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Illinois Education Association
@ieanea.bsky.social
220 followers 71 following 52 posts
At 135,000 members strong, IEA is the largest union in Illinois. We believe in putting students and their public education first.
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It’s not too late to register for the Ethnic Minority Emerging Leadership Training! Tag somebody who needs to join you in Springfield on Nov. 7-9. Register before Oct. 31: bit.ly/3XNYvIh
2025 EMELT Conference. Ethnic Minority Emerging Leadership Training. November 7-9, 2025. Purple graphic with green text.
October 26, 2025 at 11:27 PM
ieanea.bsky.social
For Know Your Rights information in multiple languages, visit: www.illinoisimmigrationinfo.org/know-your-rights
October 14, 2025 at 9:49 PM
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Statement from IEA President Al Llorens on educators' use of social media:
The following statement is attributable to Illinois Education Association (IEA) President Al Llorens: “The Illinois Education Association (IEA) firmly believes that all educators have the right to speak out on matters of public concern. Like all Americans, teachers, higher educators and school support staff do not surrender their rights when they begin working at a school, college or university. This fundamental principle is essential to the foundation of our public education system.  Comments made by an educator on social media do not interfere with their professional responsibilities, compromise their ability to teach or create a hostile environment for students. Personal political expression outside of school hours, on personal time, is not a punishable offense. It is a protected right, and one that our students should know every American has.  We are strongly urging all school district administrators and our school board members recognize public schools should be places where civic engagement is encouraged, not punished, both for students and staff.”  IEA logo.
September 22, 2025 at 9:52 PM
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Solidarity with NUEA! Press release: ieanea.link/NUEAReachTA
BREAKING. Naperville Unit Education Association has reached a tentative agreement with D203.
August 22, 2025 at 9:57 PM
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With more than 100 unfilled para positions in U-46, admin is attempting to fill positions w/ a staffing agency. Why? Unfair pay & lack of respect. U-46 wages are not competitive with neighboring districts, including D300 & St. Charles. DUEA members packed the board meeting to demand real solutions.
Around 50 paraprofessionals wear teal T-shirts in front of the U46 welcome center.
August 11, 2025 at 4:21 PM
ieanea.bsky.social
What’s the best advice you can give a new educator? Join your union! LEAD300 welcomed new hires and signed up new members at the D300 orientation meeting. Great work LEAD300!
Educators are seated at two tables with blue table cloth. The table cloth says LEAD300. Members sign up to join LEAD300 A member holds up a t shirt that says LEAD300. The table is filled with informational fliers and postcards.
August 7, 2025 at 12:47 AM
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#LaborDay is one of our favorite holidays. Leading up to Sept. 1, we’re sharing union wins. Members with Wood River EA signed an MOU with the district that gave ESPs a mid-year 26% raise and certified staff a 1% raise. This would not have been possible without ESP and certified staff solidarity.
Solidarity is power! ESPs and Certified Staff of Wood River Education Association secure a win by working together. Wood River EA members stand together with IEA Secretary Treasurer Gina Harris. Maroon and golden yellow graphic with an IEA Stronger United logo.
August 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
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Strong unions = strong public schools.

Visit join.ieanea.org
"Unions protect the educators and they protect our workplace. They make sure we're safe and we're supported. So if we're protected and able to do our job successfully, then our students can get their best education." - Jenny Sanchez, elementary school teacher.
August 1, 2025 at 2:39 AM
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The Trump administration is trying to divide us, but we know the power of coming together. IEA is proud to support the #GoodTroubleLivesOn day of action on July 17.

