AFT logo (reads AFT: Education, Healthcare, Public Services)

Teachers News | July 2026

AFT President Randi Weingarten gestures while delivering the State of the Union speech from behind the podium at the AFT's national convention. She is wearing a white suit and standing in front of a backdrop of photos of union members.

AFT president: Fight for freedom, opportunity and justice

In her State of the Union address, AFT President Randi Weingarten called the entire union to action at the national convention on July 16, telling participants that in a time when billionaires are wielding unprecedented power in politics, they are lacking the one thing that has consistently catalyzed change: the power of the people. She delivered a powerful message: “We will change the trajectory of this nation and secure a better future for all.”

AFT leaders and high school students celebrate CTE.

CTE builds essential life skills

At the AFT’s 2026 convention, high schoolers from Yonkers, N.Y., shared stories about their experiences with career and technical education at the Robert Halmi Sr. Academy of Film and Television. Their stories highlight that CTE is about more than technical skills and career preparation—it helps students learn who they are, discover new dreams and get inspired to change the world.

Three panelists on stage discuss the work of the Parents Circle – Families Forum.

Listening from the Heart program free on Share My Lesson

The AFT partnered with the Parents Circle – Families Forum to provide free online resources on Share My Lesson that teach students (and adults) how to listen to each other with empathy, have meaningful dialogue and focus on our shared humanity.

A graphic that features a group of children eating food.

How to support food-insecure students

Hunger affects more than physical health—it can affect students’ engagement, behavior, mental health and ability to learn. On July 28 at noon EDT, join experts from the Food Research & Action Center for a timely webinar on how schools can help address food insecurity and connect students and families to critical supports. Learn how federal nutrition programs improve student outcomes, explore practical strategies to increase access to nutritious food, and discover ways educators can advocate for every child’s well-being. Register now for this free, for-credit webinar, part of Share My Lesson's Summer of Learning webinar series, and help ensure students come to school nourished, focused and ready to learn.

Panelists speak at the AFT Teachers divisional meeting.

Professional development as a union-builder

The AFT Teachers divisional meeting at the AFT's 2026 convention in Washington, D.C., featured a lively panel on the power of professional issues to engage and mobilize members.

A hand reaches out to touch a butterfly. In American Educator: ‘Care Is a Muscle’

Traumatic experiences can lead to increased stress that affects student learning and well-being. While educators and other adults in school settings are not expected to be therapists, all adults can implement strategies that support emotional health for all students. In the Summer 2026 American Educator, the AFT’s Children’s Health and Well-Being programs Director Chelsea Prax explores trauma-informed practices that promote healing, de-escalate the stress response and create healthy boundaries and expectations—helping students build resilience, regulate their emotions and create space for learning.

Worth a read
A group of college students in a classroom.
 

A car next to a tower.