Summer-2020-Advisor

2 CEA ADVISOR SUMMER 2020

LEADING

Leading: Our Perspective

This year by far is the most important in recent history for students, teachers, and public education. John Lewis, the late civil rights leader and congressman, inspired us all when he said, “If you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a We at CEA have been doing all we can to demand safety and health precautions and full, equitable funding when schools reopen. We have been hosting and moral obligation to do something about it.”

Safety, equity, and funding have become our rallying cry and must be key features in any reopening plan. The pandemic exposed long- standing disparities in our school districts and gave new urgency to our movement to enhance equity for all students. The state must guarantee it is doing all it can to protect students and teachers in every district. We

Fighting for Safe Schools and a Democracy Worthy of Us All

Jeff Leake, CEA President

are urging them to adopt elements of CEA’s Safe Learning Plan and allow flexibility for all districts to return to school with models that best fit their district to ensure safe teaching and learning environments. So here we are—August 2020—and all we know is that this school year will be unlike any other we have experienced, no matter how long we’ve been in this profession. And we also know that despite all of the planning and negotiating that has taken place, we will have to be ready to adapt and change course quickly over 2020-2021. You accomplished so much with so little planning over the last three months of this past school year. You achieved your own personal best under extraordinary circumstances. And you will be called upon to reach new heights in the year ahead, for your students and your colleagues. Whether we are doing in-person or distance learning, we know what makes our students succeed, and we will do what we must to find that success once again. It will be that smile as we greet each

attending virtual meetings, organizing car rallies, reaching out to teachers, answering educators’ questions regarding school reopening, creating a Safe Learning Plan, conducting surveys regarding reopening, participating in meetings with the governor and education commissioner, making media appearances on local television and radio stations, and doing interviews with newspaper reporters—all to ensure that our message about safety, equity, and funding remains front and center in state reopening plans and that educators’ very valid concerns are on the minds of the public and elected officials. We know that you and all our union leaders in districts across the state are busy as well and trying to get some much-needed time to relax, unwind, and recharge while dealing with how our schools will look when they reopen. Despite all you are doing,

Tom Nicholas, CEA Vice President

16,000 of you took the time to complete our CEA Reopening Survey and share your concerns about going back to school during a pandemic. Three-quarters of you reject the state’s reopening plan. Read the story on page 3. More than a dozen CEA and AFT CT leaders participated in a roundtable discussion with Governor Lamont so that he could hear firsthand the issues and challenges facing educators when they return to school under his

“If you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something about it.” Congressman John Lewis

Donald E. Williams Jr. CEA Executive Director

student at the start of a day, or that kind word to a struggling child to help them to reach even further. Together with our students, we will be more and do more than we thought possible. Know that CEA’s leadership team and dedicated staff are all in with you, as we continue to negotiate for the best opportunities for Connecticut’s students and educators. We know the most important question is not how

CEA GOVERNANCE Jeff Leake • President Tom Nicholas • Vice President

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 Summer 2020 Volume 62, Number 8 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 USPS 0129-220 (ISSN 0007-8050) is published in August (regular and special editions), October/November, December/January, February/ March, April (regular and special editions), May/June, and summer 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,

reopening plan. Educators have repeatedly called for directing additional resources to local school districts in order to implement CDC protocols needed to keep our schools safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and they shared their stories with the governor directly. We are grateful that he listened and understands that our schools need funding. He committed to paying for masks and to devote additional funding from the HEROES Act to our schools. Later that same day, the governor also stepped back on his order to reopen all schools at full capacity. He agreed to greater flexibility for districts to reopen with hybrid plans. Read the story on page 5. And thousands of educators, along with their children, parents, friends, and colleagues, joined us in Safety First Car Caravan Rallies in 25 communities across the state. With signs on your cars and horns honking, you let your presence and message be heard that the reopening plan offered by the governor just didn’t do it for the safety of your students and your colleagues. You have continually offered suggestions about how we can begin the school year with enhanced safety and instructional strategies that will be the best they can be for Connecticut’s students. We thank you for your advocacy and participation in this statewide show of solidarity. See the story and photos on pages 6-7.

many days a week our students are in the school building but how to provide a safe, equitable learning environment for them. Our collective voice will drive action to ensure that our priorities are addressed and that they are the state’s priorities when it comes to reopening our schools. Our voices must also be heard on a national level. We need to stress the importance of voting on November 3 and electing those who value public education, support our educators, and stand with us in defending our rights and the rights of our students. We need an education secretary who will fight for us—not Betsy DeVos, who has threatened to take funding away from schools that do not reopen in the fall. At the NEA RA held virtually last month, delegates heard from presidential hopeful Joe Biden, who has received the recommendation of NEA’s Board of Directors and PAC Council. Read the story on page 13. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and advocacy on behalf of your students and the teaching profession. We will get through this because we are stronger together. Remember the words of Congressman Lewis: “Be hopeful. Be optimistic. Never lose that sense of hope.” August 3, 2020

Hartford, CT 06106-8001. Production date: 8-4-2020

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