and its bargaining committee members went to work. The Preschool teacher Bethany Jarrell reads aloud from Fry Bread, new negotiated agreement between her union and district a book recommended as part of NEA’s Read Across America. now includes permanent language providing up to three days of military family leave, available twice per school year. would pilot an early childhood center for employees starting this school year. Now educators like Carter can leave to attend military graduations, deployments, returns to stateside, and other Educators who have children ages 12 months to 3 years important milestones for spouses, children, parents, grand- will be offered 70 percent of the available openings. District children, and other family members. staff will have access to the remaining slots. The cost will SOLUTION 2: range from $150 – $250 a month. Affordable child care for educators SOLUTION 3: More education funding “Some people think of NEA as a place to get liability insur- ance and discounts,” says Bethany Jarrell, a preschool teacher Child care is a top priority for many other families across of 17 years and vice president of NEA-New Mexico (NEA- the state as well. This is why NEA-NM is working to increase NM). “But it’s so much more than that. We are whatever our funding that would support more families with early child members need us to be.” care needs. In Santa Fe, educators needed their union to be advocates for affordable child care. The city is one of the most expensive in the state. Housing and child care costs can be staggering, making it hard for teachers to live in the community where they work. Last summer, NEA-Santa Fe leaders surveyed their members and found that of those who paid for child care, the average monthly cost was $954, with some paying more than $2,000 a month. Members took their concerns to the bargaining table in late 2021, and by April 2022, the school district announced it Hawaii educator Victoria Pescaia (above) testified before state legislators in February (above left) to try to end salary compression and increase teachers’ salaries based on years of service. Her efforts and those of her union resulted in raises for 8,000 educators. PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP): COURTESY OF BETHANY JARRELL; ERIKA BAGUIO; HAWAII STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION 49
SOLVING FOR X Jarrell is a part of a statewide coalition working to pass a SOLUTION 5: constitutional amendment that would increase funding for Protection for LGBTQ+ Educators early childhood education and K–12 programs. Shortly after Louisiana music teacher Blaine Banghart If the amendment is approved by voters in November, came out to school administrators as transgender and non- it would allocate $26 billion dollars to provide access to free binary, Banghart became the target of one woman’s outrage. preschool as well as child care, home visit programs for new e woman was upset by an online photo of Banghart wear- parents, additional support services for special education, ing colorful clothes and pins that expressed their honori cs and more. e funding would better support low-income and and pronouns. Banghart goes by Mx., and their pronouns are Native American students, English language learners, and they/them. students with disabilities throughout New Mexico. “She copied that picture and started posting it to di er- “ e work we do can change people’s lives for the better,” ent neighborhood and school groups,” Banghart says. “On her Jarrell says. “And we’re not an unknown or external organiza- personal social media, she posted how ridiculous I am and tion that’s coming into communities. We’re shouldn’t be allowed to teach. your classroom teachers and librarians, She called me ‘it.’” nurses, secretaries, bus drivers, and all the School administrators professionals who make up our membership received hundreds of phone calls and help make the changes our students and and emails calling for Bang- educators deserve.” hart’s resignation. Complaints rst centered on their gender SOLUTION 4: identity. But since identity is Sabbaticals for professional protected under federal law, the development attacks shifted, accusing Bang- Jenn Smith went from teaching middle hart of violating a nonexistent school social studies for 21 years to helping the Delaware De- Blaine Banghart school dress code. partment of Education revamp its teacher evaluation system. While Banghart started out alone in this ght, they cer- How did she make such a big impact? She was accepted tainly didn’t nish alone. At the time Banghart was attacked, into NEA’s Professional Practice and Policy Fellowship they were not a member of their NEA-a liated unions. But program, which o ers participants a one-year paid sabbatical that didn’t matter, says Sheila Washington, of the Louisiana to work on a professional learning Association of Educators (LAE). opportunity of their