Hillary Clinton listens as SEIU Local 99 member Claudia Iraheta speaks about the need for more investment in Head Start and other early care and education programs.
SEIU International members from across the country who work with our littlest learners vow to make Early Care & Education a HIGH PROFILE issue in 2016 Presidential Race!
And we’ve gotten off to a great start. On May 20th in Chicago, Hillary Rodham Clinton—very early in her presidential campaign—sat down with early educators from around the country. Included in this intimate group was our own SEIU Local 99 Executive Board Member, Head Start Teacher Claudia Iraheta. They talked about the need for meaningful, effective investment in our country’s early education system…including worthy wages for those of us caring for and preparing our children for success in school.
“I feel like Hillary really heard us and came to understand our dedication and our struggles. I went to Chicago to put a human face on how hard early educators work to prepare children for school and support families while we ourselves struggle to provide for our own families and pay off college loans on low salaries. She told us that she will look for ways to protect education funding. I know that when she makes decisions about education in the future, she’ll remember meeting us that day in Chicago.
“While I was talking to her I kept accidentally calling her Madam President instead of Madam Secretary.* We laughed together about that. I’ll never forget that day.”
Claudia Iraheta
Head Start Teacher, MAOF
SEIU Local 99 Executive Board Member
*Because Hillary Clinton’s last position in government was U.S. Secretary of State, it’s customary to address her as Madame Secretary.
Here’s a post on Hillary’s official Twitter site from that day…
