News Releases
TEA-backed Bill Helps Restore Parent, Teacher Voices in Retention Decisions
An important bill backed by TEA passed in the final hours of the 113th General Assembly that alleviated pressure on fourth grade students facing mandatory retention based on the results of the ELA...
Teaching With Fidelity, Not Fear
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.” For education to achieve its lofty...
Won't You Join Me?
As the new school year looms, I keep hearing Soul II Soul’s “back to life, back to reality” echoing in my head. While that refrain may be the most memorable, I cannot forget the...
TEA applauds the hard work of Tennessee's educators
The following may be attributed to TEA President Tanya T. Coats, a 27-year veteran Knox County educator: “The Tennessee Education Association applauds the hard work of...
TEA applauds preliminary victory in prohibited concepts lawsuit
U.S. District Court Judge Aleta Trauger recently rejected the state's request to dismiss the lawsuit filed by TEA and five Tennessee teachers contesting a vague, three-year-old state law that...
TEA Celebrates Victories for Tennessee’s Students
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As the 113th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned sine die Thursday, Tennessee Education Association President Tanya T. Coats thanked educators, families and community...
Lawmakers Got the Message: Vouchers are Bad Policy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Governor Lee has officially declared that his proposal to drain taxpayer dollars from local schools and send them to private schools has no path forward this year. TEA...
TEA statement on HB1202/SB1325
The following may be attributed to Knox County educator and Tennessee Education Association President Tanya T. Coats: “If we want a safe school where our children can succeed...
TEA Member, Leader Named National Teacher of the Year
Nashville, Tenn. — The Tennessee Education Association (TEA) is honored to celebrate longtime member and local leader Missy Testerman, a K-8 English as a second language (ESL) teacher at...
TN LAWMAKERS PLAN TO USE TEACHER RAISES TO FUND VOUCHER BILL
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Legislators confirmed in the House Education K-12 Subcommittee hearing this week that, as introduced, money allocated for teacher raises will be used to fund components of...
Student success is also about building character
For many, February is a celebration of the resilience, triumph, and the enduring legacy of the African American community. As a Memphis native and later a Nashville educator, Black History Month...
Gov. Lee's Plan Does Not Ensure Student Success
The following may be attributed to Knox County educator and Tennessee Education Association President Tanya T. Coats: “Gov. Lee is right that education has the power to change the...
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS OPPOSE GOV. LEE’S STATEWIDE VOUCHER PROPOSAL
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A statewide poll conducted by co/efficient, a reputable national research and analytics company, reveals Gov. Bill Lee’s vouchers-for-all plan is wildly...
Steadfast determination needed to protect our students
If you think you are beaten, you are;If you think you dare not, you don’t;If you’d like to win, but think you can’t It’s almost a cinch you won’t.If you think...
TEA Statement on A-F School Grades
The following may be attributed to Knox County educator and Tennessee Education Association President Tanya T. Coats: “Tennessee already has school accountability in its...
Stronger When We Come Together
The Middle Tennessee community is coming together once again following a series of tornadoes that devastated the region on Saturday, Dec. 9, directly impacting Madison, Hendersonville,...
Gov. Lee's voucher plan risks school closures
Collierville officials pass joint resolution opposing school voucher plan. Here's why. Arlington Community Schools: Vouchers are the state’s way of slowly defunding public schools...
Tennessee educators, TEA push for improvements to teacher evaluation
Tennessee’s educator evaluation system is long overdue for fundamental changes to better support student achievement and improve teaching practice, according to the findings of the TEA...
Lawmakers considering expansion of 3rd grade retention law to 4th grade
The possibility of expanding the state’s controversial third-grade retention law to include fourth-grade students is rumored to be under consideration for the upcoming session of 113th...
TEA is rising stronger than ever
Nelson Mandela famously said, “Do not judge me by my successes; judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” TEA has been fighting for Tennessee educators,...
Now is the time to speak up for public education
Fall is an exciting time in our schools and it presents opportunities for educators. We learn so much during the early weeks of the school year about our students. The fall season also...
