UEA on rural road with message

The Utah Education Association is hitting rural Utah this week to spread the word about investing in public schools.

"It's only when we empower ourselves to speak up for children and schools that we will see the positive changes we need," said UEA President Pat Rusk, who went on the road Monday in the 18,000-member teachers union's third annual road trip.

The UEA wagon is scheduled to stop in Panguitch, Kanab, Hurricane, St. George, Minersville, Beaver, Salina and Manti. Next week, the group will stop in Granite, Jordan, Davis, Salt Lake, Murray and Tooele school districts.

During visits, cookouts and fund-raisers, the union invites teachers, parents and others to listen to the group's message about investing in schools, dialogue with UEA leaders and take an active role in their communities. The Cat-in-the-Hat, the Dr. Seuss character and face of the National Education Association's Read Across America campaign, will read to schoolchildren.

"The UEA is about advocating for teachers," Rusk said. "Our members aren't waiting for someone to rescue them. Knowledge is power, and we have a lot of both. It's time we learned how to put them to use."