Glen Rock, NJ – Joined by Fifth District educators, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) accepted the endorsement of the National Education Association (NEA) at an event in Glen Rock on Monday. Gottheimer earned an A rating from the organization, which represents more than 3 million educators and education professionals at every level of education, including the New Jersey Education Association’s (NJEA) 200,000 members across the state.

Joining Gottheimer to announce the NEA endorsement were Sue McBride, NEA Director for New Jersey, Bergen County Education Association President, and a public school teacher for more than 30 years, and Sue Butterfield, Passaic County Education Associations President. They praised Gottheimer’s long-standing commitment to public education and strong advocacy for educators, education support professionals, students, and their families.

“As the son of a teacher, I know just how important public education is to our families and communities – we would all be nothing without our educators and education support professionals,” said Gottheimer. “We’re proud to have some of the best schools in the country here in North Jersey, including the public school that I went to, and the ones my kids go to – and that’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our educators and professional school staff. We all know that when a child is empowered with a quality education, there is no limit to what that child can achieve – in life and in their career. When we support teachers and invest in our public schools today, we’re building a stronger tomorrow for everyone. That’s why I’ve worked so hard Congress in Congress to support our educators, students, and parents and to make sure our schools and children get everything they need to succeed. Together, we need to continue that fight.”

“Josh Gottheimer has long been a champion for public education and a leader in Congress on issues that matter to educators, education support professionals and students,” said Marie Blistan, NJEA President. “He works incredibly hard to make New Jersey’s excellent public schools even better, including fighting to make our classrooms safe and secure and to ensure every student has the opportunities they need to achieve their goals. We wholeheartedly support the NEA endorsement and are proud to work to send Josh Gottheimer back to Congress.”

“From his first day in Congress, Josh Gottheimer has been a tireless advocate for educators, students and public schools. We are proud to support the NEA endorsement and fully support his re-election,” said McBride. “When it comes to our classrooms and our communities, what happens in Washington matters. As he’s demonstrated with an ‘A’ rating from the NEA, Josh Gottheimer has been someone our members can always count on to stand up for our values and be a strong and effective voice for public education.”

“On behalf of the 11,000 members of the Passaic County Education Associations, we are grateful for someone who supports the issues that are important to our education professions throughout Passaic County and New Jersey,” said Butterfield.  “We are excited and proud to support the NEA endorsement and look forward to working to re-elect Congressman Gottheimer.”

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