MEA Voice Magazine - February-March 2023 Issue

MEA LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 2023 VOUCHERS DEFEATED

Letter to Members: Good changes afoot

By now we’ve all heard much conversation about what it means that voters in the last election handed Democrats control of the Michigan Legislature with a Democratic gov ernor at the helm for the first time in 40 years.

Less has been written about another result that has never hap pened before: Educators now chair the most important state House and Senate committees responsible for making preK‑16 education policy.

Read. That. Again.

For too long, our focus has had to be on fighting off the destructive school privatization agenda of power ful interests such as Betsy DeVos. Of course, one election doesn’t end that battle, but clearly voters have sent a strong message.

Last month DeVos pulled her school vouchers scheme from consid eration for the 2024 General Election ballot after spending millions gather‑ ing petition signatures. Read more on page 8.

That victory alone is worth celebrat ing. But there’s more — much more.

Check out our coverage of MEA legislative priorities, developed over months and years with the help of statewide MEA leaders, members and staff, on pages 10‑16. For the first time in a long while, public school employees can rest assured their voices are being heard in the halls of power.

T his doesn’t mean we can rest. With narrow majorities in both leg islative chambers, we are commit ted to working with members of both parties to secure meaningful support, resources and change to address our most pressing problems.

What can be done to begin to solve critical educator shortages, the mental health crisis, and interrupted student learning? It’s time to imagine possibilities, so let’s appreciate the wins we’ve made for educators and students and resolve to do what we can to make the future even brighter.

From MEA’s officers:

President Paula Herbart

Vice President Chandra Madafferi Secretary-Treasurer Brett Smith

QUOTABLES

Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D‑Beverly Hills), in Chalkbeat Detroit , discuss ing a new study of Michigan school funding that calls for boosting transportation dol lars for districts with higher costs, such as in less popu lated areas. Recent research shows attendance rates increase when economically disadvantaged families have access to a school bus.

MEA/MAEA Art Show

ENTER NOW: MEA and the Michigan Art Education Association (MAEA) are seeking entries for their 59th annual juried art purchase exhibition. Members of MEA, MAEA and MEA‑Retired can submit artwork week days from Feb. 20 to March 3, 8 a.m.‑5 p.m., and Saturday March 4 from 8 a.m.‑noon. The pictured mixed media entry from last year’s show, titled “Yew,” by MEA member Megan Ormerod from Whitmore Lake Public Schools won a juror’s choice award. For more information and an entry form go to mea.org/art

View more scheduled MEA events at mea.org/calendar

“It’s such a direct and obvious way to deal with our attendance problem; just pick the kids up and take them to school.”

For more indepth story coverage with links and additional photos, visit mea.org/voice

MEA member Bryan Schuerman occupies two roles that put him in the spotlight: Grosse Pointe teacher and weekend meteorologist at WDIV‑TV in Detroit, page 30.

On the cover: Educators and MEA members Matt Koleszar and Dayna Polehanki have transitioned from the classroom to candidates and now education committee chairs. Read more, page 10.

Infusing mental health , page 17. ESP leader nominated , page 20. Para helps build home, page 22. More inside: My View on knowing your values, page 7. DeVos withdraws voucher scheme, page 8. MEA legislative priorities, page 12. MEA Region Elections, page 23.

The MEA Voice ISSN 1077‑4564 is an official publication of the Michigan Education Association, 1216 K endale Blvd., East Lansing, MI 48823. Opinions stated in the MEA Voice do not necessar ily reflect the official position of the MEA unless so identified. Published by Michigan Education Association, Box 2573, East L ansing, MI 48826‑2573. Periodicals postage paid at East Lansing and additional mailing offices. Payment of the active membership fee entitles a member to receive the MEA Voice. Of each annual fee whether for active or affiliate membership, $12.93 is for a year’s sub scription. Frequency of issue is October, December, February, April and August.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the MEA Voice, Box 2573, East L ansing, MI 48826‑2573 or via email at webmaster@mea.org. Allow at least three weeks for change of address to take effect.

MEA Voice telephone: 517‑332‑6551 or 800‑292‑1934. Circulation this issue: 108,159.

Interim Executive Director E arl Wiman Director of Public Affairs Doug Pratt Editor Br enda Ortega

Staff Photographer M iriam Garcia

Publications Specialist S hantell Crispin

Nominations Sought for ESP Caucus Executive Board

Nominations are being accepted for three positions on the MEA ESP Caucus Executive Board with three‑year terms and an interim position:

Director by Classification

• Office Personnel (one position; Sept. 1, 2023 – Aug. 31, 2026)

• Transportation (one position; Sept. 1, 2023 – Aug. 31, 2026)

• Maintenance (one position; Sept. 1, 2023 – Aug. 31, 2026)

• Food Service (one position; immediately – Aug. 31, 2024)

Elections to the ESP Board will take place at the MEA Representative Assembly in East Lansing on April 21‑22, 2023. Information needed for each candidate includes: name, occupation, home address, home and work telephone numbers, home email address, school district, name of nominee’s local ESP association and written con sent of the candidate running for office.

Candidates must be members in good standing of MEA/NEA. Direct ques tions or nominations to ESP Caucus Elections Chairperson Jim Sparapani at jsparapani@att.net

Additional nominations will be accepted from the floor at the MEA/ESP Caucus meeting on Friday, April 21. Candidates will be given up to three minutes to address delegates, and a table will be provided for distribution of a candidate’s brief biographical sketch before the meeting starts. Campaign materials may not be distributed or worn inside of the MEA ESP Caucus RA meeting room.

BIG ISSUE, BITE SIZE

Hattie Maguire, MEA member high school English teacher in Novi, joking with Bridge Michigan about ways she has used the new artificial intelligence app, ChatGPT, to perform timesaving t asks.

Number of schools in 54 Michigan districts that will need to enter into partnership agreements with the state to help improve academic outcomes, up from 98 schools in 26 districts last year, an increase that officials with the state Department of Education attribute in part to fallout from the pandemic.

ChatGPT launched in late November and its sophisticated ability to produce answers, solutions, and tasks quickly became the talk of education circles. Within five days of the chatbot’s release by OpenAI, a small San Francisco company, the free‑for‑now ChatGPT hit 1 m illion users. Fearing widespread student cheating, in December New York City Public Schools banned the app on school devices and networks. By January the chatbot’s success contrib uted to layoffs at Google.

As AI becomes more sophisticated, educators worry and wonder about the implications for schools and students. From student cheating to job replacement and more dire scenarios depicted in popular science fiction such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, there are downsides to consider.

But the technology offers possibilities as a teaching and learning tool also. Check out several MEA mem bers quoted in the comprehensive Jan. 20 article at bridgemi.com : “Did Johnny write this or a robot? AI chat bots rock Michigan schools.”

“Teachers can cheat, too!”

THE FUTURE IS NOW

New MiNE coordinators state‑wide

The wing of MEA that supports newer educators, MiNE (Michigan New Educators), is expanding! Introducing our newest MiNE coor dinators who develop local in‑per son events and connect members to MiNE state‑wide happenings, including virtual book studies:

Tharan Suvarna is a second‑year K‑8 technology teacher at St. Ignace Area Schools. Tharan is a former Aspiring Educators of Michigan student leader and became involved as a MiNE leader because he wanted to help others negotiate the transition from college to the classroom.

Erinn Parker is a sixth‑year teacher at Stephenson Area Public Schools Originally from Muskegon, Erinn thinks it is important to not only attract potential educators to the profession but also provide support for young and veteran teachers alike.

Aimee Schwartz is a reading interven tionist from Holly Area Schools

“I a m excited to be involved with MEA and MINE because if we support and encourage our new teachers to succeed, our children will also succeed.”

Jared Lancaster is in his first year teaching at Kenowa Hills Public Schools

“MiNE matters to me because as early career educators, we deserve support and advocacy to help us be effective at our jobs and provide us the dignity and space to have a voice that is heard.”

Sygnett Swann teaches in Kalamazoo Public Schools and joined MiNE as a seven‑year veteran: “I’m in the ‘sweet spot’ of still new and yet I have earned a spot at the table. I want to be part of the team that celebrates and engages with new teachers to offer them s upport.”

Allison O’Connell is a third‑year fifth‑grade teacher in Kent City Community Schools who wants to empower younger

educators to problem solve together. “It is crucial to hear the voices of new teachers in an effort to retain the highly qualified educators our stu dents deserve.”

Padric Bolen , a fourth‑grade teacher at Hopkins Public Schools, believes MiNE can help newer educators build a strong founda tion in a shifting landscape. “In our classroom we strive to build strong relationships with our students and we can’t forget that teachers need that too!”

