As many of you know, SFUSD teachers may be moving toward a strike. Strike authorization is a two-step process: the first vote passed with over 99% support, speaking to teachers’ deep commitment to improving their working conditions—and, therefore, our children’s learning conditions.
The second vote is scheduled for the week of January 21. If approved, this would be the first teachers’ strike in San Francisco over 45 years; the last strike lasted six weeks.
To help prevent a strike and ensure teachers and schools receive the support they need, I urge you to send a letter to the School Board asking them to meet the union’s requests in good faith. We saw how powerful parent voices were during the fight to restore social workers in schools. One simple step by parents now can encourage the District to support educators and avoid a potentially long and difficult strike.
Below is a draft letter. Please feel free to use and adapt as you see fit or write your own.
Thank you,
Courtney
Mom to Saoirse (K) and Éamon (3)
p.s. The below templates are also available on Google Drive if you want to share with your community.
--- DRAFT LETTER (LONG FORM) ---
Email to: boardoffice@sfusd.edu
Mail to: San Francisco Unified School District | 555 Franklin Street | San Francisco, CA 94102-5207
Subject: Support Our Teachers and Prevent School Disruption
Dear SFUSD Leadership,
As an SFUSD parent, I am writing to express my strong support for our educators and to urge the District to meet the teachers union’s requests in good faith. Our teachers are the backbone of this district—they provide stability, care, and high-quality instruction to our children every single day. When their working conditions are strained, our students’ learning conditions are strained as well.
A strike would be deeply disruptive to students, families, and staff. It is also entirely avoidable. The union’s proposals reflect real needs in our schools—needs that directly affect classroom learning, educator retention, and the overall well-being of our school communities.
I respectfully urge district leadership to prioritize a fair and sustainable agreement with the union, one that reflects the value our educators bring to SFUSD. Supporting our teachers is supporting our students. Please do everything possible to prevent a strike and move forward in partnership.
Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to our schools.
Sincerely,
[Insert Name]
---DRAFT LETTER (SHORT FORM) ---
Email to: boardoffice@sfusd.edu
Mail to: San Francisco Unified School District | 555 Franklin Street | San Francisco, CA 94102-5207
Dear SFUSD Leadership,
As an SFUSD parent, I strongly support our teachers and urge the District to meet the union’s requests in good faith. Our educators are essential to students’ learning and well-being, and their working conditions directly shape our children’s school experience.
A strike would be disruptive and entirely avoidable. Please prioritize reaching a fair agreement that honors the critical work teachers do every day.
Thank you for your leadership.
Sincerely,
[Insert Name]