Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School Unionizes

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School teachers and non-supervisory staff voted late Wednesday to form a union with DC Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff. More than 90 percent of union-eligible staff voted in favor of a union. 

“Tonight’s vote is a powerful affirmation of what happens when educators come together with courage and clarity of purpose. The staff at Breakthrough Montessori have spoken with one voice—and that voice is calling for respect, partnership and a real seat at the table. We’re thrilled to welcome them into our union family and look forward to supporting them as they move forward with their first contract. This is what collective power looks like, and it’s just the beginning,” said Kelley Ukhun, president of DC ACTS. The vote was overseen by the National Labor Relations Board.

The school, which has 72 teachers and 388 pre-K through sixth-grade students, is located at 6923 Willow St. N.W. in Ward 4.

“This union is a manifestation of this incredible staff community we have built and our desire to be partners with a voice in our school,” said Sarah Magno, lead guide for first through third grade. 

“We did this together,” said Elena Ventura, lead guide for pre-K and kindergarten. “This was a collective effort rooted in love—love for our work, our school and, most of all, our students.”

Jasmine Haddad, lead guide for pre-K and kindergarten, added: “Standing together has been empowering. This step forward means we can build a stronger, more supportive environment for staff and students.”

DC ACTS, Local 1927, is an affiliate of the AFT. AFT President Randi Weingarten said: “This vote shows that Breakthrough Montessori educators overwhelmingly want a union to improve working and learning conditions—for a strong, more stable school. Shared decision-making at the bargaining table and a real voice for educators will help make Breakthrough Montessori an enviable public charter school where teachers want to teach and families want to send their children.”

DC ACTS represents educators and staff at Mundo Verde Public Charter School—where a collective bargaining agreement is already in place—as well as two other charter schools currently in negotiations for their first contracts: District of Columbia International School and Capital City Public Charter School.

With Breakthrough Montessori staff voting overwhelmingly to unionize, Ukhun said DC ACTS looks forward to working with their bargaining team to begin contract negotiations and reach a strong, fair agreement that reflects the values of the school community.