Joshua Brown

Thank you State Rep. Heather Matson and State Representative Tracy Ehlert for taking time to meet with Iowans across the state. It was great to hear from citizens near Mt. Vernon about successes of our public schools in addition to thoughts about challenges and solutions.

Proud of our state team for the time they are taking to support our union organizing work in Iowa and continuing to grow in their leadership capacity.

Today we kicked off the 2025 NEA National Organizing Conference.

We have spent most of the morning in breakout groups learning from leaders across the nation on what is working well foe them and how to work around common challenges in the Bill of Rights campaign.

Meeting with leaders from across the country to work on our ISEA Bill of Rights campaign and how to support our ESP locals in creating organizing plans to advance issues important to them. #WeLoveOurESPs

Drove to Chicago today to for three back-to-back meetings for work in Chicago this week. Seeing show 106 solo tonight before the meetings begin tomorrow morning. I also had the opportunity to visit the birthplace of Chicago style pizza for dinner before the show.

Thank you DMEA members for collecting items for school pantries at your social. Unfortunately, our members of Congress continue to be unwilling to create a bipartisan solution to reopen the government. Your work to help support their students and communities at a time of crisis makes me very proud.

This afternoon, we met w/ Waterloo Superintendent to talk about school culture & how they measure growth in staff satisfaction & celebrating success. We also got an overview of the progress that is being made on Waterloo United. A lot of things are in the works to continue to improve in Waterloo!

Spending the day in Waterloo Schools with WEA President Jamie Oberheu and ISEA UniServ Director Ray Feuss. There were a lot of positive comments about the increased union - district admin collaboration. I was able to see great teaching & learning happening in every building we visited this morning.

Last night I joined member organizers from across the state for their virtual monthly check in before catching the end of the WEA- Waterloo Schools Education Association Executive Board meeting. It is great to see the work our members are doing to strengthen our union across the state of Iowa.

Last week I visited the culinary arts program at DMPS. For dinner, students planned the menu, cooked the food, artistically plated the dishes & served the meal. It was a great experience to enjoy an elegant meal while supporting our public schools students doing amazing things.

Today I had the opportunity to listen to parents, educators and Grant Wood AEA retired staff talk about experiences with AEA changes along with former ISEA member Leslie Sand and her son Rob.

ISEA hosted a food drive during a conversation w/ Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski & Christina Bohannan around how unions must lead the way. This is 1 small step to fill gaps that Rep Miller-Meeks & Congress created w/ a partisan stalemate. Congress needs a bipartisan solution to reopen our government.

Joining the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO at their event to hear from the candidates they are supporting for Governor and Attorney General. ISEA has not made a recommendation yet, but it is always good to hear from candidates as they talk about the importance of labor unions.

91% of IA students attend public school, but insiders in Des Moines are shipping our tax dollars to an unaccountable private school voucher program.

We need a governor committed to investing in student success, respecting teachers, & a renewed focus on the partnership between families & schools.

I am substitute teaching 5th grade today! Was not sure what to expect on Halloween but it has been great so far. I’m thankful for the opportunity to take time to be in the classroom multiple times throughout the year.

Thank you to Anne Drischer and Jenn Stalder for joining me today for a press conference on the importance of SNAP to the students and families of Iowa. We call on Congress to urge the Trump administration to fund SNAP. Take action at www.nea.org/advocating-f...

Yesterday, I was able to join aspiring educators that are currently in middle school on their visit to Central Campus as part of their Dream to Teach program. We had great conversations and took a tour of the campus After my visit, I am excited for the future of our profession.

Trump Administration Threatens Support for Children With Disabilities Earlier this month, the Trump Administration took aim at a vital program with deep bipartisan support that provides screening, accommodations, and interventions for 7.5 million disabled children each....

Clearly, it is no secret that this administration does not care about children—especially those with disabilities in special education.

Rather than investing in these students, they are disrupting IDEA and putting it on the back burner at HHS.

This is just their newest way to dismantle education.

I saw several classes in action during my visit to Garfield Elementary & the Clarinda Education Association’s partnership w/ the PTA which ensures every student is able to pick out a new book to take home. It is great to see local unions partnering w/ parents to support their students!

Last night educators were able to join other community members and leaders in a retro-themed evening to celebrate the great work the Science Center of Iowa has done in our state. It is always great to be with other supporters of science and those who help young people have fun learning experiences.

I am thankful that I live in a country that allows those who disagree with the government to gather peacefully and speak out. Thank you to ISEA member and public school educator Samy El-Baroudi for speaking about the attacks on our public schools and the students who are served by them.

A Sunday off in NYC!

A Saturday off in NYC!

Three shows I was able to see in between meetings in DC last week.

The state presidents from around the country met and talked about ways to continue improving in our work to engage locals into the organizing work that we must do. In addition our NEA Directors lobbied Congress and now have their board meeting today and tomorrow to complete their business.

I am thankful for opportunities to speak with fellow union members, candidates & community members about the importance of strong unions in order to have strong public schools. We discussed the challenges facing workers today & the importance of coming together to support our students & educators.

Thank you to Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre for allowing young people to share their stories with our community. If you missed tonight, additional stories will be presented by Waukee High School's Thespian Troupe #1451 next Monday, October 13th in Waukee High School Library at 7pm.

Thank you to our state board who met this weekend to do the business of our union including adopting an Educator Bill of Rights that we will begin rolling out soon!

Attended the Iowa Labor History Society’s production of Clarence Darrow in the Old Capitol Senate Chamber. There are additional performances in Waterloo, Des Moines, Council Bluffs, and Sioux City this week.