A Message from WTU’s President

Good morning WTU Family,

As we head into the holiday season, I want each one of you to know how grateful I am for your hard work, perseverance, and resilience this year. I’m proud to stand among professionals who have approached constant challenges and setbacks with passion and compassion. Step by step, we’ve pulled together to do what it takes to make our voices heard. Thank you for being loud and proud when needed to earn and ratify the contract we deserve. Thank you for showing the power of this Union through your participation in the entire election process this year. I pray you enjoy some rest on Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season. You deserve it!

I hope to see many of you at WTU’s Annual Holiday Party on Friday, December 13^th from 4:30 PM-8:30 PM at Hotel Zena. (Please Note: Change in Date) To help us to plan appropriately, please take a moment to RSVP here. Remember, the password to log in to WTU’s Members-Only website is WTU4u.

In earlier communications this week, we heard and responded to related service providers’ concerns about DCPS’ new requirement to register with D.C. Medicaid and complete the ORP Attestation form supplied by DCPS. We believe this request violates our contract as it is imposed without bargaining with the Union. We’ve sent DCPS a list of questions from providers and requested that DCPS collectively bargain with the Union about the requirement. We then filed a grievance and a demand for arbitration, alleging that DCPS’s actions violate the contract.

The arbitration case that WTU filed is currently pending. Unfortunately, it will likely take at least several months for the case to be resolved. In the meantime, we understand that DCPS has threatened to discipline providers if they refuse to complete the registration and attestation forms. WTU believes that DCPS’s actions are unacceptable and that if DCPS were to discipline providers for refusing to comply with the requirement it would violate the contract. A disciplined provider could choose to file a grievance regarding such discipline. However, while WTU believes the new requirement is improper, there is a risk that an arbitrator will ultimately disagree with that view and uphold discipline issued to providers for refusing to comply with the requirement. For those reasons, providers should understand that there is a risk that they may be disciplined if you choose not to complete the registration. WTU will continue to take all legal actions available to challenge DCPS’s actions.

Please reach out with any questions. Again, I wish you all a restful and joyous Thanksgiving Day filled with friends and family and a wonderful holiday season.

Thank you, as always, for your support!

In solidarity,

Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President

Washington Teachers’ Union

DCPS Calendar 2026-2029

Please take a moment to review and give feedback to DCPS on the 2026-2029 calendar here. The WTU will be working with DCPS to ensure that our two contractual wellness days are added.  

Upcoming Events, Activities & Meetings

• Dec 2 @5 PM, C.O.P.E. Meeting INFORMATION
• Dec 7 @10 AM - 1 PM, EdFEST (Grades 9-12), Eastern High School, Free admission, and parking, REGISTRATION
• Dec 14 @10 AM - 1 PM, EdFEST (PK3 - Grade 8),  DC Armory, Free admission, and parking, REGISTRATION

In the News

• Sept 18, Office of the District of Columbia Auditor, Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Briefs
• Nov, StoryCorps Great Thanksgiving Listen
• Nov, NPR/StoryCorps, How a Teacher’s Act of Kindness Bound her Student and Family Together
• Nov, Bellwether, Resource Realities: A Comparative Analysis of Charter and District School Funding in Washington, DC
• Nov 20, The Washington Informer, Elected Officials Past and Present Reflect on Home Rule Battle Ahead
• Nov 21, The Washington Examiner, How Linda McMahon could wrestle the teachers unions as Trump’s education chief

PD and other opportunities

Fund for Teachers

Program Dates: Summer 2025
Application Deadline: January 23, 2025
We strongly recommend this professional opportunity, so we're giving you plenty of time to get your proposals together!! Fund for Teachers enriches the personal and professional growth of teachers by recognizing and supporting them as they identify and pursue opportunities around the globe that will have the greatest impact on their practice, the lives of their students, and their school communities. Full-time PK-12 teachers, with at least 3 years teaching experience, may apply for up to $5,000 individually or a team of teachers may apply for up to $10,000 for a summer learning experience of their own design. The Fund for Teachers website provides extensive resources to assist teachers prepare their applications. Go to www.fundforteachers.org for additional information and to apply online. Questions? Contact Salma Zaky at [email protected] or 346-258-6207.

New! Additional Praxis Core Prep Course Added!

Need to study for Praxis! Take this FREE professional development course virtually on Tuesdays beginning in December 3rd! This class is based on the exact ETS Praxis content specifications for the Core Math, Core Reading, and Core Writing exams. Participants will review all the key subject matter knowledge on both tests, work through practice test questions and be provided detailed explanations. Participants will be able to apply new knowledge to the specific question types most likely to be encountered on the exam. Interested? Register here!

Early Childhood Teacher Leader Program Opens!

Do you teach early childhood learners? If so, consider applying for the ABCDE of Learner Needs Early Childhood Teacher-Leader Program! The program offers FREE live, in-person training for ECE educators in the DC region that is aligned with OSSE's new SEL standards. Training takes place on Saturday, December 7! Apply here!

LEA Look Forward

LEA Look Forward for Nov. 22, 2024: Universal Design for Learning, Instituto Mundo Verde 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.

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

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