By multiple District 6 Minneapolis Public School teachers

Do you remember what it was like to be in elementary, middle, or high school? Chances are you remember the broad brushstrokes, but not the minutiae of everyday life at school. If you’re a current parent, maybe you try to glean information from your kids at the end of the day (no easy task). But unless you’re a public school teacher or school employee, you probably don’t have a full understanding of what a typical day is like in our education system.

We are 16 teachers with a combined 258 years of teaching experience. We all live and/or work in the Minneapolis Public Schools District 6 and have varied experiences. Many of us have the unique perspective of being both MPS teachers and MPS parents. Our children go to a variety of schools, including Kenny Community School, Clara Barton Community School, Lake Harriet Elementary School, and Washburn High School.

As educators, our most important job is to inspire a love of learning and a sense of community in our classrooms. We have deep affection for children, and we work hard to make sure our students are supported, cared for, and challenged – work that requires spinning a dozen plates at once. We believe public schools are the backbone of a healthy democracy, something more relevant than ever. We are supporting Greta Callahan for school board because she is a champion for strong public schools.

In Greta we have a candidate who was born and raised in Southwest Minneapolis, a single mom, parent of a recent Southwest graduate, and a licensed public school teacher who taught kindergarten in North Minneapolis for almost a decade. She took on increasing levels of responsibility, became the president of the teachers’ union, and led MPS through the first strike in 52 years. This resulted in historic contract wins for students and teachers alike. The ability to unite and inspire is the mark of a true leader. Most importantly, we see in Greta a reflection of ourselves – someone who deeply cares about students and will fight for them.

Greta has our trust. In 2022 we were nearly unanimous in our decision to take action for our students. Ninety-seven percent of voting teachers and 98% of voting education support professionals (ESPs) voted to authorize our strike, and Greta followed our lead. We have agreed with Greta’s focus on negotiating for the collective good and structures that improve students’ academic achievement and well-being.

Greta’s effective leadership secured class size caps written into our contract, with the strongest caps at high-poverty elementary schools. For some of us, this has meant reducing class size by a third – something that has been absolutely life-changing. Now Ms. Maria can know which letters, words, and numbers each individual first grader needs to learn next because she has a reasonable number of students in her class.

Another example: The new contract increased ESPs hours, giving them time to collaborate with teachers to improve student outcomes. ESPs, who are majority Black and brown women, have been significantly underpaid with an unlivable previous starting salary of $24,000. ESPs are integral to the success of our schools, pushing into classrooms and working one-on-one with students. The contract increased their pay to nearly $35,000.

And even more wins: The contract ensured a full-time social worker in every site across the district.

In the next round of contract negotiations in 2024, we got a librarian in every school, a reduction in workload for special education teachers, and measures that increased teacher retention.  All things that improve the quality of education for our students, and within the budget parameters set by the school board. This would not have been possible without Greta’s relationships, budgeting prowess, and skillful, thoughtful leadership.

But there is still work to do.

For MPS to have a strong future – for us to advocate together for investment in public education and the stabilization of our district – we need the superintendent, the school board, and MPS teachers, staff and families to work together. It would be absolutely perilous to have a school board director who is antagonistic towards teachers’ perspectives. That is why this race is so important and why we support Greta.

Right now, 42% of eligible Minneapolis families are not choosing MPS. Greta is focused on recruiting families back to MPS and passionate about retaining the students we have. Greta is proposing ideas for recruitment, like having teachers go door-to-door to talk to families about their needs and what would bring them back to the district. In Minneapolis Public Schools our budget is based on the number of students who are enrolled. When students leave MPS, we lose that “per pupil” funding.

Greta has a strong understanding of the fact that the district has to sort out its finances. The notion that a school board candidate can’t both focus on cutting costs and supporting students, teachers, and staff is ridiculous. Greta is here to do both. And, she can do both, because she actually is a teacher, has been to the negotiating table, and she understands the delicate balance between the two. There's a misconception that fiscal responsibility and teacher well-being are at odds. To think that you can do one or the other is shortsighted.

The job is to keep the district open with competent teachers and well-served families. Not to just slash without regard for the staff and students, who you then have to attempt to retain.

Greta is endorsed by the MPS teachers, ESPs, school bus drivers, food service workers, and custodians. Greta is DFL-endorsed and has the strong support of legislators at the State Capitol. She has positive working relationships with the current superintendent and school board directors. And she is supported by countless MPS parents, families and students.

We know that Greta will be a school board director who can create the political will to invest in our public schools and make them the pride of our city and state. This is a make-or-break moment. Greta is the champion for strong public schools that we fervently need.

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Lyn Abe, Barton Community School, kindergarten teacher, 10 years of teaching

Sharon Alton, Washburn High School, Speech-Language Pathologist, 27 years of teaching

Nicole Buster, Hall STEM Academy, kindergarten teacher, 17 years of teaching, Kenny mom

Taylor Clarke, Lake Harriet Lower, 2nd grade teacher, 10 years of teaching

Naomi Hornstein, Justice Page Middle School, 7th grade social studies teacher, 4 years of teaching

Silvia Ibáñez, Emerson Dual Language School, K-5 art teacher, 15 years of teaching

Michelle Loomans, Armatage Elementary, 4th grade teacher, 15 years of teaching

Ryan Olson, Anthony Middle School, 6th and 7th grade social studies teacher, 15 years of teaching

Valerie Olsen-Rittler, Southwest High School, social studies teacher, 34 years of teaching

Karen Peterson, Kenny, 4th grade teacher, 34 years of teaching

Natalie Peterson, Justice Page Middle School, English language arts teacher, 14 years of teaching, mom of 2 kids at Barton

Laura Radde, Lake Harriet Upper, Special Education resource teacher, 15 years of teaching

Savanna Reese, Burroughs Elementary, kindergarten teacher, 11 years of teaching

Jose Rodriguez, Windom, 3 years of teaching

JeTaun Smith, Lyndale Elementary, interventionist, 26 years of teaching

Maria White, Ella Baker, 1st grade teacher, 8 years of teaching

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Editor’s note: The District 6 school board forum is available to watch on YouTube. Interviews with Lara Bergman and Greta Callahan can be found at our sister publication, Minneapolis Schools Voices.