Find an event near you: goodtroubleliveson.org/#attend

Let us know if you plan to attend! Email [email protected]
July 17 Good Trouble Lives On. GoodTroubleLivesOn.org
July 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
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BIG NEWS 🎉 IEA member Bill Farmer has been elected to the NEA Executive Committee! Congratulations, Bill Farmer!!!
IEA members cheer on Bill Farmer after the announcement that he has been elected to the NEA Executive Committee. He is wearing a blazer and a dreamer t shirt with a butterfly.
July 7, 2025 at 3:57 PM
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#RedForEd Nonrenewal shouldn't come with noncommunication. Thank you to student journalists who covered the recent educator dismissals and budget mismanagement in District 7. Solidarity with Edwardsville Education Association (EEA)!
Photo of a student newspaper article from The Claw. We Run on Communication. Editorial: nonrenewal shouldn't come with noncommunication. Timing is everything. When the District 7 administration decided to non-renew 16 teachers, citing a "commitment to financial efficiency" in their press release, the staff of The Claw felt it was in poor taste to vote on costly projects at the same meeting that they decided to dismiss faculty. It's no surprise, then, that droves of District 7 faculty, staff and supporters showed up at the March 24 meeting - the signal that administration seemingly sent was that expenditures like resurfacing the track and turfing the softball field were more important than keeping quality teachers employed. Ultimately, there was no escaping the public connecting the new projects and layoffs and attributing one for causing the other despite funding coming from different budgetary allotments. Beyond that, some of the items being voted on, such as furthering the discussions of a seven-period day, still have questions regarding the price tag, according to Mollie Rice, a calculus teacher and the Edwardsville Education Association vice president. For a school board that is committed to financial efficiency, pursuing massive, district-wide changes with unknown costs seems drastic. Even the necessary expenditures come at steep costs. While they initially voted against budgeting $2.3 million to resurface the track and softball field, they approved it at a Special Board of Education meeting April 7. Then-board member, now board president, Bob Paty spoke at the March 24 meeting about careless spending. "A lot of those expenditures I have complained about as well," Paty said. "It has not gone unnoticed, the optics going into this meeting ... The budget is not being adhered to when we come up with these plans. It's, too much." (full article could not fit in alt text section)
May 21, 2025 at 5:57 PM
ieanea.bsky.social
Back by popular demand! IEA Teaching and Learning is hosting a summer virtual book studies from June 15-July 26. Up to 20 PDHs per book. Choose from three collective themes: student wellness, educator wellness and justice and equity. ➡️ ieanea.link/IEAbookstudy-TAL2025
Pink to orange gradient graphic. Teaching and learning. Virtual book studies. Summer Session 2025. Register by June 8.
May 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
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May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Check out educator resources from NEA for celebrating AANHPI heritage, history and leaders in your classroom. bit.ly/44suhgP
May 7, 2025 at 11:21 PM
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Spring Session ends May 31, which means the Illinois Legislature has just over ONE MONTH to #UndoTier2. We are joining the We Are One Illinois coalition for a week of action, April 29-May 1, to contact our lawmakers and demand a fair retirement for all educators and public workers. #Tier2Tuesday
Members get ready. Week of Action. April 29-May 1. Write and call your lawmakers.
April 22, 2025 at 9:49 PM
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Educators with 205 Faculty Association held a solidarity rally to support public ed. FA 205, USS 205, Region 27 leaders & surrounding unions showed up for students!

🚨 Text PROTECT to 48744 to be connected with your congressperson. Tell them to STOP the destruction of the U.S. Department of Ed.
March 19, 2025 at 10:32 PM
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☀️ Coal City Education Association was up bright and early this morning to join the national walk-in to support students and public education!
Educators hold signs that say protect our most vulnerable students and public school strong Educators hold up yellow coal city coalers banners and signs that say protect our most vulnerable students, protect public education, HONK if you love our public schools
March 19, 2025 at 10:31 PM
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The three Evanston Township High School locals, ETHS Teachers' Council, ETHS Support Systems and ETHS Student Welfare, STAND UP FOR STUDENTS AND PUBLIC ED!!! 📣 📣 📣

Join them in taking action today! Text PROTECT to 48744.
An educator holds a sign that says protect our LGBTQ+ students An educator holds a sign that says I love public schools Educators hold signs that says I love public schools, DEI, and fully fund special education
March 19, 2025 at 10:29 PM
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IEA is joining the National Walk-In Day on March 19, the day our elected leaders return from Washington DC to their home districts. This is our opportunity to remind them that their decisions in Washington matter here at home.

Learn more and host your own event: bit.ly/IEANEAMarch1...
March 19: Walk-In to protect our students & families. Organize a walk-in at your school.
March 11, 2025 at 7:35 PM
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Check all that apply:
[ ] I'm an educator or staff member in an IL public school
[ ] I know an educator or staff member in an IL public school
[ ] I believe educators deserve to retire with dignity

If you checked YES to any of the above, sign our petition to #UndoTier2! bit.ly/UndoTier2petition
An educator in the Illinois State Capitol holds up a sign that says Let me retire before I expire
March 11, 2025 at 5:13 PM
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New playlist for Spring Session just dropped! What song would you add? 🎶 #Tier2Tuesday
Screenshot of spotify playlist with the Undo Tier 2 logo. The titles of the songs in the playlist write out a sentence: Happy Tuesday, it's time 2 undo tier 2. Fix the broken system. Respect educators.
March 4, 2025 at 7:49 PM
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Take action for ESPs! Education Support Professionals need protections against third-party contracting. Fill out a witness slip as a proponent of SB 1799 before TOMORROW at 11 a.m.: ieanea.link/SB1799_Insta...
A group of Education Support Professionals at the IEA RA
March 3, 2025 at 10:59 PM
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GOOD NEWS! If you were impacted by GPO/WEP, you could start seeing payments as early as this week.

The SSA is starting retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payments to people whose benefits have been affected by GPO/WEP.

NEA’s FAQ page: www.nea.org/resource-lib...
Retired educators hold up a sign that says Repeal GPO/WEP
February 27, 2025 at 3:06 PM
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We’re continuing to advocate for members during Personnel & Pensions committee hearings. We will need YOUR voice during the Spring Session. #Tier2Tuesday.

SIGN OUR PETITION: bit.ly/UndoTier2petition. If you've already signed, reshare and encourage others to sign!
Educator holds a sign that says I don't want to be the history I am teaching. Undo Tier 2.
February 25, 2025 at 7:04 PM
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IEA's statement following Gov. Pritzker's 2025 State of the State and FY2026 Budget Address.
February 19, 2025 at 9:45 PM
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Linda McMahon is dangerously unqualified to lead the Department of Education and has no background in public schools—just a billionaire's agenda to dismantle them.

Text ACTION to 48744 to contact your senators and urge them to VOTE NO on Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education.
Text ACTION to 48744 to contact your senators
February 14, 2025 at 4:56 PM