Her unit was on the verge of decertification from MEA a little over one year ago when Nikki Clear took over as president of her local union representing transportation employees, food service workers, paraeducators, and secretaries. Now she’s won MEA’s Leon A. Brunner Award. A bus driver for four years in Stockbridge Community Schools, Clear […]
EAST LANSING — The Michigan Education Association is hailing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s creation of a new state department to better coordinate resources for preschoolers through higher-education students and help ensure every Michigan student has a clear path to reach their full potential. The Whitmer Administration on Wednesday issued an executive order creating the Michigan Department […]
For the first time in the award’s history, the editor of the MEA Voice magazine has been honored as the Editor of the Year among all the NEA state affiliates. Brenda Ortega was recognized with the honor at the recent State Education Affiliate Communicators (SEAComm) conference, where members of the MEA Public Affairs team also […]
Last Wednesday was the second-greatest day of my career in public education — which after 31 years, is coming to a close on July 15. That evening on June 28, the Michigan Legislature passed a landmark package of bills to restore workplace rights stripped from school employees a dozen years ago. When the bills take […]
By Brenda Ortega and Zach Crim MEA Public Affairs UPDATE 7/27 – Gov. Whitmer has signed HBs 4044, 4233 and 4354 into law, along with several other bills designed to recruit and retain educators. These new laws will take effect in early 2024. HB 4356 will be sent to Gov. Whitmer for her consideration soon […]
The Michigan Legislature passed a bipartisan education budget for next school year on Wednesday evening, allocating a record amount of funding to help Michigan students succeed. The $24.3 billion education budget prioritizes investments in Michigan’s K-12 schools, starting with the largest ever per-pupil allocation at $9,608 a student (an additional $458 per student). Similarly, higher […]
EAST LANSING —Michigan Education Association President Paula Herbart released the following statement Wednesday regarding legislative action on a record-setting School Aid budget: “Thanks to the hard work of Gov. Whitmer and leaders in the state House and Senate, our local schools will continue to make progress in attracting and retaining qualified educators who can help […]
EAST LANSING — The following statement can be attributed to Michigan Education Association President Paula Herbart in response to Wednesday’s state Senate passage of legislation restoring workplace rights to school employees: “This is a great day for educators, students, parents and local schools across Michigan. Frontline educators deserve to have a voice in the workplace, […]
The state House on Thursday passed a package of bills to bring back educators’ voices to workplace decisions, restoring collective bargaining rights taken away under a GOP-controlled legislature and former Gov. Rick Snyder a dozen years ago. This critically important package of bills passed along party lines and now moves to the Senate. Take a […]
EAST LANSING — The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding today’s passage in the State House of bills restoring a variety of critical educator rights, including House Bills 4354, 4356, 4044, and 4233: “Today’s action by State Representatives passing bills that restore respect for our profession will make a difference […]
