Red River United

A proud union serving teachers and school employees in Northwest Louisiana.

Red River United is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and Louisiana Federation of Teachers (LFT). The Caddo, Bossier, and Red River Parish Teachers & School Employees have come together under an umbrella organization with a new title– “Red River United, Local 4995.”

The three groups worked on the idea for a while, and they say it makes sense to join together. President of

03/05/2025

Thank you to everyone who participated in our day of action.

We are the Promise

The United States Department of Education is the realization of a promise this nation made to boys and girls. That promise is to ensure that every child, regardless of their ability, their wealth, their ethnicity, their gender - would receive a fair chance. Without the programs and policies created by this department, the safeguards, the safety rails, the stop gaps no longer exist. There is no way to measure our nation’s commitment to that promise.

Just imagine for a moment…

A mom sitting at her kitchen table, reviewing her daughter’s Individualized Education Plan. Without federal oversight, the special education funding that had once been a lifeline is gone. The state promised to do its best, but resources are stretched thin. This mom wonders how long it will be before her daughter’s specialized support vanished altogether.

The principal answering call after call from parents desperate for answers. Without federal Title I funds, the programs that had once helped low-income students thrive are crumbling. The tutoring sessions, the after-school programs, the literacy initiatives — they had all been rooted in federal dollars, and now they were disappearing like sand through fingers.

A teacher with a new set of state-approved textbooks that downplays pivotal moments in history and science. Without national standards or oversight, curriculum becomes the political battleground, and the students are the casualties.

Young people watching the news with sinking hearts as they see their hope and dreams move out of reach. The skyrocketing tuition without Pell grants and student loan protection will make higher education a dim reality for those without wealth.

Just as a first responder, we are on the front line of defense. We step up to do our part to protect our students, our schools, our families, and our communities. We stand in the gap for the future, for the opportunities of tomorrow. Together, we can ensure that every child receives the fair chance they deserve. We are the Promise of Public Education.