A Message From the President

Welcome back to Cherry Hill Public Schools and the start of another great year. As your president, one of my most important jobs is to keep you informed about issues that affect you – both personally and professionally.

It is my pleasure to share some thoughts as we begin a new year together.

On behalf of the association, I welcome ALL of you –veterans and newcomers alike. Whatever your status, you’re now officially members of the family here in Cherry Hill .  That’s right, we’re a Family, because the relationship we share is that close. Teachers, secretaries and support professionals alike, we’re a Family. And we all have one fundamental thing in common….we are ALL educators, and we’re all proud to serve the children of Cherry Hill .

The work we do during the school day…..after the school day ends….on nights, weekends, and during the summer, is vital to the future of our students, and to the future of the world. Of all the great people who have made this country what it is today, all the great people who will continue to contribute to its legacy, NINE out of TEN of them are public school graduates. They’re the people who make America work and WE ARE the  people who make sure they do their work.

That’s an enormous responsibility. It’s a responsibility we proudly accept. We should never forget the words of Henry Brooks Adams, the American historian. He wrote, and I quote: “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”  Of course neither can she (we’ll forgive Henry Adams for living in an era when men dominated our profession).

There are many challenges we’ll all face this year and in the years to come. But know that we are not alone. As NJEA members we have 205,000 colleagues in the state who share the same challenges and have the same goals. Your association is here to protect your rights, to negotiate your contract and to make sure you are treated fairly and professionally and to help you do the very best you can do to educate our children.

Together, we’re going to have a GREAT year. Education is our business, and we know it well. As we start a new year there are some things we can expect. There will be some things that will come as a surprise. But one thing we can all count on is our collective strength, wisdom and dedication.

Welcome back to the 2008-2009 school year. I hope you have a great year.

Sincerely,

Martin Sharofsky

CHEA President