Click to view online. In this issue: LETTER TO MEMBERS: We must unite as educators NEWS & NOTES: Nominations sought for ESP Caucus Board ICYMI: school board elections AEM/MiNE: The Future is Now: MI Evaluations are new COVER STORY: Worried about students’ mental health, award-winning educator takes action Lawmakers add funding for mental health, educators […]
Mici Bos and David Rudzinski are MEA members from different sides of the state, but both are career changers who chose to become educators from deep self awareness and commitment—and both recently completed a virtual MEA book study on Teaching When the World is on Fire. Edited by acclaimed education researcher and MacArthur Fellowship recipient […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor UPDATE (Dec. 13, 2024) — The state House passed House Bill 6058 on Friday, and it will now advance to the state Senate for their concurrence (the Senate approved identical legislation on Friday as well, but needs to concur on HB 6058 to send the bill to Gov. Whitmer […]
By Chandra Madafferi, Michigan Education Association President and CEO As we reflect on the recent election results, it’s clear that our country remains deeply divided on many fronts. The diversity of opinions and beliefs that surfaced during this time can sometimes feel overwhelming, and it’s easy to feel uncertain about what lies ahead. Yet during […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor MEA member Raychel Figurski uses humor and encouragement to help her Hudsonville math students learn to trust that hard work pays off—a philosophy she lives as a distance runner pursuing her goal of completing the world’s six major marathons despite big obstacles in her path. “I keep reminding them, […]
By Chandra Madafferi, Michigan Education Association President and CEO I recently returned from a trip to Norway, where I joined a group of professors from Michigan State University’s College of Education to observe Norwegian schools in action and bring home lessons for our state. For years, I’ve heard the Scandinavian education model produces students who […]
Through the power of collective bargaining and action, MEA members across Michigan have made record strides in 2024 by securing significant pay raises, improved working conditions and a stronger voice in the workplace. In the face of an educator shortage, these contract wins help attract and retain high-quality educators who are well-equipped to serve students’ […]
We need YOU! Please consider volunteering during this final push as we work in neighborhoods across Michigan to elect friends of public education at the federal, state and local levels. Visit MEAVotes.org to find out how you can help, look up recommended candidates in your area, find information on how and where to vote, contribute [...]
East Jordan teacher Matt Hamilton has been selected as one of only five teachers nationwide to receive this year’s Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence, one of the highest honors in public education. Hamilton, a teacher at East Jordan Middle/High School in Charlevoix County, is the founder and leader of the school’s renowned “Shoe Club.” […]
By Chandra Madafferi, Michigan Education Association President and CEO I began my teaching career as a special education teacher, a deeply rewarding experience filled with joys and profound connections hard to match in any other profession. One of the most heartwarming aspects of my job was witnessing academic and personal growth among my students, many […]
