CEA advocates for teachers and public education. We've been a driving force in lobbying legislators
for the resources public schools need and campaigning for high standards for teachers and students.
Our proud history spans more than 150 years.
CEF is a non-profit, charitable foundation that was established in 1991 to help teachers and
children with extraordinary personal hardships and students planning teaching careers.
CEA is a democratic organization. Our members play an important role in determining the
direction and focus of the Association through several elected governing bodies.
The National Education Association Representative Assembly (RA) is NEA's highest
decision-making body. With over 9,000 delegates, it is also the world's largest democratic,
deliberative body.
The U.S EPA has developed an innovative program - Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools
- to help schools identify and address indoor air quality problems.
The driving principle behind CEA-Retired is to provide retired members an
organization that works in conjunction with CEA to improve retirement, pension, and
health benefits.
We're anywhere your issues require us to be. At the state legislature, before regulatory
agencies, in the media, in your schools, and with state and local politicians.
Whether it's your first time in the classroom or your sixth year, we are here with
all the resources early-career professionals need. We've got classroom management
and professional development ideas. We've got more ways to stretch your hard-earned
dollars. And we've got your back.
CEA Professional Learning Academy offers a wealth of professional development
opportunities for teachers, aligned with Connecticut's professional learning
standards.
The Teacher Education and Mentoring Program (TEAM) is a two year induction program for
beginning teachers that includes mentorship and professional development. Beginning
teachers participating in the program are assigned a trained mentor to guide them
through developing individualized growth plans, uniquely based on their own needs as
educators.
CEA Members Join Labor Community at Hartford Women's March
Members of the labor choir, Solidarity Singers, performed a song written by Bridgeport teacher Sheena Graham (center) at the Women's March in Hartford on Saturday.
January 22, 2019
"We're your sisters, your brothers, your sons, and your daughters. Treat us like family," sang labor union members who came together for a choir performance at the Women's March in Hartford last Saturday.
The song they sang, which focuses on the need to raise the minimum wage and treat workers fairly, was written by Bridgeport music teacher Sheena Graham, Connecticut's 2019 Teacher of the Year.
"The children we teach, if they have parents who can take paid family leave, are going to be more supported," said Graham, who sees the need for teachers to get involved with their union and with their communities. "We're all tied together, we're all one community,"
Also singing in the choir was former Windsor teacher Lisa Bress, who said she was excited at the opportunity to join together with members of other labor unions. "It's an excellent way to share our gifts and talents," said the CEA-Retired member.
Bridgeport teacher Aimee Guerrero and Stamford teacher Cathy McElroy marched in Hartford with a group from Fairfield County while their daughters marched together in New York City.
(click image for larger
version)
Windsor teacher Lisa Thomas was one of the thousands in the crowd, cheering the choir on.
"I'm here for the kids that I teach," said Thomas. "I want them to live in a world where they are accepted for who they are and what they are, and for them to have the freedom to feel they can stand up and speak up."
CEA President Jeff Leake, who was at the march with a group of CEA members and staff, said that teacher activism is important because, "Every decision that is made about our classrooms is a political one."
"You're involved whether you want to be or not," said U.S. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, a prime example of a teacher who stepped out of her comfort zone to become politically involved. "The only difference is, either you're speaking for yourself, or someone's speaking for you."
“From Stamford to Manchester and towns in between, teachers have been reporting illnesses related to environmental problems within their schools,” says CEA President Jeff Leake. “There’s black mold, rodent droppings, extreme heat and cold temperatures, dust, asbestos, and other issues that are putting our students and teachers at risk every day.”
Educators from every corner of the state came together at CEA’s first-ever teacher tailgate party this weekend at UConn football’s homecoming game. More than 100 teachers, friends, and family members enjoyed breakfast, music, a fan photo booth, and games of KanJam, cornhole, and ladder golf.
The #RedForEd movement is only getting stronger—from Chicago, to Fairplay, CO to Little Rock, to Mendota, IL. Educators and their allies are coming together in communities across the country to create better schools for our children.
