And sanity uh to the country that we love but before we continue this gathering uh I want to acknowledge that wherever we are in the country we meet on the traditional lands of America's first people. We honor all Elders past present and emerging. We're called on to learn and share what we learn about tribal history, culture and contributions that have been suppressed in the telling of the story of America. I'm gonna turn my phone off something here because I'm I'm still getting used to this. Um again colleagues Armando Hernandez welcome to this final night and if you haven't had goosebumps every 10 minutes of this convention, you are simply not paying attention. I am fired up. I am thrilled right down to my underwear that we are going to get ourselves a new president and we are going to make history with our phenomenal vice president and I know you've been watching. Did you love the roll call. I love that I hope we do that every year. uh I think maybe this convention. Is going to be built back better in the future. Somebody should write that down that would be such a uh you know campaign slogan for somebody's campaign, You know what we need to do between now and when the polls close on November 3rd now this convention has been amazing. This is the last night, but don't you dare. Don't you dare my friends. Take your foot off the gas. There is every reason for us to believe that Donald Trump is gonna try and steal. It has got to be so overwhelming for the right candidate that no one is fooled by the con man in the White House. so whatever you are doing, I know you're doing a lot. I know you're doing a lot uh to get Joe Biden and Kamala Harris selected, but no matter what you're doing. I want you to sit down with yourself Have have a little talk with yourself and talk about what you're doing um and whatever it is slap. And say that is not enough. I have got to do a little bit more. I know I can squeeze a little bit more out of there then go and do it are you doing a phone bank Are you doing social media? Are you talking to your friends and neighbors you could volunteer at your neighborhood polling place on Election day, You could convince someone else to do it. I'm gonna do it. I just signed up and I've never done anything like that before why because I've always been at the victory party, all dressed up with the Chardonnay in my hand waiting for the results to come in with polite company. No parties this time this is this is just gotten real and until the polls close on election night, you ask yourself what am I doing to get us a new president and now I'm gonna ask cuz I'm somebody told me they would send me uh uh a note but what we are going to do is to go at this point uh straight to to a very special guest. And to introduce that special guest Uh my very special sister and friend who has a brand new title and her title is the president elect of the National Education Association colleagues. Please welcome our friend and our next President. Becky Pringle Becky Thank you so much Lily delegates activists NEA members You are the key to our. And that key is not only to our battleground states Pennsylvania. You won't get it done this time, but it will take all of us to do everything we can everything we must to get us a new president. This is not the most important election in our lifetime. This is the most important election in the life of our country and I know I'm preaching to the choir. I know you're. Hard to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. What did she fabulous last night? Oh my God, but I need you to take that excitement from this convention and the motivation from all the speakers and the energy of knowing that we the NEA can be the difference in this election and then I need you to make it so I need you to have those critical member to member conversations make those phone calls and those texts Let's volunteer like. And bring five more folks with us. Let's get this done because what do we need? Lily? Oh, I think we need a new president. I think we need a new president. Uh I think that's right that that is the correct answer. Now it is my distinct honor and privilege and pleasure to introduce a true champion of public education. Our next speaker knows what it takes to educate students. Because she is a teacher and always will be and if you watched any of those congressional hearings of her education and labor committee, you know she schools people every time they testify before for those of you who are at the 2016 RA, you saw the fierce determination of this wicked smart National teacher. The year she knows the challenges we face because as a member of the NEA, that's right, she's faced them too. She knows what's at stake in this election for our students and educators for our public schools and for this country, my dear friend Congresswoman Hayes take it away. Thank you so much. Becky and thank you all for having me here and I think you've heard from everyone how critical and It is for us to speak up in this election. It's interesting that you brought up the 2016 NAR a because this morning I needed some morning inspiration and I Googled myself. I know that sounds so cheesy, but I Googled myself and I listen to the words that I delivered to the NAR a back in 2016 and those words could not be more relevant and more powerful today for anyone who wasn't there, I reminded you of the critical role that. And standing standing in intersession for kids who have no one else, but a teacher