StudentsFirst: Save Great Teachers—End Last In, First Out

As the Franklin School District prepares to tackle its first budget following the passage of Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill, affecting unions’ collective bargaining authority, we are bringing—what begin on BATTLE JOINED, our sister-publication—studentsfirst.org news, information and updates to THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL as part of our ongoing schools and education coverage.

Led by Michelle Rhee, the former Chancellor of D.C. Public Schools, StudentsFirst formed in 2010 in response to an increasing demand for a better education system in America. This grassroots movement is designed to mobilize parents, teachers, students, administrators, and citizens throughout country, and to channel their energy to produce meaningful results on both the local and national level. StudentsFirst is a 501(c)4 organization based in Washington, D.C.

By all measures Christine Simo is an excellent teacher—precisely the type of teacher concerned parents want in their child's classroom. In fact, many fellow teachers have requested Christine for their own kids.

Why then did Christine's principal, with tears in her eyes, have to approach her just weeks ago to tell her she was being let go? Christine was one of the best teachers in the school. Layoffs were necessary and the harmful "last in, first out" policy in the state of Nevada left Christine's principal without a choice.

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