Welcome Back, WTU Family!

I hope you had a restful and meaningful Spring Break with time to reset and recharge with family and friends. I also hope that everyone who celebrated Passover or Easter had a week filled with peace and joy. As you return to your classrooms, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering dedication to our students, especially during these challenging times.

This past Friday, you should have received retroactive pay backdated to October 1, 2024. Under our new contract, everyone in our bargaining unit should have received their bonus, a pay raise, as well as retro pay. This is a well-deserved recognition of your hard work. If your retroactive pay was not reflected in your paycheck, please reach out to your WTU Field Representative, or contact the Union office directly—we're here to support you.​

I understand that many of you are concerned about the proposed budget cuts and their potential impact on our schools especially since the US House of Representatives went on a two-week recess on April 11^th without bringing the District of Columbia Local Funds Act to the floor for a vote. See With DC Budget in Limbo, Families Anticipate the Worst by Sam Collins, The Washington Informer, April 8, 2025. Thank you again to all those who continue to make calls to members of the US of House Representatives and to all those who came out to show support for the Recess on the Hill Rallies on Capitol Hill on March 14^th and April 7^th.  See D.C. Faces Fiscal Meltdown as House Republicans Leave City in Budget Crisis Despite Trump’s Support by Stacy M. Brown, The Washington Informer, April 14, 2025.  

We will continue to keep you informed and make sure that teachers' voices are heard as the DC Council reviews the mayor’s proposed budget. No educator or those who work hard every day for our DC citizens should fear the loss of their position because of flawed funding models or vanishing federal support.

In solidarity,

Jacqueline Pogue Lyons
President, Washington Teachers' Union

Calendar & Current Candidates: https://dcboe.org/elections/ward_8_special_election

• Today, April 21 at 5:00 pm: COPE Meeting to Prep & Edit & Send Out Questionnaire & Save the Date to Candidates. Click here to join today's COPE Meeting at 5:00 pm.
• April 28 at 5:00 pm: COPE Meeting to Review Submitted Questionnaires
• April 30 at 6:00 pm: Ward 8 Special Election Forum Date
• May 3: E-board Meeting for Nominations for Endorsement
• May 13 at 4:30 pm: Rep Assembly Meeting for Nominations for Endorsement

At 4:30 tomorrow, Tuesday, April 22nd, there will be a WTU VP of High School Committee Meeting. You will be able to join the meeting by clicking here.

At 4:30 pm on Wednesday, April 23rd, WTU will be hosting a virtual planning committee meeting for the World Pride Parade and Festival. You can register for the meeting by clicking here.

Please be aware that at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, April 29th, WTU will be hosting an important virtual follow up meeting for Related Service Providers on the District of Columbia Public Schools new Medicaid requirements with our WTU attorney.

At 5:00 pm on May 1st "May Day", there will be a labor solidarity rally at Freedom Plaza (1325 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004 US).

If you will be attending, please make sure to wear your red WTU t-shirt and inform our WTU Organizer via email ([email protected]) that you will be attending.

Please save May 16th and May 17th on your calendar for our annual WTU Shared Vision with illustrator Brian Pinkney. May 16th will be in-person and May 17th will be virtual.

This is a formal research study designed to analyze DCPS teacher-leader motivation. If you choose to participate, you will take part in a virtual interview where you will discuss your experiences and perspectives. Your participation is voluntary, and your responses will be kept confidential. Sign up to participate in study here: https://forms.office.com/r/HbHjURR3Gg

The 2025 WTU Elections are upon us! Click the link to access the 2025 WTU Elections Packet. Hard copies are available at the WTU Office. On April 1, 2025, the Election Notice will be mailed (via US Mail) to members' addresses on file with the WTU. If you do not receive the notice by April 7, 2025, contact membership coordinator Ms. Donita Jackson at [email protected] to ensure your information is correct. To participate in electronic voting, you must have a PERSONAL email address on file with the WTU. If you do not, please email [email protected] to rectify this. If you have any questions, contact the elections committee at [email protected]! 

• April 21 @ 5:00 pm - WTU Cope Meeting. Click here to join.
• April 21 @ 7:00 pm- Ward 5 Education Equity Committee Meeting (Chairman Mendelson will attend). Click here to join.
• April 22 @ 4:30 pm - VP of High School Committee Meeting. Click here to join.
• April 23 @ 4:30 pm - WTU World Pride Planning Committee. Click here to register. 
• April 29 @ 4:30 pm - WTU Related Service Providers Follow Up Meeting on the New Medicaid Requirements. 
• May 1 - May Day Action. More information is forthcoming.
• May 7 - WTU Teacher Appreciation Event
• May 16 and May 17- WTU Shared Vision

• April 7, WUSA 9. DC leaders demand action from Congress over District budget 
•  April 8, The Washington Informer. With D.C. Budget in Limbo, Families Anticipate the Worst. Students, Parents and Organizers Host Another ‘Recess at the Capitol’
•  April 14, The Washington Informer. D.C. Faces Fiscal Meltdown as House Republicans Leave City in Budget Crisis Despite Trump’s Support.
•  April 15, Fox 5. New audit shows DCPS spending increased to $25K per student; staffing outpacing enrollment.
• April 16, The Washington Informer. Mayor Bowser Starts Spending and Hiring Freezes
• April 16, NBC 4. DC, Commanders close to $3B deal for new stadium at RFK site

• LEA Look Forward for April 11, 2025: DC Health Measles Resources, Stronger Connections Grant Continuation and More

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