OSEA President
Greetings, OSEA members! Although it feels like the holidays were a long time ago, this is the first Journal of the new year and I am thinking about fresh starts.
We can make 2026 anything we want it to be. I hope you will join me in making it the year that OSEA members' voices are louder than ever. In a world where educators are too often silenced, we can't miss any opportunity to make ourselves heard.
Let's speak up when it matters. Say hello when you run into a new coworker in the breakroom. Voice your concerns to your school board at their next meeting. Join other OSEA members to testify at the State Capitol. Let your community know what's happening in bargaining. There are countless opportunities to have courageous conversations with our coworkers, neighbors, supervisors and fellow OSEA members.
I know it's easier said than done. We can always find a reason to stay silent. What if you can't find the right words? What if the conversation gets awkward? What if speaking your truth offends somebody?
But here's the secret: nothing changes if we don't start talking.
What if your words reach someone who needs to hear them? What if you inspire someone else to speak up, too? What if you change somebody's mind? What if you change the world?
Our words, our ideas and our perspectives matter. Making a difference can start small: If there's a question on your mind, ask it. If you have an idea, share it. Chances are, no issue that you face affects you alone – and every time you speak up, you make it easier for others to use their voices, too.
We can't wait any longer. It's time to be loud and clear about what we believe in, what we need and what we deserve. It's not always going to be easy, but then, no fight worth winning ever is.
This year, I invite you to get involved. Speak up. Make yourself heard. Because that is the only way we can make progress. As the activist Maggie Kuhn advised, "Speak your mind – even if your voice shakes. When you least expect it, someone may actually listen to what you have to say."