We’re going through some dark days. I don’t know about you, but it’s taking a heavy toll.

We’re worried about the safety of our families and millions of unvaccinated Texans, especially kids. We’re deeply distressed that ICU beds are filling up, many of them with kids, when all-out efforts to get Texans vaccinated and wearing masks would save lives. We too are frustrated by elected leaders more focused on hot-button, divisive issues than waging a unified fight to reduce the spread of COVID and keep our communities safe. Ensuring kids catch up academically in safe and supportive school environments should be a shared priority, not a political and legal battleground.

If you have wanted to scream and just turn on Netflix to escape, I’m right there with you. Last night, my son and I watched The Princess Bride and had a mock sword fight, and the silliness of that eclectic, mission-driven group was just what I needed at that moment.

In these rough and scary times, please know there are many reasons we feel hopeful about the next year and the important, good work ahead.

Here are a few rays of sunshine peeking through the dark clouds:

By raising our voices together in support of masks in schools, you have helped encourage numerous school districts all over the state to follow public health recommendations and protect kids and teachers.
During the regular legislative session this year, Democrats and Republicans worked together in collaboration with advocates to pass several good bills. As a result, to give you just one example, children walking into pre-k classes this fall will no longer have more than 22 kids in their classroom. Working together, legislators and advocates also pushed through other smart legislation on health care, support for emergent bilingual students, child care, children’s mental health, foster care, and more.
To implement these and other good bills, dedicated staffers at state agencies are working hard, often under difficult circumstances, to get the job done.
Similarly, there are so many teachers, counselors, janitors, cafeteria staff, school bus drivers, nurses, and others who are doing their best in very tough circumstances to make school a welcoming, safe, and enriching place for millions of kids going back to class this fall.
While Texas leaders failed again to pass Medicaid expansion, the work we’ve all done together over the last several months and years got the attention of policymakers in Washington, DC. Congress is now working on a plan to provide a health coverage option to uninsured adults in Texas and the 11 other states that have turned down Medicaid expansion.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Amid the darkness, we have to hold onto hope, recognize the impact we can make, and marshal our resources and energy to keep up the fight. We’ll stay in touch about ways we can continue to work together for Texas kids and families.

Thanks for hanging in there and doing everything you can to support Texas kids.