Metro Nashville Education Association (MNEA) members and leaders visited John Overton High School, Granbery Elementary and William Henry Oliver Middle School Monday in support of continued efforts to bolster the federal portion of public education funding.

“We appreciate opportunities like these for coming together as educators with our community supporters to point out what our students and schools need,” said MNEA President Paula Pendergrass. “We are grateful for MNPS and Nashville city leadership in supporting our great public schools, and we appreciate working together with our partners in advocating for improvements to ensure the success of all students.”

Participating in school visits were TEA President Tanya Coats and NEA executive board members Mark Jewell, an elementary school teacher in Guilford County, North Carolina, and Christine Sampson-Clark, a special education teacher in Trenton Public Schools, New Jersey.

“It was especially important to come together today, as federal COVID relief funds earmarked for public education are set to expire,” said TEA President Tanya Coats. “We are hearing from educators across the state who are concerned about the ability to provide necessary services to students without more funding. Known as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, those dollars helped expand after-school and tutoring programs, provided additional mental health and well-being supports for students. Educators, parents and community partners are unanimous in helping ensure that our students continue to receive such services.”