Members of the Board of Directors, delegates, members, staff, and esteemed guests, I am grateful for the opportunity to stand before you today and welcome you all to our 2023 annual convention!
It feels good to be here with all of you today. This is our first 100% in-person convention in 3 years, and my first as President. I’m very thankful for things to be getting back to some version of “normal.”
Of course, for educators, “normal” has always been difficult. Even under the best circumstances, our jobs have never been easy.
Easy is not in our vocabulary.
Easy is not why we decided to go into education and easy is not why we stay here.
Easy is for folks who don’t have to hold their bladder all day.
Easy is for people who have unlimited planning time.
Easy is for people who don’t have politics interfering with their daily work.
No, what we do is not easy, and it is no secret our profession is facing some serious challenges. Whether it be a lack of trust from the public, a lack of respect from our peers, or a lack of support from those in positions of power, it is clear something needs to change.
That is why I say it’s time to draw a line in the sand. Enough is enough. It is past time for us to raise our heads high, speak truth to power, and have the courage to do what must be done, not just for ourselves and the students we love so much, but for our very existence.
Our theme this year is the Power of Our Union and the Promise of Public Schools.
Let’s think about that for just a moment. Power and progress. Union and public education.
It wasn’t all that long ago a president standing here would not be putting these words together. But after the last decade of relentless attacks, I think we’re finally ready to admit if public education is to be saved in North Carolina, WE are the ones who will do it. Us. You and I.
We need to take back control from the privatizers and the profiteers who see our students as nothing more than a profit center.
We need to take back control from the politicians and pundits who seek to use public education as a tool of repression rather than enlightenment.
We need to re-establish public education as the common foundation of our democracy upon which everything else is built.
But how?
We must continue to use our voices to tell our stories, but not just as individuals, not just as NCAE, but we must build a narrative with parents, communities allies, and with partners. We must tell our stories together as one collective voice. And yes, that is easy for us to do here in this space, where we feel safe as a community. Our challenge is to do that outside of here, and loudly.
We must be honest about the problems we are facing, from the failing infrastructure of so many school buildings to pushing bus drivers, teachers, school nurses and counselors out of the profession due to low pay and lack of respect.
And we must be willing to admit our own mistakes and shortcomings as our beloved NCAE was on a path to no longer exist before we started to slowly turn the tide in recent years.
We cannot allow policy makers to sweep issues like our unprecedented low recruitment and mass exodus of public-school employees under the rug or to sugarcoat the problem or solution with rhetoric and empty promises. The first step to solving a problem is admitting one exists.
Second, we must take back our power. We must stop being passive and start being active. We have to stop waiting for others to make the changes we need, the changes our students deserve and start making them ourselves. That means each of us taking the responsibility to recruit new members so next year when we gather, the number of people in this room is double in size and our overall membership numbers continue to move upward.
Finally, we must have the courage to take risks. We must be willing to step out of our comfort zones, to challenge the status quo, and to put ourselves on the line for the sake of the profession. That means speaking to our community allies, asking parents and students to show up with us in support and being unafraid to speak out during school board meetings to demand change.
“But Tamika, I’m tired. I just want to teach – I don’t want to fight.” I know you’re tired, and I know change will require sacrifice and hard work. But don’t think for a single minute you’re not strong enough for this fight.
Every day, students walk into classrooms with every manner of hope and hardship. And no matter who they are or where they come from, you fight for them. You fight for their freedom to learn -- and your freedom to teach. You fight for all of us. WE ALL FIGHT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OURSELVES EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. It is literally who we are.
And why must we fight? Because books must be read, not banned.
Our students, ALL OF THEM, must find the love, support and validation they need in our schools.
My Black history will not be erased or silenced.
Each year of my presidency has been a fight, but the fight for our students and educators is the real work. Starting today, we must become and remain partners. We must fight together so we can win together. Later today, Matt and I will present the Board’s vision for what our organization must do to achieve $20,000 per student. We aren’t just dreaming it – we have a plan to make it happen, and this requires everyone in this room to believe and have the courage to see it through.
We are brain surgeons without the need for a scalpel. We mend broken promises without glue. We nourish the soul without food, and we quinch the thirst for learning without needing a drink. (Well, some have mastered that better than others. I’m not there yet).
When educators can disagree without fear of retaliation.
When students are allowed to read books that speak to who they are, not who others think they should be.
When the thought of a second job is an option and not an expectation.
When school board candidates care about outcomes that benefit everyone instead of a select minority.
This is what keeps me up late at night and wakes me up early every morning. So, I ask you, delegates, to join me in this fight. Let us speak the truth, take back our power, and have the courage to make the changes we need. Leadership is hard and imperfect but is also an honor and leading through these times is what we all have to do. Until we are a state that fully funds our public schools, we must have the courage to find the power, for our schools, and most importantly, for our students to see it through.
If not us, then who? If not now, then when? There is no other option. No one is coming to save us. We must find the courage within ourselves to be the change we need. My NCAE family, I challenge you all to join me – to join US – and make the bold choices that show everyone how brave we all can be.
Thank you
