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Save on a new vehicle this Teacher Appreciation Month. View in browser

In recognition of all your hard work, GM offers the best educator discount from any car company. The GM Educator Discount* can save you hundreds, even thousands, on eligible, new Chevrolet, Buick and GMC vehicles. Plus, you can make a great deal even better when you combine it with current offers! Check out gmeducatordiscount.com to learn more! START SAVING

*Must be employed by a public school, private school, college or university. Please note that employees of state or municipal governments may be subject to restrictions that limit their ability to accept this offer. Accordingly, this offer is void unless permitted by state and municipal laws, regulations, rules, ordinances, policies, codes of conduct, and other directives or standards regarding ethics and gift acceptance by state and municipal employees. By accepting this offer, you verify that it complies with all restrictions regarding ethics and gift acceptance that apply to you. Please do not reply to this message. This email was sent by an automated system, which cannot respond to replies. Have questions or want to learn more? Read our Frequently Asked Questions or visit the GM Educator Discount Program website at gmeducatordiscount.com.        News Release Contact:    Martin Ackley, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs, 517-241-4395                   Bill DiSessa, Spokesperson, 517-335-6649 10 Teachers Selected As Regional Teachers of the Year April 11, 2018 LANSING – Ten Michigan educators have been named as 2018-19 Regional Teachers of the Year and will comprise the 2018-19 Michigan Teacher Leadership Advisory Council, a group of teachers dedicated to sharing a teacher’s voice in education discussions throughout the state. These teachers were selected following a multi-level process that began with more than 430 different teachers being nominated by students, staff, and community members. On April 18-19, they will interview with a panel of statewide education stakeholders to determine the 2018-19 statewide Michigan Teacher of the Year (MTOY). “We have outstanding teachers across this great state and we want to recognize their regional impact and benefit from their experiences,” said State Superintendent Brian Whiston. “This brings a broad perspective to improving teaching and learning in all Michigan classrooms.” As Regional Teachers of the Year, these 10 educators have been helping make Michigan a Top 10 education state in 10 years by providing strong leadership in their buildings and districts, and now will have opportunities to expand their leadership role by having opportunities to bring a teacher’s voice to a wider audience in their regions. The 10 teachers are: Region 1: Gina Pepin, a reading specialist and literacy coach for the Escanaba Area Public Schools Region 2: Kymberli Wregglesworth, who teaches history at Onaway High School in Onaway Area Community Schools Region 3: Wendy Tenney, a music teacher at Lowell High School in Lowell Area Schools Region 4: James Goodspeed, who teaches English and history at Fulton High School in Fulton Public Schools Region 5: Karen Nicol, an elementary teacher at Marlette Elementary Schools in Marlette Community Schools Region 6: Robyne Muray, who teaches English, language arts, and history at Lansing Eastern High School in the Lansing School District Region 7: Laura Chang, an elementary teacher at Sunset Lake Elementary in the Vicksburg Community Schools Region 8: Bobbiesue Adams, who teaches mathematics and physical science at Fowlerville Junior High School in Fowlerville Community Schools Region 9: Thomas Torrento, director of bands for Van Dyke Public Schools Region 10: Courtney Valentine, who teaches mathematics at the Detroit International Academy of Young Women in Detroit Public Schools Community District The statewide MTOY attends State Board of Education meetings as a non-voting member, sharing a teacher’s voice with State Board members. The MTOY also is eligible to apply for National Teacher of the Year and participates in several national conferences with their fellow state teachers of the year. Program expenses are covered through a generous sponsorship from Meemic. “As the program sponsor, Meemic Insurance Company is proud to partner with the Michigan Department of Education to honor educators throughout the state for their outstanding achievements,” said Pam Harlin, director of the Meemic Foundation. “We are especially excited about the new regional Teacher of the Year format. Recognizing teacher-leaders at the regional level elevates the diverse voices of educators across the 10 regions of our state, allowing a better showcase of the quality and excellence of Michigan teachers.” # # # Photos of individual Regional Teachers of the Year available upon request. Regional+MTOYs+press+release.pdf  Questions?  Contact Us STAY CONNECTED:           SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Hi Myghea, More than 187,000 students have experienced a shooting on campus during school hours in the 19 years since Columbine. That’s equivalent to the population of Salt Lake City. Their experiences are heartbreaking:   No child should have to go through what these students have experienced. As a teacher, I want to protect my students from anything that will prevent them from fulfilling their destiny—and that means advocating for an end to gun violence inside and outside of schools. Next Friday marks the 19th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine. We want to deliver 100,000 letters to Congress demanding action. We’re more than halfway there. Will you add your name? As Madison Leal, a survivor of the Parkland shooting asks, “How many innocent lives have to be taken?” No child should have to pose that question. Congress needs to act on gun violence now. Let’s make sure they do.   In solidarity, Lily Eskelsen García President National Education Association P.S. April 20 is also the National Day of Action Against Gun Violence in Schools. Communities across the country will host rallies, walk-ins, assemblies, moments of silence, and other actions to continue the momentum from the March for Our Lives. Find out how you can get involved at ProtectOurSchools.com.

