Online Learning Chaos Caused by DoDEA Management

With DoDEA Americas schools currently closed to students due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online learning for DoDEA students has continued thanks to the dedicated work of students and parents, and educators who are teaching remotely from home. While non-DoDEA school districts have found helpful ways to minimize stress on students and their families as online learning takes place, DoDEA management has done the exact opposite. 

DoDEA management has ignored the needs of military-connected students and families, and mistreated educators in the process. DoDEA has implemented rigid and unnecessarily complex online learning schedules and other requirements that are inflexible to the unique needs of military-connected students and the work schedule(s) of their parents/guardians. Additionally, DoDEA’s Phase II and III plans in the Southeast District and Mid-Atlantic District, respectively, have caused confusion and frustration. All of this chaos, caused by DoDEA management, has led to increased stress for students, families, and educators. 

Whether learning is taking place in the classroom or online, DoDEA educators want the best educational experiences for students. Because DoDEA has ignored parent input and concerns, the teachers’ union representing educators (Federal Education Association-Stateside Region) is currently engaging parents, employees, and other concerned citizens. If you would like to share your feedback on DoDEA’s online learning policies and how it is impacting students and families, we invite you to complete the survey below so that FEA-SR can share your voice with DoDEA management.  

At some DoDEA Americas schools, educators have been subjected to mistreatment and disrespect by principals and other administrators: 

-- Some educators have been required to read the “Daily Communicator” (email from an administrator) and find a “code word” in the email to send back to the principal by a certain time in order to “prove” that the educator is working from home. Some schools have adopted similar sign-in/sign-out requirements in violation of the teachers’ contract. 

-- Some educators have been told they cannot take sick leave and instead must take Leave Without Pay (LWOP), which results in a substantial loss of pay for the educator. 

-- At least one educator was formally disciplined with a Letter of Reprimand for allegedly “being late” to Google Meets. DoDEA has provided educators with little to no flexibility in regards to technology problems outside of our control. 

-- Some educators have been required to keep their camera turned on during faculty meetings held over Google Meet.

-- After a full day of teaching and responding to and sending (literally) hundreds of emails, some educators have been required to email the principal at the end of every day to “summarize” everything they have accomplished that day. 

-- Some educators cannot teach from their home and instead must teach from a location outside of their commuting area. For example, some educators need to take care of a family member in another state. Any educator seeking to work from an “alternative location” is required to complete a form and declare their reason(s) for the request in order to obtain permission from DoDEA. This is controlling and an invasion of educators’ privacy. 

-- Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, DoDEA management is directing some education support professionals to report to school for work, including office staff as well as grounds and custodial personnel. Some employees are mandated to report to the school building every day while others are on a rotational work schedule. There is at least one known installation where bus drivers are required to deliver meals to students. In light of the pandemic, subjecting education support professionals to report to a "closed school" is unnecessary and unsafe.

-- Educators are having to worry about the possibility of intruders gaining unauthorized access to Google Meets with students. Unfortunately, there have already been incidents involving DoDEA students, which is unacceptable and frightening. As the teachers’ union, we have requested that DoDEA develop security practices and a policy to report intruder attempts; however, to date, DoDEA has done nothing to safeguard students and educators.

Just as DoDEA management has ignored parents, concerns about online learning and suggestions for improvement voiced by the Union (FEA-SR) have largely been ignored by DoDEA. FEA-SR has filed grievances regarding DoDEA’s alleged violations of the teachers’ contract and unfair labor practices. Click here to read the union grievance filed on behalf of certified bargaining unit members on April 9, 2020, and also click here to read the union grievance filed on behalf of classified bargaining unit members on April 15, 2020.  

The examples listed above demonstrate DoDEA’s lack of trust, respect, and professionalism towards its own educators. DoDEA educators deserve better treatment; not micromanagement. If you would like to share your disappointment in how educators are being treated by DoDEA management, we invite you to complete the survey below so that FEA-SR can share your perspective with DoDEA. 

Click here for a larger (full screen) view of the survey displayed below.