The Protect Education Act is headed to the ballot! This morning, union educators, parents, and community allies submitted more than 420,000 signatures to the Secretary of State's office to give voters the chance to pass the common-sense voucher reform Arizona deserves.

Our future depends on strong public schools and labor rights for working people. Together with fellow labor unions and organizations representing hundreds of thousands of AZ workers, we strongly support proposals for a special session to rein in AZ's voucher program and stop anti-union referrals.

As Arizona schools work to prepare students for an AI-forward future, union educators are leading the way. Tolleson Union EA President Melissa Girmscheid recently spoke with the Fountain Hills Times about how she is helping students exercise their brains in an increasingly automated world. READ:

Arizona teaching changing focus as AI gains foothold - Fountain Hills Times

For educators, the concern is not simply how much technology children use, but whether students are developing the attention, curiosity and communication skills they need before entering school.

fhtimes.com

Arizona students and public school families deserve better than the miserable failure we saw from Legislative Republicans this session. Read our full statement: www.arizonaea.org/about-aea/me...

Union members from across the Valley were proud to stand with the Deer Valley Education Association to demand the resignation of Board Member Kim Fisher after Fisher used a Nazi salute and repeated “HEIL!” during a recent board meeting. Students and educators deserve SO much better.

AEA’s fearless leader Marisol Garcia was just recognized as the 2026 Nonprofit Advocate of the Year by Arizona Capitol Times! During her tenure, President Garcia has led a transformation of our union into an organizing powerhouse with a formidable presence at the Capitol. Congratulations! 🎉

Want to brush up on your health and safety skills ahead of the new school year? On June 27 and June 28, AEA is holding a FREE Health & Safety Academy training in Phoenix to help union educators understand workplace hazards and know their rights. Sign up ⬇️ www.mobilize.us/aea/event/89...

PHX: Health & Safety Academy · Arizona Education Association

MEMBERS ONLY: When unaddressed, health and safety issues undermine the health of students and educators, weaken student learning outcomes, exacerbate educator shortages, and burden school budgets. The...

mobilize.us

AEA's 2026 Leadership & Growth Summit brought union members together to build our skills, grow as leaders, and prepare for a strong 2026–27 school year. Congratulations to everyone who attended, and thank you to the presenters and facilitators who shared their knowledge and experience. #UnionProud

With school out, educators are collecting signatures to get the Protect Education Act on the ballot! AEA President Marisol Garcia picked up a signature from a special signer recently — thanks @yassaminansari.bsky.social! Looking for a place to sign? Visit ProtectEdAZ.com to find a spot near you.

AEA stands with educators in Deer Valley as they demand accountability for DVUSD Governing Board member Kimberly Fisher's despicable Nazi salute during yesterday's Board Meeting. 1/

Did you know that being a union member gives you access to a NEW low-cost graduate program? Through our partnership with Augustana University, educators can earn credit for completing online micro-credentials & apply 9 credits toward a master's degree. Learn more: www.arizonaea.org/microcredent...

"My union quite literally saved my teaching career. I am still in this profession because I finally experienced what it feels like to work with clear expectations, fair treatment, and collective strength behind me." Union members are speaking out against HCR2040. Read the latest from @azcentral.com

Republican amendment would strip me of my union rights | Opinion

Arizona Republican lawmakers want to strip teachers of the right to join a union, weakening their ability to advocate for their classrooms.

azcentral.com

AEA President Marisol Garcia "pointed to the ESA program and tax cuts for corporations as her two top picks for why state education is so poorly funded. “(The Legislature’s) focus on cutting taxes and giving tax credits...has a direct impact on funding of public schools," she told AZ Capitol Times.

Educator-legislator pipeline highlights shortfalls of state education | Arizona Capitol Times

Despite 52% of Arizona lawmakers having education ties, the state ranks 49th in per-pupil spending and faces overcrowded classrooms.

azcapitoltimes.com

AEA is rooting for the TWO members of our union who have been named among the top 5 finalists for the 2027 Arizona Teacher of the Year! Congratulations to Carly Bacha of Phoenix Union CTA and Emily Godlove of Flowing Wells EA! We're cheering you on. 👏

ICYMI: During this year’s Delegate Assembly, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego declared Union Educator Day in Phoenix — a day to celebrate union educators and recognize the role of unions in keeping the American dream within reach. Solidarity makes us strong. Thank you, Mayor Gallego!