Welcome to these new rep resentatives joining our current MiNE coordinators, Skye Kapinus of Lansing, Anthony Barnes of Kalamazoo, Brittany Perreault of Farmington, and Kate Singer of Pontiac. v

Connect with AEM: instagram.com/aspiringedofmichigan

twitter.com/AspiringEdOfMI facebook.com/aspiringedofmichigan

Connect with MiNE: instagram.com/mineweducators twitter.com/mineweducators facebook.com/mineweducators soundcloud

MESSA’s Cardiovascular Case Management improves quality of life

February is American Heart Health Month.

MESSA

Cardiovascular Education Nurse

Cathy Scott‑Lynch answers questions about taking care of your heart and lungs. MESSA’s Cardiovascular Case Management program is a resource that gives members one‑on‑one support to help you reach your cardiovascu lar health goals, including ways to improve your blood pressure, communicating your needs and concerns to your health provider, and developing a personal health action plan.

What are the advantages of using MESSA’s Cardiovascular Case Management program?

Advocacy! When you have an event that affects your heart health, you need someone who will be there to help you navigate your journey through the health care system, to assist you and answer questions with you.

You communicate a patient’s wishes to their health pro ‑ vider. Why is this key in cardio management?

Providers are very good with giving care, but the key is listening to the patient and their concerns and needs. That’s what we do as nurses and certified case managers. We listen to what’s really important to you as we work together to reach these goals.

Explain Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and why it is critical for good heart health?

The DASH eating plan is rich in fruits, vegetables, fat‑free or low‑fat milk and milk products, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds and nuts. It’s proven to be one of the most effective approaches to helping someone choose the proper nutrients for a heart healthy life, using natural ingredients that are easy to adapt. This approach is rec ommended by the National Institute of Health (NIH) at nhlbi.nih.gov/ education/dash‑eating‑plan

How do you get control of high blood pressure?

You gain control with lifestyle changes, diet, exercise and mind fulness of what you are eating on a daily basis. You also have to know what your blood pressure num bers are. Then you can work with your health care provider to make a difference.

How do you lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke?

Here is one simple start: Just move. The American Heart Association recommends you to get at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly. We can help you devise a plan on how to do this — that’s part of the work we do with the case management program. Finally, what are some small things people can do to improve their heart health?

Follow the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8: Eat better, be more active, quit tobacco, get healthy sleep, manage weight, con trol cholesterol, manage blood sugar, and manage blood pressure. v

Cardiovascular Case Management

“I was very grateful when Cathy called because the aftercare at the hospital is non- existent. I was lost. Having this program as a support, it helps out with knowing where to go when I had a question. MESSA was concerned enough to help me.”

To learn more, visit messa.org/heart or call 800‑336‑0022, prompt 3.

Beth Thompson, a ninth‑grade English teacher in Kentwood Public Schools, experienced cardiac arrest in September.

New Year’s Resolution: Know Thyself

In my school building , I often stop to admire a picturesque mural of a black ship in a blue ocean and to recall the wise words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt: “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.”

In difficult times, it’s important to remember that we grow into lead ership roles. As educators, our abil ity to lead in our classrooms and our schools develops as we take on chal lenges successfully. Doing so does not require us to know everything, but we must know one thing well: ourselves.

Grammatically “Know Thyself” is a simple declarative statement and a clear command, but the journey to self‑actualization is anything but simple or clear. I argue this com mand speaks to the resolute mindset that a leader needs to captain the ship through rough waters to safely reach the harbor.

School leaders must first for mulate their absolute values. Why i s this important? It is easy to be manipulated, tossed and turned in strong waves without the leader’s clear absolute values, such as com munity, caring, risk taking, or emo tional safety as plot points to chart the course.

Storms present themselves in our personal and professional lives, but if we know our absolute values, the course to arrive might change but not

the destination. I know that my abso lute values are excellence and high expectations. Through the hallways, comments reverberate such as:

“Mrs. Saddler expects you to arrive on time.”

“You have Mrs. Saddler? She expects you to work hard.”

“Mrs. Saddler expects your best.”

From my 24 years of classroom teaching and maneuvering through challenging seas, I know high expec‑ tations and excellence apply to any context, whether to the principal, teacher leaders, custodial staff, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and all other school employees.

Everyone works in unison to achieve the mission even in choppy waters. Leaders must be resolute, assertive and self‑assured beacons to influence others to follow toward the set destination: a school that strives for success via meaningful inclusion and high expectations.

I also believe strongly that to “Know Thyself,” school leaders must anchor themselves in school/life bal ance as one of their personal absolute values. As a new teacher many years ago, I struggled to be a good teacher and maintain a healthy personal life as well. At first I failed, but I did not give up.

I eventually came to understand what we all know — that the teaching

profession has a high turnover rate mainly due to the unexpectedly high demands. I realized the irony that in order to survive in the profession and become a great educator, I needed to prioritize my personal and family life.

As I move into the eve of my 24th year, guided by my values, I am now the mentor who listens to a new teacher’s frustrations, offers advice, shares strategies, communicates the importance of living life to the fullest in and outside of the classroom, and acts as a beacon to keep our eyes on the prize.

As we reflect on 2022 and move towards the future, I wish all my read ers a hopeful 2023. May we all strive to be the best versions of ourselves and to live our values no matter what storms may come — and in doing so make ourselves ever more skill ful sailors. v

Shana Saddler is a veteran Farmington Hills teacher. For comments or questions, reach her at shana.saddler@fpsk12.net.

Shana Saddler

DeVos‑backed voucher scheme petitions withdrawn

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor

Sen. Dayna Polehanki called it “our first victory for public educa tion” resulting from the Democratic t rifecta voters put in place with last November’s election — which is the first time in 40 years the party has controlled the state House, Senate and governor’s office.

Shortly before the new Legislature was seated in January, petitions to enact a private schools voucher scheme in Michigan were withdrawn by the group — m isleadingly labeled Let Mi Kids Learn — which had been funded and promoted in large part by Betsy DeVos and her family.

DeVos had hoped to circumvent the will of voters by spending mil lions of dollars to get the measure passed directly by the Legislature instead of going to the ballot. But the campaign missed a summer deadline

for submitting petition signatures in time for the outgoing GOP‑controlled House and Senate to act.

Finally in August the group turned in signatures, which had since awaited review by the state Board of Canvassers to potentially bring the measure before statewide voters in the 2024 General Election.

“Betsy DeVos chose to kill her own initiative rather than watch it lose at the ballot box,” said Polehanki, a former English teacher and MEA member who won re‑election to a four‑year term and is the new chair of the Senate Education Committee under the narrow majority now held by Democrats.

“Her initial plan was to bypass voters, using a GOP legislative major ity to vote it into law,” Polehanki con tinued. “The Democratic trifecta prevented this from happening. A fi rst big win for public schools!”

The withdrawal of petitions from consideration means the measure is effectively dead for now and will not go to either the Legislature or voters for passage.

If enacted, the voucher scheme would have drained $500 million from the state Education budget in the first year alone by allowing parents who send their children to private school to recoup their tuition costs in the form of tax credits.

The amount of money allowed to flow away from public schools toward private schools would have been allowed to increase by 20% each year, meaning after five years the amount lost to public education would have been $1 billion.

MEA was part of a broad‑based coalition — called For MI Kids, For Our Schools — fighting back against DeVos’ plan, and MEA mem‑ bers engaged in part by sharing

plus more positive moves mark the start of this legislative session

information to raise awareness about the proposal with family members, friends and colleagues, said MEA President Paula Herbart.

“We have proven yet again that the power of Michigan’s people can and will defeat Betsy DeVos’ checkbook,” Herbart said.

Recent research into similar voucher schemes enacted in other states has shown negative academic effects for children who used vouch ers to move into private schools. Voters in Michigan previously defeated a DeVos‑funded voucher initiative on the ballot in 2000 by a 39‑point margin.

“Over the years — a nd especially last November — M ichiganders have shown time and time again at the ballot box that they do not support efforts to defund public education,” said Casandra Ulbrich, spokesper son for For MI Kids, For Our Schools.

“Betsy DeVos and her allies never wanted the people of Michigan to vote on this, which is why they wanted to and subsequently failed to ram it through a favorable legisla ture last year. We will remain vigilant over the coming years, as DeVos and her anti‑public education allies have shown that they’re willing to go above and beyond to destroy our neighbor hood schools.”

More good news

Defeat of the DeVos voucher plan was quickly followed by other wel come news in the first week of the new legislative session. Two days later, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative leaders announced they would seek to repeal a retirement tax enacted in 2011 under former Gov. Rick Snyder.

The controversial move to tax retir ees’ pensions, while at the same time

cutting business taxes by $1.8 billion, has ever since served as a rallying cry for affected seniors. Eliminating the tax has been a Whitmer promise from the early days of her campaign four years ago.

