414 delegates representing districts around the state gathered this weekend for the 2025 CEA Representative Assembly at Mohegan Sun’s Earth Expo. CEA’s largest governing body elected new officers, voted on a budget, new business items, and amendments to the constitution and bylaws, and honored exemplary educators.
Today delegates elected Bloomfield teacher Gail Jorden to a three-year term as CEA secretary over Shepaug Valley teacher Tara Flaherty by a vote of 199 to 132. Jorden will begin her term July 15, 2025.
Candidates in uncontested races for treasurer, ethnic minority director, ethnic minority director alternate, and NEA director alternate were declared elected last night.
In her remarks to delegates, Dias discussed the many challenges education and educators are currently facing but said she thinks teachers and teachers unions are uniquely situated to fight back.
Newly elected CEA Secretary Gail Jorden.
“This is our moment, where we lean in and remember our power,” she said. “We, as our union, are built for this. We have our collectively bargained contracts that define our working conditions, we have a guaranteed 30-minute lunch, we have protected our performance evaluations, we have changed the kindergarten start age, we have worked to protect our pensions, and we succeeded in repealing WEP/GPO. We know how to fight and win.”
She continued, “Make no mistake, our fight matters. Our students need safe, inclusive schools. Our colleagues need fair wages and supportive working conditions. And our communities need to see our value and contributions–we are the advocates, the dreamers, and the defenders of a better future. Here’s the truth and some really good news: we were never meant to carry it all alone. We have to do this work together. That’s what it means to be part of this union.”
Saying we can’t just endure this current moment, Dias called on CEA members to stand up and continue to shape the future together.
“Let’s continue to be bold,” she said. “Keep showing up and keep standing together. We don’t just go the extra mile. We build the road.”
New business items, budget, and amendments
New London High School students provided a musical interlude.
Delegates enjoyed a musical break mid-morning provided by saxophonists from New London High School’s band and their director Riley George before moving on to new business items.
After deliberation, the assembly passed new business items to do as follows.
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- Move to a 10-month schedule for local associations’ transmittal of dues to CEA to match the pay schedule most districts follow.
- Convene a working group of staff and local leaders to assemble a local budget toolkit to help associations better prepare for and engage in their town’s budget process.
- Establish a CEA special education committee with diverse representation to set state-wide special education priorities and best practices
- Join with other labor unions and faith organizations in endorsing and promoting the CT Civil Liberties Defense Committee demonstration on June 8 to defend organized labor, free speech, due-process, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ rights.
- Inform members that if, in the course of their responsibilities as educators, they find themselves targeted for investigation by the federal government’s “End DEI” portal, they may qualify for legal assistance from CEA.
CEA President Kate Dias addressed delegates.
- Advocate for increased school funding from the state of Connecticut through the Education Cost Sharing formula.
- Include as an item within the CEA 2026 legislative agenda to advocate for legislation ensuring all insurance coverage in Connecticut covers IVF for all individuals regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
- Include as a priority in the CEA 2026 legislative agenda to pass legislation removing students’ cell phones, smart watches, and associated smart devices from schools.
Delegates adopted a new budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year with a $3.00 annual dues increase. They also approved amendments to the constitution and bylaws that include moving to electronic voting for county directors, updating language concerning the ethnic minority director position that was added at last year’s RA, and ensuring all constitution and bylaws language is gender neutral.
Read more about the CEA Representative Assembly in your next issue of the CEA Advisor.
