Member Town Hall

There’s a public education crisis in Idaho. Your union invites you to a special Virtual Town Hall for Idaho Education Association members about our May Matters campaign — a new strategic initiative to take back our public schools at the ballot box. 

Open to IEA members only. Registration is required.

Because of an Educator

We all have at least one great public school educator who saw something in us. Encouraged us. Took time for us. Inspired us. Fought for us. Who is yours, and what would you say to that educator if you could?

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Anti-public education politicians want to weaken our union and silence our voice by removing your option to pay your dues through payroll deduction. Switching to IEA AutoPay today ensures you have a voice in the future of public education and your profession.

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We are Idaho's Public School Educators.

As the Idaho Education Association, we support and advocate for all of our educator colleagues across the state — elementary and secondary teachers, education support professionals, school administrators, aspiring educators and retired educators.

Because of an Educator

We all have at least one great public school educator who saw something in us. Encouraged us. Took time for us. Inspired us. Fought for us. Who is yours, and what would you say to that educator if you could?

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We believe public education is a true public good that transforms lives and creates a more just and inclusive society making it an indispensable cornerstone of our American democratic republic. Together, we defend the teaching profession and believe public education is strengthened when educators are respected for their contributions to our state and its families.

The best argument for public education in Idaho is the good, simple truth of what happens in our members’ classrooms each and every day.

Layne McInelly,

IEA President and Public School Educator

🗓️ IEA Virtual Town Hall
Tuesday, March 25
Zoom, 7PM MST

Your union invites you to a special Virtual Town Hall for Idaho Education Association members about our May Matters campaign — a new strategic initiative to take back our public schools at the ballot box. We’ll break down our plan to elect pro-public education candidates in the May 2026 primary elections, why this is the most important fight ahead and how you can play a role.

Open to IEA members only. Registration is required.

🟢 Register: https://bit.ly/4is9sII 🔵 

#IdahoEA #IDPol #PublicEducation #IDEDU #IdahoEducators

🗓️ IEA Virtual Town Hall
Tuesday, March 25
Zoom, 7PM MST

Your union invites you to a special Virtual Town Hall for Idaho Education Association members about our May Matters campaign — a new strategic initiative to take back our public schools at the ballot box. We’ll break down our plan to elect pro-public education candidates in the May 2026 primary elections, why this is the most important fight ahead and how you can play a role.

Open to IEA members only. Registration is required.

🟢 Register: https://bit.ly/4is9sII 🔵

#IdahoEA #IDPol #PublicEducation #IDEDU #IdahoEducators
...

You're angry. You should be.

The 2025 Idaho legislative session is on track to be one of the worst for public education in over a decade. 

Vouchers, contemptuous disregard of public opinion, attacks on student and educator rights, attempts to force religious mores into taxpayer-funded classrooms, book bans and bad library bills, stripping local school boards of authority, continued chronic underfunding and inequity — the tragic list of anti-public education policies pushed by lawmakers goes on and on. 

The Idaho Legislature is power-hungry, intent on killing public schools and out of touch with reality. They need to be voted out of office.

And we are going to do it. ✊ 

IEA President Layne McInelly invites all members to a virtual town hall next week to learn about how we are building the foundation for a grassroots movement called May Matters to elect pro-public education legislators in the May 2026 primaries and engage IEA members to help campaign and get out the vote. 

🚨 Register for the all-member, virtual town hall on Tuesday, March 25 at 7pm: https://bit.ly/4is9sII (Clickable link is in our bio)

Learn more about May Matters: idahoea.org/may-matters

#IdahoEA #IDPol #IdahoEducators #IDEDU

You`re angry. You should be.

The 2025 Idaho legislative session is on track to be one of the worst for public education in over a decade.

Vouchers, contemptuous disregard of public opinion, attacks on student and educator rights, attempts to force religious mores into taxpayer-funded classrooms, book bans and bad library bills, stripping local school boards of authority, continued chronic underfunding and inequity — the tragic list of anti-public education policies pushed by lawmakers goes on and on.

