One of the most difficult school years in our nation’s history is drawing to a close. Educators have overcome obstacles and challenges that at first seemed insurmountable, and we made it through the year! Let us take this summer to breathe and give ourselves credit for persevering, for continuing to teach and feed our students, and for our strength and optimism in the face of unimaginable turmoil.
In our cover story, “Lean on Me," NEA members share what sustained them through this challenging time. Overwhelmingly, they relied on their colleagues and the NEA family for encouragement, creativity, and support. They give thanks for their peers and fellow union members, such as the Illinois art teachers who figured out how to teach students who didn’t have crayons and paper at home, and a Seattle member who helped colleagues get through George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent protests in May 2020.
Now, we emerge on the other side of tragedy with profound opportunities before us. President Joe Biden and his administration are ushering in a new era in public education, and thanks to the American Rescue Plan, delivering more funds to schools than we have seen in decades. Find out where the money is going to support public education in “Issues and Impact." And learn more about the future of public schools in NEA President Becky Pringle’s interview with Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
As the pandemic has made clear, we need great public schools for all students, regardless of who they are or where they come from. In the story, “In Our Own Voices," three LGBTQ+ students of color chat with NEA Today about their experiences in schools; the educators who have helped them along the way; and how schools can become welcoming, enriching places that allow LGBTQ+ students to live into their full potential.
And in “What’s Your Inspiration?," we celebrate NEA members’ brilliant ideas for engaging students in virtual learning—like teaching woodworking from the local Home Depot!
As this school year moves into the rearview mirror, let us hope that the national vaccine rollout allows for a summer filled with barbecues, family reunions, and less fear. Let us hope that Biden’s policies will transform the future of schools and that the next school year brings a full return to in-person learning. At long last, we have many reasons for hope—and NEA will continue to work for a brighter future for all students and educators.
