Mother Crusader: National School Choice Group Finds Voucher Allies In New Brunswick; Looking For Spot On Board Of Ed

Mother Crusader: National School Choice Group Finds Voucher Allies In New Brunswick; Looking For Spot On Board Of Ed:

National School Choice Group Finds Voucher Allies In New Brunswick; Looking For Spot On Board Of Ed

by darciecima

I'm staying off this bandwagon...

Back in March Diane Ravitch posted about Rutgers student activist Stephanie Rivera's candidacy for the New Brunswick school board, and asked readers to donate to her campaign. Diane reposted Stephanie's request for help, which talked a lot about the "political machine" in New Brunswick and how for the last 20 years the board has been appointed by the mayor.

Election Day is April 16, and there’s a lot of work to be done between now and then. We’ll be going up against the political establishment of New Brunswick, which until now has been appointing the Board of Education and depriving New Brunswick youth and the community of the justice and quality education they deserve. For the past 20 YEARS, board members have been appointed by the same guy: New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill. And unbelievably, this is the first year in New Brunswick’s HISTORY that the Board of Education is ELECTED.

New Brunswick is right across the Raritan river from me, and I know Stephanie, but I stayed out of it and did not 

An 8 Yr Old Black Tennessee Child With Something to Say Is a "Prop" to Rabid Republican State Senator Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública

Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública:

An 8 Yr Old Black Tennessee Child With Something to Say Is a "Prop" to Rabid Republican State Senator

Popout 

Video Shows ‘Starve The Children’ Lawmaker Snubbing Little Girl, Calling Her A ‘Prop’

By Elisabeth Parker

2013/04/12-  addictinginfo.org

Tennessee State Senator Stacey Campfield accuses protesters of using eight-year-old Aamira Fetuga as a “prop” … after using her as a prop in this photo. Photo frompolitix.topix.com.

Tennessee Senate Bill 132 — scorned by opponents as the “Starve the Children” bill — went down in flames today, after 60 outraged protesters led by a gutsy eight-year-old girl marched on the capitol and publicly shamed State Senator Campfield into dropping this controversial legislation. But first, things got reeeeeallly ugly in Nashville, as recorded in a shocking video uploaded to YouTube by Eric Patton.

The professionally produced video from the Tennessean, as shown in a previous AI article, is easy on the eyes, and tells a charming tale of a spirited little girl telling Truth to Power. Patton’s homespun effort, on the other 

Education programs funding - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

Education programs funding - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress:

Bill Introduced: H.R.1386 Local School Board Governance and Flexibility Act

Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education programs funding - 10 hours ago

To support the local decision-making functions of local educational agencies by limiting the authority of the Secretary of Education to issue regulations, rules, grant conditions, and guidance materials, and for other purposes.

Bill Introduced: H.R.1358 STEM Opportunities Act of 2013

Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education programs funding - 10 hours ago

To direct the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to carry out programs and activities to ensure that Federal science agencies and institutions of higher education receiving Federal research and development funding are fully engaging their entire talent pool, and for other purposes.

Bill Introduced: H.R.1383 To amend title XIV of division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to equalize the treatment of States and outlying areas.

Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education programs funding - 10 hours ago

To amend title XIV of division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to equalize the treatment of States and outlying areas.

Bill Introduced: H.R.1251 Veteran Excellence Through Education Act of 2013

Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education programs funding - 10 hours ago

To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants with minority serving institutions for the purpose of establishing verified delivery systems to address social and academic problems facing veterans enrolled at such institutions, and for other purposes.

Bill Introduced: H.R.1318 Youth PROMISE Act

Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education programs funding - 1 day ago

To provide for evidence-based and promising practices related to juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity prevention and intervention to help build individual, family, and community strength and resiliency to ensure that youth lead productive, safe, healthy, gang-free, and law-abiding lives.

Bill Introduced: H.R.1222 Compact-Impact Aid Act of 2013

Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education programs funding - 3 days ago

To amend the Compact of Free Association of 1985 to provide for adequate Compact-impact aid to affected States and territories, and for other purposes.

Bill Introduced: H.R.1200 American Health Security Act of 2013

Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education programs funding - 3 days ago

To provide for health care for every American and to control the cost and enhance the quality of the health care system.

