President’s Message – Winter 2026
I was overweight and acne ridden, awkward and uncomfortable, yet my Junior Seminar teacher assigned me to portray Newt Gingrich, the dynamic GOP leader selected as Speaker of the House for a historic Republican majority. I did the policy research, knew the positions and agenda, drafted bills, and attempted to make compromises—but when the Mock Congress convened, I lacked command of the floor. My voice was yet to be found.
My teacher pushed me beyond my comfort zone—and I loved it. I wanted more policy discussions, more debate, and more democracy. The unit inspired senior year course work, a college major in Political Science, and a graduate program in Social Studies Education. It influenced decisions to sit on municipal boards, getting involved in MEA committees and local leadership, and motivated bids for school board of directors.
Throughout my education I learned to argue positions, research evidence, and consider different perspectives. But too often, I was focused on “winning”, rather than understanding. Over time, I learned that the most rewarding moments— and in some ways, the biggest achievements—came from losses.
One such moment was when I was on the school board. An educator had crafted a new course in response to student interest. The educator was well qualified and had worked with the curriculum committee to secure approval, yet several board members opposed the proposal and moved to remove the course from the proposed Program of Studies for the following school year.
When the vote was taken, the majority of the board voted to remove the course from the Program of Studies. When final adoption followed, I cast the lone dissenting vote. It failed—overwhelmingly.
In the back of the room, a large group of students in the crowd stood and applauded my opposition to a Program of Studies without their course. They felt supported and in the following weeks organized and worked towards solutions with Administration, the Curriculum Committee Chair, and School Board Chair. Subtle successes can be found in defeat.
School board meetings used to be seen as routine and sometimes even boring, but currently many communities across the state are experiencing outside groups attending meetings to insert division and drama into what should be thoughtful local processes. Increasingly, school governance has become a stage rather than a productive forum.
I encourage you to find your voice. Work to organize your community and your networks, elevate the positive work happening in our schools, and help shape the narratives that define them. Even in moments that feel like losses, our students, staff, and families will feel your support. Your support matters. Your voice matters.
Jesse Hargrove
MEA President