Hello,

Attached to this email and copied below is your Briefly e-news. Feel free to share this information with MESSA members.

This issue includes two ready-to-use articles for your association newsletter:

·         How to use MESSA’s autism coverage

·         MESSA program helps expectant mothers

Thomas Morgan

MESSA Communications Consultant

Briefly

April 16, 2018

How to use MESSA’s autism coverage

MESSA covers various services for children through the age of 18 with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, including Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder. There is no annual limit to benefits. 

Children are first required to be evaluated by an approved autism evaluation center. A list of these centers is available at messa.org. Just click “Members,” “Find a Doctor” then “Approved Autism Evaluation Centers.” You can also call MESSA’s Member Service Center at 800.336.0013.

Autism evaluation centers often have very long waiting lists, so if you have concerns about your child, it’s best to start calling centers as soon as you can.

“I just want to say how thankful I am for MESSA and the coverage it provides for our family,” says Stephany Yack-Saavedra, an elementary school teacher in Muskegon Public Schools and mother of three, including two children with autism. “Both of my kiddos receive ABA therapy and outpatient speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Early intervention has been key for them and our family.”

MESSA program helps expectant mothers

MESSA strives to provide great service to all members — and the Healthy Expectations program is designed to help expectant mothers prepare to give their newborns the best start in life.

Healthy Expectations provides personal support through every stage of pregnancy, including:

·         Help identifying pregnancy risk factors.

·         Access to a MESSA nurse.

·         Books about pregnancy, childbirth and child health.

·         A carryall bag with baby gear.

For more information or to enroll in Healthy Expectations, call MESSA’s award-winning Member Service Center at 800.336.0013.

This electronic message and all information contained in this communication from MESSA is highly confidential and is intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom this communication is directed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any viewing, copying, disclosure or distribution of this information is prohibited. Please notify the sender, by electronic mail or telephone, of any unintended receipt and delete the original message without making any copies.

Dear MEA Board, MEA Local Presidents and Local Leaders & MEA Staff:

Please see the news release below that went out today.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Contact: Doug Pratt, MEA Director of Public Affairs, 517-337-5508

Lack of confidence in Betsy DeVos unanimous among MEA delegates

Policymakers – like DeVos supporter Bill Schuette – must
Value Students, Respect Educators, and Fund Our Schools

                                                                                              

EAST LANSING – Delegates to the MEA Representative Assembly voted unanimously last weekend on a Vote of No Confidence in U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

“Betsy DeVos is antithetical to everything we as educators stand for,” said Michael Adamisin, the Oak Park teacher who submitted the new business item for consideration. He previously worked at a for-profit Detroit-area charter school with greater than 50 percent annual staff turnover.

During the vote, delegates stood cheering and waving sheets of yellow paper containing the rationale for a no-confidence vote.  Many expressed frustration and embarrassment in DeVos as a Secretary of Education from their home state who, in addition to being extremely unqualified, is a long-time advocate of for-profit charter schools, vouchers and policies that undermine local neighborhood schools.

“Despite occupying her position for a year, recent public statements made by Mrs. DeVos have reaffirmed her gross incompetence…as well as her continued ignorance over the performance of public schools (typically strong yet underfunded) and charter or private schools (erratic with reduced accountability),” the statement said.

DeVos’ disastrous performance last month on CBS News’ 60 Minutes drew widespread criticism – with the notable exception of Michigan Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Bill Schuette, who tweeted his support for DeVos as a “Great Secy (sic) of Education.”  According to the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, Schuette has accepted $122,800 in political contributions from the DeVos family since 2010.

“Students and educators alike deserve better than politicians like Betsy DeVos and Bill Schuette,” said MEA President Paula Herbart. “We need to value students and respect educators by focusing on proven solutions that deliver success – and we need to fund our schools to an adequate and equitable level.  Our students deserve no less – and we need to demand no less out of the leaders we elect this coming November.”

“The mission of the MEA is to ensure that the education of our students and the working environments of our members are of the highest quality.”

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Embracing the “Whole Child” In this edition of Chief Deputy Superintendent Sheila Alles’ Top 10 in 10 in 2 podcast, she shares the importance of meeting the needs of the “Whole Child.” By focusing on the “Whole Child,” we will shape the kind of learners and learning that will help make Michigan a Top 10 education state in 10 years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXcLSNc9ehs  Questions?  Contact Us STAY CONNECTED: