What's New in Parents for Public Education?
Receiving a Docked Pay Reimbursement
I was privileged to receive a five-hundred-dollar reimbursement from Parents for Public Education. This generous gift was not only a financial relief but also a validation of the challenges that teachers face, especially those who are also parents. Last year, I used all of my allotted leave days to take care of my children when they were sick. As a result, I was docked pay, which placed an additional financial strain on my family. Receiving this grant was an incredible blessing, as it helped to offset some of that loss.
Educating Lawmakers – the Legislative Session
After our meeting with Middleton in December, the 89th Texas legislative session began. Every two years, the state of Texas holds a regular session which lasts 140 days. Nearly all state laws, budget, and regulations are done every other year within that short window. We knew we had to get to Austin toward the start of the session to see where lawmakers were with their work for public education, specifically on the items we, Parents for Public Education, educated Middleton’s office about back in December.
Educating Lawmakers – the First Meeting
In December of 2024, community leader and advocate Brittni Austin reached out to the state senator who represents Friendswood, Mayes Middleton, to let him know about the work of Parents for Public Education. Middleton’s office was intrigued and agreed to meet with us to learn more. Within two weeks, Deidre Stevens, Brittni Austin, and I were sitting face to face with Senator Middleton sharing our stories about what it is like being an educator and a mother at the same time. Brittni shared her experiences as a parent witnessing high teacher turnover and how the lack of support for educators who are mothers affects the quality of education for her three kids. I shared what it was like birthing my first child as a new teacher.
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