ADVOCATING FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Day two of CEA’s Summer Conference opened with the laughter of more than 500 teachers listening to keynote speaker Devin Siebold, a former Florida teacher and member of the Bored Teachers Comedy Tour.

More than 500 educators came together for the first of two days of professional development and connection with colleagues ahead of the 2026-2027 school year.

More than 200 CEA members and public education supporters turned out at Glastonbury Hills Country Club for a day on the links at the annual Hands Across the Green golf tournament to benefit the Connecticut Education Foundation, CEA’s charitable arm.

Attorney General William Tong announced that a U.S. District Court judge has granted a temporary restraining order that blocks the U.S. Department of Education from unlawfully terminating congressionally approved school-based mental health grants.

Hundreds of educators came together to take part in the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council’s annual symposium, Empowered to Lead, a day of camaraderie, inspiration, and professional learning. The theme of this year’s event was Rooted in Purpose: Catalysts for Change.

AI tools offer teachers a number of ways to save time, but they come with risks that educators need to evaluate carefully. This summer, CEA is offering an AI Summer School with pop-in virtual sessions designed to help educators explore the opportunities, challenges, and realities of Al in education.

Join Reps. Jennifer Leeper and Aimee Berger-Girvalo and Senator James Maroney for a conversation on the impact of classroom technology on students’ learning with renowned neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, the author of The Digital Delusion.

Come to the Asian American Pacific Islander Education Symposium for important dialogue about what inclusive education looks like and what it takes to build it. Topics will include youth violence prevention, multilingual learner experiences and updates, and the use of student data.

This August through September, the CT State Department of Education is offering a free Paraeducator Preparation Academy that includes six weeks of in-person instruction with Spanish language assistance, test preparation materials, test-fee waivers, and mentorship following program completion—all at no cost.

As a member of a CEA commission or committee you can share your ideas, work with other members from around the state, and help shape the Association and your profession for years to come.

Tom Nicholas, a dear friend and colleague to many teachers and a former CEA leader, passed away on July 14. A Manchester school social worker, Nicholas held numerous union positions at the local, state, and national levels.

Nothing says summer like a day at the beach or a night at the ballpark—exactly the agenda for more than 100 fans who turned out for CEA’s Teacher Appreciation Day Party Deck at the Yard Goats home stadium last weekend.