AEW Blog
Introducing “Three Things”
Today the Alliance is introducing a new, weekly communication feature called “Three Things.” Each week we’ll share three different happenings, issues, or stories that impact the members of our school district community.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ACT NOW TO PROTECT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN WAUKESHA SCHOOLS
The Alliance is concerned about the District’s ongoing misuse of policy as a shield for its pattern of harmful decisions negatively impacting the students and school community and the potential impact of her termination on First Amendment rights, teacher retention, and the promise for more transparent communication with parents.
Another Open Letter to the School District of Waukesha from a Resigning Teacher
Another highly qualified teacher has publicly resigned from the Waukesha School District:
“SDW could turn its focus to a lot of real problems, among which include making sure every student has their needs met: a safe place to learn, a meal in their belly, and academic support to help them grow and thrive. Instead, the school district has a policy to steer this ship backwards, and it’s headed for a rocky coast.”
AEW Statement on School District of Waukesha Teacher Resignations
The School District of Waukesha is again experiencing a significant departure of high-quality educators. When high quality, experienced teachers leave the district, it is student learning that suffers most.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SCHOOL DISTRICT OF WAUKESHA RECOMMENDS TERMINATION FOR TEACHER WHO SPOKE OUT ABOUT RAINBOWLAND
The Alliance is disappointed to learn that on May 15, 2023, after being on administrative leave for more than a month, Heyer Elementary School First Grade Teacher Melissa Tempel was notified that the Superintendent of the School District of Waukesha was recommending her termination.
Maestra Melissa’s Students Deserve Their Teacher Back
This Teacher Appreciation Week, there is one partner missing from our first-grade classroom at Heyer: Maestra Melissa. Her class has been without her, or any permanent teacher, for 25 school days and counting.
Teacher Appreciation Week 2023
Thank you to all of the teachers out there making a difference in kids’ lives, past, present, and future! Thank you to the teachers who taught us when we were kids!Thank you to the teachers who are teaching our children now!Thank you to the teachers of the future who will teach the coming generations! We invite everyone to give a shoutout to an influential teacher in their lives in the replies!#TeacherAppreciationWeek2023
Alliance for Education in Waukesha Responds to Letters from Dr. Underly, Legislative Leaders
The Alliance for Education in Waukesha (AEW) would like to commend Dr. Underly for her letter and her involvement. At the same time, AEW would like to respond to comments made by Dr. Sebert and local legislative leaders in their answers to Dr. Underly’s letter.
An Exchange Between a Parent and a Board Member
Dear Superintendent Sebert and School Board members, The international hubbub arising from the bottom end of Larchmont Avenue–my spouse’s elementary alma mater–brings to mind the fable of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Made famous by Disney’s Fantasia, Goethe’s poem has plenty of interpretive layers that extend well beyond this controversy, but the image is provocative–for me at least: You created a monster with this “controversial signage” policy–and doubled down with an unnecessary (and unnecessarily cruel) “parental rights” resolution. And now, every time you try to cut the rainbow, you just end up with two rainbows. Then four. Then eight. And the next thing you know, […]
Alliance Statement in Support of Melissa Tempel
It is time for Ms. Tempel to be returned to her students and for the district to take accountability for starting this mess in the first place simply, because they wanted to keep rainbows out of a first-grade classroom.