LEXINGTON, Ky. — Though eyes around the commonwealth were on Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., presidential candidate Kamala Harris has officially picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Before entering politics, Walz was a longtime school teacher, a welcome sign for some education advocates in Kentucky.

What You Need To Know

  • Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz joins presidential candidate Kamala Harris as her running mate on the Democratic ticket

  • The candidate’s background in education highlights the potential concerns of teachers and students across the country

  • Laura Hartke, a longtime educator and organizer with the American Federation of Teachers says she's glad to have a teacher at the highest level of government

Laura Hartke was a longtime educator with 16 years in Galveston County and seven in Fayette County and is now a full-time member of the national teachers union, the American Federation of Teachers. 

She says right now she says she’s got major priorities. “Teachers’ working conditions are a bit rough right now. As you know, we’ve had a problem with teacher shortages. And I feel like there’s so much work to do. I couldn’t do it full time and also tried to teach,” Hartke said. 

The AFT creates resources and opportunities, addresses challenges, and advocates for key representation. It’s why they’re excited about Walz’s recent nomination.

Walz is a member of the AFT who helped put together legislation for free lunch programs for all public school students in Minnesota. 

“We can’t educate kids when they’re hungry, right? It’s one of the main things for people who can come to work and be productive when they’re starving. And it’s the same thing for our kiddos,” Hartke explained. 

Hartke says the governor has shown his support for those committed to their community time after time. 

“He was a social studies teacher, and he was a football coach. So it’s nice to have somebody at one of the highest levels in government who has the same mission as us because aft is community focused and real solutions for kids. So we already know he stands with us on all that,” she explained. She says he also stands with the AFT who say no to voucher programs for state-approved private school funding.

Here in Kentucky, voters will have their own decision to make this November on Amendment Two which would allow the general assembly to provide financial support for schools outside the public school system.

Hartke says while the election is imperative and concerns such as Amendment Two are on the ballot, the effort to support students, teachers and families never ends.

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