Mendota teachers set up hotline, urge community to call board and tell them to come back to bargaining table
MENDOTA – The Mendota Education Association (MEA) launched a hotline community members can use to call the District 289 Board of Education (BOE) at 1-844-311-3378. Callers will be greeted with a message from MEA Co-Vice President Brandon Scheppers and then the calls will be patched through to the district office. The…
Op-Ed: Illinois Education Association President responds to ProPublica Illinois and the Chicago Tribune report on isolated timeout rooms
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) today released the following op-ed from IEA President Kathi Griffin: “A Nov. 19 article published by ProPublica Illinois and the Chicago Tribune, outlined the practice of using isolated timeout rooms in Illinois – and in some instances – wrongly using those spaces for…
VIDEO: Dr. Jill Biden speaks to Illinois educators about the value of public education
ROSEMONT – Today Jill Biden, Ph.D., wife of Presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden (D), talked with education leaders from across the state at the Illinois Education Association (IEA) Representative Assembly (RA). The IEA RA is the largest gathering of teachers, higher education faculty and support staff, education support…
Statement from Illinois Education Association President Kathi Griffin on lllinois’ “stay at home” order, schools staying closed until April 8
SPRINGFIELD – Today, Gov. JB Pritzker ordered Illinois residents to “stay at home” starting Sat., March 21 at 5 p.m. and ending April 7 in an effort to slow the spread of the novel COVID-19 virus. Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin issued the following statement: “Our hope is…
MEDIA ADVISORY: Illinois Education Association to make announcement regarding fired New Berlin teacher Joe Kindred
WHO: Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin will join New Berlin Education Association (NBEA) members and supporters to make an important announcement regarding fired New Berlin teacher and former NBEA President Joe Kindred. WHEN: Wed., July 22 at 2 p.m. WHERE: Today’s announcement will take place virtually on Zoom. NOTE: To receive…
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. At…
Illinois Education Association releases statements on death of Karen Lewis
SPRINGFIELD – Today the Illinois Education Association (IEA) released the following statements on the death of Karen Lewis: The following statement is attributable to former IEA President Ken Swanson: “I’m very saddened to learn of Karen Lewis’ passing. Karen was a tenacious advocate for teachers, support staff and students. She…
Naperville educators to hold a rally Monday after no agreement reached
NAPERVILLE – Today, the Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) held a mediation session with Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Board of Education (BOE). While movement occurred with respect to parental and family leave, the NUEA and BOE still remain distant on total compensation that addresses the additional increases in teachers’…
IEA intervenes in Edwardsville-Triad lawsuit; seeks enforcement of mandates for masks, vaccines, testing
SPRINGFIELD – Today, the unions representing teachers and support staff in the Edwardsville and Triad school districts filed a motion to intervene in a Madison County lawsuit in an effort to protect the safety of the workplaces and the health and lives of students and employees by keeping the governor’s…
Seventy-five Illinois Education Association affiliates file motion to intervene in Sangamon County lawsuit in effort to protect health and safety of students and employees
SPRINGFIELD – Today, the unions representing teachers and support staff in 52 school districts across Illinois will file a motion to intervene in a Sangamon County lawsuit in an effort to protect the safety of the workplaces and the health and lives of students and employees by keeping the governor’s…
Illinois Education Association honors Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and former co- director of Citizen Action/Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – Today the Illinois Education Association (IEA) honored Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and William McNary for their commitment to public education. Welch was honored with the IEA “Friend of Education.” McNary was awarded the IEA “President’s” award. The following statements are attributable to IEA President Al Llorens:…
Episode 19: Educator Evaluation Update
In this episode we discuss updates related to educator evaluation.
Episode 14: ESSA Update & IBAM Interview
In this episode we are talk about updates concerning our state education accountability system. Then, we air a special interview with Larry Frank, IEA Director of Educational Policy and Research, regarding the Illinois Balanced Accountability Committee.
Episode 12: IEA Legislative Platform
In this episode we discuss updates concerning our state education accountability system.
Episode 11: Every Student Succeeds Act Update
In this episode we discuss updates concerning our state education accountability system.
IEA Legislative Update for May 10, 2019
This week, we finally got some good news about pensions. It appears we are not going to be facing a pension holiday proposal at the end of the spring legislative session.
IEA donates 18 computers to I CAN READ! program
CARBONDALE – The Illinois Education Association donated 18 computers to I CAN READ! of Southern Illinois. The computers will be instrumental in helping the kindergarten through fifth grade students in the program access books online and also with writing and research.
Teachers warn Janus v. AFSCME could have a direct impact on public education
CHICAGO – Today the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in the Janus v. AFSCME case. The lawsuit aims to take away fair share fees for all public unions, including education employee unions like the IEA, which means it will likely have a dramatic impact on public education.
Statement from IEA President Kathi Griffin encouraging Governor Rauner to pass new minimum teacher salary bill
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Kathi Griffin today released the following statement regarding the Illinois General Assembly’s passage of SB 2892. This bill will raise the minimum salary for teachers in Illinois to $40,000 a year and will be phased in over a four-year period.
$40,000 minimum teacher salary bill passes out of committee
SPRINGFIELD – Today, House Bill 2078 passed out of committee to the House floor, marking the second $40,000 minimum teacher salary bill to make it out of committee this legislative session and taking a big step toward making the $40,000 minimum salary reality.