For MEA member Sandy Safford-Groff, the last two years have been especially hard – both as an 18-year English teacher in Cheboygan and a human being. Early in the pandemic Safford-Groff lost her mother, Dale Safford – a retired school librarian in Iron River, the small Upper Peninsula town where she grew up loving books […]
MEA member Jay Holtvluwer is 29 years into his career and still enjoys learning new ways to improve his practice. A mentor to “anybody who will listen,” the middle school engineering and social studies teacher last year joined a union-sponsored program to strengthen his use of formative assessments. The Warren Consolidated Schools veteran became part […]
Over his 50 years of driving a school bus in North Central Area Schools in the western Upper Peninsula, MEA member Bob Hanchek says one day clearly stands out from all the rest. On Jan. 4, 2004, Hanchek made a stop on his afternoon route along U.S. 41. With red lights flashing and two of […]
Although MEA member Nanette Hanson has achieved rarefied status as the newly crowned 2022-23 Michigan Teacher of the Year (MTOY), the first grade teacher in Escanaba embodies the story of so many educators. Troubled by low self-esteem growing up in the small Upper Peninsula town of Gladstone, Hanson said in an interview it was caring […]
School districts are taking advantage of state grants, creating new high school courses, and developing partnerships with colleges and universities to address the educator shortage by exposing students to career opportunities in the profession before they reach college. The growth of courses and programs for high schoolers reflects heightened concerns around far fewer young people […]
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor At one time several years ago MEA members Nikoji Smith and Erika Carpenter feared to call the federal office that manages student loans, despite the fact that both carried student loan debt they’d heard might eventually qualify for forgiveness. Avoidance seemed easier — their high debt amounts felt stressful, they […]
By Shana Saddler Michigan summers have a special place in my heart as a time for many educators to recharge their spirit and spend quality time with family and friends. Last summer I experienced one of the most frightening yet joyful times in my life – one that reminded me what it means to be […]
Kristin Crane is a busy wife, mom of four, AEM member, and brand new teacher. She also exemplifies resilience and dedication to public education. She knows the difference that educators make for their students and communities every day. Crane has worked in Gibraltar School District as a paraprofessional and long‑term substitute teacher. Often teachers leave very simple […]
MEA’s Center for Leadership and Learning is holding a series of free afternoon webinars this week and next on topics such as classroom management, motivating students, building a basic website for school projects and more. The Summer Essential Webinar series brings you powerful ideas and strategies that will be the most impactful for you as […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently signed a historic education budget that will alleviate many of the hurdles facing those who are considering a career in education but can’t afford it. In addition to a monumental increase to education funding as a whole, the 2022-23 education budget includes: $305 million for a Future Educators Fellowship to provide […]
