Union Talk

In this excerpt from our "Are School Vouchers Good for Education?" episode, AFT President Randi Weingarten talks with Michigan State University education policy professor Joshua Cowen to discuss the real impact school vouchers are having on public education, students and our democracy.

Recorded live at the AFT's Civil, Human and Women's Rights Conference in Houston, this episode features mini-keynotes from AFT leaders who have stood up for the union's core values—social justice, democracy and authentic community engagement. AFT President Randi Weingarten is joined by co-host and political commentator Richard Fowler and four local or state presidents: Jeff Freitas (California Federation of Teachers), Stacy Davis Gates (Chicago Teachers Union), Karla Hernandez-Mats (United Teachers of Dade) and Terrence Martin (Michigan Federation of Teachers).

AFT President Randi Weingarten is joined by Educators Thriving founder Tyler Hester and school psychologist Amy Such to discuss the recent "Beyond Burnout" report and the very real solutions it offers for teachers who are looking for ways to recover and thrive after years of stress, politics and lack of respect.

In this excerpt from our "Engaging Students Through Career and Technical Education" episode, AFT President Randi Weingarten talks with Brent Parton from the U.S. Department of Labor and Billie Helean from the Rio Rancho School Employees Union about how experiential learning is transforming the education landscape and offering students more than one post-high school route to achieve their dreams.

In this excerpt from our "Social Media and Our Kids" episode, AFT President Randi Weingarten talks with Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen and two high school students—Lola Nordlinger and Devin Lee—about the real impact social media has on the lives of teens and what steps they can take in order to use the platforms safely.

Join AFT President Randi Weingarten as she engages in a thought-provoking conversation with educator Kelly Butler, delving into the pivotal role of literacy in the Real Solutions for Kids and Communities campaign. Enjoy their discussion on promoting the science of reading, addressing book bans and the birth of the innovative online resource known as Reading Universe.

In this excerpt from "The Promise of Community Schools" episode of Union Talk earlier this year, AFT President Randi Weingarten engages in a captivating conversation with two dedicated educators hailing from a Baltimore-area community school. Together, they delve into the school's transformative strategies and comprehensive wraparound services―and the effect they are having on the students and families in the community. Discover the pivotal role that community schools play in the heart of the AFT's visionary Real Solutions for Kids and Communities campaign by going to www.aft.org/realsolutions.

AFT President Weingarten hosts a session with influential journalist and author Alexandra Robbins, known for impacting various areas, including changing baby food labels and revealing hidden academic records of a U.S. president. They take a candid look at today's teaching profession and discuss Robbins' latest book—The Teachers: A Year Inside America's Most Vulnerable, Important Profession—and explore ways to support our nation's educators.

AFT President Randi Weingarten sits down with Dani Elazar and Manar Hayadre to discuss the impact their multicultural Hand in Hand schools, which bring Jewish and Arab students and teachers together, are having on Israeli society and how empathy can be a good tool for combating decades long strife.

AFT President Randi Weingarten delivers the keynote speech at the TEACH (Together Educating America's Children) conference and launches the union's new "Real Solutions for Kids and Communities" campaign, which focuses on literacy, experiential learning, community schools, students' mental health and well-being, and appropriate funding for our public schools.