Author: Elena Helmer
Whitmer’s universal preK-14 plan is a ‘game changer,’ MEA president says
EAST LANSING — Michigan Education Association President Chandra Madafferi, a teacher from Oakland County, issued the following statement Wednesday in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address: “Gov. Gretchen Whitmer again showed tonight why she’s the most pro public education governor Michigan has ever seen. The governor’s plan to provide every student […]
Whitmer, lawmakers and MEA retirees celebrate rollback of pension tax
Retired educator Isabell Nazar could not mathematically pinpoint the positive effects of a new law that will save her pension from being taxed; instead the former 38-year middle school science teacher from rural Homer in Calhoun County declared, “It will improve my life to the nth degree.” A board member of MEA-Retired, Nazar was among […]
Reforming retirement system will attract and retain quality educators
By Chandra Madafferi I feel optimistic when meeting first-year educators, who tell me they are excited and ready to face the future. Many say they still chose to go into the profession despite others trying to talk them out of it. These are educators we desperately need to keep – for the sake of our […]
Rural Michigan students travel the world and solar system in immersive room
By Heather Palo MEA ARP Organizer Last year MEA member Marissa Rodriguez took ninth graders on a tour of World War I trenches, and she transported sixth graders to countries where certain products began the manufacturing process – then brought them across the globe to watch those consumer items journey to store shelves. A social […]
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Retired educator still uses movement to teach children
Opal Wong left the classroom in 1994 after 37 years in East Lansing schools, but the MEA-Retired educator and certified Brain Gym instructor never stopped using movement to teach children. Now 90, she shares how knowing the brain-body connection can help educators help young people. Did you always want to be a teacher? I never […]
Saginaw teacher honored as community leader
This fall MEA member Arshen Baldwin was honored by the NAACP Saginaw Branch with its 2023 Young Professionals Award for playing multiple roles to improve her community – nearly 20 years after she took one of the hardest routes toward becoming a teacher. Baldwin started out as an untrained substitute in a classroom where her […]
Unfairly targeted, educator wins large settlement
Growing up in the mid-Michigan town of Ithaca, Bethany Fletcher enjoyed small-town life and learning from great teachers in close-knit schools. She dreamed of becoming an educator and returning to work and raise a family in her hometown – and that wish came true. An MEA member over the past 13 years, Fletcher was teaching […]
Award winner changes lives and longs to thank educator who saved him long ago
EDITOR’S NOTE: We are saddened to share news of the passing of Juwan Willis on Jan. 2, and we send deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and students. View Juwan’s obituary where you can also share a tribute or memory with the family. By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Juwan Willis is a man […]
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 […]