National Education Association President Becky Pringle released the following statement on the election results:

“As Martin Luther King Jr. said: “The road to freedom is a hard and difficult road. This always results in temporary setbacks.

“This is not the outcome we campaigned for, nor the future we wanted for our students and families, but it is the path through history we must now travel.”

“Today we lament, and tomorrow we organize because our students need us to defend them more than ever. Our values ​​do not change depending on who wins or loses an election. And we will continue to defend and organize with all our strength what we believe in.

“As educators, we are united in supporting every student – ​​Indigenous, Asian, Black, Latino, Newcomer, White, LGBTQ+ and with disabilities – who deserve high-quality, safe and welcoming public schools. And as educators, we will continue to remind him that the United States government and elected officials have a responsibility to serve all people.

“We know this outcome will create anxiety for many of our students and their families. In the days, weeks and months to come, we will address students who are at risk of losing their rights, protections and accommodations. We will console students who fear for their family members and for their place in our communities. And we will use the voices of our educators to speak out against politicians who try to harm any of our students.

“Unions exist for times like this. The members of our union will meet. We will redouble our efforts, harnessing the righteous energy of Selma and Stonewall, of Seneca Falls and Philadelphia, where 43 educators came together in 1857 to unite with one voice in the cause of public education, creating what would become the National Education Association.

“We will continue to advocate for students and find strength in last night’s results in Nebraska, Colorado and Kentucky that showed that when public education was put directly in front of voters, they chose to support children and support strong public schools. Voters rejected the diversion of public school funding to irresponsible and discriminatory private schools, as they have every time vouchers were on the ballot.

“Now that this election is over, elected leaders across the country should come together and focus on serving all Americans, ensuring that all students can attend an excellent public school and that America’s educators benefit from the support and respect they deserve.”

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators , retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, health care workers and public sector employees. Learn more about www.nea.org.