of speaking up for kids who have no one else in their community to do so and seeing the power in their potential before even them or their family sees it right now. That's what we need. we have we are at the intersection where our education system is being challenged. Our values are being questioned and we have a secretary of education who does not believe in public education who does not believe that someone like me deserve. A high quality public education and that's where we come in making sure that we are the voice for all of those marginalized communities, but just to shift back to what the focus of tonight's conversation is the president selects the Secretary of education. so like I've said so many times before for all of you who are not sure the extent to what you are involved in politics, you are involved every day because I am sitting on committee asking the questions that you want. To demanding the answers to the things that bother you every day, I'm asked to take a vote that decides the curriculum that you teach the air that you breathe the buildings that you teach in your retirement and even the ability to organize and collect and to collectively bargain if you are okay with someone else doing that without your input, it's going to happen with or without you. so I implore you to vote like your profession depends on it. vote like your. Futures depend on it. We are at a point in our history where every decision that we make today will affect the next generation between the census between the allocation of funds between all of these related issues, the future of our profession depends on where we speak up and what input we offer and I'm so thrilled to have just a ticket between Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Who want to learn about the intricate nature of this profession who are asking questions and seeking input and not just seeking it, but using it to inform their decision-making. That's what we need. I have not been more the last couple of days, I have been more hopeful than I've been in the last 7 months because I can see the end of this. I know that we only have a couple more months until we can elect a new president and so we can write this course and and we can. can. The promise of education and help me to sleep at night knowing that my son will be safe but before I give my time, I have to say Lily. Thank you for leading this largest union in the country with such fierce determination, I remember the first time I met you, You spoke to my heart because your passion for vulnerable children for homeless children for making sure that they have a voice at the table through you with something I had never seen before for you being unapologetic about demanding demanding equity for the profession demanding fair wages for the profession demanding that we be treated. Professionals was like nothing I've ever seen before you're like a Tasmanian devil at NAR, like running all over the floor behind the babies and just you spoke to me and to that audience of 10000 people the way all of those teachers that I talked to spoke to me one on one and that's not easy to do and I thank you for your service. I thank you for your leadership. I thank you for reminding every cafeteria, worker and special education teacher and a that you belong. And there is a place for you and if there's not one, I will make one for you and while I don't do well with change and I'm a person who just likes what I like, I could not be more pleased that you are handing off the baton to Becky, who is a champion for social justice and who will meet this moment of unrest in our country with the boldness that we need III could not be more proud to be a member of this union to be your advocate and your voice in Congress to have an army. Of 3000000 teachers behind me who are standing up and letting their voices be heard because like I said, we are not only going to be the stewards of reopening the economy because we saw that nothing happens without schools being open. Let us just remember that nothing happens until we show up until you show up so we need to leverage that and use that and use our voices to elect the next president of the United States. Thank you all for joining. We have work to do, but if I had to be on the battlefield, I wouldn't wanna be with anyone else other than teachers that is so not fair cuz III do not wanna get teary eyed before I get to introduce our next guest and I am so thank you. Thank you so much and we also are joined by our NEA Vice President-elect Princess Moss princess. What do we need? I think it's unprecedent you know and we do We. A new president who loves preschool and public school and community College in your state universities and who loves educators and we need a new president who actually loves one very specific educator in particular, a teacher who gets to hear him, say good morning and good night every day, and this teacher was in her old classroom Tuesday night. You saw her speaking to the nation from the high school where she spoke with the authority of someone who loves other people's children. Someone who knows. At stake in this election and she's gonna be there to whisper in the President's ear. This is what's right for students and families and communities, and he's gonna listen to her because he loves her for a very good reason. I love her for a very good reason you love her NEA. Please welcome a person that we love and the person that we will fight to make the first