Opinion: Educators meet students’ needs amid COVID-19

Michigan Education Association member Sarah VanderMeer says her heart aches from missing her developmental kindergartners from Brown Elementary School in Byron Center, so she checks in via FaceTime to see how they’re doing, setting up appointments through parents. VanderMeer taps every tool at her disposal to keep kids connected and engaged during online chats and virtual […]

Statement from MEA President about suspension of school year due to COVID-19

EAST LANSING – The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding Gov. Whitmer’s executive order suspending in-person school operations for the rest of the school year (or until schools are deemed safe to reopen): “The Michigan Education Association supports Gov. Whitmer’s executive order to close in-person public school operations to help slow […]

Statement from MEA President on ordered closure of Michigan schools due to coronavirus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, March 12, 2020 Contact: Doug Pratt, MEA Director of Public Affairs, 517-337-5508 EAST LANSING – The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding tonight’s order from Gov. Whitmer that Michigan schools will be closed for three weeks starting Monday: “Earlier today, I recorded a message urging that we […]

MEA President statement on Whitmer education budget proposal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 6, 2020 Contact: Doug Pratt, MEA Director of Public Affairs MEA President statement on Whitmer education budget proposal   EAST LANSING —The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding today’s education budget recommendations from Gov. Whitmer: “While we have a long way to go to fully fund Michigan’s […]

MEA President statement on Whitmer State of the State address

EAST LANSING —The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding tonight’s State of the State address from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: “Gov. Whitmer should be commended for addressing how to truly help all Michigan children be better readers, without leaving behind our most vulnerable students. Educating parents about their options under the third-grade […]

MEA President statement on education line-item vetoes

EAST LANSING —The following can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding the education budget signed into law by Gov. Whitmer, along with her line-item vetoes “Aside from the pet projects and vendor contracts Gov. Whitmer line-item vetoed, there are meaningful education programs and initiatives that were also cut. Those are tough choices to […]