CEA leaders have joined colleagues from across the country in Washington, D.C., this week to remind Congress of the vital role public schools play in our democracy. Yesterday leaders attended a rally where educators, parents, community leaders, and elected officials spoke out against dismantling the Department of Education.
Today CEA President Kate Dias, Vice President Joslyn DeLancey, and Treasurer Stephanie Wanzer attended Linda McMahon’s confirmation hearing to be U.S. secretary of education, while other CEA leaders met with members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation.
NEA Directors Tanya Kores and Katy Gale, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, CEA Secretary Tara Flaherty, and NEA Director Alternate Kim Knapp.
Dias reports that the hearing room was packed with public education supporters ready to fight for students and teachers.
“During McMahon’s confirmation hearing, she demonstrated a limited understanding of the vital work of the Department of Education, revealing significant gaps in knowledge on key issues, and she committed to following the president’s directives—while also saying she would uphold the law and Constitution of the United States, asserting that the president would never ask her to break the law. We encourage Ms. McMahon to educate herself on the important work and mission of the department and to uphold our nation’s laws.”
Dias applauded Senator Murphy and other senators who spoke out in support of public education.
“It’s the great equalizer in our society and it deserves to be protected,” she said.
Today’s nomination hearing took place before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which will vote next Thursday on advancing McMahon’s nomination to the full floor.
