Detroit Federation of Teachers

DFT President with Ingram, Care Moore, Morgan

Reading Opens the World Features Honored Guests

Detroit was ecstatic to have these three people participate in our book giveaway. AFT National Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick C. Ingram welcomed families and educators to Reading Opens the World. He announced that in May the organization will have given away 10 million books for free. We are thrilled to have had a hand in distributing 50,000 of those books. Poet Jessica Care Moore read one of her poems, I used to be a roller coaster girl and author Ellen A. Morgan, Ed. D read her book, Ellie’s Formal Table. They are standing with President Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins.

Election Committee is Sworn In

Four Election Committee members were sworn in at the April General Membership Meeting. Serving a two year term will be Onza Stokes, Laura Watts, Devette Brown and Julia Hunko. We thank these members for their service to the members of the DFT. Executive Vice President, Jason Posey, looks on. Be sure to say hello to Election Committee when you sign in at the May General Membership meeting.

Posey, Wilson-Lumpkins, Weiss, Martin at town hall

DFT Leadership Participates in Town Hall Meeting

At a town hall hosted by State Representative, Regina Weiss, three of our leaders attended the forum: DFT Executive Vice President, Jason Posey, DFT President, Lakia Wilson-Lunmpkins, and AFT Michigan President, Terrence Martin. Many union members were in attendance to listen to the information.

US Senate Candidate Addresses the Membership

.A candidate for the US Senate from Michigan, Hil Harper, came before the DFT General Membership meeting in April to ask for an endorsement by the union. He spoke to members about his support for unions, being a card-carrying member of one himself, as well as the reasons he would like our support in the upcoming August primary. The union will be hosting other candidates who are also seeking our endorsements.

WHAT'S NEW: Gladys Clark of Thurgood Marshall Elementary-Middle School Teacher of the Year

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The Detroit Goodfellows on June 14 announced the winner of the eighth annual Goodfellow Teacher of the Year contest — Gladys Clark, an eighth-grade teacher at Detroit Public Schools Community District’s (DPSCD) Thurgood Marshall Elementary-Middle School!

Detroit Goodfellows board members surprised Clark in her classroom with the news and presented her with a $200 gift card to buy classroom supplies. Additionally, she will be acknowledged at the Detroit Goodfellows Annual Tribute Breakfast this fall.

The Goodfellows Board of Directors selected the winning teacher from nominations by DPSCD

Our Donavon Gardner and Terrence Martin talk about American's teacher shortage challenge.

CLICK TO HERE TO WATCH http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/02/a-potential-teacher-crunch-looms.html

WHAT'S NEW: Council of Baptist Pastors, Detroit and Vicinity Salute Detroit Teachers

Council of Baptist Pastors President Rev. Dee Dee Coleman and DFT President Ivy Bailey celebrated Teachers Appreciation Day during a special service held at Russell Street Baptist Church on May 30.

WHAT'S NEW: Proposed Educator Certification Model

The Michigan Department of Education, Office of Professional Preparation Services requests your feedback on a proposed structure for the future of Michigan teacher certification.

Please click the Web link below to view a short video explaining the proposed certificate structure and a link to the survey. Your perspective is extremely important to us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdSSY4EJKeQ&feature=youtu.be

WHAT'S NEW: Settlement reached involving Detroit teachers who were laid off in 2011 and not properly recalled

Our teachers class action grievance was settled on April 22, 2017. If your name is on the following list, please contact Ivy Bailey, DFT president, at 313-875-3500:

Anyanetu, Patrick
Armstrong, Nezetta
Bennett, Charnita
Booker-Bryant, Valerie
Burk, Michael
Crill, Susan
Dobbs, Carmille
Ellis, Ronda
Erby, Douglas
Freeman, Henrietta
Gibson, Kelly
Gipson-Hicks, Catina
Hasanaj, Kola
Henderson, Almitra
Hicks, Geraldine
Holland, Branti
Izzard, Robert
Jacques, Dominique
Jefferson, Stanya
Johnson, Georgetta
King, Dennis
Land, Cassandra
Lawrence, Ayana
Leverett, Christy
Lothery, Barbara
Mallett, James
Mercer, Grayling
Ogbonna

WHAT'S NEW: DFT Executive Board elects to continue contract negotiations with DPSCD

DFT Members:

On May 15, our Executive Board rejected a tentative contract agreement with DPSCD. I wanted to share my statement with you:

"We've continually stated what's best for educators is best for students. The executive board felt that the tentative agreement doesn't move DPSCD forward and place our students first. We want to continue negotiations."

--Ivy