With no foes, ex-teacher has broad support to be next school union prez

The Boston Teachers Union’s organizing director, who helped spearhead the grassroots movement against last November’s failed Question 2 ballot initiative, is running unopposed in an effort to become the union’s next president.

Jessica Tang, of Dorchester, an activist and former history teacher at Gavin and Young Achievers, would replace retiring president Richard Stutman. The 35-yearold is running with a team of candidates, called BTU for All, which includes Black Educators Alliance of Massachusetts President Johnny McInnis.

Tang was the driving force behind the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance, which led a successful campaign against a ballot initiative that would have expanded charter schools in the Bay State. Should she be elected the next union president June 7, Tang said she’d encourage union members to partner with parents, students and community members to address the social issues affecting kids.

“We want our community of parents and students to know that we are fighting with them on these broader social justice issues,” Tang said. “Policy should be made bottom-up, not top-down. It’s parents, students and families who know what the needs are.”

Tang is expected to reinvigorate the teacher ranks, supporters say, at a time when many educators and advocates are worried that the Trump administration’s support for school choice and vouchers will undercut public schools.

“I think she’ll be great for the union and tapping into her experience as a teacher and as an organizer,” City Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George said. “I think she’ll bring a renewed energy and excitement to the union.”

Tang says her top priority will be hammering out the new union contract to replace one that expired last August. The negotiation will be focused on the union’s push for lower class sizes and more support for special education classes.

“My track record has been one of collaboration but I’m also a fighter,” Tang said. “When we need to fight, I’ll fight back.”

Her critics, meanwhile, fear Tang will rebuff district efforts to usher in reforms.

“Will it be a different approach or just more of the same?,” asked Sam Tyler of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau. “We’d like to see a Boston Teachers Union that is going to be committed to teachers and committed to students in what is needed to improve their achievement — a big part of that is quality of teachers.”

‘I think she’ll bring a renewed energy and excitement to the union.’ — ANNISSA ESSAIBI-GEORGE City Councilor