"The living embodiment of what is wrong in ed advocacy". - Ed reformer. Public school teacher & union activist. This account is full of my *personal* opinions.
Last Wednesday
@hdwoodsonshs
admin asked our faculty to vote on awards for each other. I got awarded the Courage award in large part for my work I do as our
@WTUTeacher
Building Rep. Always touched by my thoughtful colleagues. 🥹🥰
I just don't understand why some people are getting so upset at the TEACHERS, who have BEEN TEACHING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC IN PERSON, for demanding that schools go virtual for a FEW WEEKS in order to mitigate spread and increase likelihood of education continuity.
THIS IS NOT OK. WHO IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? Literally 1 bout with COVID wipes out almost ALL the sick leave for an educator for the YEAR. WE ARE IN POORLY VENTILATED CLASSROOMS WITH 20-100+ STUDENTS PER DAY FOR HOURS WITH NO MASK MANDATE.
I’m trying not to freak out, but I am getting more than a few messages from educators who have either tested positive or are getting tested because they have symptoms. All of them are vaccinated.
DCPS: this is no joke and we are only one week in. YOU ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH.
Schools are not magical COVID free places. Treating them as such is really pissing me off. Reporters who do this while sitting safely at home extra piss me off.
🚨 Educators at Anacostia HS are staging a workplace action right now due to health and safety measures both around COVID and the shooting that happened at their building last night. They are demanding transparency and greater protections for their entire school.
Solidarity ✊
So apparently DCPS has just fired the principal at SWW and SWWFS and some teachers are telling me they think it is because he publicly and openly in front of his staff said that he wouldn't reopen the schools unless it is safe. I see how DCPS is going to try and play this. 😡
I think to be ideologically consistent the Reopen Schools peeps here in DC need to hold their meetings in person. Ideally in a classroom with only 3 feet separating them - since apparently that is what they want to fight for next. They can use my room if they want.
Today I had a truly magical teacher moment in DC History class. One of my students said he wanted to show me something "off topic." I was a wee bit apprehensive but he is a very sweet kid, so I said sure.
My heart is broken. I am being forced to go in to my classroom tomorrow. At the height of the pandemic. Before my vaccine has had the time to take effect. To a “plan” that harms academic results by prioritizing the few (disproportionately not those most in need). This is a crime.
DCPS I don’t know if I’ve actually ever been angrier at you in my entire life. Sending this out as something to be praised and emulated to our entire district, amidst a pandemic, is beyond disgusting. Teachers are HUMAN BEINGS and should be ALLOWED TO REST AND RECOVER. 😡
The
@WTUTeacher
has confirmed that President Elizabeth Davis died in a car accident last night. I viewed Liz as an inspiration, a mentor, a colleague in the fight, and I credit her for so much of who I am today. My heart is broken. This is a devastating loss.
@HeyMandoKay
@daveweigel
@FenitN
@DCist
Like it is my profile picture? I chose it and know what it looks like. It’s actually me getting a labor award for my work in politics where I used that opportunity to call out the Mayor and other so nothing politicians, aka my bosses, to their faces. And yes, I wore a mask. 🤷♀️😷
Ummmm. Why is the person who runs the DC Democrats ALSO posting for a "Members First" (Read Privatizer backed if I was a betting woman) ad for the Chicago Teachers Union elections? Doesn't seem super grassroots to me. Watch out CTU, DC's privatizers are apparently coming for you
My thoughts are with the students, educators and families of Brookland Middle School right now. This is devastating and it is not acceptable. What makes it worse is the racist comments about the child deserving what happened. Our students can see this. Think about what you say.
Today is the first time this school year that I am taking a day off. Today I am taking a day for my mental health in solidarity with my fellow educators and families whose lives, health and educations are being put at risk by DCPS' irresponsible reopening plan.
#OnlyWhenItsSafe
@daveweigel
@FenitN
@DCist
That’s still not an apology, which is what you should be providing. You are a person in power, with a large following, trying to what, shame a local publication for using inclusive language and then try and hide what you did under a “well actually”? Grow up and learn something.
