It has never been more apparent than in these difficult times that our dedicated teachers and school personnel are truly the strength of our educational system. In the wake of repeated funding cuts and ever-increasing state and national standards, Rebekah knows our educators have gone above and beyond for our children: thinking of creative ways to execute their lessons, volunteering their time for after-school tutoring and extracurricular activities, and paying out of their own pocket for classroom supplies and everyday student needs. That is why she has consistently opposed attempts to balance the budget on the backs of our public employees – voting against legislation that will circumvent their right to collectively bargain, earn a fair wage, and negotiate quality health care and retirement benefits.

At the same time, Rebekah has opposed legislation that chips away at our teachers’ right to due process and predicates tenure and employment decisions on “performance-quality,” a very arbitrary measurement that is often tied to standardized test scores. Research has shown time and again that such tests are not only prone to error, but also fail to reflect the talents and skills of students of varying ability. As there are increasing calls for the implementation of merit-based pay and employment practices in our schools, Rebekah thinks it is critical that we do not discourage our greatest teachers from working with our neediest populations. Instead, she believes we must support our educators through mentorship programs, strong professional development and the resources necessary to ensure student success.