Today teachers across the state are wearing black to honor the 35,000 Florida teachers who turned in their resignations in February 1968. They stood in unity to improve working and learning conditions in our state’s schools. The statewide walkout was the first of its kind in our nation and lasted between three to seven weeks in various counties. It led to major improvements for students, teachers and public education. We honor those courageous self-sacrificing teachers for their action that led to collective bargaining, and many of the improved working conditions that we enjoy today.
They committed to ‘Be There’ – to ‘Be There’ for their profession, to ‘Be There’ for their students, to ‘Be There’ for public education, and to ‘Be There’ for their union. We must commit to ‘Be There’ too. To ‘Be There’ far beyond the Week of Action, to ‘Be There’ every day for our students, fellow educators, profession and union!
Last week OCCTA members and teachers participated in the Week of Action sending a message to the District and School Board. This action was conducted with the same intention and the same spirit of the teachers who stood in unity 50 years earlier. When we come together in solidarity, we can force change. You were heard!
Teachers working to the contract sent a strong message. The teachers at Timber Lakes Elementary School showed amazing solidarity. Not only did they work to the contract, but every team sent an email to their administrators listing the many tasks that they could not complete within the workday. They even asked that the lists be forwarded to the District. You can watch a video of these amazing teachers walking into their school in solidarity at this link. Teachers at Pineloch Elementary School School made special t-shirts for the rally with ‘7.5’ on the back to remind people that they were working to the contract! Teachers all across the district who worked to the contract took a stand to ‘Be There’ and they were heard!
Over 150 teachers, parents, and representatives of the AFL-CIO, OCCPTA and community organizations rallied before the School Board meeting. Our presence made an impact. Chair Sublette invited me to meet with him this week and I have already spoken to other school board members. We were heard!
The memo from Dr. Jara was a response to our action. It was clear that the use of CRMs is optional, that PLCs should be limited to one day a week, that teachers do not have to be on the exact lesson throughout the instructional day, and there was an acknowledgment that there would be a review concerning data collection. You can read the memo at this link. OCCTA will continue to push for less work that is unrelated to student learning and more planning time.
Additionally, last week I sent correspondence making it clear that OCCTA objected to mandatory peer observations and ‘homework’ as part of the District Professional Learning Community (DPLC) professional development. I received this response:
“Peer observation through the DPLC process is voluntary, not required. It was a strategy that was shared with participants to provide another opportunity for professional learning. We have restated that this process is voluntary with all facilitators of DPLC sessions to help clarify this message.
As any issues have been reported to us of schools that are assigning "homework" (like professional reading) for DPLC sessions have arose, we have reached out to the school and supported them in identifying contractual time for this process to take place. If you hear of any schools where this is a cause for concern, please do not hesitate to let us know so that we can address the concern. We have stated at DPLC principal facilitator training sessions that this process should take place during the duty day.”
We were heard!
Please watch and share the ‘Be There’ video that shows footage of the 1968 walkout at this link. It is inspirational and can be used as a recruitment tool to show how we can force change when we stand in solidarity.
Please watch and share the School Board video of OCCTA member and Howard Middle School teacher, Crystal Rich, speaking about teachers’ current working conditions at this link. She spoke for every OCPS teacher. She spoke the truth and she was heard!
Let’s not let the spirit and solidarity of the Week of Action end. We are facing many battles within our district and from Tallahassee. Commit to ‘Be There’ and fight to save our profession, public schools and our union. ‘Be There’!
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