NEA Member who has ever lived in the White House and the next first lady of the United States of America. Jill NEA Member Biden Thank you. You know this is so exciting and I know that this is one of your last member engagements and I'm so honored to be here with you tonight. You know I'd love getting to know you better over these last few years since we first met in Washington, DC celebrating your book rael browsers. Do you remember that yes, well, that was 2015 and it's gone by so fast. So thank you. You've done to support educators across this country and for your support of our campaign, but most of all Lily you know, thank you for your friendship, which will endure I hope forever. So thank you Thankfully, you are passing the torch to capable hands a fellow Philly girl. Becky Pringle Becky as we reimagine education to serve all students your leadership. We are going to be invaluable and Joe and I look forward to working with you and as you all know being an educator is not the kind of job where you just leave at 3 o'clock whether you're watching TV or cooking dinner or thinking about lesson plans wondering how to reach our students in new ways or help them explore their world. We take them with us wherever we go. don't we so this year took. Away so many of the things that make being an educator so great caring for our students face to face the little moments of laughter and surprise seeing that spark in the student's eyes when a new idea falls into place still, hey teachers you rose to the moment you learn new skills overnight. you found new ways to connect and support students and their families and you often. Did it while you were helping your own kids because that's what educators do as I said on Tuesday, Americans and especially educators, have the great to get through this pandemic. We're putting our shoulders back fighting for each other and we have not given up We just need leadership worthy of our nation. We're of you honest leadership to bring us back together to recover from. Pandemic and prepare for whatever else is next leadership to reimagine what our nation will be. That's Joe and Kamala They can give us the future that we need and for just a moment I wanna take you there So picture it picture. It's 2021. It's a beautiful morning and you're sipping your coffee. You pick up the paper. A headline isn't about some late night Tweet storm. Instead, it's a story about the children our children who will benefit from universal pre-kindergarten you turn on the television and the anchors aren't talking about you know Corona virus outbreaks on college campuses. Instead, they're talking about how schools have the federal guidance they need and there's a plan to make sure that students and educators have the protection they need to stay healthy and safe. And when you go to work, your classrooms aren't crumbling from years of neglect that have been modernized and when a student faces challenges at home, she can go to the social worker who has been hired to support her you and your students need to feel safe in schools and you need to feel safe and be reassured that finally finally someone is standing up to the NRA and keeping our children and our schools safe and. When you're watching a program and they cut to the president of the United States in the first lady who is a teacher standing beside him, you don't turn the channel. For kids from the other room because you want them to hear what the president of the United States has to say a commander in chief you can trust and honest leader who brings people together instead of tearing our families apart a president and a vice president that you can be proud of and that's the future. We're fighting for. so keep up the great work, keep organizing and volunteering and speaking up because. All of these individual actions that we take today will add up to something powerful this November together we will win so I wanna end by saying thank you again. Thank you for all that you do for your students every single day. Thank you for fighting for our future and thank you for your idea for your faith in an idea that's bigger than any one of us and that is we will. Are going to build a better nation because we are gonna do this together. Thank you educators. Oh and and thank you Uh future First lady and her friend and colleague and forever friend and colleague. Thank you so much doctor Jill I know that you're gonna be busy tonight in watching uh and and we're so excited so honored to have you here tonight. take care um and what I wanted. Now the most uh you know there, there's so many important issues so many important questions. we asked all the candidates and it's important that you know where Joe Biden stands on some of the questions that we had a chance to answer him. Let's let's watch this video. Alright, these are my people now. Was there was a none I had named Sister Michael when I was a kid went to a Catholic grade school and another one was a Uh I guess my favorite teacher was a guy named Professor Ingersoll who taught me more about uh basic human rights and decency than anybody ever has as a teacher there. They're the people that I look back on as teaching in law, school myself and try to figure out what did they communicate to me that I like to be able to communicate to my students? I got detention a lot um most of the attention I got was not so much what happened in the classroom, what happened outside the classroom and pull on practical jokes and uh that