State’s largest local teachers union goes head to head with TEA over state takeover in Houston

Thanks to all our members who are teachers and school employees for all your hard work, perseverance and passion. AFT President Randi Weingarten also had a message for the nation at large on this special day: When it comes to appreciating educators, please heed an old expression: Walk the walk, don’t just talk the talk. Educators go into our profession...
Read MoreThousands of teachers and their advocates have flooded Phoenix today to demand more funding for their schools. It is the third day of a teacher walkout in Arizona that began last Thursday and closed more than 1,000 schools. The governor has agreed to boost teacher pay by 20 percent, but, as Arizona AFT President Ralph Quintana writes in AFT Voices, there...
Read MoreTexas AFT held its biennial convention--with the theme of "Public School Proud"--last weekend in El Paso. The convention included the usual business of electing statewide officers and deciding on resolutions to guide the union in the coming years. (Louis Malfaro was re-elected as president by acclamation, and Ray McMurrey was re-elected as secretary treasurer by acclamation.) The convention also included a day...
Read MoreStay tuned for news from our biennial convention, which kicks off today at the El Paso Convention Center. Highlights of the convention include a panel on community schools, a day of professional issues workshops, a keynote speech from AFT President Randi Weingarten, and election of state officers. You can follow all the action on Facebook and on Twitter (#TexasAFTproud).
Read MoreThe American Federation of Teachers in September announced grants to fund community school initiatives in Texas and two other states to address children’s well-being and provide multiple pathways and diverse options to help them and their families succeed. The AFT Innovation Fund grants—$135,000 for each initiative—will kick-start community school efforts in Texas; Daly City, California; and Rome, New York. “We’re...
Read MoreRead more from AFT's president at Randi's Corner. "Across the country, AFT members are working with their communities to champion fairness, democracy, economic opportunity, and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for children, their families and our communities. Together, we are working to reclaim the promise of America. If you are an AFT member, I want to thank...
Read MoreAFT President Randi Weingarten continued her national back-to-school visits with a two-state New England swing that showcased the type of trust, accountability and collaboration communities need to spark concrete improvement in their public schools. In Massachusetts, Weingarten visited schools in Lawrence and Lowell, meeting with students, teachers and elected officials at Wetherbee Elementary School, Oliver Partnership School, and Pawtucketville Memorial...
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