Federal Education Association

Stateside Federal employees may request up to four hours to vote

To comply with a 2021 Biden administration executive order promoting voting access, in 2022 OPM began requiring agencies to provide federal employees up to four hours of administrative leave to vote in Stateside federal, state, local, tribal and territorial elections, which can be used both on Election Day and during early voting. DoDEA has indicated that guidance for Stateside educators will be sent out in the near future. Learn more:

Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting | CHCOC It appears your Web browser is not configured to display PDF files. Download adobe Acrobat or click here to download the PDF file.

National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15th – Oct. 15th)

Hispanic Heritage Month is not only a time for those of Hispanic and Latino descent to celebrate their cultural roots but also an occasion for people from all backgrounds to learn, appreciate, and celebrate the rich tapestry of Hispanic and Latino cultures.

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with these lessons, activities, videos, and more.

Hispanic Heritage Month | NEA Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage month with the following lessons, activities, videos, and more.

FEA Member Matt Binfield Selected as a Travelers Awards for Teaching Excellence Awardee

FEA member Matt Binfield is one of the 48 educators and NEA members across the county receiving the NEA Foundation’s 2025 Travelers Awards for Teaching Excellence! The 2025 recipients of the Travelers Award for Teaching Excellence, selected by their NEA affiliates, represent educators from across the country who embody excellence in their practice, advocacy for the profession, commitment to equity and opportunity, community engagement, and leadership in professional development.

As a 25-year educator, Binfield was a public school teacher in Nebraska before teaching with DoDEA in Okinawa and now in South Korea. For most of his career he has taught 2nd grade and has long fostered an inclusive space for his students. As a long-time FEA member, he has advocated for the rights and working conditions of his colleagues. He works to continually grow as an educational professional and strives to make learning fun and engaging. He is also an engaged member of his local military community, co-sponsoring a LGBT support group and serving on his base’s Installation Advisory Council (IAC).
Binfield provided the following statement to FEA regarding his award:

“Being recognized as an awardee is an honor that reflects my dedication to my students, the community, and my fellow educators. I am humbled by this acknowledgment, as it represents not just my efforts, but the unwavering support of fellow educators who inspire me every day. Together, we strive to empower and uplift our students, fostering a brighter future for all.”

The awardees will be celebrated in person at the 2025 Salute to Excellence in Education Gala, taking place at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. on February 14.

https://www.neafoundation.org/projects-initiatives/awards-for-teaching-excellence/ate-awardees/

Take discounted courses when and where you want after returning to school this fall.

FEA is working with Virtual Education Software (VESi) and the accredited Augustana University to provide members with reduced pricing on courses approved for DoDEA teacher recertification and Academic Salary Lane (ASL) changes. This new member benefit amounts to significant savings every recertification period.

There are many online professional development courses to fit your educational needs. Learn more: feaonline.org/vesi

As the Labor Day weekend draws to a close, we hope FEA Members everywhere are reminded of the deep respect and admiration held by FEA and countless others for you and for the incredibly important work you do. Your labor builds futures. Thank you for all you do everyday!

August 2024 FEA Journal

All current and retired FEA members should soon receive the printed version of the August FEA Journal. Until then, you can read the digital version of the Journal on the FEA website. Read about:

· The new DoDEA Director’s summer meeting with FEA members and the potential for change;
· How to protect your Association from anti-union and anti-public education threats;
· The upcoming FEA election;
· And much more!

Read the Journal by logging in with you member ID here:

Login - Federal Education Association Please note: Do not share your membership ID or password with others. Much of FEA content is restricted to FEA members. Members should not view this site on government […]

August 26th is Women's Equality Day!

The day commemorates the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of s*x. It was first celebrated in 1971 and is proclaimed each year by the United States President. Read today’s Proclamation here:

A Proclamation on Women's Equality Day, 2024 | The White House    One hundred and four years ago, American women won the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment, bringing us closer to

ARE YOU BEING PAID CORRECTLY?

