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Braving the rainy weather on the morning of May 5th, the AFT-WV team participating in this year's Komen Race for the Cure was twice the size of last year's inaugural team. Many thanks to everyone who came out despite the bad weather and represented our union in the race! |
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It's finally here...all the details for AFT-WV's 2012 Summer School! It's the place to be every summer and now you can see the course offerings, get the registration form and sign up to be a part of the fun! |
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The AFL-CIO has launched its 2012 AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch site—now called CEO Pay and the 99%—which includes the most comprehensive data available on 2011 executive pay. All the data available is searchable by industry, by state and by the top 100 highest-paid CEOs.
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Education Week photo blog spotlights McDowell project
Check out the photo blog and article appearing in Education Week about Reconnecting McDowell and the wonderful teachers, school service personnel and students of McDowell County. |
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To Innovate, Look to Those Who Educate
 In her latest column appearing in the New York Times, AFT president Randi Weingarten describes how the AFT Innovation Fund is providing an alternative to school reform efforts that ignore the expertise of educators and their unions. The fund supports AFT affiliates that engaged in collaborative efforts that focus on promising ideas and proven programs that can be scaled up. Read the full column. |
One week to go in the 2012 WV Legislature.......Read the latest news here! |
Salary Schedules
View the FY 2012 salary schedules for teachers and service personnel in WV. |
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Many studies over the years have documented the need for smoother transitions from prekindergarten to the elementary level. A new AFT report reinforces that conclusion—and does it in a manner that puts frontline voices at the heart of the dialogue.
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Reconnecting McDowell: An unprecedented partnership
The AFT and West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced on Dec. 16 that they are leading an unprecedented public-private partnership with more than 40 partners to enhance educational opportunity for children in the McDowell County public schools in Central Appalachia, while addressing the underlying problems caused by severe and chronic poverty and economic decline. Watch AFT's video about McDowell County, WV and learn more. |
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The citizens of Ohio took back their state with a historic vote on Nov. 8 to repeal Senate Bill 5. The vote, which marks the first time that the collective bargaining rights of public employees have been upheld on a statewide ballot, sends a clear signal that Ohioans will not sit idly by while politicians scapegoat hard-working public employees for an economic crisis they did not create.
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Free Jump Ropes Available
Promote physical activity using free jump ropes available through the WVDE and its partners. Read more... |
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President Obama's bold plan—the American Jobs Act—is the right antidote to help solve our persistent economic problems, AFT president Randi Weingarten says.
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Two longtime union activists and education reformers are assuming new roles in AFT's leadership, AFT president Randi Weingarten announced on Sept. 9.
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AFT-WV activists from across the state attended the AFT's TEACH conference in Washington, DC from July 11-13, 2011. Making a Difference Every Day" was the theme for the 2011 TEACH (Together Educating America's Children) conference—formerly known as QuEST, for those who might not recognize the name—showcased the groundbreaking work taking place throughout the AFT. Among this year's highlights: AFT president Randi Weingarten's keynote address, remarks by New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, and panel discussions on Common Core State Standards and community engagement. |
Over 150 educators enjoyed a fun-filled week of learning at Camp Dawson during AFT-WV's signature event! Check out the scenes from Summer School in Photo Albums. |
Every day, educators and other public employees, and the services they provide our communities, are being attacked. From challenging collective bargaining rights, to undermining the quality of public education and higher education, to decimating pensions and trying to put healthcare coverage further out of reach, working men and women across the country are under assault. And if this has taught us one thing, it's that Elections Matter.
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Calling Young Teachers
The AFT is looking for young teachers to join our Generation Y online community. This supportive network of young professionals is a place to discuss issues that affect you and your work. You can interact with other members through the forums and member pages, learn more about what is going on in schools across the nation, and find out about upcoming events and activities you can attend.
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Generation Y teachers—those in their mid-30s or younger—say that to keep them in teaching, schools should be transformed into workplaces that support high-quality teaching and learning, so eager but nearly overwhelmed novices will stay in the profession and can become highly effective, according to a new report by the AFT and the American Institutes for Research.
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In a March 28 speech sponsored by the Commonwealth Club, AFT president Randi Weingarten challenged those who have blamed public employees and their right to collectively bargain as a cause of their states' fiscal problems.
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AFT Members Will Stand Together for 'We Are One' Week of Action
Workers' fundamental rights are under attack in a growing number of states. But as we have seen in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and elsewhere, those attacks have inspired and motivated tens of thousands of union members to stand together for their rights. The challenge now, as AFT president Randi Weingarten put it in a recent e-mail to more than 1.5 million AFT members and allies, is to take this moment and turn it into a movement. One step in that direction is a "We Are One" Week of Action, starting April 4, that will bring together members from the AFT and other unions, along with our allies, to participate in events around the country. First, take the pledge to help make a difference. Once you take the pledge, you'll see lots of ideas for how to join in the week of action.
