As spring heads into summer, state budget negotiations will heat up along with the weather—especially given big differences between the education priorities of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican leaders in the state House and Senate.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, May 24, 2019 EAST LANSING – The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding the state’s proposal to address the academic and financial performance of Benton Harbor Area Schools: “Above all else, we need to make sure Benton Harbor’s students get a quality education that prepares them […]
As an educator and public school employee, what you would say if a state lawmaker asked you to share your biggest concerns about public education in Michigan? Think on it—we’ll come back to your ideas in a moment. Meanwhile, take a look at the some of the issues raised by one group of about a […]
At the Representative Assembly on May 11, MEA posthumously honored Congressman John Dingell with top awards from both MEA and MEA-PAC. The following comments were delivered by MEA President Paula Herbart presenting the award, which was accepted via video by Dingell’s wife and successor in office, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.
An RSVP form is now available for the June #RedForEd rallies. As MEA President Paula Herbart announced last month, MEA and AFT Michigan are working together to hold these events so lawmakers can hear the voices of public education supporters from across Michigan to support increasing funding for our students and schools. On Tuesday, June 18, […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday announced 15 appointees to a new Educator Advisory Council (EOC) charged with making recommendations on education-related policy matters. Eight MEA members were named to the new panel. They include: Angela J. Pérez of Muskegon, an elementary Spanish two-way immersion teacher with Muskegon Public Schools. Anthony M. Greenburg of Lansing, a […]
This week, NEA released this year’s edition of its Rankings and Estimates report, a well-respected and anticipated national “by-the-numbers” look at public education. This year’s data continues to tell a scary story about the state of educator pay in Michigan: After adjusting for inflation, average teacher salaries in the United States have fallen by 4.5% […]
Following up on President Herbart’s announcement about our #RedForEd education funding advocacy, we’ll be sharing these updates regularly about how every member can be engaged in our efforts. 1) Postcards to Lawmakers MEA and AFT Michigan are writing postcards to both chambers in support of the budget. We can ship out any number of cards […]
Michigan educators must organize opportunities to share their stories in their communities and shine a light on why public education needs increased education funding. Get the background you need to make your voice heard through a #RedForEd Reality Check, including background research, ideas for events, talking points and more. Most importantly, be sure to share […]
By Rick Joseph Michigan Teacher of the Year 2015-16 I recently had the honor of presenting at the Teach-In for Freedom in El Paso, Texas. As I gathered with teachers from around the country on President’s Day, I felt an immense sense of gratitude for the opportunity to share the realities of refugee youth who represent the […]