As many veteran educators know, it is extremely important to save copies of your Leave and Earnings Statements (LESs). Please take advantage of the salary organizer from FEA, available at www.feaonline.org/salary-organizer/, to help Overseas members track pay and any discrepancies (thank you to FEA member Larry Tjeltveit for creating the Excel salary organizer). If you have an issue regarding your pay, contact your school’s FRS to elevate the issue up the FEA chain so we can assist.

As we do every year, FEA sent folders to schools for members to use to keep their LESs and other important pay and work-related documents. Use your folder to save your records and don’t lose track of them. You never know when in the future you may need them.

Login - Federal Education Association Please note: Do not share your membership ID or password with others. Much of FEA content is restricted to FEA members. Members should not view this site on government […]

As you start your school year, know your Association is there for you.

Hopefully all FEA members had a restful and enjoyable summer break. As you return to your school and classroom this 2024-2025 school year, know that the Federal Education Association (FEA) and your local Association are there for you. Use FEA’s many member resources to stay informed, protect yourself, save on recertification, and more. We also encourage all members to be active and engaged in the Association. FEA and our local Associations are strongest when our members support each other, attend events, vote in FEA elections, and more.

As you start your school year, know your Association is there for you - Federal Education Association Hopefully all FEA members had a restful and enjoyable summer break. As you return to your school and classroom this 2024-2025 school year, know that the Federal Education Association (FEA) […]

FEA Empowers Educators in DoDEA’s New Licensing and Reciprocity Policy

DoDEA recently announced the Agency has modified its licensure policy by allowing full reciprocity for current DoDEA educators and applicants. During the policy formation process, FEA successfully negotiated with the Agency to ensure that the process of adding certifications will be educator-driven.

Learn more:

FEA Empowers Educators in DoDEA’s New Licensing and Reciprocity Policy - Federal Education Association DoDEA recently announced the Agency has modified its licensure policy by allowing full reciprocity for current DoDEA educators and applicants. During the policy formation process, FEA successfully negotiated with the […]

Are you weighed down by school loans? The National Education Association (NEA) offers members one year of exclusive, no-cost access to the NEA Student Debt Navigator, powered by Savi. As Federal Education Association (FEA) members are also NEA members, you are eligible for this offer!

Use powerful resources to possibly lower or even eliminate your student loan debt:

Student Loan Debt Learn about ways to manage your student loans, including key information about student loan forgiveness assistance for teachers and other NEA members.

REMEMBER YOUR RIGHTS

Remember your Weingarten rights! Union-represented employees are permitted, upon request, to have their union rep present during certain types of meetings with
management.

Every year FEA sends members their Weingarten rights card so they can quickly remember what they entail. If you don’t have it, you can view and print the card here:

www.feaonline.org

YOUR SCHOOL FRS/BUILDING REP IS THERE FOR YOU

As we begin the 2024-2025 school year, remember that your FEA colleagues are there for you. In particular, your school Faculty Representative Spokesperson (FRS)/ Building Rep is the first contact in the FEA chain that can help you find a resolution to an issue you are experiencing at school.

Is there a problem you are having in your school that cannot get resolved with management? Need advice on a particular issue? Need someone to remind you of your rights or be present during a meeting with management? Make sure you know who your FRS is and reach out to them when you could use assistance.

Protect Your FEA By Signing Up for AutoPay

Anti-public-education forces seek to eliminate payroll deduction as a means for Association members to easily pay their annual dues, thus weakening the ability of labor organizations such as FEA to continue serving their members. In recent years, education employees in numerous states have seen payroll deduction taken away from them overnight. Opponents of public education now hope to do the same to federal employees. FEA/NEA members can easily thwart those attempts by proactively switching from payroll deduction to EFT or credit card payment of their Association dues via NEA’s AutoPay system. You can watch a short video on AutoPay here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=bbHal-bMclc_qJrF&v=028cjHPLUzs&feature=youtu.be

Take control of your membership and take DoDEA and other agencies out of the equation: make the switch now to AutoPay. Go to feaonline.org/autopay

Note: Many members currently pay dues through eDues, which is being renamed AutoPay. It may take a few more weeks for our systems to reflect the new name.

