Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/754176
10 ADVOCATE | WINTER 2016 Around AEA O n November 3, 2016, Regina Iverson's Kindergartners welcomed National Education Association (NEA) President Lily Eskelsen García to their Breakfast in the Classroom. Iverson, an Isaac District Education Association(IDEA) member, led her students in singing the national anthem followed by the pledge of allegiance. Then, Eskelsen García asked the students what they liked about their school, Mitchell Elementary, and what makes it a great school, to which most of the children said they loved their teacher. The students continued eating their breakfast as part of the Breakfast in the Classroom program, which NEA is a partner and aims to increase breakfast consumption among students, and spark the academic and nutritional gains associated with the morning meal. Afterwards, the NEA President met with AEA Vice President Marisol Garcia, the Mitchell Elementary School Principal Sylvia Carrizoza, IDEA President Heather Ayers, Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) Co-Executive Director Alejandra Gomez and LUCHA Organizer Stephanie Walters to learn more about AEA's work with community schools in Phoenix. LUCHA and AEA have partnered together to build community schools in districts in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, including the Isaac School District. This partnership shows a dedication to building coalition between teachers, families, students and community to actively work to improve schools in the city. We have already identified the need for this effort in our state where per pupil funding is amongst the lowest in the nation, and in a city where one in three students fails the 3rd grade reading assessment, and less than half of 8th graders show proficiency in math. LUCHA has partnered with AEA to better expand the community schools model in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, including the Isaac Elementary School District. This partnership is committed to building a coalition between teachers, families, students and community members to improve the quality of schools in the area. In their first three months, the partnership created materials-script and commitment card-for canvassers to use while building support for, Proposition 206, the Healthy Families Initiative. Through this coalition, the team knocked on 2,500 doors, made 250 voter contacts, and identified 107 community school supporters. The NEA and AEA have been working with the Arizona Healthy Working Families campaign to increase the minimum wage and provide paid sick leave. Arizona educators see first- hand how a family's finances and health can have a lasting impact on children and Proposition 206 will provide a gradual increase in the state's minimum wage, meaning parents can NEA President Has Breakfast in Arizona Classroom