APS School Board Race

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone get a ballot today? I did not get mine like I was supposed to.

The Arlington Dems only uploads voters to Election Buddy twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday). If you registered and didn’t get a ballot today, you should get it at 7pm on Tuesday.

Thanks. That is helpful. I will look for it Tuesday.

[Anonymous]

AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

I agree. I recently joined AEA and received a signed note from June encouraging me to reach out to my Building Rep, but the note listed my Building Rep as TBD. If Building Reps still haven’t been identified by the third quarter, perhaps it would be more appropriate to focus on fulfilling the responsibilities of her current role rather than campaigning for a new one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

I think I remember seeing some active teachers formed a rival group? Anyone know the story there? If June can't even bring the teachers together, that's not a good sign for leading APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

I think I remember seeing some active teachers formed a rival group? Anyone know the story there? If June can't even bring the teachers together, that's not a good sign for leading APS.

IIRC, wasn't the leader of the "rival union" Paul Weiss? And even he had the decency to resign as an APS employee before running. Not sure as an independent if he asked for AEA's endorsement.

Also, I don't know how many teachers actually join AEA and pay dues, but my understanding is that it is a small percentage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

I think I remember seeing some active teachers formed a rival group? Anyone know the story there? If June can't even bring the teachers together, that's not a good sign for leading APS.

IIRC, wasn't the leader of the "rival union" Paul Weiss? And even he had the decency to resign as an APS employee before running. Not sure as an independent if he asked for AEA's endorsement.

Also, I don't know how many teachers actually join AEA and pay dues, but my understanding is that it is a small percentage.

I think Paul started his campaign before he left APS? But yes, he did eventually resign. Does June plan to leave? When? It seems like a huge conflict to run while you're employed by APS. Wouldn't the parents of her students feel pressure to vote for her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

I think I remember seeing some active teachers formed a rival group? Anyone know the story there? If June can't even bring the teachers together, that's not a good sign for leading APS.

IIRC, wasn't the leader of the "rival union" Paul Weiss? And even he had the decency to resign as an APS employee before running. Not sure as an independent if he asked for AEA's endorsement.

Also, I don't know how many teachers actually join AEA and pay dues, but my understanding is that it is a small percentage.

I think Paul started his campaign before he left APS? But yes, he did eventually resign. Does June plan to leave? When? It seems like a huge conflict to run while you're employed by APS. Wouldn't the parents of her students feel pressure to vote for her?

June isn’t currently working at an APS school—surprisingly, being AEA president is her full-time job. While in that role, she’s paid through union dues, not APS. APS “holds” her position, and I believe she still receives APS health insurance and retirement benefits.

I don’t think parents would have felt pressured to vote for her based on her role—she’s not a classroom teacher, she was an assistant. In fact, both the current AEA president and vice president are assistants, not certified teachers. That might help explain why AEA’s advocacy often doesn’t reflect what’s actually happening in classrooms.

Take kindergarten iPads, for example—AEA (and June specifically) wants them gone. Meanwhile, a group of Title I kindergarten teachers has been consistently advocating for a class set of 10 iPads to support Lexia interventions. But to know that, June would need to engage with teachers across APS—not just the small circle of AEA loyalists she spends her time with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

I think I remember seeing some active teachers formed a rival group? Anyone know the story there? If June can't even bring the teachers together, that's not a good sign for leading APS.

IIRC, wasn't the leader of the "rival union" Paul Weiss? And even he had the decency to resign as an APS employee before running. Not sure as an independent if he asked for AEA's endorsement.

Also, I don't know how many teachers actually join AEA and pay dues, but my understanding is that it is a small percentage.

I think Paul started his campaign before he left APS? But yes, he did eventually resign. Does June plan to leave? When? It seems like a huge conflict to run while you're employed by APS. Wouldn't the parents of her students feel pressure to vote for her?

June isn’t currently working at an APS school—surprisingly, being AEA president is her full-time job. While in that role, she’s paid through union dues, not APS. APS “holds” her position, and I believe she still receives APS health insurance and retirement benefits.

I don’t think parents would have felt pressured to vote for her based on her role—she’s not a classroom teacher, she was an assistant. In fact, both the current AEA president and vice president are assistants, not certified teachers. That might help explain why AEA’s advocacy often doesn’t reflect what’s actually happening in classrooms.

Take kindergarten iPads, for example—AEA (and June specifically) wants them gone. Meanwhile, a group of Title I kindergarten teachers has been consistently advocating for a class set of 10 iPads to support Lexia interventions. But to know that, June would need to engage with teachers across APS—not just the small circle of AEA loyalists she spends her time with.

Does Lexia even help kids? Without the iPads, there is less temptation (or expectation) to use them as a substitute for proper reading intervention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

I think I remember seeing some active teachers formed a rival group? Anyone know the story there? If June can't even bring the teachers together, that's not a good sign for leading APS.