Autopay - Federal Education Association Thank you for your interest in signing up for AutoPay. AutoPay is a way for FEA members to pay Association dues with EFT or Credit Card payments, rather than payroll […]

After Summer’s Travel Nightmare, FEA Pressing DoDEA for Change

Over last spring and summer, many Overseas members reported significant delays and errors in their summer travel orders, either for themselves or their dependents. FEA is urgently pressing DoDEA to implement changes to prevent these problems from recurring. In the meantime, all members are encouraged to keep detailed records of their travels and inform the Association if they encounter issues with vouchering for their travel upon returning to school. If you need assistance, please contact FEA President Brian Chance. FEA will remain focused on this important issue. Watch for more information on this topic in the upcoming August issue of the FEA Journal newsletter, due out later this month.

2024 Elections Fast Approaching; Overseas Educators Urged to Request their Absentee Ballot Now

As the 2024 election season approaches, it’s crucial for all US citizens living abroad to exercise their right to vote. Your voice has a powerful impact on shaping our nation’s future, and voting absentee is a key way to make sure your opinion counts, no matter where you are in the world.

If you are an Overseas educator, be sure to register and request your absentee ballot ASAP if you have not already done so. You can do so here through the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website: https://www.fvap.gov/overseas.

Please note that while the FVAP website says to request your ballot by August 1st, the deadline for your U.S. state of residence may be later. Click ‘See Your State’s Requirements’ on the page linked above to see the deadlines that apply to you.
Let’s make our voices heard!

Americans can vote. Wherever they are. Ensuring Service members, their eligible family members and overseas citizens can vote -- from anywhere in the world.

Litigation Over Unpaid Hours in Stateside Continues: FEA-SR Files Petition for Rehearing

This June, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a decision on the contested 2019 Master Labor Agreement (MLA) for FEA Stateside Region’s certified bargaining unit. The Court upheld a Federal Labor Relations Authority's (FLRA) ruling, which had reversed a previous arbitrator's order to reinstate the 2005 MLA and remove the uncompensated hours required of Stateside educators. However, in light of a recent Supreme Court decision, which requires courts to independently interpret the “best reading” of the law and not merely defer to an agency's "reasonable" interpretation, FEA-Stateside Region will be filing a petition for a rehearing. The unpaid hours imposed on Stateside educators is a top issue for the Association and we will keep fighting to reverse this egregious policy.

Start of the 2024-2025 School Year

Hopefully all FEA members have had, or are still having, a restful summer.

As we move into the 2024-2025 school year, our educators continue to face many challenges, including unpaid work, travel issues, employee shortages in schools, and more. FEA will continue to fight for its members and advocate for a DoDEA that listens to and respects its educators. Thank you all for your FEA membership, standing with your fellow education employees, and for allowing FEA to stand for you.

In case you missed the news, beginning August 1, 2024, OPM will re-open enrollment in FSAFEDS for new employees or for existing employees enrolling due to a Qualifying Life Event. FSAFEDS will also re-enable the functionality that allows existing enrollees to make changes to enrollments due to a Qualifying Life Event.

Learn more: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/pay-benefits/2024/07/opm-to-lift-pause-on-fsafeds-enrollments-in-august/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3DqbdlxI4QYcFbCCR7g_aEXGcW8crFARSWI1CAwnKlK1vMTUuYp7lUAbs_aem_9NKsdeDEYgDgFaZZaISuVA

FEA Overseas MOU on Background Checks During Recess Periods

FEA is aware that several members of the bargaining unit may have been contacted by the DoDEA Security Office to complete the reverification of their background checks. It is understandable that most educators would never realize that as we do not check work email during the summer recess or use our personal devices to access agency platforms.

FEA President Chance has contacted DoDEA to remind them of the MOU on background checks, which remains in full force and effect, which stipulates that background checks are held in abeyance during breaks -- all breaks summer, winter, and spring break. The agency acknowledged the need to honor the MOU and hold all background checks in abeyance during these periods.

The MOU also provides for admin time to complete the process once educators have returned to duty status.

Please contact your local leader (District President/Division President) if you need assistance. Kindly remember that they are also on summer recess and responses may be delayed. If you need assistance and cannot reach your local Association leadership, please email [email protected].

