WEATHER ALERT
Former DTU president accused of fraud ‘accurately reported her compensation to the federal government,’ attorney says
Read full article: Former DTU president accused of fraud ‘accurately reported her compensation to the federal government,’ attorney saysOne day after the former president of Duval Teachers United was indicted and accused of conspiring to steal over $1 million, a high-profile attorney has provided a statement claiming she “accurately reported her compensation” to the federal government.
Tell Us: Former Duval teachers union leaders are accused of stealing millions from members. Were you affected?
Read full article: Tell Us: Former Duval teachers union leaders are accused of stealing millions from members. Were you affected?Terrie Brady, along with former DTU Vice President Ruby George, 81, have been accused of conspiring to steal more than $1.2 million each between 2013 and 2022.
Longtime Duval teachers union president retires in wake of FBI, IRS investigation
Read full article: Longtime Duval teachers union president retires in wake of FBI, IRS investigationTerrie Brady has served as the president of the teacher union that represents teachers and staff in Duval County Public Schools for over 20 years.
Duval County teachers union reaches tentative agreement to raise starting salaries to $48,700
Read full article: Duval County teachers union reaches tentative agreement to raise starting salaries to $48,700The union representing Duval County teachers has reached a tentative agreement with the school district to raise starting teacher pay.
Duval school board mulls new teaching certificate to boost retention
Read full article: Duval school board mulls new teaching certificate to boost retentionThe Duval County School board on Tuesday night will discuss adopting a new type of teaching certificate, as the district continues to grapple with a crippling shortage of classroom educators.
Duval County teachers predict ‘very, very bad situation’ for school staffing
Read full article: Duval County teachers predict ‘very, very bad situation’ for school staffingVoters in Duval County will decide on August 23, whether the district will raise the county’s property taxes by one millage rate as a means of funding teacher pay increases and improvement of Duval County Public Schools’ arts and athletic programs.
Starting pay for Duval County teachers bumped to $47,500 under new union agreement
Read full article: Starting pay for Duval County teachers bumped to $47,500 under new union agreementSome of Duval County’s teachers are going to get a pay bump after a new deal between the school district and the local union of education employees.
Florida sees substitute teacher shortage during pandemic
Read full article: Florida sees substitute teacher shortage during pandemicThe coronavirus pandemic altered how students learn in the classroom. Now, it’s the main factor behind a statewide substitute teacher shortage, according to the President of the Duval County Teachers United.
Head of local union: Plan to vaccinate teachers ‘limited’ but ‘better than nothing’
Read full article: Head of local union: Plan to vaccinate teachers ‘limited’ but ‘better than nothing’Currently, Florida limits vaccines to residents 65 and older and frontline medical providers such as doctors and nurses. The unions representing the state’s police officers and teachers both said Tuesday the governor’s announcement is welcome news but does not go far enough. At least 37 Florida educators and 27 law enforcement officers have died of COVID-19, according to the unions. There about 200,000 public school teachers and 100,000 support staff statewide and almost all of them are working on campus. She said the union will work with the local health department to get details about the federal vaccination site at Gateway Mall out to eligible teachers as soon as they become available.
Neptune Beach Elementary teacher’s assistant dies due to COVID-19 complications, board member says
Read full article: Neptune Beach Elementary teacher’s assistant dies due to COVID-19 complications, board member saysNEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – A teacher’s assistant at Neptune Beach Elementary has died due to COVID-19 complications, a Duval County School Board member confirmed. Ms. Martin was a beloved Paraprofessional at Neptune Beach Elementary who passed away from COVID, and a student at Twin Lakes has passed away from MIS-C, an illness thought to be COVID related,” Anderson wrote. Duval County teachers union president Terrie Brady confirmed Jeanne Martin died Monday morning. I’m so sad that we put someone’s life in danger,” said Neptune Beach Elementary School parent Manya Prescott. She had a huge heart and poured it into everything she did at Neptune Beach Elementary.