IIRC, wasn't the leader of the "rival union" Paul Weiss? And even he had the decency to resign as an APS employee before running. Not sure as an independent if he asked for AEA's endorsement.

Also, I don't know how many teachers actually join AEA and pay dues, but my understanding is that it is a small percentage.

I think Paul started his campaign before he left APS? But yes, he did eventually resign. Does June plan to leave? When? It seems like a huge conflict to run while you're employed by APS. Wouldn't the parents of her students feel pressure to vote for her?

June isn’t currently working at an APS school—surprisingly, being AEA president is her full-time job. While in that role, she’s paid through union dues, not APS. APS “holds” her position, and I believe she still receives APS health insurance and retirement benefits.

I don’t think parents would have felt pressured to vote for her based on her role—she’s not a classroom teacher, she was an assistant. In fact, both the current AEA president and vice president are assistants, not certified teachers. That might help explain why AEA’s advocacy often doesn’t reflect what’s actually happening in classrooms.

Take kindergarten iPads, for example—AEA (and June specifically) wants them gone. Meanwhile, a group of Title I kindergarten teachers has been consistently advocating for a class set of 10 iPads to support Lexia interventions. But to know that, June would need to engage with teachers across APS—not just the small circle of AEA loyalists she spends her time with.

Does Lexia even help kids? Without the iPads, there is less temptation (or expectation) to use them as a substitute for proper reading intervention.

In a kindergarten class of 24 students, when the teacher and assistant are each working with a small group during the phonics block, that leaves 12 students who still need meaningful, independent work. Lexia provides corrective feedback that worksheets simply can’t—like identifying when a student confuses a b with a d, or reading a story aloud to them in English.

Many Title I students are English learners from low-income households. They need targeted support to catch up with their peers, and Lexia helps provide that. A set of 10 iPads isn’t a luxury—it’s a tool that helps teachers meet the high demands and planning factors APS classrooms face every day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

I think I remember seeing some active teachers formed a rival group? Anyone know the story there? If June can't even bring the teachers together, that's not a good sign for leading APS.

IIRC, wasn't the leader of the "rival union" Paul Weiss? And even he had the decency to resign as an APS employee before running. Not sure as an independent if he asked for AEA's endorsement.

Also, I don't know how many teachers actually join AEA and pay dues, but my understanding is that it is a small percentage.

I think Paul started his campaign before he left APS? But yes, he did eventually resign. Does June plan to leave? When? It seems like a huge conflict to run while you're employed by APS. Wouldn't the parents of her students feel pressure to vote for her?

June isn’t currently working at an APS school—surprisingly, being AEA president is her full-time job. While in that role, she’s paid through union dues, not APS. APS “holds” her position, and I believe she still receives APS health insurance and retirement benefits.

I don’t think parents would have felt pressured to vote for her based on her role—she’s not a classroom teacher, she was an assistant. In fact, both the current AEA president and vice president are assistants, not certified teachers. That might help explain why AEA’s advocacy often doesn’t reflect what’s actually happening in classrooms.

Take kindergarten iPads, for example—AEA (and June specifically) wants them gone. Meanwhile, a group of Title I kindergarten teachers has been consistently advocating for a class set of 10 iPads to support Lexia interventions. But to know that, June would need to engage with teachers across APS—not just the small circle of AEA loyalists she spends her time with.

Does Lexia even help kids? Without the iPads, there is less temptation (or expectation) to use them as a substitute for proper reading intervention.

In a kindergarten class of 24 students, when the teacher and assistant are each working with a small group during the phonics block, that leaves 12 students who still need meaningful, independent work. Lexia provides corrective feedback that worksheets simply can’t—like identifying when a student confuses a b with a d, or reading a story aloud to them in English.

Many Title I students are English learners from low-income households. They need targeted support to catch up with their peers, and Lexia helps provide that. A set of 10 iPads isn’t a luxury—it’s a tool that helps teachers meet the high demands and planning factors APS classrooms face every day

ETA: My point isn’t to debate iPads—it’s to highlight that AEA, and June in particular, are out of touch with what’s actually happening in classrooms. Decisions are being made without engaging the very teachers who are doing the work every day. That’s the real issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

I think I remember seeing some active teachers formed a rival group? Anyone know the story there? If June can't even bring the teachers together, that's not a good sign for leading APS.

IIRC, wasn't the leader of the "rival union" Paul Weiss? And even he had the decency to resign as an APS employee before running. Not sure as an independent if he asked for AEA's endorsement.

Also, I don't know how many teachers actually join AEA and pay dues, but my understanding is that it is a small percentage.

