The REA has two pending grievances against the district. The first regarding classroom conditions and overcrowding for dual language learners. The second focuses on compensation issues for educators with larger class sizes. The REA is now filing a ULP in regard to the first grievance. And, Tuesday night, the REA executive committee voted to send the second grievance to arbitration.

“What’s happening here is just wrong. Our students deserve better than this. There’s a law in a place for a reason. It’s to make sure all our students, no matter the color of their skin or what language they speak, have equitable learning conditions and the same access to the high-quality education their peers are receiving,” REA President Claudia Marshall said.

State law requires districts to maintain bilingual class sizes that are no more than 90% of the average size of the monolingual class sizes for each building grade level.

“It’s really crazy that we have to go to these lengths to get the school district to support all our students, as they’re required to do by law. On top of that, they’re violating our new contract they just agreed to a month ago. The ink isn’t even dry on this thing, and they’re already blatantly ignoring it,” Marshall said. “They’re telling the community they don’t care about our Hispanic students; they don’t care about our parents and community members; and they certainly don’t care about our teachers.”

REA’s contract language states bilingual classroom teachers should be paid based on the number of students assigned to their classrooms. However, the district is attempting to pay educators based on student attendance.

“Our teachers are preparing their lessons for the number of students in their class, not the number of students that show up that day. Regardless of how many students are sick, our educators are still doing the work to make sure all students are accounted for. Their pay shouldn’t be docked because a student is sick. In fact, it’s actually more work when a student is absent because the teacher then has to make sure that student gets caught up,” Marshall said.

REA represents nearly 2,000 teachers, social workers, counselors, speech pathologists, nurses, psychologists and other licensed staff working and supporting nearly 28,000 students in RPS.

The ULP will be filed with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB) this week. More details will be forthcoming.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

“The Unemployment Equity Act is about fairness and justice for all workers by ending the practice of treating one class of workers as less deserving,” said Pat Devaney, Secretary-Treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO. “These non-instructional workers are on the front lines every day—getting our kids to school, making sure they have a hot meal at lunch, and keeping classrooms clean and safe. Yet each summer, they are forced to scrape together pennies to get by because they don’t have the unemployment insurance safety net like other workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.”

Hundreds of members and leaders of the Illinois AFL-CIO, AFSCME Council 31, Illinois Education Association, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Chicago Teachers Union 1 and SEIU Local 73, rallied in support of the legislation earlier today.

“Our thanks to Representative Evans and Senator Villivilam for their leadership on this important legislation,” said Dian Palmer, President of SEIU Local 73. “As the union representing more than 15,000 school support staff workers in Chicago and throughout Illinois, this bill is critical to the wellbeing of our members and their families.”

Every summer, thousands of support staff in Illinois public schools and universities are left without a paycheck and access to unemployment insurance. Providing unemployment during the summer months to these employees creates parity with workers doing the exact same work in the private sector.

“Support staff are the backbones of our schools, often overlooked, but always providing stability. They are the first to arrive and the last to leave. It is time to treat them fairly and equitably by allowing them access to unemployment benefits in the summer months,” said Karl Goeke, President of the Illinois Education Association. “Year-round pay allows support staff to return to their same schools and students every year. Having a stable workforce in schools helps students perform better, preserves institutional knowledge, builds stronger relationships and better schools.”

Support staff eligible include school bus drivers, special education classroom assistants, paraprofessionals, lunchroom workers, security guards, janitors, crossing guards and all others in a supportive role in our public schools and universities.

“Our work is essential, and we deserve basic support. Yet while we are scraping together pennies to survive, billionaires in this state are using their untaxed wealth to buy influence and shape our elections,” remarked Megan Accardo, a paraprofessional and member of Grayslake Federation of Paraprofessionals and School Personnel, IFT Local 504. “That is not just unfair, that is a system out of balance. We are the backbone of our schools, but we are treated like we are disposable. Summer is not a break for us, it’s a financial crisis. The system has decided that the people who hold our schools together don’t deserve stability.”

These predominantly Black, Latine, and women workers are among the lowest paid in Illinois’ public education system and, unlike almost any other worker in the state, are not covered under the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act.

“Educational support staff make our schools and universities work, but for too long, they’ve been expected to get by without income for the entire summer,” said AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch. “By allowing support staff access to the same unemployment benefits that other seasonal workers receive, we can build stronger schools and universities, stabilize the education workforce, and show support staff that their dedication and hard work is valued.”

The legislation will now head to the House for a full vote.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

Weaver, who also spent 30 years as a teacher in the Harvey school system, was the first Black person to be elected president of the IEA. After his tenure at IEA, he went on to become the president of the National Education Association, from 2002 to 2008, and later went on to serve in the leadership of Education International, an organization representing 29 million teachers and education workers in 169 countries.

He was committed to the idea that every child deserves to go to a great public school. Weaver told the Chicago Tribune in 2002: “My vision is that we work for schools where children are able to go free of harassment, intimidation and have an atmosphere conducive to good teaching and learning.”

