Sports

3 Kristaps Porzingas (6) blocks the attempt during a Washington Wizards win over the Minnesota Timberwolves 142 - 127 at Capital One Arena, in Northwest on Nov. 28. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

6 Daniel Gafford (21) blocks the attempt during a Washington Wizards win over the Minnesota Timberwolves 142 - 127 at Capital One Arena, in Northwest on Nov. 28. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

5 Montez Sweat (90), sacks Atlanta Falcons Quarterback, Marcus Marriota during a Washington Wizards win 1913 at FedEx Field in Landover on Nov. 27. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer) 4 Brian Robinson, Jr. (8) extends for the touchdown during a Washington Wizards win over the Atlanta Falcons 19-13 at FedEx Field in Landover on Nov. 27. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

(Far left) Deni Advija (9) leaps for a layup during a Washington Wizards win over the Minnesota Timberwolves 142 - 127 at Capital One Arena, in Northwest on Nov. 28. (Abdullah Konte/The Washington Informer)

CONTRACT from Page 23

new contract would receive an increase of $50 in annual startup funds that can be used to purchase classroom supplies.

Starting this school year, social workers, school psychologists, special education instructors and other in-demand employees would also receive a $1,500 stipend.

Once WTU members approve the contract, it will go before the D.C. Council. Given the amount of time it took to solidify a new contract, this particular agreement, intended for 2019-2023, would expire by the end of the school year.

That means an entirely new process would take place within the next six months.

In a joint statement, Bowser, DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee and WTU President Jacqueline Pogue Lyons recognized the work of the more than 5,000 DCPS teachers and touted the contract as a means of boosting morale amid an ongoing teacher shortage.

At the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic year, DCPS had more than 100 staff vacancies. By that time, substitute teachers, and even DCPS central office staff members, entered the classroom. When DCPS announced incentives for retirees to return to the classroom earlier this year, substitute teachers also stood up in demand of higher wages along with protections and benefits.

In September, Bowser reached a contractual agreement with the Council of School Officers, a group that represents more than 800 school leaders and service providers. They too had been without a contract for a couple of years. The terms of the new contract included a 12.5 % pay increase over four years and extra duty pay supplement.

On November 23, Pogue-Lyons expressed her excitement about reaching a similar milestone. "We love our teachers, and we want Washington, D.C. to be the number one city for teachers --a city where teachers stay at their school and live in the city," Pogue-Lyons said. "Beyond pay and benefits, it was important for this agreement to reflect the district has for teachers and the work they do for D.C. students. We will continue to work together and across government to make sure schools, teachers and students have what they need to do well.”

A BIGGER QUESTION OF HOW TO RETAIN TEACHERS

A report compiled by the D.C. State Board of Education last year showed that 25% of District teachers left the classroom within six years -- compared to the pre-pandemic national average of 16 %. During a D.C. Council hearing earlier this year, teachers, librarians and community members offered several suggestions about how to tackle this issue.

A District parent, who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity, said that the teacher shortage has threatened the consistency in her son’s coursework at Jackson-Reed High School in Northwest. She said he switched out of an overcrowded class that overwhelmed a teacher.

For this parent, teaching has no longer become an attractive profession, even for those dedicated to the craft. With everything falling back on teachers, not even some parents have a collaborative spirit, the mother added.

That’s why she thinks that, even with a tentative contract, public school teachers still lose some sort of autonomy.

“Teachers are pigeonholed by rules, regulation and classroom structure,” the parent said.

“Everything is spoon fed to them which removes creativity and [the ability to] teach children where they are. Teachers feel a need to adhere to rules and schedules which can be stressful especially if classroom performance isn’t where it needs to be.” WI