New Beginnings

December 1 marked a new beginning for me as the WTU General Vice President. During the past two years as the writer of this blog, I have enjoyed confronting stormy subjects on public education with readers by my side on a weekly basis. Topics here ranged from former DC Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, to performance based excessing, unprincipled principals, inside teacher stories, and "holdover" union officials. I have frequently said this blog was never intended to be a permanent dwelling place and first started out with me trying to dispel myths about the red and green teachers contract proposal and later morphed into an online voice for teachers.

I believe you can’t stand still in one place forever or it becomes a comfort zone. Don’t get me wrong, I'm not through with blogging at least not yet but in my new role- more of my time will be spent seeking resolutions to teachers complaints. After all, that’s what I get paid to do. As I work to earn my sea legs in my new position, I'd be interested in hearing your suggestions on how we can improve the quality of union membership services to teachers and school personnel. Feel free to jot me a line or leave a post here.

In keeping with our campaign promise, the Washington Teacher's Union (WTU) will host a December membership meeting and holiday social on Thursday, December 16, 2010 from 4-7:30 pm. Hope you will join us. Here's the invitation:

Please join President Nathan Saunders, Officers, Executive Board Members, Board of Trustees and Staff of the Washington Teachers' Union for a WTU General Membership Meeting and Holiday Party St. Francis Hall 1340 Quincy Street, NE Washington, DC 20017 Music, Food and Fun for All Free on-site Parking Available Thursday, December 16, 2010 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm Refreshments will be served We hope you will join us to meet the new WTU leadership, celebrate the holidays, and receive your WTU holiday token. Raffle Drawings for holiday gifts promises to be a welcome treat. Every teacher that attends our event will be counted towards the WTU's donation of toys for needy children in the district. RSVP Preferred Please RSVP by Tuesday, December 14th, by email at info@wtulocal6.org or by phone at (202) 293-8600