| Members and leaders of the Washington Teachers’ Union gathered at the Kellogg Center at Gallaudet University this week for two days of leadership training, followed by two days of visits to the homes of their WTU colleagues. Participants received training in a number of important areas, including the roles and responsibilities of elected union leaders, grievances, IMPACT (teacher evaluation) rules and procedures, and the top beginning-of-the-year contractual issues. There was also a presentation by DCPS staffers on school system policies governing corporal punishment, alcohol and drug testing, discourteous treatment, testing integrity and other topics. WTU President Elizabeth Davis reported on the Chancellor Selection panel to which she has been named, and attendees filled out a Chancellor Selection Survey, which will help guide the WTU as it participates in the selection of new D.C. Public Schools chancellor...click below to read more. - report by Roger Glass, photos by Jannett Lopez | |
Davis, who was recently re-elected WTU president, said the union continues to reach out to Chancellor Henderson to urge her to return to the bargaining table so that a settlement can be reached on the few remaining contract issues. Guest speaker Carlos Jimenez, executive director of the Metropolitan Washington Council, told the WTUers that one of his chief goals is “ensuring that labor has a voice in all the critical issues” facing the District of Columbia. He assured them that the Metro Council stands with WTU in fighting for the schools DC children deserve. “Unions must build power to enact change, to build a powerful movement for education,” Jimenez said. Community Services Agency Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy also did a presentation, outlining CSA services available to WTU members. Following the two days at Gallaudet, WTU activists spread out across the city for two days of visits to the homes of fellow teachers. The activists used the home visits to share the WTU’s priorities with their colleagues, and to listen to members’ ideas and concerns.