Are you interested in professional development focused on global learning? Apply for The NEA Foundation’s 2027 Global Learning Fellowship!

Through the Fellowship, public school educators develop the knowledge and skills to integrate global competency into their daily classroom instruction, advocate for global competency in their schools and districts, and help students to thrive in our increasingly interconnected world. Fellows transform their classrooms to give students a global perspective.

Over the course of a year, NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellows immerse themselves in:

• Ongoing workshops and webinars with global competency and education
• Fellows’ independent study followed by group reflection and discussion
• Group mentoring
• A two-day in-person conference in the fall
• Completion of a capstone project incorporating one or more of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals into classroom instructions
• A 10-day international field study to examine the education system, culture, and historical context of another country (in the summer; 2027 location to be announced)

Bridgeport teacher Mikeya Stovall was Connecticut’s 2025 Global Learning Fellow. Read about her incredible 10-day trip to Costa Rica where she toured natural landmarks, learned about the local culture, and visited schools while bonding with colleagues from across the U.S. In 2026, fellows will be visiting South Africa. Previous field study destinations also include Peru, China, and Brazil.

Applications are due April 6. Learn more about how to apply through a virtual information session being held Tuesday, March 24, 7-8 p.m.

CEA’s comprehensive workshops on understanding and planning your retirement cover all issues related to the State Teachers’ Retirement System, such as retirement eligibility, purchasing additional service, retiree health insurance, and choosing a retirement plan.

CEA Retirement Specialist Brendan Murphy will cover a wide range of issues and will offer time for questions following the presentation.

Any CEA member who wishes to begin planning for retirement is encouraged to attend our workshops. It is never too early to educate yourself!

All workshops take place from 4–6:15 p.m.

• Wednesday, April 22
• Tuesday, May 5
• Wednesday, May 20

Join your colleagues for CEA’s March Madness County Forum—an interactive virtual event designed to keep you informed, connected, and empowered.

This March 31, 6:00–7:30 p.m., get an inside look at the key education issues moving through the State Capitol and what they mean for your classroom, your students, and your profession. Learn how shifting federal policies could impact funding, curriculum, and public education priorities here in Connecticut—and what you can do about it.

You’ll also hear directly from candidates seeking leadership roles within CEA, giving you the opportunity to stay engaged in the direction of your union and the advocacy that shapes your work every day. Counties will also have the opportunity to break out to elect Resolutions Committee members and vice chairs to the Board of Directors.

Whether you’re looking to stay ahead of policy changes, have a voice in your union’s future, or connect with fellow educators across your county, this forum is your chance to be informed and involved—all from the convenience of home.

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay in the game on the issues that matter most.

Danbury High School AP U.S. Government and Politics classes got a real-time lesson in how laws are made today, visiting the Capitol as legislators moved forward a bill to ensure a fair process for teacher terminations. The trip gave students a firsthand look at how the issues constituents raise can turn into legislation with direct impact on students, teachers, and schools.

State Senator Julie Kushner, who represents Danbury, greeted the students at the Legislative Office Building and told them that the committee she chairs would be voting today on legislation ensuring a fair process for teachers.

“Today is a really busy day and a great day at the Capitol,” Kushner told the group of more than 80 students and their teachers. “I’m the chair of the Labor Committee for the Senate, and we’re holding a meeting where we’re going to sign off and pass bills forward to be voted on. Today, we’re moving a bill out of committee that will give teachers a fair process in terminations.”

Danbury history teacher Heather Lorenz thanked Kushner for her work successfully moving the bill to the floor and explained why she thinks it’s important to bring students to the Capitol.

“Our students need to see what they’re learning in action and hear from the people who do this work every day,” Lorenz said. “We stopped at the CEA building first, and we learned more about lobbying and the legislative process of unions as well as elections and campaigning. At the Legislative Office Building the students have a chance to talk with their state reps and state senator, and then they’re going to have a tour of the Capitol and State Supreme Court.”

CEA’s Gus Melita talked to students about the legislative process including the ins and outs of lobbying lawmakers.

CEA Political Engagement Coordinator Gus Melita spoke to students about how an organization like CEA engages in the legislative process and works to get issues that start out as suggestions from members into legislation.

“Find the issues you’re passionate about and explore opportunities to get involved in the legislative process,” he encouraged the students. Some of the Danbury students were at the Capitol earlier this legislative session doing just that and advocating for increased education funding for their district.

“Through the lobbying presentation, students realized in a way they hadn’t before how much is involved and how much effort it takes to lobby and get legislation passed,” Lorenz said.

Some students asked Melita whether CEA would take a stance on an issue outside the education landscape, such as the Trust Act.

