In the Press

A few years ago, Jarod McGuffey sat in the staff lounge at his school in Fraser discussing Michigan’s broken school funding system, over-testing, declining enrollment at teacher prep programs in state universities, and other growing concerns. Then he took it to the next step. Jarod McGuffey The 21st-Century literacy teacher at Disney Elementary School decided to get involved in finding solutions by becoming a fellow in a teacher leadership program—Oakland University’s Galileo Teacher Leadership Consortium. Now he’s clearing a path for other educators to follow.

Michigan’s education system is the perfect storm with declining academic achievement, underfunded schools and a declining teacher pipeline. Although various stakeholders have come together to problem solve, there has remained a missing voice, until now: classroom teachers.

State Rep. Christine Greig, D‐Farmington Hills, will host an education town hall from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, at the Maxfield Education Center, 32789 W. 10 Mile Road in Farmington. A panel of experts will discuss how to prepare, attract and retain the best teachers for Michigan students. Panelists will include: