Denise Specht

Denise Specht

@denisespecht.bsky.social

Retired union leader and teacher. Past Education Minnesota President, AFT, NEA, MN AFL-CIO. Still advocating for public education and working people. Daughter, sister, aunt. #union

1,016 Followers 220 Following 29 Posts Joined Nov 2024
1 month ago
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Educators Sue to Keep Immigration Agents From Schools and Bus Stops

Cheers to Education Minnesota and these school districts! I never thought I'd see the day that educators and school districts would need to sue their own government to protect safe, accessible learning and working environments for students and school staff.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/u...

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1 month ago
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Whoa! I’m at my MN DFL senate district precinct meeting.

It👏is👏packed👏! Standing room only.

I’ve not seen this many people at this meeting since 2016. Good to meet new neighbors and be with people wanting to protect our freedoms and democracy. People are fired up and they’re showing up. 💙💙✊✊

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4 months ago

Every disaffected Dem & swing focus group we do begins with people asking what's real. They hear, at times, this is authoritarian takeover threatening lives & livelihoods. But perceive most "leaders" not acting as if this were so.

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4 months ago

We absolutely will not budge unless Americans can pay for their healthcare! Unless, of course, we get stuck at the airport for some hours.

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4 months ago

If only the people had sent a message to Congress last Tuesday…

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4 months ago
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But first, coffee.

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4 months ago
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Journalists turn in access badges, exit Pentagon rather than agree to new reporting rules Journalists at the Pentagon turned in access badges and cleaned out their workspaces, the price for refusing to agree to new restrictions on their jobs at the seat of U.S. military power.

These journalists stood up to an authoritarian today. Even Hegseth’s former employer, Fox News, said no to being lackeys. Cheers to this press corp’s commitment to getting us the truth, as hard as it will be, from the outside of the Pentagon rather than inside. This country deserves it.

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7 months ago
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Cheryl Reeve condemns sex toys being thrown on WNBA courts YouTube video by FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul

Preach, Coach!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L1v...

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7 months ago

#Sigh…. Guess the Rs on a congressional committee dedicated to workforce don’t like that I spend so much time with our members and their communities. Of course, we will cooperate with any legitimate request, but this won't stop me or our union from fighting for working families.

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7 months ago
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Private Equity Finds Opportunity in America’s Child Care Crisis Parents in the US pay an average of $11,582 per year for child care for children under the age of 15. And private equity sees an opportunity, by racing to consolidate independent daycares. Easy access...

Private equity is asset-stripping another essential service—childcare—prioritizing profits over kids' well-being. It's time for the federal government to make childcare universally accessible and keep financial predators out. www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/...

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8 months ago
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Minnesota on the hook for $430K legal bill after GOP congressional hearing where Walz testified The state tapped outside lawyers to prepare the DFL governor for a high-profile U.S. House Oversight Committee hearing in June.

We should be angry at the political spectacle these congressional hearings have become. The governor was justified to prepare, knowing he was not there to share new knowledge, but for the GOP, Stauber and Emmer to score political points. These sham hearings are reckless and a waste for all of us.

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8 months ago
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9 months ago
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#FreeDavidEndRaids On Friday afternoon, military-gear-clad ICE agents launched aggressive raids throughout Los Angeles. At one location, SEIU-USWW President David Huerta was assaulted, injured and detained while advocat...

Free David Huerta

actionnetwork.org/event_campai...

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10 months ago
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May 1 is International Workers Day and I marched in Washington DC with educators, federal workers, union members, immigrants and community to fight attacks against jobs, union contracts, due process and workers’ freedoms. The people, united, will never be defeated! ✊ #MayDayStrong #MayDay

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10 months ago

He is risen!

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11 months ago
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ACLU of Minnesota, Education Minnesota file suits against St. Francis schools book policy St. Francis Area Schools adopted a policy in the fall requiring all new school library materials purchased by the district be filtered through Book Looks, a website backed by conservative groups. The ...

Banned books include “Night” by Elie Wiesel, “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou and “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini.

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11 months ago
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Hundreds of St. Francis parents, students and educators came together today to send a message to the school board — keep decisions on library books and curriculum at the local level. No to book bans! #teachtruth #freedomtoread

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11 months ago
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AFT’s Weingarten Reacts to Injunction Against Elon Musk WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after a federal court judge ordered a preliminary injunction preventing the Education Department, the Office of Personnel Manag...

This is the United States, not Putin’s Russia, and Americans still believe our government should uphold freedom and privacy. Musk and DOGE must be held accountable—and today’s injunction is a major step in that direction. www.aft.org/press-releas...

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11 months ago
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AFT’s Weingarten Reacts to Injunction Against Elon Musk WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after a federal court judge ordered a preliminary injunction preventing the Education Department, the Office of Personnel Manag...

Elon Musk’s operatives have been invading Americans’ privacy—& today, a court said NO. It enjoined DOGE. When families apply for student loans, they trust the government to protect their data not steal it or feed it to 3rd parties or AI. This ruling upholds that trust. www.aft.org/press-releas...

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11 months ago
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Education is our kids future. Education is our country’s future. Mr. President, we will see you in court. www.aft.org/press-releas...

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11 months ago
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'The Handmaid's Tale' could really teach something to the kids in St. Francis. Too bad it's banned. • Minnesota Reformer “The Bluest Eye” and “The Perks of Being A Wallflower” are out.

“Each book that is removed is another voice that is being silenced. Our libraries should be filled with the voices of everyone.”

Thanks Ryan Fiereck and Education Minnesota St. Francis Local 1977 for standing against book bans and standing for a local process.

minnesotareformer.com/2025/03/19/t...

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11 months ago

Mar 19 •rally •before school
Natl School Walk-in
by
@neatoday.bsky.social

Who: educators, students, neighbors

What: gather in front of school

When: Mar 19
45 min. before school

•listen to a few speakers

•discuss what we want for our school

•take/share photos

celebrate
collaborate
protest

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11 months ago
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Private school vouchers: a bad idea that keeps losing but won’t die - MinnPost Our organization found that Minnesota public school districts could lose $209 million in the first year of a voucher program.

“So if private school vouchers would drain our already underfunded public schools of even more money, and would harm student’s educational outcomes, what’s the point?”

Why do Trump and Republicans keep pushing vouchers despite pushback? They want the wealthy to be more wealthy.

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11 months ago

I was on WCCO radio this morning to talk about the latest actions at the Department of Education. These actions are about privatizing public education and finding ways to pay for tax handouts to billionaires.

www.audacy.com/podcast/the-...

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1 year ago
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From anger to taking action. It was a great day on the doors for my neighbor David Gottfried, candidate in the special election for 40B. One woman was ill but answered the door in her pajamas because after watching what happened in the White House yesterday, she is more committed to do her part.

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1 year ago
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Forest Lake School Board continues adviser funding for clubs supporting students of color Thursday’s vote follows discussions on inclusion programs, federal pressure on DEI initiatives and the school board’s commitment to educational equity.

We need more organizing and push back at local levels. Thanks to the Forest Lake Education Association, students, parents and community leaders for standing up for what their community needs - in this case welcoming, safe and inclusive schools for students.

www.startribune.com/forest-lake-...

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1 year ago
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A status quo state budget is not going to work for educators. Our legislature must find the revenue to improve our pensions, pay and healthcare. Thank to the Education Minnesota members who lobbied their legislators and rallied the rotunda at the end of the day!

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1 year ago
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Joy is an act of resistance! So, it was all the more inspiring to celebrate and recognize this wonderful teacher from Minnesota last night. Congratulations Michael Houston for receiving a Traveler’s Award for Teaching Excellence at the NEA Foundation’s annual Salute to Excellence in Education!

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1 year ago
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Our heart belongs to public schools because they’re where every student can learn, grow, and thrive. Sending love to the educators and support staff who make it all possible. ❤️ #ValentinesDay

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1 year ago
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Love is a verb - and every day, our members show their communities that they care by teaching students, caring for patients, and ensuring that their neighbors have everything they need to thrive.

Happy Valentine's Day to all of our members, and thank you for all that you do!

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