As we stand at the threshold of a new school year, I want to take a moment to recognize the dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment each of you brings to your schools and communities. Your passion and professionalism continue to inspire and uplift me and those around you.
A new academic year brings with it a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. Our students return with open hearts, curious minds, and boundless potential. They look to us not only as educators, but as mentors, role models, and steady sources of guidance and support. That is a profound responsibility and one you meet with grace, strength, and integrity every single day.
But we know this work doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We are navigating a world marked by uncertainty, division, and, at times, deep mistrust in the very institutions meant to uphold and protect our society. Public education, our shared calling and the cornerstone of democracy, is under pressure from many directions. Whether through policy decisions, budget cuts, or harmful rhetoric, the challenges we face are real and urgent.
And yet, in the face of these headwinds at a national, state and local level, you continue to rise. You lead with clarity when the path is uncertain. You show compassion when the world feels cold. And you demonstrate courage by standing up for what is right for your students, your colleagues, and your communities.
Let us move forward together, committed to creating school environments where every student feels safe, seen, and supported where learning is joyful and comprehensive, and where every educator, from classroom teachers to support staff and administrators and supervisors like you, are respected and valued for their contributions to learning and student well-being.
The work we do has never been more essential. And you are not alone in doing it.
Please know that your union stands with you today, tomorrow, and every day after. In moments of triumph and in times of trial, we are here as your voice, your advocate, and your unwavering support system. Being part of this union means being part of a family, a collective force, united in mission, grounded in solidarity, and committed to one another.
Thank you for all that you do. Let’s make this school year one of unity, strength, and renewed hope—for ourselves, for each other, and above all, for the students we serve every day.
It is an honor to represent you,
Mark Cannizzaro