was, but I had a tent. I got the attention. We'll recess if there was a ball in the yard, I was having a catch whether it's a football or baseball and uh if we were, it was always something that Athletic II was about to a good athlete and I loved love to compete so. Well, what my mother made for me uh peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It is a favorite lunch I have and we didn't we we we had a cafeteria but one school lunch program and I wouldn't in a position where mom and dad were able to give me the money for school and so I had a healthy lunch. My parents always packed me a healthy lunch. Sesame Street and I think it's because our children and our grandchildren when they're a little, they enjoyed it. the most I probably watched more of Sesame Street that I've done anything else. My wife is a teacher, an educator as a been on Sesame Street and uh it's it's and I think it's a significant learning tool that's been out there. I don't know how many kids are probably learn their alphabet. uh you know from Sesame Street, but there's a lot of really unique characters and that's always up and they. Children in a way that encourages them to be better. Former Secretary of Education. Former One elaborate sure I have if I have to I was able to take up my phone. I have a two albums all the songs she sung everything was about being up. it was it was about demanding to be treated with respect anyway. I just I just really like to do something. So we did we do need to know all about the next president of the United States and right now I want to invite the director of the NEA Campaigns and Elections Kerry Pugh to tell us about what's next K great. Thanks so much. Lee I love that video. What a week I'm KP and I'm the political director at NEA and I am so fired up throughout the DNC. Has been center stage so when that gavel goes down tonight and the balloons drop we have to pivot and we have to get to work This race is not gonna be one for many a headquarters. it is gonna be one back home with you all from state to state. So here's what I need you to do right now. I need you to visit educators for Joe.com again, visit educators for Joe.com and if you. Right now because you're on your device, pulling a piece of paper and write it down. Next when you visit educators for.com, I need you to sign up to be an early vote educator The last thing I need you to do so stay with me is to make a list because it is going to be one by all of you in the state. We need each and everyone of you and anyone on this call on the zoom is incredibly influential. so make your list of your friends. Your family members your network of who you can influence so visit educators for Joe.com sign up to be an early. Educator and make that list of the people that you can influence because it is going to take every single one of us. so enjoy tonight. we have 75 days till the weekend That's election day and I am now going to turn it over to Becky Pringle our vice president and our President-elect Becky. Thank you Carrie and thank you. Johanna. Thank you so much for taking time to join your. I wanna again thank uh Jill Doctor Joe Biden and I also want you all to give it up for our director of campaign and elections. Miss Kerry Pugh, who you just heard from and the entire staff for their amazing work this weekend throughout this campaign come on give it up, give it up, give it up. Thank you. Oh my goodness. On behalf of the NEA leadership team, Princess Kim. I want to thank all of you or NEA Member delegates at this convention and activists who have joined us tonight from across the country. Thank you for representing your union to passionately this week and always NEA members uh made up the largest group of delegates at this convention. Yeah and this party knows this country knows that educators are the. Forced to be reckon with and we will use that force to demand justice and fairness civility and equity we will use that force to save the soul of this nation. Let me end by asking you all to join me in a very special expression of appreciation. We can't honor her. And in person in Milwaukee as it should have been but we can surround her with a virtual hug and an innovation and love my dear Lilly my colleague my friend, my sister, the members who have joined us tonight and the 3000000 more across this country and around the world need to take a moment to just say thank you. Thank you for your passion and your fire. Thank you for your dedication and your will thank you for always using your teacher voice to represent a soul incredibly well, you've inspired us to be that powerful collective voice that will get us a new president and not just that because. Your vision and what a Congresswoman Hays Call that I'm apologetic. fierce determination you positioned us the NEA, the largest labor union in this country to be partners with our next President, Joe Biden and our next uh uh Vice President Kamala Harris and our. First Lady Jill to actually be bold and visionary systemic transformational leaders We together will bring about that change that change that's rooted in racial and social and economic justice. Lily. That's because of you. you our. Credible president Thank you so much Lily. We love you. Well, I love you back and um that's again not fair uh but what an incredible honor to serve with you with Princess uh with everybody on this call who's an activist now enough of that. let's go get us a new president Enjoy tonight. Enjoy. Bye bye.