Contact: Joe Weedon

202-277-9410

[email protected]

Washington Teachers’ Union Endorses Robert White

for Reelection to DC Council

WASHINGTON – The Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) today announced its endorsement of Robert White in the Democratic Primary for DC City Council At-Large Seat.

“During his time on the DC Council, Robert White has stood up for stronger transparency efforts, led the charge to Save Washington Met via emergency legislation, and listened to teachers when we testified regarding the IMPACT evaluation system and its relation to high rates of teacher churn,” said WTU President, Elizabeth A. Davis. “We have worked closely with Robert White for the past 4 years and are looking forward to working with him in the future on the Council.”

The WTU announced its endorsements for Ward –based seats earlier this year, supporting:

• DC Council, Ward 2: Jordan Grossman
• DC Council, Ward 4: Janeese Lewis George
• DC Council, Ward 7: Anthony Lorenzo Green
• DC Council, Ward 8: Trayon White

“We are proud to endorse a strong group of local Progressive candidates who will work with educators to improve education and address the barriers that our students face across our great city,” Davis continued.

The WTU’s Committee on Political Education (COPE) is a member-driven committee that issued a questionnaire to candidates, conducted candidate surveys, polled WTU members, and presented its recommendations to the WTU executive committee. The WTU executive committee then presented its recommendations to the WTU Assembly where representatives voted to approve the endorsements.

"We need a government who will work for all of our students,” said Laura Fuchs, chair of the WTU’s Committee on Political Education. “The WTU believes this progressive group of candidates is willing to challenge the status quo and take a strong stand on behalf of our public school community."

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 for the DC Democratic Primary. The WTU will make endorsements for the city’s Independent at-large council seat and State Board of Education seats prior to the November general election.

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DC Public School Library Media Specialists touch the lives of the students, teachers and community members they serve every day.

The WTU and Every Library are proud to honor the following winners for their entries into the “I Love My Library Media Specialist Award.” Their submissions help to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of these essential members of our school communities. Images and excerpts of the winning submissions will be posted to the WTU Blog.

To ensure that DCPS libraries continue to provide certified school libraries and library programming, please take a moment to sign a petition in support of this effort here:

Save School Librarians:

https://www.saveschoollibrarians.org/letter_to_the_dc_public_school_chancellor

The judging committee, Washington Teachers Union and EveryLibrary would like to thank all students who participated in this special contest honoring DCPS library media specialists.

For questions or more information, please contact us at [email protected]

#DCPSNeedsLibrarians

#DCPSSchoolLibraries

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week

We appreciate all that you do. We’re awed by the willingness of teachers from across the city to go the extra mile for our students during these trying times. Thank you.

WTU President, Elizabeth Davis

DCPS Chancellor, Dr. Lewis Ferebee

Councilmember, Robert White

State Board of Education President, Ruth Wattenberg

April 17, 2020

For more information contact:

Joe Weedon, 202-277-9410

Statement on Distance Learning & Reopening Schools

Earlier today, Mayor Bowser and Chancellor Ferebee announced that DC Public Schools will continue Distance Learning through Friday, May 29 at which point the 2019-2020 school year will end. The Mayor also announced that more information will be provided on May 15^th about plans for summer learning and the re-opening of schools for the 2020-21 school year.

The Washington Teachers’ Union continues to believe the decision to close our schools and move to Distance Learning is in the best interests of our students, teachers and communities. Decisions on how and when to re-open our schools should continue to be led by public health officials and ensure that the health and safety of our teachers and students is the top concern.

During the move to Distance Learning, the WTU has been in continued conversations with Chancellor Ferebee and other city leaders. We have offered insight into challenges teachers and students are facing and advocated to ensure computers were distributed to students in need and that all students had access to the internet. In response to a request from Chancellor Ferebee, the WTU surveyed its members about scenarios for returning to in-person learning. With over 2,200 responses, the results were universally against returning to school early.

Washington’s teachers are dedicated public servants who are committed to their students. We’ve seen this throughout this current crisis, teachers are stepping up to turn their homes into classrooms, engaging students through unfamiliar technology, and volunteering to teach lessons that are being broadcast on local TV stations. Our teachers have many unanswered questions about what an early return to school means to their students, themselves and their families. It is contingent upon the Chancellor to work in true partnership with the Washington Teachers’ Union to answer teachers’ questions and to protect teachers’ rights as our city develops a new calendar for the 2020-21 school year.

In the coming days, we will be working to collect and share information on what these changes mean for students and teachers across the District. I will continue my conversations with the Chancellor as well as the Mayor and members of the City Council. Rest assured that your Union will be working to protect your rights.

In Solidarity.

Elizabeth Davis, President

Washington Teachers’ Union

The Washington Teachers' Union formally requested that the DC Council hold an oversight hearing to determine why the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) failed to address safety issues within Head Start programs to appropriate state and federal agencies, how DCPS arrived at the decision to not seek renewal of federal Head Start funding, and the impact of the loss of federal Head Start funds on early education programs and overall local school budgets.

The Teachers' Union previously expressed concern about the DCPS decision. 

You can read WTU President Elizabeth Davis' full letter to the Council here.