We, the members of the Arkansas Education Association, are the voice of education professionals in Arkansas. Our work is fundamental to the state, and we accept the profound trust placed in us.
OUR VISION
The Arkansas Education Association will take the lead to inclusively promote a great public education for students and improve the professional lives of all educators.
OUR MISSION
The Arkansas Education Association shall advocate to improve the quality of life for all students and educators in Arkansas.
OUR CORE VALUES
- We believe an equitable public education at every age and at every level is the gateway to opportunity. All students have the human and civil rights to a quality public education that helps to develop their full potential.
- We believe equitable public education is vital to building respect for the worth, dignity, and equality of every individual in our diverse society.
- We believe an equitable public education is the cornerstone of our republic and provides all individuals with the skills to be involved, informed, and engaged in our representative democracy.
- We believe that the expertise and judgment of educators are critical to student success. We maintain the highest professional standards and we demand respect which is due to all educators.
- We believe strong partnerships with families and communities are essential to quality public education.
- We believe we are all strengthened when we work together for the common good. As educators, we improve both our professional status and the quality of public education when we unite and advance collectively.
The AEA has worked hard to obtain more benefits for Arkansas public education staff, such as:
- Designated planning time for teachers
- Duty-free lunch periods for teachers
- Minimum salary schedule
- Grievance procedure required by law
- Personnel policy committees and collective bargaining
- Teacher fair dismissal act
- Retirement benefits
- Sick leave, including transfer of sick leave from district to district and pregnancy leave recognized as sick leave
- Professional staff development credit and guaranteed leave for AEA Convention workshops
- Health insurance for school employees
- Protection in the classroom
The AEA also sponsors free training and development events each year and provides educators with a variety of classroom resources.
OUR HISTORY
The Arkansas Education Association formed in 1869 to advocate for the rights of white students and teachers. In 1898 the Arkansas Teachers Association was established to do the same for black students and teachers. Both organizations promoted teacher education and well-being, and both maintained state support and funding for public education. In 1969 the AEA and ATA joined to advocate as one.
Several longtime AEA and ATA members who were involved with the merger and who worked to ensure its success shared their thoughts and experiences fifty years following the merger.
Thanks to Ms. Sammie Tollette, the first African American elected official in AEA, Cora McHenry, AEA’s first African American Executive Director, Past AEA Presidents Sid Johnson and Senator Linda Chesterfield, Ms. Mary Louise Williams and Ms. Annie Abrams for their time and effort to make the merger a success.
