The First Day, Our Mission, and Keeping Politics Out of the Classroom

By Rick Morgan, President – Mat-Su Classified Employees Association

For most people, the first day of school is a memory — new shoes, a sharpened pencil, a backpack full of promise. For those of us who work in education, it’s not just a memory. It’s a moment we relive every year.
When the buses roll, classrooms open, and students fill the halls, every employee in our school district — from the classroom to the cafeteria, from IT to transportation — plays a part in building the foundation for a child’s success. This isn’t just a job. It’s a calling. Every first day reminds us why we do it.
We are entrusted with the safety, growth, and future of other people’s children. We see the struggles they face and the victories they earn. The work we do changes lives — and sometimes, saves them. That’s not just important. It’s essential to our community, our economy, and our future.
That’s why it’s so important to keep our focus where it belongs: on the students. When education gets drawn into national political battles — no matter which side of the aisle — it distracts from our mission and erodes public trust. Our community expects us to be educators first, not political actors.
Our union is affiliated with the NEA, and there is great value in being connected to a national network of educators. But I believe we must always be careful to keep the classroom a place for learning, not a place for politics. We can advocate for better pay, safer workplaces, and the resources our students need without being drawn into the divisive debates that take the spotlight off our core mission.
The first day of school is about hope. It’s about possibility. It’s about making sure that every child, regardless of background, has the tools they need to succeed. That mission is too important to be overshadowed by agendas set far away from our classrooms.
As we begin this school year, I’m asking our community to remember: the people in your schools are your neighbors, friends, and family. We’re here because we believe in your kids. Support us in keeping education focused where it belongs — on students, not politics.

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