IEA pushes for, helps pass legislation to protect students, educators, public schools during COVID-19 pandemic
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) worked with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, the governor’s office and other education stakeholders to ensure, regardless of the coronavirus pandemic, schools will be provided adequate state funding for public education. The budget bill passed both chambers late Saturday and is…
ROWVA Support Staff file for impasse in contract negotiations after ROWVA School Board refuses to pay back wages
ONIEDA – Today the ROWVA Support Education Association (RSEA), which represents hourly employees of the district, filed for impasse with the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board (IELRB). RSEA members are currently working without a contract and have been negotiating with the ROWVA School District 208 since July. “We were really…
IEA releases bipartisan State of Education Report
Poll shows Illinoisans believe public schools are not performing well, teachers are the solution, educators are paid too little SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Education Association (IEA) today released its second annual State of Education report, the only bipartisan poll asking Illinoisans about all aspects of public schools. The results show…
Illinois Education Association wins Emmy for IEA Teacher Stories
CHICAGO – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) last weekend won an Emmy at the 61st Annual Chicago/Midwest Regional Emmy Awards. The IEA won for Outstanding Achievement for Public/Current/Community Affairs Programming – Series for IEA Teachers Stories. The composite entry featured three IEA members: Susan Hudson from Thornwood High School in…
Education Support Staff will pack board meeting, encourage school board to come back to the bargaining table
ONEIDA – Members of the ROWVA Support Education Association (RSEA) will pack tonight’s Community Unit School District 208 Board of Education (BOE) meeting. An RSEA spokesperson also plans to read a statement to help educate the public about the negotiation process during the public comment portion of the BOE meeting.…
IEA releases bipartisan State of Education Report
Poll shows Illinoisans believe schools are performing poorly, teachers are underpaid, and fixing education, with input from educators, should be a top priority.
North Clay Educators Demand Fair Contract, Supports for Students
LOUISVILLE – After months of failed negotiations, the North Clay Education Association (NCEA) is calling for the North Clay Community Unit School District #25 Board of Education (BOE) to invest in the North Clay students, educators and staff. NCEA has been in contract negotiations with the BOE since April 23,…
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 school…
IEA partners with IFT on COVIDTracker to cover entire state of Illinois with crowdsourcing tool for cases, safety concerns
SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Education Association (IEA) announced IEACOVIDTracker.org, an online tool where educators in more than 950 IEA locals can now report outbreaks, safety issues, check for outbreaks reported by the Illinois Department of Public Health and share stories of what it’s like to be an educator during…
Illinois Education Association releases statement on Derek Chauvin guilty verdict
SPRINGFIELD – Today the Illinois Education Association (IEA) released the following statement regarding the Derek Chauvin guilty verdict. The following is attributable to IEA President Kathi Griffin: “Everyone wants to be safe in their community – no matter where they live, no matter the color of their skin. The jury’s…
Wings of Ebony author J. Elle virtually visits students at Paris Cooperative High School, in Illinois
J. Elle’s visit with students was part of NEA’s Read Across America Sweepstakes PARIS, ILL. – Bestselling New York Times author J. Elle today virtually visited more than 100 students from Paris Cooperative High School, in Illinois, as part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America Sweepstakes. Elle, author…
Illinois Education Association Statement on Gun Violence in Schools
SPRINGFIELD – The following is attributable to Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin, IEA Vice President Al Llorens and IEA Secretary/Treasurer Tom Tully regarding the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex.: “We face another tragedy – an almost unbearable and oft-repeated incident of kids getting on a bus,…
Kewanee teachers, education support staff to hold informational picket ahead of mediation
KEWANEE, IL – Dozens of Kewanee teachers and education support staff, like bus drivers, classroom aides and secretaries, will hold an informational picket on the morning of Thurs., Aug. 10, ahead of contract negotiations with a federal mediator. Kewanee Education Association (KEA) members will be wearing red, marching and carrying…
Nursing program will provide much needed healthcare to South Side residents
CHICAGO – City Colleges of Chicago and University of Chicago have partnered to bring a nursing program, known as the Malcom X College Learning Center, to the City Colleges’ Kennedy King campus on the southside of Chicago. The new center is expected to open for the 2026-27 school year and will be…
Public Leadership Forum
We are excited to announce the launch of the IEA Public Leadership Forum! This Forum will be for IEA Members who are, have been or aspire to be locally elected or appointed leaders in their communities. In other words, YOU! Get ConnectedPurpose The purpose of the IEA Public Leadership Forum…
Rock Island teachers call on school board members to leave vacant a newly-created deputy superintendent position
Teachers, staff and community members to pack tonight’s school board meeting ROCK ISLAND – Teachers, staff and community members will call on the Rock Island-Milan School District 41 (RIMSD) Board of Education (BOE) to leave vacant a newly-created deputy superintendent position at tonight’s school board meeting. They’ll also demand the…
Hinsdale High School teachers call for immediate reorganization of school board, including appointing a new board president
Teachers, staff and community members to pack tonight’s school board meeting HINSDALE – Teachers, staff and community members will pack tonight’s Hinsdale Township High School District 86 (HTHS) Board of Education (BOE) meeting and call for an immediate reorganization, including appointing a new board president. They’ll also shed light on…
Higher Education Issues
The struggles in higher education mirror those of PreK-12 IEA members with regard to increasing benefits and salary and having a voice in decisions that impact members.
Hundreds of Kaneland educators, community members plan to rally and pack school board meeting
SUGAR GROVE – Hundreds of Kaneland Education Association (KEA) members and community supporters plan to wear red, rally for a fair contract and pack the Kaneland Community School District 302 board meeting on Mon., June 24. KEA has been negotiating with the district for more than seven months. “We are…
Glen Ellyn Education Association recommends candidates for District 41 Board of Education race
Glen Ellyn – Glen Ellyn Education Association (GEEA) today announced its recommendations for the upcoming District 41 Board of Education election. Ahead of the April 2 municipal elections, the union representing approximately 200 teachers in District 41 recommended three candidates for the three open seats: Jessica Buttimer, Ted Estes and…