Over the past decade, the
PEA has been able to be
address the school board to
provide issues, concerns and
updates to the local school
board. In recent years, PEA
has been able to have a
school board member serve
as a liaison to the
organization. This
self-efficacy model is the
only one that exists in our
VEA service region and as an
organization, we know being
able to be on the school
board monthly meeting
agenda as well as have a
school board member in
attendance at our monthly
meetings is a key component
in the organization’s ability to
communicate with the school
the board and general
public. The PEA addresses
the board during the Public
Presentations/Announcement
section of the agenda. Below
is the PEA address provided
during the April 14, 2020
school board meeting.
“Good evening Chairman
Burton, Dr. Jones, school
board members, central office
staff, students, parents, and
community leaders.
What a roller coaster of a ride
the past 30 days have been.
Life as we know it went from
full swing to almost a
screeching halt literally in the
blink of an eye. I am glad to
see that everyone in
attendance is doing well this
evening and I truly hope it
remains that way. There are
so many things that I believe I
could say at this moment, but
first and foremost is to pray for
the strength and vitality of
those who hear my voice and
for those who cannot at this
time.
As we turn the corner of what
has been an arduous,
relentless, invisible menace,
there are better and brighter
things to focus on. To see
people come together in this
most difficult time has been
amazing. All walks of life have
labored to make masks, check
on their neighbors, and get
groceries, medicines and
supplies where possible. In
our school division, we have
seen efforts on equalizing
technology for teachers and
staff to ensure individuals can
work from home with the
devices they need to provide
instruction to the best of their
ability; we have seen an
ongoing meal program to
ensure students are being fed
of which we all know hunger
is a barrier to not just learning
but living too; and we have
seen innovation in social
distancing techniques to keep
employees and the public
safe.
However, I know we sit at an
intersection where the roads
are not necessarily well-lit
and the terrain may be rough,
but I know you all are working
to try and do what is right for
the employees of Pittsylvania
County Public Schools. The
budget is one of the most
obvious issues that face us
ahead. We also have to
acknowledge, what does the
new normal look like and
when? There are so many
questions, with very few
answers, but as I have told my
students, this too shall pass
and we will emerge stronger,
more nimble, equipped and
ready for the future.
I recently sat on Dr. James
Lane’s, state superintendent of
public instruction Continuity
for Learning Task force. On
the first day we convened, we
were challenged not to see
how things are but how they
can be. How to make things
better that of which is in our
control by the thing that we
cannot control. We can
control our decisions to set a
clear vision on the horizon for
a better tomorrow. We can
learn from our past mistakes
and look not to replicate
them, but to find the good and
maximize it . We can
understand we are all human
and need to truly love one
another as thyself and be for
what is right, just and fair
because look around – all we
have is each other.
In closing, I do ask for a
moment of reflection. It is with
great sadness that I report that
the Virginia Education
Association has lost one of our
members to the COVID-19
crisis. Angela Jackson, a
custodian in the Alexandria
City Public Schools, passed
away last night from
complications of the virus.
Of course, we can’t say for
sure when Ms. Jackson
contracted the coronavirus,
but we do know that she put
her life on the line for her
students , school , and
community by continuing to
report to work, as instructed,
after school closures in March.
She and her custodial
col leagues worked to
maintain and disinfect school
buildings so that services
could continue, including
meal delivery to
underprivileged students,
until April 1.
The kind of courage and
commitment demonstrated by
Ms. Jackson is going on across
Virginia and Pittsylvania
County Public Schools every
day, and we stand in awe of
the courage our members and
colleagues are showing to
support their communities.
Ms. Jackson also showed her
activist heart during a
successful campaign to fight
the privatization of custodial
positions in Alexandria last
year. If privatization had been
adopted, 30 hard-working
staff members would have lost
their jobs.
We salute Ms. Jackson and
mourn her loss. I urge
everyone, in the strongest
terms possible, to further honor
her by following safety and
health precautions
recommended by the CDC and
local authorities.
Please keep Ms. Jackson’s family
in your thoughts and prayers at
this especially difficult time
along with members of her
Education Association of
Alexandria family. Thank you.”
Below is the address to which
you may wish to send notes/
cards of sympathy to Angela’s
family:
The Family of Angela Jackson
6818 Southfield Road
Ft. Washington, MD, 20744-1057
Please continue to lift her
immediate family along with
her Education Association of
Alexandria family in your
thoughts and prayers.
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