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Happy Friday! For some of us, the week started with a trip to Richmond for VEA Lobby Day. We had the opportunity to speak 1:1 with our local elected leaders, view proceedings on both the Senate and House sides, and take a picture with our newly elected Governor, Abigail Spanberger (photo below). If you're ever curious about the bills that VEA is supporting, you can check here: Legislative and Policy Work in Education | Virginia Education Association. Some of these bills started as New Business Items at our VA Conventions--some were initiated by members in Arlington!
Our newly formed Organizing Committee met this week, and as the name might suggest, they are a very organized group! In conjunction with our member organizers, they have been reaching out to a lot of members by phone, and they have many school visits and reach outs planned. One of our visits occurred this morning at Barcroft ES (photo above). We had a visit full of energy and a lot of great conversations. Thank you to Johanna Garay and Tobie McPhail (our building reps at Barcroft) for the invitation and the hospitality.
Congratulations!
Thank you for all that you do!
Congratulations to AEA member Conor O'Rourke of Drew ES for being named an APS All-Star for February.
At the Thursday School Board meeting, the School Board and Superintendent recognized the following AEA members for their milestone years of service.
Congratulations on 40 Years of Service – Kathleen Moore, Alexander Robinson.
Congratulations on 35 Years of Service: Roxana Alfaro, Tenita Chapman, Florence Dale, Cynthia Pelham, and Helene Stainback
Congratulations on 30 Years of Service: Aminta Branco, Andrea Donovan, Richel Haslam-Hemmer, Heidi Heim, Jeffrey Humphries, Katherine Kaplow, David Koppelman, Katherine McFail, Karen Navarro and Valerie Reid-Smith
Congratulations on 25 Years of Service: Danielle Anctil, Shiree Ball, Ashley Berger. Reyna Berrios, Ratree Bracey, Olga Cottom, Yasmin Escalante, Bruce Fort, Michelle Harris, Tanya Hileman, Victoria Keish, Peter Khlen, Michele Mautawalli, Lucinda Medrano, Angeliki Mike, Mahammad Mughal, Marcellious Nesbitt-Gaines, Noralee Nevius, Helen Parkhurst, Marylydia Perez, Towanda Peters, Anh Phan, Evin Rodriguez, Michael Smalley, Kathryn Speakman, Susan Spranger, Irina Stumpo, Marlon Telleria, Myrel Umila, Holly Webb, Adje Wilson-Bahun, Portia Wilson
Show your Solidarity
We're sick of the snowcrete. And billionaire fascists who have no regard for the workers who made their wealth possible.
If you are too — or just need a reason to hang out! — come warm up with the DC labor community next week at the Dew Drop Inn, where a portion of drink proceeds will go towards supporting the 300 laid off, Guild-eligible employees at the Washington Post.
When: Friday, Feb 27, 6-10 p.m.
Where: Dew Drop Inn, 2801 8th St. NE
No need to RSVP - we'll see you there. If you can't make it, donate to support the Washington Post 2026 layoff fund here.
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Support Equality Arlington’s Trans Youth Quilt Project at two upcoming events! |
Equality Arlington has been excited to work with transgender youth and their families over the last few weeks to lift up the voices of transgender youth as they answer what “Freedom to Be” means to them! We have two upcoming opportunities for friends and allies to support the Trans Youth Quilt Project. Community Patch Making at Equality Arlington Meeting on 2/28 We would like to invite community members and allies to attend the Equality Arlington Meeting on February 26th at Clarendon Presbyterian Church from 6:30 PM to 8 PM to join us in crafting allied/community quilt squares which will line the outside of the quilt. We will provide the materials and snacks, just bring your passion and creativity! Trans Youth Quilt Project Assembly Day on 3/7 We would also like to invite the community to attend a Trans Youth Quilt Project Assembly Day event on Saturday, March 7 from 1-4 PM at Clarendon Presbyterian Church to help us assemble the patches into a full quilt! The Arlington Community Foundation will be supporting the event and providing light refreshments. You can RSVP here: Trans Youth Community Quilt Creation. Thank you for joining Equality Arlington in our advocacy to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ residents in Arlington County! |
Engagement Opportunities
YOU’RE INVITED: Stand Up, Speak Out, and Shape the Future for Virginia’s ESPs!
The ESP Bill of Rights Planning & Action Team is hosting a powerful, action‑driven information session — and we need YOUR voice at the table!
This is your chance to get the latest updates, ask critical questions, and help drive real change for Education Support Professionals across the Commonwealth. Our ESP community and the Government Relations & Research Office are ready to support you, advocate with you, and fight for the rights you deserve.
