Labor Voices: Michigan must face educator shortage after COVID-19

Amid our life-and-death fight against COVID-19, we must prepare to wage another high-stakes battle against a dire crisis that is worsening in its wake: the educator shortage. Ask school administrators and they’ll share their struggles to find enough teachers for every classroom. Similarly, there are fewer applicants for counselors, bus drivers, paraprofessionals and other education staff. A complete return […]

Recruit. Respect. Retain. MEA launches Michigan Educator Project to hear from front lines about educator shortage

EAST LANSING — With media coverage continuing to focus on Michigan's educator shortage, MEA has launched www.MichiganEducatorProject.org so the public can hear directly from front-line teachers and other education employees about what's driving the crisis. “Recruit. Respect. Retain.” Under that banner, the new site includes videos from educators – recorded both before and during the pandemic [...]

MEA President statement on latest GOP in-person learning demands for pandemic funds

MEA launches MiSchoolRelief.com to lookup federal funds pending by school district, contact lawmakers urging immediate distribution EAST LANSING — The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart on the House Republican proposal in this morning’s Appropriations Committee meeting to tie further COVID relief funds to a demand for 20 hours per week [...]

48 outstanding public school students awarded 2021 MEA Scholarship

EAST LANSING, Mich., April 23, 2021 — The Michigan Education Association today announced the recipients of the 2021 MEA Scholarships, honoring exemplary public school students from across the state who will be attending a Michigan public university next fall. Among the 444 applications submitted for scholarship awards this year, the MEA Scholarship Fund Trustees chose […]

Unionized employees file second unfair labor practice charge against NCMC

PETOSKEY — The North Central Michigan College Educational Support Professional Association (NCMC-ESP) today filed a second Unfair Labor Practice charge against NCMC for failing to bargain in good faith. The bargaining unit, composed of custodial, maintenance and office personnel, began its affiliation with the MEA following a successful union representation election in May 2018. Collective bargaining […]

MEA President statement on one-year anniversary of Michigan pandemic

EAST LANSING — The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart marking the anniversary of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Michigan: “As we mark this solemn anniversary, educators across Michigan first and foremost want to thank the medical professionals, first responders, scientists, public health officials and every other worker who […]

Education students seek changes in teacher prep program

EAST LANSING — Members of MEA’s aspiring educators program, Aspiring Educators of Michigan (AEM), have begun an effort to enact changes in the Teacher Preparation Program in the College of Education at Michigan State University. AEM members who are education students at MSU have created the group “Empowering Spartan Educators,” and are working to create […]