Layne McInelly IEA President

The IEA Lobby day was a success with almost 200 educators in attendance! Thank you to all the educators who braved the weather to attend our annual event. Many great conversations with legislators were had.

I'm excited to have just under 100 IEA members in Boise this weekend for our annual Local Presidents' meeting.

IEA is ready to represent at the NEA RA! Thanks for all your hard work and dedication during this week of meetings.

What an amazing couple of weeks. IEA had our annual meeting (Delegate Assembly) with around 400 educators from around the state doing the work of the association.
Paul, Peggy and I then had NEA meetings in Washington DC capped off with celebrating the NEA Foundation's Salute to Excellence in Education.
It has been a good few weeks!

Peggy and I are presenting at the NEA Leadership Summit in San Francisco. I'm proud to be a leader alongside her.

"Mr. Chairman, plain and simple, Senate Bill 1038 is a voucher bill. And our members vehemently oppose it — like they oppose all voucher schemes — for many, many reasons.

They know vouchers siphon scarce tax dollars away from public school classrooms. They know vouchers deepen inequities between our public schools, especially in rural areas. They know Idaho public schools already offer a broad menu of educational choices, despite decades of chronic underfunding. They know vouchers do not improve student performance. They know important programs like career technical education, early childhood education, and special education are often cut to pay for voucher schemes" - IEA Executive Director, Paul Stark

Yesterday IEA's executive team lobbied in Washington DC for public education and the schools our students deserve. Today and tomorrow we will be working with the NEA and the board of directors. This is important work!

IEA's third annual Lobby Day Dinner happened tonight. Educators are in Boise to meet with legislators about our priorities for Idaho's public schools tonight and tomorrow. Thank you IEA members for your dedication and hard work.

A record $330 million investment in K-12 education is on its way to Idaho public schools!

Idaho lawmakers just approved House Bill 1 (55-15 in the House, 34-1 in the Senate) and Gov. Brad Little is expected to sign the historic bill into law next week (stay tuned).

IEA members showed up in a big way for the Legislature's special session with amazing testimony from IEA President Layne McInelly, West Ada Education Association President Zach Borman and Vallivue Education Association member and organizer Brianna Gibson (that’s Brianna in the photo testifying in the House committee this morning). In addition, IEA members sent 360 emails to policymakers in favor of the bill this week.

Fantastic work IEA!

WAEA West Ada Education Association Vallivue Education Association

The IEA team ready for action in the House gallery at the Idaho Legislature’s special session. Time to advocate for a record $330 million K-12 education funding!

The last two weeks have been amazing! I've been able to interact with so many Idaho Education Association members. IEA's Center for Teaching and Learning put on an amazing Summer Institute up in Lewiston. So much learning, growing, and collaborating happened. Following Summer Institute the IEA Board of Directors budget, board training, and board meeting took place. If you are not involved in the association you should be. There is amazing work happening.

Wow! NEA RA 2022 has concluded. The Idaho delegates met Saturday for our first caucus and Idaho night at Wrigley field. Then Sunday, Monday, Tuesday we worked from 7 AM to 6 PM and yesterday from 7 AM to 7:59 PM. We got so much done and had a live visit from VP Harris. Working with our Idaho delegates and other delegates from around the nation was amazing! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to public education!