choice. e leave from “Our main goal, even if they had not joined the union, work is negotiated by the state union, in was to make sure they felt the support of the local, state, and this case, the Delaware State Education national associations,” Washington says. Association. LAE sta reviewed paperwork that Banghart had re- is time spent out of the classroom, ceived from the administrators, informed them of their rights, in 2021 – 2022, allowed Smith to work and drummed up support to confront the small, but vocal, with her union and a Delaware education group of people who were harassing them. department steering committee to make “I felt very alone when all of this started, and so knowing I essential improvements. Smith had now have my union behind me is very helpful,” says Banghart, taught under the state’s former evaluation who is now a member. “Sometimes we’re so closeted and system—born out of the punitive No Child feel so alone, but the union has introduced me to a few other Jenn Smith Left Behind era—and used this experience teachers that are in similar situations … and has brought us to help design a system that nurtures student learning. together. It’s been amazing.” Now called the Delaware Teacher Growth and Support In the end, the board took no punitive action, and System, the state piloted the new program last year, providing Banghart remains a teacher today. educators with ongoing observation, feedback, ese stories are snapshots of how NEA mem- and support to drive teacher growth. In the bers and their unions are working together. Across new system, administrators become more like TSHHAISRE the country, thousands of members like these are us- coaches, and educators get the support they ing their experiences and voices to improve the daily need to help their students grow and learn. lives of educators and give students the “No one knows our experiences better than public schools they deserve. we do,” Smith says. “And being a part of the union Share this story with Check out nea.org/win to has given me this seat at the table and voice in the a colleague and invite room, and I value that.” them to join NEA at learn how members are winning in nea.org/join-our- every state. movement/become-a- member. 50 PHOTOS: COURTESY OF MEMBERS
6-12 GRADES Students will: EXPLORE hunger globally and locally ACT by implementing a project in their school or community TELL others how to join their effort by sharing their story A simple 4-lesson set activates a learning journey with project-based learning and awareness of how to make a positive impact in the school or community. FREE curriculum Available to teachers in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, Illinois and Indiana Aligned with educational standards Proven to be productive, interactive and developmentally successful Quick registration here: exploreacttell.org/registration DON’T DELAY! Sign-up now and prepare for fall. Explore.Act.Tell. is a program of the Nourishing Neighbors initiative of Acme, Shaw’s, Safeway and Jewel Osco Foundation. Educational materials and program management are led by the Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning.
Need a Grant? Responding to Gun Violence Apply for the NEA Foundation’s $2,000 and $5,000 grants for individuals and teams Together, we of education professionals to support can ensure instructional practice or professional development across all subject safe school areas and grade levels. Applications are reviewed three times a year communities (winter, spring, and fall). NEA remains committed to ending Want to Bring the World to Your Classroom? gun violence in our nation’s public schools and communities, These resources and opportunities can help you connect through legislative action, crisis preparation, and supporting the your classroom, your students, and yourself to ideas mental health, education, and well-being of every student and and people around the world. educator. Download classroom resources from the Take action on gun violence. Visit nea.org/gunviolence. winter, spring, NEA Foundation’s Global Learning Resource page to help your students become 21st century global citizens. Join a learning community of educators committed to global education advocacy. Find more resources and programs o ered by the NEA Foundation, a public charity founded by educators for educators, at neafoundation.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for updates. GRANTS & EVENTS DOWNLOAD FIND AN UP TO DATE LIST OF GRANTS, AWARDS, NEA TODAY FOR AND EDUCATIONAL OBSERVANCES AT CLICKABLE RESOURCES ON THE GO! nea.org/grantsandevents Available in the App Store MORE ONLINE Win free books for and on Google Play. View the your classroom! desktop version online at For books, activities, posters, lessons, videos, Scan this QR code to nea.org/publications. and more, visit nea.org/ enter NEA’s Read Across tools/10FreeThings.html. America contest. For more advice on classroom decoration and organization, follow NEA Today on Pinterest at pinterest.com/NEAToday. 52
