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President Sue Messinger: A Call to Action

Like many of you, I typically find myself eagerly anticipating the arrival of spring. Perhaps not always for the weather itself, which, let’s be honest, can be a bit temper-mental. But Spring’s arrival signifies something bigger—the promise of warmer days and the approaching summer break.

This year, however, my anticipation is tinged with something more: a sense of vigilance and a need to act. This spring, I feel a renewed commitment to defending what we hold dear, namely, the future of public education. “Public education matters”: we hear it all the time, but what does it mean? To me it’s rather simple: it is our students and their learning who matter, it is our colleagues and their expertise who matter, and it is our livelihood that matters!

As you know, the unfortunate truth is we are facing increasing pressure and outright attacks on our profession, our autonomy, and the very principles we, as public educators, stand for. These attacks are coming our way every single day. That’s why it is critical that each and every one of us stays informed, gets engaged, and makes a commitment to act. If you have been hesitant in the past to act, I urge you, now is the time!

Whether it’s attending one of NEOEA’s Legislative Receptions, meeting with legislators at Member Lobby Days at the State House, wearing red on local or national Red for Ed days, contacting your state and local legislators through email or phone, getting out the vote with local levy campaigns, or participating in an OEA Fund drive event, there are numerous ways you can make a difference right now.

We owe it to ourselves and our students to push back with all our might against current attempts to erode our bargaining power, against efforts to slash school funding, and against moves to diminish critical services available to our students. Let this spring be a season of action, a season of solidarity, and a season of unwavering dedication to the future of public education.

Sue Messinger
NEOEA President