The Idaho Legislature is power-hungry, intent on killing public schools and out of touch with reality. They need to be voted out of office.

And we are going to do it. ✊

IEA President Layne McInelly invites all members to a virtual town hall next week to learn about how we are building the foundation for a grassroots movement called May Matters to elect pro-public education legislators in the May 2026 primaries and engage IEA members to help campaign and get out the vote.

🚨 Register for the all-member, virtual town hall on Tuesday, March 25 at 7pm: https://bit.ly/4is9sII (Clickable link is in our bio)

Learn more about May Matters: idahoea.org/may-matters

#IdahoEA #IDPol #IdahoEducators #IDEDU
...

In moments of struggle and chaos, look for the helpers. 

Joy Weisel, co-president of the Caldwell Education Association, is one of those people. At the IEA's annual Delegate Assembly next month, she'll receive the Membership Recruiter Award for her work in revitalizing her local association.

“That’s the part I get most excited about,” she said. “[Members are] coming to the meetings, and a lot of them are not people that came last year. They’re coming, and they’re finding enough value in the union that they’re bringing other people. And that is amazing.” 

“This is a really hard year, and I’m not going to negate that for anyone — we are all really struggling and drinking out of the fire hose, but it’s not going to be like this forever,” she said. “And it’s also not going to get better if we don’t do something about it.”

Read our profile of Weisel and her tips for building a stronger local in a new IEA Reporter story: https://bit.ly/41D9dmLv (click the link in our bio)

#IdahoEA #IdahoTeachers #IdahoEducators #CaldwellID

In moments of struggle and chaos, look for the helpers.

Joy Weisel, co-president of the Caldwell Education Association, is one of those people. At the IEA`s annual Delegate Assembly next month, she`ll receive the Membership Recruiter Award for her work in revitalizing her local association.

“That’s the part I get most excited about,” she said. “[Members are] coming to the meetings, and a lot of them are not people that came last year. They’re coming, and they’re finding enough value in the union that they’re bringing other people. And that is amazing.”

“This is a really hard year, and I’m not going to negate that for anyone — we are all really struggling and drinking out of the fire hose, but it’s not going to be like this forever,” she said. “And it’s also not going to get better if we don’t do something about it.”

Read our profile of Weisel and her tips for building a stronger local in a new IEA Reporter story: https://bit.ly/41D9dmLv (click the link in our bio)

#IdahoEA #IdahoTeachers #IdahoEducators #CaldwellID
...

House Bill 382 is set to be heard in the House Education Committee tomorrow, March 13th — and we need your voice to help defeat it.

This dangerous bill would require Idaho’s public schools and universities to track and report the immigration status of students, publishing this data in aggregate form and sharing with the Superintendent of Public Instruction for public dissemination.

House Bill 382 introduces significant risks to student well-being, educational access and community trust. While framed as a data collection effort, it could lead to harmful consequences, including heightened fear, discrimination and disengagement from school. Schools should be safe, welcoming spaces for all students, and policies like this threaten that fundamental principle. 

💬 What can you do?
📞 Call or email House Education Committee members and urge them to VOTE NO on HB 382.
🏫 Speak up for our students—schools should be safe and welcoming for all.

🔗 https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/standingcommittees/HEDU/ (Clickable link is in our bio -- click on the second tab-"Members"-for legislator contact information.)

#NoOnHB382 #IdahoEA #IDEd #IDPol #IDLeg

House Bill 382 is set to be heard in the House Education Committee tomorrow, March 13th — and we need your voice to help defeat it.

This dangerous bill would require Idaho’s public schools and universities to track and report the immigration status of students, publishing this data in aggregate form and sharing with the Superintendent of Public Instruction for public dissemination.

