State Senator and Senate Education Committee Chair Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia) and State Rep. Nate Shannon (D-Sterling Heights) – both longtime educators currently serving in the state Legislature – have introduced legislation to eliminate the retention requirement from Michigan’s third-grade reading law. Passed in 2016, this law requires third-graders to be held back if they score below grade […]
Updated March 16, 2023 The state Senate this week gave final approval to House Bill 4004, which on paper repeals Michigan’s so-called “right to work” law for public employees — but it won’t actually take effect unless a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling is eventually overturned. In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in the […]
With a new year upon us, brighter days are ahead for our kids and schools, thanks to elected leaders who are committed to addressing the challenges facing public education and putting Michigan on a path to prosperity. There’s cause for optimism. On top of the record, bipartisan education budget passed last summer by Gov. Gretchen […]
From the Blissfield Royals to the Kingsford Flivvers, local public schools are core to the identity of small towns across Michigan. No matter their differences as individuals, people in rural communities are unified by their local schools and mascots. But because of inequitable funding, declining enrollment and a lack of concern from some lawmakers, many […]
Click to view online. In this issue: Letter to Members: Thank you — and let’s get to work Troy educator turns worry into gun safety advocacy MEA expands to support aspiring educators in high school MY VIEW: Self-empowerment as an Antidote to Burnout Oxford Strong: One Year In Jim Gibbons: ‘It’s harder this year than […]
By Matt Cottone Heart pounding, barely able to catch my breath, I quickly realized the infamous altitude of Peru at 14,000 feet wasn’t a joke. But I didn’t mind the struggle—with every gulp of air, I surveyed one of the Seven Wonders of the World in all its splendor. I had arrived at the zenith […]
Cleorah Scruggs-DeBose, award-winning lifetime MEA member, saw the curriculum reflected little diversity when she began teaching in Flint in 1970, so she infused multicultural learning into lessons; led NEA to adopt National Multicultural Diversity Day; and still runs a non-profit that hosts an annual event to celebrate diverse cultures. Where did you grow up, and […]
Jackie Shelson and Taryn Loughlin have accomplished a couple of cool firsts in the Grosse Pointe Education Association they lead. The pair became the first co-presidents of the GPEA in 2021, and they worked out a first-of-its-kind agreement with the district to include free professional development with the assistance of MEA UniServ Consultant Chad Williams […]
By Shana Saddler When my third-hour class behaved badly with a substitute teacher, I was extremely disappointed in my student leaders. The next day, I approached “Maya” (a spirited, driven, yet funny student) and said, “Maya, why did you not step up as a leader and try to positively influence student misbehavior?” Maya replied, “Mrs. Saddler, […]
MEA member Kate Singer’s journey to becoming a first-grade teacher in the Pontiac School District began not in college but during high school in Lake Orion, where she completed a program that introduces students to a career in education through hands-on experiences. Currently teaching her first year at Rogers Elementary School, Singer says thanks to […]
