Teachers and Social Workers Support Barrett

Mike Barrett, Democratic nominee for state Senate in the upcoming Nov. 6 election, has been endorsed by the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) and National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

Representing more than 8,200 providers of mental health counseling, substance abuse therapy and other services, NASW provides training opportunities for its members and advocates on their behalf.  MTA provides professional development programs and public policy advocacy for tens of thousands of public school teachers.

“It’s important for me to listen to the social workers and teachers who work on the front lines of human services and public education,” Barrett says.  “Their perspectives differ, often in startling ways, from the conventional wisdom you sometimes hear.”

Barrett’s involvement with education and human services goes back a long way.  When he served previously in the state Senate, he co-chaired a special Standards and Curriculum committee that drafted key provisions of the state’s 1993 Education Reform Act.  

For his advocacy on behalf of people with physical, emotional and cognitive challenges, Barrett also earned Legislator of the Year honors from the Greater Boston Association of Retarded Citizens and the Mass. Development Disabilities Council, and received the Harry Dow Award for Distinguished Service to Older Americans.