Those of us, friend or foe, knew that Marc spoke from his heart and from his uncomplicated and powerful vision for educators and children. His words from the past decade are the ones we hear today. How better for us to honor him than to read and reflect on his words?

"RESPECT is fair compensation for our services." (August 1996)

"Many District administrators have forgotten their role. They have it backward. They are supposed to support teachers, good learning in the
classrooms and give and receive mutual RESPECT." (July 1996)

Remember what we have been through in the recent past and hear Marc's
words from a time before our last superintendent.

"Dr. (Bertha) Pendleton and I have made a commitment to model a different behavior than has been exhibited the last few years. Our commitment is to do good things for children while at the same time respecting and honoring those that are responsible for their living and learning. I believe that she has made a concerted effort to fulfill that commitment, in spite of the roadblocks thrown up by many within the district and the lack of support by a few outside interests. It truly is a shame that those attitudes exist. Peace and
collaboration between the district, community and employees is something to be cultivated and admired - not feared. We believe that it is in everyone's best interest. I know that is what parents with children in this district want.

Have we educators forgotten all the bad things that have happened?

NO! Have all the injustices been addressed? Absolutely and unequivocally NOT! We have, however, begun that process. For the first time in five years I have seen a willingness by some district leadership to work with educators and treat them with the respect they deserve".
(January 1997)

We marvel at how those words can be so prescient today.

Marc always framed issues as to how they affected educators and our students.

"Curriculum, superintendents, school boards and assessments change
constantly, so it has fallen on the classroom teacher to provide the
consistency that has been needed to move our students from course to
course, and grade to grade." (May 1998)

Our focus on shared decision-making and collaboration is not new. Marc brought it to the forefront and kept it there during his tenure as SDEA President.

"I believe changes can and should be made... I have, and will continue, stating this at every one of my weekly meetings with the Superintendent. We want good citizens, better test scores and well-educated kids. We can accomplish those goals when we are participants in the design of any program created to achieve those ends." (August 1998)

Read again his five points to "assist the new administration in keeping SDUSD on the right track."

We know schools that are built around mutual respect and true collaboration are schools that work best. Marc knew it and expressed it publicly and eloquently.

Some of us were lucky enough to know Marc as a friend, others in different capacities from union member to teacher to capable foe. Most of us knew Marc from his public side. Sometimes, he was painted by opponents as obstinate or obstructionist, but it was only because he stood fast to protect our contract as it was assailed for being the reason for various problems.

Marc was not averse to taking on his own membership, as he did when he was asked, "What the union was going to do about some problem." He
retorted, "What are you going to do about it? I think you've got options:

1. Elect and empower site Association Reps (ARs) and Council Reps (CRs) to represent your thoughts and opinions and monthly SDEA Council meetings.
2. Get involved with SDEA committees and activities.
3. Get involved with political action.
4. Get involved with site governance. Make sure that your governance team representatives are doing what you want them to do.
5. Finally, you can choose to do nothing.

Consequences - Everything we do or don't do in life has consequences.
Either way, we make a choice. I truly believe that no one can sit on the sidelines this time hoping that all this craziness will go away. If we do, in the end there is little doubt that there will be very little of the positive infrastructure left, that it will take to bring this district back to its former stature." (June 2000)

He would not let people or newspapers get away with challenging our
commitment to children.

"Final thought - It has been very fashionable to criticize SDEA members and leadership for never talking about children. Aside from the fact that it is pure poppycock let me say this. We don't have to talk about it or sign it after our names on correspondence, we live it. We chose to be of service to the children of our community long before most of those critics gave our kids a thought. If those critics are willing to spend the next few years working in a
classroom everyday, all day, then we'll listen to that garbage. Until then, put it to rest." (August 1999)

What you should feel proud about is how Marc revered his fellow teachers, speaking about you with the respect that you have earned. In reading his articles in The Advocate, I caught this one line that he wrote about you, his colleagues.

"Through all the uncertainty there is still one constant, we do what is best for our students." (August 1998)