A Message from WTU’s President

Good Morning WTU Family!

I hope you enjoyed a fabulous Labor Day weekend with family and friends! Every teacher deserves a holiday respecting your contributions to the children of DC with a day to relax.

Thank you to the WTU members who showed our discontent with DCPS’ failure to issue us a FAIR contract! We love seeing your photos in red and noticed the signs members placed in their cars and pictures. Our fight continues! WTU will keep you in the loop as we prepare a fair contract now letter for members to send to Mayor Browser.

As we continue to gear up for the year to come, I want to remind you that today is the last day to reach out to your WTU Field Rep if you want to file a grievance with WTU’s support. Also, today is the last day to enter AFT’s Realize the Dream Sweepstakes for a chance to win a school grant fueling a service campaign in your classroom, school, or community!

On September 14^th, WTU's leadership and staff will launch another book-giving event in support of our literacy campaign. Please consider volunteering at WTU’s book table from 11-2PM at DCPS’ Back to School Block Party held at Jefferson Middle School. If you are interested in attending, please reach out to WTU’s Organizer, Mike Roland at [email protected].

If you haven’t yet signed up for Thursday, Sept. 5th Back-to-School Literacy Mixer for Kindergarten Teachers, please take a moment to RSVP. We look forward to sharing new legislation requiring literacy training from 4-7P M on the rooftop terrace of the MLK Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G. Street NW. Come for free bites, beverages, live music, and leave with 5 new free books!

Thinking positive thoughts about you this week as many teachers prepare for Back-to-School night. Thank you, as always, for your support!

In solidarity,

Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President

Washington Teachers’ Union

WTU’s Contract Bargaining Team Update

As mentioned in last week’s AM BREW, contract negotiations with DCPS stopped abruptly on Tuesday due to the District’s (DCPS and OLRCB’s) insistence on:

• Increasing students' class sizes
• Removing safeguards for working hours
• Refusing to bargain over the length of the school year
• Possibly excessing highly effective and effective teachers
• Failing to sign contracts on time

Please continue to send your photos of members wearing red, and post signs. Signs can be placed in the back window of your car. Click here for the Proud WTU Member sign and here for the Fair Contract Now sign. Please email pictures to our WTU Organizer, Mike Roland, at [email protected] or text him at 202-957-1782. All requests for buttons or tee-shirts can be sent to Mike Roland. For further context, click here to read the Washington Informer’s recent article highlighting our current contract campaign status.

Register for WTU’s Fall Professional Development Courses!

One new Fall PD Course ADDED! Fall Professional Development Courses are open for registration here! Please check this link frequently as we will be adding courses throughout the next two weeks.

AFT’s Teacher Leader Program (TLP) Orientation – 9/26/2024

Back by popular demand! Curious about AFT’s nationwide TLP? Learn more about how to take active leadership roles in your schools, Union, and community. Those who finish the TLP program with a completed project will receive a stipend. Join us via Zoom for a NEW Information Session on Thursday, September 26^th at 4:30PM. Slots are limited. ONLINE MEETING LINK! 

Union Day: Watch Washington Commanders Live – 9/15/24

Free tickets for WTU-members are SOLD OUT! If you would like to join the waitlist, please contact [email protected].

Filing a Grievance Over IMPACT Scores

If you would like to file a grievance over your final IMPACT score, please review the rules over what constitutes a violation for IMPACT available here. To file an IMPACT grievance with the support of the WTU, please reach out to your WTU Field Representative by Tuesday, September 3^rd, 2024.

WTU’s Official Facebook Page

Please be aware that the Washington Teachers Union is not affiliated with a Facebook page titled “DCPS Educators Only Network.” The WTU is not responsible for any content posted on the page and is not liable for any consequences arising from a teacher’s participation on the page. Please join the WTU’s Official Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube pages for accurate information about our Union.

TWITTER: https://x.com/WTUTeacher
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/WTULocal6/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wtu_teacher/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvrkj6wxtayL6Rs1htHEylA

Upcoming Events, Activities & Meetings

• September 3 – Deadline to file IMPACT grievance with WTU’s support!
• September 4 – @5PM - COPE meeting – INFORMATION
• September 5 – @4-7PM, Back to School Literacy Mixer for Kindergarten Teachers, MLK Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G. Street NW.
• September 10 – @4:30PM - WTU Membership Meeting, REGISTRATION
• September 14 – @11AM-2PM - DCPS Back to School Block Party, Jefferson Middle School
• September 15 – @1PM - Union Day Washington Commanders Home Openers Game!
• September 20 – Fall PD Early Bird Registration Ends!
• September 20 – @5:30-7PM - Youth Voices for DC Statehood
• September 21 – @9-5PM - H-Street Festival, H-Street NE
• September 26 - @4:30PM - Teacher Leader Program Orientation, INFORMATION
• October 9 - @4:30PM - In-Person Retirement session, with DCPS, WTU and DC Retirement Board, 1200 1^st St., NE, Room 1012A, REGISTRATION

In the News

• 8/21/24 – The Washington Informer – D.C. Public School Teachers to Start School Year Without New Contract
• 8/25/24 – Office of the State Superintendent of Education - Statewide 2023-24 school year English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics statewide assessment results

Hard-to-Fill Bonuses

If you haven’t received it, please reach [email protected] and copy your WTU Field Representative.

Reimagining High School Graduation Requirements: Feedback Sessions from OSSE

OSSE is soliciting feedback on the District’s current high school graduation requirements and the development of a DC-wide Graduate Profile as part of the Reimagining High School Graduation Requirements initiative.

To learn more about their development process, visit here. To provide feedback, please complete the following form: OSSE Reimagining High School Graduation Requirements Public Feedback Form.   

OSSE will also hold public feedback sessions.  

• Public Feedback Listening Session for the Education Community

• • Tuesday, Sept. 10, 5:30-7 p.m. - Register here.

• Public Feedback Listening Session for General Public

• • Thursday, Sept. 12, 5:30-7 p.m. - Register here.

For questions, contact Dr. Chimere Jones at [email protected].  

Application Now Open for 2024-25 Superintendent’s Advisory Councils

OSSE is seeking teachers, school leaders and family members to participate in the 2024-45 Superintendent’s Advisory Councils (SACs). Apply here for the 2024-25 Superintendent’s Advisory Councils by Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. For questions, please contact Megan Dumond at [email protected].

PD and other opportunities

LEA Look Forward for Aug. 30, 2024: Home and Hospital Instruction Policy Reminder, DC Health Education Standards Revisions 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.