Washington's higher ed system cannot handle any more cuts - it's time to fund our future. Read more: https://www.bellinghamherald.com/opinion/article314733519.html

Seattle EA member Helen Zhou has built a program for Lunar New Year that helps students feel engaged and included. Read more: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/sps-lunar-new-year/

Public school educators go above and beyond to set our students up for success. Sedro-Woolley EA member Logan McKay helps students use the construction skills they've learned in competitions. Read more: https://www.heraldnet.com/news/high-schoolers-construct-compete-and-get-career-ready/

Educators' passion and dedication helps kids engage & succeed. Highland EA member John Straehle's joy for music has led to 10x more students in the band and choir programs. Let's congratulate him on his induction into the Washington Music Educators Association Hall of Fame! https://bit.ly/4qUulQR

As Seahawks fans, we're joining AFT Massachusetts in a friendly competition before the Super Bowl-- trying to raise more money than Patriots fans for school communities in MN! Join now by donating to Minneapolis families: https://givebutter.com/pKdLrw AFT-MA is donating to families in St Paul.

Public school educators go above and beyond for our students and communities every day. Vancouver EA member Toree Hiebert developed a program and found funding to get students more engaged and to add more tree cover to their campus. Read more: https://bit.ly/49XqA5J

Congratulations to Dr. Rama Devagupta (Kennewick EA) on her appointment to the Professional Educator Standards Board. PESB is responsible for policy & oversight of educator preparation, certification, assignment, and development. Read more: https://www.pesb.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/about-pesb/

WEA members are committed to the safety and well-being of our students, their families, and the communities they call home. Schools and communities must be places of learning and belonging, safe for all. The presence of ICE in our communities undermines this mission. https://bit.ly/3LYCKDA

TOMORROW: Join educators from across the nation as we call for schools to be restored as protected spaces. #ICEOutSchools

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was best known for his activism in the civil rights movement, but he saw that struggle as inextricably linked to workers' rights. He asked, “What good does it do to be able to eat at a lunch counter if you can’t buy a hamburger?” Learn more: https://bit.ly/43NH66o

Calling all WEA members who teach K-12 mathematics, financial education, social studies or science. Please review and respond to OSPI’s proposed learning standards. Learn more at wea.mobi/standards26.

Jan. 12 is the first day of the new session of the Washington Legislature. Regular session is scheduled to end March 12. Stay up to date on this year’s session and find ways to take action together with your union siblings at: https://bit.ly/3XnERTA

WEA members' hard work and dedication drives student success and builds bright futures. Congrats to Pasco AE members - Ruth Livingston Elementary has been named a 2025 National Elementary and Secondary Education Act Distinguished School! Read more: https://bit.ly/4jrfCKe

Public school educators strive to make sure every student gets a great education. Educators Debbie Wilcox (Ferndale EA), Mary Elliott & Heidi Brislin (Edmonds EA) bring Arts for All: https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2026/jan/05/assistive-technology-makes-art-accessible-to-all-at-cascadia-elementary/

Port Angeles EA member Eric Pickens is a leader in his classroom, in our union, and in his community. Read more about Eric in this great feature: https://www.sequimgazette.com/news/faces-of-sequim-eric-pickens/

Educators are celebrating! Congress passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act to restore much-needed funding for schools near federal forest land. But in some rural communities—including many in WA—the damage from the funding lapse was already done. Read more: https://bit.ly/492ne11

Woodland EA member and nationally-recognized civics teacher Sheri Conditt was just appointed by Gov. Ferguson to the Washington State Board of Education! We're thrilled to have another educator voice on the board to shape policies that support our students' growth and learning.

Public school educators go above and beyond for our students - and sometimes literrally *above*! McCleary EA member Patrice Erickson partnered with educational assistant Chris Hamilton to secure a grant for teaching students how to fly drones. So cool! https://bit.ly/4rQO84x

Public college faculty & staff help every Washingtonian access a great education. Beheshta's Clark College journey is just one of many! Investment in higher ed is building bright futures, strong communities, and a well-prepared workforce. https://bit.ly/4iytz8E

Public school educators strive every day to find innovative ways to help students learn. Spokane EA member Tiffiny Santos partnered with Mobius Discovery Center to give her 3rd students the opportunity to dissect squid, just one of her many efforts to make learning fun. https://bit.ly/3Mgl7yT

Public school educators go above and beyond for our students every day! Congratulations to Granger EA member Stephanie King, 2025 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence recipient for her extraordinary work to turn her high school students into published authors. Read more: https://bit.ly/4pf65bk

WEA members, join President Larry Delaney and VP Janie White for a preview of the legislative session - what can educators expect from lawmakers, and what can we do to get our students the resources they need? Monday, 12/15 at 4:30pm, for members only. Register: wea.mobi/sessionpreview

Nearly 3,000 WEA members have registered with the student loan navigator program, receiving average student loan relief of $37,056 for a total of $104 million in loan forgiveness. Start your student debt relief journey - https://www.neamb.com/products/nea-student-debt-navigator

While every day is a good day to celebrate kindness, today is the official World Kindness Day. Check out these ideas on kindness-related activities for students: https://bit.ly/3BXyUFn

As news comes out that the Dept. of Ed. has been ordered dismantled and abolished, remember, we are WEA. We believe in our work as public-school educators. We will not back down. Every student deserves a high-quality education, in a safe and welcoming public school in every community in Washington.