By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Gov. Gretchen Whitmer listed education funding along with fixing roads and other infrastructure as the top two priorities facing Michigan policymakers during her first State of the State address on Tuesday night. Everyone can see the terrible condition of the state’s roads, and the average motorist spends $562 per…
EAST LANSING – The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding tonight’s State of the State address from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer:“It is a welcome change for Michigan’s school employees to hear from our governor about the need to respect and listen to educators on the front lines. Michigan teachers and education support…
Just ahead of Tuesday night’s State of the State address, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stopped by the MEA Winter Conference last week to give attendees a glimpse into a future that is possible if educators “re-up your commitment by staying engaged.” “The education of our kids and the work that you do every day will be…
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor The commitment that MEA member Rick Joseph made when he became an educator does not stop when he exits his Birmingham classroom each day. This month, it will take him to Texas. The 2015-16 Michigan Teacher of the Year will join other top educators from across the nation at…
MEA member Chad Downs almost left the field of education before he started. During his pre-student teaching at Eastern Michigan University, Downs said he couldn’t find a school or program that fit with his beliefs about education and creativity. Then an EMU advisor intervened and introduced him to Ann Arbor Open School, and the rest…
January 16, 2019 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association As a legislator, Gretchen Whitmer understood both the challenges facing public schools and the solutions needed to fix them. Now, as governor, she now has the power to pursue those solutions. Refreshingly, Whitmer understands that improving our schools and raising student achievement requires input from…
The 2018 Lame Duck session is in the books and while some negative legislation passed, many of the significant attacks on public education, labor unions and the incoming Democratic administration were either stopped in the Legislature or vetoed by outgoing Gov. Rick Snyder. Of note: – HB 5707, which would have kept the percentage of…
To ensure all Michiganders get the experience the excitement of the inauguration of the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration, four “Whitmer Winter Warm-Ups” are planned for early 2019, including the first two this Saturday in Detroit and Flint. Learn more and RSVP at michigantransition.org/inauguration – Gov. Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Gilchrist will be at both events. Attendees are…
Opinion: Gov. Snyder, stand against assaults on democracy December 19, 2018 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association The Michigan Constitution states, “All political power is inherent in the people.” The people exercised that political power and resoundingly elected Democrats across the state. However, Republicans in the state legislature are quickly moving legislation to circumvent…
More than 100 MEA and AFT Michigan members and leaders held a candlelight vigil outside the Capitol on Wednesday evening and later went inside to lobby their representatives and watch from the gallery as a controversial A-F school grading bill narrowly passed the state House in amended form. In other action, the chamber approved HB…
