2020 is almost here… and so is the election of a lifetime.
The end of the year can be a bittersweet time to reflect and celebrate. But I’m feeling a surge of adrenaline, because I cannot wait for 2020 to arrive.
Why? Because in 2020 we have a chance to elect a president who’s with us—one who believes in the transformative power of public schools, who will support the real needs of our students, and who honors educators as professionals.
I spent all day Saturday at a convention center in Pittsburgh with more than 1,000 other educators, parents, students, and grassroots activists listening to eight top presidential candidates answer our questions about their plans for education.
It was exhilarating to spend a day examining big ideas and looking forward.
NEA worked with MSNBC and 10 other education and social justice groups to bring together the “Public Education Forum 2020: Equity and Opportunity for All.” Sen. Michael Bennet, Vice Pres. Joe Biden, Sen. Cory Booker, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren each had equal time to present their ideas on what our public school system should be and how best to get there. Then they answered our questions, many of which focused on the persistent—in some cases, intentional—gaps in education equity found nationwide.
You can hear everything they had to say by streaming the entire event or catch a few of the highlights on EdVotes.
Educators are making it clear we want a president who’s ready to take on the tough questions: Why don’t all of our public schools look like our best public schools? Why does so much in our students’ lives—including the resources invested in their neighborhood school—still depend on what zip code they live in?
We’re looking for a leader who will listen to educators, understand our vision for schools, and work with us to advance CONTINUE READING: 2020 is almost here… and so is the election of a lifetime. - Lily's Blackboard
