In this episode, MNEA's Political Director, Liz Zerr, and MNEA Communications Director, Mark Jones go into the theory and scope of MNEA’s involvement in elections. With 2024 being such an integral election year, MNEA has scheduled a 5-part Election series for the remainder of the 2024 year:  MNEA Election Work: Theory and Scope Preview the Primaries  General Election  Post-Election: Now What? School Board Elections MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or conta ..read more

MNEA's Legislative Director, Otto Fajen, summarizes the 2024 Missouri Legislative Session and explains the major parts of SB 727.    MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org ..read more

➡️Changing Landscape of the Board ➡️Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Report ➡️Reactions to SB 727 ➡️Well-Prepared Teachers  ➡️New Strategic Plan. More Detailed Roadmap.  ➡️Rules. Rules. Rules. Rules.   Scroll through the posting to get more info on each of these! The full report can be found at mnea.org/stateboard.   If you have any questions or concerns about the State Board or the report, please don’t hesitate to contact Rebeka McIntosh, MNEA Vice President, or Samantha Hayes, Teaching and Learning Director, at MNEA: Rebeka.McIntosh@mnea.org or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org.    ..read more

Alicia Kleoppel (NKC-NEA), Lindsey Weatherby (SDNEA), Erin Mareth (Nevada NEA), and Mandy Frayer (Park Hill NEA) debrief their experience at NEA National Leadership Summit in March 2024 and discuss why involvement in Leadership Summit (and really all NEA/MNEA convenings for educators) is such a benefit to students, members, and locals.     MNEA Members: Interested in being a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvy   If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org ..read more

  MNEA's Otto Fajen reflects on the first 12 weeks of the session and forecasts the last 7 weeks in a conversation with Samantha Hayes about the Missouri Legislative Session (in regards to Education) so far.    MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org ..read more

Welcome to MNEA’s “Top Takeaways from the March 2024 Missouri State Board of Education”   ➡️Reports on Literacy Program Initiatives and LETRS Training in Missouri ➡️Accreditation of Missouri Educator Preparation Programs ➡️Beginning Teacher Assistance Program Rule Changes Approved for Public Comment  ➡️Update on the DESE and State Board Strategic Plan Scroll through the posting to get more info on each of these! The full report can be found at mnea.org/stateboard. If you have any questions or concerns about the State Board or the report, please don’t hesitate to contact Rebeka McI ..read more

MNEA's Otto Fajen and Samantha Hayes recap another month of the legislative session in regard to movement on education legislation, which covers the reason behind Senate’s month delay, to Initiative Petition, to education bills that have focus at this time.   MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org ..read more

NEA Senior Director, Andy Slaughter and interim NEA Director, MNEA Vice President Rebeka McIntosh, recap the latest NEA Superweek that occurred the first full week of February. They recap their work lobbying on the Hill, topics of discussion for NEA business, and how MNEA is growing strength as an association from this National presence.    MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samant ..read more

Welcome to MNEA’s “Top Takeaways from the February 2024 Missouri State Board of Education”   ➡️MNEA Members honored as 2023 Milken Educators ➡️4-Day School Week Report ➡️MSIP 6 APR Updates and Resources ➡️Praxis Returns to Missouri July 1, 2024, Cut Scores Set ➡️Missouri State University Leads in Teacher Apprenticeships ➡️A brief note on Charter Schools   Scroll through the posting to get more info on each of these! The full report can be found at mnea.org/stateboard. If you have any questions or concerns about the State Board or the report, please don’t hesitate to contact Rebeka M ..read more

MNEA's Otto Fajen and Samantha Hayes delve into early 2024 Missouri Legislative Session, focusing on key education legislation. The following legislation is referred to in the podcast: SB 727 (Koenig): Modifies provisions of the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program SB 728 (Koenig): This act establishes the Parents' Bill of Rights Act of 2024 and creates provisions relating to discussion of certain topics by school personnel SB 729 (Koenig): Authorizes a tax credit for certain educational expenses SB 814: Creates the Education Freedom Act and modifies provisions relating to the as ..read more