“Reg was a pioneer in many ways. He led the way for people of color to see themselves in leadership at the state and national level. He was a mentor to so many state and national leaders. He created pathways to leadership and made room for folx when they arrived. He was kind, generous, and humorous. He always had a story to tell with a light in his eyes. He made people feel welcome, supported and valued,” said Karl Goeke, current president of the IEA.

He was born in Danville and graduated from Danville High School. He earned a degree in special education from Illinois State University in 1961 and a master’s degree from Roosevelt University in 1971. He has received honorary degrees from numerous universities across the country.

In 1973, Weaver first ran for president of IEA and lost. After that, he built a minority caucus in an effort to increase the number of people of color who attended the union’s Representative Assembly and whose decisions guided the path for the organization. He was able to organize that group and build coalitions between groups to help build power within the IEA.

In 1978, former Gov. Jim Thompson was elected head of the state. The IEA was the only union to back the Republican candidate. He credited IEA with pushing him to the win. As a result, he said, he would support the passage of collective bargaining for educators and did, signing the Illinois Education Labor Relations Act in 1984.

Weaver served as president of the Harvey Education Association from 1967-71, as an IEA board member from 1971-77, as IEA vice president from 1977-81, as IEA president 1981-1987, on the NEA executive committee 1989-95, NEA vice president 1996-2002 and as NEA president 2002-08.

He was the winner of the IEA-NEA Human Relations Award, which is now known as the Reg Weaver Human and Civil Rights Award.

When he completed his final term as the NEA president in 2008, NEA Vice President Dennis Van Roekel said the following, “Thank you, Reg, for being the right man, in the right job, at the right time.”

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

“At a moment when public education is under coordinated attack across this country, Illinois should be leading with clarity, not confusion.

Governors–including Democrats like Andy Beshear in Kentucky—have made it plain: public dollars belong in public schools. Here in Illinois, where more than 90 percent of our students attend public schools, that principle should not be up for debate.

And yet, instead of fighting forward for our state’s public schools and the students who attend them, we are seeing hesitation from Governor Pritzker and active support from Comptroller Susana Mendoza for a Trump-backed federal tax credit scheme that opens the door to privatization, taxpayer-funded discrimination, and a race to the bottom in educating our young people. We call on Governor Pritzker to do the right thing here: Denounce this voucher scheme. Stand tall for public schools.

Let’s call this what it is: a resurrected school voucher program backed by and for the ultra-wealthy. It is unregulated, unaccountable, and designed to divert resources away from the schools that serve the overwhelming majority of Illinois students and into private institutions that are not required to serve every child.

At a time when our state should be strengthening its commitment to public education and working to fund the more than $5 billion our students are owed, Comptroller Mendoza’s position would align Illinois with the White House’s agenda that has consistently sought to dismantle it.

We do not have to guess what the consequences look like. Illinois educators, parents and voters have rejected vouchers before because we already witnessed how they siphon money out of public schools. We’ve seen how vouchers subsidize unregulated and unaccountable private schools that don’t hold the same responsibilities to rural students who need bus routes, let alone students with disabilities or English language learners who need specific supports. We understand what is at stake. This scheme from Washington is no different. It is a threat to the stability, equity and future of our public education system.

That’s why educators, parents and community members across Illinois have been fighting for full funding for our public schools—places where the needs of students and their families are met, and where parents and communities lead the way, not billionaires.

The path forward is not complicated: fully fund every level of our public schools, invest in the students we serve, and reject any policy—state or federal—that undermines the foundation of public education.”

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

The awards were presented during the IEA Representative Assembly (RA). The RA is the legislative body of the IEA and setsthe agenda for the year for the state’s largest union. There are 1,200 IEA delegates, guests and state dignitaries who attend the RA. 

The 2026 award winners are:  

President’s Award – Princess R. Moss, NEA vice president 

Princess R. Moss, an elementary school music teacher from Louisa County, Va., is vice president of the National Education Association. As the daughter of two school bus drivers who instilled within her the core beliefs of courage, honesty and the value of getting a good education, Moss is an unwavering champion of children and strong public schools. She is a staunch, outspoken ally of students, educators and families who represent communities that have been historically marginalized. These include Black, Brown and indigenous communities, LGBTQ+ communities, students with disabilities and those who move through the world representing the ways in which these communities intersect. Moss believes every child and every student —no matter their parents’ incomes, where they live, the language they speak at home, their race, religion, ethnicity, gender identification, or physical capabilities—deserves to attend a great public school. She believes in using every available tool to protect the rights of students and educators and protect public education. 

