AFT: Freedom to Speak

As president of Alliance/AFT, I enjoy the freedom of not being an employee of the district. (I did teach for many years with Dallas at Cowart, Kimball, and Cochran schools.)

This gives me the freedom from direct retaliation.

However, I cannot totally throw caution to the wind and must speak responsibly. Why? There is always the next issue after the current one.

Salaries, for example.

It is important for the people we represent that we are responsible and respected by decision makers--school board members, etc. Influence and ability to persuade is vital to improving the lot of teachers and school employees.

I regularly visit schools, talk with teachers and school employees, and communicate with employees via email, etc.

While I don't walk in the shoes of teachers and school employees, I get to see some of the less than professional administrators and how they misuse things like PDAS. I have represented countless members before the school board in grievance hearings and terminations.

I am committed to public education. It is why I do what I do. That means I am committed to teachers and school employees. These are the people that deliver the education to students.