Sometimes when I get going I can’t even remember what I’ve said because I’m just in a Laura truth to power cyclone of rage. And with Bowser and Mendo sitting all smug in the front row I was FULL of rage. Thanks for the COPE award
@DCLabor
! Hope I didn’t disappoint ✊️
When I write emails to Cheh asking for support for teachers: nothing. When I criticize for an offensive statement: defensiveness. You all know the saying.
If Bowser is so concerned about kids getting meals that she can’t decide on school opening until the last minute, maybe she shouldn't have refused to follow the law and let people get their SNAP increases so we wouldn’t have schools be the primary source of social support.
If you needed more evidence that this plan is not actually serving the stated cause of "equity" but is willing to put 40%+ of teachers and 70%+ staff (largely people of color) at risk, look no further.
@dcpublicschools
This decision should have been made earlier last night. Some teachers commute from very far out and were already DRIVING (not just awake) before you made this call. It is unacceptable.
I asked if he had ever read the article and he said no. So I went and found it and printed it out for him. The look on his face as he began to pore over it. Well that is a career making moment right there.
Dear
@DCPSChancellor
,
A LOT of our staff live outside DC and even those of us in DC, still don’t have our streets plowed. It will likely be unsafe to pick up our rapid tests at school tomorrow. Please delay an additional day so that nobody is put at risk to get a test.
Thanks
We talked about potentially using some excerpts when we look at Latino immigrants. He was interested. Here is the story. Can't wait to read more of it myself.
While I know the Ward 3 DC SBOE Member is using his favorite straw man to pin an entire budgetary concern on one issue and person. I will still address this moronic position because he dared to drag the WTU into it.
First: WE DID NOT ENDORSE YOU - and we DID endorse Janeese.
I am humbled and grateful to my fellow members who voted for me and Unity to serve on the
@WTUTeacher
Executive Board for the next three years. There is a LOT of work to do, and I look forward to getting to it with a great team of allies alongside me.
A BIG congratulations to DC-CORE endorsed candidates Laura Fuchs and the entire Unity Slate for their big victories in the Washington Teachers Union Executive Board election. Time to get to work to reform our union and bring greater transparency, democracy, organizing and action.
I’m sick to my stomach right now. Really loved this kid and his mom. They were truly the heart of HD for all the years he was there and beyond. He was a gift and now he’s gone. I loved just knowing he was out there accomplishing his dreams beyond all the odds. Heartbreaking.
Today was
@hdwoodsonshs
AP gov first day working with lawyers to create legal arguments which they will present at the US Federal District Court in early March. They are using real legal precedent and reading actual judges' decisions to get this done. So shout out to them!
It is weird and depressing to see politics in DC being reduced to crime crime crime trolls on this platform. It is bad enough that 90s fashion is trying to make an ill fated comeback. Do we also have to take on racist policing policies too?
I’m Jewish. My family experienced the Holocaust. I stand with WCP and disagree wholeheartedly with CM Pinto’s fascist bills that further weaponize the police against racial minorities in this district. The legacy of the Holocaust is not for you to hide behind.
I will always stand as an ally with the Jewish community as we fight against antisemitism in all its forms.
My statement on Washington City Paper's reckless and offensive comments.
I have zero career self preservation skills. Zero. And by that, I mean that I cannot stop myself from speaking truth to power extremely frankly when I see something I believe is wrong. Oh well. I’d rather go down swinging then trying to “quietly” work out a “deal”
Well today is the day. In 1 hour I have a staff morning meeting and in 2 hours my first period starts. We will do our best! We will be generous with each other and especially with ourselves. We will get to know our students and families and do everything we can to support them.
So I got this email earlier this evening and I’m still just over the moon and bragging to everyone about it. My students are THE best. They’re so kind and caring and I love them so so much. I’m very grateful how they so often go out of their way to be kind. 🥰🥰🥰
Over 25,000 public school students in DC are “distance learning” w/o laptops or internet.
@ChmnMendelson
and
@councilofdc
can solve that for $11 million -- or they can keep a $26 million corporate tax break. What sounds like a
#JustRecoveryDC
to you?
