April_2019

PROMOTING

APRIL 2019 CEA ADVISOR 11

CEA ROLLS OUT AD CAMPAIGN SHOWCASING HOW PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS UNITE ALL STUDENTS TV, radio spots highlight the strength of diversity in public schools | Watch at cea.org/uniting

At a time when many immigrant families are feeling marginalized, and some are facing their worst fears, Connecticut teachers have opened their arms, their hearts, and their classrooms to children whose hopes and aspirations are a reflection of the American Dream. Indeed, in public schools all across the state, teachers are working hard to ensure that all students succeed, take pride in their heritage, and know that their classrooms are places where they are welcomed and valued. That’s the essence of several CEA TV and radio ads celebrating diversity, inclusion, and success in Connecticut’s public schools—and the many ways Connecticut teachers inspire and motivate their students every day. “Despite the ongoing national political rhetoric designed to divide us on immigration and racial issues, our public school teachers are the unifying force that reflects the true sentiment of the American public,” says CEA President Jeff Leake. “Our dedicated, passionate teachers value social justice and diversity and want to share with the public the best that our public schools have to offer: opportunity and the pursuit of the American Dream.” When it comes to public schools, Bridgeport high school music teacher Sheena Graham says this: “We have wide-open doors for everyone. One of the most powerful moments for me as a teacher was when students in my drum line started talking to each other about soccer. I saw them reverting to the languages from the countries and places they came from—Haiti, Jamaica, Burkina Faso, Mexico, Puerto Rico. I heard French Creole. I heard English. Here, we had been one voice, one language in music, but there was this magical moment when I realized our students had many voices and had come together as one.” Graham, who is Connecticut’s 2019 Teacher of the Year, was one of six public school teachers

who participated in CEA’s public awareness campaign. In addition to Graham, the TV and radio spots feature David Wasserman, a fourth- grade teacher at Marlborough Elementary School, as well as four teachers from Waterbury Public Schools: fifth-grade teacher Alison Kirchberger and bilingual teacher Alicia Azar-Brandes, from Hopeville Elementary School (where the commercials were filmed), health and physical education teacher Ricardo Gibson, from Reed Elementary School, and English language arts teacher Melissa Vargas, from Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School. “The teachers in our ads and CEA’s tens of thousands of dedicated, committed educators across the state recognize their students’ needs and help them reach new heights every day,” emphasizes Leake. The ads also feature public school students from Waterbury as well as Glastonbury, East Haddam, Rocky Hill, Stonington, and other cities and towns. The heart of public education Hopeville Elementary School fourth- grader Jennivette Cortes says, “I like to see my teacher and my friends at school. My mom doesn’t speak English, but my teacher helps her understand, so she knows what’s happening at school.” Lisa Edwards, mother of Hopeville fourth-grader Gary Edwards, says, “One of the things I’ve learned is that our teachers treat all our children fairly and are there for every child. They take the time to get to know them on a personal level, as individuals, and they nurture every child emotionally and academically. Our teachers have compassion for our children, and they bring a caring heart to their profession. When you come in here, you feel like you’re family.” She adds, “Having different cultures represented in our school

Holding the flags of various nations, children gathered at Waterbury’s Hopeville Elementary School to film ads celebrating the diversity of Connecticut’s public schools.

is healthy. Seeing different shades of people around you helps you learn about yourself.” Gyan Aryal, an immigrant from Nepal whose daughter is a fifth- grader at Myrtle Stevens Elementary School in Rocky Hill, says, “We came here to this country because of humanitarian issues. This is a free country, and there are great opportunities here for our family and our children. Our teachers are very cooperative with us, and they have a lot of parent-teacher meetings, so communication is always there, and that’s very important.” Aryal’s daughter, Rania, describes her teacher as “very nice and creative,” adding, “Mrs. Robbins has a big imagination and draws a lot, because she likes to make learning fun.” Edwards, Aryal, and Cortes were among 30 public school children who participated in CEA’s television and radio ads. Strength in diversity Connecticut is home to some 35,000 English learners hailing from households where 143 of the world’s languages are spoken. In 2017-2018 alone, the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria brought 1,800 students from Puerto Rico, the majority of whom still reside in Connecticut and attend the state’s public schools. The largest and poorest districts—Hartford, Waterbury, Bridgeport, New Haven, Meriden, and New Britain— opened their doors to hundreds of students in need, while the state as a whole has put out the welcome mat for immigrant families. CEA’s TV ads are intended to combat the anti-immigrant rhetoric that has fueled hostility across the country and become a source of anxiety for children and families—particularly those who are English learners. Highlighting the welcoming, safe, supportive atmosphere of Connecticut’s public schools, the ads also applaud our schools and teachers for their continued strength and success

despite years of underfunding, attacks, and corporate reform attempts. Waterbury health and physical education teacher Ricardo Gibson, who came to the U.S. as a child from Jamaica, says, “Like our students, our teachers are diverse, from every background and national origin, which gives us a chance to learn from one another. Education is a great unifier.” Colleague Melissa Vargas, who teaches English/language arts in Waterbury, agrees. “We really embrace our students’ cultures. We encourage them to be themselves and show who they are, not shy away.” Alicia Azar-Brandes, a bilingual teacher who moved here from the Dominican Republic and has taught for 20 years in Waterbury, says, “For many of our students coming over from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Colombia, and other parts of the world, this is a new culture, a new climate. Many of them are scared. But we have a strong teacher community, and we provide our students with a lot of support. We also help each other, respect each other, and grow from one another. I hope when people see these TV commercials, they see how awesome Connecticut teachers are. Passion for children’s education is number one for us. You cannot do this job without it.” Debbie Ponte is the principal at Hopeville Elementary School, where the commercial was filmed. “We are always bringing kids in who speak other languages, learning about classrooms,” she says. “Our teachers are very welcoming, they do a great job learning about all their students, and they are sensitive to different cultural norms and beliefs.” The CEA ads—made possible by an NEA grant—aired on all major networks and cable TV, including Spanish-language stations. In video vignettes featuring interviews with parents and teachers, the role of Connecticut’s public school educators in uniting all students and helping them achieve their dreams is highlighted. See the videos and ads at cea.org/uniting . where they are from, and transitioning them into our

Left to right, teachers Alison Kirchberger, Melissa Vargas, Ricardo Gibson, Alicia Azar-Brandes, David Wasserman, and Sheena Graham.