Member Spotlight: Kat Sibalwa
Last March Kat Sibalwa, Byron Center High School teacher and BCEA co-president, was set to talk about MEA with soon‑to‑graduate aspiring educators at Grand Valley State University. Then the pandemic…
Loving Head Cook, ‘Miss Dawn,’ Wins ESP of the Year: ‘This is home to me’
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor At Parma Elementary School in Jackson County’s Western School District, students coming through Miss Dawn’s cafeteria line enjoy a generous serving of love along with…
MEA Book Studies Tackle Timely Yet Difficult Topics: Racism, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor When Dawn Weaver facilitates trainings or discussions around race, she talks with educators about the importance of creating “windows and mirrors” in their classroom practice. “I’ve…
Why Face-to-Face School Seems Unsustainable This Year
By Todd Bloch I teach science, so I’ve been trained to make observations. From what I observed in the fall, I’ve drawn some conclusions about why in-person teaching and learning in…
Analysis: Where We Stand, Post Election and Mid-Pandemic
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor MEA members’ hard work to elect friends of public education up and down the November 3 General Election ballot paid off in many ways, but…
Above and Beyond: Aspiring Educators Complete Adapted Service Project
Every spring, Aspiring Educators of Michigan State (AEMS) complete a service project at an area elementary school, but this year – like everything – the experience had to be adapted…
lovevirtually (and actually, too) – MEA Members Create Wellness Toolboxes for Students
By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor As a behavior specialist in Kalamazoo Public Schools, MEA member Tia Whitley describes her job as advocating for students’ academic success by providing them additional…
Amy Quiñones: Charting New Waters
Lots of people say it in these unusual days of our lives, but for MEA member Amy Quiñones it’s literally true: She did not sign up for this. The job…
Jacob Oaster: leader, teacher, innovator
MEA member Jacob Oaster is a mid-career vocal music teacher who knows how to manage a teaching load of 150 sixth through twelfth graders split into five different choirs, but 2020 has…
Karen Christian: COVID ICU survivor
MEA member Karen Christian can recall a few moments of panic from her COVID-19 diagnosis in late September, starting with the shock of hearing a nurse on the phone saying the test…