Education is one of the most important gifts we can give to our children. It is something I remember my grandfather, who grew up in Galecia, saying to me, “Learn as much as you can, as they never can take that away!” Without knowledge and the ability to read and reason, children cannot become contributing members of society. We as parents, grandparents and community members must ensure that all children have an equal opportunity to learn in an environment that is conducive to learning. Right now, due to the pandemic, that environment might be at home or at school. The financial fallout from the COVID-19 virus will continue to disrupt lives for the time being. We must be prepared to help our children through this time and help them continue to learn. As a former teacher at the HBHA, a former PTA president in the Blue Valley School District and a former member of the BV District’s Curriculum Committee, I understand the issues facing teachers and schools. We must elect state representatives and senators who support public education at all levels: from elementary school to secondary school to community colleges, as well as all state colleges and universities. We need to elect people who take into consideration the students, the teachers and the school districts. Joy Koesten, who is running Kansas state senator, has my support. As the parent of two daughters who graduated from the Shawnee Mission School District and a former instructor at Johnson County Community College, she understands the importance of education!
Ellen Portnoy
Overland Park, Kansas
