WTU Election results

The WTU Election results was just emailed to the members:

WTU Members:

The ballots from the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) election of officers were tallied today. There was a total of 893 ballots which was the lowest voter turnout in WTU history. Below are the preliminary results from the American Arbitration Association.

Election Results (in alphabetical order by last name)

Berfalk, Christopher - 38 votes

Davis, Elizabeth - 196 votes

Parker, George - 313 votes

Saunders, Nathan - 334 votes

The WTU Constitution requires that the winner receives more than 50% percent majority of the total votes cast. If none of the candidates receive more than 50% of the total votes cast, then there must be a run-off election between the two candidates who received the highest number of votes. In this case, WTU General Vice-President Saunders received 334 votes and WTU President Parker received 313 votes; therefore, there will be a run-off election between their two slates.

Election administrator, Al Squire, will be providing additional information including the final vote tally for all candidates and a timeline for the run-off election.

Thank you.

Monique LeNoir

Director of Communications

The Washington Teachers' Union

Round two!! Eyes front, head up to the finish...we will see it through!

MAIL YOUR BALLOTS TOMORROW!

Final step...

Dear WTU colleagues,

After meeting the candidates for WTU Leadership, the Executive Board, and delegates to the districtwide and nationwide union assemblies, you have made your smart decision on who are the best people to represent you.

Here's the last step that you have to do -- exercise your right to vote!

Have you seen this ballot envelope in the mail?

Open it and read the message from the AFT and the AAA inside. Then, look for this page (click on the image below to enlarge) and mark it properly and correctly...

Go to your nearest post office and mail your ballot...

FRIENDLY REMINDER from our AFT & AAA colleagues...

WTU Members:
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- start message -
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It has come to my attention that WTU members are being encouraged to request duplicate ballots for reasons other than those specifically outlined in the published election procedures.
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As a reminder, eligible members may request a duplicate ballot only if:

- you have not received a ballot;
- the ballot package you received is not complete; or
- your ballot has been lost, damaged or spoiled.
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If you need a ballot for those stated reasons, please call Maria Landi at the American Arbitration Association at 800/273-0726. If you call after hours, you may leave a message with your address, and a ballot will be sent to you.
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Remember, your ballot must be received by AAA by 4 p.m., on October 27. As always, please direct questions about the election to me, Al Squire, at 202/393-5673.

-end message-

IS THIS FAMILIAR TO YOU?

Thanks for a wonderful time...

Friday Funday

Check out the place here

Standing up for what is right (part 2)

Dear colleagues,

Some of you have asked me why I am running with the Parker-Egbufor slate and not with the other party (or why I am still running, period) when as an executive board member I witness many things that happen in the office and during board meetings. Believe it or not, campaigning for George Parker and Dorothy Egbufor is worth all my time and effort. Yes, the Parker-Egbufor slate has the strongest, most experienced, and most accomplished teachers who are involved in education reform. But more than that, I have seen how our two candidates for the WTU leadership maintain integrity, courtesy, and professionalism under pressure, and how hard they unbelievably work day-and-night, even during weekends, working at the office sometimes until 3am when necessary to make things happen for our teachers.

I have also witnessed how the WTU struggled and managed to survive without a General Vice President. Did we have one? Nathan Saunders, but where was he when we needed him? There are members who feel the same way...

I wrote him a letter last December which communicated my feelings about him, probably stronger now after I have seen his true character during hearings and election campaigns, it is not positive:

December 16, 2009

Wednesday

Nathan Saunders

General Vice President

Washington Teachers Union

Dear Nathan,

With this letter, I would like to revisit what transpired last night in the WTU office when you called me in to have a private conversation with you. Undoubtedly, it was about what I said and asked during one of the Executive Board meetings about not seeing you in the WTU office often and the documentations of your work that you do for our membership as the WTU General Vice President. My curiosity was taken negatively as reflected in your statements that are summarized and bulleted below:

- “Whatever I do here in the office and with my day to day work with the membership is none of your business. It is not my obligation to submit any documentation to you and I will not do it.”

