Over the past year, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) created a series of equity education training materials for the use of local school divisions in training their educators. However, following Gov. Youngkin’s Executive Order 1, Superintendent Jillian Balow ordered these links to be removed from the VDOE website on the grounds they “promote discriminatory and divisive concepts.” The Virginia Education Association thinks it is important for local school divisions and individual educators to have access to quality equity training materials, so we are making them available as a public service.
Access EdEquity ResourcesIn the fight for racial and social justice, which is a foundational principle of our organization, we need to have authentic, important conversations with colleagues, students, and our communities. Courageous Conversations is a resource for helping all of us do exactly that. With help from Elijah Armstrong of the National Education Association, Richmond writer and researcher Samantha Willis, and Naila Holmes, VEA’s Director of Human and Civil Rights, this tool can foster interaction on the essential topics of bias, racism, and equity. You can go through the videos and exercises on your own or in a group, at a time and pace that’s convenient for you.
The Fitz Turner Commission honors individuals or groups who have fostered positive relationships in your education community and helped to encourage leadership development. There are three categories for recognition: the Fitz Turner Award for Outstanding Contributions in Intergroup Relations, the Mary Hatwood Futrell Award for Distinguished Leadership in Education and the Barbara Johns Youth Award for Human Relations & Civil Rights.
Submit Your Nominations HereIn VEA, we work on Racial Justice because we are committed to the mission, values and promises we made to the members of (VTA) Virginia Teachers Association in 1967 to advocate for educational equity in Virginia. We are committed to improving our students’ and members’ lives as well as improving our communities. We will develop and implement a racial justice plan that will engage a diversity of member and student voices through courageous conversations, We will bring awareness about and advocate to destroy institutional racism in our public schools in Virginia. We will work hard to advocate for policy change at the school, local and state level; and we will remain committed to holding our politicians accountable on the issue in order to give every student a just public education.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, teachers in Virginia earn 32.7% less in weekly wages than other (non-teacher) college-educated workers. Virginia’s teacher wage penalty is the worst in the nation.
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