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Event: Summer Seminar to be virtual, but includes local opportunities

Education Minnesota’s Summer Seminar, one of our premier professional development opportunities, will take place virtually this August, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual, synchronous sessions will take place the mornings of Aug. 3 and 4. The conference will be free for all members. Sessions strands for the conference include: Know Your Rights! Bargaining and Negotiations…

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Opportunities: State Fair booth volunteer shifts open

The Minnesota State Fair is scheduled to go on as usual in August, although that may change as the global pandemic of COVID-19 unfolds. Education Minnesota plans to continue hosting its traditional booth until either the State Fair or state health authorities advise otherwise. Every year, Education Minnesota member volunteers and staff produce personalized photo…

Filing open for Education Minnesota officer, NEA director positions June 1

Candidate filings for Education Minnesota officer and National Education Association director positions are open from June 1 until Dec. 10. The current three-year terms for president, vice president and secretary-treasurer will expire June 30, 2022. Candidates for these offices will file by submitting a filing form below to the Education Minnesota Office of the Elections…

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Member highlights: SPFE honored for solidarity after strike

“Who are we? SPFE” was heard across the entire city of Saint Paul during a three-day span in March 2020. The members of the Saint Paul Federation of Educators, which include licensed and non-licensed staff, went on strike March 10-12, 2020 after nine months of contract negotiations. Education Minnesota is honoring their work and dedication…

Zimmerman puts student needs at the core of all her work

On a typical day, you will find Richfield High School’s social worker Marisa Zimmerman working with a student on what homework they need to turn in or what they need to be a successful distance learner or seeking out donations for her school’s food shelf or leading a LGBTQ+ student group. “Every day, students need…

Legal briefs: Judge enforces prep time for those in multiple learning models

Jennifer Spitzner is a seventh grade science teacher in Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Public Schools. During this school year, Spitzner and her colleagues experienced the rapid changes of shifting between pandemic learning models. The additional work from distance learning instruction added even more time to Spitzner’s day. She and her colleagues had to create and tailor lesson plans…

Union solidarity: Educators support locked out Teamsters union workers

Teamsters union members at the Marathon Petroleum Corp. in St. Paul Park have been locked out of their jobs since a 24-hour strike in January. “We’re fighting for operator and maintenance jobs,” said Luke Fenton, a rotations equipment mechanic.  “We have a guaranteed number and they are trying to take that away. We want to…

Issues and Impact: Legislature not quite done as regular session ends

The Legislature had one job it needed to do this session — pass a state budget. Unfortunately, they didn’t finish their assignment on time when session ended May 17 and will have to come back this summer to finish their work. Gov. Tim Walz and House and Senate leaders did reach an overarching budget deal…

Educating during COVID: Virtual convention focuses on equity work of union

Education Minnesota held its second virtual Representative Convention April 24, which included passage of changes to the constitution and bylaws and action items which will drive the union’s work in the next year. More than 350 delegates from across the state attended the union’s annual business meeting. “The state of our union is strong,” Education…