Ahead of VP Debate, Educators Detail What’s Moving Voters in Battleground States, Why Harris-Walz Ticket Matters for Students

NEA Shares Why Educators are Excited About the Ticket and the Impact They’re Having in Key Voting Communities

Today, NEA President Becky Pringle was joined by educators from Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota to share stories directly from the ground about what is moving the voters they speak with toward the Harris-Walz ticket. NEA members have expressed their commitment to getting Vice President Kamala Harris elected President and Gov. Tim Walz elected Vice President to be champions for students, educators, and public schools across the nation.  

“You see, educators are organizers. We are doers. Our excitement isn’t sitting at home. It’s about action. It’s talking to our fellow educators. It’s calling parents. It’s knocking on our neighbors’ doors,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “Educators are some of the most trusted members in our communities. So, when we speak up and share how our students and public schools will benefit if we elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, and other pro-public education candidates, it carries a lot of weight. And voters are listening.”  

NEA is the largest union in the country; the energy and efforts of three million NEA members in 14,000 local affiliates in communities across all 50 states will play an important role in the outcome of this election. 

“I can tell you this from Minnesota, we are really excited to see Governor Walz on the debate stage next week. We plan to play a huge role in electing Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. We are excited because the nation will see what we know: [Tim Walz is] the caring collaborator who does not compromise his values. Tim has always approached governing with the same urgency he had as a teacher. When you have a classroom filled with students with real needs, you find ways to solve problems right away... I guess, in a nutshell, what I’m going to say is that educators all over the country are interested in what Tim Walz has achieved. This matters for educators in Minnesota, it matters for educators across the country. When they see Governor Walz on that stage, they see themselves. They see a teacher who can do anything. They see a teacher who is using his voice,” said Education Minnesota President Denise Specht. 

“As educators, we have seen firsthand what changes can be made when we elect pro-public education candidates. It’s clear to me that Kamala and Tim are advocates. One of the most impactful things was when Vice President Harris helped make a huge investment in universal meals. The impact on our students was immeasurable. Universal meals have lessened the burden on our families and made it easier for families to pay their bills. Five million more students have been able to focus on their learning and not their bellies,” said Kelly Fisher, a 26-year veteran kindergarten teacher in Arizona. “One of the many reasons that I support the Harris-Walz ticket is because they believe, just like me, that our students deserve every opportunity to thrive.:” 

“For 24 years, I have been working as an educator and basketball coach. So, I am excited to see educators and coach Tim Walz out there. As an educator, our main goal is to create good people. We are excited to see him on the debate stage, and for him to portray his values,” said Rudy Burruss, an instructional paraprofessional from Pennsylvania. “[Hearing Vice President Harris and Governor Walz], we know we will have partners in the White House who have walked in our shoes, lived our lives. We believe in the vision that they have. I travel all across the state. There is a buzz going. I go to barbershops and hair salons, the stories I’m hearing and the buzz that I’m hearing—people are excited. They’re willing to go out and do the work. They’re going out to vote. There isn’t a better candidate than the Walz-Harris ticket. We need them. The middle class needs them.” 

The full recording of this can be found here:

https://youtu.be/A7JTq39bBNY

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.