WAEA West Ada Education Association

Next week is 🌟Teacher Appreciation Week🌟 and we want to celebrate our teachers! Treasure Valley school districts, this is for you! We will be choosing 3 random teachers from the comments & surprising them at school in our ice cream truck with free ice cream next week! If you want a chance to surprise your favorite teacher with free ice cream, nominate them down below! Include their name and what school they teach at in the Treasure Valley!💟🎉

Let's show our teachers some love next week! Nominate away!⬇️🎉

To say we are disappointed in the Idaho legislature and Governor Brad Little upon the passage of HB 516 would be an understatement. It is more important than ever to unify and support one another in order to maintain our vision of having excellent public schools in Idaho. This bill does not take effect until July 1st, so use the opportunity we have to spread awareness until then. We will continue to teach our students and fight for the best learning conditions for each of them. Before you vote in May, check which candidates support public education--it matters
Solidarity forever.

HB 516 has been signed into law. Read IEA President Layne McInelly’s press release below.

Now what?

In Idaho, many of the decisions that shape our schools are made in the May primary—often by a small number of voters.

That means what happens next is up to us.

This is our moment.
May matters more than ever.

🔗 https://idahoea.org/advocating-for-change/may-matters

Read more about how House Bill 516aaS in a new story in IEA Reporter: https://idahoea.org/news/all-news-articles/gov-little-signs-house-bill-516-law

If you care about Idaho’s public schools, don’t keep this to yourself.

⚖️ House Bill 516 impacts educators’ ability to speak up for themselves and their students.
📞 Contact the Governor. Ask for a veto.
👥 Then share this post or graphic with 3 people who should do the same.

Read more about this legislation: https://bit.ly/4sxIKmd

Despite hundreds of emails in opposition, the Senate voted in favor of HB 516.

The bill now moves to the House.

Keep using the email tool to contact your reps and voice your concerns! https://bit.ly/47zxBJS

Read the summarized Senate debate in IEA Reporter. Read the updated article: https://bit.ly/47UgAdF

IEA Members: Defeat House Bill 516! | Idaho Education Association Contact Your Legislators and Urge Them to Vote No on House Bill 516

⚠️ BREAKING NEWS

Lawmakers just used a rare procedural maneuver to force an anti-union bill forward after it stalled in a Senate committee. No public hearing. Minimal debate. Just minutes to vote.

Now, HB 516 is one step away from a full Senate vote.

If it passes, it would severely restrict union activity, limit your engagement, and even impose fines on educators and staff. This is a direct attempt to silence IEA members.

👉 Email and call your legislators NOW — before the vote happens: https://bit.ly/47zxBJS

📖 Read more about the evolution of HB516 in IEA Reporter: https://bit.ly/47UgAdF

Our WAEA Exec Board got out and voted today! We’re proud to have our voices heard and to help shape the future for educators and students across West Ada. 🍎

Now we want to know — did YOU vote?
Your voice helps build stronger schools, empowered educators, and a brighter future for our students.

✅ Drop a comment if you’ve voted!
📸 Swipe to see our amazing Executive Board leading by example.

WAEA hosted our first-ever Beyond the Ballot, a non-partisan event designed to empower our members with reliable voting information. 📚

With only 25% of registered voters participating in the last primary, there’s more work to do. As educators, we’re committed to informing our members and community about the importance of voting—and helping answer questions about what’s on the ballot.

A huge thank-you to our community partners for being incredible resources! 🙌

🗓 Save the date: Our next Beyond the Ballot will be on May 5th, focusing on the upcoming May primary election!

🔆MEMBER SPOTLIGHT🔆

Ms. McDonald’s photography students from Crossroads Middle School visited the Scentsy campus this week! They had a great time exploring the campus and being creative.

If you have a spotlight moment you would like to share, please DM us and we will post it! We’d like to highlight all the amazing things our education staff is doing!

✨ Games, goodies, prizes, and lots of laughs! Thanks for making Games & Goodies such a blast—see you next year for the Great WAEA Bake Off! 🍰⛳️