MEA‑Retired member Vivian Davis, a former school counselor in Adrian, attended the press conference where Whitmer and Democratic law makers announced the bills had been introduced — Senate Bill 1 by Sen. Kevin Hertel (D‑Lansing) and House Bill 4001 by Rep. Angela Witwer (D‑Delta Township).

Rolling back the retirement tax would save an estimated half million Michigan households $1,000 a year.

“I support Governor Whitmer’s pro posal, vision, and ability to get things done to make Michigan a better place to live, and to relieve some of the financial pressures on those in their golden years,” Davis said of why she chose to attend.

MEA‑Retired member Francis Cullen, a retired Traverse City teacher who also attended the press confer ence in support of the change, said he’s thrilled that a pro‑educator majority has finally taken control in Lansing and called it “a revival of unionism in Michigan.”

“I am honored to be a part of today’s proceedings and know that with the quality people in leadership posi tions in our state, the lives of working men and women in Michigan will be greatly improved in the near future,” Cullen said.

Whitmer and other leaders at the press conference also announced plans to relieve financial pressures on working families by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, which was gutted in 2011 at the same time as the pension tax was enacted.

Boosting the earned income tax credit will deliver $3,000 annually to 700,000 low‑ and moderate‑income Michigan homes, reaching fully half of Michigan’s children in an attempt to ease poverty in the 43% of work ing families that struggle to afford necessities such as food, housing and health care.

“Back in 2011, seniors and hardwork ing Michiganders saw the rug ripped out from under them,” Whitmer said at the press conference. “It was wrong then, and today we’re in a position to make it right.”

Afterward the new Senate majority leader, Sen. Winnie Brinks (D‑Grand Rapids), tweeted similarly hopeful intentions for the near future:

“It’s an historic moment; we have 40 years of pent‑up policy ideas, & we are ready to get to work. What our bills really boil down to is our desire to make MI a better place for young people, for seniors, for workers, for LGBTQ folks, really for everyone.” v

MEA Retired member Vivian Davis (above) supports the retirement tax repeal discussed by Democratic leaders including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (opposite page) at a press conference last month.

From Classrooms to Committee Chairs:

Educators in Position to Shape Education Agenda

Just over four years ago and Matt Koleszar were working as classroom teachers — facing firsthand the challenges that decades of under‑funding and misguided policy presented for public education.

Today, they not only serve in the Michigan Legislature, but have been named the new chairs of the Senate and House Education Committees under the Democratic majorities won in November’s election.

“As a teacher, I worked through an ever‑changing and increasingly challeng ing landscape that the Legislature created for our public schools. There is a lot of work ahead of us, and it is an honor and a priv ilege to be entrusted with this great respon sibility,” Koleszar said after being named chair last month.

The pair were featured on the cover of magazine in 2018 during their first run in overlapping seats in Northwest Wayne County. Now, as chairs of the com mittees that will debate education policy, they can ensure educators not only have a voice at the table but gavels to con a genda.

“I am especially proud to be the first Democratic former teacher to hold the Education Committee gavel,” said Polehanki of her post in the Senate. “All school employ ees deserve a voice in this noble profession and I’m committed to ensuring that voice is heard by policymakers in Lansing.”

There’s no shortage of key education policies to work on in the 102nd Legislature, ranging from funding to school safety to curriculum to educator compensation.

High on Polehanki’s to‑do list is a repeal of the third grade read ing retention requirement.

“Our goal needs to be to actually help kids read,” said Polehanki, who served as an English teacher

in New Haven in Macomb County. “The existing law has some good ideas in it, like funding for literacy coaches. However, flunking a third grader based on one reading test isn’t among those good ideas and needs to be repealed before any other students are held back.”

As a former MEA local presi dent during his teaching days in Monroe County’s Airport Community Schools, Koleszar experienced the damage to educa tors’ rights and wal lets under collective bargaining limita tions passed more than a decade ago — including Public Act 54, which limited public employ ees’ rights and benefits under expired contracts.

“This bill and the damage it did to my members was one of the key things that made me want to run for the Legislature. It needs to be repealed, along

with every other misguided limitation on the rights of school employees to nego tiate a fair contract. After all, teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning

The influence of educators who’ve made the leap to run for office doesn’t stop with Polehanki and Koleszar.

Former educators are also at the helms of other critical commit tees, including Sen. Darrin Camilleri as chair of the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. Regina Weiss as chair of the same subcommittee in the House, and Rep. Carol Glanville as chair of the reinstated Higher Education Committee, which will provide a dedicated place for university and community college policy to be carefully considered. v

Featured on the 2018 MEA Voice cover as candidates, MEA members Matt Koleszar and Dayna Polehanki are now legislators and chairs of the House and Senate Education committees, respectively.

Key MEA Legislative Priorities for 2023

From school safety and student mental health to curriculum flexibility and overhauling how public education is paid for in Michigan, there is a long list of pro‑education policies that the Legislature and Gov. Whitmer need to address over the long term.

MEA’s legislative agenda for the coming years is set by the MEA Legislation Commission, which includes members from across the state and is informed from input gathered from rank‑and‑file members. The commission’s report for 2023‑25 will be considered by the MEA Board of Directors and published later this s pring.

In the short run, however, several areas need immediate attention in Lansing that have been brought up repeatedly by MEA members since the successful 2022 elections. While far from exhaustive, these are some of the issues that MEA is working with lawmakers to accomplish in 2023 and beyond.

Student Academic Support

Repeal third‑grade reading retention, shifting focus from punishing students who under‑perform on standardized tests to supporting their individual literacy needs.

Invest proper resources for PreK‑3 reading intervention (such as “individual reading plans”), provide educators with professional latitude for assessments, and develop consistent post‑fourth‑grade literacy supports to help students get the support they need.

Implement supplemental post‑pandemic academic support, like district‑based tutoring programs, class size reductions and other interventions to drive extra resources to students who need more help.

NOTE: MEA members have been sharing thoughts about legislative priorities through the MEA Legislation Commission’s input process — you can still share your thoughts at mea.org/ legislative‑input‑form .

In the words of MEA Members:

“I am concerned about the 3rd grade reading bill, which seems to punish students by holding them back in school rather than support them in intensive reading intervention. More money is needed for all schools to hire more professionals to provide intensive reading intervention for at risk students, as well as additional teachers to have smaller class sizes.”

Mary Thomas, Watervilet

Senate Education Committee Chair Dayna

Polehanki (D‑Livonia) on the third grade reading law:

“Our goal needs to be to actually help kids read. The existing law has some good ideas in it, like funding for literacy coaches. However, flunking a third grader based on one reading test isn’t among those good ideas and needs to be repealed before any other students are held back.”

Evaluation & Testing

◼ Fix the teacher evaluation system to make it developmental rather than punitive by removing state testing data, changing “effectiveness” labels, ensuring educator voice in the process and providing due process for evaluation appeals.

◼

Streamline and minimize assessment requirements to reduce both time spent and high‑stakes assigned to standardized testing.

◼ Take advantage of freedom provided by new federal law by eliminating dated, Michigan‑specific requirements around frequency of testing, evaluation requirements and accountability systems.

In the words of MEA Members:

“The existing legislation surrounding teacher evaluation must be fixed. It is punitive for teachers. At least decrease the amount/percentage that student scores on standardized testing play a role on a teacher’s yearly evaluation.”

Krista Anderson, Brandon

“State standardized testing is not useful or informative information for teachers, it eats up a lot of instructional time between teaching students how to test to actual test‑taking, and it is not equitable or accessible to whole swaths of students.”

Melissa Villanueva, Ann Arbor

Regarding “right‑to‑work” repeal and public sector workers

State Rep. Amos O’Neal (D‑Saginaw) on changing the teacher evaluation s ystem:

“Helping teachers improve their work with students isn’t a partisan issue. I’m proud to continue the work done by my term‑limited Republican colleague, former Sen. Ken Horn, to reduce the weight of standardized tests in the process, and to broaden the voice all educators have in their profession.”

Repealing Michigan’s so‑called “right‑to‑work” law is a Democratic leg islative priority, but a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Janus v. AFSCME case will keep that repeal from impact ing public education employees and ot her public workers. While MEA sup ports repealing right‑to‑work for our private‑sector union sisters and broth ers (including private‑sector MEA mem bers), a repeal will not apply to the vast majority of MEA members without a reversal of the court’s Janus ruling. Read more at mea.org/janus

Collective Bargaining & Job Security Rights

◼ Repeal prohibited subjects of bargaining to provide employee voice in the workplace on job placement and security, outsourcing, evaluation, just cause requirements for dismissal, and more.

◼ Remove automatic penalties for school employees when working under an expired contract, like step freezes and pass‑through of health insurance cost increases. ◼ Allow school employees the freedom to allocate their paycheck as they choose, including permitting payroll deduction of union dues like every other public and private worker in Michigan.

