(I wrote this right before RT crashed, so I’m putting it up now…)

Yesterday was National Teacher Day and Jon Powers, candidate for Congress in NY-26, a teacher himself, had this to say about the state of education and teachers:

My mother spent 35 years teaching in public schools and, inspired by her work, I chose to follow in her footsteps by pursuing my degree in education at John Carroll University. America has long been committed to public school education, but our current U.S. policy is failing our teachers and, more importantly, failing our children. No Child Left Behind is an unfunded federal mandate that evaluates teachers and schools based on test scores, not the quality of education they provide. It takes the teacher out of the classroom.

As I speak with teachers across Western New York, they believe that critical reform is needed. They understand the need for accountability, but stress that a good education is more than a test score. It is about creating life long learners by taking skills acquired through family and the educational process and applying them to the challenges we face in life. It is holding us, as teachers, responsible for what goes on in our classrooms and turning off the television at home to focus on homework. It is shared responsibility and teamwork.

Powers has vast experience in shared responsibility and teamwork that stems from his service in the Army.  Combined with his classroom experience, Powers’ military service has contributed to a life filled with public service.  When he speaks about understanding the issues everyday Americans face, Powers is speaking from experience, not just a passing interest.  It is this type of deep understanding that has been largely missing from politics in America. 

Powers gets that children are our future because he’s been in the classroom, he’s seen a country ravaged by war and how the erosion of stability hurts the next generation, the future of a country being dependent upon the state of its children.  Powers put his concerns to action instead of simply lamenting them when he began War Kids Relief.  Simply put, Powers puts his ideas in action.  Maybe that stems from his military service, maybe it stems from his classroom teaching skills.  Wherever it comes from, Powers is the kind of leader who gets things done. We could really use that kind of leader.