Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is proposing the largest funding increase for public education in 20 years, with proposals to recruit and retain educators, increase per-student spending, rebuild mental health supports, expand preschool access, and fund school construction and renovations. In contrast, initial Republican proposals focus on massive tax breaks, especially for corporations and the wealthy. Such plans are […]
MEA and the Michigan Art Education Association (MAEA) are seeking entries for their 58th annual juried art purchase show. The exhibit—to acquire artwork to enhance the MEA headquarters complex in East Lansing and MEA regional and UniServ offices throughout the state—provides an opportunity to display art by MAEA, MEA, or MEA-Retired members in good standing. […]
In the middle of the most exhausting year of our careers, the work of our union is more important than ever. Despite fatigue and frustrations, educators must engage and persist in this critical moment – and MEA offers many ways for you to learn and get involved while earning SCECHs or certification credits. Sign up […]
The pressures of COVID have reinforced a belief long held by David Schneider, a Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) professor and the faculty union’s chief negotiator for 25 years: “Not everything needs to be negotiated for us to have a voice.” Funding in three federal COVID-relief packages included tens of millions of dollars for Michigan […]
Morale among educators in South Redford is the worst Bill Dyer has seen in 28 years as a math teacher in the district, the local union president said. He also has never before seen 10 teaching positions open mid-year—which was the number unfilled last month. “It’s been an uphill battle for us to attract new teachers, […]
As with other roles in education these days, school psychologists in Michigan are in short supply. MEA member Joe Sbar—the current Michigan School Psychologist of the Year—says not enough college students are entering the profession to replace those retiring. “We have an exposure problem,” Sbar said. “It’s a great job, but people don’t know what […]
If a student comes to school nurse Phyllis Yoder with a stomachache three days out of the week, the MEA member will consider a number of causes. Perhaps the child is hungry because of food insecurity in his life. Possibly a medical condition is at the root of the problem. Or maybe there’s a behavioral […]
For MEA member Andrew Stewart, half of his four-year career as a school social worker has been altered by COVID. He’s seen a lot of change and upheaval, and he’s learned some crucial lessons alongside his colleagues at Lincoln Park Public Schools. The number-one takeaway Stewart has applied this year following last year’s remote and […]
In the best of times, school counselors play many roles that serve the mental health, academic, and career advising needs of the entire student population of a building. In not-so-great times, like now, it’s tough to meet the immediate demands of one counselor’s caseload. Today in Michigan one school counselor exists for every 670 students. […]
Schools in Michigan are looking to hire hundreds of mental health professionals to address a huge explosion of need from young people in the pandemic—part of a $240 million initiative signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in this year’s state school aid budget. Even before the global health crisis—which has killed close to 900,000 Americans and […]
