Heather Whitcraft for GCEA

My Bio

I am running for GCEA Vice President and ESP Member at Large because I am deeply committed to advocating for the needs of all our educators, support staff, and students. As an active member of the GCEA and a passionate community advocate, I have always worked to support school staff, students, and families. I am also involved with Board of Education elections, where my work helps create informed voters; encouraging our community to understand the impact of local elections and to participate in shaping the future of our schools. Informed civic engagement matters because local decisions affect staffing, curriculum, budgets, and policies that directly impact students, their families, and educators every day.

In my roles as ESPAN Captain, SOGI Chair, and ESP Membership Chair, I have fought to ensure that your voices are heard and your rights are protected. As ESP Member at Large, I will work tirelessly to represent the interests of our educational support professionals, ensuring that our working conditions, pay, and benefits reflect the value we bring to our schools.

As Vice President, I will continue to amplify the concerns of our members at every level of decision-making, from the classroom to the boardroom. I believe in a GCEA that prioritizes unity, equity, and the well-being of all its members. My work on the ESP and Equity Committees has given me the tools to advocate for real change, and I am ready to bring that experience to the leadership table.

With over 20 years of leadership experience and about 15 years of advocacy within education, I know what it takes to fight for what’s right and make meaningful change. My early advocacy days were spent fighting against standardized testing in Gloucester Township at the dawn of PARCC’s tenure, where I worked alongside educators and families to resist high-stakes testing that undermined our students’ true potential.

I am running because our community deserves a leader who is dedicated to fairness, inclusivity, and support. Together, we can strengthen our association and ensure a brighter future for all of us.

My Key Issues