Today’s news of the passing of Washington Teachers’ Union President Elizabeth Davis reverberates throughout our community like the tremor of an earthquake.
We have lost an icon. Liz, as she was known by friends and colleagues, was not just a union leader. She was a mentor, confidant, and tireless advocate. Liz was a teacher’s teacher. Liz embodied a duality that you rarely come by in public figures. When she spoke, her voice commanded your attention. When she told you to give her a call or send her an email, you did it. You listened to President Davis not because she was some caricature of a union boss, but because you knew she cared.
We could depend upon Liz to be a fierce advocate for teachers and students because she knew our teachers and our students. As an alumnae of DC Public Schools and DCPS educator for 4 decades, Liz knew the power that a well-supported teacher could have in a child’s life. Her advocacy reflected her experience. She was unafraid to speak to that experience on behalf of the members of the WTU.
It cannot be understated just how important Liz Davis’s life and work were to so many people. Her dedication to the betterment of our city’s public schools; to the protection of her fellow educators; and to the children and young people of the District of Columbia will never be forgotten.
It was an honor to have her public and private support in the time that I got to know her. I will miss her. I offer my condolences to her family, loved ones, colleagues, and all those who were blessed to call Liz a mentor, ally, and friend.
