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PFT PRESIDENT JERRY JORDAN ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BASIC EDUCATION FUNDING COMMISSION

January 11, 2024

Following the release of the Basic Education Funding Commission report, PFT President Jerry T. Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA--"I applaud the Basic Education Funding Commission for their bipartisan commitment to examining school funding inequities in our Commonwealth, and specifically the Democratic committee members and individuals representing Governor Shapiro's administration for laying out a plan that addresses many of the inequities that we have shined a light on for years.

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PFT PRESIDENT JERRY T. JORDAN ON MAYOR CHERELLE L. PARKER'S APPOINTMENT OF JOYCE WILKERSON TO THE SCHOOL BOARD

right is right

April 29, 2024

Following Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's subsequent appointment of Joyce Wilkerson to fill the vacant School Board position, PFT President Jerry T. Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA-- "Right is right. And Mayor Cherelle L. Parker was right to nominate Joyce Wilkerson to the first School Board under the Parker administration. Mayor Parker was right to continue to push for Joyce Wilkerson's reappointment, despite tremendous headwinds. 

"And Mayor Parker was absolutely right in appointing Joyce Wilkerson to fill the vacant position

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Member Message: October 19, 2023

Dear Members,


This weekend, I am headed to Houston to participate in the AFT’s Civil, Human, & Women’s Rights conference, along with PFT Staff Representative Wendy G. Coleman.


During this deeply troubling time, I am looking forward to joining with colleagues from across the nation to talk about our collective work towards a better, more equitable, and more just tomorrow.


I think about the upcoming conference in the context of the atrocities we are seeing unfold in the Israel-Hamas War. As I shared last week, our deepest sympathies are with every single individual impacted by this

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Meeting the Moment in State Budget 2024: Investing in Public Education and Rejecting Voucher Schemes in Pennsylvania

A coalition of labor and community organizations issued a

Pro Public Education
 document outlining the urgency of a full investment in public education-- both a moral imperative and now, an imperative codified by law in the landmark school funding case. Pennsylvania has long neglected its constitutional requirement to provide every child with a thorough and efficient system of public education, and the 2024 budget is the moment we have to get it right. 

This coalition came together to issue not only a strong pro-public education message but also to emphasize our collective repudiation of vouchers in any form. The document issued by the coalition includes a host of research on the unproven, harmful impacts of investing public dollars in private institutions. Public education is a public good.

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PFT PRESIDENT JERRY T. JORDAN ON THE INAUGURATION OF MAYOR CHERELLE L. PARKER

Mayor Parker

January 2, 2024

After attending the inauguration of Philadelphia's Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, alongside the members of City Council and Philadelphia's row offices, PFT President Jerry T. Jordan shared the following:

"I was honored to witness this historic event today. Watching our 100th Mayor, Cherelle L. Parker, be sworn in, was a poignant moment— and a real reminder to our young people, especially young Black girls—that they, too, can achieve such greatness. I look forward to a productive partnership with Mayor Parker."

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Our congratulatory posts can be found on Facebook (here and he

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PFT PRESIDENT JERRY JORDAN ON THE DEATH OF DR. CONSTANCE CLAYTON

DrClayton

Following the death of Dr. Constance Clayton, beloved former Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement:


PHILADELPHIA--"Dr. Constance Clayton was the best Superintendent I've ever known, and the students and staff of our school system and our city at-large are better for her service. Dr. Clayton at her core was an educator, a mentor, and one of the staunchest advocates for children that I've met. 

"I was always struck by how Dr. Clayton ended every speech she delivered: 'Remember, the children come first.' She lived by those words, and her leadership was defined by that unwavering commitment. This credo was inextricably linked to every action she took as a superintendent. 

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