Learn and Lead

Julie Lillie was all set to present at the most recent Arizona Department of Education conference until a week before her training, she received an email saying her session was cancelled and her subject-matter was no longer in line with the goals of the department. She wasn't the only one. We brought Julie in to talk about what it was that she was planning on presenting, what the experience wa...

In honor of Women's History Month, this week, we dove into the details of the Family Medical Leave Act, family planning in this profession, & ways we can stand up for each other as women in this profession. We have a lot of work still to do, but we are stronger together!

Join us down the technology rabbit hole. This week, Amber & Carrie, are just chatting educator-to-educator about the pros and cons of Artificial Intelligence in the classroom like adaptive education programs, ChatGPT, & more! We even interviewed ChatGPT itself about some pressing issues like pizza toppings. Check out what we had to say, and then tell us what you think about this topic on S...

We asked 3 members to share their experience creating Microcredential PD on climate issues for educators across the country & about their passion for climate justice & how it fits into the work we do as educators. One message shines through - "Hope." Hope for the future. Hope for communities coming together. Hope for the impact we can have on one another. 

On Monday, we heard from Governor Katie Hobbs what she wanted the state's priorities to be under her term, and she spoke a lot about education! We brought in AEA President Marisol Garcia to break down what this means for AZ educators and this legislative session. There was so much to talk about!

Winter can be a stressful time of the year with so many cultures celebrating holidays or swapping gifts. Picking out the right gift can be overwhelming, so we compiled a list of book gift recommendations for the kids in your life no matter their age. We also asked some teachers what their favorite gifts have been from students and families to give you some ideas about how best to show your appreci...

We know November & December get hectic for educators, so we wanted to take a few minutes & share some stories of how educators made a difference in our lives & some words of encouragement about how amazing the work you do everyday is! On behalf of the AEA staff, we are honored to get to work for educators every single day to support the work they do in schools!

We asked educators in the Arizona Education Association headquarters building what some of the things they wish they knew as a first year teacher, and we shared a lot of laughter hearing about the lessons we all learned the hard way so you don't have to!

The only thing scarier than Halloween is November 8th's election in Arizona. We're days away, but there is still a lot of work to do. We invited Ellie Perez Pawloski, the Arizona Education Association Political Director, to share with listeners how they can still influence this important election. 

We know all of our students deserve to feel safe & seen in their schools, but how can we make sure our LGBTIA+ students feel that way? Tami Staas is a 3rd grade teacher, Mesa Education Association union member, and the Executive Director of AZTYPO (Arizona Trans Youth Parent Organization), and we’ve invited her to the show to share her knowledge & experiences with us!

HB2495 went into effect on September 24th & HB2439 goes into effect on January 1st, but there are still a lot of questions about these book banning bills. Enter Gretchen Clifton, an English teacher & Union Region Director, & Analise Ortiz, LD24 Candidate-Elect! They shared their thoughts on what these bills means & how it could affect students & educators across the state.

What role does being a union member play in educator recruitment and retention? Susie Seep, President of PVEA, and Jen Fowler, Education Leader in GUEA, share their experiences and advice on how union work connects to keep educators in this profession long-term & helps members feel supported from the beginning through the end of their education career.

Arizona has the highest teacher turnover rate in the country, and we’re all seeing the effects of this educator shortage - from bus routes being cut to overflowing class sizes. But what do we do about it? Come learn with us about strategies for addressing educator recruitment and retention from some educators who are doing the work. Meet Jen Fowler, a mentor to educators entering the profession &a...

Meet our new Arizona Education Association President - Marisol Garcia, the first woman of color to ever hold this statewide office. Hear about her vision for our statewide education union, and learn more about why we need to own the word "union" & use our voices to make schools safe places where students can learn! Production by: Carrie Wolfe, AEA Learn & Lead Director Theme Song by: Josh...