FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Contact: Joshua Harris [email protected]

ICYMI: Spring Break for Some, But Not For All…

Prince George’s County Educators Occupy County Council Meeting Urging “Fund the Schools We Promised Our Students”

Upper Marlboro, MD—More than 60 Prince George’s County teachers, school employees, and parents surprised the County Council at its bi-monthly meeting when the educators came to speak out calling on the Council to invest and fund what’s best for students and educators.

Already, the state lawmakers approved the “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future” (Senate Bill 1030/House Bill 1413), which increases education funding by more than $800 million in additional funding to public schools. With the support of the Prince George’s County Education Association and the Board of Education, it’s up to the County Council to now follow through to fund the education improvements students need, new school construction, and the PGCEA contract.

“I’m here because we don’t want to lose these amazing educators to another county. It’s time that we provide world-class schools to our students,” said Theresa Mitchell Dudley, President of the Prince George’s County Education Association. “It’s time that we provide world-class schools for our students in Prince George’s County.”

Below are testimonies from teachers throughout the county at yesterday’s County Council meeting:

“Our students are experiencing trauma at an alarming rate,” said Simone Malloy, PGCPS educator “It’s time we establish systems and practices that are restorative and holistic for the complete well-being of our students.”

“Building relationships between our students and educators is a critical piece of strengthening our schools,” says Lori Morrow, a parent in Prince George’s County. “By ensuring manageable class sizes and workloads for our educators, you are working to providing students with high-quality education parents like me expect from our Prince George’s County public schools.