As we begin another school year, I find myself filled with inspiration that is borne from the opportunity laid out before us; for opportunity is our business as we unlock and support each and every student. As we carry out our work, we also know that without our union, opportunity is not realized. Our members and their work are what we’ve always reflected in the Review.
With this issue of the NJEA Review marking 100 years of member stories, I reflect as a history teacher, looking back on the past ten decades, reminded of the deep purpose we all share in moving our union forward. As advocates in the present, we shape the future union and the schools that future generations will inherit. That’s powerful.
Since its founding in 1853, NJEA has been a tremendous and necessary force for good in public education in New Jersey. The stories in this month’s magazine show that work clearly. As you flip through its pages, you’ll find stories about the issues that matter most to members right now: our journey toward meaningful healthcare reform and pension justice, the preservation and celebration of the arts, educational support professionals and the power they have, and a 100-year lookback on our storied magazine written by former (and recently retired) editor, Patrick Rumaker.
Thinking about the progress we’ve made together, I can’t help but feel excited and anxious about the progress we have yet to make. This year, it’s imperative that we come together in solidarity and power to enact healthcare reform for public school employees. We must continue our work to strengthen our membership by recruiting members, and we must bolster our support for the entire labor movement by organizing in solidarity with our siblings in labor.
For 100 years, NJEA members have penned the pages of this magazine and, in doing so, have moved the needle of justice forward. Our work as union members is timeless. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.
