News from AFT Teachers Archive

At gatherings big and small, in cities and towns, on street corners, campuses, bridges and town squares, in parks, train stations, city halls and more, AFT members will join with allies nationwide on Oct. 18 for a “No Kings” day of action even bigger than the one we held in June. Millions of people are coming together to reclaim our democracy, denounce Trump’s authoritarian power grab and peacefully embrace the power of the people to demand dignity, affordability and opportunity for all. Here’s how you and your colleagues can get involved. And here’s where you can find an event near you.

 

This year, Martha Strever marks 65 years of teaching at Linden Avenue Middle School in Red Hook, N.Y., and she isn’t stopping. From chalkboards and model rockets to Macs and artificial intelligence, she’s embraced every change while keeping students first. Beloved across generations, Strever says her purpose remains simple: “I just love the children.” Read her story here.

 

The AFT’s Share My Lesson is your go-to resource for Native American Heritage Month in November, with this free preK-12 collection of resources. Choose from lessons about Native American boarding schools, tribal sovereignty, land rights activists and more; watch video reflections from tribal citizens who are rock 'n' roll musicians; or read blog posts from enrolled teachers about what it means to be Native American today. More resources are available from the National Museum of the American Indian and from Native Land Digital, which helps you understand where Indigenous people’s territories were before colonization.

 

Back by popular demand: Award-winning author Jason Reynolds returns to the AFT Book Club on Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. EDT, joined by AFT President Randi Weingarten. Reynolds—whose first Book Club event was the No. 1 Share My Lesson webinar of 2024—will share stories of truth-telling, empathy and hope, and how literature can help students find their voices and engage in critical thinking. This free, for-credit event also ties into StoryCorps’ The Great Thanksgiving Listen, a national movement to record and preserve intergenerational stories. Don’t miss this inspiring evening of storytelling, reflection and connection. Register here.

 

AFT members dove into the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, Sept. 24-28, one of the most powerful gatherings in the country, joining more than 10,000 Black members of Congress, unionists, civic leaders, creatives, healthcare professionals, activists, advocates and more to strategize, learn and move forward in challenging times. The AFT sponsored several events at the conference. Read more here.

 

We may be living through challenging times, but AFT members are stepping up to counter threats to public education despite divisive tactics and attacks. In the fall issue of American Educator, we share five inspiring stories from members who continue to make a difference in students’ and communities’ lives every day—supporting students’ mental health, countering disinformation, keeping immigrant families safe, preparing new teachers, and transitioning students with disabilities into college and careers.  

 

In this AFT Voices post, an English as a second language teacher highlights the stark contrast between the hopeful energy of a new school year and the grim reality for immigrant children held in federal custody. While most students return to welcoming classrooms, thousands of immigrant children are denied meaningful education—receiving minimal instruction with no credits or progress. This is not just an immigration issue—it’s also an education crisis.