Aspiring & Early Career Educators
MEA has three groups dedicated to supporting educators as they enter the profession: Educators Rising (EdRising), Aspiring Educators of Michigan (AEM) and Michigan New Educators (MiNE).
About Educators Rising
Educators Rising (EdRising) is our middle and high school-level program for aspiring educators. Whether part of a CTE program, elective course, or a school-based club, our goal is to support these students in pursuing their interest in and developing the skills necessary for a career in education. We offer teacher resources to help students network, develop leadership skills, and showcase the expertise they have gained in their education and training programs through state and national conferences and competitions. Educators Rising supports students in the development of the skills necessary to become effective practitioners, provides opportunities to earn college credit, network with other future educators and professionals, and showcase their talents in state and national competitions. Download our flyer here and learn more at https://mea.org/educators-rising-michigan/.
About AEM
The Aspiring Educators of Michigan (AEM) is a preprofessional organization for people preparing for the teaching profession in any of the higher education institutions in Michigan and who are not regularly employed as educators by an educational institution or agency. Local chapters at Michigan campuses improve networking amongst aspiring educators and expose members to professional learning opportunities and service projects that help prepare college students for fulfilling careers in education. Download our flyer here and learn more at www.mea.org/aem.
About MiNE
Early career educators need connection and support to thrive in the job—which is the basis of a new MEA initiative starting a three-year rollout. The Michigan New Educators program, known as MiNE, aims to build community around new educators across the state to reduce attrition and empower the next generation of union leaders. The group facilitates networking among early career educators, including a podcast, a series of “2 Minute Teacher Tips, and more. Download our flyer here and learn more at www.mea.org/mine.
Aspiring & Early Career Educators News
THE FUTURE IS NOW: MI Evaluations are new
After many years under a punitive teacher evaluation system, Michigan educators got back the right to bargain the subject in 2024. MEA staff and union bargaining teams have worked tirelessly to negotiate local improvements and ensure districts are following the new law. Read your collective bargaining agreement for specifics of your district’s evaluation system, but here are general aspects of…
For this teacher, math+marathons=life lessons
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Raychel Figurski has taught many courses in eight years at Hudsonville High School, but now she teaches AP Calculus, AP Pre-Calculus, and Algebra I. MEA member Raychel Figurski uses humor and encouragement to help her Hudsonville math students learn to trust that hard work pays off—a philosophy she lives as a distance runner pursuing…
Students step into leadership
At a two day retreat of MEA’s Aspiring Educators of Michigan (AEM), students who lead AEM chapters at 10 colleges and universities built skills, connections, and plans for the year. Aspiring educators who are stepping up to lead in their chosen profession gathered to learn, plan and play at a leadership retreat for members from MEA’s college ranks to kick…
THE FUTURE IS NOW: Let’s bridge the generations
Early career educators pictured, L‑R: Angela Chen, Audra DeRidder, Tharan Suvarna, Padric Bolen, Allison O’Connell. Follow Michigan New Educators (MiNE) on Facebook and Instagram @mineweducators. MEA members build the future of public education and our union, but at times generational differences get in the way. Members from MEA’s early-career ranks of MiNE (Michigan New Educators) have ideas for bridging the…
Young aspiring educators provide hope for Michigan’s future
By Chandra Madafferi MEA President Chandra Madafferi addresses young aspiring educators at the inaugural Educators Rising conference at Wayne State University Ever since I could stand, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. My dad bought a few desks and an old chalkboard and put them in our basement. I even have funny memories of creating “lesson plans” for…
At inaugural Ed Rising conference MEA partners to inspire next generation
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer met a group of aspiring and early career educators before her remarks at the inaugural Educators Rising Conference at Wayne State University on March 13. “Thinking about the teacher who inspired you… it will be your responsibility to be that teacher for a student you work with. You get to inspire future generations. You get to be…
Sometimes You Gotta Have Fun
Teaching is hard. Being a student is hard. It’s important for mental and physical health to remember to still have fun, so we are highlighting fun activities enjoyed by Aspiring Educators of Michigan (AEM) and Michigan New Educators (MiNE) members across the state. In July, Aspiring Educator leaders from college campuses throughout Michigan came together at the MEA Headquarters in…
New MEA affiliation brings secondary-level Educators Rising opportunities
Save the Date for our first annual Educators Rising Competition and Conference to be held on March 13, 2024 from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at Wayne State University. MEA is newly affiliated with Educators Rising, a program for middle and high school students interested in education careers to learn about building content knowledge, responsive planning, implementing instruction, using assessment and data,…
Aspiring Educators of Michigan: Leaders of Today and Tomorrow
Mamoona Chaudhry, AEM Secretary-Treasurer Aryana Jharia, AEM Vice President Abriana White, AEM President The 23-24 school year is officially underway, and the leaders of the Aspiring Educators of Michigan are hard at work in both their college studies and as statewide leaders of AEM. Abriana White, President, attends Wayne State University. Aryana Jharia, Vice President, attends Eastern Michigan University, and…
Program pairing retirees with student teachers is expanding
In the union, we often say that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. Student teachers are no different. Retired MEA members (MEA-R) have partnered with Aspiring Educators of Michigan (AEM) and serve as mentors to AEM members who are undergoing the rigors of student teaching. Any AEM member who is student teaching in a public…