A leter from the WEA President

A letter to the Snohomish community:

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support of public
education. You, along with the 470 teachers and support professionals in the
Snohomish School District, have not wavered on your commitment.

As you know, your local schools remain closed while the district and the teachers
continue to work out a fair contract. The issue at hand is not complex. It’s
about quality. Every student deserves a quality teacher. And, every teacher
deserves a professional salary that is reflective of his or her roles and responsibilities
as an educator.

We know it’s an important time for your children, and we acknowledge that
every day a student remains out of the classroom is lost learning time.
As a teacher of 25 years, I always looked forward to the start of a new school
year. My fourth-graders arrived with fresh energy and a shine in their eyes that
told me they were up for the challenges that lie ahead. Reflecting back on all
those years, it truly was a special time. It gave me renewed energy knowing that
my students were ready and willing to learn and I was ready to teach.

As a state organization, the Washington Education Association is standing
together with our members in Snohomish. We recognize that school districts
across the state have different needs, and that those needs are best addressed
locally. Yet, there are some commonalties among all school districts.
Our state is experiencing a compensation crisis. It affects all of our public
schools and students. Attracting teachers to the profession and retaining highly
qualified teachers in our classrooms has become increasingly difficult. Compensation
is tied to school quality; teacher attrition and turnover take a toll on
academic achievement.

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The teachers in Snohomish have worked diligently to raise the student-achievement
bar. They have dedicated themselves to ensuring that every child has the
opportunity for a quality education. They have set the professional-performance
bar high for themselves, and they are accountable to students, parents and
elected officials. It’s a heavy responsibility that no teacher has taken lightly.
They accept these things. It’s their job.

Now, Snohomish teachers are asking the school directors to do their job, to
acknowledge and accept their roles and responsibilities, and to recognize that
this is about investing in your children.

As community members, you’ve done your part by voting for two education
initiatives, passing levies that support your schools and continuing to send the
message that public education is a priority. We can’t thank you enough for your
support.

Quality public education isn’t expensive. It’s priceless. Please call your school
district and ask for an open meeting to talk about what’s at stake. Like you, we
want nothing more than to get students back to school. After all, teaching and
learning is our business.

Sincere regards,

Charles Hasse
President
Washington Education Association

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