Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation in February restricting smartphone use among students during instructional time — proof that lawmakers can make good things happen when they set aside partisanship and work together toward a goal. Research shows the deep connection between teens’ mental health struggles and social media use. In a world of distractions, […]
By Chandra Madafferi, President and CEO, Michigan Education Association There is a lot of conflicting information out there about our state’s level of support for public schools, with the phrase “record funding” often being used. The truth is that in inflation-adjusted dollars, Michigan actually spends less per pupil than we did in 2002, and that […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor High school senior Rebecca Cox will soon graduate from a class of 30 students in her small Lenawee County school district, but last week she spoke before hundreds of statewide peers gathered in Detroit for the MEA-sponsored Educators Rising Michigan conference. “What up doe!” she began, invoking the iconic […]
To help members better understand Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Every Child Reads” proposals to address student literacy – and the essential role educators play at every grade level in that work – MEA gathered answers to some key questions from Michelle Richard, the governor’s senior literacy advisor. Part of the governor’s team since 2019, Richard has […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor It wasn’t until her last year of high school that MEA member Stephanie Johnson figured out what career to pursue. She found her path in senior English class. Johnson always loved school, and that ye ar she especially enjoyed breaking down phrasing and vocabulary from Shakespeare and Chaucer to […]
From NEA: https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/chemistry-teacher-day-olympic-hockey-referee-night When Jake Davis stepped onto Olympic ice in Milan, he was not just a chemistry teacher from Michigan anymore. Davis was now one of the few officials in the world who would referee the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey. “Stepping on the ice was surreal,” said Davis. “Just being on the ice with the best hockey players in the world and […]
The MEA Board of Directors has unanimously voted to oppose the calling of a new Constitutional Convention, or Con-Con, which will appear as Proposal 1 on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot. We strongly urge MEA members to vote NO on a Con-Con, which would open up Michigan’s Constitution to a total and complete rewrite and […]
By Chandra Madafferi, President and CEO, Michigan Education Association Improving student literacy here in Michigan promises to be a major topic throughout 2026, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer committing to it as a top issue for her final year in office, as noted in her final State of the State address last week. Whether a student […]
From Michigan Department of Education: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/news-and-information/press-releases/2026/02/26/mi-teacher-honored-with-milken-educator-award What started with a special visit from Michigan Chief Deputy Superintendent Dr. Sue Carnell turned into an exciting announcement Pine River Middle School teacher Stephanie Johnson will never forget: she is Michigan’s Milken Educator Award recipient for 2025-26! Johnson, a seventh grade ELA teacher at PRMS, is Michigan’s 93rd recipient since The Great […]
Educators are integral in establishing clean energy initiatives that prepare public school students for in-demand careers and promote environmental sustainability — all while saving money on energy costs that can be reinvested in our classrooms. MEA member Brian Prill’s solar panel project in Marquette — which is already reducing his school’s carbon footprint — demonstrates […]
