Good evening

Earlier today I gave an address to our new educators as a part of New Educator Orientation. It was hard to know what to say given all that is happening to the residents of DC from a hostile Federal Administration, the challenges we are taking on in DCPS under mayoral control, the vast number of grievances that we are filing over IMPACT and more. We want to welcome our educators but also speak to the reality of what we are facing. But the message has and always will be that it is through deep solidarity that we can stand up to fascism. It is by organizing our union and working together that we can face the injustices that are forced upon us. It won't be easy, I don't have all the answers. But I know that collectively we can and must do whatever possible to protect each other, our students, our schools and our community.

I am sharing my address to the new educators below. As we enter the new school year, more will be forthcoming in the days ahead around how we are setting up our staffing to support our schools, introducing our area vice presidents, getting resources for how to protect our students and communities during increased federal presence and more. 

I appreciate your patience as we have been setting up our systems over this past month and a half, and I am looking forward to working alongside you as we enter into this next school year.

Laura Fuchs

WTU President