[page title]

School Funding

Actionline

Inside MSEA: Build Power, Get Stronger, Organize

MSEA Executive Director David Helfman Here’s the good news: according to a recent Gallup poll, unions have their highest approval rating in nearly two decades. Here’s the bad news: the far right realizes our effectiveness fighting on the front lines for the working class and against income and social inequality. In state after state, they’ve introduced — and […]
Testing

Actionline

Protecting ESSA from the State Board

Winning good policy outcomes isn’t just about passing laws; we need to make sure they are implemented faithfully, too. This summer, MSEA worked with leaders in the General Assembly, the attorney general’s office, school boards, civil rights organizations, and other pro-public education advocates to push back against the State Board of Education’s ESSA draft plan. […]
Education Support Professionals

Actionline

Three Jobs and a Wish to Serve Others

Mary Bordley is a building services custodian at Kent Island Elementary School in Queen Anne’s County. I want to help decision-makers understand that just like every other staff member in the building, we’re there because we care about the students and our community. I never met a person in need that I didn’t want to help. […]
Pedagogy

Actionline

An Introduction to Literacy Design Collaborative

Heather Lacey Sampselle is an elementary school teacher and passionate, forward-thinking educator. She currently lives in Frederick, Maryland and is pursuing her master’s degree while working as an educational consultant. She has been an active member of the Brevard Federation of Teachers and Frederick County Teachers Association. My journey with LDC began years ago when […]
Professional Practice

Actionline

Global Competencies

Halfway around the world, Baltimore County science teacher and department chair Anu Bajpai asked students, “How many languages do you speak?” “Seven,” they said. When school started this year, she asked her students at Windsor Mill Middle School the same question. “One,” said most of them. Language fluency is just one of the cultural differences […]
Discipline-Related Issues

Actionline

Nurturing Resilience — Post-Traumatic Growth

“So many educators are already using trauma-informed practices and don‘t know it. It’s the nature of educators to be nurturing and accessible, but the real win for students is when we have schools that are consistently responding to students with trauma–sensitive classrooms, embedded restorative practices, and high-quality social-emotional learning resources.” — Prince George’s County School Psychologist Robert […]
Legal Questions

Actionline

Medical Cannabis and Your Job

In 2014, Maryland decriminal- ized the possession of small amounts of marijuana and legalized medical marijuana. Since then, patients must acquire written certification from a licensed physician and register with Maryland’s medical marijuana program. Medical cannabis is only available in forms that can be vaporized (not smoked), or as extracts, lotions, ointments, and tinctures. On […]
School Funding|Testing

Press Room

PARCC Scores Show Schools Are Underfunded

Today, the Maryland State Department of Education released Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test results for the 2016-2017 school year.  Maryland State Education Association President Betty Weller released the following statement: “This year’s PARCC scores are a reflection of the fact that our schools are underfunded. When you have class […]
Union Updates

Actionline

“We need to fight for the things we need for our students.”

MSEA’s 2017 Summer Leadership Conference at Salisbury University (July 18–21) brought together activist members from across the state to build the skills they need to fight for change and progress in public education. Eight different three-day schools focused on advocacy, conflict management, contract bargaining, leadership development, empowering leadership, grassroots organizing, union organizing, and restorative practices. […]
Join An Event
Member Awards & Grants