MCLA prof elected to NEA Executive Committee
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| Len Paolillo |
“I was absolutely thrilled to be elected,” Paolillo said. “It was a real honor.”
MCLA President Mary K. Grant said Paolillo will be an important addition to the committee.
“Not only will higher education have a strong voice at the table, Len brings with him many, many years of experience in helping to build a strong institution at MCLA, supporting the success of countless students, and working to raise the profile of public higher education across the Commonwealth and the Country,” Grant said.
Paolillo, a Pittsfield resident, will begin his three-year term on September 1. He expects to spend between seven and eight weeks in Washington, D.C., each year, as he attends monthly meetings and works on strategies and directions for public education decisions in the United States. He also will travel to various states throughout the country, talking about the NEA’s goals and vision to improve public education.
Until November, Paolillo will work very closely with the NEA in an attempt to elect candidates whose voting records are positive for education, including candidates for the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. He said the NEA endorsed presidential candidate Barak Obama because of his “excellent voting record” affecting public education across the country.
“We’re trying to get members to realize that all educational decisions are political decisions, and we want them to understand how these decisions affect their lives and those of their students,” Paolillo said. “The working conditions of teachers, professors and educational support professionals are the learning conditions of students. That’s something that should never be forgotten.”
