Our fundamental objective is to work for quality and equitable public education for all of Arkansas students, the betterment of the Arkansas state education system and quality working conditions for educators.
OUR VISION
To Provide a Great Public School for Every Student
OUR MISSION
To advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the state to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world.
OUR CORE VALUES
✚ Equal Opportunity: We believe public education is the gateway to opportunity. All students have the human and civil right to a quality public education that develops their potential, independence and character.
✚ A just society: We believe public education is vital to building respect for the worth, dignity and equality of every individual in our diverse society.
✚ Democracy: we believe public education is the cornerstone of our republic. Public education provides individuals with the skills to be involved, informed and engaged in our representative democracy.
✚ Professionalism: we believe that the expertise and judgment of education professionals are critical to student success. We maintain the highest professional standards, and we expect the status, compensation and respect due all professionals.
✚ Partnership: We believe partnerships with parents, families, communities and other stakeholders are essential to quality public education and student success.
✚ Collective Action: We believe individuals are strengthened when they work together for the common good. As education professionals, we improve both our professional status and the quality of public education when we unite and advocate 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
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.
