Instead of focusing on real issues facing our schools – like the educator shortage and student mental health concerns – some politicians continue attempting to drive wedges between parents and educators for short-term political points. Last week, Senate Republicans passed a resolution affirming parent rights in their children’s education (something that isn’t actually being threatened), focusing on […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is proposing the largest funding increase for public education in 20 years, with proposals to recruit and retain educators, increase per-student spending, rebuild mental health supports, expand preschool access, and fund school construction and renovations. In contrast, initial Republican proposals focus on massive tax breaks, especially for corporations and the wealthy. Such plans are […]
MEA and the Michigan Art Education Association (MAEA) are seeking entries for their 58th annual juried art purchase show. The exhibit—to acquire artwork to enhance the MEA headquarters complex in East Lansing and MEA regional and UniServ offices throughout the state—provides an opportunity to display art by MAEA, MEA, or MEA-Retired members in good standing. […]
In the middle of the most exhausting year of our careers, the work of our union is more important than ever. Despite fatigue and frustrations, educators must engage and persist in this critical moment – and MEA offers many ways for you to learn and get involved while earning SCECHs or certification credits. Sign up […]
The pressures of COVID have reinforced a belief long held by David Schneider, a Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) professor and the faculty union’s chief negotiator for 25 years: “Not everything needs to be negotiated for us to have a voice.” Funding in three federal COVID-relief packages included tens of millions of dollars for Michigan […]
Morale among educators in South Redford is the worst Bill Dyer has seen in 28 years as a math teacher in the district, the local union president said. He also has never before seen 10 teaching positions open mid-year—which was the number unfilled last month. “It’s been an uphill battle for us to attract new teachers, […]
Schools in Michigan are looking to hire hundreds of mental health professionals to address a huge explosion of need from young people in the pandemic—part of a $240 million initiative signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in this year’s state school aid budget. Even before the global health crisis—which has killed close to 900,000 Americans and […]
By Brenda Ortega, MEA Voice Editor Michigan Education Association MEA member Jake Trotter says he’s the type of person who likes having structure to his days teaching mostly upper-level world history classes and the second-year history course in the Diploma Programme (DP) at Oxford High School, an International Baccalaureate (IB) School. Trotter’s sense of order […]
By Brenda Ortega, MEA Voice Editor Michigan Education Association It was late on Monday, January 10, the night before Oxford High School students and staff would come back together in a school setting for the first time since a horrific shooting six weeks earlier that killed four students and injured seven, including a teacher. Oxford Education […]
Ted DeChane, PhD, is a physical therapist in Mt. Clemens who works with about 30 children a year who have physical and health impairments. Now the 31-year-old is coping with a chronic health problem—Long COVID—but continues working and fundraising for a new playground for his students. What is your role in the school district? I […]
