Labor Voices: Make voting a ‘teachable moment’ for kids
October 21, 2020 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association In this election, our democracy is on the ballot. Our nation has a strong history of conducting free and fair…
Labor Voices: MEA endorses Biden as best for educators, parents
September 16, 2020 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association For decades, we’ve all heard the refrain: “This is the most important election in our lifetime.” More than ever,…
Opinion: MEA: We’ll sue to ensure school safety
August 19, 2020 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association As we approach the start of a school year like no other, teachers and education support professionals are feeling scared…
Opinion: Michigan v. DeVos is more than just a lawsuit
July 15, 2020 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association A lawsuit filed last week against U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos created a case name that captures a long-standing feeling among educators…
Opinion: Teachers say we need key steps to reopen schools
June 17, 2020 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association One of the most important decisions our state will make in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic is when and…
Opinion: Federal relief is critical to lessen school budget blow
The global pandemic has wreaked havoc on state budgets, and Michigan is no exception; we face an estimated $6.2 billion shortfall through next year. To avoid catastrophic cuts, educators across…
Opinion: Educators meet students’ needs amid COVID-19
Michigan Education Association member Sarah VanderMeer says her heart aches from missing her developmental kindergartners from Brown Elementary School in Byron Center, so she checks in via FaceTime to see how…
Opinion: Michigan’s public schools face educator shortage crisis
February 19, 2020 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association There is a crisis in our public schools that threatens a generation of students. According to the U.S. Department of…
Opinion: Keep loan-forgiveness promises to educators
January 15, 2020 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association Stefanie Sedlar was forced to put her plans to start a family on hold to pay off nearly $100,000 in…
Opinion: To address literacy, understand link with poverty
December 18, 2019 By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association Some of us remember the old “Reading is Fundamental” ad campaign, which encouraged parents to read to their children. Today,…