Be part of the movement! Together, we’ll tackle the issues that matter most:
Protection from Privatization
Professional Learning & Career Advancement
Workload & Staffing Improvements
Safe, Healthy Work Environments
Affordable Healthcare, Retirement Security & Paid Leave
We’ll also break down recent Virginia legislative proposals and what they mean for ESPs right now.
Your voice is power. Your participation is progress.
Join us — and bring a colleague, a friend, or your entire team!
Registration is required. Sign up online at: https://veanea.zoom.us/meeting/register/t8ZmiZIjQDCy-4rx2dRxrQ
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Join this session to learn the history behind Bad Bunny’s iconic Super Bowl halftime show! We will watch the performance and analyze the references to Puerto Rico’s history and culture, focusing on the anti-colonial, pro-liberation messages. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out Bad Bunny’s full performance on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6FuWd4wNd8
Why Did School Lie About Puerto Rico?
· Wednesday, March 18th
· 6:30-8pm
· Google Meet
· Register at bit.ly/WDSLPR
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Join Welcoming Schools for the HRC School Advocacy Summit on Saturday, March 7 in Washington, D.C. This gathering will bring together advocates, educators, and community leaders from across the nation who are committed to building safe, inclusive, and welcoming schools for LGBTQ+ young people.
The Summit will offer a space to connect with changemakers, deepen your understanding of the education policy landscape, and strengthen the skills needed to lead meaningful change in your area school district. We will dig into what is happening nationally and locally, share strategies for countering harmful narratives, and highlight ways to take effective action that supports students, families, and staff.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, March 7
Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM plus a happy hour immediately following
Location: Washington D.C.
Registration: https://mobilize.us/s/G65Wc3
Your voice and experience are deeply valued, and your leadership in this moment matters. We would be honored to have you with us as we build momentum together to win school board seats and secure LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools nationwide.
Please feel free to share this invitation with colleagues who are also committed to this work.
As NEA members and union members, we advocate for our schools, our students, and our future. In the current political environment, it is critical to know what speech is and is not legally protected—especially when you are employed by a school district.Please join us for an important webinar to understand your advocacy rights as an educator. |
KNOW YOUR RIGHTSAdvocacy and Free Speech Rights for K-12 EducatorsWebinarMonday, February 23 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT |
In this webinar, we’ll cover your rights on social media, attending protests, and beyond. We will also provide model language for CBAs and policies, as well as a model bill to protect your academic freedom. You’ll leave with turnkey materials to use in educating other educators and how you may be able to expand protections in your state. |
Here are some ways you can take action.
Thu, Mar 5 @ 7pm · Fairfax County Democratic Committee
Thu, Mar 12 @ 7pm · Loudoun County Democratic Committee
Thu, Mar 5 @ 7pm · Loudoun County Democratic Committee
Sat, Feb 21 @ 12pm · Spotsylvania County Democratic Committee
Wed, Mar 4 @ 6pm · Spotsylvania County Democratic Committee
Sat, Feb 21 @ 5pm · Spotsylvania County Democratic Committee
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NEWS FROM VEA
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Lobby Day: Telling Stories Face-to-Face at the CapitolI was thrilled to see more than 250 VEA members come from the four corners of the Commonwealth to spend a day in Richmond, making the needs of public schools known to their legislators who’ll be casting critical votes in the days and weeks ahead. Throughout the capital, VEA members wearing “Red4Ed” could be seen and heard advocating for their students, supporting their colleagues, and standing up for public education Their stories - your stories are powerful, and I thank you for sharing them. It was also inspiring and a powerful way to cap the day for members to be joined by Governor Abigail Spanberger—and to know we have a friend of public education in the Governor’s Mansion! Thanks for all you did on Lobby Day! GA Update: What's Happening with Collective Bargaining?The House and Senate have each passed their own version of a statewide CB bill. They’re similar, but no longer identical. Negotiations in the next few weeks will determine what a final version looks like when it gets to Gov. Spanberger. Both bills would allow Virginia public school educators to organize together, choose union representation, and negotiate a binding contract. Just as important: these bills aren’t only about bargaining. They also protect collective action, your right to act together to improve your working conditions, including signing a group letter to your school board, speaking together at a public meeting, and organizing around workload, staffing, or safety concerns. Each version of the bill now goes to the other chamber and it’s likely that when legislators in each finish, there will be still be two different versions. If and when that happens, a conference committee made up of three House and three Senate members will negotiate one final version. Both chambers must approve the final version before session ends on March 14. There have been changes made from the bill as originally written; some we support and some we don’t. For a complete