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MEA mourns death of Al Short, Michigan's 'most powerful voice on education policy'
Al Short, MEA’s longtime director of
government affairs, was remembered as
a trusted lobbyist and passionate advocate
for children and public education in
Michigan at a memorial service in East
Lansing on Nov. 27.
“He was a gift to our state and to the kids of Michigan,” Gov. Jennifer Granholm said at the service for Short, who died at age 69 on Nov. 19, after a year-long fight with cancer.
Short was effective “because he had the heart of a teacher while keeping the interests of teachers at heart,” the governor said.
State Budget Director Bob Emerson called Short “one of the most effective lobbyists I ever worked with. Al never apologized for fighting for the members of MEA or fighting for the children of Michigan.”
He treated Republicans and Democrats with equal respect, Emerson said. “All the Democrats thought he was a Republican, and all the Republicans thought he was a Democrat.”
State Budget Director Bob Emerson: ‘Al never
apologized for fighting for the members of MEA
or fighting for the children of Michigan.’
Capitol correspondent Tim Skubick: Al Short ‘had
a hand in every piece of legislation that benefited
education.’
Ed Sarpoulos, vice president of the Lansing polling firm EPIC/MRA, echoed Emerson’s comments. “Al Short never had a bad thing to say about his adversaries, even during pitched battles…he was the most respected and trusted lobbyist in Lansing.”
Tim Skubick, host of television’s “Off the Record” and a veteran Capitol correspondent, said Short “set the gold standard for lobbyists in this town.”
“He had a hand in every piece of legislation that benefited education,” Skubick said. “The true beneficiaries were the kids and teachers whose lives he touched by lobbying for more money for education.”
Chuck Agerstrand, MEA retirement consultant who worked with Short for more than three decades, called Short “Michigan’s most powerful voice on education policy, school financing and retirement issues.”
“We were amazed by his brilliance, his expertise and political savvy. This man was a giant in so many ways. The lifelong benefactors of his efforts were the children of this state.”
Short served two years in the Peace Corps before starting a 10-year teaching career in 1961 in Reading Community Schools and Vandercook Public Schools, where he served as president of the teachers union. He joined the MEA staff in 1971 and became director of government affairs in 1986.
Memorial donations in Al Short’s name can be sent to the Michigan Political Leadership Program, a bipartisan training program he founded for people who want to seek public office. Send donations to: Michigan Political Leadership Program, Michigan State University, 321 Berkey Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824-1111.
Materials for Read Across America available from MEA, NEA
NEA’s annual Read Across America
Day—this year on Monday, March 3—is
more than just a one-day celebration of
reading on Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
It’s your opportunity to focus on an initiative that promotes reading every day.
The MEA Communications Department has developed materials to help you make the Read Across America program a Michigan event for your students and staff.
The materials highlight the theme, “Celebrate a Year of Reading.”
Go to www.mea.org, click on MEA merchandise, to order materials. Orders must be received by Feb. 11.
Additional Read Across America materials from NEA are available at www.nea.org, click on Special Events.
Sesame Street receives MEA's Distinguished Service Award
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| Executive producer Carol-Lynn Parente accepts the MEA Distinguished Service Award, presented to Sesame Street by MEA President Iris Salters. |
Sesame Street—honored with more Emmy Awards than any single show in television history—received the MEA Distinguished Service Award at the Fall Representative Assembly in Lansing on Nov. 10.
The show was honored for its longlasting contributions made in developing the cognitive, social and emotional skills essential for children in today’s world.
In accepting the award, Sesame Street Executive Producer Carol-Lynn Parente said she was proud that Sesame Street was being recognized by educators. “You are role models for our children and inspire the love of learning in children Sesame Street receives MEA’s Distinguished Service Award everywhere,” Parente told the RA’s 500 delegates.
MEA President Iris K. Salters, who presented MEA’s highest honor, noted the special connection between MEA and Sesame Street.
“Loretta Long, who has played Susan Robinson on Sesame Street since the show debuted in 1969, is the sister of our friend Charles Moore from Region 5, a retired MEA member and a teacher who was active in our association for years,” Salters said.
Sesame Street, incidentally, made its television debut on Nov. 10, 1969, 38 years to the day of the Fall RA.