LOL the chancellor just said he is disappointed in the "antics by people like Laura" and he expects different from people like Laura. Are you KIDDING ME. You are my BOSS dude.
Talked with my family today. Turns out we were on the same page. I shouldn’t fly home for winter holidays. As much as I love and miss them, too much is on the line for me to risk bringing COVID to their door.
So according to
@ChmnMendelson
he hasn't heard from any "real people" about access to technology. I didn't realize that, as a teacher, I wasn't a real person. I had students this year who didn't have access to technology. My school gave out all their tech and it wasn't enough.
So apparently some schools have sent emails to their teachers OVER BREAK to ask them to call parents about the policies for the return “plan” in January.
Only one proper response to that: No. There are plenty of central office people chillin at home who can do that.
He turns to a page in the DC History book we were using that had a cover photo from the Washington Post Magazine in 1994 and he says "That's my family". Pointed out his different family members.
So it is official - I am running for the WTU Secretary as an independent candidate - because I believe that the role of a Secretary is to hold the entire organization, and its leadership in particular, accountable which is more easily done as an independent candidate.
A lot of students decided to wear masks today. There is lots of coughing. Lots of students are out - some parents said it will be multiple days. I do believe that the COVID-19 wave has quite possibly walloped our school.
Man. Just got a notice on my phone that I was in the presence of someone for more than 15 minutes who has tested positive for COVID. I live alone and do not leave my house except to walk the dog basically - by myself. This leaves Tuesday at school as a likely option. 😢😢😢
@falcicchio
TRY THAT AGAIN. TRY THAT LIE AGAIN. That was no survey. That was a THREAT. DCPS straight up told us that we could still be forced back in and we had to play a hunger games style "beat my colleague to turning it in" to get a distance learning spot. It was also ILLEGAL.
@DCPSChancellor
Sorry if after three years “at the table” we won’t hold our breaths that “negotiating” without further action will work. If anything this tweet from you proves there should be far more actions so we can get an actual RESULT from the table. No more talk. What’s the offer.
Schools are so underfunded that it is COMMON for teachers and parents to purchase basic supplies, let alone nice-to haves.
WHY do we, as a society, obsess over MPD funding while we ignore the chronic underfunding of our public schools?! One of these could ACTUALLY prevent crime.
Make it plain. At a 3 pm news briefing on DC carjackings, we asked Asst Chief Carlos Heraud if his department has enough officers to combat carjackings, other crimes. “No, I don’t think we do.” (Note - US Capitol Police leading investigation of congressman carjacking.)
@wcp
I am a DCPS teacher and elected leader in the WTU and I most certainly do NOT want SROs in my schools. I want *supports* and investments that actually help students and prevent issues.
SROs do not make me nor my students feel safe at school.
@tweetelissa
@healinghonestly
@DMVBlackLives
I’m very disappointed by this tweet and continued defensiveness. As a white Jewish woman, I am calling on you to reflect on why you felt the need to center yourself as a victim in this moment. This is not the time or place to center the discussion on ourselves.
To my fellow
@WTUTeacher
members: I gotta say I don't think any union in the country has had their members step up in the way ours have. I'm really so amazed by everyone and proud to call you my sisters and brothers in this union.
Birthday gift to myself: mental health day + a COVID test + organizing to keep my colleagues, staff and students safe + Gingerbread Waffles + puppy snuggles. Probably won't be leaving my neighborhood (I do walk the dog) for weeks. Stay safe y'all. ✊
Man. Just got a notice on my phone that I was in the presence of someone for more than 15 minutes who has tested positive for COVID. I live alone and do not leave my house except to walk the dog basically - by myself. This leaves Tuesday at school as a likely option. 😢😢😢
I am a proud founding member of the DC-CORE. Working with a super dedicated team of likeminded educators over the past year has filled me with a new sense of drive and purpose. Our aim is to reform our union and take direct action to fight for the schools DC students deserve.
Very humbling to hear the outpouring of stories about Liz Davis. She touched so many people in a personal way. She grew our membership and empowered them. She remembered everyone and always checked in. I thought I was Marry Poppins with time. I got NOTHING on Liz. Just wow.
