The Council of School Officers (CSO) and the Executive Board would like to thank you for your tireless efforts in making a difference in our schools, families, and communities. Your dedication and hard work is truly appreciated. The District of Columbia Public School system has truly benefited from the daily expertise you bring forth. That’s why we are working hard to bring about fair and equitable labor agreements such as contracts, fair wages, job descriptions, etc. This is the time for you to be involved! You need to be protected so you can continue the great service you provide to our students and communities.
On Juneteenth, we remember a truth that extends far beyond a single day in history: while freedom was delayed, the pursuit of knowledge never stopped.
For generations, enslaved people were denied basic rights, separated from loved ones, excluded from institutions, and prevented from accessing many of the opportunities available to others. Yet they continued to learn, teach, create, adapt, organize, celebrate, and build community. Knowledge was preserved through stories, through faith, through lived experience, and through the collective wisdom in the community. Even when barriers were deliberately constructed, people found ways forward.
That history reminds us that education has never been limited to a classroom, or even an institution. The pursuit of knowledge is a deeply human act. It is an expression of hope, agency, and belief in a better future.
Today, many educators find themselves confronting new challenges. We see debates over what should be taught, whose stories should be told, and which truths deserve recognition. We see resources strained, inequities persist, we see new barriers constructed, and the public confidence in institutions is tested.
Juneteenth reminds us that these challenges are not the whole story. It reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge, the strength of community, and the courage to do what is right are all worth celebrating.
The people we honor in the holiday today did not wait for perfect conditions. They did not abandon the pursuit of knowledge when obstacles appeared. They built communities. They shared wisdom. They supported one another. They continued to believe that truth and opportunity were worth protecting, even when others sought to limit them.
As school leaders and advocates for young people, that legacy should inspire us. Our work is not simply to manage schools or systems. It is to help ensure that every child has access to opportunity, that knowledge remains accessible, and that the truth is not diminished by politics or power.
Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom. It is also a reminder of perseverance. It calls us to remember that progress has never been guaranteed, but throughout our nation’s history, people have continued to learn, teach, lead, and build despite the barriers before them…. the pursuit of knowledge never stopped.
That same spirit guides our work today. As we advocate for protections of school leaders, support for the foundational role of assistant principals, and continue working toward a comprehensive collective bargaining agreement, we remain committed to creating the conditions in which students, educators, and communities can thrive. Because the pursuit of knowledge never stops.
All of Moira Coogan's life, a muse has watched over her, instilling in her the values that have made her the socially aware educator and union leader she is today.
From an early age, Moira's mother, Mary Jo Kishel Coogan, a follower of liberation theology, was committed to social justice and civil rights, following the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. At 16, she boarded a bus with Quakers to attend the 1963 March on Washington.
Later, as a divorced mother with no time to earn her doctorate, Mary Jo worked on policy analysis in the Office of the President at the University of Colorado, where Moira was raised. Moira says, "My mother taught me that we should talk to the janitor the same way we talk to the college president." She also encouraged Moira to earn her doctorate someday, saying, "It will be like a union card."
It was no wonder that Moira earned her master's degree and doctorate in special education and went on to become president of the Denver School Leaders Association, Local 136, AFSA, and a member of the AFSA General Executive Board.
Her father, Tom Coogan, traveled almost constantly for his marketing job, so during the summers Moira joined him in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and even Jakarta, Indonesia. "Like Obama," she laughs.
Born and raised in Colorado, she broadened her worldview through travel. She says, "I went to the international school in Jakarta for one whole summer and saw the absolute difference between the haves and have-nots, and it stuck with me forever."
She adds, "That's why I want to open doors to everybody. That's what unions are all about. They're about gaining access to power and getting a seat at the table."
When Moira became an administrator, she joined the local professional association. The association reached out to AFSA about organizing as a union and received invaluable advice. When Moira ran for union secretary, her mother — who passed away shortly afterward — said, "This is going to be one of the most important things you do in your life."
Today, as president of Local 136, she has seen the six-year-old union grow rapidly and win two contracts. "Anyone who wants to start a union should reach out to AFSA, and they'll give you advice and connect you to people nationally who've gone through the same thing. You'll feel supported, even today, with the current administration."
