Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1480918
he Arizona Education Association is a labor union. It is your union. You're going to hear me say the word "union" a lot because I am proud to be a union member. Unions have a proud history in our country and in this state. e labor movement has inspired more than just speci c workplace rights—it recognizes that no matter where we're from or what we look like our society is more just and fair when workers have a voice in the decisions that impact them, their families, and their communities. rough a strong collective voice, unions work speci cally in three spheres: respect, working conditions, and pay. at means professional pay to retain and recruit amazing educators for every student. It means working conditions that support student learning conditions like smaller class sizes, appropriate and updated curriculum, quality professional development, and a variety of learning tools for instruction so students can reach their goals. Actions speak louder than words. Respect is shown when you are treated as a valued partner and have a seat at the table in decisions made about your work. Arizona has great public schools and respect is key to keeping our great educators. Respect, working conditions, and pay are not a liated with any political party. ese are union values just as they are education values, and we will not let anyone tell us otherwise. We will not let anyone else make decisions in a back room about the work we do and how we do it. We will make these decisions by supporting elected o cials who support our values. AEA has interviewed candidates and made recommendations for leaders who support the work we do (page 5). I urge you to vote for these candidates and sign up to volunteer to help get them elected. Only when we see change in the leadership of this state will we see any change in our classrooms. IN SOLIDARITY by Marisol Garcia AEA OFFICERS Marisol Garcia President Angela Philpot Vice President Amber Gould Treasurer AEA STAFF Randy Parraz Executive Director Sheenae Shannon Editor Roxanne Rash Graphic Design Advertising e AEA Advocate is published by the Arizona Education Association, 345 East Palm Lane, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-1532. Phone: 602- 264-1774 or 800-352-5411 Fax: 602-240-6887. Email: sheenae.shannon@arizonaea.org. AEA's website may be found at www.arizonaea.org. Permission to reprint any material originating with this publication is granted provided that credit is given to the AEA Advocate. e AEA Advocate (ISSN 0194-8849) is published in Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer for $3.50 per year by the Arizona Education Association, 345 East Palm Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85004-1532. Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, Arizona. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the AEA Advocate, 345 East Palm Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85004-1532. Moving? Please let us know before you go. Simply clip your mailing label from the back of the Advocate and send it along with your new address to: AEA Advocate 345 East Palm Lane Phoenix, Arizona 85004-1532 4 ADVOCATE | FALL 2022 Marisol Garcia, President Arizona Education Association