Dec-20-Jan-21-Advisor

2 CEA ADVISOR DECEMBER 2020 - JANUARY 2021

LEADING

Leading: Our Perspective

As we contemplate the end of a year the likes of which we hope never to see again in our lifetimes, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude and

the teaching profession and how the problems facing our nation, including racial injustice and inequities, the raging pandemic, unemployment, and a slow economy, manifest themselves in our schools and our students’ lives. We know she will have our backs and support what’s best for our

congratulations to all of CEA for doing everything possible to ensure safe and successful schools. We couldn’t be prouder of the many ways you have stepped up. To those of you in the classroom, thank you for the work you have done to provide the best education anyone could possibly expect under almost intolerable conditions. To those of you who take on additional responsibilities as leaders in your local affiliates—wow! You have done incredible work for CEA members, and the countless hours and energy you have spent trying to ensure the safety of your colleagues and students has not gone unnoticed. To our entire CEA staff—you have been there for our

Looking Ahead to Brighter Days

Jeff Leake, CEA President

students, our teachers, and our schools. (See stories, page 5.) At the national level, Congress must pull together to pass a desperately needed COVID relief package—something Connecticut’s delegates are working hard to achieve. At the state legislature, we are also hopeful that the education champions you helped elect to office will work with us and broad- based coalitions to support policies that address the severe inequities that have existed far too long in our schools and that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. We are committed to working with the legislature

leaders and members in ways we have never experienced or requested before. And to our governance leadership team at CEA—members of the Board of Directors couldn’t have asked for more. Thank you for your dedication to our profession and our union. And thanks to all of you who understand that our union is only as strong as its and especially our officer team—we

Tom Nicholas, CEA Vice President

and others to develop revenue systems that support our poorest and least-resourced schools to ensure that all students achieve, regardless of where they live. (See story, page 4.) Without a doubt, 2020 highlighted our dedicated, resilient, and flexible educators who focused on their students’ well-being and did whatever they

Donald E. Williams Jr. CEA Executive Director

CEA GOVERNANCE Jeff Leake • President Tom Nicholas • Vice President

members and those willing to stand up for what is right. Over the years, collective action by educators has ensured higher wages, better working conditions, stronger pensions, and so much more. (See story, page 8.) We see firsthand today how our members’ actions, from protest rallies in Stratford to email campaigns and flooding board of education meetings in Hamden and other communities across the state, resulted in positive action for teachers. (See stories, page 9.) We have heard you and have been working alongside you and with the governor and education commissioner, elevating your concerns, prioritizing issues, and calling on the state to strictly enforce safety protocols or move to all distance learning and implement other recommendations outlined in the Safe and Successful Schools Now report to keep school communities safe. (See story, page 6.) The new year can’t come soon enough As we bid 2020 a long-awaited goodbye, we look forward to the beginning of the new year with the hope provided by the promise of a COVID vaccine and a gradual return to a life that begins to approach “normal.” We must all dedicate ourselves to rebuilding trust—trust in our nation’s leaders, trust in our school systems, trust in our ability to move our state and our country forward. We enter 2021 with eager anticipation as a new, education-friendly president and vice president whom you helped elect begin to unite our country and move us forward. President-elect Joe Biden has begun reigniting trust in our country’s top leadership and creating a diverse administration that reflects its citizens. He will replace Betsy DeVos, the worst education secretary in U.S. history, with a true public education advocate. Among those identified as potential picks are two of our own—NEA Immediate Past President and former Utah Teacher of the Year Lily Eskelsen García and longtime Waterbury educator, current U.S. congresswoman, and the 2016 National Teacher of Year Jahana Hayes. And let’s not forget, our new first lady, Jill Biden, is an educator and proud NEA member who understands

could to ensure that students were engaged and learning. As we move forward, we must also commit to a multi-year plan that addresses education in a post-pandemic world. We know the virus has hindered our ability to offer the kind of instruction we normally provide, and we also acknowledge that the opportunity to rethink and reimagine the future of our public education system is both challenging and exciting. It won’t be easy, but we welcome President- elect Biden’s call to “build back better.” (See story, page 6.) One of the biggest challenges will be to create the space to talk about race in our schools. However, we must do more than just talk; we must implement an action plan that drives change. Recognizing that racial dynamics, disparities, and divisions permeate our society, communities, schools, and classrooms, we are taking bold steps to implement the resolution passed at CEA’s Representative Assembly in May 2016, which called on CEA to use its collective voice to end institutional racism and demand change to policies, programs, and practices that either condone or ignore it. In this issue, we’re proud to introduce Connecticut’s 2021 Teacher of the Year, Rochelle Brown, whose library of children’s literature by racially and culturally diverse authors and work on equity in her school community are ongoing labors of love and efforts to move that needle. (See story, page 10.) Educators are resilient, and we will get through these difficult times as we always do, with support from our families, our colleagues, and our union, which gives us a voice for making our schools and our world a better place. All of us at CEA send you warm holiday wishes, and we hope that you have a chance to relax and recharge as we look forward to an uplifting 2021! December 7, 2020

Stephanie Wanzer • Secretary David Jedidian • Treasurer

John Horrigan • NEA Director Tara Flaherty • NEA Director

CEA ADVISOR STAFF Nancy Andrews • Communications Director Lesia Day • Managing Editor Sandra Cassineri • Graphic Designer Laurel Killough • New Media Coordinator Eric Ahrens • Web Designer and Developer December 2020 - January 2021 Volume 63, Number 3 Published by Connecticut Education Association 1-800-842-4316 • 860-525-5641 cea.org CEA Advisor The CEA Advisor is mailed to all CEA members. Annual subscription price is $5.72 (included in membership dues and available only as part of membership). Institutional subscription price: $25.00. Advertising in the CEA Advisor is screened, but the publishing of any advertisement does not imply CEA endorsement of the product, service, or views expressed. CEA Advisor UPS 0129-220 (ISSN 0007-8050) is published in August, October/November, December/ January, February/March, April, May/June, and summer (online) by the Connecticut Education Association, Capitol Place, Suite 500, 21 Oak Street, Hartford, CT 06106-8001, 860-525-5641. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, Connecticut. Postmaster: Send address changes to CEA Advisor , Connecticut Education Association, Capitol Place, Suite 500, 21 Oak Street, Hartford, CT 06106-8001. Production date: 12-10-2020