A New Beginning: The Runoff Starts Now!

Why I RUN!

DPF here to deliver a personal note to you EAA members.

We are standing at the threshold of a brand-new chapter for our union. As we enter the beginning stages of the EAA Presidential runoff election, it is the perfect moment for a fresh start, and a powerful reminder of why this movement started to begin with.

To help you.

Why We Stay & Why We Fight

"Quite frankly, y'all, I'm tired."

David Paladin-Fernandez (DPF) recently connected with some of the most passionate advocates right here in Alexandria, and the sentiment across our city is completely unanimous. We are all feeling the heavy weight of an environment where educators are constantly asked to do more for less.

We are tired of watching our brilliant, incredible colleagues leave our schools for neighboring districts like Fairfax, Arlington, and Falls Church just to find basic professional respect and avoid skyrocketing healthcare costs.

Our former colleagues reach out and ask, "Why do you stay in ACPS?"

Our answer remains unwavering: Because we believe in what ACPS can be. We believe things don't have to work this way. We stay because we are committed to transforming the EAA into a transparent, communicative, and truly member-led organization. Over the last three years, the RUN team has built deep relationships with members, listened to your concerns, and advocated on your behalf. Now, it's time to turn that foresight into collective action.

Our Immediate Plan

To fix our union and reset the precedent, we must execute our next strategic steps together. We cannot accept the status quo any longer. Here is our immediate plan.

First, we must vote in the RUNoff Election on July 20th & 21st! Mark your calendars right now so you don’t forget to fill out your ballot! We have been RUNning for so long everyone, but this is the moment we push through the finish line.

Next, we must Vote NO on CBA Ratification! The tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) released by current leadership is unacceptable. To protect the future of ACPS educators, we strongly recommend a unified VOTE NO because the current proposal:

• Enshrines lesson plans into our contracts, opening dangerous avenues where daily planning can be utilized punitively by administrators.

• Enables infinite administrative "stand-up meetings" with absolutely no hard limit on how long these meetings can drag on.

• Fails to deliver the competitive compensation package required to stop the staff exodus to neighboring counties.

Finally, share your voice! What are your primary concerns? What do you want to see addressed first? Reply directly to our emails, leave a comment on our social media pages, or shoot DPF a DM so he can start working for you to fix ACPS ASAP!

Finish What We Started

We can transform ACPS into the absolute best place to work and learn, but only if we stand up, organize, and put in the work together. The hardest-working campaign will win this race, and with your help, we will claim this new beginning.

Talk to your colleagues, text your friends, and make sure every educator in your building checks their personal email to vote for the RUN slate between July 20th and July 21st!

Let’s replace empty promises with proven action and rebuild our union from the ground up.

As I always says: Good day. I'll see you next time!