July 5th, 2019

Day 2 of the 2019 NEA RA was different, as compared to previous Representative Assemblies.  The day started out as usual...the issues committee met at 5:45 am, the Virginia Caucus started at 7:00 am and went until about 9:00 am.  During our caucus meeting, we received a report from the Resolutions Committee. Also, we had the task of electing a delegate to the NEA Resolutions committee for a 3 year term and an alternate.  After both candidates spoke, we voted, and elected Carla Okouchi, of Fairfax Education Association, to represent Virginia on the NEA Resolutions Committee and Lorraine Corbin-Morales, Prince William Education Association, as her alternate. After elections we forged ahead through discussing NBIs (we made it to NBI 41...out of 120 NBIs so far).

After President Jim Livingston adjourned our caucus meeting, we traveled over to the convention center and had to report straight to the voting area to vote for candidates, proposed constitutional amendments, and proposed bylaws.  Still going about our normal day we worked on NBIs and heard some speeches, but the afternoon session was a first.

The National Education Association sent a questionnaire and invitation to every 2020 Presidential Candidate who have announced so far, to attend a presidential forum.  11 candidates sent the their info back, and 10 were able to attend the NEA Presidential Forum.  Each candidate was separately interviewed; they had one  minute to have an opening remark, then they had 3 questions to answer. Each question was submitted by an NEA member, some video recorded and some written.  The candidates had three minutes to respond to each question.  You can read more about what candidates had to say here. You can also watch the full forum.

After the forum, we heard the results of the morning election and then moved on to more New Business Items.

Your Blog Team's Top Three Things from today were:

1. The Presidential Forum.  This was an incredible event....to have 10 Candidates for President come to the RA and answer education questions in front of over 7000 people, as well as those watching via video. Also, it was amazing to see all the news cameras from every major network, it really showed how powerful the NEA is.  Some NEA Caucuses were fortunate enough to meet with some of the candidates.  Vice President Joe Biden spoke with the NEA Aspiring Educators Caucus and Senator Bernie Sanders spoke with members of the Bad Ass Teacher (BAT) Caucus. For this event, all the NEA delegates were encouraged to wear red for #RedForEd, and it was a sea of red on the RA floor!
2. The speech by outgoing NEA Executive Director John Stocks. John Stocks has served in this role since 2012 and this was his last speech to the delegates as NEA Executive Director.  His speech was passionate, he said "“Our democracy is calling out for social justice patriots. We need you to come together and make this country whole. Most of all, we need you to embrace your power.”
3. Baseball Game and Fireworks!  Thanks to VEA Vice President James Fedderman for organizing ticket sales for VEA members to attend a Houston Astros Baseball Game.  75 Virginia Delegates attended the game and were treated to a fireworks display after the game ended!

John Stocks delivering his speech to delgates

John Stocks speaking

Fireworks at Minute Maid Park after the Astros Baseball Game!