Apparently the video isn’t working. Here’s what I wrote. But as I said, I saw Muriel and Phil in the front row and blacked out in rage. So I know I didn’t say most of it. But clearly I pissed of Bowser. So mission accomplished. 🤷♀️
Just an FYI
@stacydavisgates
@coreteachers
- this account is apparently being run from DC. So much for being "members first" - wonder what education reform group paid for this ad.
Reminder to myself: I do not owe Twitter trolls a response. In fact the mute and move on approach is the only way to go. I’m not in the business of changing recalcitrant minds. I am in the business of organizing with allies for power to make change whether they like it or not.
Congratulations to the best incumbent there is!!! Showing the rest of the DC Council there if you stand for what you believe in: You. Will. Win.
Let’s gooooooo!
Over the last eight months the community of people part of my campaign knocked more than 31,000 doors, held more than a dozen events, and spoke with thousands of neighbors about Ward 4’s future.
To everyone who has been part of this, I could not have done it without you.
Hey DC: Just so we are all on the same page:
If you don’t like Bloomberg, then you also should NOT like Bowser (his number 1 fan), which means you should NOT like Brandon Todd (HER number 1 fan) in Ward 4, which means if you live in said Ward you should vote for Janeese.
Police are not labor. Their "union" is not akin to the teachers union. They should not pretend we are similar to try and get what they want, especially when it is less accountability to the people. We are nothing alike.
Figured I’d at least wear my new Mandalorian Christmas top if I’m going to tempt fate this hardcore. 2 HEPA filters, doors propped open, desks spread out, windows in side room open with a fan in them, I’m doing what I can. Stay safe y’all. 😷
Well I am just about ready to leave my house (😳) and go to the school to set up my classroom. Solidarity with all my fellow educators. We are going to need it in the coming days. ✊️
DCPS teachers are reporting that their schools have been serving only cold lunches practically the entire time since reopening (including CAREs) and that it often looks like the photo below. HOW ARE WE TREATING STUDENTS THIS WAY???????? Come on DCPS, what is going on???
Welp it was bound to happen eventually: I am ALL THE WAY OVER DC politics. Who cares who you endorse in this place, they will ALL sell out educators when it comes down to it. ALL OF THEM. Only WE can stand up for ourselves. It is organizing to strike that's all we got.
So gross what is rewarded/valued and what isn’t. You can BET that Amazon’s corporate offices, where they have a much higher rate of pay, are stocked FULL of snacks and other goodies that are just always available for free and breaks are encouraged. All labor should be valued.
I find it strange (ok not really, but still) how readily a narrative of more police = less crime + “police were defunded” (when they weren’t) takes hold and yet when teachers say more teachers (ie smaller class sizes) = better outcomes and we DO get defunded REGULARLY we hear 🦗
@mysikix
1- DC never defunded the police
2- More cops do not mean less crime. I worked with police chiefs across the country, even the ones who said and believed racist things were open and honest about us not being able to arrest our way out of crime.
If you teach in a school that starts with 150 freshman and ends up with 49 seniors and you claim a 100% graduation rate and you don’t openly question that school’s policies you are a part of the problem and we have nothing to say to each other. I will avoid you. Period.
We USED to have a Memorandum of Agreement that allowed us to teach virtually from home if we were able to do so. BRING THAT BACK.
We ALSO just have paid COVID leave if we are unable to teach. It makes NO SENSE to do this to us when we are in a HIGHLY dangerous environment.
ERIN PALMER WAS RIGHT THERE. She was right there. Y’all endorsed and spent all this time backing people who were always going to betray us, it was only a matter of time, and ERIN PALMER WAS RIGHT THERE. That’s the part that makes me extra angry about all this.
The comment I appreciated most came from one of Karon’s former educators from Notes ES. She reminded us all that he was loved, he is a human being, and he was loved. This senseless act of violence against him does not define him. Condolences again to all who knew and loved him.
So. Many. People. Are getting sick with COVID - IN OUR SCHOOLS. Going in tomorrow is SUCH a bad idea. I don’t know what to tell the teachers at my school as building rep. And all I can hope is that most of my students choose to stay home for their health and safety.
