WASHINGTON DC - The crowd chanted "No justice, no teach" to drive home the city's controversial decision to lay-off nearly 400 teachers and school workers, about a month after the start of the school season.

In that crowd were Filipino teachers who feel threatened by the lay-offs.

There are about 50 Filipino teachers in Washington DC public schools, according to Marisol Angala, a special education teacher at the Jefferson Junior High School and vice president of the Washington Teachers Union (WTU).

"Throwing teachers out in the middle of the school year is not acceptable," declared Sharon Oliveros, a six-year veteran at the Martin Luther King Elementary School.

She insists everyone is affected but they're more vulnerable. "Kinakabahan ang mga Filipino teachers kasi unang-una, hindi tayo citizens dito and ang priority nila locals," Oliveros explained.

A Filipino teacher was among the latest casualties of DC's Reduction In Force (RIF) program. Three were laid off last school season, but one was reinstated after Angala worked for their union's intercession.

"We left the Philippines to pursue the American dream," said Jean Mata who mentors emotionally troubled kids at the Transition Academy.

She assailed DC Education Chancellor Michelle Rhee for "killing the dreams not only of Filipinos who immigrated here but also the local teachers".

Teachers held a protest rally at the Freedom Park on 14th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. NW last October 8. Some of the mentors we spoke with expressed dismay over their unceremonious removal.

"I got my notice through Fedex. No one bothered to talk to me," complained one disgruntled mentor, an Army veteran who embarked on his new teaching career three years ago.

He got the pink slip together with over 200 dismissed school teachers and staff that were laid off on Sept. 30 that led to a flare-up in at least one DC school when students and parents sympathized with the laid-off teachers.

"We're here to show our support," chorused Mata and Oliveros.

The protests were driven in part by teachers' demands for respect from Mayor Adrian Fenty and Chancellor Rhee.

Washington DC has 129 public schools with about 48,000 students.

Rhee explained that every year the DC public school system goes through an "equalization process" where principals propose their budgets based on changes in enrolment.

She said this year, they eliminated 388 teaching and staff positions.

But teachers asked why Rhee would be hiring new teachers when she was already planning to shut down certain positions.

"She removed 266 teachers through the RIF then last summer she hired 900 new teachers," Mata said, "I think Rhee is targeting the older teachers."

"I don't think these new teachers, fresh from college, regardless of where they came from, can equal the veteran, more seasoned teachers," she stressed.

Although Rhee has tried to debunk this perception, she is largely seen as Fenty's "enforcer" to modernize the DC public school system.

The teachers have sued Rhee before the DC Superior Court, alleging that teachers were being targeted because of their age.

"Filipino teacher o hindi Filipino teacher talagang malaking chances ma-terminate ka kung hindi ka magaling," explained Angala.

"They're looking for the strongest, best teachers in America," she added.

Angala clarified that the WTU, rather than being a shield for teachers, is acting more like a sword by providing them with needed skills for them to keep their jobs.

"This is a difficult time for Washington DC public schools because we're going through reforms, and that usually results in lay-offs," she explained.

"The best strategy for survival is making yourself indispensable," she stressed.

Angala recounted how WTU was able to convince school officials to reinstate a Filipino teacher that was laid off last summer.

"I tell the Filipino teachers that if they believe they are effective teachers and should be retained, to document everything they do. Document that you are a good teacher, what you do for your students and that you fulfill all the administration's requirements."

"They should help us, help them," she stressed.

With the cloud of lay-offs looming over their heads, Angala says they draw strength from unity. The Filipino teachers meet regularly but they've been also fully assimilated in their new work environment.

"This is my sixth year but when I started here, I struggled too," she revealed.

Angala says the key is to keep a step ahead. "Be independent, self-reliant. There are a lot of grants out there, tap them instead of always asking your principal. Attend to your professional development. Make yourself indispensable," she advised her fellow mentors here.