April 5, 2022

This afternoon, Representative Elizabeth Fiedler hosted a policy committee hearing on the topic of Toxic Schools. The hearing took place at the Seafarers Union Hall in Rep. Fiedler's 184th District.

PFT environmental scientist Jerry Roseman presented testimony on the ongoing facilities crisis. He joined Dr. Akira Drake Rodriguez, Assistant Professor, University of Pennslyvania Weitzman School of Design; Iggy Fletcher, Instructor, ATEI IBEW Local 98; and Edy Lai, 9th grader at Furness High School.

Prepared testimony can be accessed here.

Read a thread from the hearing right here.

Durin

April 5, 2022

In response to the murder of 15-year-old Juan Carlos Robles-Corana, and the separate shooting that critically injured a 13 year old, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA—"My heart breaks for the Duckrey school community, and especially for the family and loved ones of Juan Carlos Robles-Corana, just 15 years old, who was killed on his way home from school. Our students, our families, and our communities deserve so much more than to live with the constant fear of gun violence. I would be remiss not to include that a 13 year old boy remains in

Dr. King’s assassination while he was in Memphis supporting striking AFSCME workers is an event that is forever etched in my mind as a devastating example of the injustices that Black people have faced in this country for our entire lives.

So on this somber day, let us remember– beyond today, beyond tomorrow– what we must do as a society to truly live up to the legacy of Dr. King.

Let us remember all he fought for, all he accomplished, and what we must all do to carry on that legacy.

In thinking about this legacy and how his work is so intertwined with our ongoing work towards education justice

Sign up for the April 6th info session right here.

Read more from AFTPA:

AFT Pennsylvania has entered into a partnership with Misericordia University and Virtual Education Services Inc (VESi) to provide deeply discounted graduate courses online.

Members will be able to choose from 36 courses in General & Exceptional Education, Reading, ELL, and Early Childhood education and up to three courses per year. Up to 9 credits can be applied toward an advanced degree at Misericordia University, which can be applied or transferred to most colleges and universities in the United States.

A very valuable part