Public schools for all, or just a few? The future of education in Minnesota
As I begin my term as president of Education Minnesota, I know I’m taking office at one of the most challenging moments for public education in decades—but I believe we’re strong enough for whatever comes next.
For over 25 years, I’ve dedicated my career to education— first as a Home School Liaison, then as a teacher and districtwide elementary math coach for Richfield Public Schools. Throughout this journey, I’ve seen the profound effect educators have on students’ lives and how a strong, united union empowers us to overcome obstacles and create lasting change. That experience has shaped my vision for the next three years. It’s built on collaboration, inclusion and unwavering advocacy for public education and the people who deliver it.
This vision collides head-on with Washington’s approach. While I speak of collaboration and building connections with educators, legislators and community allies, Education Secretary Linda McMahon has declared the U.S. Department of Education explicitly rejects “divisive DEI programs and gender ideology.” As a founding member of our union’s Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee and the first Black person to serve as Education Minnesota’s president, I know diversity, equity and inclusion aren’t divisive—they’re essential to ensuring every student succeeds.
This administration has also withheld $6.8 billion in federal education funds that were supposed to be released July 1, including about $74 million for Minnesota’s students. The cuts target professional development for educators and programs for the at-risk students I’ve spent my career supporting.
In Minnesota, we understand that every student deserves the freedom to learn the full story of America, both the good and the bad, in a safe and welcoming school. Yet members of this administration believe children must be taught prescribed “patriotic” values rather than critical thinking skills. Meanwhile, McMahon champions a national voucher scheme that will drain resources from the public schools that serve all children.
This administration’s approach embodies everything I oppose. Where they see division, I see the strength that comes from diverse perspectives. Where they create barriers, I work to build bridges. Where they defund public schools, I fight to ensure every educator has the tools and support needed to thrive.
James Baldwin, one of my favorite authors, once wrote: “The paradox of education is precisely this—that as one begins to become conscious, one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated. The purpose of education, finally, is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions.” This wisdom guides my approach.
Our schools are constantly evolving, and so must our union. By embracing fresh perspectives and innovative solutions, we will meet challenges head-on and build a union that continues leading public education in Minnesota and beyond.
The challenges ahead are formidable. More than 8 in 10 Minnesota schools report teacher shortages. Our union will continue working to alleviate this crisis through improvements to educators’ pay, pensions and health care.
We will face more attacks from federal officials who would rather dismantle public education than strengthen it. But when educators unite around our shared values of freedom, inclusion and excellence, we can resist. Together, our union will ensure educators have the resources they need to sustain their families and serve every student with dignity and respect.
I am proud to be an educator and part of our extraordinary labor movement. We in Minnesota will move forward— hopeful, determined and undaunted.
Together,
Monica Byron