Friend of Education Award – Delia Ramirez, U.S. Representative for Illinois’s 3rd Congressional District 

U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez is a dedicated public servant and lifelong advocate for working families, education and equity. Born and raised in Chicago to immigrant parents, she has devoted her career to uplifting underrepresented communities. Before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Ramirez served in the Illinois General Assembly, where she championed affordable housing, healthcare access and education equity. As a state representative she led the passage of HB 2908 to establish an elected school board for Chicago Public Schools, responding to long-standing community demands. She also sponsored bills to increase funding for K-12 education, protect bilingual and immigrant students, and support educators’ voices in decision-making. As the first Latina elected to represent Illinois in Congress, she maintains her unwavering commitment to justice, opportunity and inclusive public policy. She has convened oversight hearings focused on the effects of federal policy cuts on students and teachers, demonstrating her ongoing dedication to public education. Ramirez is a fierce advocate for safety for all students and demanding ICE get out of our public schools. When one of her constituents, 14-year-old Steven, and his father were taken by ICE, She worked tirelessly with his family and the Hadley School community to help secure his release. Ramirez has been a true champion for the Latino community, as well as all students and educators. She is on the frontlines advocating for meaningful policies that ensure all communities are seen, heard and supported. 

Friend of Education – Bob Bruno, professor and director of the labor education program at the University of Illinois, Glen Ellyn District 41 school board president 

Bob Bruno is a fierce advocate and educator–with a passion for unionism that is unmatched. As the director of the labor education program, professor of labor and employment and director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois, one might say Bruno is a labor expert. As a Glen Ellyn District 41 school board member and current president, he has supported countless initiatives, overseen two successful referendum and building projects, navigated the ousting of a beloved superintendent and has stood up to a toxic school board to help build an environment of collegiality, collaboration and compassion. Perhaps most notable is Bruno’s advocacy on behalf of a student and parent who were detained by ICE. The student, Steven, is autistic. The stress from being separated from his mother, his home and his school severely impacted his mental health and Steven became sick and stopped eating. Bruno did not hesitate to take action. He and his wife paid for two of Steven’s teachers to join him at the Dilley Detention Center in San Antonio so they could visit with Steven. One teacher shared how she believes the visit could have saved his life. Thanks to advocacy from Bruno, Steven’s teachers, the Hadley School community and Rep. Delia Ramirez, Steven and his father were released and reunited with their family on March 3. Bruno’s advocacy is rooted in the belief that no student should be forgotten, regardless of their status or the barriers placed in their way. He has made a profound impact in his school community; his contributions to the labor movement and commitment to safety for all students make him an outstanding candidate for this honor. 

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

The awards were presented during the IEA Representative Assembly (RA). The RA is the legislative body of the IEA and helps the state’s largest union set its agenda for the year. There are 1,200 IEA delegates, guests and state dignitaries who attend the RA.

The IEA award recipients were nominated and chosen for their awards by their peers.

The 2026 IEA RA award winners are:

Bob Haisman Early Career Teacher of the Year Award – Gianna Miritello (special education teacher,  A.E.R.O. Education Association, A.E.R.O. Special Education Cooperative, Region 28) 

While Gianna Miritello may be at the beginning of her career, she is already viewed as a leader. As the membership chair of her local, Miritello is one of the first union contacts for new employees. When new members arrive, she is someone who will go out of her way to give a tour or invite a member to observe one of her lessons. She is warm, welcoming and provides endless encouragement to her peers. As a junior high multi-needs teacher, Miritello’s knowledge of special-needs education is on display every day. Working with students with low-incidence disabilities, complex medical and physical needs and cognitive delays, she accommodates the unique needs of every student. Her relationships with students are based on care, understanding and high expectations. Miritello encourages her students to communicate with others through AAC devices, Big Mac switches and other forms of whole communication, which has led to more visibility and understanding of disabilities in her school community. This has helped build compassion and empathy, as well as led to more advocacy for students with disabilities. In her third year of teaching, Miritello received the inaugural A.E.R.O. Aviator of the Year Award for excellence in teaching. Staff frequently come to her for guidance due to her creative problem solving skills, passion and advocacy efforts. For example, she advocated for equity in classroom sizes in her program. In describing Miritello, one of her fellow union members shares, “Gianna Miritello is a teacher who provides the most amount of support, thought, and care into every aspect of her job… Her impact, even at this early stage in her career, has been monumental and will undoubtedly continue to grow.”

Bob Haisman Aspiring Educator Award – Anabella Chlada (Illinois State University Aspiring Educators, Illinois State University, Region 89) 

Bella Chlada possesses wonderful qualities of intelligence, hard work, compassion and inclusivity that set her apart from other students at ISU and around the state. Her dedication to the role of Aspiring Educators chairperson is evident in everything she does. Chlada has a natural ability to connect with others and she is always the first to greet people when they walk into a room. Her enthusiasm for leading, coupled with her ability to craft new ideas, inspires everyone around her. Many aspiring educators look to follow in Chlada’s footsteps and cause “good trouble” in public education. Because of her leadership, IEA Aspiring Educators is a force to be reckoned with. Perhaps most impressive is the work she has done to push for paid student teaching in Illinois. On top of her academic work and student teaching, she puts in extra hours to brainstorm ideas, draft plans, coordinate with her team and build the momentum needed to WIN! One of Chlada’s biggest points of pride is her teacher Instagram, @Bella.AspiringEd. She has posted her entire journey of being a member of the union and shares about the opportunities it has provided her. Many members have expressed that her Instagram is how they found out about Aspiring Ed or the reason why they became more involved. Chlada takes immense pride in enhancing and supporting the work of the union in whatever way she can. She was recently named the Bone Scholar for the Illinois State University College of Education, a top honor at ISU. Chlada is an integral member of the Illinois Education Association; we know she will make a fantastic special education teacher and future union leader.

