Region 4 IEA

***IMPORTANT TRAINING INFORMATION – Preparing to Bargain Training 1/15/26***

Below is the flyer for the Preparing to Bargain training to be held in the Edwardsville IEA Office on Thursday, January 15 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Seating is limited, so RSVP as soon as possible. Please share this information with your members and encourage them to attend. This training is appropriate for new and veteran local leaders, bargaining team members, IEA activists, and members. You may RSVP by clicking the link below.
https://site.ieanea.org/survey/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=74338873

***Region 4 IEA RA Election***

Friendly reminder that the Region 4 IEA RA election ballots, tally sheets, sign-in sheets, etc. must be received by Wednesday, December 10 at the address below.

IEA Region 4 Elections Committee
P.O. Box 427
New Athens, IL 62264

Immigrant Legal Resource: Family Preparedness Kit

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center has created a family preparedness kit. As the federal government continues to ramp up deportation efforts and hire more Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, immigrant families may want to take action to prepare themselves in case of an emergency. This kit contains information on creating a child care plan, knowing your rights, writing down instructions, caregiver authorizations, guardianship, emergency numbers and a list of important documents to have on hand.

https://tinyurl.com/56zt6cm3

2026 Summer Leadership Academy RFP

The 2026 Summer Leadership Academy will be held July 27-30, 2026 at Illinois State University Bone Student Center in Normal, IL. We are looking for presenters who can deliver training sessions in the areas of bargaining, grievance, organizing, equity, political action and leadership development. Please consider submitting sessions which will help our local leaders & members prepare for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.



The sessions layout will be similar to last year - 1, 2, 3 or 6 hour sessions to be held on Tuesday afternoon, all day Wednesday & Thursday morning. Six-hour sessions will tentatively be held on Wednesday, July 29. Anyone interested in submitting for a session should complete the Summer Leadership RFP by Jan. 15.

For more information, check out the IEA website: https://ieanea.org/forms/sla-pd-rfp/

Workplace Well-Being and Mental Health Survey
The Illinois Education Association (IEA) is seeking your input. Please complete this short survey examining the workplace well-being and mental health of IEA members.

At the 2025 IEA Representative Assembly (RA), members passed New Business Item #11, which directed the IEA to “conduct polling, available to all IEA members, which will compile data on educator’s workplace well-being and mental health.”

All data collected will be kept confidential. We appreciate your participation. The Survey will close on December 1.

Survey Link: https://site.ieanea.org/survey/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=9l33m5m1

ESP of the Year Nominations are now open!

The IEA ESP of the Year nominations close December 15. This award is meant to further emphasize the contributions of Education Support Professionals to their association, their schools, and their communities. Please share this with your local leaders.

To nominate an ESP you know, follow this link: https://ieanea.org/members/esp/esp-of-the-year-award/

The IEA Representative Assembly needs your participation! Check out the following opportunities to participate or have your school and students represented at the 2026 IEA Representative Assembly.

IEA RA – March 12-14, 2025
Hyatt Regency O’Hare – Rosemont, IL

2026 IEA Representative Assembly - Student performers needed!

If you have any student groups interested in performing at the RA, either live or via recording, please forward this link to them. We are asking for submissions by January 15, 2026, and if a group plans to submit a recording, those will be due February 15, 2026. Thanks for your help!

Student Performer Survey: https://site.ieanea.org/survey/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=9633l86M #

2026 IEA RA Professional Development RFP Now Available! Presenters wanted!!

The 2026 IEA Representative Assembly Professional Development RFP is now available! If you or someone you know would like to be considered to present a 1-hour professional development session at the IEA Representative Assembly on Thursday, March 12, 2026, please complete the RFP using the link below. The RFPs are due no later than December 15, 2025.

2026 IEA RA Professional Development RFP Form: https://ieanea.org/forms/rfp-iea-ra-pd-sessions/



2026 IEA RA Choir

For the IEA RA this year, we are putting together an all-delegate choir to sing the Star-Spangled Banner! As the group should be truly representative of the statewide reach of the organization, we are asking each region or council to recruit one delegate (they must be a delegate to the RA!) to sing. It can be anyone – from an IEA Region Chair to a first-time delegate. Practice tracks and PDFs will be provided after the first of the year. A brief rehearsal will happen at the RA prior to performing. Please complete the survey below to submit the name, email, region/council, and voice part (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) of the delegate who would like to participate. Please submit by January 15, 2026.

IEA RA Choir Survey: https://site.ieanea.org/survey/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=94339o33 #

How School Support Staff are Feeding Hungry Students and Families | NEA There is growing food insecurity in America with rising costs of groceries and disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, but education support professionals are helping fill the gaps.

MEA members dropped off 9 bins of food and personal hygiene items to the Mascoutah Food Pantry. Our members are the best!!

***Region 4 IEA RA Election Ballot Packets***

The Region 4 IEA RA Election Ballot Packets were mailed out to the local Election Chairs/Presidents on Friday, November 7.

Election date is Wednesday, December 3.

Across our state, families are facing growing food insecurity as SNAP benefits dwindle due to the government shut down and the cost of living continues to rise.

That is why the IEA is launching a statewide food drive to ensure no student goes hungry this winter, and we need your help.

We're calling on your local and asking you to partner with a food bank or organization that addresses hunger or food insecurity. Learn how you can get involved and make a difference. https://bit.ly/43IC5f7