Teaching at Kennedy High School for 40 years, I became keenly aware of the need for strong legislative support of schools and teachers. Legislators such as Art Staed, who listened to the needs of educators, made a huge difference in the quality of education we provided students.

Recently, public schools and their teachers have come under attack by those who would like to divert the funding our public schools receive into various for-profit ventures, such as charter schools and questionable online education schemes. Because Cedar Rapids schools are so strong, these efforts haven’t caught on here, but their backers keep trying.

As a voter, you have the power to support our strong local public schools by electing legislators who have a proven record of supporting education. My choice in House District 66 is Staed. He knows the needs of Iowa students and their families because he holds advanced degrees in teaching and school administration, and because he has worked as both a teacher and a legislator. He has previously served on the House Education Committee, and when elected in November, he will again be a strong voice for education.

Gary Lindsay

Cedar Rapids