CEA_Summer 2023 Advisor

REPRESENTING

6 CEA ADVISOR SUMMER 2023

of you,” the President said. “I want you to know I see you, we see you, and we thank you. Our job is to make sure you have what you need to do what you do best. That’s why through the American Rescue Plan we delivered critical support for schools, including funding for after-school programs and summer programs and hiring more teachers, counselors, and school psychologists.” Aside from the largest-ever investment in public schools, the Biden administration also ensured educators and their unions were included in local decisions regarding how that $170 billion would be spent—actions that earned Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris NEA’s endorsement for the 2024 presidential election during a vote at the NEA RA. Delegates also re-elected NEA President Becky Pringle, Vice President Princess Moss, and Secretary-Treasurer Noel Candelaria. Investments matter Several NEA RA delegates were invited by NEA President Becky Pringle to share their stories about how the massive infusion of resources has made a profound difference in their professional and personal lives in areas such as tackling the educator shortage, diversifying the profession, addressing the mental health crisis and gun violence, and receiving relief from crushing student loan debt. Chastity Baccus, a member of the South Carolina Education Association and president of the York County Education Association, described how President Biden’s commitment to fixing Public Service Loan Forgiveness changed her life. The hardworking 22-year veteran elementary educator, who has two master’s degrees and a Ph.D., was carrying nearly $130,000 of student loan debt. “As we all know, our profession is one that is severely underpaid, and to advance, we must continue our education, which usually means incurring more debt,” Baccus said. But that debt was forgiven when the Biden administration jumpstarted the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, because Baccus had met all of the program requirements. Thousands of other educators are among the 615,000 public servants whose student debt was cancelled. “We have never had stronger partners in the White House than President Biden and our NEA member Dr. Jill Biden,” said Pringle. “They listened to us, and they worked since day one to support not only public education in this country but also the people who have dedicated their lives to educating our students.” Freedom to teach Against a backdrop of book bans, curriculum constraints, and other attacks on teachers and students, thousands of educators braved the heat and gathered outside the convention center on July 5 for a Freedom to Learn rally, rising up against attempts to silence educators and interfere with students’ right to an education. “You are showing what it means to fight against out-of-touch politicians,” Pringle told participants. “As this nation’s largest, most powerful union, we will protect our democracy

Ninety CEA members joined nearly 6,000 educators from around the nation in Orlando, Florida, over the July 4th week for the 2023 National Education Association Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly (RA). CEA MEMBERS JOIN THOUSANDS OF COLLEAGUES FOR 2023 NEA Representative Assembly

“That disrespect comes from so called leaders that complain about public education but sleep well at night knowing their teachers are making less than $40,000 a year. It comes from those who want to privatize education and starve public schools of the resources they need, and from those seeking to divide our nation by politicizing equity and inclusion. There is a toxic disrespect from demagogues who attack the safety and belonging of LGBTQI+ students and students of color, banning books and whitewashing our history. There’s a toxic disrespect from those who want to perpetuate privilege by standing against affirmative action and from those who have gotten millions in debt relief but throw a tantrum when we try to give teachers $10,000.” Sadly, he pointed out, “There is even toxicity creeping in from those who would rather ban books than assault weapons.” “I keep hearing talk about a teacher shortage issue,” he added. “When are we going to talk about the national teacher respect issue? Better yet ... let’s see action.” Cardona spelled out what he called the ABCs of education: A for agency, where educator voices are woven into the school’s work; B for better working conditions, where we are not normalizing schools built for the last century; and C for competitive salaries. “Let’s pay teachers what they deserve! When we invest in the profession, we invest in our students, and we invest in our nation,” he said. After his speech, Cardona met with NEA delegates about actions to raise educator pay, move from standardized testing to instruction driven assessment, and create better working conditions. From the White House to the schoolhouse Also addressing NEA’s Representative Assembly were President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, who reaffirmed their commitment to educators and public schools. “I know the last three years have been so difficult—we asked so much

suggested he display it in the school cafeteria. He did, and his work was featured in the local newspaper. “That lifted me up,” Cardona recalled. Later, that same teacher tapped him on the shoulder and told him that he, too, could be an educator— an idea that put him on the path to becoming one. “Ms. Ransom saw something in me that I did not even see, and when I look out at this room, I don’t just think of it as a room of 6,000 incredible people,” Cardona said. “You represent tens of millions of taps on the shoulder. You change lives!” R-E-S-P-E-C-T Emphasizing that the country owes its educators a debt of gratitude and respect for changing as well as saving lives, Cardona criticized what he called “a culture of toxic disrespect” aimed at public education.

The RA is the world’s largest democratic deliberative body and the top decisionmaking body for NEA’s nearly three million members. Every year, delegates come together to draft and debate new policies, adopt a strategic plan and budget, hear from NEA leaders and other prominent educators and activists, and elect new leaders. Nation’s top education champions address teachers In powerful speeches heard by thousands of educators at the NEA RA on Independence Day, the nation’s top public education advocates pledged their continued support for teachers. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona led by sharing how his own life’s trajectory was shaped by a Meriden teacher. After she saw a racial-justice-themed mural he was painting, his high school art teacher

CEA delegates make a great showing at the 2023 NEA Representative Assembly over the Independence Day holiday.