FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2020
Massachusetts Teachers Association, National Education Association Endorse Jesse Mermell
BROOKLINE – Jesse Mermell today earned the endorsements of the Massachusetts Teachers Association and National Education Association, both widely respected organizations representing 110,000 teachers in Massachusetts and more than three million nationally.
This support from our educators will bring significant grassroots organizing power to Mermell’s campaign at a critical time and distinguishes her as the best candidate running for Massachusetts’ Fourth Congressional District to champion public education.
“We are proud to endorse Jesse Mermell for Massachusetts’s 4th Congressional seat,” said National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen García. “Mermell understands how critical it is to ensure that every student has access to quality public schools, no matter the zip-code they are from or the color of their skin. She understands that in order for our students to get the one-on-one attention they need to learn, we must reduce class sizes. Mermell knows that the educators that know the names of the students in the classroom must be essential partners when crafting education policy. And she is committed to paying educators like the professionals that they are so that the schools in Massachusetts and across America can attract and retain the quality educators our students deserve. Educators are proud to stand with Mermell knowing she will be a champion for Massachusetts’s students and public schools in Congress.”
“We are proud to recommend Jesse Mermell to represent the 4th Congressional District,” said Massachusetts Teachers Association President Merrie Najimy. “Jesse has consistently dedicated her time and energy to strengthening public education. From standing with educators in the fight to pass the Student Opportunity Act to challenging the state’s high-stakes testing regime, she has prioritized the needs of our students. Jesse understands that our public schools and colleges must be fully funded and fully staffed in order to reopen safely in the fall – and as a member of Congress, she will work hard to bring crucial federal funding back home to support public education. Educators know that we can count on Jesse Mermell to have our backs in Washington, D.C.”
The organizations singled Mermell out of the crowded field to replace Congressman Joe Kennedy because of her commitment to investing in high quality public education for all and ensuring that school reopening plans are equitable and center the most vulnerable students. Her full education plan can be found here.
“Public education is vital to our democracy and key to addressing our country’s social, economic and racial inequities,” said Mermell. “Especially at a time when learning has been disrupted across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that public education is well-funded, that reopening plans center the most vulnerable students and that educators and staff are fully supported. I’ve been fighting for an equitable education system throughout my entire career, and I’m ready to take that fight to Congress with MTA and NEA as my partners.”
Both organizations also pointed to Mermell’s work to end the flaws and misuses of high-stakes standardized testing as the Executive Director of FairTest, her advocacy as a board member of Citizens for Public Schools and her commitment to ensuring vulnerable communities receive the resources they need as an elected Town Meeting Member and Member of the Brookline Select Board.
NEA is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, with 3 million members working at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.
The MTA represents 110,000 members in close to 400 local associations throughout Massachusetts. MTA members are teachers, faculty, professional staff and education support professionals working at public schools, colleges and universities across Massachusetts.
“These endorsements not only send a clear signal that I will be a champion for public education in Congress, but they will also be critical to expanding our grassroots organizing power across the district as we approach the September 1st primary,” said Mermell. “We plan to win this election in the grassroots, and the strength and breadth of our support is unmatched in this race.”
The endorsements of MTA and NEA build on Mermell’s unmatched organizing power heading into the final two months of the campaign, which includes support from more than 108,000 union members represented by the SEIU State Council, 1199 SEIU, IBEW 103 and the Massachusetts State Council of Machinists. She has also been endorsed by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, former First Lady Diane Patrick, national advocate Barbara Lee, the Coalition for Social Justice and local leaders from across the district. A full list of Mermell’s endorsements can be found here.