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Only 166 days until ballots are mailed to Montana voters!
Dear Friends:
The last few months have been a whirlwind for this campaign and I want to update you on some exciting developments. However, I would first like to thank Montana's incredible educators, parents, public servants, and essential workers who have been tasked with a incredibly responsibilities during these troubling and uncertain times.
We are truly stronger together and Montanans are demonstrating our strength now more than ever.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic reached Montana, much of our campaign has moved online in order to support our frontline workers, healthcare professionals, and vulnerable populations.
One thing I've done to help families across Montana is launch Story Time with Melissa every Tuesday and Friday at 1:00 pm MST over Facebook Live.
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Story Time with Melissa received
national attention from CBS News.
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Candidates look for new ways to connect
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In Montana, Melissa Romano is running for superintendent of public instruction. Before COVID-19, the longtime educator had taken a leave of absence from the classroom to campaign. Now, with students stuck at home, she has gone back to one of her favorite aspects of teaching — reading to students aloud — this time over Facebook Live.
"Story Time with Melissa is really one small way I'm trying to give parents some time to relax a little bit and provide kids with some entertainment," Romano told CBS News. "It gives them some time to know, 'okay, a teacher is going to read some stories and talk to my children for a little bit.'"
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Books, sometimes chosen by Romano and other times requested, have ranged from "Strega Nona" to "Where the Wild Things Are." One of the biggest challenges has been helping people figure out how to tune in. Romano has been using social media and even launched a blog to stay connected.
"I'm still able to connect with people. It just looks a little bit differently," she said.
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If you're interested or know another family that might be interested in Story Time with Melissa, please visit my Facebook page and RSVP to our next story time!
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Being an educator is my passion, as is supporting Montana's educators. That's why I've launched Teaching Together to help teachers and parents succeed in this current environment.
I'm also highlighting the incredible work Montana's educators are doing. #CelebrateTeachers recognizes educators across the state who are rising to the occasion to support their students during this time. To nominate an outstanding teacher in your community, visit our Celebrate Teachers page.
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Speaking of online learning...
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Join me in demanding investment in rural broadband
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As Montanans shelter-in-place and learning moves online, students without access to high-speed internet are falling behind.
Sign our petition to tell our leaders to make expanding broadband in rural Montana a priority. Our kids can't wait - their future depends on it.
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Just because many of us our stuck at home, doesn't mean this campaign stops. I need your help if we're going to return leadership to the Office of Public Instruction.
Our public schools need a full-time advocate and we can make that happen in November, if I have you're help.
If you're on Facebook, please join our Romano for Montana Group for easy ways to help this campaign from home. You can also visit our website and sign up to volunteer.
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I was really starting to miss seeing all of you in person, so I was thrilled to accept a couple invitations to join Zoom meetings earlier this month!
Though technology likely won't replace meeting voters in person anytime soon, it was great to check in on the Lewis and Clark County Central Committee during their monthly meeting and join my union brothers and sisters for MFPE's Annual Convention.
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Our Campaign is Breaking Fundraising Records
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Our campaign continues to out-raise my opponent, who is trying to buy this election. During the last fundraising period, Elsie Arntzen only received 15 individual contributions from January 1 to March 15 while I received 1,046 donations in the same time. However, Arntzen has put a total of $35k of her own money into her campaign.
The contrast couldn't be more stark: this is a grassroots campaign up against a candidate with deep pockets and wealthy special interest friends.
I know times are hard for many of us and I understand if you can't give right now. However, if you are able to contribute to our grassroots campaign, I would be honored to receive your support.
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Speaking up for Public Education
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Earlier this month I appeared on the Montana PostCast to talk about my agenda of supporting public education for every child in every community. You can listen to the full podcast here.
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'Melissa Romano Who Plans to Put the Public Back in the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Office'
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In her second bid to become Montana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, it’s clear that award-winning teacher Melissa Romano has two priorities: to ensure that the Office of Public instruction focuses on the needs of students in public schools and that the office provides the leadership necessary to help Montana students, teachers, and schools achieve to their highest potential.
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In an interview with The Montana Post, Romano, a Helena elementary school teacher who won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching and who was named the Montana Teacher of the Year in 2018, discussed the lessons she learned in her close 2016 loss, the absence of leadership at OPI today, as well as her efforts to help Montana families struggling with the state’s abrupt transition to online learning as the COVID-19 outbreak hit the country.
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We still have a long fight in front of us but I am confident we will overcome if we work together. Whether you've contributed to my campaign or if you just stay engaged by reading our emails, your support matters.
Thank you for believing in this campaign. Together, we can win this.
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