Bill Introduced: H.R.1386 Local School Board Governance and Flexibility Act

Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 11 hours ago

To support the local decision-making functions of local educational agencies by limiting the authority of the Secretary of Education to issue regulations, rules, grant conditions, and guidance materials, and for other purposes.

Bill Introduced: H.R.1383 To amend title XIV of division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to equalize the treatment of States and outlying areas.

Open Congress : Major Bill Actions in Education - 11 hours ago

To amend title XIV of division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to equalize the treatment of States and outlying areas.

Teachers For Social Justice: School Closings Curriculum - Teaching For Social Justice

Teachers For Social Justice: School Closings Curriculum - Teaching For Social Justice:

School Closings Curriculum - Teaching For Social Justice

by sarah-ji

Curriculum Created by Cyriac Mathew, a TSJer at Uplift Social Justice High School:

Teachers & Educators: Have your students learn about school closings and implement a related service-learning project! This is a two-week, work-in-progress curriculum to get our students to better understand some of the issues related to school closings and then make their voices heard. 

Whether you are a HS teacher or not-this curriculum is really important because it not only serves as a model of how to prepare young people to understand and change their world, but it also shows what teachers can 

Short Notes: Y’All Gone Learn Today [Open Letter] | The Jose Vilson

Short Notes: Y’All Gone Learn Today [Open Letter] | The Jose Vilson:

Short Notes: Y’All Gone Learn Today [Open Letter]

by Jose Vilson

Jay-Z Smoking, Possibly a Cuban

Last week, I wrote an open letter to educators in general, but specifically education activists, vested parties, and anyone interested in the workings of this circle. While the letter was met with plenty of praise, it had a few detractors, primarily from those who misunderstood the intent of the letter.
After a close reading and re-reading, I stand by the original letter, but shortly thereafter, I wrote a shorter version of the following as a rejoinder to those who misunderstood, because the letter applies to the last few centuries of race relations in this country, not just one particular incident.
I couldn’t care less what your affiliation is, who you represent, or what you’ve done. If the premise for why my letter has no validity is that “I wasn’t there,” then who exactly are you fighting for? It can’t be just you and your friends because I’m sure even your friends would disagree.
Furthermore, calling out a public school teacher for not being at an event you deem to be the pinnacle of your movement does not make you holier than anyone. In fact, even if I contributed less than a penny to your organization, the fact that I teach on a daily basis and throw everything into what I do for kids is EXACTLY what the movement needs. Seeking some wayward purity by demanding allegiance to your event speaks volumes about the stark difference between the movement you seek to create versus the movement that actually exists.
We can march and speak all we want, but to speak against students and teachers for not joining you at your event reeks of an elitism we can’t tolerate. Hope that helps.
In love and struggle,
Jose
P.S. – The letter wasn’t about her.
P.P.S. – “You’re an idiot, baby.” – Jay-Z by way of Bob Dylan

UPDATE: Rhee’s “Gravy Train” of Hypocrisy – @ the chalk face

Rhee’s “Gravy Train” of Hypocrisy – @ the chalk face:

Rhee’s “Gravy Train” of Hypocrisy

by plthomasedd

“Former Washington, D.C., schools chancellor Michelle Rhee had trouble recalling the names of South Carolina’s ‘key players’ after a quick visit to the State House on Wednesday. But state lawmakers may want to take note of hers,” reports The State (Columbia, SC).
But in a rare moment of candor and even more unusual modesty, when asked to estimate the size of her hypocrisy and dishonesty, Rhee merely gestured:

Jeff Chiu — ASSOCIATED PRESS

However, Rhee soon returned to her usual routine—bashing teachers:

Educators make excuses for failing schools, Rhee said. But, she added, “The bottom line is: The system did not become the way that it is by accident. It operates exactly the way it was designed to operate, which is in a wholly unaccountable, dysfunctional manner.
“So when you seek to change that dynamic” – including going after “low-performing” teachers – “you’re gonna have a whole lot of unhappy people on your hands. When you stop that gravy train, somebody is going to be unhappy.”

What does the gravy train in SC look like?