State Department of Education set to release school A-F letter grades
TEA pushing back on harmful and misleading labeling of public schools The Tennessee Department of Education has made implementation of a long dormant state law requiring annual assignment...
Rejecting federal education funding would be a failure for Tennessee's children
As published in The Tennessean October 5, 2023 Tennessee public schools have been ranked near the bottom in funding per student for decades. Even after setting up a shiny new funding formula and...
TEA to Fed Funds Working Group: Every Education Dollar is Needed
This week, a legislative working group was formed to recommend whether Tennessee should reject federal education funding. Federal dollars feed children, pay for thousands of teachers, and provide...
From Burnout to Association Leader
Like many other educators, Sienna Holl did not initially see herself as a leader. For her first 14 years as an English teacher in Rutherford County, Sienna’s priority was to ensure her...
TEA on A-F School Letter Grades: Repeal the Law!
A 2016 law requiring the state apply A-F letter grades to every public school in the state is going to be implemented for the first time this fall, under the direction of new education...
Changes to third-grade law take effect 2023-24
The state’s controversial third-grade retention law went into effect this past spring, despite key aspects of the law being undefined by the end of the school year and changes ready for...
Literacy assessment gives K-5 teachers waiver on trainings
By August 1, all K-5 teachers and instructional leaders in Tennessee who need to renew or advance their teaching license are required to take an online literacy skills test or complete at least...
TENNESSEE TEACHERS FILE LAWSUIT OVER UNCONSTITUTIONAL “PROHIBITED CONCEPTS” LAW
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWednesday, July 26, 2023 TENNESSEE TEACHERS FILE LAWSUIT OVER UNCONSTITUTIONAL “PROHIBITED CONCEPTS” LAW NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee...
TEA LAWSUIT: PAYROLL DUES DEDUCTION BAN FOR TEACHERS VIOLATES STATE CONSTITUTION
NASHVILLE, Tenn.— The Tennessee Education Association (TEA), on behalf of members and local education associations, filed in Davidson County Chancery Court a lawsuit challenging the...
TEA is about so much more than liability insurance
By TEA President Tanya Coats Being a TEA member has its benefits. I have always believed that being a member is critical in our profession. TEA brings like- minded people...
Tennessee has a long way to go
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, Feb. 6, 2023 NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The first year of state K-12 budgeting with the new TISA formula provides new challenges. The Tennessee Education...
TEA statement of the death of Tyre Nichols
TEA President Tanya Coats: “The leadership and staff of the Tennessee Education Association are saddened by the death of Tyre Nichols. The impact of this tragedy is far-reaching and...
A love of reading should be our goal
By TEA President Tanya Coats Happy New Year! One of my all-time favorite shows – I’ll accept the risk of dating myself here – was “Mister Rogers’...
Ways to navigate current 3d grade retention climate
A Student Is More Than a Test Score…and So Are Educators! Anxiety, confusion, and frustration abound as families across the state have received notices from their schools that...
GAINS ON SALARIES. NEXT UP: INSURANCE!
TEA’s relentless fight to raise the state minimum salary schedule paid off in May when the Tennessee State Board of Education passed a 5.3% increase for licensed personnel’s minimum...
TEA Expands Instructional Connection Offerings
This professional development series will provide the opportunity to learn and apply new knowledge, and deepen skills to improve practice and instruction in the classroom. *Please note:...
Elections, politics, students and YOU
Being an educator means we play an intricate role in democracy. Public schools are and have always been the cornerstone of advancing democracy, fostering equal opportunity and building a just...
TEA CALLS ON GOV. LEE TO SEVER TIES WITH HILLSDALE, LIMIT STATE CHARTER COMMISSION’S POWER
The Tennessee Education Association calls on Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to sever ties with Hillsdale College and support legislation to limit the power of the state charter commission, restoring...
ORGANIZING TO FIGHT HILLSDALE CHARTERS
Across Tennessee this past spring and summer, applications for charter schools affiliated with the controversial Hillsdale College were rejected by local school boards. Larry Arnn,...
2022 TEA SUMMER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PHOTOS ARE HERE!
Please share, download and enjoy the photos from this year's TEA Summer Leadership Academy AT THIS LINK.
