Michigan is facing a record shortage of poll workers this year due to the coronavirus. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has engaged in a full-scale push to ensure there are enough workers to safely conduct this November’s election. NEA has partnered with “Power the Polls” to help recruit people to be poll workers. Our democracy […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor MEA member Owen Bondono quickly got down to work as the new Michigan Teacher of the Year (MTOY). Just a few weeks into the role as advocate and voice for the state’s educators, the Oak Park language arts teacher began surveying school employees on their thoughts about returning to […]
The outgoing Michigan Teacher of the Year, MEA member Cara Lougheed, has been named to a five-year term on the state Teacher Tenure Commission beginning on Sept. 1. The five-member panel acts as a board of review for all cases appealed from the decision of a controlling board. The commission’s makeup includes two teachers, one […]
Educators, children, parents, and families are encouraged to submit questions for a special town hall, jointly hosted by CNN and Sesame Street, about going back to school in the coronavirus era. The special, set to air on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. ET, will be moderated by CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, […]
By Dawn Levey As a public school teacher of 30 years, I have always been filled with great excitement and anticipation about a new school year. At this point every year, I find myself eager to meet a new group of students and explore new learning opportunities with them. This year, that excitement is accompanied […]
By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association As we approach the start of a school year like no other, teachers and education support professionals are feeling scared and angry. Scared because of unknown consequences of returning to classrooms without clear answers about COVID-19 health and safety — because, frankly, the experts don’t have those answers […]
When MEA member Ben Henri won this year’s Teachers Tournament on the long-running game show Jeopardy!, he returned home with something beyond the $100,000 in winnings. Henri found an extended support network in the educators he defeated for the grand prize. Of the 15 tournament competitors, 14 remained in touch months later – meeting virtually […]
The state House on Monday approved a compromise package of bills that provides answers about student counts for school funding, benchmark testing and other important matters as the 2020-21 school year begins amid the COVID-19 pandemic. House Bills 5911-13 now go to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for a signature after passing the state Senate in a […]
By Kathleen Dillon-Dowd As a 38-year teacher in mostly public-school classrooms from preschool to eighth grade, I could have retired a while ago. But in March, when we all went into home isolation, I realized how much I want to be in the classroom. I may not like getting up at 5:30, or the hours […]
The state Senate has scheduled an unusual Saturday session for this weekend, and while nothing is yet certain, early indications are that the goal will be to pass measures related to the return to school this fall. Less clear is whether the agenda will include bipartisan solutions to pandemic-related challenges or partisan schemes that use […]