• SC teachers work in a right-to-work state, no unionization, no real power of any kind.
• SC teachers work in a state in the bottom quartile of states by poverty rates.
• SC teachers work within a state scarred by pockets of poverty, a “Corridor of Shame” in which many 

Intimidation from officials at the NYDE for #optout

by Chalk Face, PhD

This from someone on Facebook:

In NY, the following information was recently passed on to local teacher’s unions… and the fear continues:
–>Locals and individual union members who advise parents or students to “opt out” of state tests may face risks.
–>A teacher who, in conversations with students or parents, takes a position on testing contrary to 

“Tools” at NYC DOE, #smdh

by Chalk Face, PhD

A 27 year old with a political science or public policy background is now the COO of NYC public schools. And by tool, I mean he’s a signature on a form, just someone who needs to thoughtlessly rubber stamp just about anything.
Meanwhile, those of us who know a great deal about education are forced to scrape by and justify our existence.

We are encouraged to spread the @michellerhee memo. Will do.

by Chalk Face, PhD

A new “campaign,” spread the Merrow memo. Will do. Here it is.
Also, I must note that in 2011, we broke a little news here about Rhee concerning her extensive speaking fees. So, this is what all those folks were paying thousands of dollars to hear, from someone who can’t even remember if they received memo such as this. Criminal conduct aside, I’m calling rank incompetence at a minimum.

The #RNC passes resolution against #commoncore. Funny, but where’s @DWStweets on this?

by Chalk Face, PhD

Progressives, or Democrats or whatever, need to cast aside their unwavering support for this President and educate themselves on the CCSS. I know that the RNC is likely coming at this from the perspective that it’s affiliated with Obama or that it’s a Federal over reach, which are both true… technically.
But it’s more of a plutocratic over reach, the final chess pieces to assume corporate control over teaching, 

Guest column: Atlanta’s improving grades on ‘Nation’s Report Card’ at odds with its CRCT cheating scandal | Get Schooled

Guest column: Atlanta’s improving grades on ‘Nation’s Report Card’ at odds with its CRCT cheating scandal | Get Schooled:

Guest column: Atlanta’s improving grades on ‘Nation’s Report Card’ at odds with its CRCT cheating scandal

by Maureen Downey

Marshall S. Smith is a former under-secretary in the U. S. Department of Education. Nominated by President Bill Clinton, he served from 1993 to 2000.
Prior to his appointment as Under Secretary, Smith was a professor of education and Dean of the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University. Previously, he was an associate professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education and a professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he also served as the Director of the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. Smith earned both a master’s (1963) and a doctoral (1970) degree in measurement and statistics from the Harvard Graduate School of Education
In this guest column, he discusses an oddity of the APS cheating scandal: The system was showing notable progress on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which is known as the Nation’s Report Card. It wasn’t that Atlanta was leading the nation, but its progress was significant.
When we have discussed this in the …

Daily Kos: adding to the fun on Michelle Rhee

Daily Kos: adding to the fun on Michelle Rhee:

adding to the fun on Michelle Rhee

by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)

A brief & happy update on Leaves on the Current

by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)

whom as you can see above is delight by the lovely quilt given her by the Daily Kos community!
As I write this she is New Jersey for a nephew's first communion, having driven up with her brother-in-law on Friday evening.
Here's the good news:  she called me last night and told me she was able to get Gregor, her back brace, on and off by herself.  She was already able with Gregor off to undress herself for a shower.  Yesterday she was able to completely dress herself.   As she pointed out, that means she can now let me sleep through the night even when she needs to relieve herself.
If you take a look at the picture, besides the delighted expression on her face, to her right you can see a table on which we can put the most necessary items so she can reach them without getting out of bed or asking for my assistance.  She will usually have Miss Lilypad (her I-pad, visible on the quilt) or her computer or both on the bed, as well as her I-phone.
We are seeing real progress 11 weeks since this adventure began.
A few more observations.

