20 years in APS at H-B Woodlawn

30+ years total (Loudoun and Fairfax Public Schools)

APS Parent of 2017 and 2021 graduates (undying gratitude to APS teachers and support staff at all levels)

Please join me in building our local union that will not give in to the APS Cabinet and School Board.

This is an important time for APS hard working student-facing APS staff. Four independent labor lawyers have confirmed in conversations that this resolution and its guidelines are defective, poorly written, unreasonable and give too much power to the Cabinet and School Board.

Until it is scrapped in favor of the same collaborative efforts modeled by our own Arlington County leadership in crafting a true authentic collective bargaining resolution, join me in VOTING NO on any ballot regarding any organization that wants to move forward under this resolution.

Physics loving APS teacher
APS parent

I am in my 32nd year of teaching physics and my 29th year working at Yorktown High School. I absolutely love teaching, love physics, and love the amazing colleagues I have.

I am excited to move forward with Arlington Teaching Union (ATU). ATU is Arlington run, Arlington staffed, and Arlington focused. ATU focuses on one thing and only one thing–the needs of Arlington educators.

Change is needed and we need strong leadership and strong teachers to move us forward. ATU represents the start of this change.

I am in my 23rd year as an educator. I teach health and physical education. I have spent all of my time in APS at Gunston Middle School. Being an educator is my calling.

Since we shutdown in March 2020 I have been searching for an organization that will speak for all educators. This is why I am proud to move forward with the Arlington Teachers Union (ATU). ATU is Arlington run, Arlington staffed, and Arlington focused. ATU speaks for and represents all educators (assistants, bus drivers, custodians, T-scale staff, etc.). Our funding will be local and stay local—no national or state organization that will have conflicting agendas to the needs of Arlington Educators. This is why I am ATU strong.

English Teacher / Theatre Teacher
Washington – Liberty High School
9 years teaching experience (George Mason, South Korea, APS)

6 years teaching in APS at W-L
AP, IB, Special Ed classes
English and Theatre
W-L Teacher of the Year, 2023

It has unfortunately become harder to feel proud about being an APS teacher with each subsequent year. The county has shown, time and again, that they do not value the voices, autonomy, efforts, or input of their teachers. The Collective Bargaining Resolution that they have come up with, and that the AEA is acquiescing to, further shows this.

We will not entice talented, passionate teachers to come to APS and serve our deserving students with policies that effectively silence us. The answers to the problems of education will not be found through secret conversations or more administrative staff at central office. Teachers who are working with students every day need a seat at the table and to be a part of the conversation and that is why I am supporting ATU. Nothing for us without us.

Spanish teacher
Wakefield HS
17 years teaching in APS

Passionate, dedicated educator with 20+ years as a teacher (Perú, Spain)

Middle and High School, Immersion and EL classroom experience

Joining together as a LOCAL APS union has never been more important. Strong, healthy teachers are necessary for a dynamic, functioning APS and for our students to thrive.

The time is now to stand together against the Collective Bargaining Resolution put forth by APS and passed by the School Board. This resolution is far inferior to Collective Bargaining agreements brought forth in other VA localities. We must unite against negotiating with this current resolution - meaning we vote NO and do not support any teacher organization that accepts this APS bad faith resolution. By voting NO on any ballot to bargain based on a bad resolution, APS will have to pass a fair Collective Bargaining Resolution.

Join us in creating a teacher’s union that is transparent, local (lower dues because our money stays here!), and willing to take a hard stand to ensure our school system continues to work for all of us!

Spanish
23 years of teaching experience; 8 years at HB

Certified in Spanish, ESOL, and Administration & Supervision

Adjunct Professor & Doctoral Candidate

Married to husband Reggie/Owner of three chihuahuas

Teachers are trained to be instructional leaders: they analyze the needs of their students and design innovative learning experiences in their content areas. The more top-down initiatives and standardized tests that come from the central office (without our input) the more teachers and students feel frustrated and excluded from the curriculum. I believe this organization will work to protect our autonomy and help teachers serve diverse and changing populations.