“We’re a membership organization, and so if there’s an issue that we can’t explain to our own members how it impacts teachers and public education, then we aren’t weighing in on it,” Melita said. “There are a lot of issues right now that do tie back to education in some way. It’s important that we have the opportunity to educate all of our kids in our public schools, that kids feel safe coming to school, and that teachers feel safe teaching. We have to weigh every issue and and look for the pros and cons with each.”

Subscribe to the CEADaily for more updates on the legislative session and to learn how you can take action to get education priorities over the finish line.

Legislators have until May 6 to pass or reject laws with lasting impact on your students and your livelihood—and they need a push from you. Join us Wednesday, April 8, for CEA Lobby Day at the State Capitol to help move teacher priorities forward.

Lobby Day starts at 2 p.m. and runs through the afternoon, so join us after your school day is over. Lobby Day provides the perfect opportunity to talk with your legislators and make sure they know why providing teachers with a fair process in termination hearings, ensuring privacy protections for teachers, banning cell phones from schools, providing stipends for student teachers, and increasing education funding are so important.

Never lobbied before? CEA staff will be on hand to walk you through the process, provide talking points, and connect you with your legislators. All you need are your stories about what you see in your classroom every day.

“It makes a big difference when legislators hear directly from their teacher constituents,” says CEA President Kate Dias. “Come out and make your voice heard.”

Join together with other Connecticut teachers on April 8 to speak out and make a lasting difference for our profession.

Making plans for spring or summer travel? Don’t forget the advantages that come with your NEA and CEA membership.

From unforgettable cruises to expertly guided tours, the NEA Travel Program makes it easy for educators to plan memorable getaways while taking advantage of exclusive savings and trusted travel partners. With member-only rates, flexible options, and personalized support, it’s a simple way to turn your well-earned time off into a stress-free adventure.

• NEA members can access exclusive cruise and guided tour packages, offering immersive and stress-free travel experiences.
• The NEA Travel Program provides unbeatable value with member-only rates, trusted travel partners, and the ability to apply Savings Dollars for significant savings.
• Booking through the NEA Travel Portal is easy and personalized, with a user-friendly interface, secure checkout and dedicated support throughout the journey.
• Additional perks like onboard credits, flexible change policies, and bundled travel options enhance the overall value and convenience of educator-focused vacations.

The NEA Travel Program is designed with educators in mind. It’s a curated a travel program that offers trusted partnerships with reputable travel providers and dedicated support and travel assistance every step of the way.

Learn more about the NEA Travel Program and discover the exciting cruise and tour options available to you.

Read Across Connecticut Week offers a great chance for educators to celebrate reading with their students—but how do we keep encouraging reading year round? On the latest episode of CEA’s podcast, Two T’s in a Pod, Simsbury library media specialist Jamie Sepa talks with CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey about the importance of school libraries and how to sustain that joy of reading in children—and adults—the other 51 weeks of the year.

“Part of what makes school libraries so successful is the day-to-day experience we offer students,” says Sepa, the co-president of the Simsbury Education Association. He explains the many responsibilities library media specialists take on from recommending the perfect book to teaching literacy and information literacy skills.

“Our students someday are going to want to attend college, buy a car, or plan a vacation,” Sepa says. “We teach research, thinking, and making good choices based on available information. Those are all skills kids need to have, and that’s what we model in the library.”

“The most valuable thing we can teach our children is to be curious and interested in the world around them,” Dias adds.

Did you celebrate Read Across Connecticut with your class? A contest is currently being held, open to all Connecticut public school classrooms, offering a chance to win one of four $500 classroom libraries. Submit photos of your class showing how they made reading a llama fun during Read Across Connecticut Week now through March 20 for a chance to win. To enter visit readacrossct.org.

Listen to the full podcast episode below or wherever you get your podcasts.

For the first time since the pandemic, CEA-Retired members returned to the Capitol for a dedicated retired lobby day, ensuring the voices of retired educators remain part of the conversation shaping state policy. More than thirty members spent the day meeting with 17 legislators, sharing their experiences and advocating for issues that affect retirees, active teachers, and the future of the profession.

“I want you to know how much I appreciate your continued advocacy, participation, and real commitment to making sure that the voice of our educators is in our legislators’ ears at all times,” CEA President Kate Dias told retirees. She thanked them for making sure lawmakers understand not just retired teachers’ legislative priorities, but those of active and aspiring educators as well.

“I have never heard anybody advocate more solidly for paid student teaching than our retired teachers, and that’s a real testament to your commitment to the profession as a whole,” she said. “It’s deeply valuable to me to know that we can rely on you—to know that you’ll be here on a day like today when active teachers can’t be at the Capitol. It’s such a powerful thing to have you in this space.”

