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MEA Week in Review 5/5/22

May 07, 2022

MEA Week in Review: 5/5/22

Serving Our Members

Escanaba MEA member named Michigan Teacher of the Year (MEA.org, May 4)

Congratulations to MEA member Nanette Hanson, a first-grade teacher in Escanaba Area Public Schools, for being named Wednesday as Michigan Teacher of the Year for 2022-23.

 

MI Teacher Briefs U.S. Ed Secretary on Uses of Federal Rescue Funds (MEA.org, April 26)

Addressing students’ academic and mental health needs, while lightening the load for overstretched educators, are among the most urgent uses of federal school rescue funds prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to one local union leader in west Michigan.

 

MEA member librarians concerned about lack of equity in school services (MEA.org,April 28)

As School Library Month draws to a close, Michigan Education Association member and veteran media specialist Kathy Lester is working tirelessly to advocate for Michigan’s certified school librarians, who play a pivotal role in preparing students for success but whose numbers have drastically declined in the state.

 

Education Budgets Begin Movement in Legislature (MEA.org, April 28)

Countering historic budget proposals from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the state House and Senate have begun legislative activity on their own education funding proposals for the 2022-23 school year.

 

 

MEA in the News

Labor Voices: Let Michigan’s educators know you stand with them (Detroit News, May 5)
This is Teacher Appreciation Week – but many who work in public education aren’t feeling particularly appreciated.

[Monthly Detroit News Labor Voices column by MEA President Paula Herbart]


 

This Is Teacher Appreciation Week (WSJM, May 2)
“You may want to say thank you to a teacher this week as Monday kicks off Teacher Appreciation Week. Paula Herbart is the president of the Michigan Education Association. She spoke with Michigan News Network about the need to salute our teachers.”
[Includes quote from Paula Herbart, MEA President]


WWJ: Why are so many teachers leaving the profession? And how do we fix it? (WWJ, May 2)
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week. And although it was happening before, the COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly increased the number of teachers looking for a career change.
[Audio segment includes quotes from Thomas Morgan, MEA Communications Consultant]


Manistee County school admins concerned by statewide teacher shortage (Big Rapids News, April 30)
Jakob Veith, superintendent of Bear Lake Schools and Kaleva Norman Dickson Schools, said it is a lot harder to find a teacher than it was when he got into the profession.
[Includes mention of MEA’s January 2022 educator survey]



Big Picture: Top Education Stories

Michigan bills would pause test scores to grade teachers, hold 3rd graders (Bridge Magazine, April 27)

Standardized test scores wouldn’t be a factor this year in educator evaluations or decisions about whether third-graders can move up to fourth grade, under proposed Democratic legislation to loosen Michigan K-12 education requirements to account for disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Commentary: Funding Michigan STEM is an investment in kids, workforce and future(Crain’s Detroit Business, May 3)

“To retain our mantle of leadership, job one is to equip today’s and tomorrow’s workers with the education and skills Michigan businesses need to fill the growing number of high-demand jobs available now and in the future.”

 

Big and small groups, during and after class: tutoring is all over the map (Bridge Magazine, May 2)

 

“Well-developed tutoring programs represent a potential game-changer for ShaeLynn and students like her across Michigan who lost significant ground academically during the first year and a half of the pandemic.”



 

About MEA Week in Review: MEA’s Public Affairs Department compiles this weekly digest of MEA and news media items to provide a snapshot of items you may have missed, as well as a one-stop shop for finding stories MEA leaders and staff can cut-and-paste into local communications efforts.