IEA President Kathi Griffin congratulates State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch on election as Speaker of the Illinois House
SPRINGFIELD – The following statement can be attributed to IEA President Kathi Griffin: “The Illinois Education Association would like to congratulate one of the top public education advocates in the Illinois General Assembly, and the 2018 recipient of the IEA Friend of Education Award, on his election as Speaker of...
Elgin teachers, community plan to rally in support of safe schools, call for stronger return to learn plan
ELGIN – Tonight, teachers and other supporters plan to gather at a safe social distance before the School District U46 Board of Education (BOE) meeting to push for a more robust return to learn plan that ensures safe schools for all. "We are calling for our safety plan to be...
IEA issues statement denouncing riot in Washington, D.C.
SPRINGFIELD – The following statement is attributable to IEA President Kathi Griffin: “As educators, we are tasked with the aftermath of what happened yesterday in Washington, D.C. – a day that brought out the darkest side of America. In our country, we hold tightly to our freedom. As we should,...
Education Unions Call on the Illinois State Board of Education to Postpone Standardized Testing
ILLINOIS – In a joint letter with the Chicago Teachers Union, the Illinois Education Association (IEA), the Illinois Principals Association, and the Illinois Association of School Administrators, the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) is calling on the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to postpone standardized testing via a...
Education unions call for lawmakers to make schools safe for all
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) and the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) are calling on the state legislature to address the issues outlined below that would make Illinois schools safe for all. School district failure to implement and enforce the IDPH guidance and requirements for schools puts the...
Rockford Education Association will call on Board of Education to allow educators the choice to work from home
ROCKFORD – Tonight, the Rockford Education Association (REA) will call for the Rockford Public School District No. 205 Board of Education (BOE) to allow educators to choose whether they want to teach from their classrooms or from their homes. "The district finally did the reasonable thing and granted an adaptive...
Dunlap teachers will call on Board of Education to responsibly spend taxpayer money, will virtually pack board meeting
PEORIA – Tonight, the Dunlap Education Association (DEA) will call for the Dunlap Community Unit School District 323 Board of Education (BOE) to responsibly spend taxpayer dollars instead of cutting millions from the budget, which could mean cutting 60 teachers from the district. "The district has the money to close...
One-third of Illinois educators considering leaving profession in midst of COVID-19 pandemic
SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Education Association (IEA), the largest education organization in Illinois, announced that a poll of its membership showed one-third are considering leaving the profession, amid an already existing teacher shortage, over concerns of safety and stress. “This should sound the alarm for every person in Illinois...
Glendale Heights teachers call for immediate shift to remote learning
GLENDALE HEIGHTS – Tonight, the Marquardt Education Association (MEA) will call for an immediate switch to remote learning at the Marquardt School District 15 Board of Education (BOE) meeting. “We are calling for an immediate switch to remote learning, and we are asking for a clear, transparent plan that uses...
Lake Forest teachers warn of liability concerns after school board votes to defy health department’s remote-learning recommendation
LAKE FOREST – The Lake Forest Education Association (LFEA) sent a letter to the Lake Forest School District 115 Board of Education warning about the financial dangers of keeping schools open after the Lake County Health Department recommended moving to remote learning because of a growing COVID-19 positivity rate....
Lake Forest teachers will confront school board ahead of expected vote on remote learning
LAKE FOREST – Tonight, the Lake Forest Education Association (LFEA) will continue its call for an immediate switch to remote learning at the Lake Forest School District 115 Board of Education (BOE) meeting. The board is expected to vote tonight on whether, or not, to take what it is...
Lake Forest Board of Education accused of violating Open Meetings Act
During the meeting in question, the board voted to keep Lake Forest High School open for in-person learning despite rapidly rising COVID-19 positivity rates. LAKE FOREST – The Lake Forest High School teachers strongly believe the Lake Forest School District 115 Board of Education (BOE) violated the Open Meetings Act...
With growing COVID-19 positivity rates, Addison teachers will hold car rally to push for immediate switch to remote learning
ADDISON – Tonight, the Addison Teachers Association (ATA) will call for an immediate switch to remote learning for students and staff. The ATA plans to make the statement at tonight’s Addison School District 4 Board of Education (BOE) meeting. Ahead of the meeting, teachers will hold a car rally...
Bannockburn teachers to call for immediate return to remote learning
BANNOCKBURN – Tonight, the Bannockburn Education Association (BEA) will call for an immediate switch to remote learning for students and staff. The BEA plans to make the statement at tonight’s Bannockburn School District 106 Board of Education (BOE) meeting. On Tues., Oct. 20, the BOE voted to keep schools open...
After Lake County Health Department issues warning to schools, Lake Forest teachers push for immediate return to remote learning
LAKE FOREST – Today, the Lake Forest Education Association (LFEA) is calling for Lake Forest High School to switch its focus back to remote learning. This announcement comes after the Lake Forest School District 115 Board of Education (BOE) voted Thursday night to keep the building open for in-person...
Illinois Department of Public Health should identify schools with verified COVID-19 outbreaks
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) called for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to identify verified COVID-19 outbreaks in schools. The announcement comes after ProPublica Illinois revealed in a story published today that while Illinois public health officials have identified COVID-19 outbreaks in at least 44...
Alderman calls for equal pay at City Colleges of Chicago
CHICAGO – At this morning’s Chicago City Council meeting, Ald. Sue Sadlowski Garza will introduce a resolution that seeks to close the pay equity gap between full-time professors and adjunct faculty members at City Colleges. The resolution now has 24 sponsors. “This resolution highlights the pay disparity we are currently fighting...
State Board engages Illinois unions to support first-year teachers with coaches and mentors as they navigate unique fall
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced today a partnership with the Illinois Education Association (IEA) and the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) to pair new teachers with building mentors and virtual instructional coaches to help guide them through this most unique first year of teaching....
Avoca teachers hold rally for a fair contract, issue warning about programming cuts
WILMETTE – Tonight teachers and other supporters plan to gather at a safe social distance just before the Avoca School District 37 Board of Education (BOE) meeting to push for the best contract for students, educators and the community. "We fear that positions will be cut and program offerings will be...
Greenville community comes together, sets up free childcare for educators during COVID-19
GREENVILLE - The Greenville Education Association (GEA) worked with Greenville First Christian Church and Greenville University to set up the Education Connection, which provides childcare for educators who work in Bond County Unit 2 School District. “If we didn’t do something, we’d have several teachers and other support staff who...
