A Message from WTU’s President

Good morning WTU Family,

I hope you enjoyed the warm summer temperatures on Halloween night and the start of Diwali! WTU leadership and staff spent this Halloween distributing more than 200 books to kids at DC State Board of Education Representative Eboni-Rose Thompson’s Ward 7's Trunk or Treat. Seeing the kids' faces light up with excitement as they picked out their favorite stories made it all worthwhile!

Thank you to those who joined us to help as we continue the push to increase literacy rates in our DC children. We also thank those members who joined us last Wednesday to hear Vice President Harris deliver a major closing address at the Ellipse! Lastly, WTU would also like to thank all our members who gave compelling testimony before the DC City Council at the hearing on the Retention of Teachers and Principals. We will post the riveting testimony by your colleagues throughout the week.

As we countdown to the one day left before our national election, please continue to do something to help our local and national endorsed candidates to win. Please reach out to those in your network and remind them to vote. Looking for other ways to help? Join us in canvassing for our local officials! Please reach out to WTU’s organizer Mike Roland to learn more. Thank you, as always, for your support! May this Diwali illuminate your life with peace, joy, and happiness!

In solidarity,

Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President

Washington Teachers’ Union

Let the Council hear your Teacher Voice! Register to testify at upcoming hearings

• November 6 @12 PM, Math Improvement Act, register here
• November 12 @ 6 PM, Brookland MS, DCPS, and DC Local School Advisory Team Collective (DCLC) FY26 Budget Forum, register here
• November 13 @2:30PM, Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy, register here
• November 20 @ 12:30 PM, Special Education Oversight, register here
• November 20 @6PM, DCPS FY26 Budget Hearing, register here
• November 21 @10:30AM, Oversight of Out of School Time Programs, register here
• December 4 @ 12:30 PM, Academic Achievement, register here

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.

Register for WTU’s Fall Professional Development Courses!

Download WTU’s Fall Catalogue of PD Courses here! To register, click here!

Check out WTU’s latest fall course, Transforming Teaching with Emerging Technology! This course will focus on the research and instructional practices of educators (Pre-K-12) effectively planning, creating, and utilizing a variety of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and a variety of Web 2.0 tools to enhance instruction, student learning, and assessment. All course content aligns with the DCPS Four Pillars of Hybrid Learning, social-emotional learning, and the Trauma-Responsive Schools Model Core 4 and satisfies recertification requirements for librarians, related service providers and classroom teachers.

TAS Goals

TAS goals. If you have concerns about your TAS goals, please email IMPACT at [email protected] and copy your field rep.

Upcoming Events, Activities & Meetings

• November 4, NO COPE MEETING
• November 12 @ 4:30 PM, Representative Assembly Meeting, Building reps and delegates will receive a separate link to join as a panelist. INFORMATION
• November 20 @ 4:30PM, High School Committee meeting, graduation requirements https://aft.zoom.us/j/9396694583?pwd=UG5kM1dsNHEvVEVDSWt4L2M3NGczUT09&omn=98765232521

In the News

• October 30, 2024, Channel 7 News, DC Public Schools grapples with tech spending scrutiny as budget cuts loom
• October 31, 2024, The Washington Informer, Ward 4 State Board Representative Frazier O’Leary Faces Challenger in Reelection Bid

PD and other opportunities

LEA Look Forward for Nov. 1, 2024: Educator Workforce Report, Foundations of Special Education Cohort Program 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.