View the DoDEA-FEA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on background checks here: https://www.feaonline.org/mous-between-fea-and-management/

Enjoy the remainder of the summer recess!

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Thank you to all of the maintenance workers who work every summer to prepare DoDEA schools for the next school year!

Schools may be out, but school maintenance workers are diligently working over the summer to make sure buildings & facilities are ready for the new school year.

Even though we may not see your great work until we return in the fall, we see & appreciate you!

Overseas Retro Pay Finally Included in Recent Pay Statement

The Overseas retro-pay for the 2023-2024 school year should be included in educators’ most recent Leave and Earnings Statement (LES). This LES should be viewable in the MyPay system and educators should receive the pay on the upcoming July 5th payday. FEA members should check their LES for the pay period ending June 27th carefully to ensure they received the full amount of retroactive pay due to them, and that no other errors in their pay are present.

If a recent retiree did not receive their retro-pay, they can reach out to the DoDEA customer service representative via email at [email protected]. If there is no response after 2 weeks, educators should send FEA President Brian Chance an email directly so he can work with DoDEA RM to find a resolution. If your bank account was changed upon retirement, that could be the issue. If that is the case, please let Brian know and he can work with DoDEA RM to assist.

As the MyPay system typically does not retain LESs after one year, the Association also advises educators to retain copies of all their LESs in the folder FEA provides for members at the start of each school year. Members can also use FEA’s 2023-2024 Salary Organizer to ensure all their pay was received and keep track of the various allotments in their LESs. The organizer can be found by logging in to the FEA website here: www.feaonline.org/salary-organizer/. If you use the pay organizer, at the end of the last pay period you should see that your full salary has been paid throughout the year.

The retro-pay salary adjustment is paid to Overseas educators near the end of each school year to bring their total pay for the year up to date. Overseas salary schedules are not computed until late in the school year, meaning Overseas educators are paid on the previous year’s salary schedule for most of the school year. Thanks to successful litigation by FEA, once the current year’s Overseas salary schedules are calculated in accordance with the law governing those salaries, DoD pays Overseas educators a retroactive salary adjustment to make their total pay for the school year current.

Over the last few years, Overseas educators have been receiving their retro-pay later and later. In the recent past, educators typically received their retro pay in late April or early May. The Association is pressing DoDEA to resolve these delays and pay Overseas educators their retro-pay in a timely manner.

Login - Federal Education Association Please note: Do not share your membership ID or password with others. Much of FEA content is restricted to FEA members. Members should not view this site on government […]

Happy Fourth of July to all FEA members! Today is the first day of the 2024 NEA Representative Assembly (RA), which is taking place in Philadelphia. Thank you to all of this year's Federal Education Association RA delegates, who are taking time out of their summer break to represent FEA members from our Stateside, Europe, and Pacific areas. Many of our delegates traveled far to be here. Pictured here yesterday in their red FEA delegate vests, the delegates just completed their first caucus meeting and are ready for the 2024 RA!

A sobering message about the heightened state of alert for several bases in Europe. FEA hopes our members, and all personnel associated with these bases, remain alert and safe.

Several US military bases in Europe put on heightened state of alert, US officials say Several U.S. military bases across Europe are now operating under a heightened state of alert, ABC News has confirmed.

This Thursday two FEA members, Kraig Brown and Shenese Frasier, visited the White House to attend an education policy briefing and meet White House staff. Brown (right in first picture) is a military veteran and 7th Grade Teacher at Fort Liberty in DoDEA’s Mid-Atlantic District. Frasier (middle left in first picture) is a Classroom Certified Educator at Ft. Moore in DoDEA’s Southeast School District. Brown and Frasier are pictured here with Federal Education Association President Brian Chance (middle right) and Ronny Lau (left) from NEA Government Relations, who helped coordinate the visit. Big thanks to NEA for the help in getting our members’ voices heard!

All FEA members should have received the print version of the May 2024 FEA Journal. If you are away from home and have not gotten the chance to read the Journal yet, you can always read it online by visiting: https://www.feaonline.org/news/fea-journal/. You will need to log in with your FEA member ID.