Dr. Cheryl L. Thayer Higher Education Advocate Award – Charmian Tashjian (adjunct, Harper College Adjunct Faculty Association, Harper College, Region 42) 

Charmian Tashjian began teaching at Harper College in 2003, when the Harper College Adjunct Faculty Association (HCAFA) was just being formed. Even before she was eligible to join, she attended meetings and assisted the negotiations team. By 2005, she was finally eligible to become an active member and eventually was elected vice president. In her various union leadership roles, she has consistently advocated on behalf of adjuncts and students–from advocating for professional development centered on student success to developing a “Level II” program for adjuncts, a program Harper College uses to this day. During her three terms as president of HCAFA, Tashjian proposed to neighboring adjunct union presidents that they meet to discuss common issues. Her idea led to the formation of the Collar Counties Higher Education Presidents’ Group, which she has continued to coordinate for about 10 years. The benefits of these meetings have been invaluable, and their group discussions have helped build momentum for equity in SURS benefit calculations for adjuncts, a state-wide minimum salary for adjuncts, dual credit, remedial courses and more. As a member of the IEA Higher Education Council, she helped write legislation on some of those topics. When Thashjian sets a goal, she achieves it. Her passion and dedication have not only strengthened her local and Harper College, but also higher education contingent unions across the state and IEA as a whole. She is a powerful leader and absolutely deserving of this honor.

Education Support Professional of the Year – Teresa Boraas (credit recovery coordinator, Sherrard Education Association, Sherrard CUSD 200, Region 17) 

Teresa Boraas is the reason many Sherrard CUSD 200 at-risk students graduate. She runs the credit recovery program, but it is far more than a program—it is a lifesaver, a dream maker and a lifelong connection for the students she serves. Boraas gives students a path to get back on track by providing everything they may be missing: love, support, guidance, decision-making skills, clothing, food, positive affirmations and the redirection they need when they make poor choices. Through it all, she holds them to high academic standards. Boraas is always the first to sign up for anything, whether it’s food distribution, scholarship donations or supporting every new ESP who joins the district. She voluntarily trains new ESPs, providing them with a detailed instruction book, a shoulder to lean on and even a monthly dinner out to help them feel welcomed. Because of her dedication, the ESP turnover rate is lower than 2%. She is the welcoming committee, support system and guide all wrapped into one. Boraas is a champion for SEA, always encouraging new staff to join the union and explaining union benefits. After 25 years in the district, taking on a variety of different roles, she is retiring at the end of the year. She has touched the lives of so many educators and students. Because of her, our schools and our union are stronger.

Mary Lou and Keith Hauge Retiree of the Year Award – Kelly Holland (IEA-Retired, Deep South IEA-Retired (Carterville)) 

Kelly Holland taught 32 years at Marion Unit 2 schools, with more than 20 years spent as a fifth-grade teacher, before moving into her position as a reading specialist. Following her retirement from Marion, she worked part-time as a consultant and curriculum director in a smaller school district for three years. But with a history of union leadership, having served as union president and vice chair of Region 1, Holland knew she wanted to continue union work through the Deep South IEA-Retired chapter. Holland accepted the position of local secretary and quickly became an integral part of the executive committee. Early on, she took on the project of updating the local’s bylaws and constitution–something she completed without assistance from the committee. When the chapter needed a volunteer to chair the membership committee, Holland stepped up to the plate. She worked with members of the team to come up with a new member recruitment plan and took the initiative to contact all local presidents to acquire lists of potential retirees. She contacted every member on the list, and the results were incredibly positive! Her work expands beyond her chapter, as Holland regularly contributes to the IEA-R Insider to share information with all IEA-Retired members. Her communication skills keep our members informed and engaged, and she has brought a positive new energy to Deep South IEA-Retired. Holland gives 100% to building power in her local and encouraging recently retired members to continue this important work of advocating for retirees, students and strong public schools. She is a unionist through and through and absolutely deserving of this award.

NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence – Sarah Henkel Gehant (8th grade social studies teacher, Mendota Elementary Education Association, Mendota Community Consolidated District 289, Region 15) 

As a National Board Certified teacher with masters degrees in both history and natural science, it is clear that Sarah Henkel is an expert social studies teacher. But what makes her so remarkable goes beyond her lessons and assignments. It is her commitment to supporting her students’ social and emotional development, in addition to maintaining a rigorous social studies classroom, that makes her truly special. Some of Henkel’s practices include encouraging students to engage outside their social circles, promoting collaboration and always providing positive feedback on students’ work. In 2015, Henkel and a student were selected for the National History Day Silent Heroes program, through which her student received the opportunity to present her research at the grave of a local WWII fallen soldier buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in France. The experience inspired her student to enlist in the U.S. Army, where she served honorably for five years. Henkel has since incorporated this research project for fallen heroes into her classroom, which has led to wonderful experiences for students, including interviews with local veterans and public speaking opportunities to share their research. Henkel served as a grassroots political activist (GPA) and is a proud graduate of IEA’s Leaders for Just Schools program. She has received multiple SCORE grant awards to fund school and community initiatives, including a clothing closet and a “lunch and learn” program focused on racial and social justice. Long before it was a district directive, Henkel translated her classroom materials to communicate with parents in their native languages. The result of this work has been greater trust and stronger relationships with students’ families. A former student describes Henkel as “one of the most caring and attentive students I have ever had.” Her commitment to personal growth as an educator, advocacy for her school community and dedication to her students’ success at all levels make Henkel an outstanding candidate for this honor.

Reg Weaver Human and Civil Rights Award – Al Llorens, former IEA president, posthumously awarded 
Math teacher. Coach. Family man. Advocate. Labor leader. Friend.  

It is only fitting that Al Llorens receive an honor named after the person who most inspired him to become president of the Illinois Education Association. Llorens was deeply committed to lifting up the next generation of leaders. He continued the work of his mentors (including Reg Weaver, Anne Davis and Pearl Mack) in breaking down barriers within our union, promoting inclusion and encouraging members of color to take on leadership roles. One of his proudest achievements was starting and leading the Ethnic Minority Emerging Leadership Training (EMELT). Supporting ethnic minority members on their pathway to union leadership will forever be a part of Llorens’ legacy. As a teacher and coach, Llorens reminded his students to never give up. As a Tai Chi instructor, he reminded us to breathe. As IEA president, he reminded us that even in this tumultuous period in the history of public education, we must be courageous and strong. He believed the work our members do is the most important work there is. From IEA member Karen Moore: “I’ll never forget the time when I was feeling weighed down by the challenges in front of me, questioning if I could really make a difference. Al leaned in, looked me straight in the eye, and said, ‘You are exactly where you’re supposed to be. Your voice matters, and your work matters—don’t ever doubt that.’ That encouragement still carries me on the hardest days.” Our union is better because of Llorens’ leadership, mentorship, kindness, thoughtfulness and courage. His legacy will live on in all of us.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

The following statement is attributable to Mercer County Education Employees Association (MCEEA) President Pam Nelson and Mercer County Education Association (MCEA) President Amanda Heinrichs:

“While the unions acknowledge the worthwhile goal of reaching solvency in the education fund, we are deeply concerned about the students and remaining employees. The administration has provided the proper notice about the possibility of Reduction in Force (RIFs). Cutting these positions does not mean there is less work or less learning to be done in our schools. Our remaining staff are going to see a large increase in their workload, which means that our students will receive less one-to-one support and could also see increased class sizes, among other diminishments to the quality of their education. It will be devastating for morale in our community if the board votes “yes” for this recommendation. Instead, we are encouraging the board to seek other solutions and find cuts elsewhere in the budget. This financial problem didn’t just arise overnight. We want transparency. Has the board investigated why and how we ended up in this financial position and overspent line items? We expect board members to speak up at each meeting during that portion of their agenda, so their constituents know what’s on their minds and how they reach their decisions. Our students and our community deserve better.”

The school board will act on this recommendation tomorrow night, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. MCEA represents the certified educators, teachers and nurses, while MCEEA is comprised of the hourly school staff. In addition to being president of MCEEA, Nelson is also a custodian at New Boston Elementary School. Heinrichs is the MCEA president and a teacher at Mercer County Junior High School.

Tomorrow’s special meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. in the Mercer County Junior High Music Room (1002 SW 6th St., Aledo).

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

“We believe this is absolutely a big step in the right direction. This contract does what we wanted it to do: It makes Rockford more competitive with our neighboring districts, which means we will be able to attract talented, new teachers and retain our experienced, dedicated educators. That’s a big win for students and for our community,” REA President Claudia Marshall said. “That being said, we still have work to do. We know change is incremental, and we will continue working toward even more progress for our students, staff and community.”

REA and the district had been bargaining for nearly a year when a tentative agreement was reached on Feb. 12. The REA ratified the agreement on Sunday and the BOE ratified the contract at their meeting tonight.

Bargaining began in February 2025. REA’s contract expired in July, which means educators have worked most of the school year without a contract.

“It’s been a really difficult year for our teachers. There’s been so much extra stress on top of the increasing demands of their jobs. But I think what kept us all going was the community support – all of the parents, neighbors, local businesses, lawmakers who reached out to tell us they are standing with us and to keep going. That’s what got us here. Rockford shows up. Rockford values their teachers, and that means the world. We are so grateful,” Marshall said.

