"My teacher needs more walking room," the second-grader said Thursday while at the Utah Education Association convention with his parents. Even at 7, he knows his class is too crowded.

The state's largest teacher's union couldn't have a better spokesperson. As the group launched its second year of the "No Excuses! Invest in Public Schools" campaign Thursday, Noah's parents were among thousands of teachers attending the two-day annual UEA conference at the Salt Palace Convention Center. A chance to mingle with colleagues and receive training, the convention is also a platform to announce the UEA's political agenda.

Telling the public that directing money into public schools grows the economy, the UEA would like to see dollars focused on lowering class size, paying for tools, textbooks and technology - not to mention quality teachers. The state is facing a "silent crisis," according to UEA President Kim Campbell, thanks to large numbers of educators retiring or leaving the profession. Paying people more and giving them resources such as mentoring will encourage them to stay, she said.

Valarie Pollard, a Davis School District teacher, spoke of overhearing her daughters discuss why they would never become educators after watching the science teacher work two jobs to pay her bills.

"What a loss for the hundreds of lives they could have touched," she said.

Noah's mom, Pamela, has 30 students in her third-grade class at West Valley Elementary. In helping the struggling students, those in the middle and higher levels are often left somewhat to themselves, she said.

"It's too many bodies, too many needs to meet," she said.

Then there's the problem of the cost of materials to make a classroom run. Her husband, Troy, also an elementary school teacher, has spent anywhere from $500 to $2,000 in a year to pay for supplies.

With the state holding millions of dollars in surplus, Utah has a choice to make, Campbell said. "We have the money," the UEA president said. "It is no longer a question of ability - it is a question of will."

jlyon@sltrib.com