"It is our responsibility as lawmakers and as educators to make this system work, but it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it." — President Barack Obama, Feb. 24, 2009.

With those words, President Obama made clear to each of us that we must, together, work toward creating success for every child. Student success — higher standards for all and ending the achievement gap — is a responsibility not just for government officials and lawmakers, teachers and administrators, but for community advocates and business leaders as well. And, as the president so pointedly said, "education must begin at home."

While it is tremendously satisfying to hear words like these from the White House once again, for many of us in the teacher union movement they are also validating.

They validate a belief not often shared at many policy think tanks or by government officials, school boards, administrators and even at times some of our own members. A belief that teacher unions can drive instructional reform.

The record, however, clearly demonstrates our commitment. Under the leadership of Albert Shanker, former American Federation of Teachers president and education icon, the AFT was an early and enthusiastic supporter of the standards movement, peer review, public school choice, experimental charter schools, National Board Certification for teachers and many other initiatives now well-established in the educational infrastructure.
As the AFT's largest local, NYSUT has been part, indeed a leader, of this reform movement all along, championing educational excellence and accountability.

These efforts continue in full force today in an arena of serious economic challenges and an anti-union animus in some quarters that would even raise an eyebrow of a not-so-easily daunted Al Shanker. Al would be proud, as I was as a member of the AFT Executive Council, to support a groundbreaking program of reform called the AFT Innovation Fund. The AFT has put up $1 million —with matching funds through philanthropic donations from some of the nation's premier foundations — to implement "sustainable, innovative and collaborative reform projects" developed by AFT members, including NYSUT members (see www.aft.org/innovate).

Randi Weingarten, the AFT's current president, deserves great credit for her leadership in advancing this exciting proposal. She understands, as we all do, that teachers and other educators know best what works in the classroom and how to create success if given the resources and the chance.

"The (Innovation Fund) is based on the fact that teachers, through their union, have unmatched insight and expertise when it comes to providing every child a high-quality education," she wrote recently. "Teachers know the education world as it is, as well as it should be."

Even one of our perennial critics, Joe Williams of Democrats for Education Reform, sees merit in the AFT plan, telling USA Today the Innovation Fund is "a pretty important green light for innovation and experimentation, not just from the union to teachers but from the union to elected officials."

Our other national affiliate, the NEA, is also at the forefront of reform. As you can read beginning on page 14 of this New York Teacher, four of our locals — in Dunkirk, Fulton, Newburgh and Utica — are taking part in an NEA-funded and NYSUT-administered pilot program to develop "learning communities" that focus on closing the academic achievement gap in those school districts. Again, innovation and creativity will be encouraged and, most importantly, teacher collaboration and leadership will be recognized as critical to success.
In other words, we're working with our national affiliates to promote and implement real reform right now.

Closing the achievement gap remains at the top of NYSUT's priority list. We understand that to reach the goal of ending the gap, change is needed both in and outside the classroom. I am continually gratified that our members, as well as the public, in ever-increasing numbers, recognize the link between good health and learning. Our "24/7 Let's Go!" program has proven extremely popular as a way to promote proper nutrition and exercise among our students. Since its rollout in 2005, we have distributed more than 150,000 "24/7" kits to New York educators who have enlisted in the battle against obesity. NYSUT is pleased that Gov. Paterson has made the fight against obesity a priority in his administration, placing his wife, Michelle Paige Paterson, in charge of the effort. We at NYSUT congratulate him for his emphasis on obesity and pledge our support in whatever way possible.

NYSUT also understands the value of community support. Under the leadership of Vice President Maria Neira, for example, we've become more involved in the YMCA's Black and Latino Achievers Program, which helps students of color — some of the most vulnerable to the perils of the gap — to access employment and college opportunities. This program also recognizes the achievements these students have made in their schools and communities.

There are many other programs that exist outside the classroom in support of the classroom — such as Matilda Cuomo's Mentoring USA — that NYSUT supports to promote academic excellence and help secure our children's futures. Educators understand that in this complex world, success is dependent on more than just what's behind the classroom doors. We've opened those doors and we've walked through them, seeking collaboration with those from community groups, not-for-profits, non-profits and the business community who wish to partner with NYSUT to help all students succeed.

Of course, running parallel to all this is our ongoing effort to see that financial resources are available so our schools can continue to progress.

Certainly, the federal education stimulus funds in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, if spent as it was intended, will go a long way in maintaining progress in educating every child. And our new secretary of education, Arne Duncan, has said many of the right things as he ponders how best to use the $5 billion designated for innovation in the classroom.

Yet, while these are positive steps, we must remain vigilant as we battle for every education dollar. NYSUT, the AFT and NEA must be partners with policymakers and elected officials to ensure that each dollar is wisely spent. We have years of experience in leading the reform movement and we don't intend to take a back seat to anyone or to apologize for our advocacy for the resources needed to succeed.

In the end, we are not only trade unionists, educators, health care workers, those who serve the public. We are Americans who care about the future of our country and who deserve a seat at the table. The stakes are just too high to sit on the sidelines.

As President Obama made clear, "(Education) … is an American issue." And, "every American … loves this country and wants it to succeed."