During a sustained political assault on the education profession a decade ago, educators had many rights stripped away that provided a critical voice in their classrooms and workplaces. Soon, state lawmakers may restore these essential bargaining and job security rights to help stabilize the education workforce and improve the quality of education our kids receive. […]
A state House committee heard testimony from West Ottawa Education Association President Theresann Pyrett today in support of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s MI Kids Back on Track program and the importance of funding academic interventions for students in the wake of the pandemic. “While I am infinitely proud of the work our district and members did […]
Winnie Brinks may be the new state Senate Majority Leader from Grand Rapids, but on Feb. 13 she was another of so many parents “sick with dread” while texting a son or daughter locked down on campus at Michigan State University amid an active shooting. Sen. Brinks was among the Democratic leaders, MEA President Paula […]
This week, the State House passed Senate Bill 12, which eliminates the retention requirement from Michigan’s third-grade reading law. Passed in 2016, this law requires third-graders to be held back if they score below grade level on a high-stakes standardized reading test. SB 12 has already passed the State Senate — it now heads to Gov. […]
MEA members across the state are speaking out about the need for the legislature to pass commonsense gun safety reforms immediately in the wake of the Oxford and MSU school shootings. There is an afternoon event coming up in March for you to add your voice to that call to action: On Thursday, March 23 […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Tuesday rolling back Michigan’s unfair retirement tax, as retired educators and others looked on. MEA President Paula Herbart, who stood immediately to the governor’s left as she signed the bill at a Capitol ceremony, said “it’s a big day for working families in our state.” “MEA applauds Gov. Whitmer for […]
State laws severely restricting educators’ collective bargaining rights could be on the chopping block if state Rep. Matt Koleszar, an MEA member and former teacher, gets his way. The House Labor Committee held its first hearing Thursday on one of Koleszar’s new bills, House Bill 4044, which would repeal a 12-year-old law that freezes employees’ […]
Hana St. Juliana. Tate Myre. Madisyn Baldwin. Justin Shilling. Arielle Anderson. Brian Fraser. Alexandria Verner. I could spend the 600 words of this column just printing the names of young people killed by gun violence in our schools, starting with these seven murdered at Oxford High School and Michigan State University. Because, frankly, I’m running […]
In light of the tragedy on MSU’s campus, the following bills have been introduced in the State Senate and House and will likely see quick action: SB 76/ HB 4138 – Would require license or background check for purchase of firearms. SB 77/ HB 4142 – Updates references to a pistol in the State’s penal […]
In my school building, I often stop to admire a picturesque mural of a black ship in a blue ocean and to recall the wise words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt: “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” In difficult times, it’s important to remember that we grow into leadership roles. As educators, our ability […]
