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Gov. Hogan: Educators Shouldn’t Have a Voice on the State Board of Education

The day before the Memorial Day holiday, Gov. Hogan vetoed bipartisan legislation that would have added two current teachers to the State Board of Education. He claimed that the bill would “move Maryland in exactly the wrong direction.” Hogan said that teachers on the State Board would be “special interest group representatives” whose participation would […]
Union Updates

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SLC ’18: Tackling Issues with Union Values

We’ve said it before, it’s an unprecedented time for public education in Maryland and the country. The Janus Supreme Court case is unleashing anti-union attacks that threaten employees’ seat at the table; the Betsy DeVos agenda to privatize and monetize public schools has found an ally in our governor; and we’re campaigning for our endorsed […]
Union Updates

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Inside MSEA: Thank You, Betty

Six years ago, when you elected Betty Weller to lead MSEA, our public schools were feeling the brunt of the recession. School employment levels were at post-recession lows and many school systems were freezing step movement and salary levels. These post-recession years have been characterized by flat state and local funding, making the work of […]
Legal Questions

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An FMLA Tutorial

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides job-protected, unpaid leave under certain circumstances. Who is eligible for FMLA? Government and private sector employees qualify for FMLA if their employer has at least 50 employees and they have worked for 12 months and 1,250 hours. Ten-month certificated educators in the public […]
Pedagogy

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Uncovering Policies, Instruction, Practices, and Rules That Show Bias

Steve Burnett, Ed.D., is a counselor and instructional team leader at Glenelg High School in Howard County. His experience includes being a pupil personnel worker, supervisor of school counseling, and assistant and interim principal. As educators, we all know the synergy that is created when we work together for our students’ success. School counselors are […]
Education Support Professionals

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Donna Hoffman — Making Lunchtime the Favorite Part of Each Kid’s Day

Donna Hoffman is head cook at Northern Middle School in Garrett County. “I’ve always believed that our jobs are extremely important to the everyday lives of our students and we deserve respect and a fair wage.” — Donna Hoffman My greatest joy in life has always come from helping others and the satisfaction that comes with that, so in […]
Union Updates

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Keeping Your Contract Strong

Once your local has ratified a new contract through the collective bargaining process, it’s up to you — and the members of your union — to protect and enforce it. There’s no value in a contract that is not vigilantly held to scrutiny at every suspected violation. Collective bargaining is a serious legal undertaking and the outcome is codified […]
Teacher Toolkit

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Teacher’s Toolkit: Waves, Critters, and Fishnets on the Bay

Margarita Rochow, director at ELMS Environmental Center in St. Mary’s County. Photo credit: Brion McCarthy Second-career educator Margarita Rochow is the director of ELMS Environmental Education Center in St. Mary’s County. What fascinates her besides the great outdoors? The brain, why we’re here, cultures, landscapes, and individuals near and far, and the truth. See if you can […]
Racial and Social Justice

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“There Is the Racial Conversation Which We Need to Dive into, Right?”

José Vilson is a New York City middle school math teacher and author of This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and the Future of Education,(Haymarket Books, 2014). He’s also the founder of EduColor, a coalition of teachers, parents, and other concerned citizens dedicated to the uplift of people of color in education. […]
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