Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/905854
WINTER 2017 | ADVOCATE 5 Member Talk VOICE YOUR VIEWS Readers are encouraged to state opinions or make comments in letters that will be considered for publication in this column. The editor reserves the right to edit lengthy letters representing a balance of viewpoints. Generally, letters will not be published without the names of their writers and local associations. Send letters to: "Member Talk" AEA Advocate 345 East Palm Lane Phoenix, AZ 85004 Contact sheenae.shannon@ arizonaea.org WRITE US! n AEA Support for Dreamers and DACAmented Educators and Students We received many positive responses from members about the work the AEA Latino Outreach cadre is doing for our students and colleagues affected by the repeal of deportation protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in the United States. Thank you for your support! Thank you for your representation and standing with our students! Harriet Sandberg AEA Retired member You have our complete support and prayers that DACA is restored by Congress. Stacy and Jaime Garcia Alhambra EA members I am a retired high school counselor. My job was made very difficult when we taught our career and college units in the classrooms. We were often dumbstruck when students would raise their hand and tell all of us that they were undocumented. Some would ask where they could go to get a Social Security number, which was needed for most college applications. I had students apply to our district's cosmetology program, but were later shocked to learn in that program that they would not be able to obtain a license and work in a salon in Arizona if they were undocumented. Many days I came home in tears. Our message to students has always been, "You can do anything you want if you work hard and go to college or get specialized training". Quite often I felt like a hypocrite. We went to our administrators for moral support and better wording. They did not have any answers. So, we relied on our local community college, Paradise Valley CC, for support. They were awesome. They helped us help the students, and they came to many of our programs in person to make direct connections and to provide encouragement and solutions. I retired in 2013, but my heart is still with the students. I go back every spring and administer the AP exams. I see former students in my neighborhood and at the grocery store. I think your voice, along with others who have experienced similar things, will really help people understand the complexities of the situation. Bravo! Janet Prouty AEA Retired member