Over 50 Strong at the
@WTUTeacher
#OnlyWhenItsSafe
caravan to tell our council that we need $11 million to support 25,000 students access to technology so that we can deliver an equitable instruction and return to in person learning only when it’s safe
What it looks like to me is in the wards more progressive candidates are winning. At large they are not there *yet* but are doing better and better each time, closing these incumbency gaps. This is not some crowing victory for the status quo. They had to throw down over $1 mil
AP US Government results are in! First up the amazing Tallya Rhodes who earned a 5 (highest score) on the exam. She worked SO HARD and there was no doubt in my mind she’d do it. (In fact had it not been a 5, I would’ve accused College Board of a flawed test 😂).
@Ward7EdCouncil
We need to bring back in house cooking. Not this Sodexo heat up shit. Kids tell us this constantly. We tell the council this constantly. Yet another privatization (see Rhee/Henderson), unethical scheme gone wrong where children suffer. 😡😡😡
As an educator and human, I am extremely proud of all the students taking a stand for what is right. Shame on the administrators who have responded with threats and attacks on their housing, education and violence.
The students are taking what we taught them and applying it.
Mayoral control of our schools was supposed to deliver on many levels, but especially when it comes to basic Human Resources and procedures. So tell me why I know of many new to DCPS teachers who still have not been paid and are now in danger of not being able to afford rent. 🤯
You know why most educators aren't thanking DCPS for doing the bare minimum yesterday?
1) Local schools did the real work
2) We were still in person despite the risk being sky high
3) Attendance rates were LOW
4) DCPS tries to fire us for not going above and beyond at all times
What DCPS doesn’t seem to get is that most educators I know, while certainly worried for themselves, are FAR more worried about the unvaccinated students that are coming in to buildings without strong protocols, working HVACs and limited HEPA filters.
Today’s
#RedForEd
shirt is brought to you by
@labornotes
! I have learned SO much from them and super appreciate their endless support in building the caucus and organizing our members. “Fight the boss. Build the Union”
#ItsNotSafe
@DC_CORE
Fucked up.
@MayorBowser
threatens nurses with arrest, points guns at BLM counter protestors and protects literal NAZIs. She can get FUCKED. If she dares run for re-election again I will dedicate every spare hour of my time supporting her opponent. Every spare hour. All the hours.
What does it say about
@MayorBowser
that she cares far more about having loads of police on the streets shooting at people but not about educators in schools growing our next generation of leaders?
Educators are 3 years PAST our contract expiring with no end in sight. 😡
Yesterday I resigned from the board of the Ward 7 Education Council. I viewed my staying there as compromising my ability to hold elected leaders accountable. I didn't fully appreciate how much that would be needed until this week. I look forward to working with them as a member.
Sitting in the parking lot at work. Really not looking forward to today. Playing a game of chicken with DCPS and COVID. The lack of caring that District leaders once again show our educators and students should be astounding, but at this point it is par for the course.
Ok
@DCPSChancellor
/
@MayorBowser
: let’s talk mask mandates in DCPS. I say indoor mask mandates should be brought back. We want to have a safe and stable return? Mask mandates work.
The
@WTUTeacher
has released a petition to engage in distance learning only *UNTIL* DCPS has created a plan in COLLABORATION with the WTU and that it is fully implemented and fulfills OSSE, DC Health and CDC health standards. SIGN and STAND with us.✊
It is frustrating to be in my classroom while all the DCPS presenters are safe at home for these VIRTUAL trainings. Really inspires confidence that DCPS thinks it is safe to be back in person. In reality they just don't care if educators take risk.
Even more of my educator friends and colleagues are telling me about testing positive. If you are part of the reopen schools it is totally safe right now crowd - I won't ever forgive you, I won't forget, and I am coming. And if you are in power - I won't rest until you aren't.
Remember that DCPS has a metric ton of money and consistently would rather spend it on central office paychecks, consultants, private contracts to their TFA friends and programs that never reach the classroom level than on our schools and the resources that go directly in it.