Teachers’ advocacy and activism resulted in many important legislative wins this year—but as important as those wins are, how they’re ultimately implemented is what impacts students and teachers.
Help is readily available at no cost through CEA’s partnership with Positive Directions, a nonprofit organization offering free group counseling for public school educators in a virtual setting. Sign up for Tuesday evening group counseling.
The Connecticut Education Foundation Holiday Bear gift-giving project brings CEA members, communities, and local businesses together to brighten the holidays for children and teens in need across the state. There are still hundreds of children awaiting sponsors this year, so don’t wait to step up and sponsor a child yourself—or with friends or colleagues.
Local elections are just two weeks away, and those elected to local boards of education, boards of finance, and town councils can have a big impact on teaching and learning. In districts including Danbury, East Hampton, and Naugutuck, local education associations have taken it on themselves to help educate their colleagues about the individuals running for office.
Fourth grade teacher Kiana Foster-Mauro says she was hit with an overwhelming wave of emotion on learning she’d been selected as 2024 Connecticut Teacher of the Year. “It’s very humbling, it’s a huge honor, and I feel an enormous sense of gratitude.”
Today kicks off CEA’s Bring Your Legislator to School Week with visits by state senators and representatives to classrooms across the state. “We all went to school. It does not make us experts in education,” says Education Committee Co-Chair Rep. Jeff Currey.
“The moment I heard my name and found out that I was chosen for this really distinguished award I was shocked and surprised. I was so excited, humbled, and honored,” said music teacher Ashley Dunne.
CEA-Retired’s annual fall conference provided members with the opportunity to connect with one another and hear from CEA and CEA-Retired leaders about legislation the organizations will be pushing in Congress and the State Legislature this year.
Nearly two months into the school year, many Connecticut classrooms are without certified teachers, and a CEA survey released this afternoon gets to the root of the problem: a continued failure to address systemic issues in the state’s public schools.
Increased salaries, staffing, respect, limits on non-teaching duties needed to address continuing crisis in our schools.