With a new year upon us, brighter days are ahead for our kids and schools, thanks to elected leaders who are committed to addressing the challenges facing public education and putting Michigan on a path to prosperity. There’s cause for optimism. On top of the record, bipartisan education budget passed last summer by Gov. Gretchen […]
Stories by Brenda Ortega, MEA Voice Editor In the months after a troubled student opened fire with a semiautomatic weapon in the hallways of Oxford High School one year ago, destroying lives and devastating the community, the long process of grieving and healing began. It will continue over many years ahead. Read the stories below […]
Educators Win Legislative Seats to Clinch Democratic Majority By Zach Crim MEA Public Affairs When Jaime Churches’ alarm went off at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, in many ways it was just another day preparing to teach her fifth-grade class in Gross Ile. But the hundreds of notifications on her phone betrayed the climactic […]
EAST LANSING — The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart on Tuesday’s election victories by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other friends of public education: “Today is a great day for educators, students and parents across Michigan. Our fellow Michiganders turned out in huge numbers for a midterm to re-elect Gov. Gretchen […]
Member Voices By Jaime Churches, Grosse Ile EA member My name is Jaime Churches, and I’m a fifth-grade teacher on Gross Ile. I’m running for a state House seat representing Downriver Wayne County and hopeful for the privilege to continue serving my students and their families every day – but now from the Capitol instead […]
After nearly three years of a pandemic, school closures, virtual learning, severe educator shortages and a student mental health crisis, it should surprise no one that test scores are down. The National Assessment of Education Progress scores, released last week, show a decline in math and reading scores across almost every demographic. While standardized test […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor As a sign language interpreter, MEA member Heather Dew was taught to think of herself as the unseen part of a communication triangle: A speaks to B and B speaks to A, while she serves as “the invisible C” facilitating the exchange. Dew brought that same sensibility to her […]
The stark contrast between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her opponent, Betsy DeVos-funded Tudor Dixon, took center stage at their final debate this week when Dixon pushed harder on banning books than weapons in schools. “Do you really think books are more dangerous than guns?” Whitmer retorted when Dixon tried to claim – in direct opposition [...]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced today that applications for $10,000 scholarships for up to 2,500 future Michigan educators and $9,600 payments for student teachers will open on Monday, Oct. 31. The innovative programs, included in the state education budget signed by Whitmer in July, aim to lower the cost of higher education so the state can […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday signed bipartisan legislation to deliver $250 million to ease the financial burden on young Michiganders pursuing higher education. The bill creates the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which will lower tuition costs by up to $5,500 per year for college and occupational training students, reducing the need to take out excessive loans. […]
