At my weekly meeting with Dr. McKinney last week, we talked about the staffing shortage we are facing in Nashua. This isn't unique to Nashua, it's a problem state-wide. We talked about reaching out to other state groups - the New Hampshire School Boards Association, the New Hampshire School Administrators Association, New Hampshire Association of School Principals, AFT, and NEA - to create a taskforce focusing on the future of public education. I shared this with AFT-NH, and to my surprise, others had a similar idea. This group included all of the groups I have already mentioned as well as some legislators who are on the Education Committee.

I sit on AFT's Teacher Program and Policy Council which meets next week in Washington. The teacher workforce moving forward is on agenda. Clearly, there is concern at the local, state, and national level about the education workforce and public education. I know that compensation, insurance, and working conditions are always critical components to any job. I also know that education staff and public in general, has faced unwarranted attacks. With all that said, if you have any thoughts on the future of the education workforce, please feel free to send them to me (president@nashuatu.org). I am happy to bring thoughts to my meetings which will help me represent the feelings of actual educators.