The AFT's Randi Weingarten spoke to members of the Massena Federation of Teachers and the Massena Confederated School Employees’ Association during back to school activities in Massena. Regent Bev Ouderkirk and Assemblywoman Jenne also spoke at the event.
Assemblywoman Jenne said she was greatly impressed by the steps she has seen since the AFT brought The People Project to St. Lawrence County, a movement aimed at connecting schools and the communities they serve. She suggested the value of those partnerships was on display during a Ready4School event held last week at Massena Central High School.
Ms. Weingarten spoke of the importance of the work educators do in their classrooms and talked about the positives that occur when communities unite with labor.
She noted the initiatives of The People Project aim to change lives and build power.
Regent Ouderkirk built on that message and talked about the positives she has seen during her visits to the school. She was nominated for her seat on the state Board of Regents by Jenne.
"Both of these women know you can't turn a ship immediately. But I can tell you these ladies hang on that wheel, make it turn as fast as possible," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
She praised Ms. Weingarten for coming to Massena when it was facing it darkest times and continuing to return time and time again as the community works to rebound. She said the AFT’s commitment to the North Country has helped break down silos and create partnerships that will benefit the region moving forward.
The assemblywoman said Regent Ouderkirk has helped restore the balance of power in the state's education policy so the voices of teachers and local school leaders are once again being heard.
"Bev went in there and found some kindred spirits. They have been yanking on that wheel of the ship of education in New York State and making it turn as fast as possible," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
The assemblywoman recalled the day she showed up on the steps of Ms. Ouderkirk's home to ask her if she would consider serving on the New York State Board of Regents.
Assemblywoman Jenne said the name of Ms. Ouderkirk, a retired teacher and school administrator, surfaced earlier that day during a discussion about potential candidates to represent the North Country on the state board. She said some people in the room that day suggested appointing Ms. Ouderkirk to the Board of Regents would be the crowning achievement in her educational career.
"It's not just your crowning achievement. It's our blessing you are there serving," she told Ms. Ouderkirk in an auditorium filled with teachers and school support staff.
Assemblywoman Jenne said the people of Massena today share the same aspirations as the immigrants that came to Massena in the late 1800s and early 1900s to work on the power canal and later at the Alcoa plant.
"They came here to give their children a better life and that is still the heartbeat of this community. Randi Weingarten is here today because of your spirit and because she needs Massena and places like Massena all over this country to stand up for our shared values," she said.
"It is the special place that Massena is that brings her here and gives her the strength to keep pounding the pavement. You give me the strength to keep pounding the pavement as well, and you give your kids the strength to push themselves and reach higher. We're going to do all we can to make sure Massena continues to grow and move forward," Assemblywoman Jenne told the near capacity crowd in the auditorium for an optional event on the Superintendent's Day calendar.
Speaking after the event, Assemblywoman Jenne said she is tired of the drumbeat of attacks on educators and the teaching profession in recent years. She said the current teacher shortage is partially attributable to that toxic atmosphere.
"Teachers are such an important part of our community. We entrust our children to them for the majority of the year," the mom of a fourth grader and a fifth grader pointed out.
"Their future really depends, in large part, on what happens during the school year. Education is the key to the American dream. Without it, our kids are not going to reach their full potential.," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
She said she felt it was important to attend Ms. Weingarten's presentation to let them know their representative in the state Assembly was in their corner. Ms. Weingarten told the crowd that Assemblywoman Jenne didn't just talk the talk, but she also walks the walk as a strong advocate for public education.
"I felt it was important to be here to tell them how much I value them, support them and help reinvigorate them as they prepare for a new school year," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
She said the announcement three years ago that Alcoa planned to close its Massena smelter - a plan reversed a few weeks later following intervention by state and federal officials - actually helped bring the community closer together as they fought for the survival of a community whose economy had been based on its Big Three manufacturing base for a generation.
The Massena Federation of Teachers immediately reached out to the United Steelworkers to see what they could do to help, and those bonds have only strengthened over the past 36 months.
"We have had some devastating economic challenges here in the North Country - the closing of the General Motors and Alcoa East plants, the dramatic downsizing of jobs at Alcoa West, the longest continuous running smelter in this country.," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
"But the spirit of togetherness and community is what is bringing this community through a tough time. It's not easy and the recovery isn't going to happen overnight and that can be frustrating. But Massena is a resilient community and when they were down and out they put their arms around each other and said, "This is how we are going to make it better and lift each other up,'" she suggested.
"The Massena Federation of Teachers was central to that. They stood shoulder to shoulder with their blue collar brothers and sisters from the trades unions and said we are all in this together," the assemblywoman recalled.
"It led the way and set the tone for this community to say, 'We've got this. We are going to overcome,'" Assemblywoman Jenne added.
She said it was important to stand with the members of organized labor at Massena Central that stood up when their community needed to hear a voice of hope.
"It's special to be here with the teacher's union that stood so strong and were unwavering in their support for other members of organized labor in this community," Assemblywoman Jenne stressed.
"I'm here shoulder to shoulder with them in this fight. We are only going to get better by working together. This isn't a partisan issue. It's about my neighbors, my friends, our families, our communities. As the mom of two kids, I understand this is about creating a better future for our kids and providing them with an opportunity to live in a place we love and many of us have called home for generations," she said.
"This is a great country, a great state, a great region. I think we all want better for our kids and to give them every opportunity to succeed if they are willing to put in the work necessary to reach that goal," Assemblywoman Jenne added.
She said education, whether it be a traditional academic path or training in the trades, will be critical for that journey.
"It's really about the people, not politics. I'm the seventh generation of my family to live in the North Country. My family has lived through the economic ups and downs that go with living here. They have transitioned from farmers to tradespeople and professionals," the assemblywoman said.
She said her own family's path has shown her the importance of education.
"I personally have benefitted from public education in my family. My mom went back to college, SUNY Potsdam, after she had five kids. That was an opportunity for my family to pull ourselves out of what was sure to be a life of poverty," she said, noting her father had been laid off a couple times at that point in her life.
Her mother went on to graduate from law school and recently retired from her post as law clerk to the Jefferson County Court judge. Her father opened his own small business building to service, repair and manage fleets of diesel trucks.
"Education is also why I have succeeded," the 40-year-old assemblywoman said as she nears completion of a decade serving in the New York State Legislature.
"That wouldn't have been possible without a quality public education," the graduate of Indian River Central School and SUNY Albany said.
"I know that's what made the difference for me, and I'm here to fight to make sure every kid in the North Country, the state has that same opportunity as well," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne poses for a photo with Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, prior to a recent event at Massena Central High School.
BOTTOM PHOTOS:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne stands with Bev Ouderkirk (l), a member of the New York State Board of Regents, and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, prior to a recent event at Massena Central High School.
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with Mark Goodfellow, president of United Steelworers Local Local 420, prior to a recent event at Massena Central High School. Mr. Goodfellow is also a member of the Massena Central School Board of Education.
