to make sure we have your personal email.

Paid Family Leave

The DC Government Paid Leave Enhancement Amendment Act (B24-615) was approved unanimously on its first Council vote at the Legislative Meeting earlier this week.  The second vote will be Oct. 4, then it will go to the Mayor for signature, and then Congress before becoming law.

This will eventually bring paid leave for DC Government employees up to 12 weeks for parental, caregiving, or medical leave. Right now there is 8 weeks of parental and family care leave. The Committee was able to fund 2 weeks of personal medical leave starting in FY23 (more leave will require additional funding in future). The 2 weeks of medical leave will be available starting in January 2023, but if employees must take qualifying medical leave starting Oct. 1, 2022, and they have to use other leave (like sick time or annual leave), they can have that leave restored; or they can get retroactive leave if their time was unpaid. DCHR will be implementing this and will have more information available as January approaches.

#RedforEd

Please wear red each Friday and post photos to social media. Please tag us @WTUTeacher

Updating Member Emails 

The AM Brew is distributed as a benefit to members of the WTU. In the coming weeks, we’ll be updating our database removing non-members from the distribution for the AM Brew, as well as other important Member –Only emails.

To ensure that you’re not inadvertently removed from the distribution list, please update your member information by clicking here.

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

Here's What's Brewing Today

Monday, September 19, 2022

Teachers Deserve a Fair Contract

A HUGE Thank You to all members who attended the contract campaign events this past weekend Eliot-Hine and H St Festival. The public is very willing to help us – we have to get out and explain the situation to them. Click here to learn more see a short video from the event.

Stay tuned for other campaign events.

WTU in the News

• DC teachers union to urge public to push Bowser administration for a new contract
• DC school administrators to receive pay increase under new agreement with city​​
• District reaches deal with union representing principals

#RedforEd

Please wear red each Friday and post photos to social media. Please tag us @WTUTeacher

WTU Endorsements

Last week, the WTU announced its endorsements for the 2022 November Elections.

City Council

• At-Large: Elissa Silverman
• At-Large: Karim Marshall
• Ward 1: Brianne Nadeau
• Ward 3: Matthew Frumin
• Ward 5: Zachary Parker
• Ward 6: Charles Allen

DC State Board of Education 

• Ward 1: Ben Williams  
• Ward 3: Michael Sriqui 
• Ward 5: Robert Henderson 
• Ward 6: Joshua Wiley  

Read more here. And watch for opportunities to get out and support our candidates!

Masks

DCPS continues to provide masks. All schools continue to order masks through the established system (QuickBase). The Operations POC at each school is responsible for placing those orders. Any questions can be sent to the SSO Specialist for the school and they can ensure the teacher gets connected to the right person at the school to request more masks.

Paychecks

If you were not paid last week, please check Peoplesoft today to see if your check dated Sept 6 & 23 has posted. Call your field rep if there are any problems.

Facility Concerns SY 22-23

Over the past two years, the WTU has met regularly to discuss facility issues with DCPS. Yet, many schools continue to have health and safety concerns. We ask that you let the WTU know of any health or safety concerns in your building by completing this brief form.

Welcome to the 2022-2023 School Year. 

The AM Brew is distributed as a benefit to members of the WTU. In the coming weeks, we’ll be updating our database removing non-members from the distribution for the AM Brew, as well as other important Member –Only emails.

To ensure that you’re not inadvertently removed from the distribution list, please update your member information by clicking here.

Student Debt Clinics

The WTU and AFT will host student debt clinics.

September 29 and October 20

In a 90-minute session, AFT Student Debt Clinics provide information on how to enroll in income-driven student loan repayment programs and help in enrolling in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Registration links will be available soon!

Virtual Student Debt Clinic

AFT will continue to host a student debt clinic webinar Thursday evenings. Register at https://cvent.me/17XZka Webinar will include information about how to enroll in the free AFT Summer student loan member benefit. Additional information can be found at www.forgivemystudentdebt.org – this website contains all of the information on how to access PSLF in an easily digestible and understandable format.

STUDENT DEBT CLINIC RESOURCE GUIDE

After attending a Student Debt Clinic, we want to make sure you’ve got all the tools and information you need to take the next steps to start reducing how much you pay every month and get on a path towards a debt-free future! See attached for more information.

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