Who We Are
The Idaho Education Association is the state’s largest professional employee organization. Sometimes called the state teachers union, the IEA represents elementary and secondary teachers, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.
The IEA mission statement, as adopted by the 1995 Delegate Assembly, is “The Idaho Education Association advocates the professional and personal well-being of its members and the vision of excellence in public education, the foundation of the future.”
The IEA focus statement, approved by the 2000 Delegate Assembly, is “The focus of the IEA is to help local associations build capacity to achieve excellence in public education.”
The 2004 Delegate Assembly adopted the following IEA Core Values:
- Public Education: Preserving the foundation of democracy
- Justice: Upholding fair and equitable treatment for all
- Unity: Standing together for our common cause
- Integrity: Stating what we believe and living up to it
The 2010-2011 Board of Directors adopted a new logo to represent IEA’s work on behalf of educators and students. The word “idea” appears in a double speech bubble alongside our name, speaking to our knowledge that education is about more than top-down dictates, tests, and competition. The IEA values two-way communication, collaboration, and – yes – ideas. The 2010-2011 board also approved the following motto to accompany the logo: Educate. Inspire. Empower. These three words summarize what IEA members do for Idaho’s children – and for each other – every day.
IEA members are actively involved in their communities, inside and out of school. The IEA Children's Fund has provided nearly $1 million in assistance to Idaho public school children and their families who face extraordinary needs for clothing, medical care, groceries, and other life necessities.
How the IEA works
Most IEA members work in Idaho’s schools; some are retired after careers in education, or they are students planning a career in Idaho’s schools. We are a member-led organization governed by an elected Board of Directors. The IEA board governs the association between meetings of the Delegate Assembly, which annually brings together hundreds of locally-elected representatives to develop the association policy and action. On the regional and local level, working educators are elected to lead and provide assistance to fellow members. Most IEA leaders are volunteers; the IEA President and a handful of local leaders in larger school districts earn a salary.
Idaho educators voluntarily pay dues out of their own earnings to be members of their local association plus the IEA and the National Education Association. The IEA employs a staff of nearly 30 people in its Boise headquarters and in regional offices to serve members and assist IEA leadership. Dues also help pay for professional development, legislative advocacy to promote strong public schools, legal services, member communications, and a wide range of services and discounts available through IEA-NEA Member Benefits.
Member dues are not used to support political candidates for federal, state, or local office. Members may make optional contributions to the IEA’s Political Action Committee for Education (PACE) and/or the NEA Fund For Children & Public Education.
