Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/573808
AEA Advocate | Fall 2015 33 whatever we can to ensure that our students have every opportunity to learn, to grow, to succeed," said NEA President lily Eskelsen garcía. In her keynote address, García congratulated educators everywhere for their relentless advocacy in helping shape a better Elementary and secondary Education Act, currently being debated in the U.s. senate. "A minor miracle occurred because of you. We demanded an end to the toxic testing produced by AYP that limits what it means to teach and what it means to learn to what fits on a standardized test. We told your senators: Replace that failed one-size-fits-all bubble sheet with a dashboard of multiple indicators of success," García said. NEA Executive Director John stocks told delegates that educators are part of a "New American Majority" that is demanding action on a wide range of economic and social justice issues. "This movement is fueled by growing income inequality, the scourge of racial injustice, attacks on our voting rights, a political system rigged to benefit the wealthy and powerful, the corporate takeover of our public school system and the threat of global climate change," stocks said. 2015 National Teacher of the Year shanna Peeples also addressed the delegates, encouraging her colleagues to do "battle with stories" by being the voice and champions of their students. "Our critics love clichés, simplistic slogans and manipulated data," said Peeples. "This is how they attack, and the good news is the utter banality of those attacks. stories are different. There is no defense against a good story.…I contend that we advocate best for our students and our profession when we are brave enough to tell our stories." In her speech, 2015 Education support Professional of the Year Janet Eberhardt reminded delegates that effective advocacy depends on all educators working together. "It's easy to say that some fights are for teachers and some are for EsPs. But all of these issues impact our students and our communities, so we must be a united front for our students and public schools," Eberhardt said. The RA also honored Jose Lara, a social studies teacher at santee Education Complex High school in Los Angeles, as social Justice Educator of the Year. The NEA Friend of Education Award was given to Patricia de stacy Harrison, president and chief executive officer of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), and Paula A. Kerger, president and chief executive officer of the Public Broadcasting service (PBs). The two organizations were cited for being an undeniable and critical resource in public education. Two educators from the Midwest were elected to serve three-year terms as NEA Executive Committee members: Eric brown, a biology teacher at Evanston Township High school in Evanston, Illinois, and shelly Moore, a high school teacher from Ellsworth, Wisconsin. Brown serves as president of the Evanston High school Teachers Council, as well as on the Board of Directors of both the Illinois Education Association and NEA. Moore is a member of the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Education Association Council and served on NEA's Board of Directors for six years. Left: 2015 Education Support Professional of the Year Janet Eberhardt. Right: 2015 National Teacher of the Year Shanna Peeples. © 2015 Photos by Rick Runion/NEA.