ROSEMONT – Today U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, D-Chicago, talked with education leaders from across the state at the Illinois Education Association (IEA) Representative Assembly (RA) on behalf of Bernie Sanders, candidate for U.S. President. The IEA RA is the largest gathering of teachers, higher education faculty and support staff, education support staff, student educators and retired educators in the state.
“Our members vote. They know that voting matters and they know that what happens in the voting booth has an impact on their schools and their students,” said IEA President Kathi Griffin.
Nearly 1,200 educators were present at the IEA RA at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont March 5-7 to set the course for the organization for the next year.
“Our members feel it is their responsibility to make sure elected officials from the local level to the national level support public education, educators and students,” Griffin said.
Garcia, who has been an ally of Sanders since 2015 when Sanders endorsed Garcia in his race against former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, said Sanders would have educators’ backs and his policy proposals, such as a $60,000 minimum teacher salary and his healthcare plan, prove it.
“Some may call Bernie’s education plans radical, but what’s really radical is putting our children through another four years of Trump and Betsy DeVos attacking our nation’s public school systems. Failure to act now to take back our public schools will change our education system and further divide the rich and the poor. That’s why I believe Bernie is the best choice for President of the United States,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García.
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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest education employee’s organization. IEA represents preK-12 teachers outside of the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.
