Three years ago, I made a promise. No matter what part of Georgia you work in, no matter the students you teach, we will have a strong voice in Washington. Over the past three years, I have worked hard to ensure that I have visited every governance district to listen and learn about the issues that affect public education. Rural issues are very different from suburban issues. I have taken what I have learned up to Washington, D.C. to advocate for GAE members and the students we serve.
Current leadership in Washington has proven that it is not very friendly to public education. We have to have a strong voice who is willing to stand up for what is right. We have to bring that front-line experience of the effect of excessive testing, underfunding, large class sizes, and unfunded mandates have on the students in Georgia's classrooms. The relationships I have developed in my three years on the NEA Board have helped me serve you and make sure that your concerns are addressed at the national level.