MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
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t got hot up in there at that conference center in Norfolk. Dr. Bettina L. Love, professor at Teachers College of Columbia University, and the bestselling author of We Want to Do More Than Survive, brought the heat in a stirring keynote address that was both a call for justice and a call for action. “We’ve been fighting for 70 years, since the Brown decision, to tell this country that our babies are worth it,” she said. “If we don’t educate Keynote speaker Dr. Bettina Love (upper right) had the conference crowd on their feet. In other photos, members interact with presenters our Black students and one another. about who they are, discouraging Black youth from truly learning about their they won’t know!” history and experiences. “ She decried the burdens placed on Black children in our In addition to Dr. Love and Pierson, conference attendschools. “Think of what our children must sacrifice when the ees also heard presentations from Peggy Brookins, president curriculum and the teachers don’t look like them,” she said. and CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching “They’re sacrificing themselves! And it’s not just our loss—it’s Standards; VEA member Anthony Swann, Virginia’s 2021 your loss and it’s democracy’s loss.” Teacher of the Year; Dr. Ronald White of the Spartans Teach Dr. Love went on to give some marching orders. “We Program at Norfolk State University; and La-Neka S. Brown, must make our approach with love,” she said adding that director of the Teacher in Residence Program at Old DominBlack educators must push for more than being included: ion University; and heard a panel of VEA members who are “We must become integral,” she said, “and show them that National Board Certified Teachers discuss what that process they can’t run this ship without us!” is like for teachers of color. Conference organizers made sure that student voicParticipants also had breakout sessions on a wide range es were also part of the program, and high school senior of topics, including equity audits, working toward visible Rodney Pierson, who noted that he’s only had four Black inclusion, increasing retention rates among Black boys, the teachers in his 13 years of schooling, told attendees, “A lack power of a teacher, hip-hop pedagogy and literacy instrucof Black teachers can…put Black youth in a rough situation tion, and White educators and cultural humility.l by limiting positive role models, limiting career insight, and
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VIRGINIA JOURNAL OF EDUCATION | APRIL 2023
Show Us the Money! VEA Members Speak Up about Their Paychecks VEA leaders and members have been speaking up around the state, letting local school boards, city councils, and media outlets know that increasing teacher pay is not only an essential component to overcoming teacher shortages, but also a long overdue sign of respect for an amazingly important profession. Here’s a sampling of the messages they’ve shared. How can we expect our educators to be at their best for our students if they are preoccupied with making their mortgage payment? If they are having to choose between continuing to teach and the rising cost of childcare? If they come in everyday exhausted from working their second, or even third job the night before? If they are under constant threat from outside groups crying, “Indoctrination!”, constant threat of verbal and physical harassment from students, and constant threat of rampant gun violence plaguing our schools? How can we expect our educators to be at their best when they don’t get paid enough for this? — Katie Seidemann, Montgomery County Education Association
People don’t leave our district angry. They leave hurt. They want to stay, they want to do the job, they love the people they work with, they love their students, but they cannot pay their bills.
For the last 31 years, I have been a teaching assistant and I didn’t even make $31,000
— Helen Pryor, Education Association of Norfolk
until this past year. I went to our school board and told
While we’re definitely grateful for a 5 percent raise, any raise that’s below the rate of inflation will make our staff feel like we are making less money next year. — Mary McIntyre, Albemarle
There are employees who are leaving our school district to work for other school districts for two main reasons, low salary, and no room to advance in their careers. — Margaret Migas, Waynesboro Education Association
Education Association
them, ‘You don’t even pay me $31,000 a year and I also drive a school bus, am a part-time custodian, and I’m in school to get my degree to be a teacher in your school system.’ — Arthur Anderson, Chesapeake Education Association
They say that love is priceless. But it’s kind of nifty that on this day—Valentine’s Day, the day we celebrate love, I’m able to calculate the value of my love for Stafford County Public Schools. It’s $27,517…I know that I’d make $27,517 more if I taught at a Prince William school next year than I will make at my current job…I stay because I really do love Stafford County Public Schools. I love my students, my school, my co-workers, my curriculum…but I can’t say it doesn’t sting. — Sarah Taylor, Stafford Education Association
VIRGINIA JOURNAL OF EDUCATION | APRIL 2023
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Photos page 20 by Lisa Sale, graphic background page 21 by iStock
Teachers of Color Summit Fires Up Attendees