• East Texas Members Accept Leadership Roles
• State Board of Education Meeting Now Online
• AFT Back-to-School Tour Wraps Up: Highlights from Houston
• AFT+ Member Benefits: Moving Van Discount

Members of the Texas AFT Professional Educators Group from Central ISD, Lufkin ISD and Nacogdoches ISD gathered on September 17 at the AFT east Texas regional office for part one of an interactive leadership training. Attendees were excited about the opportunity to become more involved in Texas AFT and received an official status as campus building representatives. 

The training featured information related to AFT's rich history of being the first education organization to embrace school reform and oppose racial segregation in public schools.  Members also were taught how to be effective campus leaders/communicators and received updated information regarding the federal Social Security Fairness Act to provide to employees in their respective districts. 

"I am proud to be a part of Texas AFT and our work to build a strong voice for teachers here in east Texas," stated Guyla Bryan, Lufkin ISD member.  "In 1916, a small handful of teachers outside of Chicago formed the American Federation of Teachers, which now has grown to 1.5 million members.  We too can build a strong organization which will represent our issues and concerns nationally, statewide, and now locally."

Stephen Wright, Texas AFT-PEG field representative, stated that additional local activists will receive part one of the leader training throughout the year, and additional parts of the leader training are forthcoming. 

For more information regarding the Texas AFT Professional Educators Group, visit www.texasaftpeg.org.

AFT Back-to-School Tour Wraps Up: Highlights from Houston

AFT's national back-to-school tour wound up on Sept. 10 after stops in St. Louis; Houston; Baltimore; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco; Kenmore, New York; Boston; and Philadelphia. The tour included visits to successful schools, community forums, and meetings with educators, congressional members, and other top federal, state and local officials.

"The beginning of a new school year is always a time of anticipation for students, teachers and school staff," AFT president Randi Weingarten said before the tour began. "Each day presents new opportunities to learn and grow, but for too many, each day also presents challenges to be overcome. It takes both a commitment to working collaboratively and a real sense of shared responsibility to support the good work being done in our schools and to make needed improvements."

Many of the tour events highlighted what Weingarten calls "the 4 C's"--children, community, collaboration and curriculum--which she believes must be a focus of any successful education plan. Along with that notion is Weingarten's call for elected and school officials to do school reform "with us, not to us," so that teachers are part of creating change rather than having it imposed upon them. AFT secretary-treasurer Antonia Cortese and executive vice president Lorretta Johnson joined Weingarten at different points during the tour.

Visit http://www.aft.org/tour/houston.htm to read highlights, view photos/video and listen to a radio ad sponsored by AFT and the Houston Federation of Teachers.

AFT members can save 20 percent on Budget Truck Rentals. That's a big help if you are moving within a local area.

Visit http://www.aft.org/aftplus/discounts/moving.htm to reserve a truck in your area and get the AFT member savings or call toll free at 800/561-1157.  Reference your AFT+ discount code.

Interstate moves?
AFT members can also save on interstate moves through North American Van Lines and Allied Van Lines.

Member rates include double the coverage on personal property protection, waiver of higher summer moving rates, an on-time delivery guarantee and professional, quality services.

Call toll-free to request an estimate. Please specify that you are a union member with AFT.

Allied Van Lines, 800/871-8864.  North American Van Lines, 800/524-5533.

Visit Texas AFT's Member Benefits page online at www.texasaft.org.  If you have questions about these or any other benefits please contact Barbara Lightheart, Texas AFT Member Benefits Representative, 1-800-222-3827 ext. 3215 or belightheart@texasaft.org.

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