Harlem Federation of Teachers

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Loves Park, IL
Harlem Federation of Teachers

Local #540

The Harlem Federation of Teachers, Local #540, is made up of the teachers of the Harlem School District, Councils are made up of other employees of the Harlem School District, as well as at-large members.

08/21/2026

Calling...everyone! Join us for a virtual forum about the new, harmful federal voucher school program (yet another tax giveaway for the wealthy!)—Tuesday Sept. 15th, 6:00-7:30 PM CT.

Register: bit.ly/fedvoucherforum

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation circulating about how this program—designed and intended to unleash private school vouchers funded by tax dollars nationwide—will impact our public schools. Our knowledge-packed panel will share the facts on how this program will harm our public schools and hurt education equity.

If you’re a school leader, community member, parent, educator, or student, the time is now to engage and ask questions about how you can educate and organize your community to advocate for keeping vouchers out of Illinois and strengthen our public schools.

08/13/2026

The new school year has officially arrived, and we’d love to celebrate it with you!

Teachers, staff, students, and families, we would love it if you would share your first day smiles with us. Whether it’s a classroom selfie, a new backpack, or that classic front-door photo, we want to see them all!

Drop your first day photos in the comments! ✨

08/10/2026

Our educators are officially back!

Today was filled with learning, collaboration, preparation, and reconnecting as we kicked off another school year together. After a busy summer of changes, moves, and unpacking, it feels good to have everyone back together and ready for what’s ahead.

08/03/2026

As of today, many of our Harlem educators are already back in their buildings. While students enjoy their final days of summer, teachers are unpacking boxes, arranging classrooms, organizing supplies, planning lessons, and creating spaces where every child feels welcome from the moment they walk through the door.

This year, that work is even greater. With school closures and staff relocations across our district, many of our educators aren’t simply preparing for a new school year, they’re starting over. They’re rebuilding classrooms, unpacking years of materials, and creating welcoming learning environments from the ground up before students arrive.

Much of this work happens outside of contracted hours, during their summer break, evenings, and weekends. Many teachers also spend their own money on classroom supplies and decorations, all with one goal: giving every student the best possible start to the school year.

Our community sees the finished classroom, but not the hours of planning, organizing, lifting, cleaning, creating, and problem solving that make it possible.

As you prepare to meet your child’s teacher next week, please join us in thanking the educators who have dedicated so much of their summer to preparing for the year ahead.

Harlem educators we see you, we appreciate you, and we are proud to stand beside you. 💙

05/05/2026

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

Today, we honor the educators who power our public schools.

Teaching is care, commitment, and advocacy. It’s showing up for students, supporting one another, and standing up for what our schools need to thrive.

Shout out a teacher who makes a difference:
✨ someone who inspired you
✨ your child’s teacher
✨ or a colleague who shows up every single day

Drop their name in the comments so we can recognize them together! When we lift up educators, we strengthen our schools and our communities.

05/01/2026

May Day = solidarity 💙

Today, workers across the country are coming together to call attention to rising costs, under-resourced schools, and decisions being made without the voices of those doing the work.

HFT members chose a path that keeps our students at the center (by showing up, wearing blue, and standing together for fully funded public schools).

It’s about our students. Our schools. Our community.

📸 Share your photos in the comments, let’s show what solidarity looks like!

04/30/2026

Tomorrow, May Day, we stand together 💙

HFT members are showing our solidarity by wearing blue and advocating for fully funded public schools (so schools can meet student needs in the face of rising costs and changing funding). We’ve felt these impacts right here in our district.

Let’s show up for our students, our schools, and each other.

04/23/2026

ACTION ALERT! 📣TAKE ACTION NOW!
Lawmakers are discussing a Millionaires' Tax in the IL House, and now is the time to demand their support.

This bill would:
🔵 Modernize our tax code by creating an additional 3% tax only on net income over $1 million.
🔵 Raise more than $3 billion in its first year alone.
🔵 50% of revenue would be dedicated directly to public schools.
🔵 The other 50% would ease the burden on working families with property tax relief.

Add your name and tell your representative: Fund our schools. Invest in our communities, and do so by asking the ultra-wealthy to pay for it to keep the burden off of working families. Vote YES on the Millionaires’ Tax.
🔗 https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-your-lawmakers-vote-yes-on-the-millionaires-tax/

04/20/2026

Support Public Schools 💙
May Day (May 1st) is a long-standing day of worker solidarity & this year we’re showing our support by wearing blue.

We’re coming together on May 1st to advocate for full funding and support for public education.

Order your shirt by Wednesday, April 22 (check your email for ordering details). We’ll be placing our order through Lightning Graphics and distributing shirts prior to May 1st.

Let’s fill our buildings with blue!

Address

Loves Park, IL
61111

Telephone

+18156368354

Website

https://www.hft540.org/

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