Becky’s Journal of Joy, Justice, and Excellence January 2023

From Our President

NEA's president celebrates public education's wins in the November midterms, outlines some of her intentions for 2023, and shares who she's following on social media. Check out her latest column from the pages of the NEA Today magazine January 2023 issue.

NEA President Becky Pringle smiling at the podium with a diverse group of NEA members behind her.

Patrick G. Ryan

By: NEA Today

Published: November 30, 2022

Dear NEA members,

I am honored to serve as your president. United, we will reclaim public education as a common good and transform it into a racially and socially just system that actually prepares every student—not one, not some, but every single student—to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world. Onward!

Face to Face With NEA Members

It’s been a minute since November, but I am still so elated and proud! We did it! Across the U.S., voters chose candidates who offered a clear vision for how to support public schools and rejected extremists who sought to divide and distract.

In Arizona, where I joined our most famous NEA member—First Lady Jill Biden—educators helped elect a pro-education governor, Katie Hobbs, and reelect Sen. Mark Kelly. Thank you! And in Pennsylvania, my home state, educators worked tirelessly to elect Josh Shapiro, rejecting a gubernatorial candidate who pledged to cut per-pupil spending in half and fund vouchers. They also chose Sen. John Fetterman, who believes in unions. He even joined PSEA members on picket lines! Let’s keep the momentum going. Become an NEA EdActivist at nea.org/edactivist.

NEA President poses outside with First Lady Jill Biden and NEA members at a rally in Arizona — I am always, always delighted to stand with First Lady Jill Biden by my side, and, on this occasion, with Arizona Education Association members. Credit: Courtesy of the Arizona Education Association

NEA President Becky Pringle poses outside with NEA members in Pennsylvania — Before the election, I told Pennsylvania educators and activists, “I need you to get everybody who likes you, loves you, or intends to keep living with you to vote! Our democracy depends on it!” Credit: Eric Jotkoff

Who I'm Following

Screenshot of Diego Marin on social media

If you know me, you know I love the Emmy Award-winning show Abbott Elementary. So, of course, I follow the creator and star on Twitter at @QuintaBrunson. But that’s not all! At its best, social media can be an inspiration, a window into the lives of others. (It can also be a difficult road for students to navigate, but that’s another story.)

So, who else am I following? I recommend Heather McGhee’s incredible book, The Sum of Us, to anyone who will listen. I also like to hear her thoughts on current events on Twitter at @hmcghee. However, my absolute favorite people to follow are NEA members. Diego Marin—@mr.dmarin on Instagram and TikTok—brings me back to my days teaching STEM in middle schools. His videos are so relatable, they’re sure to make any educator chuckle. And @mrs.woolleyinfifth? Sheer fun!

FOLLOW @BECKYPRINGLE

And get the latest from NEA's President.

My granddaughter took her parents to vote! 💜 Before the polls close tonight…#BeAVoter pic.twitter.com/QAaoJagKja
— Becky Pringle (@BeckyPringle) November 8, 2022

Becky on stopping the educator pushout

“Today, nearly 300,000 fewer people are working in K–12 schools than before the pandemic. We have a five-alarm crisis on our hands, and it wasn’t created by educators. … We must act now to implement long-term solutions to attract and retain diverse and qualified educators. The solutions are clear. We need to pay professional wages, create supportive and respectful workplaces, and trust educators to do their jobs.” —USA Today, Sept. 11.

and the power of organized labor

“As members of the American labor movement, we represent the very best of American democracy. And when we stand together as union siblings—unafraid, unwavering, and unapologetic—there is absolutely nothing that we can’t achieve.” —during President Joe Biden’s visit to NEA headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 23.