As an educator, a teacher, a school administrator and a mother of children who attend area public schools, I was outraged to hear about dishonest tactics being used against state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) by partisan operatives intent on misleading the public about his stellar record as an advocate for our schools, children and teachers.
I appreciate that TimesLedger covered this incident and in an evenhanded manner. Apparently, individuals who did not have the decency to identify themselves were handing out literature falsely suggesting Padavan had not fought for our schools in the budget in Albany.
I have taught and administered in Queens public schools for over a decade, and through it all Padavan has consistently fought for more funding and improvements to our public schools. There has been no other independent or effective advocate for our schools through the years. That is partly why the United Federation of Teachers has supported him in the past. Anyone who says otherwise has ulterior motives.
Saida Rodriguez-Tabone
Bayside
