John — This week, we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week!

Teachers are the backbones of our communities. They prepare the next generation of students to lead successful, meaningful, and productive lives and to be valuable members of our communities.

As a former educator, assistant principal, and basketball coach, I may be biased. But I am so grateful for all of Kentucky's outstanding teachers. Still, I know that our educators struggle to get the support they deserve.

We have far too many teacher vacancies, and we rank 44th nationally for starting teacher pay. A 2022 survey found that 53% of Kentucky teachers expressed a negative sense of efficacy, well-being, and belonging at work. And the same number experienced dissatisfaction with the adequacy of school resources. We CAN and MUST do more for our teachers.

That's why I'm proud to stand behind Andy's “Education First Plan.” This plan would raise pay by 5% for every single school staff member, increase funding for textbooks, technology, and training, add more mental health resources for students and teachers, and fully fund universal pre-K. This is a huge and necessary investment into our education system to help every child, regardless of their zip code, reach their full potential.

To show Kentucky teachers our appreciation, it's time we support policies that invest in the teaching profession and provide them with the necessary resources to give our kids the best possible education. We can make this happen for our educators (and our kids!), but Andy needs your support to win this tough re-election race.

Chip in to Andy's re-election campaign today and help Andy continue fighting for Kentucky's educators and our schools >>

Thank you,

Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman