When schools closed March 18, 2020 due to COVID-19, AEA did what we always do and went to work to protect Alabama educators. AEA has been front and center, as well as behind the scenes, working for you. While AEA may not report every behind the scenes action we take, members should have no doubt of AEA's consistent actions and advocacy for education employees and students.
Find articles about how AEA has been advocating for you.
March 2020- AEA meets with state leaders to ensure Alabama educators are paid during school closures. AEA fights to get school employees who test positive (or had family members who test positive or have to be quarantined) to recieve administrative leave.
April 2020 - AEA fights against the Public Health Order issued on April 3, 2020, requiring school employees to return to school buildings. Due to AEA's involvement, the order is amended to allow school employees to only report to schools if their physical presence was absolutely essetial to carrying out continuity plans or as part of a feeding program.
May 2020 - With assistance from AEA, the Alabama Legislature delivers an education budget with a slight increase for 2021. This means there will be no staff cuts or reductions in pay or benefits for educators due to lack of funding in the 2020-2021 school year.
June 2020 - AEA President Sherry Tucker and the AEA Board of Directors releases Alabama's first list of expectations for local school systems developing COVID-19 reopening plans.
July 2020 - AEA conducts Alabama's only statewide educator COVID-19 survey relaying the concerns of 41,000+ school employees. In an unprecedented move, AEA assigns two full-time staff attorneys to review and monitor school reopening plans. Attorneys raise red flags when they see or hear of violations and will purse litigation in districts endangering school employees.
August 2020 - AEA representatives continue to work with state and local leaders to ensure the health and safety of students and educators. The AEA Legal Team continues to contact local districts with member safety concerns.
November 2020 - AEA sent a letter to the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners demanding they take action against doctors endangering the lives of Alabama’s students and school employees. The AEA informed the Board that failure to act would lead to swift legal action on behalf of the state’s school employees and possibly their family members if they are parents or custodial guardians.
January 2021 - AEA sent a letter to Montgomery’s Superintendent Dr. Ann Moore and the Montgomery Public School’s Board of Education regarding educator deaths. As a result, Montgomery Public Schools moved to remote teaching and learning until its employees are vaccinated.
AEA sent a letter to Dr. Harris directly concerning educator vaccinations and implored him to prioritize education employees. As a result, Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris moved education employees up the list and allowed them to receive a vaccine beginning February 8.
January 29, 2021 - AEA Commends Dr. Scott Harris for Prioritizing Education Employees
February 13, 2021 - The Outlook: Pay raises, mental health days - 'anything we can do to acknowledge the challenge,' education advocates say
February 7, 2021 - WAFF48 News: Educators disappointed with 2% cost of living raise proposal by Gov. Ivey
January 20, 2021 - WAFF48 News: Teachers, essential workers still waiting for the vaccine
January 19, 2021 - NBC15 News: Local teachers frustrated, anxios for COVID-19 vaccine
November 23, 2020 - Alabama Political Reporter: Alabama Education Association, Board of Medical Examiners meet over excuses to break COVID-19 quarantines
November 15, 2020 - NEWS19: Madison County teachers trying their best despite constant shifting between in-person and virtual learning
November 12, 2020 - WBRC: Teacher Union rep worries students are using doctor notes to break COVID-19 quarantine
November 11, 2020 - The Decatur Daily: Monitoring student progress difficult after cancellation of standardized tests
November 7, 2020 - AL.com: AEA 'ready to sue anyone and everyone' over students ending quarantine early with doctors' notes
October 1, 2020 - Survey finds 60 percent of Jefferson County teachers uncomfortable with in-person learning
September 22, 2020 - WAFF48: AEA rep talks about teacher concerns she's hearing
September 17, 2020 - News Break: School board floats idea of citywide elementary school at Anniston Middle
September 16, 2020 - AL.com: Huntsville Teachers have coronavirus concerns as students return to campus
September 14, 2020 - ABC33/40 News: Tuscaloosa County teachers looking for relief from overwhelming workloads
September 4, 2020 - WAAY ABC: Teacher Union Concerned About Return to Classroom
September 3, 2020 - WBRC FOX6: NEA launches school COVID data tracker, urges states to publish data
August 25, 2020 - WBRC FOX6: Some teachers express concern with Schoology platform
August 11, 2020 - WBRC FOX6: Bessemer school delay opening until Sept. 3
August 7, 2020 - WHNT19: COVID & the Classroom: Coping with the struggle
August 6, 2020 - Gulf Coast News Today: Teachers worry about school start
July 30, 2020 - WHNT19: Push for virtual learning helped Madison County area schools prevent staffing shortage
July 29, 2020 - Alabama Daily News: AEA survey: Teachers 'very uncomfortable' returning to school
July 28, 2020 - WBRC FOX6: 65% of teachers are 'very uncomfortable' returning to school buildings this fall
July 28, 2020 - WSFA: 65% of surveyed members 'very uncomfortable' with returning to classroom
July 23, 2020 - APTV Spotlight on Education: AEA President Tucker discusses the current concerns of educators surrounding COVID-19 and the opening of schools.
June 26, 2020 - Alabama News Network: AEA responds to ALSDE's "Roadmap to Reopening Schools" Plan
June 26, 2020 - WVTM13: AEA pushing for strict guidelines
June 25, 2020 - CBS42: AEA releases list of expectations for reopening Alabama schools
June 25, 2020 - Alabama News Network: Alabama Education Association Releases Expectations for Reopening of Schools