Five vying to lead Miami-Dade teachers union

Source: Miami Herald
BY TANIA deLUZURIAGA

United Teachers of Dade president Karen Aronowitz is up for reelection this week. In the 21 months since taking office, Aronowitz has led efforts opposing changes to the class-size amendment, sued the school district over a controversial performance pay plan and negotiated a guaranteed three-year contract.

But she has been criticized for not taking a hard enough stance against district officials.
Now, W.R. Thomas Middle School history teacher Ron Beasley, Michael Krop Senior High science teacher Shawn Beightol, Ojus Elementary teacher Patrenia Dozier-Washington and retired teacher Harold Mandell are trying to take Aronowitz's place.

''I don't think Karen has her own vision for what the fourth-largest school district in the nation could be,'' Beightol said. Beightol has been one of Aronowitz's most outspoken critics, urging members to take a harder line against the district, circulating a list of district employees making more than $100,000 and printing red T-shirts that say, His actions led the school district to accuse him of misusing his school district e-mail account and remove him from the classroom for 10 days.

Beightol, Beasley and Dozier-Washington are all calling for improved union services, lower union dues and higher salaries for teachers and paraprofessionals.
Mandell has not submitted any campaign materials to UTD and could not be reached for comment Monday.

Beasley, a former Army Ranger who worked in the UTD office as an organizer last year, says his experience will help him reshape UTD. ''I have first-hand knowledge of the minor flaws in [UTD] management taking place,'' he said. ``We've been cutting down on services while increasing salaries.''

Dozier-Washington, a former Tornillo supporter, is floating the idea of creating a teacher's trust that would be used to fund salaries. She also wants to see better professional development offerings from the union.

Voting will take place at each work site Wednesday. Ballots will be counted through that night and winners will likely be announced Thursday.