Candidate for MEA President

Paula Herbart

MEA President Herbart took office in 2017. A music teacher from Macomb County, Herbart served as local president, 6‑E coordinating council chair and president of MEA/NEA Local 1 and was on the MEA and NEA Board of Directors. She has served as Vice‑President/Mid‑West Region on the National Council of State Education Associations (NCSEA). Herbart was named to the Governor’s Return to School and Student Recovery Advisory Council, is co‑chair of Launch Michigan and in 2022 was appointed to the Children Trust Michigan board. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Herbart lives in Lansing, MI with her husband and son.

Campaign Statement

“Now, more than ever, the union is the beacon of professional strength, and that’s what my campaign is all about.” Six years ago I said this in my nomi nation speech and now it’s our reality. MEA has regained its rightful place as a political powerhouse, organizing to ensure influence over policy and profes sional agency, and providing the fund ing needed to accomplish our goals: increased wages and benefits, meaning ful professional support, and equita ble resources for every student across Michigan regardless of their zip code.

I have delivered on my promise to make MEA the voice of every education professional.

During my presidency, we have witnessed the largest increases in statewide public‑school funding in a generation! Michigan’s per pupil allow ance has increased exponentially over the past three years. With this year’s proposed preK‑12 increase, school budgets will have improved by 18% since 2020 and, with increases of 4% in each of the last two years, dedi cated funding for higher education has become a priority for Michigan.

I continue to work tirelessly to make certain the stories I share with policy makers and people of influence are YOUR stories. The stories of bus drivers delivering sometimes life‑saving ser vices to students during the height of Covid, stories about the challenges at the bargaining table, and stories about what it will take to make things right for all educators. Now I can share stories with you about our victories: long over due wage increases that haven’t been seen in a decade which immediately change the trajectory of members’ lives, ESP members winning district‑provided health care, and significant increases to the hourly wages of our lowest income members. We’ve secured tuition reim bursement for those who choose to go into teaching and eased the finan cial burden by instituting paid stu dent‑teaching experiences. I made sure our policy makers heard YOU and it has made a difference in the lives of every single MEA member!

As MEA’s Governance Champion for Organizing in NEA’s Year‑Round Organizing program, I have worked alongside you and other members and staff to build a culture of organizing that has increased our ability to make connections with potential members, a system of organizing which didn’t exist when I was first elected president. We have dedicated staff organizers, member organizers, and have received unprecedented grant funding from NEA to execute this organizing. We have room to grow and we have a plan to grow. Now we all must be fully engaged in the hard work started six years ago in realizing the gains we anticipated prior to Covid: to make sure every potential member sees them selves in the union, is connected to the union, and wants to be a member of the union!

As a result of my persistent efforts, during my tenure as president the MEA has significantly strengthened its coali tions with other unions, school adminis trators, and school board associations; the Michigan Department of Education; and solidified through the Launch Michigan coalition, business groups. But more importantly for our union, the trusted relationships I have established with Michigan’s Offices of the Governor & Lt. Governor, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and other policy makers throughout the state have been crucial to MEA’s success in advocating for our members, students, and schools and universities.

I am certain MEA is on the right path. Now, let’s organize our ranks! Our suc cess stories illustrate the value of union ism! I know that people will become members of our union when we demon strate what can be accomplished when we work together. I have worked every day to guarantee MEA will be here to represent and support generations of educators! Our professional advocacy continues to be strong. I am committed to fighting for these issues. I am com mitted to standing up for our mem bers. I am committed to the Michigan Education Association. Join me in being a Champion for Education!