Moira also credits part of DSLA's success to the continued support of her superintendent, Alex Marrero, who was once a member of CSA, Local 1.
But when Moira graduated Phi Beta Kappa in English and secondary education from the University of Colorado Boulder, union organizing was...
All of Moira Coogan's life, a muse has watched over her, instilling in her the values that have made her the socially aware educator and union leader she is today.
From an early age, Moira's mother, Mary Jo Kishel Coogan, a follower of liberation theology, was committed to social justice and civil rights, following the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. At 16, she boarded a bus with Quakers to attend the 1963 March on Washington.
Later, as a divorced mother with no time to earn her doctorate, Mary Jo worked on policy analysis in the Office of the President at the University of Colorado, where Moira was raised. Moira says, "My mother taught me that we should talk to the janitor the same way we talk to the college president." She also encouraged Moira to earn her doctorate someday, saying, "It will be like a union card."
It was no wonder that Moira earned her master's degree and doctorate in special education and went on to become president of the Denver School Leaders Association, Local 136, AFSA, and a member of the AFSA General Executive Board.
Her father, Tom Coogan, traveled almost constantly for his marketing job, so during the summers Moira joined him in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and even Jakarta, Indonesia. "Like Obama," she laughs.
Born and raised in Colorado, she broadened her worldview through travel. She says, "I went to the international school in Jakarta for one whole summer and saw the absolute difference between the haves and have-nots, and it stuck with me forever."
She adds, "That's why I want to open doors to everybody. That's what unions are all about. They're about gaining access to power and getting a seat at the table."
When Moira became an administrator, she joined the local professional association. The association reached out to AFSA about organizing as a union and received invaluable advice. When Moira ran for union secretary, her mother — who passed away shortly afterward — said, "This is going to be one of the most important things you do in your life."
Today, as president of Local 136, she has seen the six-year-old union grow rapidly and win two contracts. "Anyone who wants to start a union should reach out to AFSA, and they'll give you advice and connect you to people nationally who've gone through the same thing. You'll feel supported, even today, with the current administration."
Moira also credits part of DSLA's success to the continued support of her superintendent, Alex Marrero, who was once a member of CSA, Local 1.
But when Moira graduated Phi Beta Kappa in English and secondary education from the University of Colorado Boulder, union organizing was...
All of Moira Coogan's life, a muse has watched over her, instilling in her the values that have made her the socially aware educator and union leader she is today.
From an early age, Moira's mother, Mary Jo Kishel Coogan, a follower of liberation theology, was committed to social justice and civil rights, following the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. At 16, she boarded a bus with Quakers to attend the 1963 March on Washington.
Later, as a divorced mother with no time to earn her doctorate, Mary Jo worked on policy analysis in the Office of the President at the University of Colorado, where Moira was raised. Moira says, "My mother taught me that we should talk to the janitor the same way we talk to the college president." She also encouraged Moira to earn her doctorate someday, saying, "It will be like a union card."
It was no wonder that Moira earned her master's degree and doctorate in special education and went on to become president of the Denver School Leaders Association, Local 136, AFSA, and a member of the AFSA General Executive Board.
Her father, Tom Coogan, traveled almost constantly for his marketing job, so during the summers Moira joined him in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and even Jakarta, Indonesia. "Like Obama," she laughs.
Born and raised in Colorado, she broadened her worldview through travel. She says, "I went to the international school in Jakarta for one whole summer and saw the absolute difference between the haves and have-nots, and it stuck with me forever."
She adds, "That's why I want to open doors to everybody. That's what unions are all about. They're about gaining access to power and getting a seat at the table."
When Moira became an administrator, she joined the local professional association. The association reached out to AFSA about organizing as a union and received invaluable advice. When Moira ran for union secretary, her mother — who passed away shortly afterward — said, "This is going to be one of the most important things you do in your life."
Today, as president of Local 136, she has seen the six-year-old union grow rapidly and win two contracts. "Anyone who wants to start a union should reach out to AFSA, and they'll give you advice and connect you to people nationally who've gone through the same thing. You'll feel supported, even today, with the current administration."