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Jewish Community Letter Against School Closings

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Jewish Community Letter Against School Closings:

Jewish Community Letter Against School Closings

by Mike Klonsky

MARCH 2013 / PASSOVER 5773

“Rabbi Eliezer the son of Shamua would say: The dignity of your student should be as precious to you as your own.”
Pirkei Avot 4:12

Dear Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett,

As members of the Jewish community and as Chicago residents, we are deeply concerned about the threatened closing of over 50 public schools in Chicago. Rather than invest resources to improve our struggling schools, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is proposing to shut down an unprecedented number of them. Public opposition to the closings has been overwhelming, and with good reason. CPS questionably claims the schools are “under-utilized”; meanwhile, it has contracted for dozens of new charter schools to be built instead. Of particular concern is that CPS plans to disproportionately close schools in low-income communities and communities of color - neighborhoods already underserved by the City. This continues a pattern of educational inequity: since 2001, over 80 percent of schools affected by CPS closure or “turn-around” plans have been comprised of over 99 percent students of color. And past school closings have had disastrous consequences, severely disrupting students’ education, spiking violence, and removing institutions that were stabilizing forces in their communities.

This is why we stand in solidarity with the Grassroots Education Movement (GEM), the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), students and teachers to demand loudly and clearly: NO SCHOOL CLOSINGS!

Rabbi Brant Rosen, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation
Rabbi Daniel Grossman, Congregation Adath Israel
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb
Rabbi David Cooper
Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann
Rabbi Dov Taylor
Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay
Rabbi Menachem Cohen, Mitziut
Rabbi Alissa Wise, Jewish Voice for Peace
Cantor Michael Davis
Leora Abelson, Rabbinical Student
Jessica Rosenberg, Rabbinical Student
Ruhi Sophia Motzkin Rubenstein, Rabbinical Student
Hannah Spiro, Rabbinical Student
Jewish Solidarity and Action for Schools (JSAS)
Jews for Racial & Economic Justice
The Gan Project
Miriam Grossman, JSAS
Liz London, JSAS
Jeremy Siegman, JSAS
Lev Hirschhorn, JSAS
Wendy Mironov, JSAS
Marilyn Sneiderman
Ross Hyman
Adam Yalowitz
Amy B. Dean, The Century Foundation & ABD Ventures
Pamela Klier-Weidner
Daniel Kaplan
Hannah Chazin
Rachel Sumekh, Swipes for the Homeless
Scout Bratt
Abigail Weber
Allison Fisher, JSAS
Hannah Gelder, Avodah Alumna
Sarah Moskowitz
Eleanor Mulshine, Moishe House
Sarah Miles, JSAS/Moishe House
Amir Starr Weg
Jill Zenoff, The Gan Project
Martin Levine, Levine Partners Consulting
Stefanie Fox, JVP
Hasan Bhatti, AVID Chapel Hill
Yaniv Ron-El, University of Chicago
Laura Landau
Eleni Zimiles
Leila Shooshani, Moishe House Chicago
Haley Leibovitz, Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps
Jessica Schaffe, Jewish Child & Family Services
Mk Davis
Kelly Viselman, JSAS
Daniel Weyl
Elise Goldin, JRC
Shana Rubenstein, JSAS
Raphi Rechitsky
Elana Baurer, Georgetown University Law Center
Dani Baurer, Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps
Max Clemons
Sarah Richman
Erin Dubnow
Orli Ginsburg, Youth Organizations Umbrella (Y.O.U.)
Elie Zwiebel, AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps
Aaron Simmons, AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps
Traci Schlesinger
Simon Fisher, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Eli Goldberg
Asher Miller, JRC
Ross David Jacobs, CIWC
Emma Schwartz
Staci Akselrod
Emily Feder
Adam Reisberg
Rachel Brustein
Lily Gordon-Koven
Rebecca Katz
Talia Stein
Annie Greene
Simon Swartzman
Matthew Ginsberg-Jaeckle
Martin Ritter, CTU
Francine Greenberg-Reizen
Yasmin Salmi
Michael Klonsky
David, CPS
Diane Horwitz, Chicagoland Researchers and Advocates for Transformative Education
Katherine Kampf, Respect Children's Rights
Robin Koloms
Sara Abelson
Tammie Vinson, CTU
Miriam Socoloff
Michael Presser
Sylvia Margolin, KAM Isaiah Israel
Bill Dolnick
Carol Goldbaum, Congregation Or Chadash
Paula Baronn
Don Rose, Don Rose Communications
Marlene Slavitt, CTU Retiree Delegate
Abby Rosenstein
Pauline Lipman
Dan Newman
Rico Gutstein, Teachers for Social Justice (Chicago)
Myron Perlman
Sherrie Tillmon
Arlene Gloria Hirsch, CTU
Steve Bild
Sandra Cruz
Craig Seip
Liane Casten, CAPOW--Citizens Act to Protect Our Water
Leo Gorenstein
Victoria M. Jackson, CPS
Tina and Joab Oberlander, Am Yisrael Congregation
Phillip Cantor, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation
Frank Rawland
Summer Hale
Kate S Goldstein, Americorps Alum
Elena Solomon