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2022 NEA Representative Assembly Back and Better than Ever NEA PRESIDENT BECKY Live at the RA (clockwise from top): NEA professional pay, an ongoing assault on PRINGLE PRAISES President Becky Pringle; Vice President educators who honestly confront this DELEGATES FOR BEING Kamala Harris; NEA delegates; and NEA nation’s history of racism and openly “COURAGEOUS AND Executive Director Kim Anderson. celebrate LGBTQ+ people. CREATIVE, PREPARED AND PERSISTENT” But NEA members continue to stand strong and embrace their role as BY CINDY LONG the voice of education professionals, she told the RA delegates. A fter two years of the pandemic, delegates to the 2022 NEA Rep- NEA Executive Director Kim resentative Assembly (RA) were Anderson told the energized audience, nally back in person, with about 6,000 “You teach the truth about our history; members from around the country you don’t deny it. You protect our chil- convening on July 3 – 6, with a remote dren’s safety, not the gunmakers’ pro ts. option. ere was a feeling of renewal You see our children as they are; you and celebration after another di cult don’t deny their identities.” year. As delegates gathered, they felt restored by the hope, energy, Just hours earlier, the assembly and determination of their had passed an inspiring new policy union to come back better statement on Safe, Just, and Equitable and stronger than ever. Schools, which further asserts NEA’s dedication to forging a better future for “We will prevail!” NEA President Becky Pringle all students. promised in her keynote address. Vice President Kamala Harris addresses NEA e challenges facing In an electrifying address, U.S. educators, students, and Vice President Kamala Harris communities today are real told delegates that educators are and many, Pringle acknowl- essential to our democracy. edged. ey include crippling “ e president and I are educator shortages, a lack of counting on you to help us move forward as a nation, just as NEA 54 has done throughout its history,” Harris said. She said she realizes educa- tors will face many challenges when they return to schools in the fall, and it may feel like they are the only ones who see what’s at stake. “Do not despair. Do not be over- whelmed. Do not throw up your hands when it is a time to roll up our sleeves.” MLEOARREN Check out the highlights Watch the speeches—including those from Pringle; Harris; Teacher of the Year; ESP of the Year; Higher Educator of the Year; and Dolly Parton, this year’s Friend of Education—and find out about policies passed. Visit nea.org/ra. PHOTOS: NEA
550,000 educators now qualify for student debt forgiveness. Non-publishing Notes ARE YOU ONE? Text STUDENTDEBT to 48744 to nd out.
NEA in action epvNuaeEblrlAylseicdtidsuasudwyccehfoanootrtrokosirglnssarg.nefodart + NEA Protests at UNION POWER! NEA Member NRA Convention Speaks Out NEA helped Ohio's Columbus Education Against Book Bans NEA President Becky Pringle and Association (CEA) win a seat at the table other leaders protested outside the in deciding how Pennsylva- National Rifle Association's (NRA) annual American Rescue nia school convention in Houston, in May. Plan funds would librarian be spent locally. Samantha Hull The NRA convention took place just testified at a days after a gunman killed 19 students CEA’s new Capitol Hill and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. collective hearing in bargaining April, calling on Pringle joined Texas State Teachers agreement Congress to stop Association President Ovidia Molina, guarantees: censoring stu- former Texas congressman Beto dents and stop O'Rourke, and other activists to call for 100+ 33 banning books. an end to gun violence in schools. new student school \"Without safe places to read, think, NEA President Becky Pringle stands support positions counselors and discuss, we have no future.” before thousands in Texas and calls for an end to gun violence. for the 2021 – direct SCHOOL LIBRARIAN 2022 school year SAMANTHA HULL “Our public schools should be pandemic relief the safest places for students and 88 funds for HVAC A CALL FOR JUSTICE educators … . We need fewer guns and other facility in schools, not more. We need literacy upgrades, student NEA continues to call on Congress commonsense solutions now!” specialists to pass the George Floyd Justice in to support technology Policing Act—which would prohibit NEA PRESIDENT BECKY PRINGLE accelerated access, and discriminatory profiling, ban choke student learning voluntary home holds, and require federal and state EDUCATORS ARE police to use body cameras. EXCITED ABOUT JUDGE visits KETANJI BROWN JACKSON AN END TO UNJUST \"Our families deserve to be safe, TEACHER PAY our voices heard, and our rights Tens of R E G U L AT I O N respected by