EAST LANSING — The Michigan Education Association, the state’s largest school employee union, is proud to announce the hiring of Erik Edoff as its new senior executive director.

Following a national search, MEA selected Edoff – who currently serves as Superintendent of L’Anse Creuse Public Schools – for its top staff position, providing executive leadership for MEA, MESSA and MEA Financial Services.

“Erik has proven himself over 25 years in public education as a steadfast supporter of both student learning conditions and educator working conditions, making him an ideal choice to be our new senior executive director,” said MEA President and CEO Chandra Madafferi, a long-time Oakland County educator. “We are excited for him to join the MEA family and work together for the public education that every student needs, surrounded by caring and qualified educators to help them achieve success.”

A former teacher, MEA member, and administrator, Edoff has spent his entire career in L’Anse Creuse – the last seven years as superintendent – ensuring students get a great public education by working with educators, families and community leaders alike.

“Bringing people together around the common goal of preparing our youth for success in life, work and our democracy has been the passion of my career,” Edoff said. “This new role at MEA is an exciting new chapter for me, especially as a former MEA member and the son of an educator who was active in efforts to collectively bargain and secure rights for her profession.”

Edoff’s tenure in L’Anse Creuse was defined by his collaborative work with local educators and their unions, said Kathy Parmentier, local president of the L’Anse Creuse Education Association.

“Erik’s ability to foster positive labor relations and collaborate effectively with all stakeholders, including union representatives, has been instrumental in driving positive change and achieving our district’s goals,” Parmentier said.

“In L’Anse Creuse, there are many diverse viewpoints,” Parmentier added. “No matter where someone came from in their worldview on public education or labor issues, Erik respected opinions and brought people together to make decisions. That talent will be a major asset for MEA.”

MEA/NEA Local 1 Executive Director Mara Wirtz – who represents MEA’s local associations in L’Anse Creuse – has known and worked with Edoff since his days as an MEA member.

“Erik values a high-quality public education for all students and believes that the working conditions of all education professionals promote that high-quality public education,” Wirtz said. “He has protected and advocated for the rights of educators, and he respects and supports the collective bargaining process and unions’ rights to protect and advocate for their members.”

Those strong union values were what made Edoff the clear choice for the job, said Percy Brown, an Ann Arbor paraeducator and the senior member of the MEA Board of Directors.

“His dedication to public education and union values is demonstrably clear, as is his body of work across political aisles to garner support for great public schools for every student and school employee,” said Brown, who served on the hiring committee for the position.

Alongside his superintendent position, Edoff has served as president of the K-12 Alliance for Michigan and the Macomb Association of School Administrators.  He is a member of both the Institute for Educational Innovation and the Educational Research and Development Institute. Edoff earned his B.A. in Biology and Political Science from Kalamazoo College; an M.A. in Educational Administration and Leadership from Michigan State University; and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Oakland University. Edoff and his wife – who is also an educator and MEA member of 26 years – live in Metro Detroit with their three children.

Edoff’s work as MEA senior executive director will begin on Sept. 1, taking over for Dr. Earl Wiman, who has served as an interim in that capacity for the past two years.