Committed to the Cause

The National Education Association is excited and honored to welcome you to the NEA Student Program. You couldn’t have joined us at a better time! The Association needs your energy. The teaching profession needs your talent. And the students of America need your dedication.

Public education is the guardian of equality and democracy in this great nation, yet its very existence is being threatened. Public schools guarantee every American child the right to an education, closing their doors to no one, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, social class, or disability. For millions of people, the wide-open doors of public schools have symbolized—like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island —a gateway to democracy and the American dream.

You play a vital role in helping NEA defend every child’s right to an education. As NEA makes “Great Public Schools for Every Child” our number one priority, we need your help in the schools as we work to close achievement gaps, fix and fund the so-called No Child Left Behind law, and reach out to minority communities. And we need your help in the field to fight for better salaries for teachers, reach out to new members, and engage in grass roots advocacy.

But America ’s educators can’t do it alone. NEA has called for a historic covenant with the nation to adequately fund schools; promote parental involvement; fix and fund the education law; stop the privatization of jobs for education support professionals; and guarantee teachers fair pay, professional treatment, professional development, and a better working environment. If the nation calls on every school and every educator to give our best to every child, we call on the nation to give its best to every public school.

My friends, as America ’s future educators—you play a pivotal role in the future of your profession. I’m proud to have you on our team and excited that you’re committed, energized, and engaged to the cause of public education. If there is anything we can do to help you have a successful experience, don’t hesitate to contact us, because 2.7 million members of Team NEA are here for you—ready, willing, and able to assist you in any way we can.

--Reg Weaver