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President Sue Messinger: Always Onward

We are about halfway through the school year! I know we all look forward to winter and summer breaks, and, no matter what time of year it is, we all work hard providing our students with the knowledge, support, and services they need to thrive throughout the entire year, and from year to year. We work hard because we are passionate about education and about service to our students.

And no doubt, no matter where we work, we are all equally committed to that work, but wouldn’t it be so much better if all schools had the same resources to rely upon?

As educators, we have been faced with many challenges over the past several decades, and much of that is caused by things out of our control. The struggle to pass levies along with numerous attacks against public education are nonstop. Recent state and national election results remind us that threats against public education have not gone away and, in many cases, are increasing.

Currently, there are numerous attempts by state legislators that threaten our students and their privacy, that threaten our bargaining rights, and that further blur the line between church and state, to name a few. It seems like the fight is never‑ending, and many of us are tired of the struggle.

However, now more than ever, we must continue to push against efforts to diminish our strength as union members and public educators, and our ability to serve our students. We can count on our association to bring us the best support and the best in professional development as we continue to arm ourselves with the knowledge we need to advocate for ourselves and for our students.

This issue of News & Views is full of articles reminding us of exactly that. We get support from each other and recognized for our work when we meet as delegates at our Representative Assemblies. We recognize the efforts of our “Unsung Heroes” and have the opportunity for more learning by participation in our annual Megaconference, coming up on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

NEOEA is consistently on our side to help us prepare to meet future challenges with its many programs, scholarships and grants, and events throughout the year.

I hope you have a joyous holiday with your family and friends, and I look forward to working with you to meet the challenges ahead!

Sue Messinger
NEOEA President