(From right) NEA President Becky Pringle, MEA President Paula Herbart, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and MEA Vice President Chandra Madaferri learn about the Resilient Schools Program during a visit to Lincoln Park Public Schools on Friday. (Credit: Jeffrey Sauger) School visit highlights the district’s Resilient Schools Project, expanded by COVID-19 funds LINCOLN PARK, Mich. — National Education Association President…

(L-R) Farmington Superintendent Dr. Christopher Delgado, MEA President Paula Herbart and Farmington School Board President Terri Weems talk during today’s visit to Warner Middle School. (Credit: Jeffrey Sauger) FARMINGTON, Mich. - Following the largest education investment in Michigan’s history of $17 billion – which closed the funding gap between the highest- and lowest-funded school districts all without raising taxes –…

CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. — Determined to overcome hurdles created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan Education Association member Audrey Debri took her Young Fives classroom to the great outdoors.  Throughout Debri’s 10 years at Cedar Trails Elementary School, she often dreamed of making her goal of an outdoor classroom a reality as she regularly walked nature trails with her students. Little…

Skyrocketing student loan debt is a major contributor to Michigan’s educator shortage crisis. Addressing college affordability is a critical step to ensure we have enough teachers and staff to meet student needs. Student debt has forced many talented young teachers out of Michigan classrooms as they struggle to make ends meet while making large monthly loan payments on some of…

EAST LANSING — The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding the ongoing efforts by Oakland University’s faculty union to settle a fair contract:   “From Pre-K through Higher Education, nothing is more important to student success than having quality educators. To attract and retain exceptional people in our profession, educators deserve respect and compensation requisite of…

With educator shortages crippling the state’s K–12 workforce and impacting learning opportunities for students, Launch Michigan today released the findings of a statewide survey of more than 5,000 public school teachers and other professionals. The findings shed light on many of the reasons why Michigan educators are leaving the profession. Launch Michigan, a partnership of business, education, labor, philanthropy, and civic…

The concept of social justice – and addressing injustice – has always been essential in public education. In the past year, it’s taken on new weight for students, however, as the global pandemic both exposed and exacerbated the injustices faced for decades by many low-income and students of color. Educators have an obligation to fight for equity for each and…

EAST LANSING — The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposals for how to use additional state revenue to fund public education: “Gov. Whitmer’s recommendations are in line with the new MI Blueprint for Comprehensive Student Recovery, which heeded the voices of frontline educators about what’s needed to help students continue…

MEA and AFT Michigan applauded today’s release of the MI Blueprint for Comprehensive Student Recovery by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Student Recovery Advisory Council, a group that heeded the advice of frontline educators in outlining steps that can be taken to help all students succeed as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. “From day one of her administration, Gov. Whitmer has…

Amid our life-and-death fight against COVID-19, we must prepare to wage another high-stakes battle against a dire crisis that is worsening in its wake: the educator shortage. Ask school administrators and they’ll share their struggles to find enough teachers for every classroom. Similarly, there are fewer applicants for counselors, bus drivers, paraprofessionals and other education staff. A complete return to in-person learning — something…