Urging educators to unleash the power of their stories and
the truth of what’s happening in public schools, NEA President Lily Eskelsen
Garcia brought the nearly 700 delegates in the room to their feet, assuring
them that if they spread the good news, the public would line up to support
them.
“Against
all the odds, because of you, the hard-working people in our schools, minor
miracles happen in our schools every day,” said Garcia, a former Utah Teacher
of the Year. “Our power comes from the passionate hearts of our members and
knowing we’re fighting for something that’s both moved us to tears and made us
laugh.”
For too
long, Garcia said, the public has been fed false information. “They hear about
our needs and the people leaving the profession, and they’re told we’re
failing. But there’s a truth inside each one of us that needs to be heard—our stories,
our vision, our voice.”
She
went on to point out that in the U.S., we’ve never had more high school
students than we do today taking AP tests and graduating from high school
having earned college credits. Also, some 85 percent of families in our country
choose to send their children to their neighborhood public school.
Prior
to Garcia’s keynote address, Jennifer McClellan, a member of the Virginia House
of Delegates from Richmond, welcomed delegates to the state capital, calling
educators “heroes to whom we entrust our children every day.”
VEA
delegates will also be electing new statewide leadership at this convention, so
candidates for those offices were given five minutes each at the opening
session to speak during the opening session. Three members are vying for the
office of President: Jim Livingston of the Prince William Education
Association, Joey Mathews of the Loudoun Education Association, and Sarah
Patton of the Covington Education Association. There are two candidates for
Vice President: James Fedderman of the Accomack Education Association and
Donald Wilms of the Chesterfield Education Association. In addition, two
candidates are competing for an Education Support Professionals At-Large
Alternate spot on the VEA Board of Directors: Gwen Edwards of the Prince
William Education Association and Barbara Powell of the Virginia Beach
Education Association.
Carol
Bauer of the York Education Association ran unopposed for re-election to the
NEA Board of Directors and will serve another three-year term.
