Randi Weingarten – Single handedly set back K-12 education for a decade?

Who is Randi Weingarten?

• Rhonda “Randi” Weingarten (born December 18, 1957) is an American labor leader, attorney, and educator. She is president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and a member of the AFL–CIO. She is the former president of the United Federation of Teachers.

Why is she important regarding K-12 education?

• In May 2021, it was revealed that Randi Weingarten, the leader of the nation’s second-largest teachers union, significantly influenced Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on reopening schools earlier that year. In the lead-up to the “highly anticipated” Feb. 12, 2021 guidelines, the union president and another top union official were in regular contact with CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, providing their input in an effort to influence final recommendations. The New York Post reported that “the lobbying paid off. In at least two instances, language ‘suggestions’ offered by the union were adopted nearly verbatim into the final text of the CDC document.”  Here’s an article that provides more depth and detail: New texts reveal how Randi Weingarten worked behind the scenes to keep schools closed | Washington Examiner

What has the press had to say about her impact on children’s education?

• Texts reveal exchange between CDC director, teachers union boss before school reopening memo (nypost.com)
• Why on Earth Is Biden Giving This Teachers Union Boss More Power? (msn.com)
• Randi Weingarten’s woke union will focus on anything but education | Washington Examiner
• ‘The Most Dangerous Person in the World Is Randi Weingarten’ – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
• PolitiFact | Here’s what AFT’s Randi Weingarten said about reopening schools during COVID-19

If you don’t know who she is please consider finding the time to read. The impact in stopping the restart of schools is profound. The impact of teachers unions is concerning.