- “I do not report to you and I do not work for you. I am the General Vice President, and you are just the VP of Special Education. You are just new to the union, you should know that all Vice Presidents, therefore, should report to me.”

- “When you needed me I was there in your school. You should remember that”.

I also remember in one of our telephone conversations you told me that I am just a classroom teacher and very powerless.

Not considering my attempt to reach out and forge a collegial bond with you, your threatening tone was very unprofessional; your statements were full of negativity, deception, intimidation, and attempt of manipulation.

As a member of The WTU Executive Board, and a full dues paying member, I would like to follow up with my request to see 1) documentations of your performance of your duties as delegated by the President and 2) the journal of records of your everyday work with our members that you said you have in possession. I would be requesting for this to be in the agenda for our next WTU Executive Board meeting. Please also review Article VIII Section 2 of the WTU Constitution.

Despite of the lack of integrity that I see with how you deal with most of our WTU/AFT colleagues and your antagonistic attitude towards most of the WTU staff, please know that I still have a lot of respect for you.

In the spirit of the holidays, I am still hopeful that the WTU will be a strong union undivided and unparalleled. It will not be long…

Sincerely,

Maria Angala, NBCT

WTU Executive Board Member

I only have one life to live. I want to make the most of it and I want to achieve something nobler than simple rebellion. I haven't got time to waste with negative people. They drain my energy like emotional vampires do. When they find a willing audience, they won't let them go. They may have justifiable concerns but too often get involved in politics, gossips, attacking people and minor matters. They blame and look for excuses. Even when blame can be justified it serves no productive good for the majority of our membership and our students. It is not always easy but I try to listen when told to be compassionate to them in the spirit of solidarity, and to walk away when provoked into a nasty discussion. Circumstances don't "make" the teacher; circumstances "reveal" the teacher.

Colleagues, I know that it has been challenging and sometimes frustrating especially when we don't always get what we want. Immediate gratification does not happen in reality, and as teachers we practice patience and teach our students core values in life like unity, honesty, integrity, and keeping the faith. We need you to execute these values right now...

Take a stand. We have 10 days more before the WTU election ballots are counted. Please make the right decision and remember to mail your ballots!

Rhee to leave D.C. schools post

It's been in the newspapers today...

"D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee made public her resignation today. Rhee's three-year tenure as chancellor saw a rise in test scores and a landmark contract with teachers, drew national attention over controversial reforms that included the dismissal of hundreds of teachers and school staff and brought about many conflicts with the teachers' union. Rhee's departure had been expected after Mayor Adrian Fenty lost his re-election bid. Deputy Chancellor Kaya Henderson is replacing Rhee in an acting capacity." The Washington Post (10/13) , The New York Times (free registration) (10/12)

Opposing vision for school reform: 

- Sacramento, Calif., Superintendent Jonathan P. Raymond takes a different position on school improvement than the one promoted by outgoing District of Columbia Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and 15 other superintendents nationwide. In this letter, Raymond writes that teachers should not be blamed for problems with education. After watching the documentary "Waiting for Superman," Raymond said, he determined that there are multiple reasons why students struggle, including poverty and a lack of parental engagement. The Washington Post/The Answer Sheet blog

- Dorothy Egbufor, runningmate of George Parker for WTU leadership, shares Tom Peter's philosophy on education: "I imagine a school system that recognizes learning is natural, that a love of learning is normal, and that real learning is passionate learning. A school curriculum that values questions above answers…creativity above fact and regurgitation…individuality above conformity...and excellence above standardized performance….. And we must reject all notions of 'reform' that serve up more of the same: more testing, more 'standards', more uniformity, more conformity, more bureaucracy." 
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Our team is for everything that is best for our students and teachers. Vote for the Parker-Egbufor slate, we get the real union work done!

Standing up for what is right (part 1)

(Repost) Almost a year ago during the times when I was very restless, I wrote a reflective entry On Becoming a Teacher Leader. I shared that I spent my college years at the University of the Philippines, the premiere state university in my country, where freedom of thought and expression was exercised which provided me with a complete armory for activism. But then I heeded the advice of my mom to focus on my academic responsibilities and never to get involved in any form of political action. My professors gave me the wisdom and the skills to learn the Socratic way, and the passion to stand up for what is right became an integral part of my words, thoughts and actions.