In the words of MEA Members:

“Laws about what is allowed to be bargained in public education have crippled our ability to negotiate fair contracts, particularly when it comes to discipline, evaluations, and seniority. Repeal the unfair bargaining laws that are in place for public education employees and give us back our bargaining power so that we can come to the negotiating table as equals.”

Sara Sweat Ziegler, Monroe

“We must address language that was stolen from our contracts. Insert lay off, seniority, recall rights, and just cause directly into state law. This is what gives teachers a voice.”

Joe Ligaj, Lincoln Park

House Education Committee Chair Matt Koleszar (D‑Livonia) on PA 54 of 2011 govern ing expired contracts:

“When I was an MEA local president, this bill and the damage it did to my members was one of the key things that made me want to run for the Legislature. It needs to be repealed, along with every other misguided limitation on the rights of school employees to negotiate a fair contract. After all, teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions.”

“So many restrictions were placed upon educators and districts by politicians in the past years, seriously limiting the bargaining and decision‑making power of people who work directly with students and know what the best practices are.”

Jane Cottey, Plymouth‑Canton (retired)

Key MEA Legislative Priorities for 2023

Educator Compensation

Allow public employers to pay a greater share of health insurance costs (beyond the current 80% or hard cap limitations) to improve school employee take home pay.

Repeal the pension tax that reduces the retirement security of school employees and others seniors across Michigan.

Work with employers to increase wages for all public education employees, including approving the minimum wage increase ballot measure, which will help drive up take‑home pay for lower‑wage education support professionals.

In the words of MEA Members:

“We have been losing teachers at every grade level at an alarming rate. We need to find a way to keep teachers in the classroom, and a way to attract people into choosing education as a career path. Show teachers more appreciation. Raise their salaries, better benefits, listen to the needs and concerns they have relating to their students in the c lassrooms.”

Briana Post, Bangor

“The insurance hard cap is not even close to keeping up with inflation and insurance costs have skyrocketed. Work with the Legislature to significantly increase the insurance caps paid by districts to ease the pain of the steep cost increases faced by members across the state (or repeal the legislation and allow it to be bargained again locally after each contract e xpires).”

Jennifer Poupard, Monroe

Senate Appropriations School Aid Subcommittee Chair Darrin Camilleri (D‑Brownstown) on recruiting and retaining educators:

“Every student deserves a great public education and that starts by having great professional teachers and support staff in our schools. We need to improve the pay and respect for the education profession so that we can attract and keep the best and brightest in our classrooms.”

“We need to eliminate the hard cap on insurance and remove the prohibition on automatic deduction of dues. We also need to fight to eliminate the pension tax started in the Snyder years.”

Jamie Buchanan, Petoskey

Public Education Funding

Continue historic investments in early childhood through higher education — including increases to both base funding and equity needs to meet different student needs (from special education and poverty to transportation and program availability for rural schools).

Encourage school districts and higher education employers to invest funding increases in employee recruitment and retention efforts.

Invest more in ensuring post‑secondary learning opportunities — from trade programs to college tuition — are affordable to all students to pursue the jobs our economy needs.

In the words of MEA Members:

“We need to overhaul the school funding model to make funding more equitable and address the consequences of years of inequitable funding. Part of that should be advocating for a larger supplemental funding percentage for at‑risk students. We currently give an additional 11.5% which is significantly lower than studies recommend.”

Frances L azette, Ann Arbor

“We must address inadequate funding between urban and rural schools, as compared to suburban schools. Explore funding structures that don’t leave rural and urban schools with a disproportionate level of support for the services ALL schools need, not just those that serve suburban areas.”

Doug D amery, East Lansing

House Appropriations School Aid Subcommittee Chair Regina Weiss (D‑Oak Park) on the need for continued historic investment in education:

“As an educator, I know how critical it is to ensure that the individual needs of each student are addressed to ensure that they can thrive from one year to the next. That’s why it is so important that the state and school districts spend every available dollar to improve educational opportunities for Michigan kids — because the gains our children make today will last a lifetime.”

“The state should mandate and fund appropriate ratios for mental health support positions including counselors, social workers, school psych positions, and other mental health support personnel. We currently do not have enough overall funding support from the state allocated specifically for all of these positions.”

Lauren Robinson, West Ottawa

Innovative program addresses mental health alongside career‑tech ed

By Brenda Ortega MEA Voice Editor

Several years into her career as an occupational therapist in Warren Woods Public Schools, MEA member

Michele Morgan realized why her high school students didn’t always make an easy or successful transition from school to work.

It wasn’t a lack of technical skills holding them back — she had watched them master vocational tasks by breaking them down into manageable parts. Instead, she came to understand the profound impact of anxiety, trauma and depression on work readiness.

So like every great educator, Morgan set out to address that obsta cle with students. The result — six years later — i s a maker lab, a reset room, and an after school program which together combine vocational learning with proven mental health and emotional wellness practices.

“When you fuse the vocational training with mental health program ming, it becomes its own unique prod uct,” Morgan said. “When they’re making something, it’s usually a result of a values exploration we’ve had or a talk about whatever is holding them back. Maybe it’s unprocessed loss, grief, or anger never dealt with.

“We’re not psychotherapists; we start from where they are today, and we introduce six core processes of psychological flexibility. Then what ever they choose to make is a physi‑ cal reminder or representation of the lesson that they can take with them to hold on to and remember.”

Sounds simple, but the results have been extraordinary, according to Ian

Fredlund, an assistant principal who handles behavior referrals and dis cipline at the 1,200‑student Tower High School.

Attendance has gone up and behav ior referrals down to near zero for every student who has participated in Morgan’s programming, he said.

But beyond the numbers data, Fredlund added, less tangible evi dence points to how special her approach really is: “If I start gushing, I apologize — I can’t help it. I don’t usually talk like this about pro grams, but it’s really close to me and my heart.”

Mental health struggles among stu dents in the U.S. have reached crisis proportions, the administrator said, adding he estimates that “30% of our students are struggling with suicidal ideation or thoughts of self‑harm, and that number may be smaller than what it is in reality.”

Six years ago, Morgan started an after‑school restorative discipline program involving mental health practices in a maker space for stu dents who were skipping school or getting behavior referrals to attend voluntarily in lieu of detention or suspension.

Fredlund immediately began to offer students and families that alternative to traditional discipline where possible. Known as Scratch the Surface, the program has since become an after‑school club because students who attended didn’t want to stop coming even after their time was up, he said.

“It was interesting because stu dents would come back to me and say, ‘Well, I went. Do you want me to keep

going?’ And I’d say, ‘That’s up to you. Do you want to keep going?’ And I’ve never had a student not want to go.”

Certain students’ successes in Scratch the Surface stand out, Fredlund said. One was a boy having outbursts in class because he didn’t know how to manage big emotions. “I referred him to Michele, and she helped him learn to express himself in ways that are appropriate and also constructive.”

MEA member Michele Morgan (above) has created a multi‑faceted occupational therapy program to both develop job skills and strengthen mental health in students.

Another was a student whose expe rience with trauma caused her to start skipping school and dropping out of activities she used to love. Now grad uated by a few years, the girl not only stayed with the club through high school but also became a mentor to others coming in.

“I wish I could find the words to express what I know in my heart,” Fredlund said. “Without a doubt, her life was saved by this program. It’s hard not to get choked up thinking about it, and I know her mom would say the same thing: Without Scratch the Surface, I don’t think she would have made it through to adulthood.”

The Tower High School maker lab that Morgan has put together through fundraising, support from administra tors, and grants includes lathes, a 3D printer, CNC router, laser engraver, woodburners, and sewing and com mercial embroidery machines.

Students are able to make a huge variety of products, using many mate rials donated by kitchen and bath manufacturers. Students create func tional art including granite memorial markers, turned wood and acrylic ink pens, engraved wood cutlery, mosaic art, textile art and fashions, candles, jewelry and more.

At the center of all of the technol ogy, however, is learning about the brain and how students can manage negative thoughts and feelings. “I ask them to consider that the script they’re hearing in their mind is out dated,” Morgan said.

Based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Morgan’s curriculum helps students

make space for uncomfortable feel ings through mindfulness, cultivate self‑compassion, and recognize that uncomfortable thoughts will pass by and do not represent their identity.

“Our curriculum teaches them that attempts to avoid, control or elim inate negative, anxious thoughts t ypically just exacerbates them, so trying to push things down has the opposite effect.”

Any projects that students create then reflect their learning — t ypically in the form of pithy sayings and inspi rational quotes but also metaphors to recall. One of the earliest lessons Morgan developed had students turn pens on a lathe and once finished to hold their pen tightly at first, and then loosely.

