Writing the President’s Letter for this issue has been a struggle. October 25th will cast a long shadow over us for quite some time, even those of us less directly impacted by the tragic losses suffered by so many that day. Events taking place around the world—continuing wars, ongoing violence—may be less front and center for most of us here in Maine, but they still provide a somber backdrop to our shorter sometimes dreary winter days. All this likely makes it even harder to keep worries at bay—whether about respiratory illnesses, the data breach, threats made that interrupt our school days, or any number of other concerning things in our personal lives.
Yet we carry on. Educators are nothing less than amazing at managing to focus on our students, despite it all. The work we do is so important and the impact we have on the students we work with every day is great. We may not often get the chance to see the future results of our work. We may not often get the recognition this work deserves. But whenever we do, it is awesome, and it underscores the huge responsibility that we take on as educators. (And by educators, please be assured that includes every adult in our schools and on our campuses who work with and support our students in all ways!)
A team of members joined me recently in working with groups from other New England state associations to discuss what more we can be doing to be sure all students—and educators!—have a safe, compassionate environment in which to learn and work. I am grateful to Alisha Lampron, Samantha Hatch, Janet Kuech, Bobbie Thibodeau, and our NEA Director Rebecca Cole for their time and expertise that weekend. That was just before October 25th. Now that work takes on even more urgency. This work will continue.
Together with all of you, MEA will continue to work to see that our professions receive the recognition and the respect that the invaluable work you all do deserves—and that includes in tangible ways like compensation.
Know, too, that we will be working ever harder to do what we can to reduce the potential of anything like October 25th happening again. I have said so many times during these past few years that safety is the very top priority—safety of our students, of our educators, of our communities. Now it is hopefully clearer to many more that there is much, much more work to do to see that not only our schools but also our communities have greater assurance of being safe places for us all.
I have also said numerous times since having the privilege of serving in this position that the challenges just keep on coming—and they do, and they seem to be greater than ever.
But we are strong, our Association is strong, and we will keep rising to meet them by working together.
I first got involved in my local association because when I heard complaints about a problem, I felt compelled to do what I could to try to address it, to find a solution. United with fellow association members, we would inevitably find the best path forward to address many issues and improve things. That is what unions do.
That is what we must continue to do, together.
In the last issue I wrote that I had high hopes this would be a great year for us all. Having seen how our local leaders have stepped up to support members during these most difficult weeks, having seen members remain focused on students’ needs and carry on, having seen MEA staff so quickly gather information to help us all—having seen all that, I feel an even greater sense of hope. It is important we
stay strong, that we reach out whenever we may need to ask for help, that we do what is needed to be sure our schools, our campuses are the safe, compassionate environments we all deserve, and that our communities are safe places where we all can thrive. I remain full of hope that together we will keep fulfilling the awesome responsibility of the invaluable work we are charged with doing.
In Unity,
Grace
