John,
It's Andrew with My School Votes, When We All Vote's effort to empower students and educators to change the culture around voting.
As a former teacher, I know how focused so many educators are on working tirelessly to close the opportunity and achievement gaps that exist across our country. Voter registration and participation have many of the same disparities, and that is why our mission at When We All Vote is to close the race and age gap in voter participation.
Even as schools across the country remain closed due to the ongoing coronavirus situation, our students and educators have adapted to organizing their peers online.
Student-led My School Votes teams in high schools all across the country make sure our youngest eligible voters are registered and ready to vote when the time comes. But our efforts wouldn't be possible without the time and dedication of incredible educators.
On National Teacher Appreciation Day, I wanted to share a few stories about the critical work My School Votes educators are engaged in, even as many classes continue remotely. Please join me in thanking them today by adding your name to our card.
"It is essential that social studies teachers ensure their seniors are not only registered to vote, but are prepared and committed to voting. We know that if our young people go to the polls as 18-year-olds, it sets the stage for lifelong voting habits. Young people are excited to have a voice -- we need to empower them to take their place as adults and to cast their first ballot." -- Rhonda Feder, educator in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
"I believe when students become civically involved as young people they will feel empowered to become involved in their community in other ways. In addition, the only way we can make our government more representative is if there is more diversity in the electorate in general. My students have felt that participating in When We All Vote has given them the opportunity to have a voice in our nation's future." -- Ada A. Nuñez, educator in Hialeah, Florida
"It's important for young people to vote because it's an opportunity for their voice and opinions to be heard. Voting is a way of telling the government what you want from them and is your biggest opportunity to have a say." -- Darryl Bess, educator in Phoenix, Arizona
We are grateful for the work the My School Votes educators put in to help their students make their voices heard in their first election and every election.
Join me on National Teacher Appreciation Day by thanking an educator >>
Andrew
Andrew Amore
Director, My School Votes
When We All Vote