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Today, United Teachers of Dade (UTD) President Karla Hernandez-Mats along with fellow UTD members convened on the steps of the Miami-Dade County School Board to deliver an “Education Holiday Wishlist” of urgently needed items and issues for students and educators to Miami-Dade County School Board Members.
“We are gathered here today to help steer the school board back towards a student-centered agenda and set of priorities,” said Karla Hernandez-Mats at the rally. “We want them to not remain sidetracked by the culture war theatrics of the campaign trail.”
The holiday poster board listed nine of the most critical requests gathered from the input of hundreds of public-school educators and staff across the County. This action squarely emphasized the real challenges taking place in the Miami-Dade County school system, the urgency of the moment, and the need for the school board to return to student-focused policies and practices.
- Updated and accessible technology at all schools (i.e., laptops, prometheans)
- Less testing and more time for authentic teaching, reviewing and reteaching
- Better mental health services for students and staff
- Funding for E.S.E. programs
- Enough supplies and accessibility of books for all students in all zip codes
- Autonomy, respect, appreciation for all staff
- Substitute pool that meets the needs of all teachers and staff
- Higher salaries to sustain cost of living not contingent on referendum money
- Better benefits (i.e., health insurance, housing, paid parental leave, mental health days)