KAYSVILLE -- Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh has hit the road to hear and see what teachers across Utah face daily.
The Utah Education Association president, along with UEA staff, are visiting every school district across the state during September. Not only does Gallagher-Fishbaugh want to talk to teachers, but also to parents and community members, she said.
"I want teachers to know their work is appreciated and they are valued," Gallagher-Fishbaugh said.
Last week, she visited schools in Davis School District, including Centennial Junior High School in Kaysville. She also met with parents and residents during an informal meeting in the evening in Farmington.
UEA officials will be in Box Elder School District on Friday, Sept. 9, and will visit schools in Ogden and Weber districts on Sept. 12.
The 30-year teaching veteran was elected in 2010 to represent the 18,000 UEA members for two years. She taught second grade at Dilworth Elementary in Salt Lake City before taking her position as president of the education association.
Gallagher-Fishbaugh said she is concerned about a growing movement across the nation and in Utah to privatize education.
"Teachers are under attack," she said.
Teachers she has visited have expressed concerns that the general public is blaming them for all of the problems facing public education, Gallagher-Fishbaugh said. The solutions have to come not only from teachers, but also parents, school board members, administrators and elected officials.
Many people, including state legislators, forget teachers are also parents, taxpayers and constituents, she said.
"Someone has to hear the teacher's voice," Gallagher-Fishbaugh said.
Mark Mickelsen, UEA executive director, said he has polled parents and grandparents with students in public schools, asking them how they think their neighborhood schools are doing.
"Overall they give their neighborhood schools a B (grade), which means they can do better, but they feel good about their neighborhood schools," Mickelsen said.
Mickelsen said teachers' voices need to be heard.
Gallagher-Fishbaugh said she and others are working with legislators in hopes of passing legislation and funding next year that will help teachers in the classroom.
"It's just a matter of if the bills get out of Rules Committee and on the floor for a vote," she said.
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