CSEA member honored with 2023 RISE award in Washington D.C.

By David Ngô

On April 25, Brittney Clark of Newman-Crows Landing Chapter 551 was honored with the prestigious 2023 Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award at the AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Accompanied by member leaders as part of CSEA’s federal lobbying efforts, Clark, who was a 2022 CSEA Member of the Year, delivered a captivating speech to attendees from classified unions in Minnesota, Utah and Washington state.

“In the last three years, I have learned that students today require a very different approach. Today’s students are growing up in a very different environment from the one I did many years ago,” Clark said in her speech. She serves as president of Newman-Crows Landing Chapter 551.

“The daily discourse with my students has inspired me to explore new ways to support their education, especially when it comes to their emotional well-being and mental health.”

As co-advisor for Orestimba High School’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Club, Clark has been instrumental in addressing the mental and emotional needs of her students. Throughout her visit to D.C., meeting with members of Congress and their staff as well as fellow RISE Award winners from other classified unions, the Newman native shared her personal experience as a library media clerk going above and beyond for her students, while connecting with classified counterparts from across the country.

“I have seen firsthand what lack of funding in key programs can do to our students and community.”

- Brittney Clark, Newman-Crows Landing Chapter 551

“Seeing the larger impact of classified workers is rarely celebrated outside of CSEA, but it was very special to see multiple classified employees honored and is something I'll carry with me for a long time,” Clark explained. “I loved hearing the stories of the other RISE awardees and imagining the impacts they are having in their own states and schools.”

The RISE Award was created by CSEA and the National Coalition of Classified Education Support Employee Unions to recognize the essential role that all classified professionals play in education.

With nearly 2.8 million employees across the nation, classified staff make up one-third of the public education workforce. Clark’s trip to Washington, D.C. represents not only the far-reaching advocacy of CSEA, but also the strength of classified workers coming together to advocate for support of public education. “While in D.C., we met with member leaders from classified employee unions in Washington state, Utah and Minnesota as part of our coalition, the United Classified School Employees,” said Association President Adam Weinberger.

“Our collaboration with these unions has yielded triumphs like the federal RISE Awards and our coordinated lobbying efforts gives classified employees a leading voice at the national level.”

Clark says one of the highlights of her Washington, D.C. visit was visiting Senate offices to speak with lawmakers on important issues facing classified workers today.

Whether discussing the challenges classified employees face today or the critical need to federally fund school programs nationwide, Clark’s time in our nation’s capitol shows how CSEA members are advocating beyond their school communities.

“I have seen firsthand what lack of funding in key programs can do to our students and community,” Clark admitted. “Getting to walk through the hallways of the Senate offices and talk with lawmakers and staff was an experience I will cherish.”