Note: Organizations listed after names are for the purposes of identification only.

Organization/Congregation

For Identification Purposes Only

Ed Notes Online: Choose to Refuse: Rocking the World of Ed Deform as Parents Revolt Against Testing Child Abuse

Ed Notes Online: Choose to Refuse: Rocking the World of Ed Deform as Parents Revolt Against Testing Child Abuse:

Choose to Refuse: Rocking the World of Ed Deform as Parents Revolt Against Testing Child Abuse

by ed notes online

Parents: CHOOSE TO REFUSE! -- Change the Stakes

I've got to find my button: My child puked on your high stakes test

Let me remind you that at 3PM Sunday, at the Earth School on the Lower East Side, Jesse Hagopian who led the Seattle teacher test boycott, will be 
appearing with MORE presidential candidate Julie Cavanagh, who will take time off from collecting for COPE, defending people from grievances, and  preparing a major speech at the upcoming DA. MORE candidate for UFT Secretary Brian Jones will moderate.

I got back from the MORE meeting before 5PM today but find myself a day late and a meeting behind. So I'll report on Friday night's wonderful Change the Stakes meeting that on a rainy Friday afternoon/evening attracted 30 parents (mostly), some teachers and field test maven Fred Smith where the major topic was opting out of the tests, or as some are referring to it asCHOOSE TO REFUSE.

People told awful stories of sickened young children and even one about a child who refused to take the test and 

Video: Gary Rubinstein Uses Data to Smash Teacher Data Reports, Introduced by Julie Cavanagh

by ed notes online

Did you know that the always awesome Gary Rubinstein is running with MORE as an AFT/NYSUT Convention delegate?

In this video, Gary uses statistics to expose TDAs in a WOWSER performance. As Julie points out, Gary is another one of the amazing crew who have young kids at home, enforcing a  next-gen MORE theme: we are teachers and parents.

You should never miss Gary Rubinstein's Blog where, as a 20-year TFA alum he exposes so much of their propaganda that the people running that joint consider him a major threat since he attracts TFA readers. Gary will tell you right up front that it was the 20th Anniversary TFA event in Feb. 2011 where ed deform reigned that opened his eyes.

GEM had our own TFA spy, who is also running with MORE for Exec Bd,
there who blogged directly from that event -- click the tab at the top of this blog to read all her reports.

I'm sure it is due to the UFT role in the ed eval fiasco that turned Gary into a MORE supporter. Too bad we have little chance of winning as in a future world Gary could be at a next year's version of this weekend's NYSUT event 

Rhee Cheating Sh*tstorm: Part I | Mr. Teachbad

Rhee Cheating Sh*tstorm: Part I | Mr. Teachbad:

Rhee Cheating Sh*tstorm: Part I

by teachbad

There was an intensely-guarded internal memo about possible cheating on the DC CAS during Michelle Rhee’s tenure as chancellor in Washington, DC. After nearly five years, the memo has been freed. Learning Matters reporter John Merrow had been trying to get it for a long time. The work he has done in the run-up to this has been fantastic.

The memo in question is an internal DCPS communication summarizing the results of studies conducted by outside organizations hired to look into test irregularities indicative of cheating on DC’s city-wide test, the DC CAS, in 2008. The memo discussed the results of the reports, reviewed possible implications of the findings, and urged secrecy. It also began to map a strategy for moving ahead.

You should read it for yourself so I’m not cherry-picking quotes for you, but it seems clear the writer deems the existence of this information an emergency and warns of different ways it could break badly. It’s 4 pages long and interesting to read. Merrow spent a long time trying to get this. You can spend two minutes reading it. Think of it as a primary source you would want your students to read.

