— NOVEMBER —
HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
Happy Thanksgiving from Louisiana Federation of Teachers!
Share My Lesson’s curated collections of free & engaging Thanksgiving lesson plan templates, resources, and activities to help teach students about this tradition from multiple historical perspectives: sharemylesson.com/collections/thanksgiving-lesson-plans
Through our ongoing partnership with First Book, LFT will be able to give hundreds of books to help Louisiana children in need this Holiday season. For more details, please contact your local leadership.
JOHN BEL EDWARDS WINS REELECTION 
With critical support from members of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers and Support Staff (LFT), John Bel Edwards has been reelected as Louisiana’s Governor. LFT members and staff came together with the American Federation of Teachers, the AFL-CIO, and organizations across the state to make calls, knock on doors, send texts, put up signs, and more. In total, LFT reached tens of thousands of voters this election season, encouraging people to vote for the only gubernatorial candidate that stands up for Louisiana Public Education.
“I am so proud of the hard work of our members. They fought not only for John Bel Edwards, but for pro-public education candidates in the House, Senate, and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.” said Larry Carter, President of LFT. “Louisiana voters put local priorities over national politics,” he added.
Through the Governor’s leadership, Louisiana has recovered from a devastating deficit, expanded health insurance, and supported teachers and students. “The victory tonight represents Louisiana’s desire to continue moving forward. We are eager to continue working with Governor John Bel Edwards to improve public education on behalf of teachers, support staff and students” said Cynthia Posey, LFT’s Legislative and Political Director.
LFT'S 2019 CONVENTION: THE POWER IN YOU BECOMES THE STRENGTH IN US
This month, Jefferson Federation of Teachers and School Employees hosted the 55th Annual LFT Convention in Kenner, Louisiana. The two-day gathering included delegates from LFT Locals all over the state, local dignitaries, President Randi Weingarten of American Federation of Teachers and more. During the convention LFT recognized the exceptional accomplishments of select Locals and community members, representatives attended workshops, committee meetings and helped sculpt LFT priorities for the year to come.
UNION VALUES AWARD WINNERS
Union Values in Action Awards are presented to locals at the convention to highlight particularly exemplar work from the year. At this year’s convention, eight locals were awarded:
Concordia Federation won a Union Value award for their work or organize a letter writing campaign convincing the School Board to give all employees a $1,200 stipend. President Cynthia Curvin accepted the award on behalf of her Local.
Monroe Federation won for their work in instituting a Parent Coalition developed as a community relations tool to engage parents and teach them how to advocate for their children President Sandie Lollie accepted the award on behalf of the Monroe Federation.
St. Tammany Federation won because this year they hosted their first multi-day, off-site retreat to allow teachers and support staff the opportunity to focus on the important work of the Union and develop strategies to further engage and grow the membership. President Debbie Green accepted the award on behalf of the St. Tammany Federation.
Tangipahoa Federation won their Union Values in Action Award because of the way teachers and support staff came together at Ponchatoula Junior High. Together with the support of Local staff and leadership, they walked out to demand action on a district-wide policy regarding breaking up fights. Their actions helped teachers and support staff throughout the district. President Dina Esquinance accepted the award for the Tangipahoa Federation.
Red River United won for going above and beyond in their campaign to re-elect Governor John Bel Edwards. They sent their own mailers, mass texts, facilitated mass calls and commissioned an ad for their digital marketing campaign, without losing any ground in their work with members in Bossier, Caddo and Red River parishes.
St. Landry Federation won due to their tireless fight for an increased stipend for teachers and support staff throughout the district. They involved the majority of teachers and support staff in that fight by collecting signatures on a massive petition and continue to push on behalf of their membership. President Willie Singleton-Guillory accepted the award.
Calcasieu Federation won for their work to convince the School Board to use additional funds from a previously approved half cent sales tax to give teachers and support staff an increased stipend: $4,550 for teachers and $3,185 for support employees. Teri Johnson accepted the award on behalf of the Calcasieu Federation.
Jefferson Federation worked alongside the School Board, the business community, the realtor’s association, churches and concerned community members to pass a millage dedicated specifically to school employee pay. The landslide victory resulted in an average pay increase of $3,000 for teachers and staff. Kesler Camese-Jones accepted the award on behalf of the Federation.
PIONEER AWARD 
Karen Riggleman of Jefferson Federation of Teachers and School Employees and Myrtis Johnson of United Teachers of New Orleans each won the LFT Pioneer Award for the decades of service to the Union and their fellow employees.
LEGISLATIVE AWARDS
Teachers and Support Staff celebrated two legislators who worked to protect Public Education for the sake of educators and students throughout Louisiana. Their work in the legislature and in their districts will have a lasting impact on public education for years to come.
LFT’s 2019 Legislator of the Year Award was presented to Representative (and Senator-Elect) J. Rogers Pope.
LFT’s 2019 Senator of the Year Award was presented to Senator Gerald Boudreau.
The Friend of Education Award was presented to Dr. Belinda Davis at the 2019 Convention. This award is the highest honor that the LFT bestows on non-members of the Union. It is presented to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to public education.
Dr. Davis began advocating on behalf of public education while on the board of her children’s parent-teacher organization. When the East Baton Rouge Parish School System was threatened by a breakaway school system, she helped found One Community One School District (OCOSD) and defeated the breakaway effort in the Louisiana State Legislature. She was also on the board of Beyond Bricks, a community wide effort to engage Baton Rouge stakeholders around supporting public education. As the president of OCOSD and as a public-school parent, she has advocated for teacher pay raises, increased funding for public schools, and increased funding for early childhood education. She has served as a mentor for at-risk children and is currently on the board of Humanities Amped.