CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. — Determined to overcome hurdles created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan Education Association member Audrey Debri took her Young Fives classroom to the great outdoors. Throughout Debri’s 10 years at Cedar Trails Elementary School, she often dreamed of making her goal of an outdoor classroom a reality as she regularly walked nature […]
Skyrocketing student loan debt is a major contributor to Michigan’s educator shortage crisis. Addressing college affordability is a critical step to ensure we have enough teachers and staff to meet student needs. Student debt has forced many talented young teachers out of Michigan classrooms as they struggle to make ends meet while making large monthly […]
EAST LANSING — The following statement can be attributed to MEA President Paula Herbart regarding the ongoing efforts by Oakland University’s faculty union to settle a fair contract: “From Pre-K through Higher Education, nothing is more important to student success than having quality educators. To attract and retain exceptional people in our profession, educators deserve […]
As a new school year begins, and the pandemic continues, students at every grade level will need an extra focus on social-emotional learning and health. The Michigan Department of Education is offering a free SEL training and encouraging educators to complete it by Labor Day. The two-hour, SCECH-eligible online module hosted by Michigan Virtual is […]
Two reports on Michigan students’ performance in the 2020-21 school year were released on Tuesday – one looking at K-8 learning gains on benchmark assessments given at the beginning and end of the year and the other a review of third-graders identified for retention under the Read by Grade Three law. The two reports echo findings […]
After a year and a half of disrupted learning due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, student state assessment scores from this spring dipped from the last time that students were given statewide assessments in the spring of 2019, according to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE). In results released on Tuesday, the percentages of 8th and […]
State Superintendent Michael Rice added his voice to the growing chorus of educators pushing back against Republican-led efforts to ban teachers from discussing issues of race and racism in the classroom. “To choose to ignore race and racism in our teaching is to efface or erase history, implicitly or explicitly, and to shortchange our children, […]
Every school community has numerous dedicated employees who spend their day in support of educators and students. Michigan’s Education Support Staff Professional of the Year program exists to honor these outstanding staff members, and nominations for the 2021 award are now open. Those working in educational support staff roles such as transportation workers, cafeteria workers, […]
This week, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) released new guidance about layering protections for safer school operations during COVID-19. They echo recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about in-person school this fall. As rising case levels show, this pandemic is not over. MEA continues to believe health […]
Last summer, amid a global pandemic, racial unrest and a divisive national election, MEA member Travis Neller wanted to give young people a chance to join the dialogue surrounding tough issues facing the country – so he took action. A prevention specialist at the regional educational services agency in Eaton County – Eaton RESA – […]
