Gabrielle Giffords Wins Backing of Arizona’s Teachers

Arizona Education Association Stands In Support of Giffords and Her Plan to Hire 100,000 New Teachers

TUCSON - Gabrielle Giffords has won the backing of the Arizona Education Association (AEA), which highlighted her bold plan to hire 100,000 new teachers as a key reason why Gabrielle is “the only candidate who has proven her strong dedication to children and to the public schools of Arizona.”

“Not only has Gabrielle demonstrated her ability to achieve results for the children and public schools of Arizona with her record of accomplishment in the legislature,” said John Wright, AEA President, “but her vision for public education contains bold initiatives - such as her proposal to hire 100,000 new teachers - that will improve the lives of Arizona’s children.

“Furthermore, Gabrielle is also the only candidate who has built the campaign infrastructure and momentum necessary to win both the primary and the general election,” Wright said. “Our members will play a leadership role in helping her improve the public schools of Arizona.”

“As a product of public schools here in Arizona, I understand that a strong public education system is the backbone of our economy.” Giffords said. “Teachers in Arizona are committed to the workforce of our future, and they need the resources to ensure that all children can graduate and get a good job. Our campaign is pleased to have the support of Arizona’s teachers, who work hard to give our children the tools to succeed. In Congress, I will never forget that investing in the education of the next generation of Americans is the smartest investment we can make.”

The Arizona Education Association is the largest professional organization in Arizona, with 35,000 teachers and education support professionals. It is a state affiliate of the National Education Association, the largest professional organization in the United States, with 2.7 million members. They are dedicated to advancing the cause of public education, and they both joined together to announce their support of Gabrielle.

In addition to hiring 100,000 new teachers to decrease class sizes, Giffords pledged to fight in Congress for the following goals:

• all-day kindergarten nationwide.
• increased resources for early-childhood education programs.
• teacher training and incentives to bring the best skills into the classroom.
• investment in job skills for the 21st-century economy, focusing on math, science and technology.
• computer access for every public school student.

In the legislature, Gabrielle Giffords helped lead the bipartisan Children’s Caucus which worked to improve education and health care for Arizona’s children. She worked closely with Governor Janet Napolitano on the promotion of all-day kindergarten. She supported our schools through sponsorship of supplemental state aid through bonds (SB 1344, in 2004) and tax credits that could be used for school supplies (SB 1355, in 2003). She also sponsored a bill to improve air quality in the schools (HB 2272, in 2004) and pushed for accountability on school spending (SB 1297, in 2004). Thanks to her support of reading in the curriculum, she was awarded Arizona Family Literacy’s Outstanding Legislator for 2003.

She has also worked to improve higher education in Arizona. She sponsored legislation to support our universities and community colleges with research infrastructure (HB 2529, in 2003) and technology support (HCR 2028, in 2003). Locally, she serves on the advisory board of the University of Arizona College of Business and Public Administration.

The AEA and NEA have joined a large coalition of labor unions and professional organizations that have stood in support for Gabrielle Giffords’ campaign for a government that works for all of us €“ not just the privileged and connected. The coalition includes:

• United Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 104.
• Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs (AZCOPS), Local 7077.
• United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 99.
• Associated Highway Patrolmen of Arizona.
• United Brotherhood of Carpenters of America (Southwest Regional Council).
• Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona.
• Arizona State Council of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
• Tucson Fire Fighters Association, Local 479.
• Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.