Professional Development

By Chandra Madafferi, President and CEO, Michigan Education Association Improving student literacy here in Michigan promises to be a major topic throughout 2026, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer committing to it as a top issue for her final year in office, as noted in her final State of the State address last week. Whether a student is a struggling or an…

Puzzuoli MEA is creating pathways for members to secure less expensive graduate credits, a move made more vital since the U.S. Department of Education announced plans to cap federal student loans available to pursue certain graduate degrees, including education and social work. (The comment period on that proposed new rule — which is drawing concerns from associations representing education and…

Dionna Roberts Dionna Roberts wears multiple hats, but she likes to say, “Literacy is my ‘jam,’ meaning my job and motivation for the work I do.” A former teacher and literacy coach, now a principal and current president of the Michigan Reading Association (MRA), Roberts describes her core philosophy as a balance between the technical “science of reading” and the…

Andrea Ward MEA member Andrea Ward knows the devastating effects that reading struggles can have on a child’s self-esteem. Ward was diagnosed with dyslexia in fifth grade and has dedicated her life to helping others who struggle in school. “Reading struggles shape who (kids) think they are and what they believe about their ability levels,” she said. “I remember believing…

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor As in most stories of change, the timeline of MEA member David Pelc’s teaching transformation marks a few key events building up to the pivotal moment. David Pelc Early on, a volunteer experience spent reading books with youngsters in disadvantaged communities hooked him on the joys of teaching and spurred him to become an…

One of the missions that MEA-Retired member James McCloughan enjoys the most these days is serving as chairman of the Medal of Honor Character Development Program. The program provides free training and curriculum for educators in grades K-5 and 6-12 to teach students core values. Lessons are designed by educators and built around the stories of recipients of the Congressional…

MEA Presidents’ Academy forum brainstorms policy changes to meet student needs on high school requirements, literacy By Chandra Madafferi MEA President & CEO In October, more than sixty teachers and academic leaders from across Michigan — representing every grade level and region — gathered for a dynamic discussion led by local presidents committed to reimagining the future of education. The…

Paraeducators have long said they needed higher pay plus better training to improve staff retention and equip them for the vital and challenging work they do in schools. That message was heard loud and clear at an MEA paraeducator summit in 2023. From there, a new statewide training series was developed in partnership with the Michigan Association of Administrators of…

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor MEA member Corey Rosser was named the 2025‑25 Michigan Teacher of the Year at a ceremony in May attended by his students. When MEA member Corey Rosser first sought a teaching job after college 20 years ago, the landscape was competitive and his only offer came from a school that didn’t fit the dream…

By Dr Charles Hulme, CEO & Founder of OxEd & Assessment, Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Education, University of Oxford Oral language is the heart of literacy and learning. It’s fundamental to a child’s educational journey, serving as the foundation for reading, comprehension, communication, and social interaction. Students need to understand and be understood to thrive. Yet despite the significant…