With the end of legislative action for 2023, there were many victories to celebrate for students, educators, and the institution of public education that saw action in Lansing in recent weeks. Teacher Evaluations – Fixed Senate Bill 395, introduced by state Sen. Dayna Polehanki (an MEA member and former teacher), and Senate Bill 396, introduced by […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor “Wonderful news!” “Here’s why we work hard to elect legislators who support public education.” “Elections matter!” “Let’s keep going!” Hundreds of similar comments and shares on MEA’s social media echoed in celebration after the Michigan Legislature approved changes to the state’s broken teacher evaluation system starting next school year. […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor At eight years old, Sid Halley learned his great-grandfather had mentored a young James Earl Jones to overcome a debilitating stutter and develop into a world-renowned and beloved actor – and he marveled that his mom’s grandpa taught Darth Vader of “Star Wars” fame. As he grew up, Halley […]
Three statewide MEA awards are open for nominations through the end of this year – one to recognize a group or individual outside of MEA focused on human rights and two for educators demonstrating leadership in feminist and gender equity or educational excellence. We all know stellar colleagues in our PK-12 and higher education circles […]
Following passage Wednesday night in the State House, the State Senate concurred with changes to Senate Bills 395 and 396 – the amended bills that address key changes to teacher evaluation now head to Gov. Whitmer for her approval. Under the bills, the following changes will take effect for the 2024-25 school year: Make teacher […]
Federal leaders must fix an antiquated exemption that prevents teachers from receiving overtime pay, writes MEA member Audra DeRidder, a special education and fifth-grade teacher in Iron Mountain Public Schools, in a recent essay for the National Employment Law Project. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1935 (FLSA) is a landmark law that provides critical […]
Soon after teachers in Flint’s Beecher Community School District settled a strong contract, staff at the combined middle/high school enjoyed a visit by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on her back-to-school tour – joined by NEA President Becky Pringle and MEA President Chandra Madafferi. After a decade of financial struggle and stagnation, the Beecher Education Association’s new […]
By Chandra Madafferi Michigan educators and communities are doing amazing things with the billions of dollars our state has received in federal school rescue funds. While there’s still plenty of great work to be done, time is running out for school districts to put this one-time funding to good use. Our state received $5.6 billion […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin said she received her proudest endorsement when MEA announced its recommendation of the third-term 7th District congresswoman in her bid for the U.S. Senate in 2024. Educators are mission-oriented people, and she feels kinship, she said during a meet-and-greet event with MEA members on Saturday […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor When MEA member Megan Ake changed school districts from Farmington to Fenton five years ago, the first teaching tasks she felt pressured to master involved massive classroom-practice checklists and student-growth data mandates in the state’s evolving educator evaluation system. Instead of learning her students’ names, delving into a new […]
