Press

JERRY JORDAN ON MICHIGAN STATE SHOOTING AND FIVE YEAR MEMORIAL OF PARKLAND SHOOTING

February 14, 2023

"Today we mark five years since the horrific mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where 17 lives were so brutally cut short. And today, America wakes up to the news of yet another mass school shooting, with three students killed and five more critically injured.

"Our hearts break for those killed and injured at Michigan State University last evening, and for every person impacted by this tragic and far too common occurrence.

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY JORDAN ON THE COMMONWEALTH COURT RULING DECLARING SCHOOL FUNDING UNCONSTITUTIONAL

February 7, 2023

PHILADELPHIA-- "Today's victory is years in the making, and in many ways a culmination of our fight for equitably funded public education-- and in many ways just a beginning. I am beyond elated that the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania recognized what we have said for decades: Pennsylvania's system of funding public education fails to meet its constitutional requirement to provide every child in our Commonwealth with a thorough and efficient system of public education.

"I offer my deep gratitude to the brave plaintiffs and their attorneys who put forth an irrefutable case-- a case rooted in the deep inhumanity of decades of disinvestment in our young people and communities. The work of Public Interest Law Center and Education Law Center PA is unparalleled.

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY JORDAN ON THE MURDER OF TYRE NICHOLS AT THE HANDS OF MEMPHIS POLICE

January 27, 2023

"Today and every day since we learned of the brutal murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police, he and his family and loved ones have been on my mind.

"As the nation braces for the release of what, by all accounts, is a simply horrific video, I know it stirs up many emotions. Today, Tyre Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells, asked a very poignant question: 'Where was the humanity?'

"Mrs. Wells talked about the love Tyre had for her, the impact of the loss on her family, and also noted, 'People try to say Black people only try to go after white officers. That's not true. We don't care what color the officer is. We want bad officers taken off the force.'

"Today, and every day, Black Lives Matter."

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY JORDAN ON MASS SHOOTING IN HALF MOON BAY, CA

January 23, 2023

"Again and again and again. Tonight, it’s Half Moon Bay enduring what should be unthinkable but is all too common in our nation.

"We mourn for the seven lives so cruelly cut short, for all those they leave behind, and for all impacted by this horrific mass shooting.

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY JORDAN ON MASS SHOOTING IN MONTEREY PARK, CA

January 22, 2023

"A night of celebration in Monterey Park--at a dance club after a nearby Lunar New Year celebration--turned into a scene of horror and devastation, and families are now left shattered.

"The shooting in Monterey Park, leaving at least ten dead and ten more injured, marks another catastrophic mass shooting that has become all too common in our nation.

PFT MEMBERS VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY TO ENDORSE HELEN GYM FOR PHILADELPHIA'S NEXT MAYOR

January 23, 2023

This afternoon, after completing a lengthy endorsement process, which included opportunities for every member to vote on an endorsement as well as a Mayoral forum to hear from candidates, PFT President Jerry Jordan hosted a news conference at Heston Elementary School to announce the results. Jordan enthusiastically announced the union's overwhelming support for Helen Gym. Jordan was joined by Heston's staff, and Building Representative Lenora Howard delivered powerful remarks and introduced our candidate for Mayor. Helen Gym spoke about what the endorsement means to her and the work ahead.

Jordan's prepared remarks are below and linked here.

A playback of the event, with remarks by Heston Building Representative Lenora Howard and Mayoral candidate Helen Gym can be viewed here.

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY JORDAN ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LAWSUIT CHALLENGING FACILITIES OVERSIGHT LAW

January 20, 2023

In response to the District's announcement of a lawsuit challenging the facilities oversight legislation passed in City Council in May, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA-- "It is disappointing that the District has chosen to challenge a duly passed law geared precisely towards addressing the ongoing facilities crisis in our schools. For years, this union has fought tirelessly to address the ongoing issues of lead, asbestos, mold, and other environmental hazards.

Meredith Elizalde Shares Poem in Honor of Son Nicolas at CeaseFirePA Vigil

On December 14th, PFT joined CeaseFirePA's vigil in honor of the tenth anniversary of the Sandy Hook mass shooting and in honor of the 15,000 lives of Pennsylvanians stolen by gun violence in the ten years since then.

Speakers at the event included:

Roz Pichardo (CeaseFirePA)
Chante Love (EMIR Healing Center)
Dennis Carradin (The Trauma Survivors Foundation)
Meredith Elizalde (mother of Nicolas, and PFT member)
Rev. Tonya Waller-Waddy
Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight (Mothers In Charge)
Adam Garber (CeaseFirePA)
Michael Reed

At the vigil, Meredith Elizalde read a poem she authored in honor of her son Nicolas, "What Does the Green Bird See?" Meredith began by saying, "Dedicated to Nick Elizalde: The greatest honor of my life was to be your mother. The second greatest honor of my life was to hold you as you died. May we all be blessed to see the world and our role in it, as you did. Rest in power."

LeShawna Coleman and Gemayel Keyes featured in American Educator: Philadelphia's Paraprofessional-to-Teacher Pipeline

December 2022

In the Winter issue of American Educator, PFT staff representative LeShawna Coleman and teacher resident Gemayel Keyes delve into the PFT paraprofessionals pathway program. A must read!

PFT PRESIDENT JERRY JORDAN ON SHOOTING OUTSIDE OF OVERBROOK HIGH SCHOOL

November 23, 2022

In response to the shooting outside of Overbrook High School at dismissal today, PFT President Jerry Jordan issued the following statement:

PHILADELPHIA—"The ongoing scourge of gun violence continues to plague our city and our nation. I am enraged by the shooting outside of Overbrook High School this afternoon that injured four students and surely traumatized so many more students, staff, and community members.