While Michigan’s gubernatorial race between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and DeVos-supported Tudor Dixon gets the most media attention, the matchups for attorney general and secretary of state also carry dire consequences for anyone who cares about protecting our democracy. MEA strongly recommends re-electing Dana Nessel for attorney general and Jocelyn Benson for secretary of state, based […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Education policies pursued for the past two decades in Michigan have ignored the needs of rural school districts, which has reduced opportunities for students and stymied community development in areas facing serious economic hardship, a new study has found. School reforms favored by policymakers over the past 20 years […]
The American Rescue Plan (ARP), touted by President Biden as “gamechanger,” delivered vital funding to Michigan’s public schools in the wake of the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic in 2019, the federal government provided $1.7 billion in support to Michigan’s education budget. By 2021, that number swelled to $7.9 billion with the support of Democrats […]
Michigan schools are facing significant challenges that require all of us to come together and work as a team for the betterment of our children — yet some political extremists are dead set on fanning the flames of their culture war and using our kids as their political pawns. This small-but-vocal minority’s latest target in […]
MEA is recommending members vote in support of a pair of good-government proposals on the Nov. 8 ballot. Proposal 1 would require elected officials serving in state government to file annual reports disclosing their personal finances, including their assets, liabilities, gifts from lobbyists, promises of future employment and more. This will help let citizens know […]
While educators work hard amid big challenges to provide all students a great public education, some politicians and groups are stoking fear and division with extreme rhetoric and proposals to restrict classroom speech and learning. In this series, MEA Voice Editor Brenda Ortega shares five powerful individual stories that together reveal the detrimental effects of […]
Click to view online. In this issue: Letter to Members: Vote like your profession depends on it MEA and Wayne State University Welcome Our Next Gen Teachers CTE is a silent victim of the teacher shortage See Educators Run: Bringing educator voice to the Legislature Redistricting presents opportunity The Toll of Attacks on LGBTQ Rights: […]
By Shana Saddler In high school, I ran cross country and track and field. After a long day of academics, my teammates and I would run for miles, lift weights, and start all over again the next day. Some days I was weary and others I ran for miles with minimal fatigue. On race days […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor When Sue Ziel returned to her classroom this school year, it was the Romeo Education Association president’s first time setting foot on school district property in 15 months. She didn’t know how it would feel to come back after spending that time fighting tenure charges her district had brought […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Given all of the political upheaval of the past several years, Rochester Education Association President Doug Hill knows it has become cliché to say an upcoming election is the most important one in our lifetimes. But when it comes to local school board races that sentiment is true, Hill […]
