AFT-WV president Judy Hale
Judy Hale: The AFT works hard for better schools
(An opinion editorial as printed in the Charleston Daily Mail on Sept. 10, 2009.)
The media, and in particular, the Daily Mail, seem to believe that teacher unions serve no other purpose than to block reform and lobby for salary and benefit increases. This is a myth; it is not reality. The Daily Mail does not report or editorialize about our efforts and support for measures to build better schools and our work to improve instruction and public education.
But we did more than just talk the talk. We contributed the legal limit, $1,000, to passage of the bond, placed over 400 yard signs in support of the measure across the county, sent multiple mailings to all union and education personnel in the county, and conducted phone banks.
With passage of the bond, students throughout the county will now have the opportunity to be educated in schools that are equipped with the latest technology and resources.
Our members "get it." They understand the importance of working with business groups to create an educational infrastructure to attract and retain businesses. It is our hope that we can replicate this outcome and help pass the Berkeley County school construction bond later this month.
Scant attention is focused on our advocacy for programs that help ensure our students receive instruction consistent with the latest educational strategies.
Our Educational Research and Dissemination Program is a research-based professional development program and meets the criteria for "high quality professional development" as defined in the No Child Left Behind Act. The program delivers scientifically based research in a focused, sustained framework that promotes the application of research-validated concepts and strategies.
It has been used successfully in Kanawha and other counties and as part of state Department of Education training and at the Center for Professional Development Trainings.
AFT's recently formed "Innovation Fund" to foster reform, support risk-taking, and share responsibility for strengthening public schools has received little attention as well. Funds will be available to build and support collaborative relationships in our counties to achieve the aforementioned goals.
Initial funding has come from such notable foundations as the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, as well as $1 million from AFT.
We understand that our state's ability to participate in the national and global economy hinges on our ability to provide a world-class education. We get it.
That is why we created an innovation fund to help build the capacity of education personnel to provide high-quality instruction and help close the achievement gap.
The myths about teacher unions are not only wrong, but they hinder our efforts to create a social, economic and cultural climate in which education is encouraged and respected.