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DFT Mourns Loss of Executive Board Member, Crystal Lee

Crystal Lee

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Crystal Lee, an Executive Board Member. At the time of her passing, she was a teacher at Charles R. Drew Transition Center. She has served as an executive board member since 2020 and prior to that time, she was an Election Committee member. Crystal was elected a delegate to both state and national AFT conventions several times and served on various committees within the DFT over the years. She was a part of the School Union Committee at Drew and had previously served as its building representative.

At the December DFT General Membership Meeting she was honored with an empty chair.


 

Visitation is on Sunday, December 15th from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. at O. H. Pye, III Funeral Home, 17600 Plymouth Road in Detroit.

Family Hour/Visitation will be on Monday, December 16th from 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. at Triumph Church North Campus, 15600 J L Hudson Drive in Southfield. The Celebration of Life will follow at 10:00 a.m.

Condolences go out to her entire family and the staff at Drew Transition. She will be greatly missed by those who knew her, especially within the DFT community.

December Union Meeting Location Changed

The December 12 DFT General Membership Meeting location has been changed. We will be meeting at the Horatio Williams Foundation, 1010 Antietam in Detroit. The meeting is still scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.


DFT Biennial Election Results

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.


 

11/4/2024 Tribute to Patrick Falcusan: 30 Years of Service to DFT

Member Spotlight, Patrick Falcusan

Tribute written by President Emeritus, Keith R. Johnson

A SALUTE OF GRATITUDE TO PATRICK FALCUSAN 

From the day that Patrick Falcusan came to the DFT office 30 years ago to help President Emeritus, the late John Elliott, ascertain and assess the financial situation of the Detroit Public Schools (DPS), and our own roles, he has been an indispensable and invaluable asset to the DFT and our membership. One of the first things Patrick was able to ascertain was that DPS was still budgeting salaries and benefits for DFT members who were retired or even deceased. This was the precursor to unraveling the perpetual blend of fiscal mismanagement which inhibited DPS from delivering the level of education and support to our then 190,000 students. This ultimately led to the proliferation of charter schools which over time led to a mass exodus of students which has now brought us down to our current enrollment of approximately 50,000 students. While many in our community were demanding a forensic audit of DPS, Patrick was doing his own forensic audit, allowing us to bring indisputable facts to the bargaining table during negotiations. He proved to be an invaluable asset to us as we continued to negotiate contracts which could attract and retain the best teachers and maintain programs throughout DPS. As Patrick’s knowledge increased, so did the responsibilities he took on. One of the most important was advising our members as they prepared for retirement. Patrick had the uncanny ability to calculate almost to the penny, how much our members would receive in their pensions upon retirement. He would advise DFT members who were thinking about retirement that their service time would not give them their full benefits. Back around 1996, he advised many of us, including me, to buy five (5) years of time while that window was open, and to switch from the basic retirement plan to MIP, which would guarantee them a 3% increase every year to their pension upon their retirement. So many of our members who are now enjoying retirement owe a debt of gratitude to Patrick for the advice he gave them either personally, or in his detailed articles in The Detroit Teacher newspaper. Patrick’s value was not only measured in dollars and cents, but in his humanity and decency. I can say without fear of contradiction, that Patrick is one of the most beautiful and kind people I have ever known. His passion for our members, his patience, his kindness, and his great story telling while addressing an issue could calm even the most frustrated member. His humor and compassion for others could bring light to the darkest circumstances. In my 22 years of service to the DFT as Labor Relations Administrator, Director of Operations, and President, I heavily relied upon Patrick to give me information which helped me service our members. On behalf of every DFT President, from John Elliott to Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, I would like to congratulate and thank Patrick for his 30 years of service to the DFT and its membership. His service to us is how he chose to enjoy his retirement as a DPS teacher, and the DFT is grateful that he did. Thank you, Patrick, you’re one of a kind, and simply the best.

Video tribute to Pat: Tribute to Patrick Falcusan 

10/28/2024 Official List of Candidates for 2024 DFT Election

official list of candidates

President

  1. Nicole Conaway--EON/BAMN
  2. Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins--UTR

Vice President

  1. Robin Jennings--UTR
  2. Jason Posey--UTR
  3. Ingrid Rivers--EON/BAMN
  4. Marcus Walton--UTR

Recording Secretary

  1. Elena Brantley-Phillips--UTR

Treasurer

  1. Rodney Fresh--UTR

Executive Board

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

Trustees

  1. Cassandra Davis--UTR
  2. Mark Duffy--UTR
  3. Kimberly D. Mitchell--UTR


 

10/17/2024 AFT Plans Historic Partnership in Southeast Michigan

DFT and AFT

On Thursday, October 17, 2024 the DFT hosted AFT National President, Randi Weingarten, and Executive Vice President, Evelyn DeJesus, to create a historic partnership and grant between the Biden-Harris administration and Micron to bring Microprocessing Pathways to DPSCD's Career and Technical Education. Several people, including Detroit Deputy Mayor, Todd Bettison, Deputy Superintendent, Alycia Meriweather, White House Domestic Policy Council, Neera Tanden, along with Weingarten and DeJesus, toured Southeastern High School as part of their visit to Detroit. After the tour of the high school, about 30 individuals were invited to the DFT offices for a roundtable discussion. More information can be found here: https://www.aft.org/microtechnology-education-and-aft. This grant, which has been piloted in New York, is now coming to southeast Michigan and Minnesota. Stay tuned for more information.


