The DFT Election Committee has released the results of the 2024 DFT Leadership Biennial Election. President Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins and her slate have been reelected to a second term. Serving alongside her as Vice Presidents will be Jason Posey, Robin Jennings, and Marcus Walton. Recording Secretary Elena Brantley-Phillips and Treasurer Rodney Fresh will continue in their roles. Eleven Executive Board members, of which nine are incumbents, were elected to serve on the leadership team:

1. Lisa Card 
2. Frank Donner
3. Samantha Hoskin 
4. Yolanda King
5. Crystal Lee
6. Dwan McGrady
7. Kimberly L. Mitchell
8. Marva Needham-Fletcher
9. Sarah Niemi
10. Jeff Wasilewski
11. Everette Whitfield

The three trustees elected are Cassandra Davis, Mark Duffy, and Kimberly D. Mitchell.

You can view the final certified results from Survey and Ballot Systems here: DFT 2024 Election Results--Final and Certified. The DFT leadership team will be sworn in at the January General Membership meeting for a two year term.

At the AFT National Convention in Houston, DFT President, Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, was elected to be one of the vice presidents to serve on the union's executive council. This will be her first term serving in this position. She joins 42 other vice presidents who sit on the executive council, including AFT Michigan president, Terrence Martin. Wilson-Lumpkins is thrilled to be elected by her fellow AFT delegates to this position. The AFT is governed by its elected officials, all of whom were reelected to their positions:  President Randi Weingarten, Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram and Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus, the 43 AFT vice presidents on the Executive Council. 

Five divisions within the AFT represent the broad spectrum of AFT's membership; PK-12 teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; nurses and other healthcare professionals; and federal, state and local government employees along with 80,000 early childhood educators and 250,000 retiree members. The AFT, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, was founded in 1916 and today represents 1.8 million members in more than 3,000 local affiliates nationwide.

We are so excited to announce that not one, but two, book giveaways from AFT National are on their way to us. One location is courtesy of the Detroit Federation of Teachers; the other is sponsored by the Hamtramck Federation of Teachers. It is going to be a morning filled with fun and festivities for everyone! Join us in Detroit on Saturday, April 27 from 9:00 a.m.--12 noon at the Temple of Faith Baptist Church (Activity Building) at 9351 Forrer Street in Detroit. Join us in Hamtramck on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. --2 p.m. at the Hamtramck Community Center, 11350 Charest Street.  It is first come, first serve. These 15,000+ books are going to go fast!

More great news: 

AFT National Secretary-Treasurer, Fedrick C. Ingram will be coming to both Detroit and Hamtramck to be a part of the day's events. What a great opportunity for our members to meet with him. We have invited members of our community to stop by so you'll never know who you will see here.

Be sure to mark Saturday, April 27 on your calendar and let's make sure our students get these high quality books that they need

Click here for the Detroit flyer in English: 

Click here for the Detroit  flyer in Spanish: 

Click here for the Hamtramck flyer in English: 

Click here for the Hamtramck flyer in Arabic: 

Click here for the Hamtramck flyer in Bengali: 

As per the Election Calendar which was provided to members in January, the DFT Election Committee would like to make the following announcement:

No grievances were filed by the February 22, 2024 deadline. Therefore, the Election Committee and Delegate seats are uncontested. There were 4 eligible candidates for the 4 open seats on the Election Committee and there were 10 eligible candidates for the 10 open seats for delegates to the Michigan and National conventions.

The 4 Election Committee eligible candidates are

1. Devette Brown
2. Julia Hunko
3. Onza Stokes
4. Laura Watt

The 4 Election Committee candidates will be sworn in at the April 2024 General Membership meeting.

These 10 delegates, along with DFT officers, the executive board and the president of DFT 231R (the retirees chapter), will be seated at the AFT Michigan State Convention on Saturday, May 4 and the AFT National Convention in Houston from Monday, July 22 until Thursday, July 25, 2024.

1. Devette Brown
2. Cassandra Davis
3. Tracie Diggins
4. Mark Duffy
5. Regina Fuqua
6. Julia Hunko
7. Yolanda King
8. Tamika Merchant
9. Carol Pierce
10. Andrea Raiford

The district and the union have signed a Letter of Agreement affecting the 2023-2024 calendar. The Professional Development originally scheduled for Monday, January 29th will now be held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. This change is due to the Michigan Presidential Primary Election being held on that day and many of our work locations are polling site. Other calendar changes include the February Count Date and the recognition of Juneteenth. You can read the LOA here  

Click here for the letter of agreement which addresses oversize classes for the 2023-2024 school year.