The new REA contract:

• Creates one month paid parental leave for new parents;
• Makes Rockford teachers’ wages more competitive through a 4% salary increase in the first two years of the contract and a 4.5% increase in the final year;
• Provides either retroactive step and lane movement to the start of the school year or a bonus (Step and lane movement ensures teachers are compensated based on their education and years of experience);
• Protects the working conditions of Rockford’s special education teachers by not increasing their workload;
• And creates a committee to look at expanding teachers’ choice when it comes to retirement options, potentially a large savings for the district.

“The majority of our teachers live in Rockford. We send our children to school here. Many of us went to school here ourselves. We are Rockford. We love this town. This contract is not just an investment in good quality educators and our students; it’s an investment in the entire Rockford community,” Marshall said.

The Rockford Education Association (REA) represents nearly 2,000 teachers, social workers, counselors, speech pathologists, nurses, psychologists and other licensed staff working and supporting the nearly 28,000 students in District 205.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

The poll results show a majority of Illinoisans are opposed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in their communities and are worried about ICE presence near schools. Illinoisans also stand in opposition to the cuts to United States Department of Education (USED) funding, Medicaid and SNAP benefits.

“We know that Illinoisans support public education, but this polling takes it a step further. It shows us our state cares deeply about our students, schools and our communities,” IEA President Karl Goeke said. “ICE has no place in or near our schools. Students cannot learn when they are afraid and educators cannot effectively teach when students don’t feel safe. Schools should be a safe place for our students, their parents and our teachers and staff.”

The data also show Illinoisans know a strong school system leads to stronger communities. A large majority of Illinoisans said the quality of their public schools has an impact on the quality of their communities. They also believe their home’s value is directly tied to the quality of their local public school, even if they don’t have school-aged children.

“The people of Illinois get it. They understand high-quality public schools mean more than just a great education for all students, they can lift up an entire community,” Goeke said. “We know people look at the quality of the public schools when they’re choosing where to live because it means their homes are worth more. Investing in our public schools means we are investing in our entire community. We should absolutely be fully funding our schools. Everybody wins. It’s a no-brainer.”

When it comes to fully funding our schools and staff, Illinoisans believe teachers, paraprofessionals and adjuncts deserve better wages.

Key points from the IEA State of Education report include:

• 85% of Illinoisans believe that students have a right to a public education;
• 84% of the public say they are very worried about the teacher shortage;
• 79% of Illinoisans are very worried about shortages for school support staff positions like paraprofessionals, bus drivers and librarians.
• 63% of the public believe adjuncts should be paid the same as tenured professors when they are teaching the same courses;
• 69% believe funding for public schools should increase;
• 66% support pension reform to allow those in the Tier 2 pension system to retire before the age of 67;
• 80% believe we should be teaching about slavery in public schools;
• 72% believe we should be teaching about racism public schools;
• 53% are opposed to ICE arresting and deporting immigrants in their communities;
• 57% are worried about ICE arresting them, a child, another parent, or school employees on school property;
• 64% are opposed to the federal government’s cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits;
• 65% are opposed to the S. Department of Education funding cuts.

The poll, conducted by both Democrat polling firm, Normington, Petts and Associates, and Republican pollster, Mercury Consulting, surveyed 1,000 Illinoisans Jan. 26-29. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent with 95 percent confidence.

“This poll asks questions we haven’t seen asked in Illinois, including questions about ICE presence near schools. By basing it on U.S. Census data, it gives us an honest look at what Illinoisans think about all things public education,” pollster Jill Normington of Normington, Petts and Associates said.

“Illinoisans absolutely support public education in our state, even those residents without school-aged children see the benefit of living near good schools. They know their home values are tied to their neighborhood schools, and that sends a clear message about the importance of investing in the public school system,” said Pat Brady, of Mercury Consulting.

View more information on this year’s results, as well as previous years.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

A poll of 1,000 Illinoisans conducted by Normington Petts and Associates and Next Generation Strategies in late January asked: “As you may know, student teaching is often a full-time position, yet many student teachers do not get paid for their work. Do you favor or oppose paying a stipend of $10,000 per semester, or $20,000 for a full school year?”

A total of 72% said they favored the idea, 20% were opposed and the remainder were unsure.

In addition, the Illinois Education Association (IEA), which is the largest education union in Illinois, surveyed its own members – both those in college studying to become teachers and those in the first five years of their careers. Nearly half of the respondents said they were unable to work and another 41% said they could only work part-time, causing them financial concerns.

The survey also showed:

• 48% relied on relatives for support and 15% sought out additional loans;
• 40% were prohibited from working an additional job by their institution of higher education;
• 84% said they experienced added stress over their financial status while student teaching;
• 42% faced concerns over being able to pay for housing while student teaching;
• 49% worried about being able to afford food;
• 57% worried about paying for transportation;
• 58% fretted they wouldn’t be able to pay their tuition;
• 69% were concerned about paying for a professional wardrobe;
• And, 98% said being paid while they were practicing to become a teacher would have eased those concerns.

“So many students must complete an internship in order to prepare for their future careers and in many cases, those internships are paid. But not teachers. For whatever reason, society has come to expect teachers to prepare for their careers by sacrificing their financial security,” said IEA President Karl Goeke.