I think Paul started his campaign before he left APS? But yes, he did eventually resign. Does June plan to leave? When? It seems like a huge conflict to run while you're employed by APS. Wouldn't the parents of her students feel pressure to vote for her?

June isn’t currently working at an APS school—surprisingly, being AEA president is her full-time job. While in that role, she’s paid through union dues, not APS. APS “holds” her position, and I believe she still receives APS health insurance and retirement benefits.

I don’t think parents would have felt pressured to vote for her based on her role—she’s not a classroom teacher, she was an assistant. In fact, both the current AEA president and vice president are assistants, not certified teachers. That might help explain why AEA’s advocacy often doesn’t reflect what’s actually happening in classrooms.

Take kindergarten iPads, for example—AEA (and June specifically) wants them gone. Meanwhile, a group of Title I kindergarten teachers has been consistently advocating for a class set of 10 iPads to support Lexia interventions. But to know that, June would need to engage with teachers across APS—not just the small circle of AEA loyalists she spends her time with.

Does Lexia even help kids? Without the iPads, there is less temptation (or expectation) to use them as a substitute for proper reading intervention.

In a kindergarten class of 24 students, when the teacher and assistant are each working with a small group during the phonics block, that leaves 12 students who still need meaningful, independent work. Lexia provides corrective feedback that worksheets simply can’t—like identifying when a student confuses a b with a d, or reading a story aloud to them in English.

Many Title I students are English learners from low-income households. They need targeted support to catch up with their peers, and Lexia helps provide that. A set of 10 iPads isn’t a luxury—it’s a tool that helps teachers meet the high demands and planning factors APS classrooms face every day

Ie because they don’t have ESL focused classes, mainstream kids don’t get a teacher but have an iPad instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

I think I remember seeing some active teachers formed a rival group? Anyone know the story there? If June can't even bring the teachers together, that's not a good sign for leading APS.

IIRC, wasn't the leader of the "rival union" Paul Weiss? And even he had the decency to resign as an APS employee before running. Not sure as an independent if he asked for AEA's endorsement.

Also, I don't know how many teachers actually join AEA and pay dues, but my understanding is that it is a small percentage.

I think Paul started his campaign before he left APS? But yes, he did eventually resign. Does June plan to leave? When? It seems like a huge conflict to run while you're employed by APS. Wouldn't the parents of her students feel pressure to vote for her?

June isn’t currently working at an APS school—surprisingly, being AEA president is her full-time job. While in that role, she’s paid through union dues, not APS. APS “holds” her position, and I believe she still receives APS health insurance and retirement benefits.

I don’t think parents would have felt pressured to vote for her based on her role—she’s not a classroom teacher, she was an assistant. In fact, both the current AEA president and vice president are assistants, not certified teachers. That might help explain why AEA’s advocacy often doesn’t reflect what’s actually happening in classrooms.

Take kindergarten iPads, for example—AEA (and June specifically) wants them gone. Meanwhile, a group of Title I kindergarten teachers has been consistently advocating for a class set of 10 iPads to support Lexia interventions. But to know that, June would need to engage with teachers across APS—not just the small circle of AEA loyalists she spends her time with.

Does Lexia even help kids? Without the iPads, there is less temptation (or expectation) to use them as a substitute for proper reading intervention.

In a kindergarten class of 24 students, when the teacher and assistant are each working with a small group during the phonics block, that leaves 12 students who still need meaningful, independent work. Lexia provides corrective feedback that worksheets simply can’t—like identifying when a student confuses a b with a d, or reading a story aloud to them in English.

Many Title I students are English learners from low-income households. They need targeted support to catch up with their peers, and Lexia helps provide that. A set of 10 iPads isn’t a luxury—it’s a tool that helps teachers meet the high demands and planning factors APS classrooms face every day

Ie because they don’t have ESL focused classes, mainstream kids don’t get a teacher but have an iPad instead.

I know, this makes me hate the iPads even more. They're a soporific, papering over the ways APS is currently failing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

I think I remember seeing some active teachers formed a rival group? Anyone know the story there? If June can't even bring the teachers together, that's not a good sign for leading APS.

IIRC, wasn't the leader of the "rival union" Paul Weiss? And even he had the decency to resign as an APS employee before running. Not sure as an independent if he asked for AEA's endorsement.

Also, I don't know how many teachers actually join AEA and pay dues, but my understanding is that it is a small percentage.

I think Paul started his campaign before he left APS? But yes, he did eventually resign. Does June plan to leave? When? It seems like a huge conflict to run while you're employed by APS. Wouldn't the parents of her students feel pressure to vote for her?

June isn’t currently working at an APS school—surprisingly, being AEA president is her full-time job. While in that role, she’s paid through union dues, not APS. APS “holds” her position, and I believe she still receives APS health insurance and retirement benefits.

