Mrs. Lowe went to Washington

Laid-off St. Helena Central High guidance counselor urges Sens. Landrieu and Vitter to save education jobs

By: Stacy Grissom

WASHINGTON—With the start of school just around the corner, many educators are in serious planning mode for the upcoming school year. That's not the case for Carla Lowe, a guidance counselor who was recently laid-off from St. Helena Central High in Greensburg, La. Rather than heading back to her high school, she is headed to the nation's capitol to urge Louisiana Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter to pass the "Education Jobs Fund," a $10 billion emergency aid package that would help keep teachers in classrooms and provide educational support services targeted to low-income and at-risk students. 

Without this infusion of money into state education budgets, the National Education Association (NEA) estimates up to 130,000 educators across the nation could lose their jobs.  In Louisiana, the bill could bring $147 million, funding some 2,242 jobs. The House passed a similar measure before the Fourth of July recess.

When Lowe, who lives in Kentwood, La., with her husband and seven-month-old son, was told that her contract would not be renewed, she worried both about her students and her family. 

"My students need me and other educators to be with them in school, not on the unemployment line," said Lowe. "My community needs me to be able to pay my mortgage, and my family needs health insurance and groceries. Louisiana has been through so much these last few years so I hope that Sens. Landrieu and Vitter will get behind this bill because this is one disaster that can be avoided."

WHO: Carla Lowe of Kentwood, La., laid-off guidance counselor at St. Helena Central High School

WHAT: Lowe is traveling to Washington, D.C., meeting on Capitol Hill with Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter to urge their support for a $10 billion emergency aid package to save education jobs.

WHY: This bill could help keep upwards of $130,000 educators in the classroom. NEA estimates the bill would bring $147 million to Louisiana, funding some 2,242 jobs.

WHEN: Wednesday, July, 21, 2010

WHERE: Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

For more resources on education funding, please go to www.nea.org/funding

For more information on saving educators' jobs, visit www.educationvotes.nea.org/

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