Voting on the DFT tentative contract agreement with the Detroit Public Schools Community District has been extended from Wednesday, July 19 to Friday, July 21.

Ballots must be postmarked by that date.  Ballots will be counted on Thursday, July 27, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees headquarters, located at 115 West Willis St., Detroit, MI 48201-1809.  Members will have the opportunity to observe the ballot-counting process at that time.

Remember, if you have questions regarding our Tentative Agreement with DPSCD, please call us at 313-875-3500, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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

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. 

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

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

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 

Republicans in Lansing are getting ready to launch a new round of attacks on working families next week, and we need to start fighting back right now.

These new bills are being pushed by the billionaire DeVos family to destroy pensions for newly-hired teachers, librarians, and bus drivers.

Call your legislator right now at 866-834-6910.

READ MORE: http://miaflcio.org/2017/05/call-legislation-tell-protect-teacher-pensions/

AFT Detroit calls on the DPSCD administration to understand the important role that we play and negotiate with us accordingly. 

We’ve been team players. We’ve sacrificed a significant portion of our salaries in recent years.  Now, we say with one voice: What’s best for educators and support staff is best for students.

READ MORE: https://michronicleonline.com/2017/05/10/whats-best-for-educators-and-support-staff-is-best-for-students/

What's best for educators is best for students!  Let's put students first and negotiate a fair contract before the end of the school year!