The Michigan Education Association announced the recipients of the 2026 MEA Scholarship on Monday, honoring exemplary public school students from across the state who will be attending a Michigan public university in the fall. The MEA Scholarship Fund Trustees selected 24 new award recipients, each receiving $2,000. In addition, 22 already enrolled in college will […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor For MEA member Brian Dalton, everything he’s learned about life — and teaching middle school kids — can be summed up in a project that he’s worked on since January and will culminate in a sold-out public performance on June 2 at The Roxy Rochester. Preparations inside his classroom [...]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor MEA member Erik Meerschaert, a special education teacher at Lake Orion High School known for his positivity and leadership in providing inclusive opportunities for all students, was named the 2026-27 Michigan Teacher of the Year on Wednesday. “I’m without words… Being a part of this community and watching the […]
Before the state Supreme Court held oral arguments Wednesday morning in the “stalled bills” case, MEA members and other public employees gathered outside the court building in Lansing for a press conference to share how the nearly two-year saga has impacted their lives and professions. Since taking the gavel in January 2025, House Speaker Matt […]
By Chandra Madafferi, President & CEO of the Michigan Education Association Close your eyes and imagine an elementary school teacher. The chances are good that you pictured a woman. You can’t be blamed for that assumption, as preK-12 education is one of the least gender-diverse professions around. Men make up less than 24% of total […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appeared at the MEA Representative Assembly (RA) last weekend to receive an inaugural MEA award named after her in honor of her work over eight years in office to restore public education and respect educator voices. Delegates to the RA gathered in East Lansing for the […]
When Karen Christian was growing up in Flint, both of her parents were public school teachers and leaders in United Teachers of Flint who taught her the importance of unions. Last week at the MEA Representative Assembly, after a dozen years as UTF president having led the unit through multiple crises to a celebrated contract, […]
The Michigan Education Association is praising the state Senate’s 2026-27 education budget proposal, saying it prioritizes and protects students in the wake of widespread federal cuts. “For the sake of our students and their future, state lawmakers must work together to ensure local schools have adequate, stable funding,” said MEA President and CEO Chandra Madafferi, […]
In recognition of her steadfast service and advocacy for Michigan’s students and educators, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was presented with and made the namesake of the Michigan Education Association’s inaugural “Gretchen Whitmer Champion for Education” award Saturday at MEA’s Representative Assembly in East Lansing. “Every day in communities across Michigan, countless educators step up to help our […]
From the Lansing State Journal: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/education/2026/04/06/as-artemis-ii-heads-to-moon-a-small-town-michigan-teacher-is-headed-to-nasa/89401671007/ In a few months, Dee Smith will make her way from Ashley – a small village of about 500 people located north of Lansing, traveling some 1,300 miles south to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Texas. Smith will be part of NASA’s LiftOff Summer institute, which provides teachers with […]
