IEA members do it for the students. Students drive us to do our best. We’ve passed meaningful reform and successfully fought off a variety of attacks, including several on our pensions. We are leaders. We are at the forefront and we need to keep up this good work. We are agents of change and are [...]
In 2011, the lives of Wisconsin teachers changed overnight. Wisconsin is not alone. Attacks on collective bargaining rights have taken place in Indiana and Ohio, too, as have attacks on tenure, retirement and other important issues. In Wisconsin, contracts were replaced with highly restrictive policy handbooks. You can make sure it doesn’t happen here by [...]
CHICAGO – The Illinois Education Association announced the winners of various awards, including Teacher of the Year, at its annual Representative Assembly this week. The 158th annual IEA Representative Assembly was held at the Hilton Chicago March 15-17. The RA is where representatives of the 130,000-member organization meet yearly to determine policies and direction for [...]
Students in Nicola Germann’s second grade classroom got their hands dirty (and slimy and green) while digging in to their favorite books to celebrate Read Across America day. The Wanda Kendall School teacher in Watseka treats Read Across America day, which honors Dr. Seuss’ birthday, as a working holiday in her classroom, urging her students [...]
IEA President Cinda Klickna updates members on the pension negotiations underway between the Illinois Labor Coalition and Gov. Quinns Pension Workgroup. President Klickna reports that the labor group is proposing that any changes in pension policy include language that will prioritize pension funding by the state, to ensure there will be no future pension holidays. [...]
Two IEA locals have been awarded NEA Urban Grants for projects that are designed to help families support student literacy and another to fund a Latino Summit to encourage academic success. Each year, the NEA Urban Grants Program opens a competition to local associations with 500 or more members that emphasizes cooperation, collaboration and community. [...]
The Illinois Association of School Nurses needs everyone’s assistance to support a proposed change to the Illinois Special Education Regulations 23 Illinois Administrative Code 226.840. This change would return the regulations to original language that ensures students receive a full and comprehensive assessment by a highly qualified, certified school nurse who has had educational preparation [...]
IEA Committee appointments are greatly sought after, and each year we receive many more applicants than there are openings. Expectations of each committee member working for IEA will be great, thus we ask that you submit names with this in mind, considering both interest and expertise but with a special emphasis this year to involve [...]
WASHINGTON – President Obama and Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan today announced the approval of ten states’ plans to make substantial school reforms in return for temporary regulatory relief from some of No Child Left Behind’s mandates. The Administration endorsed plans by Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee. [...]
Your help is needed! We are looking for assistance with the circulation of petitions for the IEA and AFSCME candidates for the Board of Trustees of the State Universities Retirement System of Illinois (SURS). The following are the two candidates seeking election: Andrew Matthews IEA candidate view candidate bio Dorinda Miller AFSCME candidate, and a [...]
Illinois Education Association is an association of more than 130,000 members composed of Illinois elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty and staff, educational support professionals, retired educators and college students preparing to become teachers.