Despite inequities, vast majority of Duval teachers approve new contract, raises
Read full article: Despite inequities, vast majority of Duval teachers approve new contract, raisesJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duval County teachers voted overwhelmingly to approve a new contract that will provide raises for educators, especially first-year teachers. It set aside $400 million to raise the minimum salary for teachers and $100 million to provide veteran teachers a pay boost. In Duval County, the new starting annual salary would move up more than $6,000 to $45,891. “But I don’t believe this celebrated the success of our veteran teachers, and those that will actually be mentoring teachers,” Brady said. “We’re going to continue to negotiate for our veteran teachers and all teachers, and we hope to go back to the table as early as March.”
DCPS board reaches tentative deal with teachers union
Read full article: DCPS board reaches tentative deal with teachers unionJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County Public Schools board and Duval Teachers United have reached a tentative, three-year agreement, which includes pay raises for thousands of teachers but falls short of being considered by union leadership as a “fair” deal for veteran employees. In Duval County, it’s $45,891. The frustration in many districts, including Duval County’s, is that raising the base salary offers veteran teachers a fraction of the raise that newer, less-experienced teachers are provided. Brady and other union members told News4Jax that they understand that this equity issue was created in Tallahassee -- not the Duval County School Board chamber. “We want to at least maintain for our veteran teachers, it is not equitable, it’s not fair.
Less than 10% of Duval students have signed up for distance learning
Read full article: Less than 10% of Duval students have signed up for distance learningJACKSONVILLE, Fla. With three weeks until the first scheduled day of school, Duval County Public Schools are still working on a plan for how students will safely return to class. Public records show less than 10% of Duval County families have signed their children up for virtual learning options. District leaders have been questioning whether all students should be learning online. As of Friday, records showed 6,900 students were enrolled in Duval Countys distance learning program -- Duval HomeRoom. Terrie Brady, president of Duval Teachers United, said its creating a challenge for placing at-risk teachers who want to remain socially distanced.
Duval County students could be expected to wear masks on campus when schools reopen
Read full article: Duval County students could be expected to wear masks on campus when schools reopenJACKSONVILLE, Fla. Duval County students could be expected to wear masks on campus when schools reopen next month. And if they ride a bus, they will be required to wear them, as well. RELATED: Duval County schools left scrambling to adjust after state mandateThe president of the teachers union is very clear about what she thinks should be required of students. Brady said that decision needs to be made right away since the school district now has very little time to revamp its initial reopening plan. We are looking at doubling up some bus routes, and require students who are on the bus to wear masks and only have two students per seat, Hershey said.
Duval superintendent: District must be ready if some teachers don’t want to return this fall
Read full article: Duval superintendent: District must be ready if some teachers don’t want to return this fallJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A national poll published by USA Today this week found that 20% of teachers said they are unlikely to go back to school if their classrooms reopen in the fall. That could mean more than 1,500 Duval County teachers might not come back, if the USA Today survey results come to fruition. Terrie Brady, President of Duval Teachers United, said Thursday she doesn’t think there will be that kind of mass exodus of teachers leaving if the district chooses to reopen campuses. The USA Today poll also found that nearly two-thirds of teachers said they haven’t been able to properly do their jobs since most instruction was moved online. A separate USA Today poll of parents with at least one child in grades K-12 found that 6 in 10 would likely explore at-home learning options.
More than 450 Duval County school employees are reporting the need to self-isolate, according to the district
Read full article: More than 450 Duval County school employees are reporting the need to self-isolate, according to the districtJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – More than 450 Duval County school employees are reporting the need to self-isolate, according to the Duval County School District. This comes after school officials sent out a survey to school employees asking where they traveled over spring break. The school district announced Friday plans to extend spring break another week, with students returning to school on March 23. “It’s not a lot considering we have a school district of 13,000 employees,” Duval Teachers United President Terrie Brady said. It’s still unclear how many Duval County students might need to self-isolate due to possible exposure to the coronavirus.