Dear AFSA Family,
As Thanksgiving approaches, I’d like to wish you and your families the happiest of holidays. I love Thanksgiving most of all, maybe because I’m not decorating everything in sight and running around endlessly buying material gifts. It’s more of a moment to embrace loved ones and think about those who have passed. And when we sit down to this quintessentially American feast and count our blessings, we’ll remember that in recent years, the pandemic prevented us from being with as many friends and relatives as we would have liked.
So, I’m thankful that medical science has given us vaccines, special therapies and tests that have been allowing us to live fairly normal lives. This may be called the third pandemic holiday season, but it’s wonderful compared with the last two.
This blessing goes hand in hand with the reopening of schools. We were able to return with high hopes of a more stable year; rules loosened, and learning recovery began with an unprecedented boost from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. I couldn’t be more thankful for that.
The school year also got off to an auspicious start for AFSA. I’m thankful for a stellar staff and the new General Executive Board, with its peerless enthusiasm for public education and our union. In early October, the GEB met in person to form committees focused on the 13 resolutions we passed at AFSA’s convention in July. The committees are at work turning those words into actions.
Also in October, AFSA partnered with the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the National Association of Secondary School Principals to hold a Principals Month Policy Forum at the AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, D.C. At the forum, working principals, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Assistant Secretary of Education Roberto Rodriguez initiated an ongoing conversation regarding student and staff mental health issues, and the crisis resulting from staff shortages since the pandemic.
In my message after the election, I let you know that I thank the American people for proving that common sense and moderation can prevail in a highly polarized society. That is no small thanks. A lot of you wrote back agreeing, and a few asked me whether there really is a pond where I go to reflect.
Yes, there is. Last week, the fountain in the middle was turned off. I guess that’s to prepare early for the pond freezing over when the cold weather comes.
Again, Happy Thanksgiving.
Be well, stay well.
