By Brenda Ortega
MEA Voice Editor

In a time of heightened anxieties across the country, the Lansing Schools Education Association has launched a campaign to routinely remind young people of one core message: educators can be relied upon to protect, nurture and teach them.

The “LSEA Safe” campaign followed on the heels of the district’s school board adopting a resolution acknowledging that newcomers—immigrants and refugees from many countries of origin outside of the U.S.—have always been part of the community’s fabric.

Consistent with the law, the district will continue to welcome, protect and educate all students, regardless of immigration status, and require a valid warrant for federal law enforcement agents to enter a school building, the school board’s resolution stated.

As part of the Safe campaign, the LSEA board adopted a position statement and is distributing free green t-shirts to members who want to participate by wearing the shirts to school once a week.

“LSEA Members provide a safe, nurturing, rigorous learning environment that is welcoming to all students,” the statement reads. “Regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or one’s personal belief system, we welcome all students and their families.”

Until the LSEA Safe campaign was announced a few weeks ago, Regina Bluemlein was feeling worried and helpless to address the fears of multi-lingual students she teaches at Everett High School, she said.

Bluemlein started her career 20 years ago teaching history and English before earning a master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and achieving elite National Board Certification in teaching. She now teaches TESOL full-time.

Students from immigrant and migrant families are nervous, and absences have increased among a population that typically has high attendance levels, she said. Among students in her classes, 11 different languages are spoken.

“I’m seeing the fear factor firsthand, so having the shirt, wearing it collectively as a staff, then having a few students ask, ‘What does it mean?’—it gave me an aspect of empowerment when I had few other places to look for it.”

Importantly, the LSEA Safe campaign appeals to members who hold various political views, Bluemlein added. “It’s been refreshing and encouraging to see teachers step up across the political gamut.

“The message is truly bipartisan—that we as teachers are a safe place and we’re here to help you learn; that if you’re in distress for any reason, you can trust us. You can come to us. It’s our job to be there for all.”

Since Jan. 20, the Trump administration has issued orders attempting to allow immigration arrests at previously safe zones such as schools and churches; remove protections from transgender and gender-nonconforming children; and ax federal contracts and grants for numerous education programs.

Other moves target the U.S. Department of Education and funding for special education and at-risk student services; seek to restrict accurate teaching of history in favor of “patriotic education”; shut down efforts to address inequities and promote inclusion of marginalized groups; and threaten a nationwide voucher mandate to shift tax dollars to private and religious schools.

For MEA member Lisa Register, now is the time to speak up about these threats to public education being pushed down to local schools from the federal level under the Trump administration.

“If we don’t put ourselves out there and take that risk to say, ‘This is wrong’ or ‘This is the way it should be,’ then we’re saying what’s happening is OK,” the 24-year veteran speech and language pathologist said.

An elementary board member of LSEA, Register cited research that shows when young people have even one adult in their life whom they know is safe and there to support them no matter what, it decreases their suicide risk.

“I’m passionate about people and passionate about my students. It matters to me that they know we are safe adults and they can talk to us and trust us.”

LSEA building rep Clara Martinez similarly has been active in the union since she became a full-time dance teacher at Everett High School eight years ago, “because it’s always at the forefront of my mind: What’s going to be best for kids and how can we support teachers to get that outcome?”

She said LSEA President Chuck Alberts unites members who hold varying political beliefs to remember that “We are united through caring about kids and caring that public education is of high quality and accessible and free and attainable for all people.”

The union means, “We’re here together as one community to have each other’s back,” and the LSEA Safe campaign simply extends that message to students who may not be feeling safe or understood, Martinez said.

“Any kind of reminder that we can give to students that they are seen and valued and loved—that’s a win for me and that’s a message worth sending.”

It’s also a good reminder for educators, she added: “What’s happening in the White House can feel very far away, but what is immediate and can have a big unifying impact right now is what we do with each other in our communities. It’s a matter of coming together to make decisions for ourselves.”