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AFT president Randi Weingarten on Feb. 24 proposed a new way to align teacher development and evaluation to due process for tenured teachers. Weingarten laid out a three-step process consisting of clear standards for what teachers should know and be able to do, a time-limited improvement and support plan for teachers deemed to be unsatisfactory according to the evaluation standards, and a hearing process that can take no longer than 100 days, which in many cases would be even more expedient.
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Respond to Recent ADMINISTRATIVE Pay Raises! Ask for Equity and Recognition of YOUR Dedication to Monongalia County Students and YOUR Profession in Education! WHERE: Morgantown High School
Edgewood Drive Parking Lot
(Visitors Side of Pony/Lewis Field up from Domino’s Pizza)
WHEN: February 22nd, 2011
TIME: 6:00 PM
(just prior to the Mon. Co. BOE Meeting)
We encourage people to arrive as early as 5:30 to prepare. Rally starts at 6:00. Bring your signs, bring your message!
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How can I join AFT-WV?
Click here to find out! |
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It’s 1988 all over again for schoolteachers BY JOHN VIDOVICH I am a retired Monongalia County teacher. During the past 30 years, I have taught thousands of students and would do it all over again. In that time, I was actively involved in the processes that would bring about better pay and working conditions for teachers. I lobbied in Charleston, wrote to and met with legislators, and wrote letters to the editor, to mention a few. I do not apologize, as some would have me do, for trying to achieve a level of fair pay to benefit my own family and children. I kept copies of some of my letters to the editor. Recently, I gave a copy of a 23-year-old letter I wrote to The Dominion Post to my AFT (American Federation of Teachers) representative and told him to show it to politicians during the legislative session. It was uncanny how it clearly showed nothing has changed in the past 23 years. The same points of dissatisfaction with pay and lack of respect for the teaching profession in West Virginia I made in 1988 are still being made in 2011. |
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IMPORTANT UPDATE:
New developments at the Capitol this week includes a resolution directly related to recent news in Monongalia County. House Concurrent Resolution 83 originated in the House Education Committee in response to the continuing discussion of education expenditure efficiency audits. Additionally, the public attention surrounding the huge pay raise granted to the superintendent of Monongalia County Schools -just a few weeks after laying off 70 teachers and service personnel– also played a part in the creation of this resolution. HCR 83 calls for the efficiency audits to be conducted and the results to be reported back to the Legislature. HCR 83 now moves to the full House of Delegates for approval. Thank you to those members of the House Education Committee lead by Delegate Mary Poling. Thank you in advance, to all those WV House members who shall grant the final approval of this important action.
The actual Resolution as follows: |
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AFT and WVSSPA-AFT Monongalia Media-Week in Review HEADLINES news articles, TV COVERAGE, THE STORY UNFOLDS Devono pay hike irks AFT Superintendent to get $32K in raises WSSPA/AFT and AFT form Action Plan |
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Counties are cutting teachers and school service personnel at one board of education meeting and then handing out enormous pay raises to administrators at the very next meeting. Over 70 employees that work in board of education offices across the state making over $90,000 a year, with 15 earning over $100,000. Just this week in Monongalia County, Superintendent Devono had his contract extended 3 years. During these three years, his salary will go from $125,000 to $157,000. This occurred after the Monongalia County Board of Education recently laid off 70 teachers and service personnel who work directly with children. |
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Mon BOE nixes job posting Teacher’s union protested listing
A job listing for a new administrator in Monongalia County Schools was yanked last week — after a local teacher’s union questioned the validity of the position and the timing of its offering, since layoffs are looming for 70 teachers and other employees in the months ahead. |
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The AFT continues to be the watchdogs of Monongalia County. We were amazed to learn while attending the January 25th county board meeting, that yet another county administrative position has been created and was approved for posting. That posting is available and on line at the time this is being written. As you will see in the sample of the letter that was sent to the Superintendent and the Board our opinion of yet another bale of hay on this camel’s back. It is our finding that Monongalia County is among the most top heavy education systems in the state. |
Issue over Open Meetings Law resolved
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In 2006 the people of A loophole in state law, allows local school systems to assign basic skills teachers to areas in the fine arts, over someone who has specialized in art, music or physical education, or another particular field. |
Photographs and illustrations, as well as text, cannot be used without permission from the AFT.