rundown of where we stand, see our more comprehensive update here. Eighteen VEA-initiated bills survived crossover and will move forward to be heard during the second half of session. We’ll keep you updated and, as always, you’re invited to visit our 2026 GA bill tracker to check the status of VEA bills at any time. Join University Workers at Townhalls Across the Commonwealth to Stand Up for Workers' Rights!University and homecare workers have been cut out of the Collective Bargaining Bill, but we’re fighting back. All workers deserve a voice in the decisions that affect them. As public school employees, we know how challenging it can be to work without union protections. If you believe that all public sector workers deserve dignity on the job, RSVP to one of the townhalls below. WhenWhereRSVPSaturday, February 21 2-3:30pm Charlottesville Middle School 1000 Cherry Ave, Charlottesville VA Click HereSaturday, February 28 10am Hosted by William and Mary and Christopher Newport University Location TBD Click HereSaturday, February 28 12:30-2pm Blacksburg Community Center Program Room 725 Patrick Henry Dr, Blacksburg, VA 24060 Click HereSaturday, February 28 2-3:30pm Ornery Beer Co Fairfax Public House 3950 University Drive #106, Fairfax, VA 22030 Click HereSaturday, February 28 3pm Hosted by Old Dominion University Location TBD Congratulations, Alynn Parham!One of the most rewarding parts of being VEA President is getting to salute some of VEA’s outstanding members. And that is exactly what I had the opportunity to do when I was able to surprise Alynn Parham of the Williamsburg-James City Education Association at her school along with her local president, superintendent, principal, and team to let her know that she’s the 2026 recipient of VEA’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Alynn is a Social Studies teacher at Jamestown High School and was the first educator to implement AP African American Studies in her school division last year where all - 100 %-of her students passed the AP exam. She’s also a past president of the WJCCEA and a current member of the NEA Board of Directors. Join me in congratulating Alynn on her well-deserved recognition. 'Know Your Rights' Immigration Webinar Set for MondayAs immigration enforcement efforts reach public schools, NEA presents an opportunity for you to learn what kinds of advocacy are—and are not—protected by the First Amendment and how you may be able to expand those protections in your state. A “Know Your Rights” webinar is on for Monday, February 23 at 7:00 pm ET, and it’s aimed at providing you with materials and information you can use to educate your colleagues on this important issue. Show Your HBCU Pride During the Week of February 23-27Recognizing the richness that historically Black colleges and universities have played for much of America’s history, the Virginia Education Association wishes to salute all our HBCUs during our third HBCU PRIDE WEEK. We are sharing the ideas here for ways you can participate Get the scoop about resources below! Learn More about Student Loan ForgivenessAs application windows for state student loan forgiveness programs approach, NEA wants members to know that Maryland, DC, and Virginia borrowers have access to comprehensive state student loan repayment programs. Because many are unaware of their eligibility or how to take advantage of these programs, check out Navigating Federal & State Forgiveness Benefits, a DC-Maryland-Virginia exclusive webinar with Savi, NEA Student Debt Navigator. It’s happening Thursday, March 10, from 4-5 p.m. ET, and will feature experts and live-chat Q&A. It’s free, and you can RSVP here. RSVP below Following the webinar, attendees will receive a downloadable DC-Maryland-Virginia Student Loan Benefits Guide with step-by-step information on available programs and next steps. Math Advisory Group Seeks New MembersVDOE’s Mathematics Advisory Task Force provides recommendations for improving math education in our state’s K-12 public schools—and it’s expanding and looking for new members. The task force, which was put into the state budget after VEA lobbying efforts last year, meets monthly, either in Richmond or virtually. If you’re an educator with math expertise, you can learn more and apply for a spot in the group by completing this form online or emailing the completed pdf application to vdoe.mathematics@doe.virginia.gov. Application deadline is Monday, March 2. VEA-Retired Members Elect LeadershipNow that the final two run-off elections are over, the VEA-Retired leadership team is complete. Congratulations to the new officers! Next VEA Vibe Check on March 18!VEA’s Vibe Check, sponsored by the Minority and Women's Concerns Committee and the Department of Equity, Justice, and Learning, is an opportunity for member educators to gather in a virtual safe space for meaningful conversations. March’s topic is March Madness “Managing Microaggressions” with a special guest from NEA. Join us on March 18th from 7-8pm! You're Invited: March 10 - Stand Up, Speak Out, and Shape the Future for Virginia's ESPs!The ESP Bill of Rights Planning & Action Team is hosting a powerful, action‑driven information session — and we need YOUR voice at the table! This is your chance to get the latest updates, ask critical questions, and help drive real change for Education Support Professionals across the Commonwealth. Our ESP community and the Government Relations & Research Office are ready to support you, advocate with you, and fight for the rights you deserve. Be part of the movement! Together, we’ll tackle the issues that matter most:
We’ll also break down recent Virginia legislative proposals and what they mean for ESPs right now. Your voice is power. Your participation is progress. Join us — and bring a colleague, a friend, or your entire team! |