The Four Rs:

About Us

This work was born from the experience of J. Manuel Herrera, a school board trustee for a high profile school district in Silicon Valley, the East Side Union High School District in San Jose, California. Manuel will have completed 20 years of service as a trustee when he completes his current term of office in 2010 (he was first elected to office in 1990).

“Many issues have moved me over the years, but none more than knowing that, year after year, public school teachers find themselves having to go out-of-pocket for classroom supplies for which they are never reimbursed.

"At the time this website was launched, only a few weeks had passed since I had met with all of the staff of a large school in my area. Nearly every teacher raised their hand when asked if they are going out-of-pocket for classroom supplies. It doesn’t matter what school you’re at, if you ask a public education teacher if they are using their own money for essential classroom supplies, most teachers will confirm that they routinely do this and are never reimbursed or even recognized for this incredible display of dedication and commitment to our kids.

"I believe that any school district can implement the Four Rs (Recognition, Reimbursement, Research, and Reform) of this program and, within 2-3 years, make permanent, systematic changes for teachers in their community so that teachers in their area never again have to go into their own pocket for classroom supplies needed to give our children the best education possible.

"People of the community, we can do this! This is a human-scale problem that can be solved by a caring and passionate alliance between the community and our teachers.”

     Manuel

J. Manuel Herrera, Founder and CEO
Alliance of Community and Teachers