The most effective help often comes from people who know your world firsthand. Craig Harper, executive director of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), joins us to share how a Georgia-grown, educator-led association supports 91,000+ members with advocacy, coaching, grants, and professional learning—while keeping dues low and dollars local. From the earliest days in 1975 to a milestone 50th anniversary, PAGE’s story is about choice, stability, and staying power for educators who want practical support and a strong voice at the Capitol.
We dig into the origin of PAGE as an independent alternative focused on Georgia’s classrooms, and how that choice still pays off: a visible presence at State Board and agency meetings, a respected daily Capitol report used statewide, and a legislative team that testifies with data and member input. Craig highlights how surveys, focus groups, and on-the-ground listening shape policy positions on compensation, benefits, safety and security, and workload. Beyond advocacy, PAGE invests directly in people: $100K in classroom grants, $30K in scholarships for para-pros, aspiring teachers, and advanced degrees, and the annual STAR program celebrating top seniors and the educators who shaped them.
One of the most powerful tools we discuss is PAGE Coaching—confidential, one-on-one support for relational and cultural challenges that might otherwise drive good educators from the field. Hundreds have already used coaching to navigate conflict, clarify expectations, and choose to stay. We also talk about statewide representation on PAGE’s board, collaboration with GAEL, GSBA, and GSSA, and why membership is a smart move for teachers and leaders alike. If you care about teacher retention, burnout solutions, school safety, and meaningful education policy in Georgia, this conversation offers clear takeaways and practical next steps.
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