Moira also credits part of DSLA's success to the continued support of her superintendent, Alex Marrero, who was once a member of CSA, Local 1.
But when Moira graduated Phi Beta Kappa in English and secondary education from the University of Colorado Boulder, union organizing was...
All of Moira Coogan's life, a muse has watched over her, instilling in her the values that have made her the socially aware educator and union leader she is today.
From an early age, Moira's mother, Mary Jo Kishel Coogan, a follower of liberation theology, was committed to social justice and civil rights, following the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. At 16, she boarded a bus with Quakers to attend the 1963 March on Washington.
Later, as a divorced mother with no time to earn her doctorate, Mary Jo worked on policy analysis in the Office of the President at the University of Colorado, where Moira was raised. Moira says, "My mother taught me that we should talk to the janitor the same way we talk to the college president." She also encouraged Moira to earn her doctorate someday, saying, "It will be like a union card."
It was no wonder that Moira earned her master's degree and doctorate in special education and went on to become president of the Denver School Leaders Association, Local 136, AFSA, and a member of the AFSA General Executive Board.
Her father, Tom Coogan, traveled almost constantly for his marketing job, so during the summers Moira joined him in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and even Jakarta, Indonesia. "Like Obama," she laughs.
Born and raised in Colorado, she broadened her worldview through travel. She says, "I went to the international school in Jakarta for one whole summer and saw the absolute difference between the haves and have-nots, and it stuck with me forever."
She adds, "That's why I want to open doors to everybody. That's what unions are all about. They're about gaining access to power and getting a seat at the table."
When Moira became an administrator, she joined the local professional association. The association reached out to AFSA about organizing as a union and received invaluable advice. When Moira ran for union secretary, her mother — who passed away shortly afterward — said, "This is going to be one of the most important things you do in your life."
Today, as president of Local 136, she has seen the six-year-old union grow rapidly and win two contracts. "Anyone who wants to start a union should reach out to AFSA, and they'll give you advice and connect you to people nationally who've gone through the same thing. You'll feel supported, even today, with the current administration."
Moira also credits part of DSLA's success to the continued support of her superintendent, Alex Marrero, who was once a member of CSA, Local 1.
But when Moira graduated Phi Beta Kappa in English and secondary education from the University of Colorado Boulder, union organizing was...
All of Moira Coogan's life, a muse has watched over her, instilling in her the values that have made her the socially aware educator and union leader she is today.
From an early age, Moira's mother, Mary Jo Kishel Coogan, a follower of liberation theology, was committed to social justice and civil rights, following the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. At 16, she boarded a bus with Quakers to attend the 1963 March on Washington.
Later, as a divorced mother with no time to earn her doctorate, Mary Jo worked on policy analysis in the Office of the President at the University of Colorado, where Moira was raised. Moira says, "My mother taught me that we should talk to the janitor the same way we talk to the college president." She also encouraged Moira to earn her doctorate someday, saying, "It will be like a union card."
It was no wonder that Moira earned her master's degree and doctorate in special education and went on to become president of the Denver School Leaders Association, Local 136, AFSA, and a member of the AFSA General Executive Board.
Her father, Tom Coogan, traveled almost constantly for his marketing job, so during the summers Moira joined him in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and even Jakarta, Indonesia. "Like Obama," she laughs.
Born and raised in Colorado, she broadened her worldview through travel. She says, "I went to the international school in Jakarta for one whole summer and saw the absolute difference between the haves and have-nots, and it stuck with me forever."
She adds, "That's why I want to open doors to everybody. That's what unions are all about. They're about gaining access to power and getting a seat at the table."
When Moira became an administrator, she joined the local professional association. The association reached out to AFSA about organizing as a union and received invaluable advice. When Moira ran for union secretary, her mother — who passed away shortly afterward — said, "This is going to be one of the most important things you do in your life."
Today, as president of Local 136, she has seen the six-year-old union grow rapidly and win two contracts. "Anyone who wants to start a union should reach out to AFSA, and they'll give you advice and connect you to people nationally who've gone through the same thing. You'll feel supported, even today, with the current administration."
Moira also credits part of DSLA's success to the continued support of her superintendent, Alex Marrero, who was once a member of CSA, Local 1.