“We are in the midst of a teacher shortage in this country. This is one more way we could fix that problem. We know we have people working as support staff in schools who study on the side to become full-time teachers, but they have bills to pay and children to feed and they cannot take a semester, or two, to work for no pay. We must do better by our educators.”

The Illinois House has already passed a bill that would allow student teachers to be paid and the bill is currently pending in the Senate. House Bill 1375 has been introduced by Rep. Barbara Hernandez and Sen. David Koehler that could allow the House to do the same.

“It’s time for Illinois to put its money where its mouth is,” Koehler said. “We say we value education. We should also value those who work in education. We worry we don’t have enough teachers to educate our children and this measure could truly help solve that problem.”

Hernandez said it isn’t fair to put more financial stress on students studying to be teachers. “So many of our college students are already taking out loans to become educators. Why are we adding to that financial burden? If we want the best of the best in classrooms educating our children, we have to give them reason to want to become teachers and to stay in the profession. Finances are often one of the main reasons people leave the profession. Let’s give them reason to stay.”

Anabella Chlada, an Illinois State University student who is studying to be a special education teacher and who chairs the IEA’s Aspiring Educator program, said she must work two semesters as a student teacher for her program.

“I cannot wait to become an educator. I truly feel called to do this work,” Chlada said. “But there is no doubt that student teaching is a full-time commitment without pay, and that reality is incredibly stressful. Balancing coursework while working more than eight hours a day in the classroom leaves little time to earn income outside of school. I feel the strain personally, and I see the toll it has taken on my classmates and Aspiring Educators across Illinois.”

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

The Illinois Education Association (IEA) urges Illinoisans to vote “NO” on the question, which is misleadingly worded to make voters think no public money will be used.

As it stands now, 80 percent of public schools are underfunded in Illinois. The federal plan, much like Illinois’s recently lapsed “Invest in Kids” program, takes tax dollars away from public schools and gives that money to private schools.

In Illinois, it drained up to $75 million in state money from public schools that educate 90 percent of our students.

In Illinois, we learned that vouchers:

• Benefit mostly white students;
• Fund private schools that are not subject to the same state testing standards, nor are teachers held to the same professional standards, as those in public schools;
• Failed to demonstrate a financial need among student recipients by not tracking how many students actually switched from public schools to private schools after receiving a scholarship, or whether public money funded students who had been in private schools all along;
• Sent public money to private schools which can discriminate based on physical or emotional special needs, gender identity issues, moral values and religion.
• And, research demonstrates that students using vouchers often perform worse academically than their peers in public schools.

The IEA’s annual Illinois State of Education in Illinois report, shows 69 percent of residents in our state support increasing funding to public schools in Illinois and that 85 percent believe ALL students are entitled to a public education.

“Public money should stay in public schools,” said IEA President Karl Goeke. “We’ve already walked this path in Illinois, and we learned that vouchers are a scheme. Education is the great equalizer for the youth in our state. We owe our children, no matter where they live, the color of their skin, how much money their parents earn, the best we can possibly give them. Vouchers do the exact opposite. We’ve learned this lesson. Let’s not repeat it.”

To see if your county (or in some cases your township) will have the question on the ballot, you can look at this list. The primary is March 17. Early voting began Feb. 5. You can read more about the question in materials prepared by Illinois Families for Public Schools.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

“Our contract expired June 30, 2024, and CCCLOC has been bargaining in good faith for over two years. City Colleges has continuously responded to our proposals with excuses and empty promises, which quickly resulted in an agreed upon mediated negotiation. Our union understands the past delays that were the result of government shut-downs, but now City Colleges is refusing to go back to the bargaining table until the specific mediator comes back to work. That is bad faith bargaining and our union is in negotiation limbo because City Colleges claims that it will take too long to bring a new mediator up to speed. This mediator has been out of the office for months and CCCLOC has confirmed there is no ETA for this mediator to come back to work. CCCLOC is ready to bring in a new mediator immediately and get back to the negotiating table.  Our members deserve a fair and equitable contract and CCCLOC demands that City Colleges stop the delays and get back to the bargaining table!,” said CCCLOC President Tony Pro.

At issue are:

• Wages: A strong majority of our membership survive primarily on adjunct salary for their income. Currently, they are earning poverty wages that simply aren’t sustainable.
• Course overload: City Colleges is requesting to overload adjuncts at unprecedented rates. Meaning, part-time faculty are being assigned course loads in excess of full-time loads without full-time salaries and benefits.
• Minimal benefits: At least 85% of CCCLOC members need assistance to pay for healthcare. It’s unbelievable in a world class city like Chicago, City Colleges forces a quarter of its own employees to rely on public assistance to survive.

CCCLOC represents more than 700 part-time faculty, librarians and vocational lecturers. CCCLOC works with students at all seven City Colleges campuses and four satellite campuses across Chicago.

