MEA and Ferris Faculty Association Respond to Senate’s Rejection of Qualified Educator to FSU Board

EAST LANSING — Michigan Education Association President Paula Herbart and Ferris State University Faculty Association President Charles Bacon issued the following statement Thursday in response to the Michigan Senate’s unfair rejection of Michael Ryan, Ph.D., to the FSU Board of Trustees: “It is unconscionable that Senate Republicans would reject Gov. Whitmer’s appointment of Dr. Michael […]

MEA President Paula Herbart’s statement on shooting death of Patrick Lyoya

EAST LANSING — Michigan Education Association President Paula Herbart issued the following statement Thursday regarding the killing of Patrick Lyoya and the critical role educators play in fostering community conversations about social justice and equity: “Like so many others, I was saddened and angered to watch the horrific video of Patrick Lyoya’s senseless death. These […]

MEA announces recommendations for state Supreme Court and education boards

EAST LANSING – The Michigan Education Association is recommending the reelection this November of Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, the association of teachers, education support professionals and higher-education faculty announced Thursday. “Richard Bernstein is a longtime advocate for children with special needs, people with disabilities and everyday working people, and we are proud to […]

Educators urge Whitmer to veto tax break for corporations and the wealthy

State leaders should invest in children, working families and seniors in need LANSING —Michigan’s education unions issued the following statement Thursday urging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to veto Senate Bill 768, which would provide tax breaks for Michigan’s wealthiest individuals and corporations while causing drastic budget shortfalls for students and educators. The following can be attributed […]

Survey shows widespread concern over educator shortage among teachers, school staff

Results of 2,600-educator survey show need for Whitmer budget proposals addressing educator shortage and student mental health EAST LANSING – The Michigan Education Association today released a statewide survey of nearly 2,600 educators, with the vast majority of those surveyed saying the state’s acute educator shortage and its impact on students is the most pressing […]

MEA president praises Whitmer’s plan to repeal retirement tax

EAST LANSING — Michigan Education Association President Paula Herbart issued the following statement Wednesday in reaction to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s State of the State address: “The Michigan Education Association strongly supports Governor Whitmer’s proposal to finally eliminate Michigan’s unfair retirement tax. Michigan seniors cannot continue shouldering such a heavy burden while corporate special interests enjoy […]

Labor Voices: Real solutions, not stopgaps, needed to fix educator shortage

In recent days, rising COVID-19 cases mixed with staffing shortages have forced many school districts to switch to virtual instruction or cancel classes. It’s a numbers game when there aren’t enough adults to safely have students in school. The pandemic has exacerbated Michigan’s acute educator shortage. The heightened stress, crushing additional workloads, and destructive political […]

MEA backs Whitmer, Benson and Nessel for re-election

Statewide committee of educators unanimously recommends trio in 2022 EAST LANSING — The Michigan Education Association is recommending to its members the re-election of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel, the state’s largest school employee union announced Wednesday. “Gov. Whitmer closely listens to the voices of educators, and […]

Statement from Oxford Education Association president

The following statement can be attributed to Jim Gibbons, local president of the Oxford Education Association: “As some schools in our community reopen today, I want to express our sincere thanks for the massive outreach of support for Oxford’s students, parents, educators, administrators and the community at large. We are changed forever by the events […]