“We show them that whether you hold your pen tightly or lightly, it doesn’t fall, so why don’t you choose to hold your thoughts lightly? In other words, we ask them to consider, ‘I’m having the thought that I’m stupid.’ You aren’t the thought; you’re having the thought.”

When students hear that mental and emotional struggles are part of being human, that they won’t ever be “cured” but can learn to direct their actions in concert with their deepest values — i nstead of negative thoughts or feelings — “that’s something most of them have never heard before,” she added.

As an occupational therapist (OT), Morgan has a caseload of stu dents at Tower, which houses a cen ter‑based program serving students with disabilities from 21 districts across Macomb County. She also is

a transition coordinator assisting stu dents’ preparation for and placement i n work roles.

In addition to students on her case load and the after‑school Scratch the Surface program, Morgan has opened up her lab for use by resource room teachers to bring their classes on a weekly basis and for general education students to drop in for a quick “reset.”

Like a more elaborate reset room set up elsewhere in the building, Morgan’s lab space contains a swing and conveys gentle music, soft light ing, and other soothing sounds and smells.

Students and staff alike can visit the wellness wall and choose from enve lopes labeled with various emotions for an inspirational quote and QR codes directing them to mindfulness exercises.

“I can track and see which ones are most visited, and it’s this one,” she said, pointing. “Anxious.”

Along with making projects, stu dents can choose from jobs to do i n the lab, such as caring for the pet bunny or feeding food scraps from the culinary program to a commercial worm bin, which creates fertilizer for growing herbs that are donated back to the school’s student‑run restaurant.

“The room is set up where some thing is always going on with jobs t hat can be constantly picked up and set down,” Morgan said. “For another example, we’re partner ing with the local florist by volun teering to glue leaves together for homecoming corsages.

“And I don’t have to be the one implementing all the time — a para‑ professional can do this with a stu dent who’s struggling, a teacher can come down with a class or group. I’m striving to create a system where jobs of the day are posted for students to choose and complete because it’s important that they can choose.”

Impressed with Morgan’s innova tive approach to preparing students for work, local agencies Michigan Works and Michigan Rehabilitation Services support program costs and pay students an hourly wage for their participation during spring break and summer sessions.

Morgan is quick to point out she has not built the OT lab by herself. From the start, she has worked with interns from occupational therapy programs at Eastern Michigan University, Macomb Community College, and Wayne State University, who have supplemented her program by provid ing prospective practitioners. EMU provided seven months of graduate student research related to the pro gram’s practices.

Neither does she solely operate the lab. Other adults in the building take ownership of the program’s goals too, she noted.

All of that teamwork has allowed her to expand into a second lab and after‑school Scratch the Surface club at Enterprise High School, the dis trict’s 110‑student alternative high school. The lab at Enterprise is staffed for drop‑in access during the school day with the help of college interns.

Enterprise Principal Timothy Baldwin said the OT lab has been invaluable in giving students an outlet and a release that they can choose when to visit in their day. “Kids learn through play when they’re little, and they learn through touch and hands‑on as they get older, no matter what type of learner they are,” he said.

“Having that OT lab there is every thing for a building like ours, because our students need to be able to just be sometimes. Most of the students that are here are low on credits for what ever reason — w hether it’s some sort of anxiety or trauma they’ve experi enced that got them off track.”

Offering students in alternative school the same expansive opportu‑ nities — l ike the OT lab — a s in the larger Tower High School one mile away is important, Baldwin said.

“Now I feel kids are so much more open and willing to talk. And they’re taking some of those lessons that they learn here back home so their parents know this is a good place where they can reach out for help if they need it.”

The key to Morgan’s success is the focus on students’ health, wel fare and happiness — not on grades

or performance, agreed Tower High School’s Ian Fredlund. “It’s not only art or engraving or whatever they’re doing, it’s all the metacognition and reflecting they’re doing before and after,” he said.

“It’s all packaged in a way that’s fun and interesting, so I don’t even know that they’re aware of all the therapeu tic processes they’re going through while expressing themselves. I just know we have severe mental health issues happening in high schools today, and this program is a resound ing success. It’s saving lives, and holy cannoli — that’s powerful stuff.” v To connect with Michele Morgan, go to makeitworkprogram.com or email her at

mmorgan@mywwps.org.

The OT labs in two Warren Woods high schools use materials donated from businesses for students to make functional art infused with meaning and messages related to mental health.

Battle Creek administrative assistant nominated for national NEA award

A few years ago MEA member Sarah Garrett set her hopes on nominating longtime Battle Creek Public Schools secretary Bernadette Gordier for an NEA award — believ‑ ing her friend deserved national rec ognition for tremendous service to the school district and community.

However, Gordier would soon pass away at the age of 74, in January 2021, still active in her role of 54 years as a beloved administrative assistant to the principal at Battle Creek Central High School. Instead of an award, local unions joined forces to establish a memorial scholarship in her name.

The Bernadette Gordier Scholarship Fund has already raised $13,000 and this year will make its first award to a support staff profes sional or alumnus seeking to obtain a teaching credential.

“I still cry when I talk about it, because Bernie was my mentor — she mentored everyone,” said an emotional Garrett, president of the Battle Creek support staff union rep‑ resenting office personnel. “She gave tireless hours over more than a half century, and she loved what she did.”

So it came as a shock a few months back when Garrett was asked to be Michigan’s nominee for the 2023 NEA Education Support Professional (ESP) of the Year award, the very honor she had wished to see bestowed on Gordier, she said.

“When I was asked if I would accept, I stood in the middle of my office, and my mouth dropped open, and I literally said, ‘What?’ It caught me off guard at the time, and it is just so, so humbling. But this is also such an exhilarating moment in my life, after

having experienced all that I have with MEA and NEA.

“It really does take a village to do what we do. No one goes it alone. Absolutely no one.”

Garrett has known forever that sec retaries are the center of the action in whatever setting they work in and more broadly that school support staff too often go unrecognized for vital work they do to help students and make school days run smoothly.

An 18 year district employee, Garrett spent eight years as the sec retary at Ann J. Kellogg Elementary School, caring for everyone who needed it: students, teachers, parents. Last fall she became the administra‑ tive assistant in the Office of Student Services and Pupil Accounting.

“You serve so many people in the course of a day, and everyone is at a different level. You have to remem ber to meet them right where they are and help guide them to where they need to be,” she said. “It’s true for everyone that a secretary’s path may cross: They are the glue that holds the building together.”

She knew little about what leader ship in her local union might involve, however, when she was drafted to take on the role of vice president six years ago. Garrett figured she would take it slow and learn over time — but then one year in, the local president accepted a job outside of the union.

“By process of elimination, I became the president,” she said. “I was petrified, to say the least. I didn’t feel ready, but I had to get ready.”

Garrett didn’t expect to last more than a year in the post, but it’s been

five and counting, “and I have really evolved in that position. I’ve been challenged, and I’ve pushed myself in more ways than I can say, but this has been the greatest experience out side of motherhood that I have been a part of.”

Growing into the role meant learning everything she could get her hands on, which she loves to do, Garrett said. She read union materials, tapped into her UniServ director, and befriended Anthony Pennock — president of the Battle Creek Education Association — for help and partnership.

She has attended MEA confer ences and last March participated i n an NEA Leadership Summit in Las Vegas that she described as “mind blowing when you see so many people there, united for a common cause.” She spent last summer diving deep into MEA’s UniServ pre em ployment and SNAP bargaining trainings.

Now she’s a presenter at union gath erings. This month she and Pennock led a session at the MEA Winter Conference, “Always Together: EA and ESP Units Working Together in K 12 Districts,” outlining their multi year effort to build a strong relation ship for the betterment of members and students.

Garrett says she loves getting to know her members through per sonal visits, listening to their needs a nd concerns, and advocating for them with district officials — whether it’s seeking the pay they deserve or speaking up on their behalf in uncom fortable situations.

She intervenes when her members get extra work assigned that isn’t part of their job description. She’s defended the innocence of a member who was disciplined for a mistake she didn’t make, successfully getting a reprimand removed from the mem ber’s personnel file.

She has brought members into the fold who let their membership lapse or never joined. “I call them ‘my sec‑ retaries’ because it’s personal to me,” she said. “These are my people, and I need to make sure they’re OK. I meet with them and listen and tell them, ‘Call me if you need anything.’

“It gives you confidence in doing your job to know that MEA is there and it’s the biggest support system you can have. Being a part of the association means we’ve got you — when you walk in this building, MEA has got you covered.”

For all those reasons, Garrett was tapped to help other MEA leaders and staff organize a new paraedu cators unit in a neighboring Battle Creek district, which she called exciting. “It’s new blood, and seeing

it come together from the ground up is a pro‑ cess I hope to be a part of again.”

