Dodd and Mehaffey - Walk A Day In My Shoes 2008

Sen. Chris Dodd Walks in the Shoes of Head Start Teacher Colleen Mehaffey in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

© David Lienemann - Sen. Chris Dodd walked a day in the shoes of Head Start teacher Colleen Mehaffey.

As the third presidential candidate to “walk a day in the shoes” of an SEIU member, Senator Chris Dodd on July 26th experienced firsthand what life is like for SEIU member and Head Start teacher Colleen Mehaffey.

Before 7 a.m., he joined Mehaffey and her family for breakfast, then accompanied Mehaffey to work where he spent time assisting her with classroom activities including reading, writing, and painting for a dozen 3- and 4-year-olds.

As a teacher for more than 25 years for the federal government sponsored Head Start program, Mehaffey holds a deep commitment to her work. But without sufficient funding from Washington, she worries there won’t be enough teachers ready to take her place when it’s time for her to retire.

Limited resources already necessitate that she and her co-workers clean bathrooms, kitchens and other facilities at the school.

Recently, thanks to having a voice on the job as a member of SEIU Local 199, Mehaffey and her fellow union members negotiated for a custodial company to take over these responsibilities.

Colleen Mehaffey: “Our next president needs to have a plan to ensure that Head Start has the resources to help put our children on a path to success, not just here in Iowa, but in every state.

… Unfortunately, many people who would be great teachers go elsewhere since they can’t support a family on a Head Start teacher’s paycheck.”

- SEIU video on YouTube
- View more photos on Flickr
- More about Mehaffey
- Press release

- Tell the presidential candidates what life is like in your shoes.

All Candidates Invited to Walk A Day in a Member’s Shoes
“Walk a Day in My Shoes” is about making sure politicians truly know what the real world is like for the rest of us. SEIU members are inviting all candidates for political office to spend time in our lives, accompanying us on the job and spending time at home with our families.