Polk Education Association

06/03/2026

Join your union today and protect your contract and your rights! www.polkea.org

05/29/2026

Start your summer schedule off right by joining YOUR union today at www.polkea.org!

05/28/2026

Huge grievance win! These under/over payment issues aren't won without a contract! Join your union today to save your contract! Join today at www.polkea.org.

Today was the first day we saw a grievance won simply by FILING a grievance.

19 months ago a teacher had to quit their job to battle cancer. Because of a couple errors that were made by someone else, the teacher was hit with nearly a $14,000 overpayment upon rehire in January. Since January, that teacher has been working for free. Zero dollars deposited in their bank account. Who can afford to go 4 months without pay?

Informally, I was getting nowhere attempting to help him. No answers. No one digging into the mistake. Meanwhile, the teacher is DoorDashing to keep the water running.

A grievance was filed and that required the employer to get their ducks in a row. The information request highlighted the issue. The teacher actually wasn’t overpaid anywhere near $14,000 though they were overpaid.

The result, without having to utter a word: On Tuesday the teacher will pick up a pre-tax check of just under $9,000.

The overpayment amount was never right but the employer didn’t listen to the employee on their own.

That doesn’t happen without a contract. That is the power of a union.

Your local union representing teachers, paraeducators, and ESP/Secretaries working in the Polk County Public School District. We bargain your contracts and guarantee your contractual rights.

05/21/2026

When we stand together, we WIN!!! and we are !!!

05/19/2026

We're 5 new members away from 4100 union strong! Joining your union is the only way to ensure your contract and rights remain intact. www.polkea.org

05/18/2026

Complete your pre-summer checklist by joining your union today to protect your contract!
www.polkea.org

05/15/2026

Members- we see you doing the work and asking not yet members to join to protect what we all value- our contracts!

More than 200 new members in the last few week, and let's keep up this momentum!

05/10/2026

Mayfaire by the Lake is officially underway. Your Florida's Young Remarkable Educators are out here distributing FREE books and LEGOs while supplies last. Come by, enjoy the arts and crafts around the lake and get some Summer reading material!

05/05/2026

We stand in solidarity demanding our state follow Florida’s Constitution and adequately fund ONE, uniform public school system for ALL children who reside in this state.