Kicking off American Education Week, NEA president Becky Pringle got to work serving up steaming scoops of macaroni and cheese and spoonfuls of ripe red strawberries to hungry students at Barrett Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia.
Students and their families who live in this suburb of Washington, D.C., like other communities around the country, face growing food insecurity with rising costs of groceries and disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—the nation’s largest food assistance program serving 42 million Americans, including 16 million children.
The program faces more than $1 billion in potential cuts, compounded by the recent government shutdown. These disruptions disproportionately affect students in low-income communities, exacerbating inequities in access to healthy meals and educational opportunities.
“Letting hunger grow among our children is a policy choice—and one we cannot accept,” said Pringle. “Every student, no matter where they live or their family’s income, should have nourishing, delicious, and welcoming meals that fuel their success.”
Feeding Students an Ongoing Challenge
To support families, the NEA donated $10,000 to Arlington Public Schools to help pay down unpaid student lunch balances. NEA also contributed another $5,000 to the school’s healthy food education programs, aimed at preventing students from having to choose between nourishment and their ability to focus in class.
For many schools, feeding students is an ongoing challenge, especially in districts without universal school meal programs. While many students benefit from programs that ensure their access to meals, many others live in districts without these programs, and these inequities only deepen the impact of hunger on learning.
Educators are witnessing these effects firsthand. When students come to school hungry, they have trouble concentrating and reaching their full potential. In Arlington, Pringle was able to see how a hot, nutritious meal puts a smile on a student’s face and puts them on a path to learning.
As educator for a day, Pringle also spent time in a science classroom and read aloud to an energetic group of preschoolers gathered for story time. It was an opportunity to spend some time walking in the hard-to-fill shoes of a current public school educator.
“American Education Week is a moment for all of us who support students—from parents to cafeteria workers and bus drivers, from administration staff to classroom teachers—to show our public school pride,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “This week is a tribute to educators. We honor and thank them for the work they do every day to ensure our students thrive, learn, and succeed.”
First celebrated in 1921 and co-sponsored by the NEA and the American Legion, American Education Week takes place annually the week before Thanksgiving. For more than a century, its goal—to build public awareness and support for public education—remains as important as ever.
June Prakash, President of the Arlington Education Association and a paraeducator, says the entire community was thrilled that NEA visited Arlington to kickoff American Education week.
"The joy was palpable, as the students and staff knew they had a very special visitor, who was genuinely interested in them. Students always love an opportunity to show visitors what they are learning and educators love opportunities to highlight all of the positive work they are doing," Prakash said. "For our union, this visit also created an air of excitement and a reassurance that leaders at the top care about what is happening in schools, and want to stay connected to staff and students whenever they can. It reaffirms that students and staff matter."
Prakash joined Pringle at Barrett Elementary to serve lunch and visit with staff.
Kate Waller Barrett Elementary School, known to most as Barrett, opened in 1939. It is a Title I school, with approximately 615 students enrolled. Many of the students walk to school, making Barrett a true "neighborhood" school.
Prakash said she knows there are ongoing threats to public education and that she wants students and staff to know especially this week, and throughout the year, that they are safe, seen, and respected.
As an education support professional (ESP) herself, Prakash said ESPs often feel disrespected, but that NEA is working to change that.
"We want ESP voices to be heard, and we want them to earn not just a living wage, but a thriving one," she said. "Their jobs are important, and one job should be enough!"
This year, NEA is encouraging communities to host “Educator for a Day” events at local public schools. The initiative offers community members a behind-the-scenes look at the dedication, complexity, and passion that defines the work of educators. Participants will assist in classrooms, help supervise lunch, serve meals, and support office staff.
“American Education Week celebrates the incredible work happening in our nation’s public schools—and honors everyone who makes that possible, from teachers and administrators to our education support professionals, who are the heart of every school community,” said Pringle. “Honoring all of the educators who shape students’ lives each day ensures a more equitable, excellent education for all students.”
