Welcome to our website!  We’re all colleagues, and together we do the most challenging, exciting, and rewarding work in the world.   

New members, we’re ALL here to help you.   Starting a career in education can be scary.  There are times you feel totally overwhelmed.  Those are the times to lean on your veteran colleagues.  After all, we’ve BEEN there.  Soak up our wisdom.  Ask us the hard questions.  And never be afraid to admit you need help with something, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you.  After all, we’re a FAMILY, and families stick together.   

I’d like to speak to some common issues our family is facing this year, because they’re coming at us like a meteor storm.  A lot of things have changed since June.  For one thing, just DRIVING to work has become a lot more expensive, and 3 dollar-a-gallon gasoline really HURTS on a school employee’s salary.  Every day, the world seems to become a more uncertain place.  Here in New Jersey , politicians met all summer to consider major changes in everything from school funding to district consolidation to our pensions and benefits.  It’s times like these when the strength of our association is put to the test.  It’s times like these when we rea liz e the value and importance of working together for common goals.  Just like the families whose children we serve, we, too, are a family.  And like any family, we stand together when forces outside our family threaten our collective well-being.   

Fortunately, we’re also part of a big IMMEDIATE family – the NJEA – that is nearly 200,000 strong.  Our EXTENDED family – the National Education Association – is 2.7 MILLION strong.  And as a family – as an ASSOCIATION – it’s important to rea liz e how far we’ve come over the years.   

About 5 years ago, NJEA decided that starting salaries for teachers were inadequate, and set a goal of $40,000 for every district.  Of course, we knew this would help our Education Support Professionals, too, because a rising tide lifts all boats.  Five years ago, fewer than 10 districts had a starting salary of $40K.  Today, 75 percent – or 447 school districts – have reached that goal.  But we’re not stopping there: NJEA’s next goal is a $50,000 starting salary, and five districts are already there.   

NJEA targeted the starting salary for a good reason.  It’s a sad fact that as many as 40 percent of all new teachers leave the profession within the first five years, and many leave because of inadequate salaries and benefits.  It’s also a fact that the resources for our salaries and benefits – and for EVERYTHING else we need to do our jobs – are provided by POLITICIANS.   

If you’ve been reading the papers this summer, you know that politicians are under ENORMOUS pressure to cut spending on education.  This summer, the Bergen Record ran a series of stories under the general title of “Runaway Pay.”  Those stories made the case that public employees – and education employees in particular – are the root cause of New Jersey ’s fiscal woes.   

Never mind that New Jersey has one of the highest costs of living in America .  Never mind that everyone – including each of US – pays more for just about everything in this state, from auto insurance to real estate to getting a plumber to unclog a pipe.  That’s not OUR fault.   

But it obviously takes a lot in the way of people and resources to educate 1.3 million children.  I think New Jersey taxpayers get a pretty good return on their investment.  Research clearly shows that New Jersey ’s public schools are among the best in the nation.  Our high school graduation rate is the highest in America , and our test scores are near the top.   

But thanks to some terrible decision-making by several administrations and several legislatures, we’re now under attack.  For too many years, the Legislature failed to put a PENNY into our pension fund.  But we did OUR part.  Not enough people rea liz e that we each contribute 5 percent of our salaries into the fund.  If only the STATE had been as responsible.  This summer, Governor Corzine finally made a major contribution to our pension fund.  But because our plan is under-funded, and because our post-retirement medical benefits are funded on an annual basis, legislators are now taking aim at our FUTURE benefits.   

We have no idea what they’ll propose, but we MUST be prepared for any eventuality.  I know what you’re saying right now.  Many of you don’t like to engage in politics.  Well, there’s an old saying, and it goes like this:  “Educators will get out of politics when politicians get out of education.”  Like it or not, everything we need to do our jobs – and every dollar in salaries and benefits – depends on politicians.  Like it or not, our collective futures are being debated at the State House in Trenton as we sit here today.  And like it or not, we’re going to have to be ready to FIGHT for our benefits, unless we want to see YEARS of progress stripped away.  

Fortunately, we’re members of the NJEA.  With nearly 200,000 members, we’re a force to be reckoned with.  But our NUMBERS are only ONE reason why NJEA is a force in Trenton .  It takes MONEY to be successful, too.  That’s why I hope you’ll consider contributing to the NJEA Political Action Committee.  You should know – if you don’t already know – that NJEA CANNOT use dues dollars to support political activity.  It relies on VOLUNTARY member contributions to the NJEA Political Action Committee.  So, I hope you’ll rea liz e the importance of contributing something – even a dollar a paycheck – to help our association and our colleagues across New Jersey fight BACK against the forces that want to blame us for the state’s fiscal problems. 

This is going to be a challenging year for public education – and public educators – in New Jersey .  For inspiration, let us remember that New Jersey was where the American Revolution was saved.  In the dark days of 1776, New Jerseyans helped turn the tide.  Let us recall the words of Benjamin Franklin on July 4, 1776, when he spoke to his fellow signers of the Declaration of Independence.  “We must all hang TOGETHER,” he said, “or assuredly we shall all hang SE PARATELY.”  So, look to your LEFT … look to your RIGHT … look in FRONT of you and BEHIND you.  You’re looking at your FRIENDS and COLLEAGUES – a FAMILY united in a common cause.  We might as well start hanging TOGETHER RIGHT AWAY.  I know all politics is LOCAL.  But what happens this year at the STATE level will largely determine how we fare at the LOCAL level.  I tell you this not to frighten you, but rather to ENCOURAGE you.  As educators, we know the power we possess.  We’re educated, intelligent, and ARTICULATE.  And we VOTE.  We shape young minds every day, and our society BENEFITS ENORMOUSLY from our professional dedication.   

Let’s take PRIDE in the good work we do, and let’s all commit to becoming involved in some way in the Deptford Education Association.  As always, you can expect us to be there for YOU, doing what we do best...negotiations … contract enforcement … professional development and training … community outreach and organizing … and political action.  

But we can only do these things if we have active MEMBERS.  So I encourage you to become involved, at whatever level works for you.  Volunteer for a committee.  Volunteer to help with our PRIDE in Public Education efforts.  Attend a workshop, and always feel comfortable with asking the HARD questions.  

Most importantly, let’s all remember to NEVER be afraid to make the case for the RESPECT we deserve as professionals.  One thing I DO know: our COLLECTIVE wisdom and strength are our greatest resources.  Let’s get the most out of BOTH, and let’s have a GREAT year!    

Thank you!

Mona G. Bennett, President

Deptford Education Association