For her leadership skills, district officials similarly selected Garrett to help develop and implement a new customer ser vice model for school employees to adopt. Amid the challenges of the pandemic, she and another staff person completed a lengthy training from the innovative Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor.

Despite working remotely at the time, she and her colleague success‑ fully presented to leadership teams, cabinet members and the Board of Education across the district in the new approach.

“It’s truly been a district w ide effort, and I was so proud to be part of it — but I’m always proud to be a Bearcat,” she said of the role.

Born and raised in the city and a graduate of Battle Creek Public Schools, Garrett has deep connec tions and commitment to her commu nity. She has chaired and organized numerous activities and events, including breast cancer awareness days at her church.

What began as “Pink Sunday” with information and remem brance at the historic Black church

she attends — Second Missionary Baptist — evolved into a collabo ration with Olivet College featur ing doctors, nurses and community or ganizers raising awareness of cancer signs and the importance of health checks.

“It resonated in my heart because of my family,” she said. “I lost my entire father’s side of the family, including my father, to cancer. So it was a lot of labor, but so well worth it.”

That willingness to dedicate her time and talents to helping others is what sets Garrett apart, her union leader counterpart — Anthony Pennock — wrote in his letter of rec ommendation for the NEA award.

“Sarah has always been authentic with her staff, administration, stu dents, families, and community,” Pennock wrote. “This authenticity has been returned by everyone she interacts with in the form of absolute respect.”

Ever humble, Garrett said she was grateful for others who “saw things in me I didn’t see in myself,” open ing opportunities that made possible “this incredible journey” in her work and union leadership.

“The more I learn, the more I want to know,” she said. “There’s a song I reference a lot that says if I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain.” v

Sarah Garrett (left), a Battle Creek administrative assistant and union leader, is in the running for NEA’s ESP of the Year award — an honor she had hoped to see bestowed on her late friend and mentor, Bernadette Gordier (right).

Paraeducator builds membership and a new home

In just over three years since she became co president of her local sup port staff union in Kalkaska, Jessica Davenport has worked hard to rebuild membership numbers that had dropped low enough to put her unit on the cusp of being disbanded.

She faced bigger t han normal chal‑ lenges not long after getting started when the global pandemic made it difficult to get in touch with people within the northern Michigan district. “Just trying to get everybody on board to even have a meeting was probably the hardest thing,” she said.

Davenport cold called colleagues for one on one conversations, and many would not answer an unknown number. “So I’d leave a voicemail saying, ‘I’m not a telemarketer, I swear!’” she said.

She and co president Krystal Tinker have made steady progress rebuilding membership in their local represent ing food service workers, paraeduca tors and transportation employees, especially after they succeeded last spring in getting a new three year con tract with pay increases.

“We were able to get pretty healthy raises for everybody. We also man aged to get all the support personnel

extra money,” to address staffing shortages and employee morale with retention bonuses, she added. “That felt really good, because if we didn’t have support staff we wouldn’t have school.”

All of that success came about because of the solid relationships the co presidents have built with admin istrators in the district, said MEA UniServ Director Mary McGee C ullen, who services the unit and helped with negotiations. “Collaboration and trust are essential for positive outcomes,” she said.

About midway through her lead ership tenure so far, Davenport took on another challenge that made big demands on her time — but one with an immeasurable reward at the end. After qualifying for a Habitat for Humanity House, she spent 18 months putting in nearly 250 sweat equity hours on the build.

“I learned to hang drywall and mud drywall. I painted trim and walls. I hung hurricane straps and worked on the flooring. Oh, and I learned to tex‑ turize a ceiling, which is something I will never ever want to do again. The site manager teased me because I had a blister after about 10 minutes.”

Davenport and her son Xavier moved in at the end of December after living for the past six years with her parents in a modest ranch house just up the street from the Habitat home.

The only downside? Missing out on daily meals by her mom, who worked as a cook in the school district for 26 years and also was available to give her tips on being a good union rep from personal experience.

“Having been a school cook for so many years, my mom makes wonder‑ ful dinners, so I’ve had to tell my son — ‘Sorry, Buddy. I know it’s not quite the same,’” she quipped. “But knowing that I’m providing a roof over my son’s head, and that it’s our house — that we own it — is amazing.”

A Title I paraeducator in a fourth and fifth g rade building, Davenport added she loves her job of six years, which involves pulling small groups of struggling students for intensive help in math and reading.

“When you see that light go on in a kid’s eyes when they finally get some thing they couldn’t understand before, it’s such a good feeling,” she said.

But as a single mom — even with child support from her son’s father — she never could have afforded to buy a brand new house without the help of Habitat, which offers families a sub sidized mortgage based on what they can afford to pay.

Her three bedroom, 1.5 bath house is not big or fancy, but she loves the large bedroom closet that she doesn’t have to share. “It’s absolutely beautiful, and now we don’t have to worry about the future.” v

Paraeducator and union president Jessica Davenport and son Xavier, 13, moved into a Habitat home in Kalkaska over the holidays. (Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity, Grand Traverse Region)

Election procedures required to be followed in the regions comply with relevant federal laws.

ELIGIBLE VOTERS

Voter eligibility listings will be created from information received by the MEA Membership Department from the local associations by Feb. 7, 2023.

ELECTRONIC VOTING

Members of regions 2 through 18 participate in MEA’s Online Region Elections.

Get involved by voting for your MEA Board members and your state and national delegates anytime between 8 a .m. Wednesday, March 1, and 3:59 p.m. Wednesday, March 15. Sign in at mymea.org/onlinevoting and follow the prompts. Members access the website using the last four digits of their Social Security number. If you have any problems, please contact the MEA IT department at 517‑337‑5440. The phone is staffed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. If you call after hours, please leave a message and someone will get back with you as soon as possible. There will be a continuous ballot for ESP members who will begin with the statewide Region 50 ballot and continue on with their region’s ballot.

Positions elected by acclamation at the December region meetings will be noted on the ballot.

Online election rules and an explanation of the process were forwarded to local presidents and region election chairs the last week of January 2023.

PAPER BALLOTS

All elections conducted by MEA will utilize the MEA I T electronic voting system to allow the opportunity for greater participation in our membership and election integrity. This means paper ballots should not be used at the local level for any March 2023 region elections. If an individual is unable to access the online voting system, a paper ballot may be requested by contacting MEA IT at 517‑337‑5440 or by sending an email to meait@mea.org All members must be in good standing to be eligible to vote.

ABSENTEE BALLOTING

The region at‑large election is an online election, however, eligible voters who are not able to vote online during the election period may notify their local association president of their need to vote by absentee ballot. The request must be in writing, include the specific reason necessitating an absentee ballot, and be received no later than Feb. 21 by the local association president. Eligible voters requesting an absentee ballot, and complying with the above require ments, shall be mailed an absentee ballot by the local asso ciation election committee. An absentee ballot must be returned by U.S. mail and received by the local association no later than the last day of the election. Late absentee bal lots shall be unopened and set aside as void ballots.

CANDIDATES IN THE MARCH REGION ELECTIONS

REGION 2

Position 1–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA

Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Heather Fitchpatrick, Plymouth Canton E

Position 3–MEA RA At‑Large Delegate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#3 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Cristen Belloni, Van Buren E; Steve Conn, Wayne‑Westland E; Benjamin Edwards, Livonia E

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Erin Jackson, Allen Park E; David Daly, Wayne‑Westland E

2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#5 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; David Daly, Wayne‑Westland E; Dawn Pierz, Wyandotte E; Christine Lakatos, Livonia E; Heidi Posh, Livonia E; Dana Dulzo, Wayne‑Westland E

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

3 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

1 position, immed. through 3/31/24; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Dave Daly, mrddaly@gmail.com

REGION 3

Position 1–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Jim Brousseau, Milan E

Position 2–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA

Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g) #1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Brian Boze, Saline E

Position 3–MEA RA At‑Large Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g) #2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Percy Brown, Ann Arbor P; Rhoshawda Miller, Ypsilanti Community E

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g) #2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Charlotte Tillerson, Ypsilanti Community E; Melanie Nightingale, Adrian E

2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 5–EA NEA RA At‑Large Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g) #1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Rhoshawda Miller, Ypsilanti Community E

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#3 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Leslie Rollins, Manchester E; Charlotte Tillerson, Ypsilanti Community E; Matt Deloria, Dexter E

3 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

#3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Janine Hawley, Manchester E; Jared Throneberry, Manchester E; Leslie Rollins, Manchester E

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; same seat as above: NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

#2 positions, immed. through 8/31/23; Joan Rambo, Manchester CFMOPT; Kristi Campbell, Manchester CFMOPT

#2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; same seat as above; Joan Rambo, Manchester CFMOPT; Kristi Campbell, Manchester CFMOPT

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

4 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

#2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Leslie Rollins, Manchester E; Jared Throneberry, Manchester E

