“Early career educators are made to believe that asking for help in their profession is a sign of weakness. ‘We need to change the stigma!’ [Dakota] said.” Congrats to Bob Haisman Teacher of the Year award recipient, Dakota Tostado (Collinsville EA)! 🎉
collinsvilledailynews.com/news/chs-teach…

🚨 Last chance to join our week of action with We Are One Illinois! Call and email your legislators today and tell them to #UndoTier2 ! Call 507-497-1665. Link to send an email: act.aflcio.org/letters/restor…

Congress is discussing GPO and WEP again today—what are they? And how do they rob public sector workers of their earned benefits?

Learn more from our explainer here ⬇️ nea.org/resource-libra…

Join us for the 2024 Human & Civil Rights Committee Activist Weekend! We are thrilled to welcome special guest Dr. Bettina Love as our keynote speaker. RSVP by April 21. bit.ly/ActivistWeeken… 🌟 🌟 🌟

LET’S MAKE SOME NOISE!!! Tell your lawmakers to support equitable retirement for all educators and public workers. It’s time to #UndoTier2

Email your lawmaker: bit.ly/WeAreOneIL_Und…
Call your lawmaker: 507-497-1665

Highlights from the 2024 Aspiring Ed & Early Career Spring Conference! Thank you to all of our members who attended and brought so much energy, enthusiasm and union power. Together, we’re shaping the future of public education.

April is Autism Acceptance Month! We’re celebrating autistic educators and students who make our public schools STRONG. Check out NEA’s resources for ways educators can best support autistic students: bit.ly/49gmFi9

LGBTQ+ students and educators deserve safety in our public schools and communities. Our union will not be silent until every public school is a place where all students can learn, live and thrive as their authentic selves. Learn more: glsen.org/dayofnosilence

Next week, April 15-18, we’re joining forces with unions across Illinois in the We Are One Illinois Tier 2 week of action. Get ready to call your lawmakers and make some noise. It’s time to Undo Tier 2! undotier2.org

“I wanted to make a difference for our future and increasingly diverse generations. I wanted to show them that education can be a world of mirrors, one that reflects their various identities.” - Juan Ramirez (IEA Educator Voice Academy Fellow).
opportunitypartners.net/blogs/news/jua…

We need your voice as we advocate to improve working conditions for Education Support Professionals (ESPs). Join us for our next rESPect meeting, tomorrow (April 11) from 5:30-7 p.m. RSVP: bit.ly/April_RESPECT2… 🌳

Anyone else see the eclipse in Illinois today? We still can't believe what we saw... UndoTier2.org ✊

SOLIDARITY with Rock Island EA as they head into their negotiations meeting this evening. RIEA deserves a fair contract!

“As members of the United Staff of Columbia College, we are profoundly troubled by the college’s intention to dismiss nearly 25% of our unionized staff.'

USofCC members are essential to preparing students for their futures. Solidarity with USofCC!
columbiachronicle.com/op-ed-beyond-l…

Happy #SchoolLibrarian Day!!! Credit: IEA member @/Adventuresofalibrarian on tik tok

If you are a local president, vice president, secretary, treasurer or membership chair, please check your email for an invitation to register! Local leaders will also receive this information via text this week.

Elgin Teachers Association hosted a bowling night fundraiser to raise money for their “Those Who Excel” scholarships 🎳 ! They honor elementary and middle school students, as well as HS seniors who plan to pursue a career in education ($1,000 scholarship). Way to go, ETA!

How can we better support students with visible and invisible disabilities? Check out NEA’s latest School Me podcast episode featuring Katie Punsly, educator with Kentucky Education Association, who shares practices to foster inclusivity & combat ableism. bit.ly/3IPRY8O

🌈 On #TransDayofVisibility —and every day—NEA proudly celebrates all of our trans students and educators. Deserving of safety, support, and love in every classroom and beyond, let's continue to advocate for a world where everyone feels accepted. bit.ly/4avQzju

IEA honored Angelica Degante and Jenn Jaros (Oak Park TA) with the Reg Weaver Human & Civil Rights award for their organizing work to support asylum seekers from Venezuela. This segment on WBEZ highlights the profound impact they have made in their public schools and community.