The National Education Association (NEA) and Connecticut Education Association (CEA) today applauded Rep. Jahana Hayes, longtime NEA and CEA member as well 2016 National Teacher of the Year, on her introduction of the Pell Grant Restoration Act, H.R. 4298.
There are those, including current U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who argue that spending more on public education doesn't lead to better outcomes. School finance expert and Rutgers Professor Bruce Baker begs to differ, and he has research to back his position up.
Two educators from New London and Danbury were recognized before more than 400 of their Connecticut colleagues for receiving two prestigious awards honoring educator excellence.
Teachers are a selfless group who choose their profession because of a love for children and teaching, not for any expectation of accolades or honors. And that makes those times teachers are recognized and have a chance to be in the spotlight all the more special.
Teachers have a lot to say on issues from their pensions to classroom safety this legislative session, which is why local associations around Connecticut are meeting with their legislators and making their voices heard.
Speaking to hundreds of students at Harding High School in Bridgeport today, Governor Ned Lamont encouraged his audience to pursue a career in teaching and be role models for the next generation of students.
We are grateful to Congresswoman Jahana Hayes for standing up for students and her colleagues here in Connecticut and across the country and saying no to guns in our schools.
U.S. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes returned to the school in Waterbury where she taught for fifteen years to highlight legislation she has introduced to keep guns out of classrooms.
Wearing #RedForEd T-shirts, several hundred Waterbury teachers showed their strength as a union, their dedication to their profession, and their value to the community they serve when they packed a March 7 Waterbury Board of Education meeting.
Community schools, minority teacher recruitment and retention, the opportunity gap, and school literacy were just some of the issues members of the legislature's Education Committee heard public input.
"Our students would only benefit from having more opportunities to learn about the culture, struggles, and contributions of African-Americans and Latinos throughout history," Waterbury teacher Sean Mosley told the legislature's Education Committee
"Teachers become teachers because we want to help kids," says Danbury building rep Lori Woodruff. "It's the same with our union—we are here to help each other. As teachers, when we're involved with the union we can do more to help one another."
Connecticut Education Foundation's (CEF) second annual Read Across America Reading Bus Tour kicked off on February 25, featuring a customized blue bus decorated with well-known Dr. Seuss characters and outfitted with bookshelves, benches, carpeting, and hundreds of new books.
At a public hearing of the legislature's Education Committee today, classroom teachers—along with CEA leaders and staff—gave powerful testimony urging lawmakers to address the crisis of violent student behavior in rural, urban, and suburban schools throughout the state.
Teachers, CEA leaders, and staff testified before the Connecticut General Assembly's Black and Puerto Rican Caucus on issues critical to teachers this legislative session. These issues included school climate, classroom safety, the persistent shortage of ethnic minority educators, and funding for public schools.
CEA supports sensible ways of assisting the state in its efforts to make up for decades of underfunding teachers' retirement, including the governor and treasurer's plan to smooth out the state's payments to the fund over a longer period of time and lower the investment earning assumption to a more realistic rate.
The second annual Read Across America Reading Bus Tour will be heading off across Eastern Connecticut on February 25 for a week full of visits to elementary schools.
"We reject the idea of cutting our way to prosperity. That has never worked," said Connecticut AFL-CIO President Sal Luciano. His remarks came at a press conference yesterday where members of the labor community, including CEA, called on the state to adopt a pro-growth, investment budget.
Project Oceanology and New England Science and Sailing are partnering to offer "Sound Education: Working with NGSS and STEM in Long Island Sound". This is a FREE two-day PD event from April 5 - April 6 for teachers in grades 4-12, with overnight accommodations provided in Project Oceanology's waterfront hostel.
Legislation passed late in 2015 made many "tax extenders" semi-permanent, but there are still a few esoteric items that keep everyone on tenterhooks when, as once again this year, Congress fails to pass the tax bill by the end of the year.
Marks the inauguration of a new governor and the beginning of the 2019 session of the Connecticut General Assembly. It's likely to be a busy session with many issues for legislators to tackle over these next five months.