President's Message

A personal reflection on

the impact of teachers

WTU President Elizabeth Davis

This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week and the Washington Teachers' Union pays tribute to District of Columbia public school educators who use their God-given talents to champion the causes of students who are often unseen, unheard and unassisted. Current and retired teachers of the District of Columbia Public Schools are deeply committed educators who believe in the inherent dignity and worth of every student, irrespective of background, including Zip Code.

I recently received an invitation from the pastor of All Nations Baptist Church to speak at his church's Sunday (May 2) morning worship service to honor teachers for National Teacher Appreciation Week. I'd like to share some of my remarks with you.

While driving here this morning, I reflected on my years as a student in the DCPS system and the impact that teachers have had on my life as a student and a career educator in the DC public schools.

I thought about my first grade teacher in North Carolina, Ms. Whitley, who I loved so much that I literally memorized my Jack and Jill reader to prove my reading ability in her class. I remember being selected by Ms. Whitley to be the May Day queen who would lead the procession for wrapping the May pole on May Day. This was a major event and I was proud to be selected as the May Day queen.

I remember Ms. Whitley coming to my house on a Sunday afternoon to let my mother know I needed a white dress and socks for May Day. As I stood, clinging to one of my mother's legs, I watched Ms. Whitley in her crisp, starched dress and white gloves, standing on our porch, talking to MY mother! It was as if God had come to visit. I will always remember that image and how it began shaping my perceptions about the profession of teaching as being the most important profession in the world.

I attended elementary school through 3rd grade in a segregated school system in the North Carolina. My mother decided to move to DC to avoid having us attend racially segregated schools. I entered the public school system in DC on the cusp of Brown v. Board, so school districts were lagging behind on integrating its schools.

After moving to Washington, DC, I was enrolled in Buchanan Elementary School. I remember my first teacher at Buchanan as well. But it was not a fond memory. I was very quiet and shy with a thick southern accent and amazed about the fearlessness and boldness of my new friends and classmates.

My first teacher at Buchanan, and amazingly the only teacher I can remember, was Ms. Waddy. Although I was very young, I knew that Ms. Waddy didn't like me. I recall having to do a read aloud in the principal's office because Ms. Waddy did not believe the excellent grades on my report card from the South could possibly be equivalent to those at Buchanan and insisted that I was to be put back a grade. The reading and math test I was given proved her wrong so I remained in her class.

I can only remember one other incident during my term at Buchanan. This incident occurred when Ms. Waddy left us unattended to go to the restroom. By the time she returned, the classroom was in total chaos. I must have been the only kid still at my desk because everyone else was up and about, doing cartwheels and tumbles. I was so carried away by the scene that I rose from my seat to watch two boys wrestling on the floor.

Of course, when Ms. Waddy returned, she zoned in me, the only kid still at my desk, but still standing. Her words still linger in my head, "Sit down! Where do you think you are? On a farm?" I'm sure I must have learned something at Buchanan, because I graduated and continued school at Hine JHS and Eastern HS. But the only memories I have of my experience at Buchanan ES were of having to take a reading test in the principal's office and Ms. Waddy's reprimand.

Fortunately, at Hine and Eastern, I had the most amazing teachers who prompted me to never miss a day of school during my entire time in DC schools.

My school experience at Hine JHS and Eastern HS included rock star teachers like Ms. Jackson, my English teacher, my math teacher, Ms. Richardson, Mr. Rollins, my science teacher. At Eastern HS, teachers such as Ms. Davenport and Mr. McIntyre helped to repair the damage that Ms. Waddy had done at Buchanan. One thing I garnered from this experience was that the influence of teachers is far reaching and very powerful.

In solidarity,

Elizabeth "Liz" Davis 

Teacher Leaders to present findings

at Research Symposium on May 16  

WTU Teachers Leaders will present their research findings at a symposium at McKinley Tech High School, Sat., May 16, 9 am - 2 pm. Teacher Leaders are full-time classroom teachers who have been selected to join a nationwide network. They are taking an active role in influencing policy in a number of areas, including teacher leadership in school change, teacher preparation, professional development, the role of high stakes testing and teacher evaluation.

WTU Teacher Leaders have regularly discussed policies that impact student achievement and have participated in discussions with elected leaders and leading policy experts.

Attendance at the symposium is free and teachers will earn Four Professional Learning Units. Enjoy Networking and Great Food.

RSVP by May 8, 2015 at: dialogue@wtulocal6.net.  

Below are the symposium presenters and their topics

Imani Abdullah (Whittier Education Campus)

Teacher Effectiveness and Special Education Students in the General Education Setting

Maria Angala (Jefferson Academy)

Effects of After School PD on Teachers and Students

Olubusola Ayangbesan and Shakera Oliver (Brightwood Education Campus)

Cultural Competency: Examining Strategies for Special Education and Understanding of Sub-groups to Narrow the Achievement Gap

Busra Aydin (Noyes Elementary School)

Examination of students who read on grade level yet perform below grade level on varied assessment

Rajeeni Galloway (Marie Reed Education Campus)

Librarians are Life Lines for Student Achievement: A case for flexible scheduling

Alicia Hunter (Woodrow Wilson High School)

Competition in Public Schools: An Investment in Public Relations

Jessica Levknecht (Banneker Academic High School)

Multiple Choice Testing: Perception vs. Reality

Cheryl Miller (Takoma Education Campus)

Standardized Testing (PARCC) and Special Needs Students

Monica Moment (Banneker Academic High School)

ASK ME: I AM THE LEARNER

Jacqueline Pogue-Lyons (Savoy Elementary School)

Recruitment and Retention of New Teachers at Low Performing Urban Schools

Eric Porter (Hardy Middle School)

Homework: Why Won't You Do It?

Sarah Elwell (McKinley Technical High School)

WTU Teacher Leaders Program Coordinator