The prospects are both exciting and frightening where I am now. Keeping body and soul together can be as formidable as any journey especially when the train where we are all in seems to be moving towards the wrong direction...are we still going to the final destination? Thanks to the guidance and encouragement of some significant leaders of our teachers union, I am not giving up hope.

There are so much things happening right now on the local and national level which lead to frustration, anger, and all that is harmful not only to the teachers but also to the children whose lives we continue to influence daily. It is always a challenge to not fall prey to victimization and to steer clear of the blame game. After going through a long and meaningful introspection, I realized that working with the people who have the same mission has taught me to fully understand my role as a teacher leader. As I said earlier, "I realized that when I empower, support, encourage and inspire the teachers to do their best for the kids, I am impacting the lives of more than just the students in my classroom."
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While we do our best in the Washington Teachers Union (WTU, Local 6 of the AFT) to make decisions that are best for the kids and fair to teachers, debates and heated arguments happen on the table just like in any active policymaking body. When this happens, I remind myself to choose my reactions. As it is a fact that circumstances don't "make" the teacher; circumstances "reveal" the teacher.

I have learned so much as a member of the WTU executive board, from policymaking, keeping relationships with the staff and partners, to establishing rapport with my colleagues. I have also learned and internalized some core values in life, that it is important for us executive board members to be team players, to respect each other's views, and to collectively adopt a "can-do" attitude and to be willing to pitch in to get the union's work done. It is also required for us to look for ways to build consensus, and respect and support the majority decisions of the board. It is also imperative that we refrain from criticizing fellow board members, discussing confidential proceedings outside of board meetings or interfering in the duties of the officers.

There are still many of us who have made a firm decision to keep our integrity and professionalism.

I believe that it is unfair to lay all the blame of the current state of education at the feet of the teachers unions. Our union representatives exist to uphold the due process rights of full dues paying members like me, just as a defense attorney would protect the accused. While many people (mostly are not educators) attack the teachers unions, I strongly profess that I have become a better teacher and a stronger leader because of my teachers union, the WTU. Times have changed (a lot) and I believe that public education has evolved since then. It is very timely that we have a new (and very controversial) teachers contract. I saw that some of the current practices and norms in 21st century teaching and learning are embodied in the teachers contract (see: Ground Breaking New Contract Takes Effect). When giving our thumbs up (or down) for this new contract, I hope we can think about how we should change our traditional practices to better reflect the tasks assigned to our schools, teachers and students today.

Keep the fire burning!

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Sincerely,

Maria Angala, NBCT (Exceptional Needs Specialist)

WTU Vice President of Special Education

We need effective teacher leaders who can get the real work of leadership done to lead us...



Vote for the Parker-Egbufor slate

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Bring together educators and give voice to their aspirations.

Create a partnership with major stakeholders.

Advance the best possible innovative, efficient, and effective learning environment for all educators and students of the District of Columbia Public Schools.

WEBSITE: www.voteparkerslate.com

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At the rally!

Proudest day! Great to see 500,000+ people across the nation fighting the good fight with us. We are the people, we are the solution not the problem, we shall overcome as one nation, one day at a time...

See you tomorrow!

Hey colleagues,

We are putting America back to work and pulling America back together.

The Washington Teachers Union (WTU) supports One Nation Working Together. Be a part of our march tomorrow, October 2, 2010 in Washington, D.C. -- one of the biggest progressive demonstrations in decades.

We will meet at 11:00 am at the Sylvan Theater (15th Street and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001) and will march off to the Lincoln Memorial at 12:15 PM. All Unions will meet here and march together. We are asking all WTU members and friends to wear something RED.

Whether you’ll be with us or not, add your voice to the movement for unity. See you tomorrow! Let's keep the fire burning...

Sincerely,

Maria Angala, NBCT

WTU Vice President of Special Education