Login - Federal Education Association Please note: Do not share your membership ID or password with others. Much of FEA content is restricted to FEA members. Members should not view this site on government […]

Happy Juneteenth to all FEA members and their families! Juneteenth, the name a combination of the month “June” and the date “Nineteenth", celebrates the date of June 19, 1865, when enslaved people of African descent located in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom from the slavery system in the United States. Juneteenth is a time to reflect on the progress made, the challenges left, and the work we must do so that all of us have justice and the freedom to pursue our dreams.

While subsequent annual celebrations date back to 1866, Juneteenth was not recognized as a federal holiday until 2021. One of the foremost advocates for federal recognition was Dr. Opal Lee, widely known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth”. Lee campaigned for decades to have Juneteenth recognized as a federal holiday, leading walks of 2.5 miles each year, representing the 2.5 years it took for news of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach Texas. At the age of 89, she conducted a symbolic walk from Fort Worth, from which she departed in September 2016, to Washington, D.C., where she arrived in January 2017. Along the way, Lee and fellow activists gathered and delivered to Congress 1.5 million petition signatures for Juneteenth to be recognized as a federal holiday.

Showing no signs of slowing down, last month the 97-year-old Dr. Lee visited Yokosuka Middle School in Japan and spoke to more than 200 DoDEA students about her decades-long mission for Juneteenth recognition. Tyhisha Nevels, an FEA member and teacher at Yokosuka Middle School, coordinated Dr. Lee’s visit after having discussions with her 6th grade students. The visit was sponsored by the Legacy Foundation Japan and the USO. FEA President Brian Chance and Vice President Sharon Manuel are pictured here with Dr. Opal Lee.

Learn more about Opal Lee and her visit here: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2024-05-20/juneteenth-opal-lee-dodea-japan-13913699.html

Reminder that this year’s FEA Annual Membership Meeting will be held in Philadelphia before the RA. The meeting will take place July 1 and 2 at The Element hotel in downtown Philadelphia and is open to all FEA members. Advance registration for the FEA meeting is not required but members planning to attend are encouraged to let us know by emailing [email protected] to help us plan for adequate seating.

June 14th, 1775 - Founding of the U.S. Army

The U.S. Army was founded 249 years ago today. FEA Members are proud to educate the children of military-connected families, including those who serve our country in the Army.

U.S. Army | America's First National Institution Since its official establishment, June 14, 1775 — more than a year before the Declaration of Independence — the U.S. Army has played a vital role in the growth and development of the American nation.

Overseas Retro Pay Expected on July 5

According to DoDEA, DFAS has informed them the Overseas retroactive pay adjustment will be paid to employees on July 5, 2024, as part of the paycheck for the pay period ending June 27.

The adjustment is a lump sum paid to employees in the Overseas bargaining unit to bring their pay up to date after the current salary schedules for a school year are computed and finalized each spring. Overseas employees are paid on the previous school year’s schedule for most of the year, until data from the hundreds of public school districts used to compute Overseas salaries is collected and analyzed by the DOD Wage Setting division and the results reviewed by FEA and DODEA.

FEA won the retroactive pay adjustment for Overseas employees through legal action to make sure they receive the full amount owed to them in a given year. The adjustment is usually paid out in the spring but implementation problems at DFAS delayed this year’s payment.

The adjustment should be paid into employees’ accounts along with their standard pay on July 5. Overseas employees’ pay rates will then switch to the SY 23-24 amounts going forward. Recent retirees and those who have separated from DoDEA should see funds deposited into their regular bank account, if they did not close it upon separating, or in the account they designated to replace it.

As always, FEA members should check their LES for the pay period ending June 27 carefully to ensure they receive the full amount of retroactive pay due to them, and that no other errors in their pay are present. Retain copies of all your LESs in the folder FEA provides for members at the start of each school year.

The SY 23-24 salary schedules can be found at https://www.feaonline.org/salary-schedules-for-dodds-overseas/

To view them, you’ll need to login using your FEA membership ID number.

Login - Federal Education Association Please note: Do not share your membership ID or password with others. Much of FEA content is restricted to FEA members. Members should not view this site on government […]