Latest NEA data on teacher salaries provides another #RedForEd Reality Check

May 16, 2019

MEA.org Capitol Comments
"Recently the, NEA released this year’s edition of its Rankings and Estimates report, a well-respected and anticipated national “by-the-numbers” look at public education.  This year’s data continues to tell a scary story about the state of educator pay in Michigan:

• After adjusting for inflation, average teacher salaries in the United States have fallen by 4.5% over the last decade.  Over the same period and with the same adjustment, average Michigan teacher salaries have fallen by 12% – fourth worst in the nation.
• The average starting teacher salary nationwide in 2017-18 was $39,172, up 1.44% compared to the previous year.  However, in Michigan, the average starting salary was $36,309, up just .8% from the prior year. Michigan ranks 32nd in starting salary.
• Nationwide, 37% of districts have a starting salary of at least $40,000.  In Michigan, just 12% of districts hit that level.

 This salary data lines up with other research from MSU, which shows Michigan is last in the nation for education funding increases over the past 25 years, and the School Finance Research Collaborative’s study which concluded Michigan’s schools are underfunded by at least $2,000 per pupil.
 
All this points to the critical need for Gov. Whitmer’s proposed education funding increases to become law.  That’s why MEA is engaged in our #RedForEd plans, including sharing Reality Checks with the general public.  Learn more about these efforts – which lead up to events at the Capitol in June – and what you can do to help at www.mea.org/redfored."

MEA calls on governor to sign “snow day” bill – and on schools to do right by hourly workers

May 12, 2019

MEA.org Capitol Comments

Survey: Quarter of Michigan teachers say schools aren't ready to help retained students

May 02, 2019

Detroit News, March 20, 2019
"Nearly a quarter of Michigan educators say their schools are not ready to provide any additional support for students who are held back after next school year under Michigan's controversial third-grade reading law, according to statewide educator survey results released on Wednesday.

The survey by Launch Michigan, which gathered opinions from nearly 17,000 educators across the state, found that number rises to more than 4 in 10 in some urban districts, especially those with high-poverty and low per-pupil spending.

The full survey report, available at www.launchmichigan.org/news, was paid for by Launch Michigan, a partnership of business, education, labor, philanthropy, civic leaders and parents.

While a majority of teachers say their school libraries and classrooms have enough reading material for students, more than 3 in 10 do not — particularly in the same high-poverty and lower-spending urban districts, said Emma White, principal of Emma White Research, which fielded the online survey from Feb. 4-19."  Continue Reading.  Detroit News, March 20, 2019

SIGN UP TO GOLF TODAY!

Apr 24, 2019

SIGN UP TO GOLF TODAY!

Sign up today to golf at the 19^th Annual MEA Scholarship Fund Golf Outing! The Golf Outing is scheduled for Monday, June 17, 2019 at the Forest Akers Golf Course in Lansing. The price per golfer is $120.00. You may select your own team of four, or the golf committee can place you on a team.  

For your convenience, the brochure is attached. In addition, they are available on the website at https://mea.org/golfouting/. Brochures can also be mailed upon request. Please contact Barb Hitchcock at ext. 6276 or bhitchcock@mea.org to have a brochure mailed to you.

Please make checks payable to: MEA Scholarship Fund. You can send your registration form and money to Nancy Kirby in the MEA Finance department.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Barb Hitchcock in Human Resources at ext. 6276 or by email at bhitchcock@mea.org.

Thank you in advance for supporting the MEA Scholarship Fund!

MESSAGE FROM NEA PRESIDENT LILY ESKELSEN ABOUT THE NATIONAL TEACHERS HALL OF FAME'S NATIONAL MEMORIAL TO FALLEN EDUC

Apr 15, 2019

Dear Colleagues,

It's with mixed emotions that I write to tell you that our partners and colleagues at the National Teachers Hall of Fame's National Memorial to Fallen Educators received the official designation by Congress on April 30, 2018 as a national memorial.  https://nthfmemorial.org/fallen-educators/

While I am thrilled that Emporia University campus in Kansas which houses The National Teachers Hall of Fame will be home to a nationally recognized memorial, I am heartbroken that there is a need for such a monument - to educators who lost their lives in the line of duty while serving their students and colleagues.  This one-of-a-kind national memorial includes teachers, ESPs, and administrators by individual names on two large marble stones.  Sadly, violence has claimed so many of our colleagues that it is time to purchase a third marble stone.

There are currently 129 names of American educators (teachers, education support professionals, and administrators) etched on the two six foot by six-foot black granite books.  A donors' wall, benches, and walkway create a memorial plaza, adorned with landscaping and illumination.  Names of the fallen include those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary, Chuck Poland, the school bus driver hero killed in in Alabama, Dave Sanders who died at Columbine, as well as teacher Robert Bailey, who was killed in Illinois in 1882, Christa McAuliffe who perished in the Challenger explosion, and Principal Jim McGee of Goddard, Kansas.  Too many more names have been added in the past year.

I am asking any individual, local or state affiliate to consider a contribution to maintain our country's only memorial to fallen educators.  No amount is too small.

Specifically, we ask you to consider helping by:

1) Supporting the fundraising efforts as a Local or State Affiliate by sending a financial donation.  The Hall of Fame is a 501 c3 non-profit organization, and your donation is fully tax-deductible.  Any donation is appreciated. CLICK HERE to make a donation. 

2)     Promoting the fundraising efforts within your state. The Teachers Hall of Fame is encouraging classrooms to have change jars to collect change for the #no more names campaign, to take photos of the children with their collection; turn the coins into a check; and mail the check to the National Teacher Hall of Fame. Each school participating will receive a certificate and have their school honored on the NTHF website.

3)  Providing your voice for local, state and national funding of mental health services, counselors, social workers and community resources rather than arming educators so that we focus on prevention rather than reacting to the next tragedy.  

4)   Planning to attend the Memorial re-dedication ceremonies and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday, June 21^st in Emporia.

We are so proud of our relationship with The National Teachers Hall of Fame.  I hope that you will also consider supporting them by encouraging someone you know to apply for consideration to be included as an honoree or applying yourself.  They seek a diverse pool of applicants who serve a diverse pool of students and who will shine as examples of the dedication, talent and leadership of today's educators.

We salute The National Teachers Hall of Fame for their inclusion of a permanent exhibit on the importance of Education Support Professionals and for highlighting our NEA ESP of the Year each year, inducting our winner with the teacher inductees.

In short, there is much to do, and I hope that many of you will step up and find a way to show your appreciation for this physical and permanent tribute to examples of the best and bravest amongst us.

For more information, feel free to contact Carol Strickland, Executive Director of The National Teachers Hall of Fame, at (620) 341-5660 or nthfdirector@emporia.edu.  She will be happy to work with you in any way possible. 

Gracias por todo,

Lily