Some politicians are trying to reduce the standards it takes to be a teacher. In the end, it's our students who will lose out. We need to solve the teacher shortage crisis by addressing the real cause of it: low pay and lack of respect.

Lowering the standards to become a teacher is a gimmick that will only harm our students.

It makes me sad when a teacher assistant says “I’m just a para” when they introduce themselves to me…we CANNOT do our jobs without support staff. They are the backbones of our schools. No one is “just” anything on your staff. Make sure your support staff feel encouraged & loved.

What if every classroom in your school had a set of books that represented the diversity of the students within them? Enter the 2022 #ReadAcrossAmerica Sweepstakes today for a chance to bring the joy of diverse books to your school! 👇🏽 👇🏿 👇🏻 nea.org/read-across-am…

Have you entered the Read Across America Sweepstakes yet? Don't miss your chance to bring a year's worth of amazing books to every classroom in a public school of choice—and the more entries from your school, the more likely you are to win! Enter here: nea.org/read-across-am…

DON'T MISS THE OCT. 31 DEADLINE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS Register for a FREE 1-hour virtual session that could save you thousands! As an MNEA member, you receive SAVI FREE for the first year. Oct. 5: 5:30 or 7 PM Oct. 12: 5:30 or 7 PM mnea.org/pslf.

DON'T MISS THE OCT. 31 DEADLINE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS Register for a FREE 1-hour virtual session that could save you thousands! As an MNEA member, you receive SAVI FREE for the first year. Oct. 5: 5:30 or 7 PM Oct. 12: 5:30 or 7 PM mnea.org/pslf.

While many of us have benefitted from the Phase 2 salary adjustments, it appears there is more work to be done. Watch the public comments starting at 40:50.youtu.be/uvAuaXlIOO8

We work for districts that care for education and children, but there are times as employees that we need help from a union. MNEA stepped up immediately to put me on equal footing with the district so my voice was heard. Frank Vovk, Lee's Summit teacher mnea.org

LAST CHANCE, THE PSLF WAIVER IS ENDING ON OCT. 31! WEBINAR: Tues., Oct. 18 at 6 PM After October, the program will return to its regular program requirements. This means, if you had any past periods of ineligibility, those will no longer count for PSLF. bit.ly/3TfIg2Q.

As of today, Election Day is only three weeks away. I am a voter because educators and students deserve elected officials who are fighting for them—for more funding, more support, and more respect. Can I count on you to be a voter this year?

MNEA hosts National Board Certification candidate workdays to support first-time candidates, advanced candidates, and renewal candidates submitting one or more components during the 2022-2023 school year. VIRTUAL | FREE 9 AM—3 PM | Sat., Nov. 5 Register: bit.ly/3ERyaRK

MNEA PAC recommends candidates for the general election Tues., Nov. 8. Visit mnea.org/vote4education to learn more. #moleg #vote4education

MNEA PAC recommends candidates for the general election Tues., Nov. 8. Visit mnea.org/vote4education to learn more. #moleg #vote4education

---------------THANK YOU!!!---------------- Substitute Educators Day—Friday, Nov. 18 Because life happens, and you are there in our time of need. mnea.org/aew #AEW2022 #missouriteachers #teacherlife #iteachtoo

When teachers make more money working their side hustles than they do teaching, it means that society sees teaching as a hobby and not a career, or that because teaching is 78% female and we don’t value the work of women, or… both.

Make Tier 1 the priority. Make Tier 1 the priority. Make Tier 1 the priority. Tiers 2 & 3 are a direct reflection of how effective your Tier 1 is working. Design Tier 1 so that it is all is should be for learners & teachers. It's the only way things change.

If we value education, we must also value educators.

Check to see where LSR7 teacher salaries ranked compared to KC metro districts (p. 104)

Our elected officials should be focused on the real needs of our students—like chronic underfunding of schools, keeping students safe from gun violence, or solving educator shortages—not banning books and censoring history