|
|
|
AFT TEACH summer conference a hit with CFT participants |
 |
 |
“Making a Difference Every Day” was the theme of the 2011 AFT TEACH conference held July 11-13 in Washington, D.C. The TEACH conference was renamed by AFT this year and stands for “Together Educating America’s
Children.”
Attended by more than 2,000 educators from across the nation, TEACH showcased the groundbreaking work taking place throughout the AFT. Two dozen mini-plenary sessions focused on a wide range of issues, including the Common Core Standards, teacher development and evaluation systems, and labor-management collaboration. AFT President Randi Weingarten highlighted successful education reforms and programs that have helped many school districts and countries improve academic achievement.
Dozens of CFT members were in attendance to hear Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman speak about the importance of unions as the backbone of the middle class. Krugman said unions are not only fighting the decline in average wealth for their members, but also working to preserve and expand a strong safety net for ordinary citizens and lifting wages and working conditions across the board.
The conference also provided an opportunity for some of our new CFT leaders to have discussions with many of their AFT counterparts. President Josh Pechthalt, along with Secretary Treasurer Jeff Freitas, Executive Director Dan Martin, and Organizing Director Sandra Weese, had constructive meetings with AFT President Weingarten, Ann Mitchell, Director for Affiliate Services; Jon Ost, Political Director, Phil Kugler, Director for Organizing; Jessica Smith, Deputy Director for Organizing; Sol Smith, Western Regional Director; national field representatives and others.
|
|
