Cast your vote to support education in November
Senator Hannah Geffert has made a lifelong commitment to education and to the children of the Eastern Panhandle. She taught history and political science at Shepherd University for more than 20 years and worked to bring Blue Ridge Community and Technical College to Berkeley County. Among her many volunteer activities in the Eastern Panhandle, child-focused projects include individual mentoring, the BackPack Program, Read Aloud, initiation of a School to Career Academy, teaching Sunday school and the Apollo Civic Theater’s Youth Summer Theater Workshop.
In a state which is losing its young people as they seek well-paid employment opportunities elsewhere, Senator Geffert knows that the solution is to attract and encourage the establishment of new businesses that offer jobs that pay enough to buy a home and raise a family. All businesses want a good public school system for the benefit of their employees’ children and to give them confidence that they will be able to hire an educated workforce.
Having a good public school system requires an investment in teachers and support staff as well as an investment in facilities and services. A commitment to teachers, support staff and school administrations also includes a showing of respect. As Senator Hannah Geffert has stated, “We need to stop treating our teachers like they are the enemy.”
As the daughter and sister of dedicated retired local teachers, I have been shocked that some of the state legislators appear to lack faith in our teachers’ professional abilities and trustworthiness. Two bills during a past session, one which passed and one which did not, attempted to micromanage what teachers said and what they would recommend that students read. Senator Geffert, knowing that our teachers are professionals who have the best interests of our children at heart, opposed each bill. Her opponent in the November election supported both bills.
Our teachers and school support personnel are our neighbors and our friends. They want to provide our children with the education that they will need to have good jobs and good lives. Senator Geffert knows this, and she supports them in the Legislature. Please vote for Hannah Geffert on Nov. 8 to represent you in the West Virginia Senate.
Ludmila “Tina” Burns, of Leetown