Illinois Education Association

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.

Statement from IEA President Al Llorens on educators' use of social media:

River Forest, Illinois parents urge board of education to reach deal with teachers The teachers' contract was not an official part of the agenda Tuesday night.

#RedForEd Fair contract for RFEA!

"'Fair wage is not just a matter of money, it's a matter of respect,’ one woman said. 'Let's work together to ensure that our teachers stay right here.’”

Trump’s Tax Bill Will Starve Public Schools. Kids are Next An estimated 18 million kids could lose access to free school meals because of Trump's tax bill.

Hunger is one of the biggest barriers to learning. Yet Trump’s tax bill puts 18M kids at risk of losing school meals.

Read @neapresident.bsky.social Becky Pringle's TIME op-ed on why America must choose to feed its students ⬇️ https://time.com/7308619/trump-starve-public-schools/

Some Texas private schools hire relatives and enrich insiders. Soon they can do it with taxpayer money. An investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found more than 60 instances of nepotism, self-dealing and conflicts of interest among 27 private schools that likely would have violated state law...

‪@texastribune.org‬ and @propublica.org‬ found 60+ cases of nepotism & self-dealing at private schools. Now those same schools could get taxpayer dollars through vouchers. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/13/texas-vouchers-private-schools-conflicts/

Organizing 101 · Illinois Education Association New to organizing? No worries! Join us and learn the basics you need to build and maintain strong locals!

United we WIN! Whether you are new to organizing or want to brush up on the basics, join the IEA Organizing department for a training Aug. 28 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. www.mobilize.us/ieanea/event...

BREAKING. Naperville Unit Education Association has reached a tentative agreement with D203.

Solidarity with NUEA! Press release: ieanea.link/NUEAReachTA

Around 50 paraprofessionals wear teal T-shirts in front of the U46 welcome center.

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.

LOVEWORKS Joy & Justice Leadership Development Retreat – Illinois Education Association The LOVEWORKS: Joy & Justice Leadership Development Retreat is a transformative 3-day, in-person experience that invites IEA members to grow as equity-centered leaders. Designed primarily for emerging activists who are ready to foster their commitment to racial and social justice. Through deep reflection, historical context, and hands-on training, participants will explore the foundations of educational justice, abolitionist teaching, and culturally responsive pedagogy. They will also gain tools to lead equity-focused conversations in their classrooms, buildings, and broader communities, which will increase member engagement and activism to effect equity & excellence in public education.

Deadline approaching ⏰ IEA is launching a new leadership development retreat centered on the impacts of systemic racism, abolitionist teaching & culturally responsive classroom strategies. Join the Loveworks Joy & Justice retreat Oct. 10-12 in Springfield. Apply by Aug. 22: bit.ly/45pSuoK

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.

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!

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.

#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.

"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.

Strong unions = strong public schools.

Visit join.ieanea.org

Trump’s decision to cancel millions in federal grants (many already awarded) undermines higher education and silences critical research. Learn what’s at stake and how these cuts are affecting campuses across the country: bit.ly/44M7eOt

July 17 Good Trouble Lives On. GoodTroubleLivesOn.org

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 IEAcommunications@ieanea.org

"All-out betrayal": Trump halts nearly $7 billion in federal funding for schools The loss of funds would affect summer and after-school programs and teacher training grants, among other things

Withholding billions in promised federal education funding that students need—and states had planned to use to support children in their states—is a cruel betrayal of students, especially those who rely on critical support services.

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.

BIG NEWS 🎉 IEA member Bill Farmer has been elected to the NEA Executive Committee! Congratulations, Bill Farmer!!!

Ready to represent @ieanea.bsky.social at the @neatoday.bsky.social Representative Assembly!

Thank you for representing! 🔥🔥🔥

Trump Tells States He's Holding Back $6.8 Billion for Schools Schools nationwide won't see funding earmarked for English learners, migrant students, professional development, and more.

80% of IL public schools are underfunded, yet the Trump administration is taking more than $200 million from our state and $6.8 billion away from students nationally. Every student deserves access to a high-quality public education. We will continue to advocate for fully funded public schools in IL.

Don’t Slash Medicaid and Children's Health Care | NEA One-fifth of the U.S. population depends on the program, including more than half our students and many ESPs.

We believe in public schools where students have access to health professionals and care services so they can reach their fullest potential. Take action now and tell your senators to oppose cuts to Medicaid:

Nearly 40% of students in Illinois get healthcare through Medicaid/CHIP. Tell senators: all kids deserve access to medical care! SAVE Medicaid!

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)

#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)!

Nation’s largest public service unions launch national campaign to stop federal budget cuts to public services | NEA Representing more than 8.3 million workers, AFSCME, AFT, NEA, and SEIU launch “Put Families First,” a new campaign to highlight the devastating effects of federal budget cuts on working families. The ...

The Trump Administration wants to gut public services that students, educators and working families need to survive. Our union is not going to stand for it.

House Republicans unveil Medicaid cuts that Democrats warn will leave millions without care House Republicans have unveiled the cost-saving centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.”

"...at least $880 billion in cuts largely to Medicaid to help cover the cost of $4.5 trillion in tax breaks."

They are literally taking healthcare away from children in order to enrich their billionaire friends.

Pink to orange gradient graphic. Teaching and learning. Virtual book studies. Summer Session 2025. Register by June 8.

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

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

Members get ready. Week of Action. April 29-May 1. Write and call your lawmakers.

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

Illinois has a two tiered pension system. Here's why teachers unions are pushing for changes. Illinois teachers hired after Jan. 1, 2011 could see pension benefits that are less than Social Security when they retire. Unions are pushing lawmakers to fix that.

“If you’re paying a lot more than what your pension is returning, that’s not an incentive to stay.” - IEA President Al Llorens #Tier2Tuesday

Toolkit: Protecting Students and Public Schools | NEA Recess (when members of Congress are back in their district to hear from constituents) is a great time to raise visibility in your community about how proposed federal funding cuts will impact our pub...

‼️ Congress will be home to hear from constituents during the April 11-25 recess. This is a critical window to demand their attention. Educators can raise visibility on how our students will be negatively impacted by federal funding cuts, including Medicaid, Title I & IDEA. Visit bit.ly/4ienPiy

The Future of Equity: Why We Can't Wait · Illinois Education Association Equity delayed is justice denied. The time for equitable education is now. Join the conversation and be a part of the solution. This virtual event is free. Register today to receive the Zoom link. ...

Equity delayed is justice denied. The time for equitable education is now.

Join The Opportunity Coalition on Thursday, April 17 at 5:30pm! RSVP ⬇️

New poll shows most Illinois residents want more funding for public schools The annual report from the state’s largest teachers union comes after President Trump’s move to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.

Despite Trump and Musk’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Public Education, our polling shows public schools remain a top priority for Illinoisans. 71% of Illinois residents believe we should be investing MORE in our public schools— not less.