Me: Hi, I’m a public school teacher with the #ProtectEducation petition which would rein in private school vouchers and return tax dollars to public schools. Would you like to sign? Most Tusonans: Absolutely. It’s about &%£¥ time! @sosarizona.org @arizonaea.bsky.social

Arizona lawmakers who vote to pass HCR 2040 are insulting the hardworking educators who work day and night to do the best for our state’s students. Across Arizona, educators see HCR 2040 as a betrayal. Read their stories in our replies and take action by visiting ArizonaEA.org/HCR2040.

In every part of our state, union educators are changing lives. The Chandler Arizonan recently profiled Lori Redman, a Chandler Education Association member honored with the Shofar Zachor Award for her thought-provoking class on the Holocaust. Read the full piece with the link in our replies.

Arizona's school voucher program costs $1.3 billion a year, more than twice what was budgeted, with no public accountability for how the money is spent. A new ballot initiative wants guardrails, not elimination. #Arizona #ESA #EducationPolicy @arizonaea.bsky.social

Arizona educators push for school voucher accountability

The Arizona Education Association is collecting signatures for a November ballot initiative designed to rein in home and private school vouchers.Spending on Empowerment Scholarship Accounts is well…

app.publicnewsservice.org

Hours before the Senate went on vacation, lawmakers voted to advance HCR 2040 — a nasty bill designed to destroy your freedom to spend your paycheck as you want and talk to your colleagues about the consequences of our underfunded schools. Tell your senator you need them to vote NO:

Tell your lawmakers to vote NO on HCR 2040.

Arizona politicians are pushing a bill to restrict how educators can organize. Tell your lawmakers to vote NO on HCR 2040.

arizonaea.org

We know her!👏 This week, @coppercourier.com profiled how Creighton Education Association President Kelley Blakslee is helping families fill the gaps after Congressional Republicans cut nutrition assistance for those in need. Check out her story: coppercourier.com/news/arizona...

This director of a Phoenix resource center is trying to fill the gaps federal Republicans left with SNAP cuts -

A Phoenix family resource center is absorbing the fallout from federal SNAP cuts, with demand up 20% and 70 fresh-food bags disappearing within 30 minutes.

coppercourier.com

Arizona has a lot of things to be proud of, but our failure to invest in education isn't one of them. NEA's 2026 Educator Pay Report shows that our state is near the bottom of the national rankings for education. Our students deserve better — and as hard-working educators, we do too.

"In a single Arizona budget year, the Grand Canyon State is on track to spend over $1 billion on a school voucher program with little oversight—and at the same time has cut around 181,000 children off federal food assistance." coppercourier.com/news/educati...

Arizona teachers see SNAP cuts and voucher costs hit the same families - Copper Courier

Arizona's voucher program tops $1 billion as SNAP rolls fall faster than any other state. Teachers are gathering signatures to push back.

coppercourier.com

From teach-ins and stand-outs to downtown rallies, AEA members turned out this May Day to demand a nation that puts workers over billionaires (and collect signatures to put common-sense voucher reform on the ballot!) What did May Day look like in your community? Share your pictures and stories ⬇️

ALERT: Arizona lawmakers are moving forward with HB 2313 — a bill designed to destroy the careers of educators who go on strike. Strikes are a last resort when state and district leaders refuse to come to the table. Tell your elected officials to vote NO: secure.ngpvan.com/1gaKGy8xBESk...

Tell your lawmakers to vote NO on HB 2313

Arizona lawmakers are moving forward with HB 2313 — a bill designed to destroy the careers of educators who go on strike. Strikes are a last resort, only taken when state and district leaders refuse t...

secure.ngpvan.com

This May Day, we're demanding a nation that puts workers over billionaires. Arizona educators have been overworked and underpaid for too long. On May Day, we will come together with our fellow workers to demand justice and fairness for the people who keep this country running.

BIG News: We just hit 150,000 signatures collected in our campaign to put common-sense guardrails on Arizona's out-of-control ESA voucher program (nearly 60% of the signatures we need to qualify for the ballot!)

The Arizona Education Association seeks an Executive Director to be based in Arizona (preferably Phoenix). Details can be found at: unionjobs.com/listing.php?... #1u #UnionStrong @arizonaea.bsky.social

NAU is ready to get the Protect Education Act on the ballot. 💙💛 NAU Aspiring Educators recently welcomed a union sibling from Flagstaff EA to talk about careers in education & sign petitions to reform ESA vouchers. AZ needs the next generation of teachers & they deserve fully-funded public ed.

Three cheers for union strength in Dysart! Last week, experienced union educators stepped up to have organizing conversations and welcome new members to their thriving local. Drop a ✊ in the comments to say hello to our new union siblings!