CEA-Retired members Phyllis Winkler and Peggy Wilde talk legislative priorities with Rep. Kevin Brown.

Some of the issues retired educators advocated for include doubling the Teachers’ Retirement Board disability benefit (from $220 to $440 per month) for a group of 50 retirees who were inadvertently left out of an update to statute a few years back and allowing active and retired educators to vote in the elections for all open seats on the Teachers’ Retirement Board. Retirees also thanked legislators for their commitment to fully fund the annual pension and retired teachers’ health insurance account contributions.

“Thank you, all of you, for being here,” CEA-Retired President Mary-Beth Lang told her colleagues. “It’s been a great experience putting together a CEA-Retired Lobby Day for the first time in a long time. CEA-Retired leaders have been meeting with a number of lawmakers via Zoom this session, and we’re excited to be here at the Capitol today with all of you for face-to-face conversations.”

Judy Beahan retired this past January from Griswold Public Schools but is already getting involved with CEA-Retired and came to her first CEA lobby event today.

“I think it’s important to have representation and be involved in issues effecting retirees,” she said. “It’s my first time at an event like this, so I want to see how it all works.”

CE-Retired members Susan and Dan Hart and Bob Brown talk with Rep. Chris Poulos.

“Letters and phone calls can work, but facetime is more impactful when it comes to communicating our issues,” CEA-Retired member Dan Hart said. “I encourage anyone who hasn’t met their legislators to do so, and have a conversation with them.”

He added that retirement funding is always a legislative priority for retired and active educators alike.

“Making sure our retirement is fully funded is always one of the biggest things on my mind,” Hart said. “Up until the Keep of the Promise rally and vote in the mid-aughts, I was worried about our pensions because we were billions short. We’re making progress now, but we’re still short, so it’s important legislators maintain that commitment.”

“Thank you for your advocacy,” CREC teacher and Education Committee Vice Chair Rep. Kevin Brown told CEA-Retired members. “I’m a civics teacher by trade, so it matters to me that people at all levels, retirees down to the children that are testifying in the Education Committee today, use their voice. Sound the alarm when there’s something that you feel needs to be addressed. I appreciate you coming up here to talk to us.”

Senator Jorge Cabrera hears from CEA Research and Policy Development Specialist Alex Kolokotronis and CEA-Retired members Rob Traber and Kate Lunnie.

“As both a teacher and a legislator, I believe the best education policy starts with listening,” said Redding teacher Rep. Chris Poulos. “Hearing the priorities of active and retired CEA teachers ensures our decisions reflect real classroom experience and truly support our students and schools.”

“Strengthening relationships between members and their legislators is one of the most important things we do,” said CEA Legislative Coordinator Louis Rosado Burch. “Elected officials are meant to serve the public, and they can’t do that without hearing from teachers about the issues that affect them the most. We deeply appreciate all the retired members who took the time to have their voices heard today.”

“Whatever happens this legislative session, our work is not done,” CEA-Retired Legislative Committee Co-Chair Joe Jankowski told retired members. “Our CEA-Retired Legislative Committee will reflect on what happens at the end of this session, and then we will look forward to the future. If there are things that you see as priorities for the future, make sure you communicate those through your representative on the CEA-Retired Advisory Council to make sure those ideas get to our committee.”

Whether you’re a retired, active, or aspiring educator, join us for CEA Lobby Day on April 8 for another opportunity to have face-to-face conversations with legislators.

In every community, there are educators who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to social justice issues, such as LGBTQ+ support and awareness, promoting equal opportunity and equity, and creating diverse educational programs. Does this describe you or a colleague you know?

CEA’s Human and Civil Rights Awards recognize educators who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of human and civil rights in their schools, in their communities, and beyond. Previous recipients have been honored for encouraging underrepresented students to pursue careers in education, formulating LGBTQ+ action strategies for inclusion and equity within their district, or fostering inclusion by ensuring school library collections more accurately reflect the diversity of staff and students.

CEA offers nine annual Human and Civil Rights Awards in total, each recognizing specific efforts to promote racial and gender equity, LGBTQ+ rights, peace education and conflict resolution, multiculturalism through the arts, equal opportunities for students with disabilities, Black history, opportunities for Hispanic students, immigrants’ rights, and anti-discrimination in educational opportunities and hiring. The deadline to apply has been extended until Friday, March 13.

Help us shine a light on educators dedicated to making the world a better place.

March is National Women’s History Month. To help you teach about the Women’s Rights Movement and women’s achievements throughout our country’s history, NEA has compiled lesson plans, educational resources, and other information to bring Women’s History Month into the classroom.

Teach about the challenges and accomplishments of women throughout history with these lessons, activities, background readings, and more.

Check out this article to learn more about the last 50 years of women’s history in the labor movement.