Candidate for MEA Secretary‑Treasurer

Eva Menefee

Eva Menefee is the Lead Advisor at Lansing Community College. She has been at the college for nearly 30 years after spending 10 years at Michigan State. She has been a department rep, secretary, treasurer, nego tiator, and is currently the Local president. At the state level, Eva serves on the MEA Board of Directors and sits on the Executive Committee. Eva is the currently the desig nated bookkeeper for the Anishinnabek Caucus of the MDP. In addition, she and her husband own a successful food trailer, and go to close to 25 Native American Pow Wows and Ethnic Festivals each year.

Campaign Statement

Eva Menefee is running for the posi tion of MEA secretary treasurer. When asked why she wants to run, she said, “I want to run for this position because at a conference for higher education last

March the president of NCHE made a statement that only three affiliates had members of Higher Ed on their executive teams. How can we as a teacher’s union representing all facets of education and not have more people from higher education as executive offi cers?” After the conference she came home to Michigan to ask if there had been a Higher Education member on the Executive team, only to find out it had never been done. That information made her decide to run. Not just for the members who work in higher education, but for all who might feel disenfran chised in the organization.

Her career in higher education has allowed her to understand strategic planning, and budgeting. She believes in data driven decision making and is committed to using a group consen sus model when making decisions. Eva believes in leading teams by creating a culture of cooper ation and commit ment to the work that needs to be done. While many new treasurers have never had the oppor tunity to understand the requirements of a local treasurer, Eva believes that MEA needs to provide the training and resources to help everyone understand what is needed to be fis cally successful. In addition to treasurer training and member engagement, she believes in bringing the MEA organiza tion into a closer position of a balanced budget. Eva feels the MEA executive office needs to make sure the number of employees of our company is right‑sized to provide our members with the great service they are expecting. Being fis cally responsible when spending the dues of our members is an important value that Eva has.

Candidate for NEA Director

Anthony Pennock

Dr. Anthony Pennock is an alternative high school special education teacher in Battle Creek Public Schools and is also the president of the Battle Creek Education Association. He has served on the bargain ing team for his local since 2017. Anthony is currently the Region 4 Vice President and is also a delegate to the South Central Education Association coordinating coun cil. Anthony has served on the Screening and Recommendation committee for Region 4 and is a founding member of the MEA LGBTQ+ Caucus and serves as the Male/Non‑Binary Co‑Chair. He has been serving as NEA State Director since 2021.

Campaign Statement

Being the youngest of five children was rough, but it would have been worse without the protections of the bargained contract my father had as a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324. I saw the struggles it took to win those contracts when I would join my father on the picket lines

Heather Schulz

when negotiations would stall, then seeing the power of the collective action win a strong union contract and wage increases!

I have been a member of MEA and NEA since before I signed my first con tract, joining the Students of Michigan Education Association (now AEM) in college. After securing my first contract, the first question I asked was, “Where is my union rep?” and I signed up that day for active membership.

In 2017, I got a job in Battle Creek Public Schools and jumped into lead ership quickly, becoming a bargaining team member, building representative, District Collaboration Team member, and eventually, president of the BCEA in 2019. Since becoming president, I have worked to lift the voices of all edu cators and bring together the leader ship of the ESP groups in the district to work collaboratively for the benefit of all members and students.

I am also a founding member and the Male/Non‑Binary Co‑Chair of the MEA

LGBTQ+ Caucus to help provide sup port and resources for members to better the educa tional experience for LGBTQ+ staff and students statewide.

Since being elected as an NEA State Director at the MEA RA in 2021, I have served as a Co‑Facilitator on the NEA Board Think Tank on Reimagining the Future of Public Education where I thrive to bring the voices of all mem bers to truly re‑envision what public education should be for our students and educators. I have also presented at multiple MEA and NEA conferences on supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools and most recently EA and ESP collaboration.

My calling has always been to ensure all voices are heard. From my class room, to my district, community, state, and national levels, I know the power of the union as activists, mentors, and pro fessionals for all educators!

Candidate for NEA Director

Heather Schulz has been a middle school science teacher in the Lakeview Public Schools (St. Clair Shores) since 1997. Throughout her career, she has served in leadership roles in her local association: Crisis Chair, Secretary, and Vice President. Currently she is the President of the Lakeview Education Association and a del egate to the MEA and NEA Representative Assemblies. In addition to local positions, Heather has served on the MEA Budget and Finance Committee, Statewide S&R, and MEA‑PAC. Currently she is Region 6 President, alternate to the NEA Board of Directors, and member of the MEA Board of Directors.

Campaign Statement

As the daughter of two Michigan public school educators, I have been tuned in to the rewards and challenges of our professions since I was very young. As a young adult, I realized that working to improve public education, both as a pro fession and for the students that attend public schools, was a passion that would drive my life. When I made the decision to become a teacher, it put me on a path of learning, leadership, and advocacy that has continued to this day. After more than twenty years of advocacy and leadership in my school district, my local association, and the MEA, I look forward to an opportunity to be a voice for Michigan educators and our stu dents as a member of the NEA Board of Directors.

Public schools continue to face issues around funding, safety, and equity for all students. Public school educators con tinue to face issues around: recruitment and retention, evaluation demands, and collective bargaining rights. I believe that my experiences as a 26 year vet eran educator, union leader, parent, and someone that is engaged in the com munity give me credibility and a unique perspective to influence decisions about each of these issues at the national level. I look forward to collaborating with lawmakers and col leagues from around the country to move policies forward that will ensure quality public schools for all.

Each time I have taken a step on my leadership journey, I have done it intentionally and with respect for the skills needed to hold the position. I am confident that I have the skills and personality to do the job of an NEA director. As an NEA director, I will lift up the voices for all of the tremendous Michigan educators and students. I will leave space for the voices of others that have different experiences than me. I will listen, and learn, and get smarter about things that I don’t already know. I will be thoughtful, and intentional when making decisions. I will represent the members of the MEA with integrity.