On September 10th, 2015, three days after the Seattle Education Association went on strike for a fair contract, I hosted a Community Forum, “Stand with Seattle Educators – Support a Fair Contract and High Quality Education for All.” The event was sponsored by the newly formed Coalition for the Schools Seattle Deserves, an alliance of educators, parents, and students. We are committed to the fight for professional pay with full compensation, fair teacher and staff evaluations, an end to high stakes standardized testing, workload relief, and racial equity in all aspects of education, most notably in discipline.
At the forum, educators, parents, students, and community members discussed not just the importance of this strike, but the next steps forward – including the need for a city-wide rally. You can watch the full Community Forum here, or view clips below.
Councilmember Kshama Sawant / Introduction & Greetings
Gary Thomas / Garfield High School Teacher & Bargaining Team Member
Jeff Treistman / Denny International Middle School, with a statement of solidarity from Shakell Walker & Mariela Mascorro, striking teachers from Pasco, WA
Matt Maley / Substitute Teacher
Jana Robbins / Lunch and Recess Matters
Shedrick Johnson / President of the Garfield Black Student Union
Shelly Hurley / Teacher at Graham Hill Elementary School & Bargaining Team Member
Rita Green / Education Chair of the Seattle King County NAACP
Jesse Hagopian / Teacher at Garfield High School
Nicole Grant / Secretary Treasurer of the King County Labor Council
Kshama Sawant / Seattle City Councilmember
Sarah McFarlane / Parent of a Seattle Public Schools student and a teacher from Shoreline, WA
Karen Strickland / President of the American Federation of Teachers Washington
Public Comment / All Public Comments
