Via a press release from the McGrath campaign
Retired Lt. Col. Amy McGrath met with members of her Educators Advisory Council to discuss supporting teachers in the age of COVID, protecting teachers’ pensions, and preventing the privatization of our public schools. McGrath, who is running for U.S. Senate against Sen. Mitch McConnell, also rolled out endorsements from Kentucky public school educators, including teachers, administrators, support personnel, and persons working in higher education.
McGrath’s education policy platform was developed with the input of veteran educators and includes policies to both bolster public school systems and better support teachers.
“There is a lot of talk among politicians about how valuable our teachers are, but then there is a failure to back up that talk with concrete legislation,” McGrath said. “To truly value our educators we need to take action to ensure their pensions are protected, they can withdraw the Social Security benefits they’ve paid into, and they have the resources they need to do their jobs.”
McGrath’s plan includes investing in school infrastructure so every child can go to a school with functioning HVAC systems, clean water, reliable internet, and computers. She proposes repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset and closing the estimated $23 billion funding gap between majority white and majority non-white school districts.
McGrath also calls for the federal government to aid state and local governments struggling due to the pandemic so they can continue to fund their pension systems. McConnell stated he will not provide any funding to state and local governments to shore up their pension systems, and he suggested that they be allowed to go bankrupt instead.
“It is incredibly important to me to get input from and listen to the experiences of teachers, and this council is part of that effort,” McGrath said. “I’m the mother of three school-aged children and the daughter and sister of teachers, and that has given me a special appreciation for our educators. Fully funding our public school systems and championing our teachers will be a priority for me in the Senate.”
I’m humbled to have the support of educators from across the commonwealth! pic.twitter.com/UPJi8EeKAi
— Amy McGrath (@AmyMcGrathKY) September 18, 2020
Education Advisory Council
Robin Brown: Team Leader for Ballard, Calloway, Graves, Marshall and McCracken Counties; elementary teacher in Murray Independent; member of the KEA and NEA Boards of Directors
Alan Lossner: Team Leader for Christian, Hopkins and Webster Counties; retired central office administrator in Webster County
Carol Alvey and Joy Gray: Co-leads for Daviess; Henderson and Union Counties; retired teachers in Daviess County. Gray is also a former state vice president of the Kentucky Education Association.
Jamie Spugnardi: Team Leader for Logan and Warren Counties; former elementary teacher in Warren County with experience at the KDE and regional education cooperative.
Michael Kral: Team Leader for Bullitt, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Meade and Nelson Counties; former Hardin County teacher and a retired staff person of the Kentucky Education Association.
Brent McKim: Team Leader for Jefferson County; math and science teacher in Jefferson County; president of the Jefferson County Teachers Association.
Harrie Buecker: Team Leader for Jefferson County; former middle school teacher in Jefferson County; retired superintendent and adjunct professor at University of Louisville.
Kumar Rashad: Team Leader for Jefferson County; secondary teacher in Jefferson County; active in JCTA and KEA.
Rhonda Sue Foster: Team Leader for Jefferson County; classified employee in Jefferson County, now serving as president of AFSCME – JCAESP Local 4011
Cassie Lyles: Team Leader for Jefferson County; secondary teacher in Jefferson County; chair of Better Schools Kentucky
Tolya Ellis and Lisa Petrey-Kirk: Co-Leads for Anderson, Henry, Shelby and Spencer Counties. Ellis is a 3rd grade teacher in Shelby County and a former member of the Education Professional Standards Board; Petrey-Kirk is retired teacher, former state vice president of the KEA and active in Kentucky Retired Teachers Association.
Tim Hanner: Team Leader in Northern Kentucky; former middle school teacher, principal and superintendent in Kenton County; associate commissioner at KDE; founder of NaviGo, a school improvement initiative.
Sue Kuhnell: Team Leader in Northern Kentucky; retired elementary teacher at Newport Independent; former business liaison for Campbell County Schools; former member of the KEA Board of Directors.
Polly Page: Team Leader in Northern Kentucky; former executive director, Northern Kentucky Education Council; consultant, Partnership for Successful Schools.
Lisa Poor: Team Leader in Northern Kentucky; Librarian in Campbell County Schools, local KEA president
Stan Laferty: Team Leader in Northern Kentucky; retired secondary teacher in Campbell County; school improvement coach for Hamilton County, Ohio, education service center.
David Graves: Team Leader for Franklin, Jessamine, Scott and Woodford Counties;
physics teacher at Woodford County High School; former local KEA president, KEA regional president.
Karen Guffey: Team Leader for Fayette County; retired elementary and child guidance specialist in Fayette County; former president of KASSW; former regional president of KRTA.
Nawanna Privett: Team Leader for Fayette County; former Executive Director, Collaborative Center for Literacy Development at UK; former director at KDE; former member, KY Board of Education.
Jack Hayes: Team Leader for Bourbon, Clark, Harrison, Madison and Nicholas Counties; Former Nicholas County teacher and central office administrator in Fayette County.
Sarah Blades: Team Leader for Fayette County; Fayette County teacher, active in Fayette County Education Association.
Dean Sumpter: Team Leader for Lincoln, Pulaski, Russell and Wayne Counties; teacher at Wayne County High School; former candidate for the Kentucky House of Representatives.
Paula Swafford: Team Leader for Clay, Knox, Laurel and Whitley Counties – Retired teacher in Clay County, public school advocate
Roger Noe: Team Leader for Bell, Harlan, Letcher and Perry Counties; former professor and academic vice president, Southeast Community College; former state representative and chair of House Education Committee.
Doug DeRossett: Team Leader for Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Martin and Pike Counties; IT specialist in Floyd County; former elementary teacher; member of KEPAC for Senate #29.
Christina Wright: Team Leader for Breathitt, Mason, Montgomery, Morgan and Rowan Counties; professor at Morehead State University.
Missy Salyers: Team Leader for Boyd, Elliott, Greenup and Lawrence Counties;
teacher with Boyd County Public Schools; former local KEA president; current member of KEA Board of Directors.
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