Fulfilling the Promise
by Camille Zombro, SDEA President,
and Marc Capitelli, SDEA Vice President

September is always about "new" in education. We have a new school year with new students. We have new leadership at SDEA. We have a new Superintendent, not yet a year on the job. We have a new Executive Director to help us in our work. We have new friends and colleagues who begin the challenge of fulfilling the promise.

That promise, a free, quality, public education for every child, is the back-bone of our country. Without it, we have no hope of sustaining a democracy. Without it, our children cannot achieve the American dream. Without it, the United States, and some would say the world, has no hope of a future built on respect instead of fear. You may not have thought about your "job" in those terms, but we have the most important job. Without an informed, educated and healthy electorate all of the ideals, which we hold dear, are unobtainable. Our jobs make all other jobs possible!

The compact that teachers have forged with our students has never been tested more. Public education finds itself under continuous assault. The looming deadline of 2014 and the impossible requirements of NCLB perfection cast a dreary shadow."What a bummer this article is," you must be thinking!

Yet with all that confronts us each day, we hold in our hands an awesome power. We take that young child who comes to school not knowing what a letter is to a reader of Charlotte's Web. We help those trying teenagers through a difficult time in their lives. We help a young special education student learn to tie her own shoes and at the same time put a smile on her face. Every day we help children learn to deal with problems by opening their
fists and extending a hand. We teach children to compete with ferocity in sports, academics and a myriad of other activities and walk away as friends. We teach hope and possibility. We empower. Despite all that is around us we are able to do so much for so many. We keep the promise!

Your SDEA is changing. Our goal is to make SDEA the preeminent urban
education union in the nation by making San Diego City Schools the
unsurpassed urban school district in the nation.

• Our promise is to build a union that listens to its members.
  
• Our pledge is to build a school district where you are respected and honored.
  
• Our undertaking is to make SDEA a union that you will feel privileged to belong to and thrilled to participate in.
  
• Our promise is to respect and prize all of our members past and present.

The oath that all of us in leadership and staff at SDEA take is to side by side, to help you fulfill the promise.

Will it be easy? Nothing great ever is! Are we full of magic? Of course not. For those of you old enough to remember and those of you young to have studied let us offer you some words to guide us from Sir Winston Churchill.

"In the pursuit of greatness, you're liable to take a great loss or two. Never give up. Never give in."

We know that the Lion of Britain stood alone against forces supremely
powerful and yet triumphed. He kept his faith in his cause.

Our cause is noble. Our charge is splendid. Our work will not be year or in a term of office or any period of time. Our work is finished an informed and educated citizen takes the stage of life. Our work each September with each young child who reaches for our hand. As long as we keep our focus on our goals, remember our promises, renew our pledges retake our oath, we will continue to fulfill the promise.