It was a year of much political division in the Legislature for 2025, with a record-low number of new laws. With the 2026 legislative session about to begin on the third week of January, Speaker Matt Hall is reportedly aiming for another year with minimal laws passed. That said, there were several bills signed into law late […]
By Chandra Madafferi, President and CEO of the Michigan Education Association From public school educators and police officers to firefighters and those serving in our military, it’s important that we honor these hardworking public servants and their dedication to improving the lives of others. Public school teachers, school support staff and other educators devote their […]
The Michigan Education Association is pleased to announce the recommendation of Karen McDonald for Attorney General. Following interviews with our Statewide Screening & Recommendation Committee, which candidates from both parties were invited to attend, the committee voted to recommend McDonald to MEA members as the strongest candidate in this important race. The committee is made up […]
By Amy Urbanowski-Nowak Birch Run Education Association When I was a young child, I often dreamt of being a teacher… and a horse trainer, but that’s a story for another day. I would ask my sisters to play the role of the student or set up my stuffed animals if my sisters grew tired of […]
PART I: School Performance By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor MEA Labor Economist Tanner Delpier tells stories with data. The tale he tells of public education in Michigan runs counter to the message heard far too often in sound bites on the news. We continually hear that public schools are “failing,” despite “record” state funding, […]
When Jim McCloughan retired from teaching in South Haven Public Schools in 2008, MEA helped him fight a battle he hadn’t seen coming. While the school district credited McCloughan for 40 years of service, the Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System (MPSERS) denied two years of time he spent serving in the military as a […]
Former high school teacher and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient James McCloughan has some words of wisdom for educators going through their own “Vietnam,” facing challenges that feel overwhelming. FOR TEACHERS: Concentrate on what matters > students, colleagues, parents and community. Bring forward what you love > engaging content, student interests, connection. Create joy on […]
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 […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor From the get-go, Jim McCloughan was competitive “with a capital C,” he says. Small and athletic, he excelled at every sport he tried. At Bangor High School in the early 1960s McCloughan earned 11 varsity letters and all-conference honors in football, basketball, baseball and track, despite standing just 5-foot-2 […]
Student learning and school safety should go hand-in-hand. That’s why educators across Michigan are deeply concerned about the rise in disruptive student behavior, which includes verbal outbursts, threats, and physical aggression. Addressing this troubling nationwide trend is critical for the future of education. MEA is prioritizing this work and providing ways for members to engage […]