But when Moira graduated Phi Beta Kappa in English and secondary education from the University of Colorado Boulder, union organizing was...
All of Moira Coogan's life, a muse has watched over her, instilling in her the values that have made her the socially aware educator and union leader she is today.
From an early age, Moira's mother, Mary Jo Kishel Coogan, a follower of liberation theology, was committed to social justice and civil rights, following the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. At 16, she boarded a bus with Quakers to attend the 1963 March on Washington.
Later, as a divorced mother with no time to earn her doctorate, Mary Jo worked on policy analysis in the Office of the President at the University of Colorado, where Moira was raised. Moira says, "My mother taught me that we should talk to the janitor the same way we talk to the college president." She also encouraged Moira to earn her doctorate someday, saying, "It will be like a union card."
It was no wonder that Moira earned her master's degree and doctorate in special education and went on to become president of the Denver School Leaders Association, Local 136, AFSA, and a member of the AFSA General Executive Board.
Her father, Tom Coogan, traveled almost constantly for his marketing job, so during the summers Moira joined him in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and even Jakarta, Indonesia. "Like Obama," she laughs.
Born and raised in Colorado, she broadened her worldview through travel. She says, "I went to the international school in Jakarta for one whole summer and saw the absolute difference between the haves and have-nots, and it stuck with me forever."
She adds, "That's why I want to open doors to everybody. That's what unions are all about. They're about gaining access to power and getting a seat at the table."
When Moira became an administrator, she joined the local professional association. The association reached out to AFSA about organizing as a union and received invaluable advice. When Moira ran for union secretary, her mother — who passed away shortly afterward — said, "This is going to be one of the most important things you do in your life."
Today, as president of Local 136, she has seen the six-year-old union grow rapidly and win two contracts. "Anyone who wants to start a union should reach out to AFSA, and they'll give you advice and connect you to people nationally who've gone through the same thing. You'll feel supported, even today, with the current administration."
Moira also credits part of DSLA's success to the continued support of her superintendent, Alex Marrero, who was once a member of CSA, Local 1.
But when Moira graduated Phi Beta Kappa in English and secondary education from the University of Colorado Boulder, union organizing was...
All of Moira Coogan's life, a muse has watched over her, instilling in her the values that have made her the socially aware educator and union leader she is today.
From an early age, Moira's mother, Mary Jo Kishel Coogan, a follower of liberation theology, was committed to social justice and civil rights, following the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. At 16, she boarded a bus with Quakers to attend the 1963 March on Washington.
Later, as a divorced mother with no time to earn her doctorate, Mary Jo worked on policy analysis in the Office of the President at the University of Colorado, where Moira was raised. Moira says, "My mother taught me that we should talk to the janitor the same way we talk to the college president." She also encouraged Moira to earn her doctorate someday, saying, "It will be like a union card."
It was no wonder that Moira earned her master's degree and doctorate in special education and went on to become president of the Denver School Leaders Association, Local 136, AFSA, and a member of the AFSA General Executive Board.
Her father, Tom Coogan, traveled almost constantly for his marketing job, so during the summers Moira joined him in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and even Jakarta, Indonesia. "Like Obama," she laughs.
Born and raised in Colorado, she broadened her worldview through travel. She says, "I went to the international school in Jakarta for one whole summer and saw the absolute difference between the haves and have-nots, and it stuck with me forever."
She adds, "That's why I want to open doors to everybody. That's what unions are all about. They're about gaining access to power and getting a seat at the table."
When Moira became an administrator, she joined the local professional association. The association reached out to AFSA about organizing as a union and received invaluable advice. When Moira ran for union secretary, her mother — who passed away shortly afterward — said, "This is going to be one of the most important things you do in your life."
Today, as president of Local 136, she has seen the six-year-old union grow rapidly and win two contracts. "Anyone who wants to start a union should reach out to AFSA, and they'll give you advice and connect you to people nationally who've gone through the same thing. You'll feel supported, even today, with the current administration."
Moira also credits part of DSLA's success to the continued support of her superintendent, Alex Marrero, who was once a member of CSA, Local 1.
