ISTA STATEMENT: Hoosiers Deserve Real Leadership
07/15/2016

Today’s announcement proves what we already knew – that Gov. Pence’s priorities have never been about doing what was best for Hoosiers – he has simply been focused on getting back to Washington. 

As Indiana’s governor he’s pushed for divisive and ineffective policies that have only weakened public education and educator morale. He dramatically expanded private school vouchers and unaccountable charters to the detriment of traditional public schools. He rejected $80 million in pre-K funding leaving our most vulnerable without access to early childhood education. He removed authority from the democratically elected superintendent of public instruction and created a dueling state education agency which failed to do anything other than create deeper divisions. And that just scratches the surface.

It’s time for real leadership in Indiana. Educators are tired of the many years of disrespect foist upon them, the smothering of their voices and the inability of policymakers to do what’s best for our kids.

“The stakes are too high to sit back and let another four, eight, twelve years go by in the same direction,” said ISTA President Teresa Meredith. “Now is the time to elect leaders who are focused and committed to doing what's best for public schools and the more than one million kids in attendance. Their futures simply can no longer be put aside for political purposes and agendas that only deepen the pockets of corporations and private institutions.”

Our kids deserve better and educators across the state will work to ensure that Indiana has dedicated leaders at the Statehouse and the White House.