Miller participates in NEA conference

2016 Jul 26

Samuel Miller of LaGrange was one of two Trine University students who traveled to Washington, DC, for the National Education Association Student Leadership Conference (NEA-SLC), held June 29-July 2.

Miller, a sophomore, and Mikaela Gerba of Highland, Indiana, a senior, both social studies education majors, participated in the conference, held at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill Hotel.

Miller became involved with the Student Education Association (SEA) at Trine University when he started at Trine in fall 2015. SEA members from across Indiana elected him to represent the state at the NEA-SLC.

During the conference, David Johns, executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, served as keynote speaker and hosted a panel of educators and related professionals.

"I learned more about the problems facing our youth - specifically institutional racism - and heard a run-down on the effects of the new Every Student Succeeds Act, which is replacing No Child Left Behind," he said. "More importantly, I made contacts with fellow aspiring educators and got to discuss our passion and ways to improve not only our local SEA chapter at Trine, but also the Indiana SEA."

Miller also attended the National Education Association Representative Assembly, a gathering of thousands of education professionals, which included a guest speech by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

"I was able to witness nearly 6,000 members from across the nation bring up their concerns and action plans to help better the education system in America," Miller said. "As an aspiring educator I was part of the Student Program Caucus, where we took strong stances on certain new business items. This taught me more about the democratic process and certain tips and tricks those who vote use to help get their concerns supported.

"As a social studies education major this opportunity was invaluable in helping me gain first-hand experiences in our nation's capital that I can take with me into my future classroom."