For News Media Archives - Michigan Education Association

Education Organizations Call for Budget Completion

The Michigan Education Association, Michigan Association of School Boards, Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators, Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity, Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators, AFT Michigan, Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association, Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education, School Education Advocates of West Michigan, K-12 Alliance of Michigan, School Equity, […]

June 6, 2025June 10, 2025

by Elena Helmer

49 outstanding public school students awarded 2025 MEA Scholarship

The Michigan Education Association today announced the recipients of the 2025 MEA Scholarships, honoring exemplary public school students from across the state who will be attending a Michigan public university next fall. Among the 319 applications submitted for scholarship awards this year, the MEA Scholarship Fund Trustees chose 24 new award recipients who will each […]

June 5, 2025June 5, 2025

by Elena Helmer

Here’s what accountability should look like for Michigan schools

By Chandra Madafferi, Michigan Education Association President and CEO After serving in the role of MEA president and CEO for two full school years, I’ve witnessed the best of what Michigan’s public schools can offer — students engaged in meaningful learning, educators energized by their work, parents actively involved and communities that truly support their […]

June 4, 2025

by Elena Helmer

MEA announces winners of 61st MEA-MAEA Art Acquisitions Purchase Awards

MEA members’ artwork to be celebrated at June 9 reception EAST LANSING – The MEA today announced winners of the 61st Michigan Education Association-Michigan Art Education Association Art Acquisitions Purchase Awards. More than 70 pieces were selected from this year’s approximately 170 entries. A reception to honor this year’s entries will be held Monday, […]

June 3, 2025June 3, 2025

by Elena Helmer

Let’s appreciate our kids’ teachers by paying them better

By Erik Edoff, Senior Executive Director, Michigan Education Association This week marks Teacher Appreciation Week, a time when we all come together to honor the hard work of our children’s educators. The most important thing we can do to show our appreciation for Michigan’s dedicated teachers is to pay them a competitive wage. Unfortunately, Michigan […]

May 6, 2025June 4, 2025

by Elena Helmer

Students need recess for academic, emotional and physical wellness

By Chandra Madafferi, Michigan Education Association President and CEO As we shake off the winter blues and welcome the sunshine and warmth of spring, let’s think back to our childhoods and how it felt to go outside for recess in April without a winter coat. Think of how the sun felt on your face and […]

April 2, 2025June 4, 2025

by Elena Helmer

MEA praises MI Senate’s legal action to rein in rising health care costs for educators and other public employees

UPDATE 4/2: In response to the Senate’s legal action, the Court of Claims judge said that she would not issue a ruling but instead urged the Supreme Court to accept the bypass application to issue a final ruling in the matter. The Supreme Court denied the bypass application but has ordered the Court of Appeals […]

March 21, 2025April 7, 2025

by Elena Helmer

Michigan ed leaders support lawsuit challenging cuts to federal special education services

In response to Thursday’s filing of a federal lawsuit from 21 attorneys general from across the nation challenging the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, Michigan Education Association President and CEO Chandra Madafferi; AFT-Michigan President Terrence Martin; Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators Executive Director Tina Kerr; Michigan Association of School Boards Executive Director […]

March 14, 2025March 26, 2025

by Elena Helmer

MI teacher’s national award highlights powerful influence of educators

By Chandra Madafferi, Michigan Education Association President and CEO I’m incredibly proud that a teacher from Michigan was recently selected as the annual winner of a prestigious national educational excellence award, as it highlights that great things are happening in public schools throughout our state. Matt Hamilton, a teacher at East Jordan Middle/High School in […]

March 7, 2025June 4, 2025

by Elena Helmer

Michigan teacher and MEA member wins prestigious national teaching excellence award

Matt Hamilton, a middle-school teacher in Northern Michigan’s East Jordan Public Schools, is the national winner of the NEA Foundation’s 2025 Award for Teaching Excellence — one of the highest honors in public education. Since 2001, the NEA Foundation has conferred the Award for Teaching Excellence annually. This distinguished recognition, which comes with a $25,000 […]

February 19, 2025

by Elena Helmer