So public education did benefit in specific areas this legislative session.

However, this question still remains: "Who will step up to the plate for teachers?" The connection between supporting teachers and how those actions benefit our students is often not given great value.

This session missed several opportunities to directly support public school teachers, namely by not passing the statutory increments bill. This bill would have recognized and rewarded not only experience in the teacher corps, but also satisfactory performance. Improving public education will not happen without supporting the practitioners who provide direct services to the students.

Too many decision-makers seem to view teachers through the filter of their own student memories. What is demanded of education and educators today is exceedingly different and exceedingly taxing.

Most legislative actions are of benefit, yet they remain rather piecemeal when addressing the crises faced by the teaching profession.

We must create a profession in which people clamor to enter into education programs so that we are assured the best and brightest are in the front of our classrooms. Let's begin working together now in preparation for a history-making session next year.