Janelle Bynum Statement on Portland Association of Teachers Strike

Nov

2023

PRESS RELEASE

Janelle Bynum Statement on Portland Association of Teachers Strike

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2023
CONTACT: Blakely Wall, press@janellebynum.com

HAPPY VALLEY, OR — Today, state Rep. and Democratic congressional candidate Janelle Bynum released the following statement on the ongoing teachers’ strike:

“As the daughter of public school teachers, I know firsthand the sacrifices our educators make to transform our children’s lives. As a mom to four children, one of whom has special needs, I understand what it means to have a teacher who is doing everything they can while not receiving the support they need. That is unacceptable to me.

Teachers do some of the most critical work in this state, and when they speak up, our leaders should listen.

That’s why I met with teachers yesterday to learn more about the impact large class sizes, overwhelming workloads, and skyrocketing costs are having on their ability to address the individual needs of each student. To make matters worse, the educators I met with tell me they are still helping students recover from the loss of classroom time during the pandemic.

I’ll work towards these values not just as a legislator, but as a daughter of teachers, a parent, and as a working mom who understands the challenges parents face when schools are closed and our dreams for them get a little bit harder to realize. It is only by bringing these kinds of shared experiences to the table that parties can bargain in good faith, ensuring our teachers and students have the resources they need to truly meet the opportunity our public schools promise.”

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