The memo provides evidence that cheating on the DC CAS was very likely much more widespread than had been 

‘Jews Are Evil’ Assignment Results In Student Boycott | toteachornototeach

‘Jews Are Evil’ Assignment Results In Student Boycott | toteachornototeach:

‘Jews Are Evil’ Assignment Results In Student Boycott

by aristotlethewise

‘Jews Are Evil’ Assignment
Results In Student Boycott 

By William McGuinness
An Albany High School teacher raised eyebrows and a flurry of complaints when an assignment required students to write from the perspective of the Nazis, New York Magazine reports.
Students were tasked with writing an argument that Jews are evil.
“You must argue that Jews are evil, and use solid rationale from government propaganda to convince me of your loyalty to the Third Reich!” the assignment, posted on the Times Union website, reads.
The Albany newspaper reports that one-third of students boycotted the assignment, prompting Albany Superintendent Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard to apologize to families, adding, “I don’t believe there was malice or intent to cause any insensitivities to our families of Jewish faith.”
The superintendent blamed tougher Common Core standards that require “sophisticated” writing linking English 

How Jeb Bush’s Foundation Excuses Away the Atlanta Cheating Scandal | Scathing Purple Musings

How Jeb Bush’s Foundation Excuses Away the Atlanta Cheating Scandal | Scathing Purple Musings:

How Jeb Bush’s Foundation Excuses Away the Atlanta Cheating Scandal

by Bob Sikes

They used Rick Pitino’s contract:

Incentive and reward systems comprise the foundation of a well-functioning society. In most professions, there is some kind of financial motivation for good performance, as well as negative consequences for poor performance. While some instances of “cheating” may occur on a small scale, the reward/consequence system has generally worked well as a motivator.
For example, many athletes and athletic coaches have reward systems factored into their contracts. Coach Rick Pitino will receive a $425,000 bonus for leading Louisville to the NCAA National Championship game. There is also a “Performance-Based-Pay” program in the NFL where players can earn additional pay based on their performance during a season. For all (ten of) you NHL fans, there is an entire list of performance based bonus items that could be included in a 

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Collaboration: Detrimental for Leadership Qualities?

Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Collaboration: Detrimental for Leadership Qualities?:

Common Core Collaboration: Detrimental for Leadership Qualities?

by stlgretchen

Common Core standards stress collaboration and groupthink.  The proponents will tell you it is necessary to make students successful, global thinkers and ready for the 21st century economy, whatever a 21st century economy looks like.

Not so fast.  An article in forbes.com details what makes a leader and it's not what the CCSS proponents are promising will equip your child with strong work skills and success.  From Leadership Tip: Hire the Quiet Neurotic, Not the Impressive Extrovert:

Most leaders are attracted to the guy or woman who seems confident and outgoing, unafraid in any situation or facing any challenge. They expect an extrovert to infuse any team with energy, to push ahead on projects and to motivate colleagues to do their best work. Meantime they have low expectations of anyone who appears neurotic, who seems withdrawn and too anxious to live up to their potential. Leaders expect neurotic employees to contribute little and to drag down colleagues

Real teachers, real leaders head up CORE’s slate for the CTU. | Fred Klonsky

Real teachers, real leaders head up CORE’s slate for the CTU. | Fred Klonsky:

Real teachers, real leaders head up CORE’s slate for the CTU.

by Fred Klonsky

They are real classroom teachers.
And their past term as leaders of the Chicago Teachers Union has proven that they are real union leaders.
They are all members of the Caucus of Rand and File Educators.
The CTU election is May 17th.


Karen Lewis is running again as President.
Karen taught chemistry for 22 years.
She has become an iconic figure across the country as a leader with vision, humor and the spine to stand up to the corporate and political powers that run this city.
She has a Master’s in Inner City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University and a Master’s of Fine Arts from Columbia College. During her tenure, Karen has received many awards including the Senator Paul Wellstone Award from Citizen Action Illinois and the A. Phillip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum Gentle Warrior.  Mrs. Lewis comes from a family of educators — her father, mother and husband, John Lewis, who is now retired, were