CCCLOC members are planning to pack the BOT meeting and will be carrying signs that say, “Contract Now” and “Back to the Bargaining Table.” The meeting begins Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. at Harold Washington College.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

Weeks ago, the event was arranged by the Genoa-Kingston High School chapter of Turning Point USA, Club America. However, the assembly was just announced to students, staff and families last week, and was not discussed at recent BOE meetings. The high school is currently scheduled to host the History Rocks! assembly on Thurs., Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m., the exact time classes are letting out for the day. Busses do not arrive to transport students home until 3:00p.m., which means students who feel unsafe will not be able to leave the building before the event begins.

With the assembly just days away, Turning Point USA has not authorized the release of the identities of these “national level speakers.” However, previous tour stops have featured speakers such as U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Erika Kirk, wife of the late Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, is also rumored to make an appearance. Charlie Kirk was gunned down while on stage at another Turning Point USA event on a college campus last year.

“We have major concerns around the safety and transparency of this event,” GKEA President Sam Coates said. “All of our students and staff deserve to be safe when they are on school grounds, especially during school hours.”

GKEA is calling on District 424 Administration and BOE to immediately address the following safety concerns:

• Timing: Push back the event start time until 3:30 p.m. to allow for the building to be clear of any students and staff who do not wish to attend.
• Transparency: Provide students, parents, staff and the community with ample notice regarding future events, as well as the opportunity to give feedback.

“We are calling on the district to put these safeguards into place immediately. We are asking for open and clear communication about this event, and future events, moving forward,” Coates said.

“We believe that safety should come before anything else,” Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Karl Goeke said. “We stand with our members in Genoa-Kingston as they advocate for their students and themselves. When our students don’t feel safe, it’s not possible for them to focus on learning and their education. There’s no question that every educator also deserves a safe workplace. It was not long ago that Turning Point’s founder was murdered on stage at another educational event. We have to do better.”

GKEA represents nearly 200 members including teachers, ESPs, custodians, cooks, bus drivers, and secretaries, who serve the approximately 1,500 students in CUSD 424.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

This comes after REA launched an email campaign that generated more than 8,500 emails to board members and Jarrett urging them to come to a contract agreement that pays teachers a fair wage, provides full support for all students and avoids a strike.

“Enough is enough. We have now been bargaining for a year. We started at the table last February. Clearly, the district isn’t hearing our concerns at the table. We know parents are just as upset as we are, and we wanted to make sure their voices are heard,” REA President Claudia Marshall said. “On top of that, the district is now threatening to cut learning days for students, which means all 28,000 of our students will have fewer days in school this year. It’s totally out of line and out of sync with what the Rockford community wants.”

“We want the administration to pay our teachers fairly and competitively. We know how hard they work and how they go above and beyond for our students. Our wages are far behind neighboring districts,’ resulting in open positions, which means our students aren’t getting the support and high-quality education they need to be successful in the future,” parent Christina Rudolph said. “I will gladly pick up the phone and call, especially if it means my children, other students and our teachers get what they deserve.”

On Jan. 24, the REA membership overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike. The vote gives the REA bargaining team the authority to call a strike. To legally go on strike, REA would also need to give a 10-day intent to strike notice to RPS, the regional superintendent and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB).

REA has been bargaining with the district since February. REA’s contract expired in July, which means educators have been working without a contract since the start of the school year. On Dec. 4, REA and the district began working with a federal mediator during negotiation sessions. On Dec. 22, the district issued its last, best offer, signaling an unwillingness to negotiate further, which triggered the public posting process through the IELRB. This is also the first legal step toward a strike.

Still at issue at the bargaining table are:

• Retirement benefits: REA is pushing to expand current retirement options, offering a choice for all members, which will have large cost savings for RPS.
• Working conditions: The district is pushing for an inequitable and unfair burden on special education teachers, while making it difficult to obtain the necessary paraprofessional support for kindergarten classrooms. Teachers go above and beyond by taking on additional duties because there are so many unfilled positions.
• Subpar wages: Rockford teachers make less than many neighboring districts, including Belvidere and Hononegah. Rockford salaries are below average when compared to other Illinois school districts of similar size.
• Retroactive pay: Retroactive pay honors the work REA teachers have been doing all year. Rockford teachers are working without a contract right now, and the district can and should make them whole by providing back pay for any wage increases reflected in the new contract.
• Step increases: The district wants to take step increases away from REA members. This represents a monetary loss not just for this contract, but a major loss for the life of their careers in this district. Annual step increases are part of a larger salary schedule the district has already agreed to.

“I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. The bottom line is this: A majority of our teachers live in Rockford. We are Rockford. When you invest in us, you invest in our entire community. Our students should have nothing less,” Marshall said.

REA represents nearly 2,000 teachers, social workers, counselors, speech pathologists, nurses, psychologists and other licensed staff working and supporting nearly 28,000 students in RPS.

REA members and parents plan to pack tomorrow night’s RPS District 205 Board of Education Committee of the Whole meeting at the RPS administration building (501 Seventh St., Rockford). The meeting begins at 6 p.m. The next bargaining date for RPS and REA is set for Feb. 5.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.