As educators, MEA members are committed to the safety and well-being of students, families and the communities we all call home. We believe schools and communities should be places of learning and belonging, and they should be safe for all. Whether it’s in Minnesota or here in Michigan, the fear and trauma immigration enforcement is creating for children and […]
Student literacy promises to be a major topic throughout 2026, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer committing to it as a top issue for her final year in office. Regardless of test scores and political spin, we can all agree that improving student literacy is an educational imperative. We can and must help every student improve reading […]
Christine Beachler The decline in literacy test scores in Michigan over the past few decades parallels the dramatic loss of certified school librarians across the state, say two MEA members who also lead the Michigan Association of School Librarians (MASL). Librarians are literacy leaders with expertise in book collection development, information literacy instruction, and defending [...]
Waterford Education Association President Mary Craite has been teaching for 40 years. After completing the literacy training known as LETRS — which stands for Language Essentials for Teaching Reading and Spelling — she’s ready to teach another 40. “LETRS is among the best professional development that I’ve had in my career,” Craite said. The learning […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gathered hundreds of leaders from education, philanthropy, government and business in December to underline the need for shared responsibility to improve literacy — which she said in her final year in office, “will remain my number-one priority.” “Helping every child read is tough; it’s a worthwhile goal. It’s a long-term project that […]
Dionna Roberts wears multiple hats, but she likes to say, “Literacy is my ‘jam,’ meaning my job and motivation for the work I do.” A former teacher and literacy coach, now a principal and current president of the Michigan Reading Association (MRA), Roberts describes her core philosophy as a balance between the technical “science of […]
MEA member Andrea Ward knows the devastating effects that reading struggles can have on a child’s self-esteem. Ward was diagnosed with dyslexia in fifth grade and has dedicated her life to helping others who struggle in school. “Reading struggles shape who (kids) think they are and what they believe about their ability levels,” she said. […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor As in most stories of change, the timeline of MEA member David Pelc’s teaching transformation marks a few key events building up to the pivotal moment. Early on, a volunteer experience spent reading books with youngsters in disadvantaged communities hooked him on the joys of teaching and spurred him […]
Like all educators, MEA member David Pelc didn’t stop learning once he started teaching. Several years ago, the mid-career Romulus elementary teacher began a journey of transformation in the way he taught children to read. That expertise got Pelc invited to join a panel discussion at an all-day Literacy Summit at the Michigan Science Center [...]
Click to view online. In this issue: LETTER TO MEMBERS: Literacy demands consistency NEWS & NOTES: Briefs: Supporting students amid immigration fear and uncertainty MEA/MAEA Art Exhibition: Call for entries Quotables: Cell phone legislation passes House and Senate MEA Elections: ESP Caucus THE FUTURE IS NOW: Advance your degree without debt COVER STORY: Leading on literacy […]