those in power— thousands of but for far too many, that is not NEA mem- NEA is calling on the U.S. Depart- a reality.” bers sent emails ment of Labor to rescind the Fair and made phone Labor Standards Act, an archaic NEA PRESIDENT BECKY PRINGLE calls asking their and outdated federal regulation that senators to sup- results in more than 1 million classroom Tell your senator to ATACKTEION port this history- teachers being significantly underpaid. support the law at making nomina- NEA is leading the charge to give teach- nea.org/police-reform. tion. Their voices made a di erence. ers the same protections as similarly- Jackson is now the first Black woman educated professionals. To find out what to serve the nation’s highest court. NEA President TAKE ACTION! Becky Pringle Pledge to give has been up educators the to, turn to support and Page 8. respect they deserve at nea.org/pledge. 56 PHOTOS/ARTWORK BY COLUMN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM : PATRICK RYAN, NEA; ISTOCKPHOTO BOTH ; NEA BOTH
These educaTors reflecT The absoluTe besT in Public educaTion. We are Proud to Celebrate Them. The NEA Foundation Proudly Presents the 2022 Awards for Teaching Excellence. adriana abundis alonzo Texas State Teachers Association Sidney Lanier High School • San Antonio, TX 2022 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence We truly appreciate all that you do to continually support our schools and our communities. Our unique program has everything NEA retired members and their extended family couldnaloToEakdulfcoiaratioinnbMaeinunnteoJsoaatanMdihnome insurance, with exclusive benefits not available to20tC2h2eenHtougraryceeHnMigeanhrnaSAclwhapordouflob•r RTlieocacc,hhieangsntEedxrc,eMalleNtncae value that surpasses all others. Kathy Purviance-snow chris gRleecaesiveona FREE Washington PaWtriicsckoMnasirnshEdMuidcadtlieonSjucAhssotsooflco•iaSrtuiognnePCrtaotiiurninegc, iWl aI $25 GIFETduCcAatRioDn association no-obligaStnioonhSonamouihStoohmhiiSghh, School WA 2022 Horace Mann Awairnd fsoruTreaacnhicngeExqceulleonctee from CalifoA2wr0na2rid2afNoECrATeaMaceshmuinbgaerElBtxcyeen.lelefintsce aleXandra casTellanos sMiTh Utah Education Association Sand Ridge Junior High • Roy, UT Visit WeProtectEducators.com/NEA2022 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence or call 1-866-268-1754 Visit neafoundation.org to learn more. Thank you to our Salute to Excellence in Education major sponsors. CA Lic#0041343 ©2020 CCMC Insurance not available in AK, HI, MA, MI, NY, WI. Coverages NEA® Auto and Home Insurance Program described are subject to availability and eligibility. Gift card offer not available in AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, NC, ND, MD, MS, SC, TN, TX, UT and WV. Restrictions apply. See website for complete details. NEA, NEA in partnership with Member Benefits and the NEA Member Benefits logo are registered marks of NEA’s Member Benefits. AHNT0822
NEA Today is Scan this code with available through your mobile phone the App Store to enter NEA’s Read and on Google Play. Across America contest, or go to For the latest education news, nea.org/sweeps. visit nea.org/NEAToday Join the conversation NEAToday @NEAToday @NEAToday $250 BIGGESTACT NOW AND GET OUR AMAZON.COM GIFT CARD BONUS OFFER EVER! fiarsfttei9nr(s0yptouududraceymhnsaatosskfeensaoacwttceilotelhuiaginsnitbt tlo$ehp)5ee0n0ing THE NEA® CUSTOMIZED LIMITED TIME CASH REWARDS VISA OFFER SIGNATURE® CREDIT CARD APPLY TODAY! 1% UNLIMITED on purchases Earn 2% and 3% CASH BACK everywhere, every time cash back on Visit 2% AUTOMATIC at grocery stores and the first $2,500 neamb.com/250bonus CASH BACK wholesale clubs in combined 3 % CUSTOMIZED in the category of your grocery store/ ©2022 Bank of America Corporation CASH BACK choice, choose from six wholesale club/ popular categories choice category purchases each quarter, then earn unlimited 1% thereafter. This offer is unique to this solicitation. Our credit card offers may vary and this offer may not be available elsewhere, such as, if you visit neamb.com. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now. For more information about the rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the use of the credit card visit neamb.com/250bonus and refer to the disclosures accompanying the online credit application. Residents of the US and its territories only. See full disclosure for details. Federal law prohibits students from receiving a premium. Restrictions apply, see amazon.com/gc-legal. This credit card program is issued and administered by Bank of America, N.A. Visa and Visa Signature are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association, and are used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. The Contactless Symbol and Contactless Indicator are trademarks owned by and used with permission of EMVCo, LLC. 4705069 CC960822 MB0822-AD-NEATR
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