DFT Mourns Loss of Executive Board Member, Crystal Lee

Crystal Lee

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Crystal Lee, an Executive Board Member. At the time of her passing, she was a teacher at Charles R. Drew Transition Center. She has served as an executive board member since 2020 and prior to that time, she was an Election Committee member. Crystal was elected a delegate to both state and national AFT conventions several times and served on various committees within the DFT over the years. She was a part of the School Union Committee at Drew and had previously served as its building representative.

At the December DFT General Membership Meeting she was honored with an empty chair.


 

Visitation is on Sunday, December 15th from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. at O. H. Pye, III Funeral Home, 17600 Plymouth Road in Detroit.

Family Hour/Visitation will be on Monday, December 16th from 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. at Triumph Church North Campus, 15600 J L Hudson Drive in Southfield. The Celebration of Life will follow at 10:00 a.m.

Condolences go out to her entire family and the staff at Drew Transition. She will be greatly missed by those who knew her, especially within the DFT community.

December Union Meeting Location Changed

The December 12 DFT General Membership Meeting location has been changed. We will be meeting at the Horatio Williams Foundation, 1010 Antietam in Detroit. The meeting is still scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.


DFT Biennial Election Results

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.


 

11/4/2024 Tribute to Patrick Falcusan: 30 Years of Service to DFT

Member Spotlight, Patrick Falcusan

Tribute written by President Emeritus, Keith R. Johnson

A SALUTE OF GRATITUDE TO PATRICK FALCUSAN 

From the day that Patrick Falcusan came to the DFT office 30 years ago to help President Emeritus, the late John Elliott, ascertain and assess the financial situation of the Detroit Public Schools (DPS), and our own roles, he has been an indispensable and invaluable asset to the DFT and our membership. One of the first things Patrick was able to ascertain was that DPS was still budgeting salaries and benefits for DFT members who were retired or even deceased. This was the precursor to unraveling the perpetual blend of fiscal mismanagement which inhibited DPS from delivering the level of education and support to our then 190,000 students. This ultimately led to the proliferation of charter schools which over time led to a mass exodus of students which has now brought us down to our current enrollment of approximately 50,000 students. While many in our community were demanding a forensic audit of DPS, Patrick was doing his own forensic audit, allowing us to bring indisputable facts to the bargaining table during negotiations. He proved to be an invaluable asset to us as we continued to negotiate contracts which could attract and retain the best teachers and maintain programs throughout DPS. As Patrick’s knowledge increased, so did the responsibilities he took on. One of the most important was advising our members as they prepared for retirement. Patrick had the uncanny ability to calculate almost to the penny, how much our members would receive in their pensions upon retirement. He would advise DFT members who were thinking about retirement that their service time would not give them their full benefits. Back around 1996, he advised many of us, including me, to buy five (5) years of time while that window was open, and to switch from the basic retirement plan to MIP, which would guarantee them a 3% increase every year to their pension upon their retirement. So many of our members who are now enjoying retirement owe a debt of gratitude to Patrick for the advice he gave them either personally, or in his detailed articles in The Detroit Teacher newspaper. Patrick’s value was not only measured in dollars and cents, but in his humanity and decency. I can say without fear of contradiction, that Patrick is one of the most beautiful and kind people I have ever known. His passion for our members, his patience, his kindness, and his great story telling while addressing an issue could calm even the most frustrated member. His humor and compassion for others could bring light to the darkest circumstances. In my 22 years of service to the DFT as Labor Relations Administrator, Director of Operations, and President, I heavily relied upon Patrick to give me information which helped me service our members. On behalf of every DFT President, from John Elliott to Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins, I would like to congratulate and thank Patrick for his 30 years of service to the DFT and its membership. His service to us is how he chose to enjoy his retirement as a DPS teacher, and the DFT is grateful that he did. Thank you, Patrick, you’re one of a kind, and simply the best.

Video tribute to Pat: Tribute to Patrick Falcusan 

10/28/2024 Official List of Candidates for 2024 DFT Election

official list of candidates

President

  1. Nicole Conaway--EON/BAMN
  2. Lakia Wilson-Lumpkins--UTR

Vice President

  1. Robin Jennings--UTR
  2. Jason Posey--UTR
  3. Ingrid Rivers--EON/BAMN
  4. Marcus Walton--UTR

Recording Secretary

  1. Elena Brantley-Phillips--UTR

Treasurer

  1. Rodney Fresh--UTR

Executive Board

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

Trustees

  1. Cassandra Davis--UTR
  2. Mark Duffy--UTR
  3. Kimberly D. Mitchell--UTR


 

10/17/2024 AFT Plans Historic Partnership in Southeast Michigan

DFT and AFT

On Thursday, October 17, 2024 the DFT hosted AFT National President, Randi Weingarten, and Executive Vice President, Evelyn DeJesus, to create a historic partnership and grant between the Biden-Harris administration and Micron to bring Microprocessing Pathways to DPSCD's Career and Technical Education. Several people, including Detroit Deputy Mayor, Todd Bettison, Deputy Superintendent, Alycia Meriweather, White House Domestic Policy Council, Neera Tanden, along with Weingarten and DeJesus, toured Southeastern High School as part of their visit to Detroit. After the tour of the high school, about 30 individuals were invited to the DFT offices for a roundtable discussion. More information can be found here: https://www.aft.org/microtechnology-education-and-aft. This grant, which has been piloted in New York, is now coming to southeast Michigan and Minnesota. Stay tuned for more information.