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Eva Moskowitz, CEO of Success Academy, recently emphasized political activism for charter schools during an unannounced visit to a teacher training session, just days before a pro-charter rally on September 18. She expressed urgency, describing the current political landscape as a “moment of heightened risk” for charter education. Moskowitz encouraged staff to participate in outreach campaigns to local officials, berating low attendance at their “Phone 2 Action” initiative. Current and former employees, fearing retaliation, described an environment rife with political coercion. Many reported being pressured to attend political rallies and engage in outreach activities, often with leaders checking in on their progress in public forums. Some participants, like prospective teacher Anita, felt the focus on political advocacy overshadowed educational values, leading to discontent. Amidst increased political urgency following local election dynamics, employees described a culture of fear regarding job security and expectations to align with the organization’s political stance, especially against mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who opposes charter school expansion.
Success Academy has faced critiques for potentially misusing state resources by cancelling classes for political rallies. Calls for investigations into these practices have emerged from legislators concerned about instructional time misuse. Despite public assurances that their political advocacy is non-partisan, many educators feel pressured to conform, leading to concerns about labor rights and ethical practices within the organization. The prevailing sentiment among staff suggests a growing discomfort with the intertwining of education and political coercion under Moskowitz’s leadership.
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The Charter School Pressuring Teachers to Get Involved in Politics
