Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) President Melissa Cropper joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed how leaders at the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Convention, held this week in Boston, collaborated to brainstorm solutions to the nation’s teacher shortage.
Cropper explained the AFT brought together over 25 leaders from across the nation to not only explore the problem, but develop meaningful solutions and establish what schools need from federal, state and local governments. She talked about the need to address culture wars and the politicization of schools, issues she said have made the job of teachers harder to perform.
Cropper also discussed the AFT’s goal of growing community schools, which provide resources such as dental, vision and other basic health services, and makes them available to the community. She also emphasized the need to encourage students to join building trades as an alternative to college.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.