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Jim Brousseau, jbrousseau@mea.org

REGION 4

Position 3–MEA RA At‑Large Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Jamesia Nordman, Battle Creek E

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

4 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Joe Mueller, Homer E; Sarajane Eppley, Bronson E

#1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; Joe Mueller, Homer E

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; Joe Mueller, Homer E; Homer E; Sarajane Eppley, Bronson E

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, immed. through 8/31/24; Sarah Garrett, Battle Creek O

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; Joe Mueller, Homer E

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; Joe Mueller, Homer E

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, immed. through 8/31/24; Sarah Garrett, Battle Creek O

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Anthony Pennock, apennock@mea.org

REGION 5

Position 1–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA

Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Kim Largen, Mattawan EA

Position 3–MEA RA At‑Large Delegate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#3 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Eursla Moore‑Doyle, Kalamazoo GOPT; Christine Payne, Kalamazoo E; Mary Cooper, New Buffalo E

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#4 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Gayla Clark, Kalamazoo E; Heather Reid, Kalamazoo E; Laura Payne, Kalamazoo E; Elizabeth McDermott, Kalamazoo E

Position 5–EA NEA RA At‑Large Delegate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Mary Cooper, New Buffalo E

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#6 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Karrie Smith, Mattawan E; Gayla Clark, Kalamazoo E; Laura Payne, Kalamazoo E; Heather Reid, Kalamazoo E; Christine Payne, Kalamazoo E; Kim Largen, Kalamazoo E

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Daniel McKenzie, Dowagiac Union CMT

1 position, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions*, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

3 positions, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

4 positions, immed. through 3/31/25; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 3/31/25; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, immed. through 3/31/25; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 3/31/25; NNR

Elections Chair: Mary Cooper, coopermary29@gmail.com

REGION 6

Position 1–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA Delegate

#2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Heather Schulz, Lakeview‑St Clair Sh E; Eric Kehres, Utica E

Position 2–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

Position 3–MEA RA At‑Large Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Cathy Murray; Port Huron E

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#5 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Karen Abella, Warren E; Kim Cook, Port Huron E; Amy Langmesser, East China E; Mary Campbell, Mt Clemens E; Andrea Pilatowski, Utica E

Position 5–EA NEA RA At‑Large Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Karen Abella, Warren E

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#5 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Kim Cook, Port Huron E; Rebecca Wendel, Port Huron E; Amy Langmesser; East China E; Stephanie Givinsky, Lakeview St Clair Sh E; Jackie Shelson, Grosse Pointe E

Position 7–EA/ESP NEA RA At‑Large Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Mary Campbell, Mt Clemens E

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, immed. through 8/31/25; Krista Schneider, Lakeview‑St Clair Sh P

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

#2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Mary Campbell, Mt Clemens E; Kaylee DiCicco, Mt Clemens E

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Danielle Stephens, Mt Clemens E

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; Krista Schneider, Lakeview‑St Clair Sh P

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

1 position, immed. through 3/31/25; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Cara Konicek, ckonicek@mymea.org

REGION 7

Position 1–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA

Delegate

1 position, 4/1/23 through 8/31/23; Andrea Catalina, Walled Lake E; Angela Chen, Waterford E

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; Andrea Catalina, Walled Lake E; Angela Chen, Waterford E

Position 2–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Matt Gonzales, Royal Oak E; Angela Chen, Waterford E; Fred McFadden, Pontiac P

1 position*, 4/1/23 through 8/31/24; Robert Gaines III, Farmington OP; Angela Chen, Waterford E

Position 3–MEA RA At‑Large Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23; Angela Chen, Waterford E; Fred McFadden, Pontiac P; Kecia Jackson Jones, Pontiac P

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; Angela Chen, Waterford E; Fred McFadden, Pontiac P; Kecia Jackson Jones, Pontiac P

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Angela Chen, Waterford E

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#5 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Angela Chen, Waterford E; Katrina Earl, Southfield MP; Phyllis Leapheart; Southfield MP; Kecia Jackson Jones, Pontiac P; Fred McFadden, Pontiac P

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 5–EA NEA RA At‑Large Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Kristen Burwell, Rochester E; Angela Chen, Waterford E

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Brooke Davis, Clarkston E; Valerie Ruckes, Rochester E

4 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Brooke Davis, Clarkston E; Valerie Ruckes, Rochester E

Position 7–EA/ESP NEA RA At‑Large Delegate

#1 position, immed. through 8/31/24; Deb Shoultz, Bloomfield Hills OP

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Steve Sanchez, Clarkston T

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

4 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Steve Sanchez, Clarkston T

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

4 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Robert Gaines III, rg4esp@gmail.com

REGION 8

Position 1–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA

Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Lance Little, Owosso E

Position 3–MEA RA At‑Large Delegate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; David Hockaday, Lansing P; Jeffry Wilson, MSU‑APA E/ESP

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#4 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Adam Hussein, Waverly E; Carlos Salais, Waverly E, Maria Serrato, Lansing E; Patricia Purol, Lansing CC E

Position 5–EA NEA RA At‑Large Delegate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Adam Hussein, Waverly E

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#6 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Curlada

Eure‑Harris, Lansing CC E; Carlos Salais, Waverly E; Maria Serrato, Lansing E; Adam Hussein, Waverly E; Patricia Purol, Lansing CC E; Angela Kulman, Lansing CC E

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position*, immed. through 8/31/25; Mary McKern, Ovid‑Elsie E

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; Andrea Wells, Eaton Rapids CFMOP

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; Kelli Davis, Lansing O

#2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Teresa Collett‑Such, Waverly FOP; Andrea Wells; Eaton Rapids CFMOP

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

#1 position, immed. through 8/31/24; Allyson McCann, Grand Ledge P

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

4 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; Mary McKern, Ovid‑Elsie E

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

4 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

4 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Marty Leftwich, mleftwich@mea.org

REGION 9

Position 1–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA Delegate

1 position, interim through 3/31/23; Erik Bye, Grand Haven E

1 position, 4/1/23 through 8/31/24, same seat as above; Erik Bye, Grand Haven E

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

5 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Allison Holden, Rockford E

6 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 7–EA/ESP NEA RA At‑Large Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

3 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

4 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

5 positions, immed. through 3/31/24; NNR

2 positions*, immed. through 3/31/24; NNR

Elections Chair: Wendy Winston, wendy.winston@att.net

REGION 10

Position 1–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA

Delegate

#2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Stacey Daniels, Flushing E; Karen Christian, Flint E

Position 3–MEA RA At‑Large Delegate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Felicia Naimark, Flint E; Kevyn Welter, Flushing E

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#4 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Brett Smith, Linden E; Molly Maldonado, Grand Blanc E; Trishanda Williams, Flint E; Vishaun Ezell, Westwood Heights E

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#4 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; David Griffel, Clio E; Kevyn Welter, Flushing E; Trishanda Williams, Flint E; Molly Maldonado, Grand Blanc E

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Kevyn Welter, kweltr@gmail.com

REGION 11

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Toni

Scribner, Vassar E

2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Toni Scribner, Vassar E

5 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 7–EA/ESP NEA RA At‑Large Delegate

#2 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; Jennifer Shelito, Tuscola ISD COPT; Louis Holliday, Alma E

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

#2 positions, immed. through 8/31/23; Danielle Cuddie, Tuscola ISD E; Jill Eremia, Tuscola ISD E

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

5 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Jaime Fair, Vassar FP

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

#1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; Toni Scribner, Vassar E

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; Jaime Fair, Vassar FP

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

#1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23; Lisa Opperman, Vassar FP

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Toni Scribner, tscribner@mymea.org

REGION 12

Position 1–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Marcia Mackey, Central Mich Univ E

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Amy Guzman, Midland City E; Maureen Eke, Central Mich Univ E

2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#3 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Maureen Eke, Central Mich Univ E; Jenny VanDuinen, Houghton Lake E; Jerry Lombardo, Midland City E

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 7–EA/ESP NEA RA At‑Large Delegate

#1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; John Pakledinaz, Farwell E

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Jenny VanDuinen, Houghton Lake E

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

#2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Jenny VanDuinen, Houghton Lake E; Tammie Lewis, Harrison E

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Jenny VanDuinen, jjvandui@svsu.edu

REGION 13

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

3 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

3 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

3 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

4 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Not Available

REGION 14

Position 3–MEA RA At‑Large Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Kathy Erickson, Oscoda E

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/23

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Region 14 MAHE EA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Region 14 MAHE EA RA Cluster Alternate

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Greta Brock, gbrock@mea.org

REGION 15

Position 1–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA

Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Genevieve

Minor, Traverse City E

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; NNR

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, immed. through 3/31/25; NNR

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Not Available

REGION 16

Position 3–MEA RA At‑Large Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Rebecca Newell, DeTour E

