NEA President: Public Schools are the Cornerstone of our Communities
On Wednesday, the Learning First Alliance brought together a panel of educators and parents to discuss the pursuit of excellence in America’s public schools and how lawmakers and communities can support public education. The panel, “Faces of Success,” was moderated by Lily Eskelsen García, president of the National Education Association. The event was part of Public Schools Week 2020, Feb. 24-28, 2020.
“America’s public schools educate the vast majority of our students in the United States, regardless of ability, race, wealth, language, religion, zip code or country of origin,” said Eskelsen García. “Public schools are the cornerstone of our communities. We’re asking our federal lawmakers, state officials and community leaders to recognize the important roles that public schools play in securing our students’ and our nation’s future and asking them to give public schools their full support.”
Eskelsen García began by asking the panelists to identify some of the best ways we can support students and educators in their schools. Here’s how they responded. (Answers edited for brevity)
ElizaBeth Branham, president of National School Boards Association, said we need to do a better job of telling our story, like during Public Schools Week, so we can advocate for the resources we need. We need to be working together for full funding of IDEA, for example, and finding ways to address the teacher shortage. “It’s CONTINUE READING: NEA President: Public Schools are the Cornerstone of our Communities