But when Moira graduated Phi Beta Kappa in English and secondary education from the University of Colorado Boulder, union organizing was...
All of Moira Coogan's life, a muse has watched over her, instilling in her the values that have made her the socially aware educator and union leader she is today.
From an early age, Moira's mother, Mary Jo Kishel Coogan, a follower of liberation theology, was committed to social justice and civil rights, following the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. At 16, she boarded a bus with Quakers to attend the 1963 March on Washington.
Later, as a divorced mother with no time to earn her doctorate, Mary Jo worked on policy analysis in the Office of the President at the University of Colorado, where Moira was raised. Moira says, "My mother taught me that we should talk to the janitor the same way we talk to the college president." She also encouraged Moira to earn her doctorate someday, saying, "It will be like a union card."
It was no wonder that Moira earned her master's degree and doctorate in special education and went on to become president of the Denver School Leaders Association, Local 136, AFSA, and a member of the AFSA General Executive Board.
Her father, Tom Coogan, traveled almost constantly for his marketing job, so during the summers Moira joined him in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and even Jakarta, Indonesia. "Like Obama," she laughs.
Born and raised in Colorado, she broadened her worldview through travel. She says, "I went to the international school in Jakarta for one whole summer and saw the absolute difference between the haves and have-nots, and it stuck with me forever."
She adds, "That's why I want to open doors to everybody. That's what unions are all about. They're about gaining access to power and getting a seat at the table."
When Moira became an administrator, she joined the local professional association. The association reached out to AFSA about organizing as a union and received invaluable advice. When Moira ran for union secretary, her mother — who passed away shortly afterward — said, "This is going to be one of the most important things you do in your life."
Today, as president of Local 136, she has seen the six-year-old union grow rapidly and win two contracts. "Anyone who wants to start a union should reach out to AFSA, and they'll give you advice and connect you to people nationally who've gone through the same thing. You'll feel supported, even today, with the current administration."
Moira also credits part of DSLA's success to the continued support of her superintendent, Alex Marrero, who was once a member of CSA, Local 1.
But when Moira graduated Phi Beta Kappa in English and secondary education from the University of Colorado Boulder, union organizing was...
All of Moira Coogan's life, a muse has watched over her, instilling in her the values that have made her the socially aware educator and union leader she is today.
From an early age, Moira's mother, Mary Jo Kishel Coogan, a follower of liberation theology, was committed to social justice and civil rights, following the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. At 16, she boarded a bus with Quakers to attend the 1963 March on Washington.
Later, as a divorced mother with no time to earn her doctorate, Mary Jo worked on policy analysis in the Office of the President at the University of Colorado, where Moira was raised. Moira says, "My mother taught me that we should talk to the janitor the same way we talk to the college president." She also encouraged Moira to earn her doctorate someday, saying, "It will be like a union card."
It was no wonder that Moira earned her master's degree and doctorate in special education and went on to become president of the Denver School Leaders Association, Local 136, AFSA, and a member of the AFSA General Executive Board.
Her father, Tom Coogan, traveled almost constantly for his marketing job, so during the summers Moira joined him in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and even Jakarta, Indonesia. "Like Obama," she laughs.
Born and raised in Colorado, she broadened her worldview through travel. She says, "I went to the international school in Jakarta for one whole summer and saw the absolute difference between the haves and have-nots, and it stuck with me forever."
She adds, "That's why I want to open doors to everybody. That's what unions are all about. They're about gaining access to power and getting a seat at the table."
When Moira became an administrator, she joined the local professional association. The association reached out to AFSA about organizing as a union and received invaluable advice. When Moira ran for union secretary, her mother — who passed away shortly afterward — said, "This is going to be one of the most important things you do in your life."
Today, as president of Local 136, she has seen the six-year-old union grow rapidly and win two contracts. "Anyone who wants to start a union should reach out to AFSA, and they'll give you advice and connect you to people nationally who've gone through the same thing. You'll feel supported, even today, with the current administration."
Moira also credits part of DSLA's success to the continued support of her superintendent, Alex Marrero, who was once a member of CSA, Local 1.
But when Moira graduated Phi Beta Kappa in English and secondary education from the University of Colorado Boulder, union organizing was...