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Angela Craven, Eastern UP ISD E

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Angela Craven, Eastern UP ISD E

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

#2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Andrew Long, St Ignace E; Angela Craven, Eastern UP ISD E

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

#2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Jon Olsen, St Ignace E; Angela Craven, Eastern UP ISD E

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Matt Johnson, Pickford E

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Al Beamish, a‑beamish@mymea.org

REGION 17

Position 3–MEA RA At‑Large Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#1 position*, immed. through 8/31/24; Sheila Grazulis, Marquette Area E

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Dan Delong, Escanaba E

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Lily Anderson, Dickinson‑Iron ISD E

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

#2 positions, immed. through 8/31/24; Erinn Parker, Stephenson E; Kimberly Wygant, Menominee ISD E

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Victoria Snyder, North Central E

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Lily Anderson, Dickinson‑Iron ISD E

#1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; Paulette Pepin, Gladstone E

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; Paulette Pepin, Gladstone E

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Kim Wygant, Menominee ISD E

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 14–ESP NEA RA Cluster Delegate

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; NNR

1 position, immed. through 8/31/23; NNR

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23, same seat as above; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Elections Chair: Paulette Pepin, ppepin@mymea.org

REGION 18

Position 1–MEA Board of Directors/NEA RA

Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Eric Ghiggia, West Iron County E

Position 4–MEA RA At‑Large Alternate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

Need help? MESSA is just a call or click away

At MESSA , we know you’re busy and don’t have time for one more thing on your plate. So, when you need help or have questions about your coverage, we’re just a phone call or chat away.

You can call MESSA’s award‑winning Member Service Center at 800‑336‑0013 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Whether it’s helping you understand your benefits, checking on the status of a prior authorization or ordering extra ID cards — no question is too big or too s mall.

You can also log into your MyMESSA member account at secure.messa.org to connect with a MESSA team member via chat or secure message — and we’ll get back to you.

Your local MESSA field represen tative is yet another resource, and you can easily find your local field representative at messa.org/Field or call 800‑292‑4910.

In whatever way you reach out, we’re here to help you navigate the complex world of health care. v

By Ross Wilson, MESSA Executive Director

#1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Amanda Rinkinen, Baraga Twp E

Position 6–EA NEA RA At‑Large Alternate–

Representing Minority 3–1(g)

#2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Michelle Seppanen, L’Anse Twp E; Morgan Raether, Adams Twp E

Position 8–EA MEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Tim Nelson, Ontonagon E

Position 9–EA MEA RA Cluster Alternate

#3 positions, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Amanda Rinkinen, Baraga Twp E; Eric Ghiggia, West Iron County E; Heather Skulan, Wakefield‑Marenisco E

Position 10–ESP MEA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Steve Elenich, Copper Country ISD CFMOPT

Position 11–ESP MEA RA Cluster Alternate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Sandra Maki, Ewen‑Trout Creek CFOPT

Position 12–EA NEA RA Cluster Delegate

#2 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Jennifer Torola, Calumet E; Amanda Rinkinen, Baraga Twp E

1 position*, immed. through 8/31/25; NNR

Position 13–EA NEA RA Cluster Alternate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Elizabeth Bertucci, Adams Twp E

1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

1 position*, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; NNR

Position 15–ESP NEA RA Cluster Alternate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Sandra Maki, Ewen‑Trout Creek CFOPT

Region 18 MAHE EA RA Cluster Delegate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Matthew Gage, Gogebic CC E

Region 18 MAHE EA RA Cluster Alternate

#1 position, 3 yr. term begins 4/1/23; Paul LaBine, Gogebic CC E

Elections Chair: Steve Elenich, selenich@copperisd.org

REGION 50

Region 50–ESP NEA RA At‑Large Delegate

4 positions, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Crystal Kinard, Ann Arbor P; Eursla Moore‑Doyle, Kalamazoo GOPT; Fred McFadden, Pontiac P; Jeffry Wilson, MSU‑APA E/ESP; Lisa Watkins, Ypsilanti Community CFMOPT; Kecia Jackson Jones, Pontiac P; Sue Brandt, MSU‑APA E/ESP

Region 50–ESP NEA RA At‑Large Delegate–Representing Minority 3–1(g)

2 positions*, 3 yr. term begins 9/1/23; Jeffry Wilson, MSU‑APA E/ESP; Lisa Watkins, Ypsilanti Community CFMOPT; Crystal Kinard, Ann Arbor P

Key:

#Elected by acclamation

NNRNo nominations received

*Minority 3‑1(g) position

How did you end up pursuing two demanding careers? In about 2012, I was working Monday through Friday nights doing the 7 and 11 p.m. newscast in Hagerstown, Maryland. I wasn’t making much money, and I didn’t have to be at work till 3 in the afternoon, so I started subbing a couple of days a week. Ended up doing a long term sub in family consumer sciences and math, and that math teacher, who I’m still friends with today, told me, “You should go get your master’s in educa tion. You’re good at this.” So I did. Never thought of it before that.

Have you always wanted to do weather? I’ve wanted to do this job since I was five years old. I watched it all the time, visited all the stations in Cincinnati where I grew up. So nine or ten years into my career, getting to go into the number one station in Cincinnati with anchors and reporters I’d watched as a kid, that was humbling and one of my best experiences outside of working here in Detroit.

What do you love about that job?

It’s the science behind it, and with all of the extreme weather we’re seeing there is a need for what we do. When minutes matter and lives matter, people are turning to us to understand what’s going on. I became a meteorologist because of extreme weather — torna does and severe thunderstorms are my jazz — and we’re always looking ahead to the next thing so it’s never boring. You’re not teaching science, right? My first full t ime teaching assignment was middle school science, but I added on the Family Consumer Sciences

endorsement because if it wasn’t for that and vocal music I wouldn’t have made it through high school. I’m teaching Family Consumer Sciences at Grosse Pointe North High School, which involves life skills our kids need to be surviving human beings after 18 years old. I’ve been teaching personal finance and independent living, things like how to balance a checkbook and how credit cards work. In general Family Consumer Sciences involves classes like child development, fashion, interior design, nutrition and wellness. Why is Family Consumer Sciences so important to you? I’ve had many hurdles in my life, and I’m the living embodiment of the idea that if you’re dreaming you want to do something, you can do it. I have a learning dis ability that made it difficult for me in school. My parents were not able to support me in college, and now I have three degrees. I never thought I’d get the chance to work in a top 10 market like Detroit, but I’m swimming in the big leagues. I wouldn’t be standing here right now if not for Family Consumer Sciences education in high school. It gave me the skills to function on my own. I was a state officer in my senior year of high school in FCCLA, which is the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. I’ve kick started an FCCLA group in Grosse Pointe; in fact, at every school where I’ve taught, I’ve either kept one going or started one. What’s been your biggest moment in television since arriving at WDIV? With the winter storm that hit on the Friday before Christmas, I was

on a ir the weekend before. I had been on the phone with (longtime WDIV meteorologist) Paul Gross in the after noon of Saturday and Sunday showing him my forecast and picking his brain. I trust him implicitly, and he said I was spot on: We knew snow would be in the forecast, and rapidly falling temps, but the models weren’t agreeing on how much rain we would get and what time it would turn over. I had to go on a ir and say, we’re going to have a high i mpact storm, but there is uncertainty with this yet. We know this, this and this. But this is going to change. Keep your eyes on it. And all through that week and into the storm coverage, even though I’m not a full t ime meteorologist, I was part of the team planning it all out.

How do you keep up the pace?

Working seven days a week will take a toll. Am I ready for mid w inter break in February? You betcha. But I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t enjoy it and feel that it’s worth my time. I’m glad to be part of a station like Local 4 that has a sterling reputation and has treated me like a member of the family. They don’t want me to leave teaching; they know I like it, and they think it’s great. They’re will ing to support it, which is rare to find in a company.

I think I’m the only broadcast mete orologist that actually holds two seals of approval — the National Weather Association Broadcasters Seal of Approval and the American Meteorological Society’s certified teacher seal, known as the CAT. I wouldn’t trade anything I’ve done for the world. v

Bryan Schuerman plays two roles that put him in the spotlight: Family Consumer Sciences teacher in Grosse Pointe and weekend meteorologist at WDIV‑T V in Detroit.

You deserve THE BEST

As a nonprofit founded and governed by public school employees, we at MESSA understand the challenges and stressors facing educators and school support staff — especially these days. Here’s what we’re providing to give you peace of mind:

• Excellent mental health coverage for you and your dependents.

• Complimentary access to MyStressTools to help you manage stress and anxiety.

• Free worksite wellness programs to help improve your physical and mental health.

Learn about these and other member-exclusive programs at messa.org or call us at 800-336-0013. We’re here to help.