To the Editor:
My name is Megan (Baker) Andrade and I am an alumni of FUSD (Class of 2007). I teach moderate/severe special education at Fillmore Middle School and I have in the past taught catechism at St. Francis of Assisi.
I received an amazing education from quality educators such as Miss Beal, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Dollar, Mr. Fischer, Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Merrill and so many more. I have a daughter who I hope to send to FUSD, but I am extremely concerned as a parent that we are not keeping quality teachers such as those mentioned above within our district. We need to keep quality teachers in our district, but we cannot do this without quality pay. I know my worth, but I choose to stay because this is my home. I know I could be paid more elsewhere, but again I stay because this is my home. I ask you to please respect the worth of our teachers, our amazing teachers, and pay us what we are worth. We are worth more than being number 15 out of 15 on the pay chart of the county in education. I want to know that my daughter, when she is finally of school age, will have great, quality teachers inspiring her to achieve her dreams and giving her the education she deserves to actually achieve those dreams. I became a teacher because of the teachers I had as a student in FUSD. We need future students to be able to say the same.
Thank you,
Megan (Baker) Andrade