By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor When MEA members Hattie Maguire, Kristin Franchi, and Jodi Forster—along with Assistant Superintendent Dr. RJ Webber—started an innovative new class at Novi High School last fall, they expected to figure things out as they went. They just didn’t know how much they would learn—or how quickly. The educators leading […]
By Madonna Jackson, EdD Disadvantaged/LEP Coordinator Mott Community College Treasurer, Professional Technical Unit (Pro-Tech) It is wonderful to hear policymakers such as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer echoing what individuals working within career technical education have known for a long time—opportunity abounds for people who complete quality job skills training through degree and certificate programs. Students, both […]
Join educators from across Michigan to support increasing funding for public education and our students! Tues., June 18, 2019 Tues., June 25, 2019 Michigan State Capitol Lawn Lansing, MI Questions? Contact MEA Public Affairs at (517) 337-5508 or AFT Michigan at (313) 393-2200.
A bill that would forgive Michigan school districts from making up school days cancelled when the governor declares a state of emergency passed the state House this week. HB 4206 now heads to the Senate, where we need to urge approval as soon as possible next week. State law currently provides six snow days per year, and […]
By Jason Stidham Livingston County Resident Re-employed Washtenaw County Teacher Last year was set to be extra special for my family. It marked my 20th anniversary teaching at the same district, and after helping more than 1,500 students move toward graduation at my school, it was now MY daughter’s turn to graduate from the neighboring district […]
Stories by Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor MEA member Corey O’Bryan never planned to be a teacher. A self-proclaimed nerd in high school, he entered Western Michigan University to study engineering—until discovering he wanted to share his love of math and science more than he wished to pursue his childhood dream of designing robotics for military […]
Jason Stidham has lived every educator’s nightmare. A high school English teacher for 20 years, he was laid off last June—despite his “Effective” rating—when his Michigan district needed to make staffing cuts. His evaluation score was two-one-hundredths of a point lower than a newer, younger colleague, and suddenly, “My district was no longer obligated to honor the commitment […]
It’s not over yet, but a seven-year court battle by MEA over a tenured teacher’s termination has so far provided some clarity in what’s required of school districts before they make a layoff decision based on an educator’s evaluation. In March, the Michigan Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling that the case of Summer […]
MEA tools and training can assist members in navigating the teacher evaluation system. A training cadre is available to visit local associations to deliver the latest information about the law’s requirements and specific state-approved tools used by local districts, and to provide access to Michigan Department of Education resources related to evaluation. The training includes […]
MEA lobbyists have been pushing for changes to the state’s evaluation law for more than a year. As of press time, House Bill 4221 and Senate Bill 122 were under consideration in the state Legislature. The measures would return the percentage of an educator’s annual evaluation that is tied to student growth measures to 25 […]
