Saturday, March 30, 2019
Safe Travels!
One of the last things VEA delegates did before the convention wrapped up was commit to Union growth by listing three colleagues they'd ask to join. Here, Mary Gaddis of Alexandria displays her filled-out "commitment card."
To Move Forward, We Must Move Together
"What is it in your professional life that you care most passionately about?" VEA Executive Director Dr. Brenda Pike asked the nearly 600 DA delegates as the convention began to wind down Saturday. "Each of us must find our own answer...and whatever it is, we can build the power to accomplish it together!"
While some may be uncomfortable with the word, she went on, it's really "only the ability to act. And power undeniably exists--why shouldn't we have it, based on the values that bring us together?"
Convention Photos Galore!
VEA photographers have been hard at work documenting the goings-on here in RVA for the last three days. To see pics like the one below, and many, many, more, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/veacomm/albums/72157690632368203
The Home Stretch Begins!
VEA President Jim Livingston brought the gavel down Saturday morning for the final business session of the 2019 Delegate Assembly.
Shout-Outs for Some of Our Best
At the Awards Dinner Friday evening, Joy Kirk of the Frederick County Education Association was named the 2019 winner of VEA's Award for Teaching Excellence and Leroy J. Williams of the Manassas Education Association received the Education Support Professional of the Year.
Friday, March 29, 2019
A Legislative Salute
The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus earned the 2019 Legislators of the Year Award, VEA's highest honor for members of the General Assembly. Several Caucus members came to accept the award, led by Delegate Lamont Bagby.
Taking It to the Streets!
Convention delegates, accompanied by a red school bus, took the Fund Our Future campaign to the streets of Richmond today, decked out in #Red4Ed attire and drawing honked horns and other expressions of support from passers-by.
Showing Our Colors
Today is "Red4Ed Day" at the convention, and just about everyone is sporting snazzy red attire. Lots of activists in attendance...
Let's Talk About It
During the first session of New Business, members from around the state rose to bring matters before the entire delegation.
Thursday, March 28, 2019
A Rousing Finish to Opening Night
VEA President Jim Livingston brought delegates to their feet at the close of night one with a rousing address built around the future of our union and three words: Solidarity, Vision, and Power. He challenged members to have each other's backs, work forcefully for great public schools for every child, and not to fear embracing our power, calling for educators to make their presence felt at the polls in November and let legislators know that to underfund our schools is to put their positions at risk.
Some Early Highlights of Night One
Delegates definitely got into the spirit of the convention quickly. In the top photo, Mountain View UniServ members showed both their district colors and enthusiasm; in the center, Richmond students from the Binford Middle School Orchestra performed as delegates arrived; and newly-elected NEA Director Christina Bohringer of Alexandria spoke to the crowd.
We're Underway!
The first business session of the 2019 VEA Delegate Assembly is underway! Educators from around the commonwealth, both teachers and school support professionals, are in Richmond to tackle the challenges and opportunities facing public education. We are THE advocates for schools and students in Virginia!
Delegates Hit RVA!
Delegates have been arriving all afternoon today and hitting the registration area for tonight's kickoff of the convention! Looking forward to all 600 or so arriving safely.
Monday, March 25, 2019
Reaching Out to the Media
Here's a look at the press release VEA Communications put out to the media in advance of our convention:
116 South Third Street
∙ Richmond, VA 23219
www.veanea.org ∙ 800-552-9554 (Toll Free) ∙ 804-775-8379 (Fax)
www.veanea.org ∙ 800-552-9554 (Toll Free) ∙ 804-775-8379 (Fax)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March 25, 2019
Public Demonstration, Legislative
Honors to Highlight VEA Convention
Event will kick off Thursday evening,
March 28, at the Richmond Convention Center
Virginia
Education Association members will take to the streets Friday during the
Union’s three-day convention this week at the Greater Richmond Convention
Center.
Some
600 elected delegates, who are teachers and school support professionals from
across the Commonwealth, will also consider a range of important public
education issues and chart the organization’s course for the year ahead during
the convention. The event begins Thursday evening, March 28, at the Richmond
Convention Center and runs through Saturday, March 30.
On
Friday, VEA President Jim Livingston will release new data showing that that
the gap between Virginia teacher salaries and the national average is growing. The
pay gap already exceeds $9,200, and Virginia teacher pay since the Recession,
adjusted for inflation, has declined 8.5
percent.
As
part of VEA’s ongoing “Fund Our Future” campaign, convention delegates, wearing
Red4Ed attire and accompanied by a red school bus, will march around RCC Friday
afternoon.
“Despite
very recent state efforts to raise teacher pay, Virginia has not caught up,”
says Livingston. “We will be marching to draw attention to the fact that we
risk losing talented teachers to states that pay more, and we’re going to find
it even harder to attract great teacher candidates to Virginia.”
During
Friday morning’s session, VEA will honor elected officials, highlighted by the
awarding of Legislators of the Year to The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus.
Delegate Lamont Bagby, Caucus Chair, will be on hand to accept the award. VEA
will also give several Legislative Champion Awards to the officials listed
below.
“Our
delegates will discuss and work through some of the most pressing challenges
facing public education in Virginia,” said Livingston, a middle school math
teacher from Prince William County. “It’s also an excellent time for us to push
forward in our efforts to get better school funding and to honor legislators
who led the charge for more equitable school funding.”
he
convention also features an awards banquet Friday evening, at which VEA will honor
deserving supporters of public education in Virginia, both individuals and
organizations. A list of honorees will be available to media members in a
separate release that day.
##
Media
members interested in covering the Delegate Assembly should call Tom Allen in
VEA Communications at 804-274-9569. Please bring appropriate credentials to the
Convention Center.
2019 Legislative Champions
·
Delegate Hala Ayala
·
Delegate Jennifer Carroll-Foy
·
Senator Mark Peake
·
Delegate Debra Rodman
·
Delegate Bob Thomas
·
Delegate Cheryl Turpin
·
Delegate Lee Ware
Rumblings in Richmond
Educators from all around Virginia will converge on the Richmond Convention Center this week for VEA's annual Delegate Assembly, and it promises to be a rollicking and productive gathering for all. Among the highlights of the three-day event: The 600 or so delegates will take part in a public demonstration outside the meeting hall Friday, continuing to call attention to the underfunding of our state's public schools.
Stay tuned to this blog for updates on all the convention activities once the gavel falls on Thursday evening!
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