“When teachers and families work together, kids learn.” That’s the message the state’s largest education employees’ organization is spreading throughout Illinois in a new statewide radio campaign. The Illinois Education Association (IEA) is running advertisements urging parents and guardians to participate to help their students succeed in school. IEA Executive Director Audrey Soglin said the [...]
Ken Swanson statement on Obama student speech
September 3, 2009 By
Next Tuesday, President Obama will become the latest American President to make a speech that is aimed directly at the students of the United States. The President’s speech is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8 and will be broadcast over the White House website – www.whitehouse.gov. The President is expected to speak for about 15 minutes [...]
IEA responds to "Race to the Top"
September 3, 2009 By
The Illinois Education Association has outlined its position on the federal program, intended to encourage innovation in public schools. In July, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) announced the details of the Race to the Top (RTTT) plan to award $4.35 billion to states “…creating the conditions for education innovation and reform, implementing ambitious plans [...]
Ottawa dispute enters second day
September 1, 2009 By
Ottawa Township High School are closed again Thursday as the strike by members of the Ottawa Township High School Education Association moves into its second day. On Wednesday, spirits were high among the 153 OTHSEA members. Pickets reported evidence of community support, including honking car horns and “thumbs up” gestures from passers by. No meetings [...]
Message from NEA Director Gary Miller
July 29, 2009 By
UIS might enact unpaid furlough days for staff
July 23, 2009 By
State board cuts $400 million in education spending
July 23, 2009 By
State Board cuts $400 million in education spending
July 22, 2009 By
Illinois State Board of Education officials met in a hastily called emergency session Tuesday to slash $400 million from the agency’s budget – cuts made in direct response to the budget state lawmakers passed last week. [see the ISBE budget] It’s unclear what effect the measures will have on each Illinois school district, but one-third [...]
So long, "Uncle Walter"
July 19, 2009 By
The news that Walter Cronkite is gone generates many memories for those of us who grew up watching “Uncle Walter.” Some of the most memorable Cronkite broadcasts are on YouTube, such as the announcement of President Kennedy’s death and his famous commentary about the Vietnam War . The latter reminds one of how the news [...]
Casey would be amazed
July 11, 2009 By
Can’t anybody here play this game? That is the question, posed by legendary baseball manager Casey Stengel about his 1962 Mets, a team that lost a record 120 games. Of course, even the worst team in baseball history still managed 40 victories, a .250 winning percentage. I wonder what the winning percentage is lately for [...]
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.