To educate younger MEA members, veteran Wayne-Westland teacher Tim Sullivan made a video of news clips from 2011 when Gov. Rick Snyder and a Republican-controlled Legislature cut $1 billion out of the state education budget. “They talked about the cuts as ‘shared sacrifice,’ but then they also gave businesses a $1.4 billion tax break,” Sullivan […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor MEA-Retired member Jo Bird started her teaching career in Zeeland in 1974, formally retired in 2006, and subbed for a dozen more years before finally leaving the classroom. But she never stopped being an activist. Over decades, Bird has devoted her time and energy to many causes, through good […]
In true librarian fashion, MEA member Christina Chatel had a nagging question and set about digging for an answer: “Where are the books written with the 13- to 15-year-old in mind?” As a middle school library media specialist in Troy, Chatel reads several dozen books a year and talks with hundreds of young people to […]
MEA member Amanda Walker first got to know newly elected state Sen. Chedrick Greene (D-Saginaw) before he was a candidate for the 35th-District seat in a special election in May. A teacher in Bay City, Walker and Greene — a fire captain in Saginaw — both participated in a one-year, multi-partisan public policy program at […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor When MEA member Amanda Walker took a lead role organizing Saginaw-Midland-Bay City educators to vote in a spring special election for a vacant state senate seat, the goal was to energize everyone — but especially members who had been politically disengaged. Walker and the team exceeded their own expectations. […]
MEA’s communications staff took home several national awards for writing, design and digital entries, competing against other large-state affiliates at the State Education Association Communicators conference in June. Campaigns: Digital Organizing — Award of Excellence / Michigan ESP Bill of Rights Video: Short Form — Award of Distinction / Michigan ESP Bill of Rights: “One Job Should [...]
In recent years, we’ve accomplished great things for our students and members — from free meals and increased school funding to restored labor rights and greater educator voice in policy. We’re proud of those gains, achieved on the heels of a dark time for public education and unions. (Read more about that recent history in […]
Click to view online. In this issue: LETTER TO MEMBERS: New Year, Renewed Optimism, Continued Progress COVER STORY — By working together, we can help elect candidates who believe in public education Teacher-organizer, candidate connected by policy ELECTIONS MATTER — MEA members look back to move ahead in Election 2026 Educators: Remember history to avoid […]
As part of the early July budget compromise, bills passed mandating K-5 educator science of reading training over the next five years (HB 5697), and a corresponding inclusion of those concepts in teacher preparation programs (HB 5646). Importantly, several key changes to the training bill were made in the State Senate, including: Requiring at least […]
Albeit a few days late, passage of the state education budget for the 2026-27 school year on Friday, July 3, allows educators and schools to focus on getting ready to help students succeed this fall. The education budget includes modest increases — $250 (up to $10,300) per student for the foundation allowance and 1% […]
