| I hope this finds you all staying well as you either begin your summer break or are watching the academic year wind down, or are continuing to enjoy the life of a retired educator! Our 93rd MEA Representative Assembly, held just two weeks ago, brought the voices of delegates representing all our members together, virtually, to amend our governance documents and update our position statements, to determine the strategic budget, and to help direct the MEA for the coming year. There was great debate, despite the virtual format, and the time and dedication of all the delegates is much appreciated! Your leadership team is glad to be continuing on as we face whatever comes next together, and with better news each day on the COVID-19 front, we are hopeful about what that will be! |
| Your Career This is short notice— but if you are interested in applying to be on the Tutoring Educator Advisory Group with the National Student Support Accelerator, act quickly–Deadline to apply is June 6th. Does your school have a Civil Rights Team? Do you know about The Maine Civil Rights Team Project? “The mission of the Civil Rights Team Project (CRTP) is to increase the safety of elementary, middle level, and high school students by reducing bias-motivated behaviors and harassment in our schools.” Brandon Baldwin, the Project Director, recently presented to the MEA Human and Civil Rights and Social Justice Committee. Find more information here: https://www.maine.gov/ag/civil_rights/index.shtml Plan now for the fall. The 2021 “Day of Welcome” will be November 5th! NEA, as part of the National Labor Management Partnership (Consortium for Educational Change, AFT, AASA, CCSSO, NAASP, NAESP, NEA, NSBA), presents: A Labor-Management Collaboration Virtual Symposium: Rethinking Our Schools—From Crisis to Opportunity. There is no cost to attend this event, held virtually June 15th-17th. It offers a series of engaging conversations for school and district leaders, school board members, teachers, classified staff and other education organizations from across the country to reflect on what we’ve learned during these months of remote, hybrid and in-person learning as we rethink our schools – from crisis to opportunities. Register here: Rethinking Our Schools: From Crisis to Opportunity Consortium for Educational Change (cecweb.org) |
| Your Support On June 12, the Maine Department of Education is hosting the Wabanaki Conference. Join me in learning more about the Indigenous peoples of Maine: https://www.maine.gov/doe/wabanaki/PD/June-2021 The Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, an academic affiliate of MEA, is offering a variety of professional development opportunities this summer. Be sure to check them out here. I heard about this during a hearing on proposed legislation and thought I’d share: Echoes & Reflections—Teaching the Holocaust, Inspiring the Classroom https://echoesandreflections.org/ The NEA Center for Social Justice offers a series of events from June through August during the NEA 2021 Season of Justice. These virtual events are designed to deepen knowledge, build connections, and engage the collective in meaningful conversations on racial and social justice. For more information: – NEA EdJustice |
| Your Association MEA has been working hard to get key legislation that impacts you and your students across the finish line. In these final weeks, stay tuned, and if/when the call goes out to contact your legislators, please respond! Of course, while passing new legislation is important, implementation of new laws is key! Watch for information from MEA in the coming months about the details and do your part at the local level. Speaking of doing your part, how about making a donation to the MEA Fund in Support of Public Education and the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education?The MEA Fund in Support of Public EducationNEA FundRemember that only your voluntary contributions to these political action committees can be used to support MEA-endorsed candidates. Also, MEA endorses friends of public education who help to pass legislation that supports educators and students. All local presidents or their designee and all MEA Representative Assembly delegates are invited to be on the Screening and Endorsement Committee along with the MEA Government Relations Committee and the MEA Board of Directors. The S & E Committee recommends the endorsement of candidates based on their responses to questionnaires which are sent to all candidates, as well as on the voting records of incumbents. Save the date! MEA will hold three Local Treasurer trainings and Presidents’ Meetings (for new or recent leaders) this summer. We plan for one session to be in person; the others will be held virtually. Watch for details soon, but meanwhile be sure to save one of these dates: July 13th, 14th, or 15th. Appointments to MEA Committees, including the newly established Black, Indigenous, People of Color Committee, will be made this summer. Indicate your interest in serving on a committee by completing this form. Dates for Committee meetings and MEA Board of Directors meetings are on the 2021-2022 MEA Governance Calendar. Remember that Board members will reach out to local leaders before Board meetings to gather your input and again afterwards to relay information. If your local has elected new officers and building reps this spring, be sure to update the contact list with MEA. Also if your local has a newly revised Constitution/Bylaws, please share a copy with MEA. Any questions, let us know! Are you retiring this year? Do you know a colleague who is? Stay connected with MEA, NEA, and your fellow retirees! Be sure to join MEA-Retired! https://mearetired.org/joiningOf InterestThe NEA has a newly released document, “Future Forward”, developed with the input of several state leaders (including yours truly). Please take a look! Thinking of running for office? School Board? Town Council? The state legislature? The experience of educators in many positions is of benefit to us all! The NEA program, See Educators Run, helps train members to run for office, and the deadline to apply is coming right up. If you are interested, please reach out to MEA asap! Reminders Did you just receive a survey from a fellow educator who is doing research on reflective practice for her doctoral degree at the University of Maine? If so, she would very much appreciate your taking a few minutes to complete it as soon as possible! Please help out a fellow educator—it will only take a few minutes of your time! MEA is seeking to connect with other academic affiliates like MMSA—contact the MEA President if you are a current leader of one of these organizations. MEA President’s Virtual Office Hour (for local presidents and vice presidents) will be June 8th at 7:00 pm. Join in the conversation and talk about whatever is on your mind. The next Conversation for MEA Members of Color will be June 10th at 7:00; this will be the last conversation for this school year, but MEA will be hosting these twice monthly opportunities again beginning in September. Watch for the invitations! Last but not least, please reach out any time—share your thoughts, your ideas, your questions—and stay connected with MEA! Here’s wishing you all the best as we head into what is sure to be a beautiful Maine summer and the chance to relax and recharge! |
| In Unity, Grace Leavitt, President Maine Education Association |
