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 […]
By Brenda Ortega Michigan Education Association MEA Voice Editor MEA member Justine Galbraith has been teaching for 18 years, including six as a middle school English teacher in Troy. Growing up in school, her generation never knew the term “school shooting,” and she laments how young people now live in its terrifying shadow. So she […]
On Nov. 8, Michigan went to the polls and elected lawmakers willing to do the litany of work needed to deliver the quality public education every student needs and deserves. The wins on Election Day were resounding. Re-electing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. […]
Stories by Brenda Ortega, MEA Voice Editor In the months after a troubled student opened fire with a semiautomatic weapon in the hallways of Oxford High School one year ago, destroying lives and devastating the community, the long process of grieving and healing began. It will continue over many years ahead. Read the stories below […]
A public policy nerd since college, Lauren Jasinski always expected to expand her career beyond a high school classroom. But the devastating shooting at Oxford High School sped up her departure from teaching civics, world history, and AP Comparative Government. “I love working with high school students; I think I’m good at it. I’m incredibly […]