I don’t think parents would have felt pressured to vote for her based on her role—she’s not a classroom teacher, she was an assistant. In fact, both the current AEA president and vice president are assistants, not certified teachers. That might help explain why AEA’s advocacy often doesn’t reflect what’s actually happening in classrooms.

Take kindergarten iPads, for example—AEA (and June specifically) wants them gone. Meanwhile, a group of Title I kindergarten teachers has been consistently advocating for a class set of 10 iPads to support Lexia interventions. But to know that, June would need to engage with teachers across APS—not just the small circle of AEA loyalists she spends her time with.

June needs to go back to being an instructional assistant instead of running for the school board. It's so needed right now.

Being paid by union dues instead of APS makes this whole situation even more shady. If I was a teacher, I would drop the union.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

I think I remember seeing some active teachers formed a rival group? Anyone know the story there? If June can't even bring the teachers together, that's not a good sign for leading APS.

IIRC, wasn't the leader of the "rival union" Paul Weiss? And even he had the decency to resign as an APS employee before running. Not sure as an independent if he asked for AEA's endorsement.

Also, I don't know how many teachers actually join AEA and pay dues, but my understanding is that it is a small percentage.

I think Paul started his campaign before he left APS? But yes, he did eventually resign. Does June plan to leave? When? It seems like a huge conflict to run while you're employed by APS. Wouldn't the parents of her students feel pressure to vote for her?

June isn’t currently working at an APS school—surprisingly, being AEA president is her full-time job. While in that role, she’s paid through union dues, not APS. APS “holds” her position, and I believe she still receives APS health insurance and retirement benefits.

I don’t think parents would have felt pressured to vote for her based on her role—she’s not a classroom teacher, she was an assistant. In fact, both the current AEA president and vice president are assistants, not certified teachers. That might help explain why AEA’s advocacy often doesn’t reflect what’s actually happening in classrooms.

Take kindergarten iPads, for example—AEA (and June specifically) wants them gone. Meanwhile, a group of Title I kindergarten teachers has been consistently advocating for a class set of 10 iPads to support Lexia interventions. But to know that, June would need to engage with teachers across APS—not just the small circle of AEA loyalists she spends her time with.

Does Lexia even help kids? Without the iPads, there is less temptation (or expectation) to use them as a substitute for proper reading intervention.

In a kindergarten class of 24 students, when the teacher and assistant are each working with a small group during the phonics block, that leaves 12 students who still need meaningful, independent work. Lexia provides corrective feedback that worksheets simply can’t—like identifying when a student confuses a b with a d, or reading a story aloud to them in English.

Many Title I students are English learners from low-income households. They need targeted support to catch up with their peers, and Lexia helps provide that. A set of 10 iPads isn’t a luxury—it’s a tool that helps teachers meet the high demands and planning factors APS classrooms face every day

Ie because they don’t have ESL focused classes, mainstream kids don’t get a teacher but have an iPad instead.

APS needs more money to hire more teachers AND ASSISTANTS in the classroom to differentiate education amongst groups. Then we can get rid of K-2 iPads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AEA and APS have both been circling the drain the last few years. Most teachers and staff that cared have jumped ship. June Prakash is a joke, I hope other candidates have more to offer or at least open to a better way forward.

I think I remember seeing some active teachers formed a rival group? Anyone know the story there? If June can't even bring the teachers together, that's not a good sign for leading APS.

IIRC, wasn't the leader of the "rival union" Paul Weiss? And even he had the decency to resign as an APS employee before running. Not sure as an independent if he asked for AEA's endorsement.

Also, I don't know how many teachers actually join AEA and pay dues, but my understanding is that it is a small percentage.

I think Paul started his campaign before he left APS? But yes, he did eventually resign. Does June plan to leave? When? It seems like a huge conflict to run while you're employed by APS. Wouldn't the parents of her students feel pressure to vote for her?

June isn’t currently working at an APS school—surprisingly, being AEA president is her full-time job. While in that role, she’s paid through union dues, not APS. APS “holds” her position, and I believe she still receives APS health insurance and retirement benefits.

I don’t think parents would have felt pressured to vote for her based on her role—she’s not a classroom teacher, she was an assistant. In fact, both the current AEA president and vice president are assistants, not certified teachers. That might help explain why AEA’s advocacy often doesn’t reflect what’s actually happening in classrooms.

Take kindergarten iPads, for example—AEA (and June specifically) wants them gone. Meanwhile, a group of Title I kindergarten teachers has been consistently advocating for a class set of 10 iPads to support Lexia interventions. But to know that, June would need to engage with teachers across APS—not just the small circle of AEA loyalists she spends her time with.

Then why is she on the website listed as an instructional assistant at Ashlawn? https://ashlawn.apsva.us/staff-directory-page/RTIyNTEx-----June-Prakash/page_action/aggregate/