Maine Education Association members gathered in Portland in May for the 98th Annual MEA Representative Assembly. As MEA’s largest governing body, delegates gather from every county in Maine, representing MEA locals from across the state.
Each year, they meet to set MEA’s priorities for the year ahead.
Throughout the two-day event, delegates voted on the proposed budget for the upcoming year, new business items, amendments to bylaws, and received updates from MEA leadership and staff.
→Guiding the Way Forward
The 98th Representative Assembly theme of “Guiding the Way Forward” echoed through the remarks over the two day assembly in Portland. President Hargrove opened Saturday’s session by stressing the importance of organizing. He reminded attendees that the MEA has long guided the way forward by turning member voice into lasting change.
“I hear gubernatorial candidates talking a lot about how transformative policies like Universal School Meals has been for Maine,” he told delegates. “That policy was first proposed right here on this Representative Assembly floor.” MEA Delegates, he said, have helped shape policies that strengthen schools and communities across Maine.
As the association approaches its centennial, Hargrove emphasized, “What happens in this room matters, and collective action continues to move the work toward equity, dignity, and opportunity for every student and school employee in Maine.”
MEA’s Executive Director, Rachelle Bristol, echoed President Hargrove’s comments on Sunday morning during her remarks. Sharing that MEA continues to see membership growth across all job categories. She also emphasized a few ways that MEA and our members are guiding the way forward as we head into a new way to process member dues through AutoPay to take back our power as a union, not leaving due collection up to our employers.
→NEA Vice President Princess Moss Makes First Visit to Maine
NEA Vice President Princess Moss joined MEA Delegates on Saturday, in her first trip to Maine during her tenure as Vice President, she previously attended the 2021 MEA Representee Assembly virtually due to the pandemic.
Drawing on her experience as an elementary music teacher and the daughter of two public school bus drivers—who never had the opportunity to join a union—Moss underscored the importance of standing up for all educators and school staff.
“Across this nation, we are doing for others what no one did for my parents,” Moss said. “We are growing our power. We are standing up. We are refusing to let working people be invisible.”
Acknowledging the challenges educators face, Moss reminded delegates that their work matters most in difficult moments.
“You know what’s remarkable about a lighthouse? It doesn’t wait for calm waters to shine. It shines because the waters are rough. That’s you—showing up for kids even when you’re running on empty.”
She also spoke to Maine’s educator shortage, emphasizing the need for respect and professional dignity.
“There are people who would become educators if they could count on being treated like the professionals they are—with dignity and respect.”
She encouraged delegates to lead authentically and sustain their work through self-care, noting, “Even a lighthouse needs maintenance—tending your own light so you can keep guiding others.”
→MEA Members Elect Greely Teacher to be NEA Director
On Sunday, members voted to elect Jason Curry (MSAD 51 EA) to succeed Rebecca Cole (Sebago East Shore EA) who was term-limited, as the next NEA Director.
In his role as NEA Director, Curry will serve on the National Education Association (NEA) Board of Directors, representing MEA members, participating in policy-making, and strategic planning.
Curry is a high school social studies teacher at Greely High School, where he has taught since 1998. Over his career, he says, educators have faced growing attacks on public education, including efforts to ban books, target students, and undermine the profession through national media campaigns.
→Meet NEA Director Jason Curry
“Hi! My name is Jason Curry and I’m a high school Social Studies teacher. You’ll know that the instant you see my standard-issue tweed jacket with elbow patches. I’ve been teaching at Greely High School since 1998, and I’ve seen a lot. We’ve been targeted by some of the most radical and dedicated enemies of Public Education in the country. They have raged about us on national media, revealed names and identifying characteristics of our students to hate groups and the press, and tried to get books banned from our libraries. They’ve made our professional lives very difficult sometimes.
Furthermore, across the state, school budgets are being slashed or defeated at the same time administration raises are far outpacing ESPs and professional staff. While educators are being riffed, and school buildings are being closed to save money. Retired MEA members are finding it incredibly hard to make ends meet on a tight budget because of wars and tariffs in the inflationary environment created in the last 18 months, and our members in higher education are under attack from reckless Executive Orders designed to humiliate fine institutions of learning, funnel students almost exclusively into trades, and shut down access to the beauty and pleasure of learning in the Humanities.
But we are not helpless. We have allies and have our own strong, educated voices to further the well-being of public education in America. I have given my efforts and my voice to the cause consistently in my District, and for statewide issues frequently in Augusta, in Lewiston, Portland, Bangor and many other locations. I have been President and Grievance Director of my Local, as well as Lead Negotiator for two contracts; ESPs and Bus Drivers. I have served on the MEA’s Government Relations, Strategic Budget, Human and Civil Rights and Social Justice Committees, and most recently on the MEA Board of Directors.
I am honored beyond belief to have been selected at the 2026 MEA RA to bring my efforts and my voice to the national level by being voted as your NEA Director for the next three years. I’m looking forward to any chance I can get to bring you updates of the NEA’s activities, as well as represent your needs in my new job starting in September on their Board of Directors.
I hope you will consider inviting me to regional and local meetings so we can share information and build the bonds we will need in the future to rise up united as one and overcome the difficulties we may face going forward.”
To read the updated governance documents, click here.
MEA Awards Night
During the annual awards banquet, MEA leaders presented MEA’s Annual Awards, recognizing MEA members and community members who have been exemplary in MEA’s advocacy for Maine students, educators, and public education.
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