House Bill 382 introduces significant risks to student well-being, educational access and community trust. While framed as a data collection effort, it could lead to harmful consequences, including heightened fear, discrimination and disengagement from school. Schools should be safe, welcoming spaces for all students, and policies like this threaten that fundamental principle.

💬 What can you do?
📞 Call or email House Education Committee members and urge them to VOTE NO on HB 382.
🏫 Speak up for our students—schools should be safe and welcoming for all.

🔗 https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/standingcommittees/HEDU/ (Clickable link is in our bio -- click on the second tab-"Members"-for legislator contact information.)

#NoOnHB382 #IdahoEA #IDEd #IDPol #IDLeg
...

Idaho’s revenue projections are falling short, and lawmakers are already talking about cutting critical infrastructure.
 
With millions siphoned from the General Fund for private school voucher schemes, Idahoans are likely to feel the consequences of vouchers before this session is even over.
 
📢 Idahoans deserve better than underfunded schools and broken budgets. Share and like if you agree. 

#IDPol #IDLeg #IdahoEA #IdahoVouchers

Idaho’s revenue projections are falling short, and lawmakers are already talking about cutting critical infrastructure.

With millions siphoned from the General Fund for private school voucher schemes, Idahoans are likely to feel the consequences of vouchers before this session is even over.

📢 Idahoans deserve better than underfunded schools and broken budgets. Share and like if you agree.

#IDPol #IDLeg #IdahoEA #IdahoVouchers
...

Meet the IEA Education Support Professionals (ESPs) Committee!

“In my brief time as liaison, I’ve come to know dozens of ESPs across the state of Idaho who perform incredibly valuable work for their communities,” said Brent Nichols, who serves as staff liaison. “Not only are they putting in long hours for painfully low pay, at times they’re even putting their physical health on the line to ensure student safety."

Read about the committee's vital role in addressing the unique challenges faced by ESPs through recruitment, professional development and empowerment initiatives, ensuring ESP voices are heard in decision-making processes in a new IEA Reporter story: https://bit.ly/4iy0ZTG (clickable link is in our bio)

#IdahoEA #IdahoESPs #IDLeg

Meet the IEA Education Support Professionals (ESPs) Committee!

“In my brief time as liaison, I’ve come to know dozens of ESPs across the state of Idaho who perform incredibly valuable work for their communities,” said Brent Nichols, who serves as staff liaison. “Not only are they putting in long hours for painfully low pay, at times they’re even putting their physical health on the line to ensure student safety."

Read about the committee`s vital role in addressing the unique challenges faced by ESPs through recruitment, professional development and empowerment initiatives, ensuring ESP voices are heard in decision-making processes in a new IEA Reporter story: https://bit.ly/4iy0ZTG (clickable link is in our bio)

#IdahoEA #IdahoESPs #IDLeg
...

🔴 RED FOR ED 🔴

Stand for fully funded public schools that serve all Idaho kids, regardless of ability, religion or location.

Stand against House Bill 93 and all voucher schemes that divert millions of public dollars to private schools with no accountability to taxpayers or mandate to serve all students. 

📌 WEAR RED tomorrow, March 4. 📌
Post photos and videos on social media.
Change your profile picture.

Use this small act of solidarity to spark conversations about public education with folks in your community.

We’re just getting started. Join us.

#RedForEdIdaho #IdahoEA #IDPol #IDLeg #Idaho

🔴 RED FOR ED 🔴

Stand for fully funded public schools that serve all Idaho kids, regardless of ability, religion or location.

Stand against House Bill 93 and all voucher schemes that divert millions of public dollars to private schools with no accountability to taxpayers or mandate to serve all students.

📌 WEAR RED tomorrow, March 4. 📌
Post photos and videos on social media.
Change your profile picture.

Use this small act of solidarity to spark conversations about public education with folks in your community.

We’re just getting started. Join us.

#RedForEdIdaho #IdahoEA #IDPol #IDLeg #Idaho
...

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