MEA-MFT COPE recommends Denise Juneau for state superintendent

NEWS RELEASE

 

For Immediate Release: January 24, 2012

For More Information: Eric Feaver, MEA-MFT President, 442-4250

 

MEA-MFT COPE recommends Denise Juneau for re-election

Denise Juneau

 

Members of MEA-MFT’s political action committee (called MEA-MFT COPE) have voted unanimously to recommend Denise Juneau for re-election as Montana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction.

 

MEA-MFT represents more than 18,000 Montana k-12 teachers, school support staff, higher education faculty, county and state employees, Head Start educators, and health care workers.

 

COPE members recently interviewed Juneau and her opponent, Sandy Welch, and reviewed their position statements on issues regarding education and public schools.

 

“Denise Juneau is the clear choice,” said Diane Elliott, a COPE member and teacher in Poplar.

 

“She has proven herself to be a dynamic leader and a true champion for Montana’s children and public schools. She knows the ropes. She’s experienced, and she’s an innovator. That’s an unbeatable combination. Denise has done an outstanding job, and we can’t see any reason to change horses in midstream.”

 

“Denise believes in doing school improvement with educators, not to them,” said Kalispell teacher and COPE member Mike Thiel. “She supports the people who work with school children every day – the teachers and support staff – making sure they have the skills and resources to do their jobs well.”

 

Thiel added, “Denise has put Montana on the map by standing up to punitive federal mandates in the No Child Left Behind law. She’s committed to school improvement on Montana’s terms, and she’s making sure everyone has a chance to have a voice.”

 

Melanie Charlson, a COPE member and Missoula teacher, said, “Denise gets it that school funding is essential. We can’t improve teacher quality and learning opportunities for kids without it. Denise understands the complexities of school finance.”

 

Charlson also noted that Juneau is a product of Montana public schools, the daughter of two teachers, and granddaughter of school support staff. Plus, Juneau herself has taught in Montana schools.

 

“That’s important,” Charlson said. “She understands the challenges Montana schools face.”

 

COPE member Dan Kelly, a Deer Lodge teacher, said, “I’m impressed with Denise’s work to promote innovation and new ideas in our schools, like the Montana Digital Academy.” Kelly also mentioned Juneau’s push for higher academic standards and her statewide initiative to curb Montana’s school dropout rate: Graduation Matters Montana.

 

“Graduation Matters is bringing community folks, businesspeople, nonprofits, educators, parents, and students together to work on improving our graduation rate,” he said. “That’s crucial for these kids’ future and for Montana’s economy.”

 

The 35 members of COPE are elected locally by their fellow MEA-MFT members. COPE members live and work in communities across Montana and represent all of MEA-MFT’s membership groups.

 

“Party affiliation has no bearing on MEA-MFT COPE’s candidate recommendations,” said MEA-MFT President Feaver. “Recommendations are based solely on issues and candidates’ track records.”

 

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MEA-MFT Committee On Political Education (COPE) members live in or near the following Montana towns: Anaconda, Billings, Butte, Bozeman, Deer Lodge, East Helena, Great Falls, Hamilton, Hardin, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Laurel, Lewistown, Miles City, Missoula, Polson, Poplar, St. Ignatius, Shelby, Stevensville, and Whitefish.