Transformations and Movements

Public Education in America is a civil right – a promise of equal educational opportunities no matter race, religion, or ability. It is tuition-free and a commitment to high standards and high expectations for all students. Public education is a benefit to society, our future, and our security. However, public education is under threat. There is misplaced blame, neglected responsibilities, and accountability falsehoods. In this Educational Apartheid we face the dismantling of the system that helped propel this country to its greatness. As future educators and future societal leaders, we are the ones who are going to take back our schools and our professions. We are the generation that is going to make the change - to be the change. We believe that we can and we do it with great pride, passion, and courage. As Student PSEA members, we not only enact positive change for our schools and our students, we join together and help create movements.

(Student PSEA Executive Committee at the Leadership Retreat at Seven Springs Mountain Resort)

            Seth Godin defines a movement as “an idea that spreads with passion through a community.” It is passion that transforms an idea to a movement. It is passion that makes people want to discuss and share an idea, and it is passion that inspires people to exert incredible amounts of energy on behalf of a cause. Movements offer a means of finding comfort and purpose in a world that has become increasingly disconcerting. This year, Student PSEA is moving in a new direction. We are becoming advocates for what it is we believe in, and we will move others to join in our ignited passion. The first movement we will take part in is the NEA Degrees Not Debt Campaign, a campaign with a focus on college affordability and student loans. This is what directly impacts us as students. This has meaning and value to members of Student PSEA and the National Education Association Student Program. Degrees Not Debt information will be coming to you through the Student PSEA Spotlight video in early November, directly after the elections. The “Week of Action” is November 11^th-18^th, 2014.

(Student Delegates of the NEA/RA in Denver, CO, sporting their Degrees Not Debts shirts)

Our future belongs to movements. There is so much that needs to be fixed and there are issues that need to be addressed. Our hard truth is that if there is no organization forced to advocate for public education in the state capitols of this nation, our children and schools will suffer. We, Student PSEA members, are the advocates of today and the future.

(Lauren Williams, Victoria Rodriquez, and Ashley Muscarella)

(Lauren Kriebel - Southern Region President and Sara Bycura - State Secretary)

I am proud to be the student president because I am guiding our organization through a transformation. Our state student coordinator, Christopher Clayton, presented to the Student Executive Committee this past weekend. Now, I am going to share it with you.

“You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.” –Abraham Lincoln

            Politics is part of our every day lives, whether a student or a professional. Politics are about how we navigate, move and maneuver. There are two types of leaders, transactional and transformational. Let me break it down in its simplest form - a transactional leader does for others, while a transformational leader empowers others to do for themselves. Student PSEA is moving away from transactional politics. We are more than just electing leaders, setting policy, and holding a conference. We do more than vote, campaign, and give money. Politics is transformational when it understands others interest and values, connects the current reality with interpretations of the past, and when it builds power through action. Student PSEA members are going to be agents of action and reflection. Are you in? Will you be an activist of Student PSEA or a leader? An activist takes action, is willing to participate, speaks out on an issue and showcases his or her strengths. A leader moves people to action, encourages others to participate, encourages others about their own issues, and showcases another’s strengths. In this transformational year of Student PSEA we are taking action, leading movements, and building a better future. I am happy to have you on board!

-Lauren Williams

Student PSEA President