Positive and Supportive Culture

The third strategic theme in the Douglas County School District Strategic Plan Framework is Positive and Supportive School Culture. The objectives of this theme are to “define and implement a high-performing working environment for all DCSD employees,” “enhance engagement for all DCSD employees through mutual respect and positive recognition,” and “enhance opportunities for all employees to be DCSD ambassadors who are informed and empowered in their professional practice.”

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Post Graduation Guidance and Preparation

Douglas County School District (DCSD) has committed to “increase stakeholder awareness of all post-graduate opportunities” and “enhance and increase sustainable, quality educational pathway opportunities for all students.” Post-graduation guidance and preparation have become increasingly important as the changing labor market requires more than just high-quality instruction.

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AFT members dive into candidate endorsement process

As the presidential elections inch closer and the field of candidates gets more and more competitive, AFT members are engaging, parsing campaign platforms, asking questions of the candidates, and voicing their priorities as educators, healthcare practitioners and public employees. Thus far, the AFT has hosted eight AFT Votes town halls in eight different locations across the country, giving members the opportunity to meet candidates in person and hear about their stands on education, working families, healthcare and other top-line issues. Also part of the AFT’s robust endorsement process: surveys, debate parties and lots of information on AFTVotes.org.

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Leyba: Beware of Sheep's Clothing this time of year

As many of you are aware, three of DCSD's seven school board seats are up for election on November 5th. Like previous school board elections, all the candidates are making promises and portraying themselves as defenders of public education, committed to our students, friends of the teachers and staff, unwavering supporters of our community.

 

But this year, unlike a number of previous school board elections, determining who is truly committed to the success of our schools and who is only saying things to win votes is less clear.

 

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Weingarten: Educators must save democracy

“Teachers have always had power,” AFT President Randi Weingarten told the crowd at the TEACH opening plenary Thursday afternoon. “We need to own our power. And we need to build our power so we can move our agenda—for our students and our families; for safe, welcoming and well-funded public schools; for affordable higher education; healthcare that is a right, not a privilege; a living wage; a decent retirement; a healthy climate and a strong democracy.”

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Best economy ever?

In AFT President Randi Weingarten’s latest column in the New York Times, she writes that, despite President Trump’s claims that we have the “best economy ever,” his policies are harming working and middle-class Americans, many of whom are struggling just to get by. “Our political and economic systems are so weighted toward the wealthy that opportunity will only come through the power of collective action,” she writes, using “the surest vehicles to increase opportunity for ordinary Americans”—public education, labor unions and voting. Read the full column.