Diane Albanese’s Musings

When I drove away from the hotel on Sunday after the NEA Regional Conference, I was wearing a wry little smug smile that barely contained all the pride that I was experiencing. This was my first mid-Atlantic regional conference. I was issued a little green ribbon that said “First Time Attendee” but I didn’t know what that meant. It took me two full days of conference meetings and events to understand – I was a small part of a great big organization that spanned the state and then joined with others to reach across the nation to promote public education and the needs of children.  

The pride was unabashedly for my state of Delaware and all the fine things that my DSEA had done to represent teachers and keep public schools thriving here. Even more pride spilled out into the hallways of my school throughout the next few days as I talked to other teachers about my fabulous DSEA weekend refocusing on education. The pride came from just being a teacher and choosing a tough job for all the right reasons: children should come first and education was too important to leave to the politicians. We needed a voice. I felt that DSEA through NEA was providing us with that voice.

At the Mid-Atlantic Regional National Education Association conference we were treated to a whole host of speakers talk about children, teaching and the future of education. Teachers from a seven state area listened to Senator Joe Biden tell us about the national initiative to improve our schools. We heard from Terry Spence, Speaker of the House talk about the bipartisan support in our state for education. Teachers from surrounding states oohed and ahhed over the 12% incentive that Delaware gave its National Board Certified Teachers, the promise to raise teacher salaries, and the focus continued support for classroom teachers. 

Governor Ruth Ann Minner stole the show. She described her education initiatives including full day kindergarten, reading specialists in elementary schools and math specialists in middle schools.  Her support and leadership enabled all Delaware children to attend college for two years and she announced her plans to extend that program to a four-year ride.   The enthusiastic crowd cheered liberally.

I couldn’t help but wonder what other states were doing for their students and schools but I am sure that my Delaware pride will keep me busy for some time just thinking about the next initiative right here at home. 

(This post to also appear in the DSEA Action, Winter 2007 )