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 28^th, 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 29^th, 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 28^th 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 28^th 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.

UPCOMING

Events, Activities & Meetings  

• December 4^th: Virtual Session – How Should Visual Elements and Features be Displayed? INFORMATION
• December 4^th:  COPE Meeting @7PM – Zoom Meeting Link
• December 12^th: Membership Meeting@4:30PM – Registration Required

• • After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

• December 15: WTU’s Holiday Party, MLK Library Rooftop Terrace *RSVP here – Members-Only Password: WTU4u
  * WTU MEMBERS-ONLY EVENTS

In the News

• 11/27/2023 – DC-IST – D.C. Teachers Union Urges DCPS to Come to the Table on Contract Negotiations
• 11/28/2023 – The Washington Examiner – DC Teachers Union enters third month without contract with public schools
• 11/29/2023 – The Washington Post - Julius Becton, Army general who led FEMA and D.C. schools, dies at 97
• 12/01/2023 – The Washington Post – DC Teachers are leaving their classrooms. Here’s why.
• 12/02/2003 – WTOP radio – Interview with DCPS teacher Dylan Craig on teacher retention

Give OSSE Feedback on Newly Released Financial Literacy Standards

OSSE will also hold listening sessions to hear directly from members of the public regarding a draft of new financial literacy standards. If you are interested in participating, please sign-up below.

• Listening Session for DC Educators

• • Monday, Dec. 11 at 5 p.m.

• Listening Session for General Public

• • Monday, Dec. 18 at 5 p.m.

Professional Development and Other Opportunities

LEA Look Forward for Dec. 1, 2023: Epinephrine Administration Training, Health and PE Leadership Cadre (HPELC) and More!

Membership Update

Make sure you are eligible to vote & receive WTU Communications

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. To ensure that you’re not inadvertently removed from the distribution list, please confirm your personal email address by emailing [email protected].

Your ability to vote in WTU elections and receive WTU Communications depends on our ability to reach you. We must have your personal email address for all communications.

Be sure to follow the WTU on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to keep up on the latest from your Union.