Teachers & K-12 Certified Educators

By Amy Urbanowski-Nowak Birch Run Education Association Amy Urbanowski-Nowak, Birch Run Education Association president When I was a young child, I often dreamt of being a teacher… and a horse trainer, but that’s a story for another day. I would ask my sisters to play the role of the student or set up my stuffed animals if my sisters grew…

One of the missions that MEA-Retired member James McCloughan enjoys the most these days is serving as chairman of the Medal of Honor Character Development Program. The program provides free training and curriculum for educators in grades K-5 and 6-12 to teach students core values. Lessons are designed by educators and built around the stories of recipients of the Congressional…

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor MEA-Retired member Jim McCloughan received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in the Vietnam War which interrupted the start of a 40-year teaching career in South Haven. From the get-go, Jim McCloughan was competitive “with a capital C,” he says. Small and athletic, he excelled at every sport he tried. At Bangor…

Student learning and school safety should go hand-in-hand. That’s why educators across Michigan are deeply concerned about the rise in disruptive student behavior, which includes verbal outbursts, threats, and physical aggression. Addressing this troubling nationwide trend is critical for the future of education. MEA is prioritizing this work and providing ways for members to engage in the conversation about solutions.…

By Justin Harper Ann Arbor Education Association Readers of the MEA Voice may remember me from the August–September issue, where part of my story was featured in an article about addressing educator shortages. I was celebrated for completing my degree and certification after three years of night classes, all while working full-time as a paraeducator and co-founding a youth program…

By Richard Mui, history teacher Plymouth-Canton Education Association Richard Mui teaches AP U.S. History;AAPI History, Issues and Culture; andCivics at Canton High School. We often hear the word “unprecedented” to describe the current civic and political landscape of the United States, but we have seen parts of this story before. I teach Advanced Placement U.S. History at Canton High School,…

Stories by Brenda Ortega, MEA Voice Editor This report features MEA members combating Michigan’s educator shortage. Holland High School graduate Liebbe Martinez (left) and teacher Sarah Le Febre graced the August-September MEA Voice cover in a story on high school classes for students interested in teaching careers. Their story is one part of our Special Report on Teacher Recruitment. In…

Associate teacher Jennette Hoffman is pursuing teacher certification at Delta College and Saginaw Valley State University in a Registered Apprenticeship Program in Saginaw schools. By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor From many years of working with children, Elaine Hunt has figured out a lot. For example, she discovered early on that young people do better when parents and educators work…

Jody Hillard By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor When high schooler Rebecca Cox realized she wanted to be an art teacher, she wondered if she had what it takes, so she signed up for the Education Careers program at the Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD) Tech Center. “I knew I really liked the art part — I just needed to…

Teacher Aric Foster and aspiring educator Melina Accardo of Armada High School share similar career origin stories. By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor MEA member Aric Foster got bitten by the teaching bug as a teenager working as a Taekwondo instructor. Specifically he recalls showing a skinny kid named Tyler a new kick, then watching him deploy it at a…