WASHINGTON -
They set the policies and direction for public school education across the country. And on Tuesday, members of the National Education Association got a visit from Vice-President Joe Biden at their annual convention, held in our nation's capital this year.
Inside the Washington Convention Center, the NEA Convention looked more like a political convention, and it felt like one too, as the vice-president addressed 9,000 educators from across the country and Northwest Ohio.
Members of the NEA went wild as the vice-president took to the podium, and he responded with his own praise of them.
"You chose to be teachers because you care! You chose to become teachers because you want to make this country better!" shouted the vice-president.
Biden spent most of the rest of his speech slamming Republicans, specifically presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney – saying Romney would not make the country better.
"They criticize you, and they blame you. They make you the fall-guy. They should be thinking of ways to help you make your job easier, not make your job harder," said Biden of Republicans.
And that's something Macomb High School Spanish teacher Jennifer Long says she feels all too often.
"He sort of has our backs. He knows what want to focus on," said Long.
Long says the vice-president's speech energized the crowd.
"I thought it was awesome. I think he brought the president's message to us, focused on what our priorities are, why we chose this profession, and what we want in the best interest of our students is great public schools for everyone," she said.
Safe to say the Obama-Biden ticket has the vote and most, if not all, of the educators in the convention hall.
After the NEA Convention, Vice-President Biden headed to Pennsylvania where for a campaign event in his hometown of Scranton. Meanwhile, the NEA Convention continues through Thursday.
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