Hannah Maldonado, a 1st grade teacher at Barnum Elementary, gets a hug from her students, welcoming her back at the start of school on Feb. 14, 2019, in Denver. Maldonado and many other teachers are back in the classroom after a marathon negotiation session ended between Denver Classroom Teachers Association and Denver Public Schools, ending the teacher strike.
The Denver teachers strike ended with a tentative agreement after a record-setting, all-night bargaining session produced a new compensation deal shortly before dawn on Thursday, Feb. 14.
Educators at Denver’s 160 public schools initiated the city’s first teachers strike in 25 years Monday morning, Feb. 11, after previous negotiations with district leaders broke down and Gov. Jared Polis declined to intervene in the compensation dispute. Denver Public Schools remained open despite more than half the districtap teachers walking out. Teachers, students and supporters picketed outside schools across the city and held multiple rallies at the Colorado State Capitol and Civic Center Park.
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Godsman Elementary School teachers Rachel Sandoval, left, and Heather Jackson-Smith, right, react favorably to the latest DPS contract proposal in the basement of the Denver Central Library during day three of the strike on Feb. 13, 2019.
Union negotiators put forth what turned out to be their final proposal at 5:30 a.m. Thursday. DPS Superintendent Susana Cordova and Henry Roman, the union’s president, sat beside each other as they signed off on the agreement and hugged, drawing applause from the teachers and administrators gathered in the basement of the Denver Central Library just after 6 a.m.
Kathleen Braun, a math teacher at Emily Griffith High School, takes a power nap during a break in negotiations between Denver Public Schools and the Denver Classroom Teachers Association on Feb. 13, 2019 in Denver. "I was here until 11 a.m. last night and will be here until the end tonight," said Braun.DENVER CO - FEBRUARY 13: Someone left a cake for Denver Public Schools superintendent Susana Cordova at the negotiation table on February 13, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The two groups will meet, for negotiations, at the Denver Public Library during day 3 of a teacher strike for Denver Public Schools. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 13: Striking teacher and volunteer JoAnne Rizzi, an enrichment teacher at Edison Elementary, plays ball with children at Highlands United Methodist Church on February 13, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. The church is offering childcare and lunch for 30 students after DPS closed Early Childhood Education center's during the Denver Public Schools teachers strike. (Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post)DENVER CO - FEBRUARY 13: Teachers walking the picket line, at Barnum Elementary, greet students as they arrive to school on February 13, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. Denver Public Schools superintendent Susana Cordova attended Barnum Elementary in southwest Denver as a child. Today is the third day of a strike for Denver Public School teachers. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 12:DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 12: Denver Public School teachers, students and supporters leave Civic Center Park to march to the Denver Public Library on February 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. Denver Public Schools teachers showed up by the thousands for a rally with speeches at Denver's Civic Center Park then they marched to encircle the entire Denver Public Library where negotiations are currently being held. This is day two of the Denver Teacher's strike as DPS administrators meet with teacher's union negotiators to try to work out a deal for the teachers. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Thousands of Denver Public School teachers take part in a rally in Civic Center on Feb. 12, 2019 in Denver. Denver Public Schools teachers showed up by the thousands for a rally with speeches at Denver's Civic Center Park then they marched to encircle the entire Denver Public Library where negotiations are currently being held. This is day two of the Denver Teacher's strike as DPS administrators meet with teacher's union negotiators to try to work out a deal for the teachers.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post
DJ Bruen, teacher of Johnson Elementary School, front, and the supporters gather for the march and rally during the second day of a strike for Denver Public School teachers at Civic Center Park in Denver. Feb. 12, 2019.DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 12: Students in class at Dora Moore ECE-8 during the second day of the Denver Public Schools teachers strike February 12, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post)DENVER CO - FEBRUARY 12: Educators and supporters, that are attending the negotiation between Denver Public Schools and Denver Classroom Teachers Association, start to get restless as during a long break in negotiation on February 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The two groups met at the Denver Public Library during day two of a teacher strike for Denver Public Schools. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Denver Classroom Teachers Association lead negotiator Rob Gould rests his hand on his forehead as Denver Public Schools and the teachers union try negotiate an end to the city's teachers strike at the Denver Public Library on Feb. 12, 2019.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Denver Public Schools superintendent Susana Cordova is back at negotiation table with the Denver Classroom Teachers Association on Feb. 12, 2019, at the Denver Central Library.
Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 11: Monica Hunter, Green Valley Elementary teacher, stands in solidarity with fellow educators at the Colorado State Capitol during the Denver Public Schools teachers strike on Monday, February 11, 2019. Some 2,100 educators did not report for work on Monday during day one of the first DPS strike in 25 years. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 11: Beth Connelly, a teacher at Park Hill Elementary School, middle holds a protest sign as her son Kirnan 9, rests his head on her arm during a strike rally on the west steps of the State capitol on the first day of the Denver Public Schools Teacher's strike on February 11, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. Today was the first day that Denver Public School teachers started their strike. It is the first time in 25 years that teachers in Denver have gone on strike. Leaders of the union representing Denver Public SchoolsÕ educators ended contract negotiations with the district Saturday evening after more than six hours of last-ditch talks, announcing they would go through with plans for the cityÕs first teacher strike in 25 years. More negotiations are set for Tuesday. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)DENVER CO - FEBRUARY 11: Hung Huynh, a 5th grade teacher with Denver Public Schools, joins others at a rally outside the Colorado State Capitol during the first day of a strike for Denver Public School teachers on February 11, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 11: Teachers gather together, hold signs and shout out support during a strike rally on the west steps of the State capitol on the first day of the Denver Public Schools Teacher's strike on February 11, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. Today was the first day that Denver Public School teachers started their strike. It is the first time in 25 years that teachers in Denver have gone on strike. Leaders of the union representing Denver Public SchoolsÕ educators ended contract negotiations with the district Saturday evening after more than six hours of last-ditch talks, announcing they would go through with plans for the cityÕs first teacher strike in 25 years. More negotiations are set for Tuesday. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)DENVER CO - FEBRUARY 11: Denver Public School teachers and supporters are seen marching past the Denver Diner Restaurant on February 11, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The group marched from West High School down Colfax Ave. to downtown Denver on day one of a strike for Denver Public School teachers. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 11: A teacher moves from table to table while teaching one of the 2 combined sixth grade class's in the gymnasium at Skinner Middle School during the first day of the Denver Public Schools teachers strike February 11, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post)DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 11: Michelle Koyama, Executive Principle of Skinner and Lake middle Schools teaching a mixture of the beginner and concert bandÕs at Skinner during the first day of the Denver Public Schools teachers strike February 11, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post)DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 11: Senior Matt Pence holds a speaker over his head as it blares Public Enemy's seminal hit 'Fight the Power,' as East High School teachers picket during a Denver Public Schools teachers strike on Monday, February 11, 2019. Some 2,100 educators did not report for work on Monday during day one of the first DPS strike in 25 years. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 11: East High School sophomores Waverly Reeves (left) and Annika Shassetz march with teachers during a Denver Public Schools teachers strike on Monday, February 11, 2019. Some 2,100 educators did not report for work on Monday during day one of the first DPS strike in 25 years. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Spanish teacher Lauren Tauchman leads a chant as teachers picket at East High School during a Denver Public Schools teachers strike on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019. Some 2,100 educators did not report for work on day one of the first DPS strike in 25 years.DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 11: Danielle Worden a 7th and 8th grade math interventionist leading chants as the schools educators picket at William (Bill) Roberts Elementary School during the first day of the Denver Public Schools teachers strike February 11, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post)DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 11: A youngster waves to educators as they picket at the Denver Discovery School and William (Bill) Roberts Elementary School during during the first day of the Denver Public Schools teachers strike February 11, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post)
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Denver teacher strike outside South High School on Feb. 11, 2019 in Denver.
