Dear colleagues and friends: | am writing to share that I will retire as president of Duval Teachers United (DTU) today, Oct. 27. It has been an honor to work for the teachers, Paraprofessionals, office personnel and students of Duval County and alongside each of you. | am confident DTU will continue to strengthen our public school system by building on the outcomes we achieved together over the past three decades. In the past 34 years, we have grown our organization, our membership and ‘our community partnerships. While remaining a bipartisan organization, we have deepened our members’ engagement in meaningful public policy initiatives. Together, we achieved more than two decades of successful contract negotiations without an impasse and maintained non-contributory health care for employees. We implemented a research-based program where employees at the districts most-challenged elementary schools. received performance-based incentives totaling $1.2M raised by DTU from community leaders, We also successfully passed two referendums and ballot initiatives that supported school construction and employee salaries. (Our accomplishments have improved outcomes for professionals and students alike. They also reflect DTU's innovative and collaborative approach to addressing the most pressing issues facing our community's education system. These principles are ingrained in all our efforts to advocate for members’ interests, represent their needs and defend their rights. | know these principles will remain intact for decades to come. ‘As my 30+ year career with DTU and 40+ years serving Duval County comes to an end, | am grateful for the team members and Board of Directors who work diligently on behalf of our teachers, paraprofessionals, office personnel and students. | am also grateful for our members’ dedication to providing the best education for all children in Duval County. Ithas been an honor and a privilege to serve you. | wish everyone at DTU. and across the district, continued success in improving the public school system in Duval County. Sincerely, Terrie Brady ® Robly