An ancient proverb says, "It takes a village to raise a child". Each person who comes into contact with children in their daily lives has a responsibility to give some part of themselves for the nurturing and education of that child that day.

For the most part those individuals are within the school setting, the bus driver who knows every child on their route and misses them when they don't get on the bus, the resource officer called in when a troubled child has come to the end of their endurance of an intolerable situation, the school secretary who calls to check on a child who has been absent for several days in a row only to find that they are the care givers of their younger siblings, the principal who sees the great potential in a young athlete who only needs a word of encouragement, and of course the teachers into whose hands the lives of these children are placed every day.

My husband Jerry and I taught middle school for 30 years. Therefore, I would bring to the Legislature another voice of experience and support when legislation is introduced that affects not only teachers, but the support personnel, paraprofessionals, children, and parents as well.

Send me to the Idaho Legislature and you will have a staunch ally and champion on whom you can depend to promote teachers and education.

Sincerely,
Liz Chavez