Pre K 12 - Teachers

AFT Michigan represents about 35,000 members in 94 locals spread throughout Michigan. Of the 94 locals, 31 are primarily composed of pre-K-12 teachers. Another 15 locals represent teachers in the Intermediate School Districts and adult education programs. Teachers are the largest segment of our membership.

AFT Michigan, in conjunction with the AFT, offers a variety of services of special interest to teachers.

Professional Development

AFT Michigan offers classes, workshops, and conferences to assist teachers with their professional development. Some of the topics offered include: Effective Classroom Management, Managing Anti-Social Behavior, Strategies for Resolving Conflict, Parental Involvement, and No Child Left Behind.

A number of courses are offered for State Board Continuing Education Units (SB-CEUs), which are required for continuing certification.

In addition, AFT Michigan works closely with teachers who are pursuing National Board Certification to offer mentoring and support, as well as a financial contribution toward the cost of the application.

AFT Michigan, working with the AFT, also offers our members and locals additional professional development programming including summer institutes and national conferences, and the Education Research and Dissemination Program (ER&D) which offers the latest research into what works in our classrooms.

In addition, AFT Michigan provides training on leadership development, bargaining and administering a contract and other topics related to running a local union.

Legislative and Political Action

Virtually every aspect of a pre K-12 teacher's job is controlled or influenced by the state legislature and Congress. Everything from our school's funding, the curriculum we teach, to the standardized tests we give, length of our workday and school year, our personnel files and our pension system is the result of decisions made by elected officials. AFT Michigan maintains a strong presence in Lansing, lobbying lawmakers on issues of concern to our membership. We work with our locals to keep members informed about issues moving through the legislature and encourage members to become involved in the political process.

We are active politically, conferring with members of congress, the state legislature and school boards, and work to elect people who support public education and educators.

Publications

The AFT publication American Teacher is mailed to every member of a pre K-12 teacher local. It contains news about the union, discussion of current issues in education, information about discounts and other member benefits. In addition, members receive AFT Michigan's Forum five times a year. AFT Michigan's web site is an excellent source of current information about the union, the legislature, and the professional development offerings.