Closing a neighborhood school can be devastating for students, families and communities. And what does it solve? Shutting down schools does nothing to address complex problems — a truth conveniently ignored by proponents of school choice who push monetizing public education as a magic bullet.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Education Association yesterday released the February edition of the MEA Voice magazine, featuring an article that explores Michigan’s growing school employee shortage crisis. The article, “The Disappearing Educator,” investigates why experienced teachers are leaving early and why young people aren’t pursuing the education profession.
By Brenda Ortega/ MEA Voice Editor
As far as he knows, he’s the only in-house band and orchestra instrument repair technician employed by a public school district in Michigan, and he’s second generation—his dad held the job at GRPS before him.
Gov. Rick Snyder unveiled a budget proposal on Wednesday that includes modest education spending increases for fiscal year 2018, including an additional $50-100 in K-12 per-pupil allowances and an added $50 per student for high schools.
MEA President: Increases are a step in the right direction
By Brenda Ortega/ MEA Voice Editor
Difficulty finding and retaining people for key education positions in Michigan goes beyond full-time K-12 teachers.
By Brenda Ortega/ MEA Voice Editor
Sam Schweihofer enjoyed teaching special education in St. Clair County’s East China School District, but he was forced to make a choice when his daughter Colbie was born nearly a year ago—and he picked financial security over continuing his career in public education.
By Brenda Ortega/ MEA Voice Editor
Melissa Kramer knows it sounds cliché: Once upon a time she was a six-year-old girl, propping stuffed animals in chairs, playing school in a make-believe classroom full of high drama—of tough students dealing with difficult questions, transformed by a kind teacher.
