This year’s TEACH Conference 2021 passed with flying colors, with more than 500 St. Thomas and St. John educators registering for Local 1825’s signature professional development event. Newly elected AFT President Leontyne Jones reinforced the 43rd annual conference’s theme of “Return, Recover, and Reimagine” in her message to membership by reminding all that as a union – as a voice of the territory – Local 1825 has to think beyond individuality and seriously about the children who have been out of school for almost two years.
Invited guests included:
- Hon. Albert Bryan, Governor of the United States Virgin Islands
- Hon. Stacey Plasket, United States Congresswoman
- Hon. Donna Frett-Gregory, U.S. Virgin Islands Senator
- Hon. Genevieve Whitaker, U.S. Virgin Islands Senator
- Raquel Berry-Benjamin, Commissioner, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Education
- Stefan Jurgen, Insular Superintendent, St. Thomas/St. John
- Dr. Kyza A. Callwood, Chair, U.S. Virgin Islands Board of Education
- George Bordenave, National Representative, American Federation of Teachers
- Rosa Soto-Thomas, AFT President, St. Croix District (Local 1826)
TEACH Conference 2021 offered 20 sessions presented by local and national professionals ranging from basic cybersecurity and online teaching to experiencing burnout and supporting students with grief. Certificates of participation and professional development hours were given upon completion.