Hearfelt Thanks: a message from your President

Dear Fellow Educators,

American Education Week will be celebrated the week of November 14th through the 20th. It is a week that has been set aside to celebrate America’s educators and to remind everyone of the importance of providing every child a quality public education. On behalf of the Blount County Education Association’s leadership team – and on my own personal behalf- I would like to thank you for the service that you provide to our students on a daily basis.

The National Education Association has been credited as one of the creators and original sponsors of American Education Week which was first established in 1921. At the time, the purpose was "informing the public of the accomplishments and needs of the public schools and to secure the cooperation and support of the public in meeting those needs."

These words could have easily been spoken now. With Race to the Top and Tennessee First to the Top it appears as if we have lost our true focus. It seems as if public education is under attack from almost every angle. We are asked to do more…with less. Now, more than any time in recent history, we need to celebrate the successes of our public schools and educate the public on the needs of the schools.

I would like to urge you to keep your eye on the ultimate goal- the growth and development of your students. Maintain your professionalism, even while being stressed. The American spirit and our democracy cannot ne reduced to data points and statistics; likewise, we should not reduce our students to the same.

I hope that each and every one of you will be blessed with the true awareness of the complexities of your profession- and will be as lucky as I have been in knowing that you have made a difference in this world.

For all that you do for our students-

THANK YOU!!!!

Lynn Eubanks
President, BCEA