Teachers organize for students, parents and community as well as themselves: union president

Leslie Danage is starting her first full calendar year as President of Local 780 of the Peoria Federation of Teachers, and the union’s work is happening on many levels: planning for negotiations, organizing internally, enforcing the contract with Peoria Public Schools – and juggling everything in an atmosphere affected by national as well as local issues.

No union exists in a vacuum, but it can really suck to deal with multiple crises, if not chaos, coming from Washington, D.C.

For instance, on Nov. 18, the Trump administration announced what the New York Times called “an aggressive plan to continue dismantling the Education Department, ending the agency’s broad role in supporting academics at elementary and high schools and in expanding access to college.” Some of the department’s work is being transferred to other federal agencies with little experience in work such as distributing grants approved by Congress.

In Peoria, the challenges may be on a local level, but they’re real:

* in classrooms, the influence of technology, from ubiquitous smartphones to known and unknown impacts of Artificial Intelligence.

* outside classes, effects on students’ well-being challenged by social media and especially tied to family involvement;

* pressing state lawmakers to fulfill funding promises; and

* staying organized and nimble enough to cope with the “trickle-down” consequences of federal actions, whether the attempted elimination of the U.S. Dept. of Education or occasional fallout from the U.S. Supreme Court “Janus” decision seven years ago.

 

 “Public education is the great equalizer,” said Danage, a 47-year-old 2^nd grade teacher at Hines School whose involvement with the 1,000-mamber PFT has ranged from a union building representative to Woodruff Area Vice President.

A union colleague, Illinois Federation of Teachers President Stacy Davis Gates of Chicago, described moves to weaken the Dept. of Education  as "an assault on students, families, classrooms, and every principle of equity and public accountability – “a power grab.”

The American Federation of Teachers national president Randy Weingarten has said, “What’s happening now isn’t about slashing red tape. If that were the goal, teachers could help them do it. Teachers know how to make the federal role more effective, efficient and supportive of real learning – if only the administration would listen.”

There’s also the trend of smearing teachers, which has provoked Weingarten to defend teachers and public education, in speeches, testimony on Capitol Hill and her new book, “Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy,” a 256-page book that likens current attacks to foreign countries’ authoritarian regimes.

“Educators and schools—from pre-K to higher education—are under attack for teaching American history, for promoting excellence and equity, for valuing freedom of thought, and for protecting all children’s right to learn free from fear.” Weingarten said, “for seeing all of God’s children for the precious souls they are.

“Why?” she continued. “The perpetrators of these attacks fear what we do—the teaching of reason, of critical thinking, of honest history, of pluralism—because their brand of greed, power and privilege cannot survive in a democracy of diverse, educated citizens.

“Teachers solve problems for students, families and communities,” she added. “That begins even before a single textbook is cracked with fostering a sense of safety, dignity, and belonging for every child. So, I just want to say to all the teachers: thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Danage is more diplomatic than Weingarten, but even from 800 miles west of the nation’s capital, it can be difficult not to be alarmed.

“We don’t want to get political in a partisan way, but it’s a challenge to turn my advocacy  brain off,” she says, laughing. “Some of what’s going on is seeing ‘the bat signal.’ It’s time to build power.”

Power includes managing classes, of course, as well as ensuring their voice is heard at the state legislature.

For example. Peoria teachers are dealing with AI, Danage says, adding, “I have to give credit to Dr. Kherat [PPS Superintendent Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat] with providing us with tools.

“As far as social media, it’s at all [grade] levels [and] the District helps. Even what we post [as a union] is limited.  We exhaust every other avenue before we put something online.”

Finally, engaging legislators in Springfield is work teachers hope will bear fruit in coming months. Danage and Local 780 activists took part in the Illinois Federation of Teachers’ recent Lobby Day, and they plan to return for a follow-up Lobby Day this spring, when Danage will be added to the IFT Executive Board.

“Evidence-based funding is closing the gap, but not at the rate promised.”

Membership is stable despite the 2018 “Janus” ruling ending unions’ mandatory, partial "fair share" fees for Illinois’ public employees who benefit from union representation but don’t want to be required to help share the costs. The decision initially caused some membership drops statewide for public unions, but Local 780 responded by focusing on member engagement.

“When the union-busting mailers start arriving, we hear from people and explain things like the benefits of representation. We have a form to show people the fees they contribute stays here. Our goal is 100% [of the bargaining unit], and we’re at about 98%.”

Lastly, the teachers union strives to take members’ commitment to students, families and the community beyond school buildings – bringing teachers and Peorians together for public-service projects.

“We have something often, monthly in the summer,” Danage says. “We’ve worked with the Fire Fighters, the Peoria Park District, and the Salvation Army. Now, we’re partnering with [teachers union support staff] Local 6099 in a service project to help members in need during the holidays.”

Two community projects stand out for Danage, she says.

“We’ve lent a hand to the Foster Village program to put together backpacks and all kinds of supplies, from toothpaste to baby bottles,” she says, “and we help out with Peoria Grown, a group that get fresh food and milk and eggs and so on to people in the ‘food desert’ in the 61603, 61604 and 61605 zip codes.”

 

A ‘small-town girl’ leads one of area’s biggest unions

A few blocks south of downtown Peoria, 47-year-old Leslie Danage recounts how she came from the small, rural community of McLeansboro in southern Illinois to Peoria to teach in Peoria Public Schools, having gotten to know the city from her Southern Illinois University at Carbondale roommates, who brought her here for visits several times.

 

1. Do you have a hero, like a labor leader or teacher?

My grandmother, a lifelong educator who taught in the same town, at different levels, until she retired. My interest in teaching came from her, and she stayed active as a retired teacher.

 

2.  What’s a big issue in U.S. education, especially one that affects schools in metro Peoria?
Accountability – especially in families. Kids are “raised” by devices. Parenting has evolved; the educational system has not.

 

3. What’s the best advice you were ever given?

Don’t take things personal. Whatever people say, it’s a reflection of what’s going on inside them.

 

4.  Coming into your union position, did any unexpected challenge come to mind?

“It’s a challenge to turn my advocacy brain off. We [as a union] don’t want to get political in a partisan way, but some of what’s going on is seeing ‘the bat signal.’ It’s time to build power.

 

5. If you were about to be stranded somewhere and could only bring one album or movie (and you had the means to play them!), what would you bring?

Maybe Bob Marley, setting the vibe. No! No! I’d bring “Waiting to Exhale,” which is a great movie with an awesome soundtrack.