By Brenda Ortega, MEA Voice Editor Michigan Education Association MEA member Jake Trotter says he’s the type of person who likes having structure to his days teaching mostly upper-level world history classes and the second-year history course in the Diploma Programme (DP) at Oxford High School, an International Baccalaureate (IB) School. Trotter’s sense of order […]
By Brenda Ortega, MEA Voice Editor Michigan Education Association It was late on Monday, January 10, the night before Oxford High School students and staff would come back together in a school setting for the first time since a horrific shooting six weeks earlier that killed four students and injured seven, including a teacher. Oxford Education […]
By Brenda Ortega, MEA Voice Editor Michigan Education Association The words are displayed everywhere in the Oxford community, waving in makeshift yard signs, scrolling on digital displays along major thoroughfares, written on signs lining windows and sidewalks downtown: Oxford Strong. But what does it mean? Dr. Jim Henry, a nationally recognized expert on the effects of trauma, […]
Ted DeChane, PhD, is a physical therapist in Mt. Clemens who works with about 30 children a year who have physical and health impairments. Now the 31-year-old is coping with a chronic health problem—Long COVID—but continues working and fundraising for a new playground for his students. What is your role in the school district? I […]
School bands, orchestras and choirs around the country recorded performances of the Oxford fight song as a show of support after the tragedy. More than 80 videos were posted in the span of two weeks during December that showed bands, orchestras and choirs from Michigan to New York, North Carolina, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and more performing […]
Restore quality retirement benefits for educators Please contact your state lawmakers and urge them to support restoring pension benefits for school employees. Over a decade ago, state lawmakers stripped away pension benefits from new educators. To attract and retain quality educators, our state must provide teachers and support staff with good pay, health coverage and [...]
In the wake of the deadly shooting at Oxford High School, Republican leaders in the state House have formed a bipartisan committee to explore ways to improve school safety. The panel will look at how to improve safety protocols at schools and to assess and improve student mental health. Meanwhile, Democrats have introduced several bills […]
Click to view online. In this issue: Letter to Members: Stand United Against Vouchers Above and Beyond: Cara Lougheed and Owen Bondono The Future is Now: Remember to Help Yourself In This Hero’s Journey, Educators Play Inspiring Roles ‘We are at a tipping point’ Lansing Educators Rally for Public Education MEA Continues Recommendations of Whitmer, […]
