The Connecticut Education Association unveiled a fresh, new look this week, invigorating the visual identity of an organization that has been a champion of students, teachers, and public schools for 175 years. The new logo and branding were officially unveiled at CEA’s Summer Conference at Foxwoods Resort Casino on August 1.
CEA’s new logo features the outline of an apple, a longstanding icon associated with education. It is accented by a heart—a callout to the meaningful connections between Connecticut’s dedicated, caring teachers and the students they proudly serve. While the red apple pays tribute to CEA’s nearly two centuries of advocacy and empowerment, the green used in the leaf atop the apple represents the organization’s growth and new beginnings.
“As we reach 175 years of representing the great teachers of Connecticut and advocating for our state’s students and public schools, we are proud to launch a refreshed brand that is bold and modern but also embraces iconic imagery associated with education, learning, care, and support,” said CEA President Kate Dias. “While the refreshed logo and brand represent a new visual identity for CEA, we also felt that 175 years is the perfect moment to update our mission statement to more accurately reflect our organization’s emphasis on empowerment and achieving better outcomes for every student in Connecticut.”
Along with a new brand launch, the CEA Summer Conference was also an opportunity for the state’s largest association of public school teachers—representing the interests of educators and advocating for improvements in public education—to unveil a refreshed positioning statement that better expresses CEA’s mission:
We empower teachers so that they can excel at educating students. CEA champions competitive salaries and benefits, well-resourced classrooms, and safe, healthy schools to attract and retain the best teachers. We support our members with expert representation and legal counsel.
As Connecticut’s strongest union of certified educators, CEA makes the biggest difference in the lives of our teachers, the success of our students, and the quality of our public education.
“We have created a relevant, meaningful change that more clearly communicates our mission of unity, progress, and excellence and that celebrates the advocacy and professionalism of CEA and its members,” said CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey. “Teaching is a calling and a work of heart, which is clearly identified in the logo’s imagery and is meaningful to our members and the public.”
CEA will continue celebrating the association’s 175th anniversary with a fundraising gala on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. CEA Celebrates: 175 Years of Excellence and Advocacy Fundraising Gala will support the Connecticut Education Foundation, CEA’s nonprofit arm that provides help and financial support to students in need and scholarships to students entering the teaching profession.
