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Teacher's Union Weighs In On State, National Races

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-770301.mp3

Kansas City, MO – With the economic crisis and the war in Iraq on people's minds, the issue of education often gets put on the back burner. It has barely been mentioned in the presidential debates so far.

The country's largest teacher's union, the National Education Association, is trying to make sure public education is not overlooked, and that the votes of teachers are not taken for granted by either party.

The NEA typically endorses Democratic candidates, and this year is no different. They're backing Barack Obama for president and Jay Nixon for Governer of Missouri.

KCUR's Susan Wilson caught up with two of the union's leaders this week, National Vice President Lily Eskelsen and Missouri Chapter President Chris Guinther. Lily Eskelsen started out explaining what issues are important for teachers in the upcoming election.

This story was produced for KC Currents. To listen on your own schedule, subscribe to the KC Currents Podcast.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Susan admits that her “first love” was radio, being an avid listener since childhood. However, she spent much of her career in mental health, healthcare administration, and sports psychology (Susan holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Bloch School of Business at UMKC.) In the meantime, Wilson satisfied her journalistic cravings by doing public speaking, providing “expert” interviews for local television, and being a guest commentator/contributor to KPRS’s morning drive time show and the teen talk show “Generation Rap.”
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